Viliami Taufa, a Tongan national who lives and works in New Zealand has been appointed as an advisor to the Prime Minister, Hon. 'Akilisi Pohiva today, 10 February.

Viliami has been working in New Zealand as a researcher for Dairy NZ in Waikato in the North Island, focusing on dairy cows reproduction and nutrition.

In a statement the PMO anticipated that "his agricultural expertise will also help the government effort to improve growth in the sector concerned".

It also stated that Viliami's decision to become an advisor to the Prime Minister was a big sacrifice for the couple: "Viliami and his wife Talita have uprooted themselves from the comforts of their home, security of their work and love of their families, to move to Tonga to work as Advisor to Hon. PM 'Akilisi Pohiva."

Viliami is a member of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands DPFI or in Tongan PATOA and has been a regular contributor to the party's mouthpiece, the Kele'a newspaper.