As an outcome of consultations completed in Tonga today, New Zealand’s future development assistance to Tonga will be focused on energy, law and justice, education and skills development, and economic development.

New Zealand’s Deputy Secretary for International Development, Jonathan Kings, visited Tonga March 9-10 to participate in high level consultations with the Government of Tonga on New Zealand’s development assistance to the Kingdom.

In a statement, he said that New Zealand anticipates investing approximately TOP$112 million (NZD$75 million) in development assistance to Tonga over the next three years.

 Mr Kings stated that the discussions had been constructive and New Zealand remains a long-standing and close partner of Tonga. “It is pleasing to see the results that New Zealand assistance is bringing to Tonga, particularly in the areas of energy and law and justice.”

Tonga’s Minister of Finance, Hon. ‘Aisake Eke, welcomed the opportunity to reconvene high level dialogue on development assistance with the New Zealand Government, “and to consider Tonga’s priorities of education, renewable energy and economic governance.”

The New Zealand Aid Programme is currently supporting Tonga Power Ltd. to upgrade the village electricity network on Tongatapu, and has funded new police stations, search and rescue boats and police training. New Zealand also supports the Tonga courts and has reconstructed schools in Ha‘apai following Cyclone Ian.

A detailed strategy for New Zealand’s support will be formally agreed between New Zealand and Tonga later this year.