The Nuku’alofa Central Police station will be undergoing $2million pa'anga renovation this year, funded under a Tonga Police Development Program (TPDP).

The Australian Foreign Minister, Hon. Julie Bishop, visited the station on Friday, 3 April during her first official visit to Tonga. The TPDP is a tri-partite agreement between the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and Tonga.

She toured the custodial area, police communication unit, including its new CCTV system, and the forensic room that was renovated last year under the development program.

The rest of the station will be renovated this year, with work staged to allow police operations continue.

The Acting Police Commissioner, Viliami 'Unga Fa'aoa, thanked the Government of Australia for its ongoing assistance to the development of the Tonga Police, which has included the construction of stations, provision of equipment and ongoing staff training.

Since 2008, the Australian and New Zealand Governments have provided financial support to the program, which is aimed at rebuilding an effective and efficient Tonga Police.