TONGA will resume exporting watermelon to New Zealand in August, the Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele told the Tongan Media during a joint Press Conference with the New Zealand Foreign Minister, Hon. Murray McCully in Nuku'alofa yesterday.

Dr Feleti Sevele said that the fumigation plant at the Queen Salote Wharf would be in full operation by the end of September and the first shipment of Tongan watermelon for New Zealand should leave Tonga by August.

The Prime Minister said that the Tongan Growers Federation was involved in the Tongan watermelon export to New Zealand scheme, and it was anticipated that 50 containers of watermelon would be leaving for New Zealand every month.

The Hon. Murray McCully who was on a one-day visit to Tonga to celebrate the 40th year of the bilateral relationship between Tonga and New Zealand announced the commitment of the New Zealand Government to support the Political Reform that the Tongan government will introduce at the end of the year.

"On the behalf of the New Zealand Government we strongly support the changes that you are making, and we wish to use every opportunity to make sure that that transition is a smooth one.

"We think that not enough recognition has been given to the significance of the change that is taking place here. We would like to pay tribute to His Majesty for his leadership in this area, and salute the Prime Minister and his colleagues for making this transition possible," he said. Hon. Murray McCully expressed his appreciation for the friendly working relationship that he has had with Dr Feleti Sevele since he became New Zealand Foreign Minister, 18 months ago, "a friendship that is free flowing and very friendly."

World Cup

Later in the evening during a reception at the New Zealand high Commission to celebrate the 40 years of bilateral relations between New Zealand and Tonga, Hon Murray McCully announced that the new New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga is Dr Jonathan Austin, who will take over from HE Christine Bogle. Mr McCully also invited Dr Feleti Sevele to the first game of the 2011 Rugby World Cup when the Tongan 'Ikale Tahi will meet the New Zealand All Blacks in Auckland next year.

Dr Feleti Sevele, who has announced that he will not be standing for election in November, accepted the invitation, but appealed to the Mr McCully, who is also the Minister responsible for the coming Rugby World Cup, for an opportunity for Tonga to play a test match against one of the top rugby nations, as build up for its game with the All Blacks.

"The All Blacks will have about 20 tier one matches before then and yet the 'Ikale Tahi will have not even one tier one match before they meet the All Blacks in front of the world," he said.

Solar power

While in Tonga, the Hon. Murray McCully yesterday announced New Zealand's commitment to fund the construction of a solar power plant in Tonga. The 1mega watt plant will meet about five percent of the electricity needs of the main island of Tongatapu.

The plant will be built and operated by Meridian Energy, a New Zealand government funded entity, which will sell the power to Tonga Power Ltd under a long-term purchase agreement.

"This is a practical example of New Zealand supporting Tonga's drive to increase the use of renewable energy, and to reduce its reliance on diesel-generated power," said the Mr McCully.

During Yesterday afternoon the Mr McCully in the company of Paula Taumoepeau, the president of the Tongan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, launched a new Tonga business enterprise centre "TBEC".

The TBEC will be a one-stop shop where businesses can come for advice training or help with accessing finance for new investment.

The New Zealand government provides $1 million toward the establishment of TBEC, an initiative that has been developed jointly by the Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Commerce, Labour and Industries.