What is a true Tongan? What have we inherited? I was born overseas and I was led to believe that the true Tongan was either the monarchy or persons born in Tonga, bred Tongan and lived the Tongan way of life, culturally, socially and traditionally. The motto on the Tongan coat of arms says: "God and Tonga are my inheritance". For many young Tongans the question is, an inheritance to what? - Andrew Fifita J.P.
You are here
Results for Opinion
Tuesday 17 February 2004
Sydney, Australia
Friday 13 February 2004
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
A few decades ago, Tonga was looked up to as the leading nation in the Pacific Islands. Its people had the highest standards of living, income and independence. This is no longer the case. Elite privilege has become more concentrated and reactionary; the economy and society stagnated as a result. - Ron Crocombe
Monday 1 December 2003
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Under Tonga's Constitutional Monarchy system of Government the final executive decision-making power remains with the King. Therefore the burden of finding a solution to Tonga's current economic and Constitutional crises rests squarely on the shoulders of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV. - Editor's Comment. Matangi Tonga, Vol. 18, No. 3
Premium content
Monday 1 December 2003
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The reason why the Tongan Government decided to enact Media Bills and to amend Clause 7 of the Constitution so that they can control the local Media, remains a mystery. One thing that is clear, however, is that the new media legislation is vindictive, because it is meant to hurt. - Matangi Tonga, Vol. 18, No. 3
Thursday 2 October 2003
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The controversy over the proposal by government to amend Clause 7 of the Tongan Constitution, giving government the right to make laws to control Freedom of Speech and the media, is dividing the country. Government is not going to win respect by changing the laws, simply because it has been losing its court cases against its critics. We are at the cross roads, in an unfamiliar Twilight Zone. Editor's Comment, by Pesi Fonua (From our Archives 2003).
Wednesday 3 September 2003
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Although public reaction is heating up to a Tonga government move to control Freedom of Speech by changing Clause 7 of the island kingdom's 127 year old Constitution, few people yet realise the enormous and serious implications of what that change might mean. Objections so far have been based on the glaring illegality of the change, but there is more to it than that. By Pesi Fonua.
Premium content
Saturday 30 August 2003
Premium content
Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
During the past few years Tonga has become a Lali of the New Zealand media, and of some fringe New Zealand politicians. A Lali is a drum that is beaten hard with a stick, and in these people’s hands it has meant a thrashing for the Tongan Royalty and the Tongan government. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 2, August 2003.
Premium content
Saturday 30 August 2003
Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
When the Tonga government’s ban on the Taimi ‘o Tonga newspaper came unstuck in March, it proceeded to draft bills to amend the Constitution and to introduce new legislation to try to regulate the media. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 2, August 2003.
Sunday 30 March 2003
Premium content
Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
The banning of the Taimi ‘o Tonga newspaper from Tonga is an unprecedented decision by government, the first time ever for government to restrain the distribution of a publication since the proclamation by Tupou I of the Tongan Constitution in 1875, granting the right for “Freedom of the Press in Tonga for ever”. Editor's Comment From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 1, March 2003.
Premium content
Saturday 30 November 2002
Premium content
Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
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.
Premium content
Friday 30 August 2002
Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Government has adopted a two-edged approach to its economic reform program. Editor's Comment. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 2, August 2002.
Thursday 20 December 2001
Premium content
Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
We found His Majesty, as usual, engrossed in imaginative new ways to bring a healthier economy to Tonga. He firmly believes that the interest by the United Arab Emirates to establish a friendly business relationship with Tonga could be the beginning of a valuable working relationship between the two countries. Meanwhile, the status of the Tonga Trust Fund remains a hot topic. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 3, December 2001.
Premium content
Saturday 30 June 2001
Premium content
Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
A peaceful revolution is currently taking place in Tonga as we are trying to find the right combination to take advantage of what the 21st century has to offer. In business, never before have Tongan business people invested so much money in the Tongan economy, pouring millions of pa‘anga, into trade, telecommunications, tourism, agriculture, fisheries, power generation, the media, shipping, and even airlines. By Pesi Fonua. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.
Premium content
Tuesday 30 January 2001
Premium content
Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Bravo! for the gallant initiative of Masima Sefesi ‘Akau‘ola, the District Officer of Hihifo, Tongatapu, and Manu Tangi, the District Officer of Niuatoputapu, and to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet for their approval of a regulation to stop pigs from digging up the towns and villages in these districts. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 15, no. 4, January 2001.
Premium content
Saturday 30 September 2000
Premium content
Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
The saying that one can’t see the wood for the trees, is so appropriate to our situation in Tonga today. It has been pointed out numerous times, and we can see it with our own eyes, that we are blessed with a good country, where the weather is hospitable, and the soil is so fertile that plants can grow even in the sand. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 3, September 2000.
Premium content
Thursday 1 June 2000
Premium content
Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
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.
Premium content
Monday 20 March 2000
Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Two important political issues that Tonga has to deal with as we are entering the new millennium, will not be resolved without heartache. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 1, March 2000.
Wednesday 1 December 1999
Premium content
Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Tonga will be the first country in the world to welcome the Year 2000, at the stroke of midnight on December 31, an hour ahead of any one else.
Premium content
Thursday 1 July 1999
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
This year government cut its Budget to pay for the retirement and holiday travelling of public servants. It was more important for government to keep the 4,500 public servants happy, than to allocate funds to boost exports and to prop up the value of the pa‘anga. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 3, July 1999.
Premium content
Monday 31 May 1999
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The recent funeral of Tonga’s respected former Prime Minister HRH Prince Fatafehi Tu‘ipelehake, brought the country to a standstill for ten days. The occasion, however, reminded us again that Tonga is run by two sets of interwoven political orders, one so old that it has its origins in a mythical heaven, and the other so relatively new that it has not yet replaced the old. By Pesi Fonua. Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 2, May 1999.
Premium content
