Results for Tonga

Tonga’s Human Rights record for 2001 was generally poor, according to the USA Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour. 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.

Tonga’s team for the South Pacific Games in Fiji next year will receive support worth $20,000, which has been pledged by the Managing Director of Colonial Insurance, Mike Walsh. 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.

The Tongan Royal Family is the epi-centre of Tongan politics, a traditional role that was later formalised by the 1875 Tongan Constitution, which spelled out the power of the King and the law of succession to the throne. While in most western countries one could follow political trends by studying the manifestos and the working agenda of political parties, in Tonga one has to understand the political thoughts of the King and the members of the Royal Family. This is no easy task, because of the exclusiveness that surrounds the Royal Family in their daily lives. By Pesi Fonua. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 3, December 2001. FROM OUR ARCHIVES.

The opening of the $8.6 million pa‘anga new business centre of the Si’i Kae Ola Co. Ltd. on December 15 by HM King Taufa‘ahau Tupou IV, set a new standard for the retailing and wholesaling business in Tonga during the 21st century. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 3, December 2001.

Tonga’s line of succession to the throne has not changed significantly in recent years. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 3, December 2001.

When ordinary people reach the age of 64 years they are expected to retire and stop working, but if the King of Tonga, HM King Taufa‘ahau Tupou IV, at 83 years, reduces his work load and looks very tired at the end of an ordinary working day, some people seem to think that something is terribly wrong. The New Zealand media in late October ran a news story that the King’s health was deteriorating, and claimed that there was a battle for power within the Tongan Royal family. Interview by Pesi Fonua, Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 3, December 2001.

When HM King Taufa‘ahau Tupou IV unveiled a plaque to mark the beginning of a $9 million upgrading and expansion of the International Dateline Hotel on December 22, it also marked the first investment in Tonga by a Chinese company, the Janfull Investments Ltd. - Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 3, December 2001.