His Excellency Taneti Maamau (born 16 September 1960) is an I-Kiribati politician and  hailed from the island of Onotoa in the Southern Kiribati. He became the 5th President of Kiribati after successfully winning the 2016 Presidential Election, leading his opposition party of Tobwaan Kiribati to a major victory to take over administration, and bringing a change to Government after 12 years since 2003. He won the election in March 2016 with a major landslide victory winning the large majority of votes of 19,883 (60%) against his two rivals from the ruling party with 12,764 votes (38%) and the other with only 482 votes (2%).

During his campaign, President Taneti Maamau laid out his promises in his manifesto “Te Motinnano” which includes for the first time ever in history of copra production, an increase in price of $2 per kilo, the newly introduced Free Education policy for those students who pass their form 4, 5 and 6 at senior secondary schools, the establishment of the anti-corruption committee to probe into past corruption issues and the launching of the Government’s development aspirations as embodied in the first long term vision for the country otherwise known as the KV20, all of which were seen to be the new changes made under his administration. His new leadership vision of KV20 is building the resilience of the islands, making Kiribati a strong fishing and tourism nation and transforming Kiribati to become healthy, wealthy and peaceful nation.

Maamau began his career in the civil service as a Planning Officer with the Ministry of Finance in 1979, joined the Administration cadre as an Assistant Secretary for the Ministry of Finance. He continued his career as a Senior Assistant Secretary for Ministry of Education, Deputy Secretary for Ministry of Finance and also for the Office of Te Beretitenti, until he became Permanent Secretary during His Excellency Teburoro Tiito’s administration (3rd President). Maamau had worked for the Public Service Office, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, and Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives  as Permanent Secretary. In 2002, Maamau resigned from the public service to join politics and won one of the seats for his constituency and home island Onotoa. Maamau was a strong opposition MP until elected by the Party as a candidate for the Presidential election in 2015. 

Maamau is a strong Christrian and have a long year commitment to church having served also as a deacon of the Kiribati Uniting Church for years before entering politics which he continues to hold to date. Maamau is married to Teiraeng Tentoa Maamau from the island of Tabiteuea and have three children and two grandchildren.