Tetaua Taitai (c. 1947 – February 6, 2015) was an I- Kiribati physician, politician and businessman. [1] He was originally from the atoll of Tabiteuea North, but resided in the neighboring Tabiteuea South in the southern part of Kiribati. [1] Taitai was the brother-in-law of former Kiribati President Teburoro Tito. [1]
Taitai served as the country's Secretary of Health during the 1980s and early 1990s. [1] In 1994, newly elected president of Kiribati Teburoro Tito appointed Taitai as his Secretary of Cabinet. [1]
In November 2011, Taitai was nominated as one of three candidates for president of Kiribati by the House of Assembly of Kiribati. [1] However, Taitai lost the January 2012 presidential election to incumbent President Anote Tong, who was re-elected to a third term. [2] Taitai placed second, behind Tong. [2]
Tetaua Taitai continued to serve as the leader of the opposition until his death in 2015. [3] He died from cancer on Friday, February 6, 2015, at the age of 67. [3]