‘Otunuku was educated at the University of the South Pacific, graduating with a BA in English literature and history/politics.
[1] He worked as a high school teacher in Tonga and New Zealand before studying for a master's degree in Education at the University of Auckland.
[1] His master's thesis was on the topic of Bilingualism in Tongan primary schools.
[2] He later completed a doctorate in education, and worked for the University of the South Pacific, as head of the Institute of Education's Research and Development Programme.
[3][4] He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga in the 2024 Vavaʻu 14 by-election.