Results for Tonga

A new wireless telecommunications system being designed for Tonga will be the first of its kind to be used on a nation-wide basis anywhere in the world. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 2, June 2000.

Most people have seen a Tongiaki, the ancient Tongan long distance sea voyaging canoes, only in books. But Dr Larry Read of Vaimalo, Vava’u, pictured holding a drawing of a Tongiaki, wants to build a Tongiaki exactly the same as the one in his book. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 2, June 2000.

While Tongans are being told that their economy is growing at a record pace, at the same time they are faced with the hard reality of the declining value of their currency and the erosion of the foreign reserve. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 2, June 2000.

‘Eseta Fusitu‘a, a key government spokesperson on Tongan affairs denies a claim that there is no accountability in the Tongan political system. She says that Tongans must find their own way and not be herded into accepting a foreign system. ‘Eseta is Deputy Chief Secretary and Deputy Secretary to Cabinet, and heads the Government Information Unit. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 2, June 2000.

Television Tonga prepared for the launching of its service on July 4, with a workshop on television news and programme production, held at the Tonga Broadcasting Commission’s Main Studio in Nuku’alofa in May. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 2, June 2000.

Good governance relies on the notion that those who govern and those who are governed, must be equal participants in the decision-making process. To throw some light on these issues Matangi Tonga interveiwed Dr Feleti Sevele,Tongatapu No. 2 People’s Representative to the Tonga Legislative Assembly, who is a businessman and economist.

It was success at last for Koliniasi Afuha’amango (72), the newly elected Vava’u People’s Representative to the Tongan Legislative Assembly, taking over from William Harris, the Vava’u No. One People’s Representative who died last year. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 2, June 2000.

(From our archives, March 2000). Millennium interview with Baron Vaea. When King Taufa‘ahau Tupou IV finally accepted the resignation of Tonga’s 78-year-old Prime Minister, Hon. Baron Vaea, on December 3, 1999, it ended another intriguing saga of Tongan politics. Strange as it may sound, this was the case of a Prime Minister who had wanted to retire and go home after serving five decades in the public service—but he was not allowed to. When he finally agreed to our interview, on January 11, it was obvious why this overworked man had insisted on retirement. Baron Vaea was one exhausted person.

The relationship between the Tongan Rugby Union and South Africa will be further consolidated this year as more Tongans have been invited to study and to play rugby in South Africa. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 1, March 2000.