Tonga’s Prime Minister announced on February 14 that there was a serious turn in Tonga’s relationship with New Zealand in the wake of unsubstantiated accusations made by New Zealand’s foreign ministry. The Prime Minister Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata believed that a New Zealand Ministerial attack which ridiculed the Tongan government and Tonga’s Royal family was an attempt to influence Tonga’s March General Election, and “to take the moral high ground, to say they are holier than us, and to dictate to other countries what New Zealand wants”. Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata was responding to the accusations at a press conference he called in Nuku‘alofa. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 1, May 2002.
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Results for Parliament
Thursday 30 May 2002
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
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Thursday 30 May 2002
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
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.
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Thursday 30 May 2002
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Tongan Prime Minister, Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata in early May commented on the reforms facing Tonga. Interview By Pesi Fonua. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 1, May 2002.
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Saturday 30 September 2000
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
While Tonga’s economy is under pressure from the Reserve Bank, because of a steep dive in the Foreign Reserve; and while the Private Sector and the government are preoccupied with far-sighted new projects in telecommunications, power generation and the marketing of Tongan produce overseas—projects that could secure a place for Tonga in the global economy of the 21st century—Parliament, somehow, has been looking inwards, and preoccupying itself with its internal affairs. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 3, September 2000.
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Saturday 30 September 2000
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Hon. Veikune, the Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly, first entered Parliament in 1975 as one of two Noble’s representatives for Vava‘u. During his 22 years in the House, Hon. Veikune has served as Chairman of the Whole House Committee, and last year was appointed by the King as the new Speaker. Recently he has taken part in a regional seminar on Parliamentary democracy, and here comments on the stability of the Tongan parliamentary system, as seen from the nobility’s viewpoint. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 3, September 2000.
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Saturday 30 September 2000
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Lopeti Senituli, the former Director of the Pacific Concerns Resource Centre, took over as the new Director of the Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement in July. - Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 3, September 2000.
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Thursday 1 June 2000
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Eseta Fusitu‘a, a key government spokesperson on Tongan affairs denies a claim that there is no accountability in the Tongan political system. She says that Tongans must find their own way and not be herded into accepting a foreign system. ‘Eseta is Deputy Chief Secretary and Deputy Secretary to Cabinet, and heads the Government Information Unit. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 2, June 2000.
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Thursday 1 June 2000
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
It was success at last for Koliniasi Afuha’amango (72), the newly elected Vava’u People’s Representative to the Tongan Legislative Assembly, taking over from William Harris, the Vava’u No. One People’s Representative who died last year. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 2, June 2000.
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Monday 20 March 2000
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
(From our archives, March 2000). Millennium interview with Baron Vaea. When King Taufa‘ahau Tupou IV finally accepted the resignation of Tonga’s 78-year-old Prime Minister, Hon. Baron Vaea, on December 3, 1999, it ended another intriguing saga of Tongan politics. Strange as it may sound, this was the case of a Prime Minister who had wanted to retire and go home after serving five decades in the public service—but he was not allowed to. When he finally agreed to our interview, on January 11, it was obvious why this overworked man had insisted on retirement. Baron Vaea was one exhausted person.
Monday 20 March 2000
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Minister of Police, Clive Edwards said he was concerned about reports that New Zealand was going to fund Tonga’s Pro Democracy and Human Rights Movement, and he believed that it would interfere with Tonga’s political stability. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 1, March 2000.
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Wednesday 1 December 1999
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The last session of the Tongan Legislative Assembly of the century was closed by King Taufa‘ahau Tupou IV on November 22, at Queen Salote Memorial Hall with Cabinet ministers and the Members of Parliament. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 4, December 1999.
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Thursday 19 August 1999
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Rt. Hon. Don McKinnon with a 40-member delegation, including nine Members of Parliament, four students, journalists and military personnel spent two nights in Tonga August 17-19 during a six country Pacific tour.
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Thursday 1 July 1999
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Any hope by the people of Tonga for their representatives and the Tongan parliament to pass a budget that could revive the economy by allocating a substantial amount of money as incentive to boost production in Tonga’s three main sectors, Agriculture, Fisheries and Tourism, was wishful thinking. From the House by Pesi Fonua. Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 3, July 1999.
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Monday 31 May 1999
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Akilisi Pohiva has been a controversial political figure ever since he first entered Parliament in 1987, not only because of his indifference to the rules and procedures of the House, but also for his outspoken and controversial comments about Cabinet ministers, the King and members of the Royal family. They are comments that have cost him tens of thousands of pa‘anga in lawyers’ fees and court awards for the defamed over the last decade. Interview and photos by Pesi Fonua. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 2, May 1999.
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Monday 31 May 1999
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Pro-Democracy Movement has changed its name. In the process of changing its image from that of a political organisation to become a Non-Government Organisation, it is now called the Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 2, May 1999.
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Saturday 27 February 1999
Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
From our archives: Matangi Tonga asks parliamentary candidates for the March 1999 General Election: How can the Tongan economy recover? How can more youth be employed? There are a diversity of views. Standing People’s Representative for Tongatapu, 'Akilisi Pohiva said to ask the Ministers who had the authority.
Saturday 27 February 1999
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
What difference would it make to the 1999 Tongan Parliamentary Election on March 11 if the estimated 25,000 eligible Tongan voters overseas were allowed to vote? By Pesi Fonua. Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 1, January 1999.
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Sunday 20 December 1998
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Tonga‘s 1999 parliamentary election is set for March 10 for the nobles and March 11 for the people. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 13, no. 4, December 1998.
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Saturday 26 September 1998
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
It was important for Tonga to make up its mind on whether to link its legal practices to the British legal system or to the Australian and New Zealand legal system, Laki Niu, the president of the Tongan Law Society told a dinner to mark the end of the 1998 Tonga Court of Appeal.
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Saturday 26 September 1998
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Mr Justice Gordon Ward, who was Chief Justice for Tonga 1992-1995 will return as Chief Justice starting on November 16 under local appointment. When Mr Justice Ward left Tonga in 1995, it also concluded a 90-year working relationship between Tonga and the United Kingdom.
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