The New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark announced the Fellowship scheme in Nuku'alofa on July 31, the day before the coronation of His Majesty King George Tupou V. She said that the Fellowship would foster the leadership and governance skills of future Tongan leaders.

The Tongan Prime Minister Dr Feleti Sevele, said that the details of the selection process would be finalised later, but he praised the initiative.

Dr Sevele also told the press that under a similar initiative in 1967 the then Prime Minister of New Zealand Mr Holyoke offered a Coronation Scholarship to mark the coronation of the late king, Taufa'ahau Tupou IV and he was the proud recipient of that scholarship.

Ms Clark said that the New Zealand Prime Minister's Tonga Coronation Fellowship will be awarded annually to a Tongan citizen. The award's focus will be on developing leaders and potential leaders in the public and private sectors, including Members of Parliament, academia, business and the media.

The coronation fellowship is modeled on the Prime Minister's Fellowship created for Samoa in 2005, and on existing schemes with Japan, South Korea, and Latin America.

A spokesperson from the New Zealand High Commission Nuku'alofa said that the fellowship is designed to reinforce and enhance understanding of the New Zealand-Tonga bilateral relationship, and create opportunities for dialogue and co-operation.

He said that the fellowship programmes would include the opportunity to travel within New Zealand, spend time with the country's public service leaders, and participate in short study programmes at relevant New Zealand institutions.

The Fellowship selection process will involve the New Zealand High Commissioner in Tonga providing advice on potential candidates to the New Zealand Prime Minister, who will make the final decision.