Results for People

From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

Historian, Ian Campbell, has published a new edition of his book Tonga, 'Island Kingdom, Tonga Ancient and Modern'. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

FROM OUR ARCHIVES: There was no looking back for Betty Blake after she accepted a challenge to help the women and children in Tonga who were being treated badly. Betty, who has been working extensively with women in the villages throughout Tonga since 1996, is sure that the first step for women to gain equality is for women to know their rights. “About 95% of the women who filled the questionnaire did not know their rights. They assumed that once they were married their husband owned everything they had, and therefore they had to be obedient, they believed ‘it is alright if he beats me because I am his wife’.” Most of the women she was dealing with had been conditioned to think this way and it was very difficult for them to break out of it. Interview from Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 15, no. 4, January 2001.

Tonga’s new Prime Minister Prince ‘Ulukālala Lavaka Ata, at the end of his first 12 months in office, appears to be taking a tight control of everything from economics to controlling the pigs in the villages. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 15, no. 4, January 2001.

The first serious documentary to focus on traditional Tongan dances was shown for the first time at the National Cultural Centre, Nuku‘alofa, on December 2. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 15, no. 4, January 2001.

Two of Tonga’s well-known writers who died shortly before the arrival of the 21st century. Dr Sione ‘Amanaki Havea translated the gospels. Patricia Ledyard (Matheson) wrote that she had learned from her Tongan neighbours that "gratitude is the proper attitude toward life”. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 15, no. 4, January 2001.

In the past they kept their anger and sadness to themselves, but today if Tongan women are not happy, and if they are hurt, they will speak out because they have the right to do so, says international women’s leader, Princess Nanasipau‘u Tuku‘aho of Tonga. Interview by Pesi Fonua. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 15, no. 4, January 2001.

Dr Alexander Muller made his annual visit to Tonga to wish the King a happy birthday on July 4. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 3, September 2000.

The Republic of Fiji, like the Republic of Pakistan, is being suspended from the Council of the Commonwealth of Nations for overthrowing its democratically elected government. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 3, September 2000.