Results for 2002

Named Man of the Match in a rugby league test between Tonga’s Mate Ma‘a Tonga and the NSW Universities, was Paula Fukofuka (28), a promising young Tongan full-back. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

Is Tonga ready to become a member of the World Trade Organisation? The Tongan Minister responsible for Trade, Hon. Dr Masaso Paunga, is confident that Tonga has done all the right things by signing the appropriate international conventions, and free trade agreements, and that Tonga is now ready to become a member of the WTO sometime next year. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

A sudden surge in the development of the Tonga’s fishing industry saw 48 fishing boats registered to fish in Tongan waters by July 2002. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

The ultimate purpose of the flurry of trade talks in recent years is to prepare Tonga for becoming a member of the World Trade Organisation, when it will introduce free trade and zero tariffs between Tonga and the 136 member states of the WTO. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

Students who had better marks than they expected in their final exams this year, may have one visitor to thank, and that is Jim Peters, a New Zealand educator who was in Tonga in September to hold teacher workshops on “enabling students to study more efficiently.” From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

The Vava‘u no. 2 People’s Representative, ‘Etuate Lavulavu, is another Member of Parliament who feels that the government’s Economic and Public Sector Reform Program will never work, unless the people are included in the decision-making process. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

Feeling it, living it and loving it, was the catchline, for Tonga’s second Aerobics Extravaganza, held in September. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

Re-stringing tennis rackets is a rare kind of service to be found in Tonga, but it is provided by Siosifa and Donna Taumoepeau, who live in Longolongo. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

The government’s current Economic and Public Sector Reform program, is a futile exercise, believes Dr Feleti Sevele, the Tongatapu no. 2 People’s Representative, in the Tongan Legislature. He says it won’t work until government learns to interact with the productive members of the community. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.