Photos courtesy Niuatoputapu High School

Bounty of the sea: giant clams and shellfish on display at the Niuatoputapu Royal Agricultural Show. 7 August 2013.

HM King Tupou VI opened the first Royal Agricultural Show 2013 at the Matangimalie Grounds at Hihifo, Niuatoputapu on Wednesday, August 7, followed by the Niuafo’ou Agricultural Show today, and will continue to tour all of Tonga’s outer islands.

Soane Selui, the Principal of Niuatoputapu District High School, said the successful show was an opportunity for the people on the outer island to showcase their Tongan root crops, handicrafts and seafood for the King.

King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u were warmly welcomed by residents, while school children lined the roads to the Matangimalie Showgrounds. Traditional entertainment of the 'tau faka-Niua' and 'fa'ahiula' were performed by the Hihifo youth and students of Niuatoputapu High School.

Selui said after the show the king viewed the new houses built after the devastation caused by the Niuatoputapu tsunami in 2009 before leaving yesterday evening for Niuafo’ou.

The Royal Agricultural Show will continue to Vava’u on August 10, Ha’apai on August 14, and ‘Eua on August 17, before concluding with a two-day event show in Tongatapu on August 23-24.