A $2.5 million pa’anga contract for the renovation and extension of the Central Police station in Nuku’alofa was signed on Monday 8 August, and the work is expected to start later this month.

The Minister of Police Hon Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, Commissioner of Police Stephen Caldwell signed the contract with Mr. Gao Dong, Managing Director of the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) the contractor, at the Central Police station.

This is the first major renovation of the central police station since it was opened in 1984 by King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV.

Funded under a Tonga Police Development Program (TPDP), this is the largest renovation built under the program.

TPDP is a tri-partite agreement between Tonga, New Zealand and Australia signed in 2008. Since then Australia and New Zealand have jointly provided millions to develop and reform Tonga Police, which have included the construction of new police stations, provision of new equipment and training of police officers.

The renovation work, which starts on 22 August will take eight to 12-months to include the station's charge office, holding rooms, interview rooms, prosecution unit, lobby, cells and car park.

The Minister of Police and Commissioner of Police thanked the Governments of Australia and New Zealand for providing the financial assistance to renovate the station, which is the center of police work in Tonga.