Results for Defence

Chief of the Defence Staff, Brigadier Lord Fielakepa was rewarded as an Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia, Military Division, Governor-General of Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Ms. Sam Mostyn AC, on 20 November, at the Government House in Canberra, Australia.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto'a Ulukalala represented Tonga with the Chief of the Defence Staff, Brigadier Lord Fielakepa at the South Pacific Defence Ministers' Meeting (SPDMM) that was held from 1-3 October, in Auckland, New Zealand.

Twenty-five chaplains from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Tonga and Papua New Guinea attended a week-long forum, at the Devonport Naval Base and RNZAF Base Auckland, Whenuapai, from 10-14 June.

Tonga was first runner-up in this year’s Nevada Best Warrior competition next to Fiji, in Las Vegas, USA. The three-day competition saw seventeen participants, including four from Tonga and Fiji.

Four soldiers from His Majesty's Armed Forces (HMAF) arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada, to compete in the Best Warrior Competition, over the next few weeks. They arrived with soldiers from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) on 1 March, and were welcomed with a traditional haka dance at the airport, by soldiers from the Nevada National Guard's State Partnership Program.

Tonga's Prime Minister and Minister responsible for His Majesty’s Armed Forces, Hon. Hu’akavameiliku had a bilateral meeting with the Minister for the French Armed Forces Mr. Sébastien Lecornu, on 2 October, at the Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence, Paris.

HM King Tupou VI accompanied by Queen Nanasipau‘u officially commissioned the new Northern Command headquarters for His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF), on 22 July, at Fangatongo Vava‘u.

A special maritime surveillance is being carried out by an Australian Defence Force C-27J plane to provide support regional maritime surveillance operations in Tonga from 23-25 May.

'Lest we forget' the ANZAC Day commemoration in Tonga on 25 April, remembered the day when ANZAC forces consisting of Australian and New Zealand forces (including Tongan soldiers) landed at Gallipoli, Turkey, during World War One in 1915.