He was elected premier by the Niue Legislative Assembly on 11 June 2020, defeating O'Love Jacobsen by 13 votes to 7.

[7][8] He was re-elected at the 2017 Niuean general election,[9][10] and subsequently served as Minister for the Environment, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

[14] During the COVID-19 pandemic he negotiated a one-way travel-bubble allowing Niueans to travel to New Zealand,[15] and oversaw a vaccination program which saw Niue gain full herd immunity to the virus.

[16][17] In November 2021 he began a one-year term as Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific.

[18][19] His tenure concluded in June 2022, and he was succeeded by Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II.