A Joint Commitment for Development Agreement between Tonga, New Zealand and Australia was signed by Tonga's Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Samiu Vaipulu and the New Zealand Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Murray McCully in Nuku'alofa yesterday, 13 July.

Hon. McCully described the agreement a high level document which specifies what each partner to the development agreement will bring into it and what they hope to achieve from it.

He said that the agreement "renews New Zealand's support for key areas such as tourism, energy, small and medium enterprise development; capacity building within the Tongan police force, and signals our increased engagement in education."

He said that together with Australia, they will increase their investment in Tonga's education sector during the current Financial Year, "providing up to $NZ15 million over the next five years to all levels of education, from early childhood to secondary . . ."

Hon. McCully said that this assistance was in addition to $NZ4 million that they had already committed to support technical and vocational education.

He said that New Zealand had also committed $NZ5 million to a flagship tourism support programme aimed at positioning Tonga as a major tourist destination in the Pacific.

The New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga HE Mr Jonathan Austin said that New Zealand's bilateral aid to Tonga during the current Financial Year is about $NZ18 million, while its multilateral aid to the region is about $NZ7 million. He said that New Zealand's total aid to Tonga during the year fluctuated because of the variable in the duration of some of the aid programs, ranging from one to five years. An aid program could be either terminated or renew and refinance.

Prior to the signing of the Joint Commitment for Development agreement Hon. McCully, Jonah Lomu, 'Ofisa Tonu'u and the delegation held a Rugby Clinic at Pangai Lahi next to the Royal Palace, attended by rugby players of all ages.

Following the signing of the development agreement the New Zealand Pacific Mission delegations made their final presentation during a farewell luncheon at the 'Oholei Beach Resort in Tongatapu.

Rugby World Cup

The CEO of Rugby NZ 2011, Martin Snedden gave a brief outline of how New Zealand wanted to capitalize on the Rugby World Cup, the biggest global sports event to be held in this part of the world.

Rugby legend Jonah Lomu was interviewed by Afeaki. Jonah was emotional when he talked about the significance of the Rugby World Cup and how despite the fact that the All Blacks lost to the Springboks in South Africa, but by winning the Rugby World Cup for South Africa under Nelson Mandella, had helped to unite South Africans. His message was that the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand should unite the Pacific islands, "it is not only New Zealand Rugby World Cup, it is our World Cup, and I am telling you this is the closest we will ever get to it."

The delegation led by Hon. McCully left Tonga yesterday at 2.30 pm on a Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft for Samoa.