Results for Development

The Hon. Marian Hobbs, the New Zealand Minister for the Environment and the Associate Minister of Education, said in Nuku‘alofa in early October that Tonga and New Zealand had one common problem, a lack of trades-people. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 2002.

Tonga’s membership with the WTO is seen as a bench-mark for the success of the government’s Economic Reform Program, that was officially launched in April this year. This economic reform is aimed at energising Tongan industries, offering more employment opportunities, and producing quality products to compete in the world market. Paula Kautoke said that the principle of WTO is for countries to exploit their advantages. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 3, November 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.

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.

Tonga’s landless grow in number while an increasing number of town allotments and uncultivated farmlands are left vacant by migrants. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

Twenty-five years ago it was estimated that 6,000 males over the age of 16 years had no land. Today, the number of landless Tongans has swelled to over 10,000. The number will continue to increase, as it is no longer possible for estate owners and government to give land to every 16-year-old Tongan, as required by the Land Act of 1903. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

The agreement for the long awaited renovation and expansion program of the International Dateline Hotel in Nuku‘alofa was finally sealed in April and the work will start at end of September. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.

An Airport Authority to manage the running of the Fua‘amotu International Airport, is expected to be in operation by 2002, according to the Minister of Civil Aviation, Dr Langi Hu’akavameiliku. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 3, September 2000.

Tongans who want to make a contribution to the development of Tonga may now do so simply by joining the Tonga National Volunteer Service. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 2, June 2000.