From left, Dr 'Ana Koloto, HE Dr Jonathan Austin and Dr Kevin Smith

A complete collection of the Matangi Tonga magazine and the 'Eva, Your Guide to Tonga magazine spanning nearly two decades of printed publication, was presented to the University of the South Pacific Tonga campus library today by the New Zealand High Commissioner HE Dr Jonathan Austin.

The bound set Matangi Tonga publications includes all issues from its first publication in 1986 until 2003 before it went online, and the 'Eva, Your Guide to Tonga magazine from 1989-2002. 

Dr Austin presented the publications to the Director of the USP Tonga Campus Dr 'Ana Koloto, this morning at USP library, after helping the library to acquire the set through the assistance of the high commissioner's fund. 

Dr Jonathan Austin said USP is the leading tertiary education provider in Tonga and in the Pacific region and it is here that the future leaders of Tonga are receiving the education they need to take Tonga forward.

He acknowledged the importance of journalism for the people of Tonga to know what is happening. "It is also important to have these records to see what happened in Tonga in the past and see how things have developed over the years. These important records of events are an invaluable historical resource for Tongans," he said.

New Zealand had been a major donor to USP since the university started, he said.  "In Tonga we sponsor a number of USP students through our in-country scholarship programs. I am pleased that the in-country scholarships, which I started back in the 1990's is successful a decade later," he said.

Thankful

Dr 'Ana Koloto said the USP had benefited greatly from New Zealand not only in Tonga but also throughout the region.

She thanked New Zealand for the presentation of the complete volumes of Matangi Tonga and 'Eva for the library.

"The publications are kept in the Pacific collection in the USP library and are available not only to students but to the public," she said.

She was also grateful for New Zealand's assistance for the in-country scholarship programs, which had increased over the years and in 2012 there were 114 students who were awarded scholarships to study in tertiary schools in Tonga, including at the USP.