[3] Lakatani was appointed to Rex's Cabinet as Minister of Finance, but was sacked just five months later after circulating a petition calling for a change of leadership.

[8] Lakatani joined the opposition, which organised itself into the Niue People's Party and effectively deadlocked the assembly.

[9][10] With other members of the opposition, Lakatani boycotted meetings of the Public Expenditure Committee, and as a result his seat was declared vacant in August 1995.

[14] Lakatani was re-elected at the 1999 Niuean general election, placing third on the common roll with 474 votes.

[18][19] In 2000, he narrowly avoided bankruptcy over a personal guarantee given for the debt of a Niue business,[20] and this resulted in a further confidence vote which was again tied, 9-9.