Results for Tonga

Tonga’s 28 year old Bank of Tonga was renamed Westpac-Bank of Tonga after the Tongan Parliament amended the Bank of Tonga Act on July 15. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 2, August 2002.

Tens of millions of pa‘anga in government expenditure that used to be disregarded in the annual Budget estimates, have this year been incorporated into the figures—beefing it up to $112 million in operational costs. This is a new approach by a new Finance Minister, Siosiua ‘Utoikamanu, to make government operations more “transparent”. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 2, August 2002.

Tonga’s Judo champion ‘Epoki Faka‘osi was determined to add a Commonwealth Games medal this year to his achievements. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 2, August 2002.

Peter Semone, the Vice President of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), (pictured above, centre) wants tourist operators in the Pacific islands to revitalise their interest in the organisation. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 2, August 2002.

The restructuring of the Royal Tongan Airlines marked, “the beginning of the reform in government statutory boards,” Tonga’s Prime Minister Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata promised, at a Press Conference he called on July 9, to explain his initiative to restructure the ailing national airline. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 2, August 2002.

New Zealand signed its annual multi-million dollar bilateral aid agreement with Tonga in July, a package worth NZ$5.6 million, the same amount allocated the previous year. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 2, August 2002.

Tongan Prime Minister, Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata in early May commented on the reforms facing Tonga. Interview By Pesi Fonua. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 1, May 2002.

The German adventurer, Captain Burghard Pieske, and another German master boat builder, Kieter Brummer visited Tonga at the end of April, at the start of what they hope will become a great adventure. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 1, May 2002.

Tongans responded with shock and outrage after the New Zealand Foreign Ministry publicly accused the Tongan government of corruption, expressing concern about the state of democracy in the country and saying that the Tongan government appeared reluctant to introduce constitutional changes. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 1, May 2002.