Story and Photos by Katalina Siasau

New Zealand Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Christopher Luxon and Tonga's Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua have reaffirmed the strong and growing partnership between New Zealand and Tonga, with a shared commitment to advancing economic growth, improving law and order, and strengthening regional security.

The two leaders met at the Prime Minister’s Office at St. George Government Building in Nuku’alofa today, 17 March, where they held a bilateral meeting, addressed several pressing issues, including the global fuel crisis linked to tensions in the Middle East, among other concerns, then concluded with a meeting between the New Zealand high-level delegation and Tonga’s Cabinet Ministers.

 During a joint media briefing, PM Lord Fakafanua said that Tonga greatly values its longstanding partnership with New Zealand.

"We have just concluded a meaningful discussion upstairs in my office, where we reaffirmed Tonga and New Zealand relationship, continuing to grow stronger and stronger, through targeted and effective support of key priorities to our government, including better public service, economic growth, including law and order, amongst other things.

"Our ongoing corporation reflects spirit of the Pacific family, grounded in trust, shared values, mutual respect for one another, and so forth.”

Rt. Hon. Luxon said, “It's clear from the meeting that we've had, the Prime Minister and I had very common goals with what we're trying to do in leading our respective countries and our agendas are very similar."

$32.2 million support package

Rt. Hon. Luxon announced a $32.2 million support package to assist Tonga across several priority areas.

The support package includes a $20 million in general budget support over the next two years, $5.25 million over five years to strengthen health systems and services, $5 million in climate-resilient funding, and $2 million to expand food resilience programmes in Tonga.

This builds on New Zealand’s existing commitment of more than $50 million annually in development assistance to Tonga.

Pacific fuel crisis

The global fuel crisis linked to tensions in the Middle East and the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil supplies, is a great concern for the Pacific Islands.

Disruptions to fuel supply chains could significantly impact international aviation. If New Zealand faces constraints in accessing fuel, this may affect flights across the Pacific, including routes to Tonga.

When asked about the potential impact on Air New Zealand and its services to Tonga and the wider Pacifi, Rt. Hon. Luxon acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, stating that fuel supply remains a key focus for his government.

"It’s a big focus of preoccupation for the New Zealand government. We personally, as a country are in quite good shape with respect to our fuel supplies, whether it be jets or petrol or diesel. But obviously we are in constant contact with the industry. A big part of that is obviously aviation, and as you’ve seen all over the world, fuel prices and jet fuel prices have increased from dramatically for many airlines. I have the CEO of Air New Zealand travelling with us in this delegation for that very reason but I know he is deeply committed to do everything he can to maintain airlinks into the Pacific, given we know how vital that is."

Rt. Hon. Luxon noted the importance of information sharing between regional partners, noting that both governments are working closely to prepare for potential disruptions.

“What the Prime Minister and I talked about in our bilateral was we, of course, stand ready to share any of the intelligence or information that we have, as well as, the information that he can gather from his conversations in the region as well to make sure that our countries are supporting each other as well. So we're very cognizant — I think what we're all wanting to see is a very rapid resolution to this conflict and the suffering to stop and that's what we really need to see is a negotiator’s resolution to the conflict in Iran and the Middle East.”

PM Fakafanua noted that these global impacts are beyond Tonga’s control, the government is focused on planning and coordination with partners such as New Zealand and Australia.

"But all we can do is we can prepare as best as we can, and part of the sharing of intelligence with our partners such as Australia and New Zealand, is putting us in the best case preparation for a lack of supply, or any disruptions."

PM Fakafanua also noted that his concern is "about ensuring that we have enough energy for the country in the meantime. And for now, we seem to be okay.”

However, public concern over a possible fuel shortage has already begun to surface across the country.

Friend to all

Addressing the Middle East conflict, PM Fakafanua reaffirmed Tonga’s foreign policy stance, saying, “Tonga subscribes to international rules based order. We don't advocate for violence. And our foreign policy remains “Friend to all and enemy to no one.” So we hope there's a resolution to the conflict as soon as possible, for the betterment of humanity and also for our own trade and food security.”

Rt. Hon. Luxon echoed the call for a peaceful resolution, stressing the need for civilian protection and adherence to international humanitarian law.

"We expect civilians to be protected, we expect international human rights humanitarian law to be upheld, and we really encourage the Iranians with the indiscriminate attacks on the Middle Eastern countries, particularly into civilian infrastructure, to stop, and to actually resolve through negotiation settlement, because that's in the interests of the world and in the interests of all of us.”

Rt. Hon. Luxon arrived in Tonga as part of his Pacific mission, following an earlier visit to Samoa. The trip marks his first comprehensive engagement with the new governments in both countries.

During his visit, he is scheduled to tour key sites including the Tonga Police Headquarters, a government school, the Fangaʻuta Lagoon Bridge site, and local businesses before departing from Fuaʻamotu Airport tomorrow, 18 March.

Rt. Hon. Christopher Luxon is the 42^nd Prime Minister of New Zealand.

He is also the Minister for National Security and Intelligence and the Minister Responsible for Ministerial Services. He entered Parliament at the 2020 election as the MP for Botany and was elected Leader of the National Party in November 2021.

Prior to entering Parliament, Rt. Hon. Luxon was Chief Executive Officer of Air New Zealand from 2013 to 2019. Prior to joining Air New Zealand, Luxon spent 18 years working at multinational consumer products company Unilever, in New Zealand, Australia, the UK, USA and Canada.

Rt. Hon. Luxon has a Master of Commerce in Business Administration from the University of Canterbury.