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Official Name - Kingdom of Tonga
Land Area - 747 sq km - five main island groups, Tongatapu, 'Eua, Ha'apai, Vava'u, and the Niuas, among 169 dispersed volcanic and
coral islands
Population - 101,134 (2006 census)
Capital City - Nuku'aloa
Religions - Christian denominations (Wesleyan, Mormon, Catholic)
Official Languages - Tongan, English
Currency - Pa'anga or Tonga dollar (TOP or T$)
EEZ - 700,000 sq km
Political System - Constitutional monarchy
National government - Traditionally in Tonga the King has appointed the Cabinet. It consists of the Prime Minister, the Governors of Ha’apai and Vava’u and about 10 other Ministers. Ministers were appointed at the King’s pleasure and tended to remain in position for considerable periods of time. Following the 2005 elections, four additional Ministers were appointed from within the legislative assembly – two people’s representatives and two nobles’ representatives. These Ministers will serve for the parliamentary term only. Since 2006, the Prime Minister
has had the right to make his own choices to fill ministerial portfolios.
A tripartite democratisation process is underway in Tonga
National legislature - Unicameral Legislative Assembly, comprising of the Cabinet (up to 16 Ministers) 9 nobles' representatives chosen by 33 noble families, and 9 representatives elected by universal suffrage by Tongans
aged 21 or over.
Last election - March 2005
Next election due - 2010
Head of State -
His Majesty King George Tupou V
Head of Government - Prime Minister Hon Dr Feleti (Fred) Sevele
Hon Dr Feleti (Fred) Sevele
Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Food
Hon Viliami Ta'u Tangi
Deputy Prime Minister and Minster of Health
Hon Sonatane Tu'akinamalohi Taumoepeau-Tupou
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Acting Minister of Defence and Acting Governor of Vava'u
Hon 'Alisi Taumoepeau
Minister for Justice and Attorney-General
Hon
Afu'alo Matoto
Minister of Public Enterprises
Hon Lisiate 'Akolo
Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industries
Hon
Paul Karalus
Minister of Transport
Hon Fineasi Funaki
Minsiter of Tourism
Hon Tuita
Minister of Lands, Survey, Natural Resources and Environment
Hon Siosiua 'Utoikamanu
Minister of Finance
Hon Nuku
Minister of Works
Hon George 'Aho
Minister of Police, Prisons and Fire Services
Hon Tu'ivakano
Minister of Employment, Training, Youth and Sports
Hon Malupo
Governor of Ha'apai
Key Opposition MPs - Akilisi Pohiva,
Clive Edwards,
'Uliti Uata
Main political parties - The Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement
(THRDM), formerly the People's Party, was
established in 1994. The People's Democratic Party
(PDP) was established in 1994.
GDP -
US$131 million (2004 est)
GDP per capita -
US$1,287 (2004 est)
Real GDP growth -
0.9% (2006 est)
Exports (fob) -
US$18.2 million (2006 est)
Imports (fob) - US$82.9 million (2004)
Main Exports -
Squash, coconuts, fish, handicrafts
NZ Exports (FOB) - NZ$45,000,000 (for year ended December 2006)
Main Exports - Yachts, meat, timber, foodstuffs
NZ Imports (CIF) - NZ$3,000,000 (for year ended December 2006)
Main Imports - Seaweed, root crops, fish and coconutstop of page
Tonga is an ancient Polynesian country of 171 islands with a history of human settlement extending back 3000-3500 years. Tonga’s monarchical (Tu’i Tonga) tradition is over 1,000 years old; and at times has extended to include territory in parts of Fiji, Niue, the Samoas and Tokelau. European contact with Tonga dates back to 1616 and early contacts included Abel Tasman and James Cook.
Tonga’s contacts with the international community were extended through Wesleyan and Catholic missionaries who were active in Tonga from the 1790’s. Taufa’ahau, the nephew of the ruler of Ha’apai, was baptised in 1831, taking the Christian name Siaosi (George) Tupou. Tupou became ruler of Ha’apai, Vava’u and Tongatapu following the deaths of his relevant relations. Tupou united Tonga under the name King George Tupou I; and established the current royal family line in Tonga. Tupou, with Wesleyan missionary Reverend Shirley Baker, drafted laws which, inter alia, prohibited serfdom and foreign ownership of land, and led to Tonga’s Constitution of 1875.
The 1875 Constitution marked the formal establishment of Tonga as a nation state. Unlike other Pacific countries, Tonga was never colonised by a European power. From 1900 to 1970 Tonga was, however, a signatory to Treaties of Friendship and Protection with Great Britain. In 1970 Tonga’s protectorate status ended and it became a fully independent state within the Commonwealth. The royal line has remained unbroken since 1845. King Taufa’ahu Tupou IV died in September 2006 after a reign of 40 years. His mother Queen Salote Tupou III ruled for 47 years, from 1918 until 1965. The present King is His Majesty King George Tupou V. His formal coronation is expected to take place in August 2008.
Tonga is a constitutional monarchy and the King commands considerable status and power. His extensive powers are derived from the 1875 Constitution and, with the exception of some voluntarily relinquished authority, have remained essentially unchanged to the present day.
The 1875 Constitution formulated by King George Tupou I with assistance from the Wesleyan missionary, Reverend Shirley Baker, is a remarkable document well ahead of its time in terms of the freedoms and rights it granted to the Tongan people. As a result of the place it created for Tonga's traditional chiefs (renamed "Nobles") it also played the role of a peace treaty, bringing to a close a prolonged civil war. It created an environment in which the modern Tongan nation state could grow.
As Head of State, the King presides over a Privy Council of Cabinet Ministers plus the Governors of the Ha'apai and Vava'u island groups. The legislature is a single-chamber assembly, the members of which are the Cabinet Ministers and Governors appointed by the King; 9 Nobles' Representatives selected by the 33 Nobles of the Kingdom; and 9 Peoples' Representatives elected by universal suffrage of all Tongans aged 21 and over. The Prime Minister chairs the Cabinet. Tonga's political stability is based on the homogenous and hierarchical nature of traditional Tongan society, underpinned by the Church and extended family structures.
There is consensus in Tonga on the need for democratic reform, with a continued role for the royal family in a constitutional rather than executive role. There is less consensus, however, on the pace and process for change.
To date, the democratisation process has been gradual. The public sector strike settlement of September 2005, the appointment in early 2006 of Prime Minister Sevele, a ‘commoner’ and People’s Representative, and the work of the National Committee on Political Reform are some significant landmarks in Tonga’s ongoing political evolution.
The National Committee on Political Reform (NCPR), a national consultative body aimed at assessing the views of the Tongan community on the question of political reform in the Kingdom, presented its recommendations to the late King, Prime Minister Sevele, and the Legislative Assembly in August 2006. The report advocates a system where all seats in parliament would be subject to election, canvasses different types of electoral systems, proposes ways of ensuring policy continuity and examines how the interests of overseas Tongans might be expressed. The initial response in the House had been favourable.
New Zealand has been keen to assist with the democratic reform process, and has provided $250,000 for the National Committee on Political Reform (NCPR), a national consultative process aimed at assessing the views of the Tongan community on the question of political reform in the Kingdom. top of page
Despite reform initiatives, some pro-democracy supporters were unhappy about a perceived delay in the implementation of political reforms in Tonga. Following a period of protest by pro-democracy supporters, dissatisfaction culminated in riots on 16 November 2006. A group of business people hostile to foreign-owned businesses joined the riots and targeted shops owned by the Chinese community. The riots resulted in several fatalities and the destruction of approximately 75 percent of downtown Nuku’alofa. This was the first occurrence of violence of this scale in Polynesia and is of particular significance to New Zealand given the size (40,000) of the Tongan community here and our close bilateral links with Tonga.
The day after the riots, the Tongan government announced a state of emergency and requested a deployment of New Zealand and Australia defence and police personnel to secure the airport and enable a resumption of commercial flights. New Zealand led the response and deployed defence and police personnel to the contingent. The situation remained calm and Australian and New Zealand defence personnel withdrew from Tonga within a few weeks.
Tongan Police, with assistance from New Zealand and Australia, undertook investigations to bring the perpetrators to justice and the New Zealand police presence remains in response to Tonga’s needs for forensic and other support. Police have arrested over 700 people in connection with the riots to date. New Zealand Agency for International Development, (NZAID) is providing funding of $137,000 and $70,000 respectively for prosecution and defense counsel. The Tongan Crown Law Department took responsibility for both projects including the procurement of the relevant goods and services.
Despite pressure from the pro-democracy movement to lift the state of emergency, it remains in force. While no longer providing the power to prohibit the holding of a meeting or procession or the assembly of 5 or more persons, a meeting, procession or any assembly of 5 or more persons can be dispersed within Tongatapu.
The King’s speech from the throne at the closing of the Parliament Ceremony on 23 November 2006 invited Parliament to develop and submit reform proposals and a timetable for reform. The Committee charged with developing recommendations has agreed on a proposed composition of Parliament and Cabinet but has many more issues still to work through.
The reconstruction of Nuku’alofa is the Government’s key priority. Following his first official visit to the People’s Republic of China in late April, PM Sevele announced that China had agreed to provide financial assistance for the reconstruction of Nuku’alofa, details of which are now being sorted out at Ministerial level.
Tonga’s economy, supported by a large inflow of remittances from Tongans living aboard, is expected to experience slight growth of around 0.9 percent of GDP in the next financial year, down from around 2% growth in previous years.
The Tongan economy is heavily dependant on remittances from Tongans who live and work abroad, mainly in the United States, New Zealand and Australia. At home, economic activity is based mainly on the agricultural sector which contributes some 35 percent of the nation’s GDP. An estimated 70 percent of the population derive at least part of their livelihood from farming. The squash-pumpkin crop, which is exported to Japan and Korea, is the dominant export. Kava, root crops and vanilla are also important. Tourism is the second largest source of hard currency earnings after remittances. The fishing sector has shown signs of expansion in recent years although a recent conference on the future of the industry produced some gloomy predictions. Overall, exports contribute only a small part of Tonga’s overseas exchange receipts. Tonga traditionally operates a trade deficit. The trade deficit is usually offset by large inflows of remittances and development assistance.
As a small island economy, Tonga is subject to seasonal and external factors over which it has little control. The economy remains vulnerable to external shocks. The trade deficit continues to grow and there has been a steady depreciation in the value of Tonga’s currency- the Pa’anga - over several years.
Under the economic component of the strike settlement in 2005, the Tongan government agreed to implement over a period of two years salary increases of between 60 percent and 80 percent. This had serious implications for the Tongan economy, which were mitigated by the introduction of a public sector voluntary redundancy programme. This enabled the Government to reduce the size of the public service by almost 20 percent (from around 5000 to 4000). The government funded pay rises and redundancy packages from its cash reserves.
The civil disturbance of 16 November 2006 also damaged the economy. Businesses in Nuku’alofa were looted and/or burnt to the ground, impacting on government revenue (estimated losses to government revenue of TOP$5.7 million or 4% of total revenue) and business confidence. Estimates for the reconstruction put the bill over TOP$200 million, although this includes significant redesigning of downtown Nuku’alofa.
The economy has shown some resilience. Only one banking day was lost post-16 November, and some businesses have been re-established, albeit on the outskirts of Nuku’alofa. Receipts from tourism, the second largest source of income after remittances, have not been significantly affected by the civil disturbance. The Tongan Government is also negotiating an export credit from China to rebuild Nuku’alofa.
Tonga’s economic situation, however, remains precarious. The country is heavily reliant on remittances to off-set its trade imbalance, and an increase in spending resulting from rebuilding Nuku’alofa could have inflationary effects. Further reforms are also needed to improve the business environment and the performance of public enterprises.
In a departure from previous policy, the Government has signalled that it will be looking at the private sector to lead future economic growth and has taken steps to stimulate the economy through easing the tax burden of compliance costs on the business sector. The Government also announced the Reserve Bank of Tonga will ensure sufficient liquidity in the banking system to allow businesses to rebuild and expand.
Tonga’s foreign policy, based on guidelines set by King George Tupou I, seeks to maintain friendly relations with all countries and in particular with the major powers. Tonga has foreign missions in London, Beijing, San Francisco and New York. The present King, when he was known as Crown Prince Tupouto’a, was Foreign Minister for many years until he retired in October 1998. His younger brother HRH Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence. In January 2000, Prince ‘Ulukalala also became Prime Minister. In September 2004 he passed his Foreign and Defence responsibilities to Hon Sonatane Tu'akinamalohi Taumoepeau-Tupou and Hon ‘Aloua Fetu’utolu-Tupou during a Cabinet reshuffle. The King appointed Hon Dr Fred Sevele, a ‘commoner’ and elected People’s Representative to the role of Prime Minister in March 2006. This appointment has widely been viewed as a positive step forward along the road to democratic reform.
Tonga is a member of the Pacific Islands Forum, and hosted the Leaders’ Meeting in October 2007.
Tongan membership of other regional bodies includes the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), University of the South Pacific (USP), and the Pacific Community (SPC). It is also a signatory to the Agreement establishing the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (though not of the SPREP convention itself).
Tonga was admitted as a member of the United Nations at the UN General Assembly on 14 September 1999. Tonga belongs to several UN specialised agencies and is a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). Tonga has also become a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), with its ratification taking effect in July 2007. In 1996 Tonga signed the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty (SPNFZ), also known as the Treaty of Rarotonga. It has ratified the Law of the Sea Treaty (UNCLOS). In June 2000 Tonga signed the EU/ACP successor agreement to Lome IV Convention in Cotonou, Benin. top of page
Tonga is New Zealand's sixth largest export market in the Pacific. Total two way trade for the year ending December 2006 came to almost NZ$50 million. New Zealand exports for the year ending December 2006 (primarily meat, wood, butter, petroleum, furniture and plywood) came to approximately NZ$45 million. In the same year imports from Tonga, mainly beans, root vegetables, scrap iron, fruit and plants, came to approximately NZ$3million. With favourable shipping links, New Zealand is the main source of Tonga's imports. More than 40% of imports come from New Zealand. Fiji, Australia, the United States and China are the other significant sources of imports.
A Tonga-New Zealand Business Association was set up in Nuku'alofa in 1993 to assist in promoting bilateral trade and economic linkages. Regional and international developments such as the negotiation of regional trade agreements (PICTA and PACER) and Tonga's WTO membership have created a forward-looking framework for the further development of our trade relations.top of page
Tonga is one of New Zealand's core bilateral ODA partners, with the bilateral programme for 2007/08 worth $11.5 million an increase of NZ$1.4 million over the 2006/07 allocation as a consequence of the recent decision to increase overall levels of New Zealand’s Overseas Development Assistance.
NZAID’s assistance has been guided by a five-year programme strategy, agreed in 2001, targeting five key areas: Education and Training (the major sectoral focus of the programme and in which New Zealand is the lead donor), Outer Islands Development, Public Sector Reform and Governance, Community Development and Private Sector Development and Health. A new Country Strategy is currently being prepared. Tonga also receives assistance through various NZAID regional and thematic programmes, e.g. the Pacific Programme for Strengthening Governance, and the Regional Health and Education Programmes.
NZAID is the lead donor in Tonga’s education sector. Some sixty percent of the annual allocation, over NZ$6m, is directed towards education and training activities. Specific activities include our multi-year programme of assistance to improve universal basic education in Tonga via the Tonga Education Support Programme (TESP), the provision of scholarships in NZ, regional and local institutions, and various short-term training opportunities, both in NZ and in-country.
A joint assessment mission in February 2007, comprising representatives from Australian Federal Police (AFP), AusAID, NZ Police and NZAID, looked at opportunities for capacity-building assistance for Tonga Police. The draft report was passed to the Tongan authorities in late May for initial consideration. Discussions were held in August on the implications of the report’s recommendations, and the design and implementation of an action plan.
NZAID provided targeted assistance to Tonga in the aftermath of the riot of 16 November. Technical assistance was provided to Tonga’s Ministry of Finance to assist in determining the impact of the riot on Government revenue flows. Expert advice was also provided to the Ministry of Justice to assist in developing a youth diversion scheme. This scheme has allowed Tonga to address youth involvement in the riots using a restorative, rather than retributive, justice approach. Support for a longer-term youth diversion programme is under consideration. NZAID, in conjunction with AusAid and the Government of Tonga, also developed a Business Recovery Facility to assist those businesses directly affected the destruction wrought by rioting. Under this facility NZAID has made available up to NZ$2m to support the provision of business advisory services, credit guarantees and low interest recovery loans to over 150 Tongan businesses.
The programme also places a significant priority on governance and public sector reform. Specific activities include long–term support for Tonga’s judiciary as well as ongoing institutional strengthening and reform programmes with Tonga’s revenue and customs services. Other areas of focus for the programme include the development of infrastructure, particularly in the outer islands, most notably the construction of a high school and an island-wide household solar electrification system in the Niuas and the upgrading of the water reticulation system in Eua. The programme also supports grass roots development initiatives at the community level through the Community Development Fund.
A new five-year country strategy which will guide future NZ aid interventions in Tonga is currently under development. We expect the new strategy to maintain the current focus on the education sector, where NZ is the lead donor. We also expect to see a stronger emphasis placed on economic growth and livelihoods. One proposal under consideration would see our education and training assistance aligned more closely with Tonga’s emerging human resource development needs, particularly as they relate to the productive sectors. The joint country strategy mission highlighted the need for deeper engagement with, and greater support for, civil society. To this end NZAID will be considering options for enhancing existing support in this area as well as examining ways in which we might assist in developing the capacity of key civil society organisations. The continuation of governance and public sector reform initiatives, particularly in revenue management, will also form a key component of any future programme. It is likely that a significant portion of the expected increase in the programme’s allocation will be utilised to support the proposed joint NZ / Australian institutional strengthening programme with the Tongan Police Force.
Active consideration is being given to our involvement in a holistic, multi-donor programme of assistance on economic and public sector reform. NZAID is also working with other donors (AusAid and ADB) to improve aid coordination and effectiveness by institutionalising key elements of the Paris Principles for Aid Effectiveness throughout our respective relationships with the Government of Tonga. The Government of Tonga appears well disposed to efforts to improve donor coordination and harmonisation, although the modalities for achieving this objective will require further consultation. top of page
New Zealand’s links with Tonga, date back to the Second World War. Under the Mutual Assistance Programme (MAP), NZDF provides a wide range of training assistance to the Tongan Defence Service (the annual MAP talks are scheduled for November 2007). A NZ Army warrant officer is located in Tonga as a technical adviser. Joint participation in the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has also helped cement our defence ties.
An Australia/New Zealand defence and police contingent was deployed to Tonga following the 16 November 2006 riots. The New Zealand defence group focused on assisting in securing the airport to allow the resumption of commercial flights. All of the defence personnel withdrew within two weeks.
The RNZN survey ship HMNZS Resolution visited Nuku’alofa in July 1998 to mark the King’s 80th birthday (it visited again in 2000 and 2005). The ANZAC class frigate HMNZS Te Kaha’s first overseas port call was a visit to Nuku’alofa in March 1999. An RNZAF band and concert party visited in July 2003 for the King’s 85th birthday celebrations.
In the 2001 New Zealand Census, 40,716 people in New Zealand identified themselves as Tongans - the third largest Pacific Island group. New Zealand does not have a reciprocal visa waiver agreement with the Kingdom of Tonga. In early 2002 a 250-person quota was created under the Pacific Access immigration category for Tongans wishing to emigrate to New Zealand. In 2007, Tonga was one of the early beneficiaries of a new Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme, whereby temporary workers are recruited for period of up to seven months to work in the viticulture and horticulture industries of New Zealand.top of page
Relations between New Zealand and Tonga are underpinned by a shared Polynesian heritage and extensive people-to-people linkages. Many Tongan leaders are New Zealand-educated. Longstanding migration links with New Zealand have resulted in a significant Tongan population in New Zealand. In the 2001 New Zealand Census, 40,716 people in New Zealand identified themselves as Tongans - the third largest Pacific Island group. This number is equal to 40% of the population in Tonga. In early 2002 a 250-person quota was created under the Pacific Access immigration category for Tongans wishing to emigrate to New Zealand. The size of the Tongan community in New Zealand has an impact on the nature of New Zealand's bilateral relationship with Tonga. Remittances to the Kingdom from the Tongan community in New Zealand are an important source of foreign exchange and income to Tonga.
New Zealand is a key regional partner for Tonga. Relations are underpinned by a shared Polynesian heritage and extensive people-to-people linkages. Many Tongan leaders are New Zealand-educated. Longstanding migration links with New Zealand have resulted in a significant Tongan population in New Zealand. In the 2006 New Zealand Census, 51,481 people in New Zealand identified themselves as Tongans - the third largest Pacific Island group and approximately and approximately 40 percent of the population in Tonga. In early 2002 a 250-person quota was created under the Pacific Access immigration category for Tongans wishing to migrate to New Zealand. Tonga has been a lead participant in the Recognised Seasonal Employment Programme
New Zealand is a supporter of democratic reform in Tonga and has backed efforts to promote peaceful change, such as by funding the work of the National Committee on Political Reform in 2006. New Zealand maintains its longstanding position that the pace and direction of change can be determined only by the Tongan people.
New Zealand visits to the Kingdom of Tonga have helped to reinforce the bilateral relationship.
The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Tonga [external link].
