Noble Ma'afu was appointed on July 28 as Tonga's new Minister for Environment and Climate Change.

At his residence in Vaini, Tongatapu the Lord Chamberlain, Viela Tupou, read out the letter of appointment from HM King George Tupou V.

Ma'afu becomes the first Minister under the newly separated Ministry that now includes Climate Change. The Environment was formerly under the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural Resources.

A former Private Secretary to the late king until his retirement in 2006, the noble is currently a Noble's Representative for Tongatapu in the Tongan Parliament.

His estate includes Tokomololo and Vaini in Tongatapu.

Meanwhile, three Ministerial portfolios remain vacant. They are the Minister for Police, Minister for Justice and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence.