Two New Zealand lawyers left Tonga last week after two-days deliberation with other members of the Crown Law 16/11 Prosecution team.

Tonga's Solicitor General, Linda Simiki Folaumoetu'i confirmed today, that New Zealanders Richard Marchant and Brian Dickey and three Tongan lawyers from the Crown make up the prosecution team that will handle the prosecutions of the cases arising from the events of November 16.

"The main role of the prosecution team is carrying out the assessment of charges brought against the offenders of 16/11, conducting a whole lot of research work on those charges and they will also handle directly the prosecutional work at the Supreme Court when the cases are heard before the court," said Linda.

The two New Zealand lawyers are not permanently based in Tonga, and they only come when they are needed.

Linda said that offenders were charged with various crimes committed in 16/11 in prosecutions brought by the Tonga Police and, "will go through the normal court channel beginning at the Magistrate's Court.

"At present we have no involvement in the cases of 16/11 as they are currently in the jurisdiction of the Magistrate's Court but we will assist them at a later stage in court."

Linda wanted to recognise the favourable response from the New Zealand government to Tonga's request for legal experts, "they were made available for the special task indefinitely. They were in Tonga last year for a short duration," she said.