Results for 2001

Twenty-five years ago it was estimated that 6,000 males over the age of 16 years had no land. Today, the number of landless Tongans has swelled to over 10,000. The number will continue to increase, as it is no longer possible for estate owners and government to give land to every 16-year-old Tongan, as required by the Land Act of 1903. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

When the Tonga Trust fund was established by in 1988 its purpose was as a kind of safety net for Tonga to accumulate moneys to be held in trust as a foreign reserve fund for the Kingdom to use in exceptional circumstances, and for future major development projects. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

True power and authority is of a moral and spiritual nature, a peace seminar in Nuku‘alofa was told. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

One of the Tongan government’s most adventurous money-making projects, the Tonga Trust Fund is in deep trouble. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

Tonga’s landless grow in number while an increasing number of town allotments and uncultivated farmlands are left vacant by migrants. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

Seini Taumoepeau Furneaux a student at the Auckland University was in Tonga during July, conducting research on the Control of Genetic Resources in Tonga. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

The Millennium wake-up call for Tonga came at the end of 1999 when Crown Prince Tupouto'a announced that he was bidding for a licence to provide a second telephone carrier, and that he was going to introduce wireless technology where, "the customer should be able to buy a computer, plug it in, pull out an aerial and make a phone call. At the same time, he should be able to swipe a card on the computer, establish an account and switch to his favourite TCV channel while he is talking on the phone." A lot of work has been done since then to introduce wireless technology to Tonga, but finally a date has been set for July 2 when the newly formed Tonfön, a trade name owned by Shoreline Communications, will launch its telephone system in Nuku‘alofa. Tonfön also has a fibre optic cable system on the drawing board. Interview with Soane Ramanlal of Tonfön. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.

Dr Catherine Ripley from New Zealand has taken over the work of the Village Mission Clinic in Ha‘ateiho following the departure of Dr Glennis Mafi who lived in Tonga for over 17 years. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.

The working co-operation between the Tonga Defence Service and the People’s Republic of China military establishment was further consolidated following a visit to China by the Commander of the Tonga Defence Service, Lt. Col. Tau‘aika ‘Uta‘atu, Lt. Com. Satisi Vunipola, and Maj. Siamelie Latu from May 13-20. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.