Results for Tonga

The Auckland-based Taimi ‘o Tonga newspaper was declared by the Tonga government to be a prohibited publication on February 26. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 1, March 2003.

During 2002 inflation accelerated to about 10 per cent and price pressures increased, as Tonga’s expansionary macroeconomic policies resulted in a marked decline in net foreign assets, a weaker pa‘anga and higher inflation, according to a new IMF report. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 1, March 2003.

The Nesian Mystik’s debut album ‘Polysaturated’ went double platinum in New Zealand alone, with sales of over 30,000 CDs, an achievement Tongan band member Donald McNulty attributes to the band’s teamwork and perseverance. “We’ve been together since 3rd Form—we hung around the music room all the time, just jamming”. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 1, March 2003.

Five long-line fishing boats will join Tonga’s fleet of 27 long-line boats in early 2003. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 1, March 2003.

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 current economic reform, in preparation for when Tonga becomes a member of the World Trade Organisation, and the hype that this could pull the economy out from its state of stagnation, is the wishful thinking of many people. But the big question remains: are we ready to exploit our WTO membership, or is it going to be just like the other Free Trade Agreements we have signed with other countries, where it will enable us to import more from our partners but export less? From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

Royal Tongan Airlines will resume its international air service on November 25. The new Chief Executive Officer, Logan Appu, said that they would introduce a daily service between Tonga and Auckland, and a weekly service between Auckland, Sydney, Tonga, and Auckland. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.