Results for 1998

FROM OUR ARCHIVES: A business venture in Mainland China turned into a diplomatic mission for Princess Pilolevu and her team. Tonga has severed its long-standing relationship with Taiwan and established new links with Mainland China in a diplomatic reshuffling. Tonga’s newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, the King’s youngest son, Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka-Ata, flew to Beijing and signed a joint communiqué on October 26, which declared that: “the Kingdom of Tonga recognises that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and, that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese Territory.” By Pesi Fonua. Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 3, December 1998.

The farming of fresh water fish in the interior of Tongatapu sounds unusual considering that Tonga has more sea area than land, but the $50,000 project now being trialed means more to the University of the Nations than a local supply of fresh water fish. Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 13, no. 4, December 1998.

Andy Webb and Diana Martin, from England, are the producers of “First Light”, a 50-minute film about how various cities and towns around the world are going to celebrate the arrival of the new Millennium. Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 13, no. 4, December 1998.

A survey conducted by the Diabetic Clinic of Vaiola Hospital recently could prove that Tongans are more at risk of developing Diabetes and heart disease than other people. Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 13, no. 4, December 1998.

Concern over shop ownership is unfounded, says Labour Ministry. This year only 8 percent of all small retail shops registered in Tonga are owned and operated by Chinese immigrants, and they are all new Tongan nationals or married to a Tongan the Labour Ministry has confirmed. Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 13, no. 4, December 1998.

Buying locally-made goods creates jobs and keeps the pa‘anga in Tonga. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 13, no. 4, December 1998.

Ms Prue Townsend, (pictured second from left) from the Whitireia Polytech Institute, New Zealand visited Tonga in November to run a workshop on paper-making, in what was a joint project with the ‘Aloua Ma‘a Tonga Association. Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 13, no. 4, December 1998.

Wedding bells rang for Prince ‘Uluvalu Ngu Takeivulai Tuku‘aho, 48, and Kaimana Hauoli-‘o-Kuini Aleamotu‘a,38, who were married at the Centenary Church Nuku‘alofa on November 29. Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 13, no. 4, December 1998.

What could be the impact on Tonga of the merging of Mobile Oil and Exon? Stalini Naufahu, the president of Three Stars, a Tongan company that is the sole distributor of Mobile Oil in Tonga said, “very little in the immediate future, but the good news for Tonga is that Mobile is going to build six major distributing centres in the region, and they are awaiting for a go-ahead from the Tongan Government.” From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 13, no. 4, December 1998.