A new Court House in Pangai, Ha’apai was commissioned on Friday, June 15, a century after the old building was first constructed.

Funded by the Asian Development Bank with around $477,000 pa’anga, the court house is completed with new furniture and a judge’s bench.

The Minister for Justice Hon Vuna Fa'otusia commissioned the court house, with the Lord Chief Justice O.G. Paulsen, in the presence of magistrates, judicial staff and officials from the Asian Development Bank.

In addition to normal judicial functions, the building will house the sub-registry for the District of Ha’apai for the register of births and deaths and issue of marriage licenses to members of the public. 

The Ministry of Justice stated the old court house was extensively damaged by Tropical Cyclone Ian in 2014. But it was renovated by the Ministry in 2016, to preserve its historical state, as it was reportedly built between 1880-1900. 

However, in mid-2017, the old court house was deemed to be unfit for purpose, and was demolished in June 2017.

The reconstruction began in October last year carried out by Five Stars Construction Ltd.