Born in Alofi in 1951, Toke Tufukia Talagi was also educated in Tufukia School in Niue and then came to New Zealand, to Nelson College in New Zealand. He studied at Massey University at Palmerston North where he completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science. While there he was also elected president of the Pacific Islands Students Association and organised protests against nuclear testing and racial discrimination; some would say thus began his political career.