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20 Apr (Sat) 2024
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His Majesty King Tupou VI Addresses National Symposium on Illicit Drugs
The two days (6 and 7 October, 2021) symposium brought together stakeholders and members of the public, including youths to share knowledge, experiences and best practice that would contribute to the effective implementation of the National Illicit Drugs Policy (NIDP) and its impact on harm minimization. The Symposium will also provide a forum to build networks and working collaborations as well as it will seek to establish best practices and make recommendations that would inform activities contributing to the outcomes of the NIDP.
HIS MAJESTY KING TUPOU VI’S SPEECH FOR THE NATIONAL
SYMPOSIUM ON ILLICIT DRUGS
Taufa’ahau Tupou IV Domestic Wharf
Wednesday 6th October, 2021
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
I acknowledge the presence of the All-knowing God
Nobles of the Realm
Prime Minister and the Government Leaders
Diplomatic Corps
Churches’ Leaders
Ladies and gentlemen who are here with us at the Taufa’ahau Tupou IV Domestic Wharf for the National Symposium on protecting Tonga from Illicit Drugs.
Our beloved country is no longer free of drugs but rather very much part of the global struggle against illicit drugs. This is a not just a problem for the Police to deal with. This is a national issue that requires an urgent integrated national response.
The late King George Tupou the 1st taught us 5 key lessons in nation building and addressing future development challenges.
Given the urgency at hand, I would challenge the Symposium to think about proposed pragmatic strategies that could be implemented with the available resources and partners at our disposal. I would encourage all of us to address how we, together as a nation, will develop ways to stop the supply of illicit drugs, its demand in our communities and subsequently the harmful consequences of its use and abuse in our nation.
It is of critical importance to understand that there is no other freedom more costly than the freedom of choice. This Symposium is one opportunity for us to make the right choice and contribute in our own way to support the right decision. Our reality demands nothing less from us as a nation.
May this Symposium help us a nation to be better informed to make wise choices for our future.
‘Ofa Atu.
FOLOFOLA KI HE FAKATAHA ALEA FAKAFONUA KI HONO
FAKAFEPAKI’I ‘A E FAITO’O KONATAPU
‘AHO PULELULU, 6 ‘O ‘OKATOPA 2021 KI HE UAFU FAKALOTOFONUA
KO TAUFA’AHAU TUPOU IV ‘I HE TAIMI 9:00 PONGIPONGI
FAKATAPU:
Tapu mo e ‘Afio ‘a e ‘Otua ko e Tokaima’ananga
Tapu mo e Hou’eiki ‘o e Fonua
Tapu mo e Palemia mo e Kau Taki ‘o e Pule’anga
Tapu mo e Kau Fakafofonga ‘o e Ngaahi Pule’anga Muli
Tapu mo e Kau Taki Lotu
Pea tapu mo e Fakataha’anga ni, ‘a ia ‘oku tau lonuku ‘i he Uafu
Fakalotofonua ko Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, ko e Fono Fakafonua ki
hono malu’i ‘a Tonga mei he Faito’o Konatapu.
Kuo mahino eni ko hotau fonua ‘ofa’anga ni, kuo ‘ikai ke kei ‘ata’ataa mei he faito’o konatapu, he kuo tau hangee tofu pe ko e ngaahi fonua lahi ‘i mamani, kuo mo’utamakia ‘e he faito’o konatapu. ‘Oku ‘ikai ko ha faingata’a eni ke fakafalala pe hono solova ki he kau Polisi. Ko e faingata’a fakatu’utamaki lahi ‘aupito eni kuo tau mo’ua ai, pea ‘oku fiema’u fakavavevave ke tau ngaue fakataha katoa ki ai ‘a e fonua kotoa.
Na’e fakahinohino ‘e Kingi Siaosi Tupou ‘Uluaki ha lesoni lelei ‘e 5 fekau’aki pea mo e Langa-Fonua Malu kae’uma’a ‘a e Fakalakalaka Taau ki he kaha’u. Ko e ngaahi lesoni koeni ‘e ‘aonga ke tataki kitautolu ‘i he ‘etau feinga ke tau’i ‘a e faingata’a ‘oku tau fehangahangai mo ia, ko e faito’o konatapu.
Koe’uhi ko e tu’unga fakatu’utamaki ‘oku tau ‘i ai, ‘oku ou pole’i ‘a e Fono Fakafonua ni, ke Fokotu’u leva ha ngaue pau ke fai pea kamata leva hono fakahoko, ‘oua toe tatali, ‘o kamata’aki pe ‘a e me’a ‘oku tau ala ma’u he taimi ni. ‘Oku ou tapou atu ki he ngaahi kupu fengaue’aki kotoa pe ‘i he Fonua pea mo e Pule’anga, ke tau tu’u hake katoa ‘o fetakinima fakataha ke malu’i ‘a Tonga ‘aki hono fakangata hono ngaohi pea mo hono fetuku holo, kae’uma’a ‘a e maumau ‘oku tupu mei hono ngaue’aki ‘o e faito’o konatapu ‘i hotau fonua ni.
‘Oku mafatukituki ‘aupito ke tau ‘ilo ‘oku ‘ikai mo ha toe Tau’ataina ‘e mahu’ing ange, ka ko e Tau’ataina ke takitaha fai ‘ene tu’utu’uni ma’ana. Ko e fakataha’anga ko eni, ko e faingamalie ke fai ai ‘a e ngaahi Tu’utu’uni Totonu, ‘aki ‘a e ngaahi Founga Fe’unga mo kitautolu. Ko e tukunga koeni ‘oku ou ui ai ‘a e fonua kotoa ke tau ngaue fakataha kotoa ki ai.
Fakatauange ke hoko ‘a e fakataha’anga fakafonua koeni, ke Ne fakaivia pea ke tokoni’i kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otua na’e tuku ki ai ‘a e fonua ni, ke tau fakahoko ‘a e ngaahi Tu’utu’uni Totonu mo Fakapotopoto koe’uhi ko e kaha’u ‘o e fonua ko Tonga mo hono kakai.
‘Ofa Atu.
Groundbreaking and Site Dedication of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Neiafu Temple
11 September 2021
Their Majesties, King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u were the Guest of Honour at the groundbreaking ceremony for the establishment of the second Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tonga was held at Neiafu, Vava’u on Saturday 11 September, 2021.
KO E FOLOFOLA ‘A ‘ENE ‘AFIO TUPOU VI, KO E TU’I
‘I H E HUUFI TUKU ‘O E FALE ALEA ‘O TONGA
‘AHO TU’APULELULU, 16 O SEPITEMA 2021
‘Oku ou tuku ‘a e fakafeta’i ki he ‘Otua Mafimafi ‘i he ‘ene tataki pea tau tu’uta mai ki he ‘aho ko eni.
‘Oku laumãlie lelei pē ‘a e Sea ‘o e Fale Alea, Palëmia mo e Kau Ministaa ‘o e Kapineti, Kau Fakafofonga ‘o e Hou’eiki Nōpele pea pehë ki he Kau Fakafofonga ‘o e Kakai.
‘Oku tau fononga atu ‘eni ‘i ha tāimi ‘oku tau fehangahāngāi mo e ngaahi pole lālahi ki he Fonua´:
Kuo fakapaasi ‘e he Fale´ ‘i he to’u Fale Alea koeni ha ngaahi Lao Fakaangaanga, ‘aia ‘e tokoni ki he langa hake ‘o e Fonua ‘i he ngaahi tapa kehekehe pē ‘o e Sōsaieti.
Ka, ‘oku ‘iai ‘a e Lao ‘e ni’ihi ‘oku hā mai ha tõ nounou ‘i he taumu’a´ pea hangē leva ‘e ‘ikai ke malava ‘e he Fakamaau’anga ke fakakakato ki he lelei taha hono fatongia ki he Sōsaieti.
‘Oku totonu ke tokanga ‘a e Fale Alea ke fakapapau’i ‘oku ngãue fakapotopoto’aki ‘e he Pule’anga ‘o e ‘Aho´, ‘a e Pa’anga Tukuhau. Ko e ni’ihi ‘o e ngaahi Potungãue, ‘o hangē ko e Ngaahi Kautaha Pisinisi ‘a e Pule’anga, ‘oku hā mai ‘oku ‘ikai ke kakato ‘a e ngaahi fakamatala ki he Pa’anga Hu kitu’a.
‘Oku ‘iai ‘a e fatongia ‘o e Fale Alea ki he Kakai pea pehē ki he Lao mo e Konisitutone ‘o Tonga. Neongo na’e fakapaasi ‘a e Ngaahi Lao Fakaangaanga ‘i he To’u Fale Alea koeni, ka ‘oku kei fiema’u ‘a e ngaahi fakalelei.
Ko e kau Fakafofonga ‘o e Kakai mo e kau Nōpele, ‘oku ‘iai ho nau fatongia ki he Kakai´ pea ki he Hou’eiki Nōpele, ‘aia na’a nau fili kinautolu ki he Fale,´ pea pehē ki he Lao mo e Konisitutone ‘o Tonga, ‘aia na’a nau fuakava ke tauhi mo ngāue fakatatau kiai.
Talamōnū atu ki ha fili fakapotopoto ‘i he Fili Fale Alea ‘i Novema.
‘Ofa atu,
TUPOU VI
KO E FOLOFOLA ‘A ‘ENE ‘AFIO TUPOU VI, KO E TU’I
‘I HE HUUFI ‘O E FALE ALEA
‘AHO 6 ‘O MĒ 2021
‘Oku ou fakafeta’i ki he ‘Otua ‘oku tu’u ai ‘a e lelei ‘a Tonga, pea mo ‘Ene tauhi ma’ae kakai ‘o e fonua,
‘oku laumalie lelei ai ‘a e ‘Eiki Sea ‘o e Fale Alea ‘Eiki Palemia mo e Kau Minisitaa ‘o e Kapineti Kau Fakafofonga ‘o e Hou’eiki Nopele pea pehe ki he Kau Fakafofonga ‘o e Kakai.
‘Oku ‘ikai fakafiemalie ‘a e ‘IKAI ke fakahoko ‘e he Fale ni ha ngaue, hili ‘a e ngaahi palomesi mo e tali ki he Huufi ‘o e Fale Alea ‘i he ta’u takitaha.
Ko e ta’u kotoa ‘oku tataki atu ‘a e tokanga ki he ngaahi maka tu’unga ‘e tolu:
Ko e Mo’ui Lelei, Ako mo e Tu’unga Faka-‘Ekonomika ‘o e Fonua, ka ko e ta’u kotoa,
ko e TALI TATAU pe, kae ‘ikai ke ‘iai ha ngaue makehe ‘e fakahoko.
Kimui ni mai, na’e tataki atu ‘a e tokanga ki he pole fakalilifu ‘o e faito’o konatapu.
Ka ‘oku ha mai ‘oku si’isi’i, pe ‘oku te’eki ke ‘iai ha ‘INASI ‘e vahe’i makehe ‘e he Fale ni pe ko e Pule’anga, ke fakafepaki’i ‘aki ‘a e pole faingata’a koeni. ‘Oku totonu ke fakamu’omu’a heni ‘a e Potungaue Polisi mo e Ngaahi Va’a ‘oku nau fengaue’aki fakataha.
Kuo fuoloa ta’u ko e tokolahi ‘o e kau fakafofonga, ‘o kau ai ‘a e ni’ihi ‘i he Fale ni, ‘oku nau taumu’a ‘aki ‘a e Fili ki he Falee ‘a e Kaveinga ‘o e FAI TOTONU. Ko e fee leva ‘a e ngaahi Fakamatala Ngaue Fakata’u ‘a e Kau Minisitaa?
Ko e ha ‘oku to’o ai ‘e he Pule’anga ‘a e ngaahi faingamalie mei he sekitoa FAKATUPU KOLOA TAAUTAHA, ‘aia ‘oku tefito ai ‘a e ngaahi noo mei Muli?
‘Oku matu’aki mahu’inga ke mahino, ko e NGAUE ‘a e Pule’anga ke fakalele ‘a e Pule’anga kae ‘ikai ko e kau ‘i he ngaahi pisinisi. Kuo tu’olahi ‘ene feinga ke fakalele ‘a e ngaahi ngaue ‘aia ‘i he Ngaahi Fonua Temokalati, ko e fatongia ia ke fakahoko ‘e he Ngaahi Pisinisi.
‘Oku fiema’u ke fakatokanga’i lelei ‘a e Ngaahi POATE ‘a e Pule’anga, koe’uhi, ko e Poate ‘e ni’ihi ‘oku fakahoko ‘a e fakalele faka’aho ‘o e ngaue, ‘e he kau memipa ‘o e Poate, ‘aia ‘oku si’isi’i ‘enau taukei ‘i he mala’e koia.
Ka ‘oku fiema’u ke tokanga ‘a e Poate ia, ki he ola fakapa’anga ma’ae kau ma’u ‘inasi, kae tuku ‘a e fakalele ‘o e ngaue faka’aho, ke fakahoko ia ‘e he kau ngaue kuo ‘osi teu’i mo taukei ngaue.
Kapau ‘oku fakafiemalie ‘a e tu’unga FAKA’EKONOMIKA ‘o e Fonua, pea ko e ha leva ‘oku holo ai ‘a e mahu’inga ‘o ‘etau pa’anga, ‘o fakatatau ki he pa’anga ‘a e ngaahi Fonua Muli ‘oku tau fefakatau’aki?
‘Oku toe hiki hake mo e ngaahi mo’ua mei he hu-koloa mei Muli, ka na’e mei lava pe ke holo ‘i he ngaue’aki ‘a e me’atokoni ‘oku fakatupu fakaloto Fonua, ka ‘oku ‘ikai foki ke tokoni’i lahi ia ‘e he Pule’anga.
Ko e tokolahi ‘o e ngaahi ngaue’anga fakalotofonua koeni, ‘oku nau tu’u ‘i he MO’UA LAHI pe kuo nau TAPUNI.
‘Oku ‘ikai ke fakahoko ‘e he Fale ni ‘a ‘ene ngaue ko e VAKAI’I LELEI ‘a e ngaahi ngaue ‘a e Pule’anga ‘o e ‘Aho. Koia, ‘oku taau ke fakakaukau’i lelei ‘e he kau totongi tukuhau mo e kakai ‘o e fonua, ‘aia ‘oku nau fili ‘a e kau Fakafofonga Fale Alea, ke nau fakahoko fakapotopoto ‘enau fili.
He ko e Pule’anga ‘oku ‘i he Fale ni ko e Pule’anga pe ia na’a mou fili ai.
‘OTUA MO TONGA KO HOKU TOFI’A.
‘Ofa atu,
TUPOU VI
KO E FOLOFOLA ‘A ‘ENE ‘AFIO TUPOU VI, KO E TU’I
‘I HE HUUFI TUKU ‘O E FALE ALEA
‘AHO 8 ‘O ‘EPELELI 2021
‘Oku ou tuku ‘a e fakafeta’i ki he ‘Otua Mafimafi ‘i he ‘Ene tauhi ‘oku fai ma’a kitautolu ‘o tau toe a’usia ai ‘a e ‘aho koeni.
‘Oku laumālie lelei pe ‘a e Sea ‘o e Fale Alea, ‘Eiki Palemia, ko e Kau Minisita ‘o e Kapineti Kau Fakafofonga ‘o e Hou’eiki Nopele pea pēhē ki he Kau Fakafofonga ‘o e Kakai.
‘Oku mahu’inga ke tau fakamu’omu’a ma’u pē ‘a e ongo kaveinga tu’u kimu’a na’e fakatoka mei he Pule’anga ‘o e ‘ULUAKI FA.
Ko e ‘uluaki ko e MO’UI LELEI ‘a hono Kakai, koe’uhí ka ‘ikai ke mo’ui lelei ‘a e Kakai pea ‘e ‘ikai ke lava ke a’usia ‘a e ngaahi kaveinga mo e fiema’u, pea ‘e toe si’isi’i ange ha tokoni pē fakahu pa’anga mai mei he ngaahi Fonua Muli. Ua ko e AKO: Ko e mo’ui lelei ko e makatu’unga ia ki ha Fonua ‘oku lava me’a mo Ako lelei ‘a hono Kakai.
Ka a’usia ‘a e ongo kaveinga mahu’inga ko ‘eni pea ‘e malava ke a’usia leva ‘a e kaveinga ‘o e fakatupu koloa faka’ekonomika ‘a e Fonua.
Ko e founga ‘eni na’e a’usia ai ‘a e tu’unga ma’olunga ‘i he Fonuá ‘i he Kuohilí, ‘i he ngaahi ta’u ‘o e Nimangofulu (1950s), Onongofulu(1960s) pea mo e ngaahi ta’u ‘o e Fitungofulu (1970s).
Ka neongo hono a’usia ‘a e tu’unga ma’olunga ko ‘eni ka na’e ‘ikai malava ke tauhi ke hokohoko atu.
‘E lava pē ke pehē, ko e fakalakalaka ‘o e tu’unga faka’ekonomika, ko e langa mei he tu’unga lolotonga ki ha Ngaahi Taumu’a ‘oku fiema’u. ‘O hangē pē, ko e ngaahi Palani ke langa ha ngaahi hala fakakavakava, mala’e vakapuna pea pēhē ki he uafu [taulanga].
‘Oku mahu’inga ‘a e ngaahi ngāue langa lalahi ki he Kaha’u, koe’uhi ‘oku totonu ke lava ke uta atu ‘a e Koloa mei he feitu’u ‘oku ngaohi pē fakatupu ai, ke a’u ki he Maketi, ‘o fou ‘i he Ngaahi Hala, Mala’e Vakapuna mo e Taulanga.
‘Oku ‘ikai ke lava ‘e he‘etau Maketí Fakalotofonua ke matu’uaki ‘a e ngaahi totongi ‘o e fefakatau’aki mo Tu’apule’anga. Koe’uhi ko e koloa lahi taha ‘oku hu mai mei Tu’apule’anga, ko e Lolo mo e Me’atokoní.
‘E tokoni pē ‘a e ngāue’aki ‘o e Ma’u’anga Ivi ‘oku Tolonga ke holoki ‘a e fakamole ki he totongi ‘o e Lolo. Ka, ‘oku fiema’u lahi ‘a e tokanga mo e tokoni ‘a e Pule’anga ki he fakatupu fakalotofonua ‘o e Me’atokoní, ‘i he founga ko hono fokotu’u ha Ngaahi Tu’utu’uni, ke malu’i ‘a e langa ‘o e ngaahi ngaue’anga ‘i he Ngoue, Toutai mo e Ngāue Taki Mamata.
Koia, ‘oku totonu ke fakamu’omu’a ‘a e Ngaahi ngāue langa ‘i he Va’a ‘o e Sekitoa Fakataautaha, ‘o hange koia kuo fakahā mei he Ngaahi Fonua ‘oku tokoni ki he Langa ‘o e Fonua.
‘Oku mahino ‘a e ngaahi pole ‘i he Kaha’u. Koia ‘oku totonu ke fakamu’omu’a ‘a e kaveinga ko ‘eni ‘i he Palani Fakalakalaka ‘a e Fonua, koe’uhi ‘oku ‘ikai pē ke fe’unga ‘a e ngaahi koloa ‘oku fakatupu fakalotofonua.
Ko e pole fakalilifu lolotonga ki he Fonua, ko e Mahaki faka-Mamani lahi koia ko e COVID-19, ‘o hangē pē, ko e Faito’o Konatapu, ‘aia ‘oku fakatu’utamaki lahi ki he Fonua, kae tautefito ki he To’utupu ‘o e Fonua.
‘Oku ou Talamonū atu kiate kimoutolu ‘i he ngāue ke langa pea mo ‘ofa hotau Fonua.
TUPOU VI
FOLOFOLA ‘A ‘ENE ‘AFIO TUPOU VI, KO E TU’I ‘I HE HUUFI ‘O E FALE ALEA ‘O TONGA
‘Aho Tu’apulelulu 7 Me, 2020
Fakatapu:
Tapu mo e ‘afio ‘a e ‘Otua ko e Hufanga kiate kitautolu mo ha Mālohi;
Ko e Tokoni ‘i he mamahi mātu’aki ofi.
Tapu mo e ‘Eiki Sea ‘o e Fale Alea ‘o Tonga,
Tapu mo e ‘Eiki Palemia mo e Kau Minisitā ‘o e Kapinetí,
Tapu mo e Kau Fakafofonga ‘o e Hou’eiki Nōpele mo e Kau Fakafofonga ‘o e Kakaí.
Pea ‘oku ou fakatapu ki he tangata mo e fefine’i fonua ‘oku a’u atu ki ai ‘a e huufi ‘o e Fale Alea ‘o Tonga ki he ta’u 2020/2021.
‘Oku kei pōpō’uli mo tapu ‘a e ngaahi fonua lahi ‘i mamani; longonoa ‘a e ngaahi loto kolȯ mo nofo fale ‘a e fāmili; tu’u ‘a e fefolau’akí pea tāpuni ‘a e ngāue’anga; mole ‘a e mo’ui ‘a e tokolahi; pea holo ‘a e tu’unga fakapa’anga; ko covid 19 ia mo hono fu’u mafi;
‘oku ‘ikai hano fakangatangata pe faito’o.
Ko e tu’u hotau fonuá he ‘aho ni, ‘oku tau fakafeta’i he’etau hao mai.
‘Oku ou fakamālō’ia ‘a e talangofua mo e katekina ‘a e ngaahi tu’utu’uni kuo tuku atu.
Ko e fai kotoa pē ko hotau malu’i mo e lelei ma’ae kakaí.
‘I he lolotonga ‘o e Tapú, kuo tō mai ‘a e Saikolone ko Hāloti, ‘one to’o ‘a e ngāue’anga fakataki mamata ‘i Hihifo Tongatapu, Ha’apai mo ‘Eua pea ta’aki e taulangá, mo maumau’i ‘a e ngaahi kolo tu’u he matātahí. Ko e tūkunga ia he ‘aho ni ‘oku tau fehangahangai. Ko e ngaahi feliuliuaki ‘e hoko maí, ‘oku tu’u ki he faingata’a ange.
‘Oku ‘ikai ke tatali ‘a e faingata’á ia ke ‘osi ‘a Covid 19 kae toki hoko mai ‘a Saikolone.
‘Oku ‘ikai ala ta’ofi, pe toloi, pea hangē ‘oku faka’au ki he lalahi mo toutou hoko mai.
Ko e fonua mo e kakai ‘oku nau tokateú, ko kinautolu ia tenau ala matu’uaki ‘a e ngaahi faingata’á. Ko e fonua si’isi’i ‘a Tonga, pea ‘oku tala mei hotau tukufakaholȯ, ‘a e poto mo e ‘ilo, mohu founga mo e lavame’a, ‘a e to’utangata ‘o e kuohilí. Ko e tu’u ki he kaha’ú, ‘oku hā mai ‘a e maumau ki he ‘atakaí, ‘e tu’u ke uesia ai ‘a e ma’u’anga me’atokoní, pea ‘e ‘i ai e nounou pe honge. Te tau kei fe’ao pē mo e vailasí pea mo e fakatamaki fakanatulá, ka ko e kakai tenau ikuna ‘a e faingata’á, ‘oku ‘ikai hā ‘a fakapikopiko ia mo fa’a mohe he’enau ‘asenitá. ‘Oku falala kiate kinautolu honau familí, ‘oku ‘ikai manavahē, ‘oku fakapotopoto telia e tūkunga e nofȯ: ka tō ha matangi, mate ‘a e ‘uhilá, si’isi’i ‘a e ma’u’anga vaí, pe ‘osi ‘a e lolȯ, kuo ‘osi ‘utu pē ‘enau ngaahi maamá ‘o hangē ko e kau taaupo’ou potȯ.
‘I he tu’u ki he kaha’ú mo e mateuteú ‘oku lahi ‘a e ngāue ki he Fale ni. ‘Oku fiema’u ki ai e ngaue fakataha ‘o taumu’a ki he lelei ‘a e kakaí mo e langa hake ‘o e fonuá.
‘Oku tau tali mo e loto hounga’ia mo’oni ‘a e ngaahi tokoni kotoa pē kuo a’utaki mai mei he ngaahi fonua mulí, ke malu’i e mo’ui ‘a e kau ngāuė mo e kakaí, pea ke tau teuteu ki he feliuliuaki ‘a natula mo e ngaahi liliu ‘oku ‘omai ‘e covid 19, ki he ma’u’anga mo’uí, tu’unga faka’ekonomika ‘o e fonuá, fefolau’akí, taki mamatá, sipotí, pisinisí, fetu’utakí mo e ngaahi me’a lahi.
‘Oku ou talamonū atu ki he ngāue ‘o e ta’ú.
‘Ofa atu,
FOLOFOLA ‘A ‘ENE ‘AFIO TUPOU VI, KO E TU’I ‘I HE TAPUNI ‘O E FALE ALEA ‘O TONGA
‘Aho Tu’apulelulu 26 Ma’asi, 2020
Fakatapu:
Tapu mo e ‘afio ‘a e ‘Otua na’e momoi ki Ai ‘a e fonua ni
Tapu mo e Hou’eiki ‘o e Fonua
Tapu mo e Sea ‘o e Fale Alea
Tapu mo e Palemia ‘o Tonga
‘Oku ou tuku ‘a e fakafeta’i ko e tauhi ‘ofa mo malu ‘oku fai ‘e he ‘Otuá ma’a Tonga he ngaahi ‘aho ni. ‘Oku laumalie lelei pē ‘a e ‘Eiki Sea ‘o e Fale Aleá, Kau Fakafofonga ‘o e Hou’eiki Nopelė kae’uma’ā ‘a e Kau Fakafofonga ‘o e Kakaí. ‘Oku tau fiefia he kau fakataha mo e ‘Eiki Palemia mo e kau Minisitaa ‘o e Kapineti pea mo e kau fakaafe ‘oku tau ‘i heni ‘i he Tapuni ‘o e Fale Alea.
Ko e Kolonavailasi ‘a e pole faingata’a ia ‘o e ‘aho ni he kuo a’u ki he tu’unga ko e ‘pandemic,’ ‘a ia ko e mahaki ‘oku ne uesia ‘a māmani lahi lolotonga ‘oku te’eki ma’u ha faito’o pe huhu malu’i.
‘I he tu’unga koeni ‘oku ‘ohofia ai ‘a mamani ‘e he Kolonavailasí, ‘oku mahu’inga ‘aupito ‘a e tauhi pau ‘o e ngaahi founga ‘e ala malu’i ai ‘a e kakai ‘o e fonua mo fakasi’isi’i ‘a e mafola ‘a e mahaki, ‘o fakatatau ki he fakahinohino ‘a e Kautaha Mo’ui ‘a Mamaní mo e Potungaue Mo’ui ‘a Tonga ni.
Koia ai ko e tu’u fakalukufua ‘a Tonga ki he kaha’ú, kuopau ke hoko ‘a e mo’ui leleí ko ha KAVEINGA TU’UMA’U ‘a e Pule’anga Tongá ma’ae tangata mo e fefine’i fonua Tonga kotoa pē.
‘I he mala’e ‘o e Akȯ ko e tu’utu’uni ‘a e Konisitutonė, KUOPAU ke ako ‘a e Tonga kotoa. Koia ai ‘oku totonu ke tau feinga ai pē ke fakapapau’i ‘oku malava ‘a e ngaahi ako’anga ‘i Tonga ni ke ako’i ‘etau fanaú pea hoko lelei atu ki he ngaahi ako’anga ma’olunga ange ‘i he Pasifikí mo Māmani Lahi ke a’usia ai ‘a e ngaahi tu’unga ako fakavaha’a pule’angá.
‘I he ma’u ‘a e ngaahi tu’unga ako fakavaha’a pule’anga koení, ‘oku FOKI mai ‘a e kau ako ke ngaue mo langa hake ‘a e ngaahi sekitoa kehekehe ‘o e fonua ki ha tu’unga ‘oku toe lelei mo ma’olunga ange.
Ka ko e a’usia ‘o e ongo kaveinga ‘o e MO’UI LELEI mo e AKO LELEI, ‘e makatu’unga mo fakaivia ia ‘i he tu’unga lelei ‘o e ‘EKONOMIKA ‘a e fonua. Koia ai kuopau ke fepoupouaki mo fengaue’aki ‘a e Pule’anga, Siasi mo e kakai ‘o e fonua ki he langa hake ‘a e tu’unga faka’ekonomika ‘o e fonua.
‘Oku ‘oatu ‘a e fakamālō ki he fengaue’aki lelei kotoa ‘a e ngaahi Pule’anga mo e ngaahi Kautaha muli, ‘oku nau fakahoko mai ‘a e tokoni mahu’inga ki he pole faingata’a ‘i he tafa’aki ‘o e Mo’ui, pea pehē ki he langa hake ‘a e fakalakalaka ‘o e fonua ‘i he mala’e ‘o e ako, tupu faka’ekonomika mo e ngaahi mala’e kehekehe, ‘o hangē ko e:
Pule’anga Siapani
Pule’anga Nu’usila
Pule’anga ‘Aositelelia
Pule’anga ‘o e Lepapulika ‘o e Kakai ‘o Siaina
pea mo e Pule’anga Pilitania.
‘Ofa atu,
Tupou VI ko e Tu’i ‘o e ‘Otu Tonga
Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u honour the success of Tonga’s Invitational XIII Rugby League team in the 2019 Oceania Cup rugby League Tournament.
18th Nov 2019
The Tonga Rugby League team were received in audience with Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u at The VILLA Royal residence on Thursday 14th Nov 2019, in the presence of HRH Princess Salote Mafileo Pilolevu and Lord Tuita, members of the Royal Family, Nobles of the Realm, Hon Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers, Church leaders and families of the players and friends.
His Majesty The King addressed the Team and re-affirmed the need "to put aside the division and to see the larger picture which is to do the right thing and united under the banner of sports in peace, for we can do much more if we are united as this rugby league team has already shown us, and if so, the possibilities are endless…"
The Audience included a short Investiture ceremony in recognition of six team members and 2 management staff who were not part of the 2017 Award Ceremony for the Mate Ma’a Tonga Team.
An Official Reception was held following the Audience, to celebrate (mark) the achievement made by the Tonga Rugby League team during the 2019 Oceania Cup Rugby League Tournament.
Palace Office
NUKUALOFA
His Majesty King Tupou VI’s Speech during His Audience with the Tonga’s Invitational XIII Rugby League team
14th Nov 2019
Fakatapu: Tapu mo e ‘afio ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku lotu mo tauhi ki ai ‘a Tonga
Tapu mo Pilinisesi Pilolevu, Pilinisi Kalaniuvalu, Pilinisi Tu’ipelehake mo e Hou’eiki ‘o e fonua
Tapu mo e ‘Eiki Palemia mo e Kau Minisitaa ‘o e Kapineti
Kau Fakafofonga Fale Alea
Kau Talafekau Lahi ko e kau fakafofonga ‘o e ngaahi pule’anga muli
Tapu mo e Kau Taki Lotu
Pea tapu mo e kau fakaafe kotoa kuo mou lava mai ke tau talitali ‘etau fanau va’inga he mala’e ‘o e ‘Akapulu League
Kae fai ha lea ke fakamalo’ia ‘a e ikuna, mo ‘enau ‘i ‘api he ‘aho ni
Tuku ke u fai ia he lea ‘oku mahino ki a kinautolu kotoa he neongo ‘enau lea he lea muli ka ko e loto ‘oku kei Tonga pe.
Sports: In ancient times in Tongan cultural history; sports were performed in times of festivities and peace but also to honour our native pre-european contact Gods. Tongans were not Godless before the arrival of the missionaries with the Gospel. We had our own Gods and traditions. Just as today following the Greek Olympic sports traditions, sports were performed during festivals and war/conflict was banned but sports were performed instead of war and conflict.
A few years ago I attended a meeting in Monaco of the Peace and Sports Organization, where Sports is used as a catalyst to build a safer more equitable world in countries and regions that have been engaged in long term conflicts and wars. Although Sports in Tonga is not yet engaged in similar acts of violent conflict, they are showing signs of following down the path of irreconcilable divisions that lead to such conflicts. People are more important than equipment. In other words the players are what the sports are about. They are the heroes. They are the ones who are inspiring our young people. They are the good examples for youth to follow, in good health and healthy living. Sports in Tonga has never been about divisions. It is about unity, peace, competition, sportsmanship and setting a good example for others to follow. It is about opening doors for those whom are following your lead. It is about giving to the future of youth, and not just Tongan youth.
Let us all act like good sportsmen and sportswomen. Let us put aside our divisions and see the larger picture which is to do the right thing and unite under the banner of sports in peace and our Kingdom of Tonga. We can do much more if we are united as this Rugby League team has already shown us and the world in the recent past. Imagine what we can achieve if all our resources were pulling or pushing in the same direction instead of against each other. The possibilities are endless only limited by our imaginations.
Some of you players have been awarded honours before in my absence but today I would like to add those of you whom were not here before, to that distinguished list.
I would like to leave you with a thought from scripture; Hebrews Chapter 12 verse 14.
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"
‘Ofa atu.
His Majesty King Tupou Vi commissioned a new hospital in Ha’apai
6th Nov 2019
His Majesty King Tupou VI opened the new Ha’apai hospital on 6th Nov, naming it the Princess Fusipala Hospital.
Princess Fusipala Hospital replaces the Niu’ui Hospital that was damaged by Cyclone Ian in 2014, and was relocated to higher ground as part of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) support of Climate Resilience Sector Project.
ADB joined the Government of Tonga and other development partners during the opening ceremony of Princess Fusipala hospital.
Royal Visit of His Majesty King Tupou VI and HM Queen Nanasipauu for the Ceremony of the Enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor Naruhito
22nd October 2019
His Majesty The King and HM Queen Nanasipauu were amongst World Leaders and Representatives from more than 180 countries and International Organisations who as guests, visited Tokyo to attend and witness the Sokuirei Seiden-no-gi - the Ceremony of the Enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor Naruhito which took place at the Imperial Palace on Tuesday 22nd October 2019.
The Ceremony of the Enthronement at the Seiden State Hall started at 1.00 p.m. with His Majesty the Emperor proclaiming his Enthronement from the Takamikura Throne to those at home and abroad. The Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivered a congratulatory message and led the guests in a banzai salute to wish for the Emperor’s longevity.
The Enthronement Ceremony was followed by the Koen-no-gi -the Court Banquet hosted at the Imperial Palace in the Evening and, the Banquet hosted by the Prime Minister and Mrs Abe on Wednesday 23rd October at the Hotel New Otani in Tokyo.
On Wednesday 23rd October, His Majesty King Tupou VI and HM Queen Nanasipauu also attended the Tea Party hosted by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress at the Akasaka Imperial Palace for visiting Royal Families to the Enthronement Ceremony.
Office of the Lord Chamberlain
Nukualofa
King Tupou VI officially commissioned His Majesty Armed Forces' Navy Headquarter's Building and the Patrol Boat, VOEA Ngahau Koula
16th October 2019
On 16th of October 2019, Their Majesties – King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u attended a special program where His Majesty commissioned the New Navy Headquarters building at His Majesty Naval Base, Masefield and the patrol boat, VOEA Ngahau Koula made possible through Australia Defence Corporation Program. The Head of Navy Engineering, Australian Defence Force – Rear Admiral Colin Lawrence, representing Australia. The event was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, members of parliament, cabinet ministers, representatives from foreign defence forces, and many invited guests.
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Garden Dinner at ancestral home of
Honorary Consul Dr. Luka Müller-Studer
Zug, Switzerland
24th August 2019
To commemorate the opening of the Tongan Honorary Consul General’s office in Zurich on 23 August 2019, and the reunion of His Majesty King Tupou VI with the town of Zug after more than forty years, a garden dinner was hosted by Consul Dr. Luka Müller-Studer at his ancestral home in Zug, Switzerland
Amongst the distinguished guests present were His Serene Highness Prince Albert of Monaco, The President of the Swiss Wrestling Federation, the Mayor of Zug, and many local and regional dignitaries and friends and relatives of the Müller family.
The Tongan song "‘Ise’isa viola lose hina" was performed a cappella by renowned Swiss TV personality Ms. Sandra Studer.
Video by courtesy of: MME Switzerland
The Full Schedule for HM King Tupou VI's visit to UAE
9th October 2019
Far from any vacation, HM King Tupou VI's visit to the United Arab Emirates in Sep was packed with meetings, presidential audiences, ambassadorial visits and receptions.
The establishment and opening of an Embassy in Abu Dhabi is a step to strengthening both diplomatic and economic ties with the UAE. The UAE can play a pivotal role in helping the Kingdom of Tonga in its development through technical expertise, shared learnings and experience in areas of Infrastructure, Safety and Security, Education, Tourism, Art and Culture and more.
His Majesty King Tupou VI strategic visit to the region represents these matters of both national and personal interest that extend the ambit of foreign policy.
We look forward to watching the development of relationships especially with the advent of the World Expo 2020, where the Kingdom of Tonga will be elevated to epic heights as it prepares to take part in the "World’s Greatest Show".
Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University, Dubai Educating the Innovators of Tomorrow
A Smart university is an emerging and rapidly evolving area that integrates state-of-the-art technologies and technical platforms to enhance learning and education. Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University in Dubai is pioneering this innovation in education model. HM King Tupou VI met with, University Chancellor Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, to discuss prospects for advancing knowledge transfer and scientific exchanges between Tonga and the UAE.
HM King Tupou VI has hailed the advanced academic level boasted by Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University, saying its innovative education model is conducive to effecting a socio-economic paradigm shift at the local, regional and international levels.
Quality education is attainable in an economy where there is access to internet and technology. The university accredits its role that it has in supplying entrepreneurs, ambassadors and innovators capable of steering the helm of their country and delivering the future in translation of the directives of the UAE leadership.
During the meeting he explained the university’s success in redefining learning and leading the transformation of future universities into knowledge hubs, noting that the university follows the vision of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, President of the University, by "optimally investing in our youth, as they are at the helm of the knowledge era."
DP WORLD, Dubai
ENABLING SMARTER TRADE
Helping Economies Grow and Nations Prosper
As the leading global trade enabler, DP World operates a geographically diverse network of trade enabling businesses including ports and terminals, industrial parks, logistics and economic zones, maritime services and marinas. DP World also has the experience and know-how in the dynamic connectivity of global cargo movement to provide solutions.
HM King Tupou VI was given a grand tour of Jebel Ali in Dubai, the world’s largest man-made harbour and the biggest port in the Middle East.
The tour also included a meeting with Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem and a presentation on DP World and its model of adopting data-driven logistics in pursuit of sustainable solutions, that is transforming business and leading the future of global trade.
"As a leading global business, we have long been committed to sustainability and Our World, Our Future sustainability strategy helps us focus on key areas like people, safety, society and environment. But as we look to the future we are excited to use our role as a global trade enabler to drive societal and economic benefit. We know a dramatic increase in developing country participation in trade has coincided with an equally sharp decline in extreme poverty worldwide. For us sustainability means that our business is part of the answer in addressing some of the world’s hardest challenges by driving sustainable and inclusive economic growth, to which everyone can contribute and where we can create a better future for everyone."
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem,
Group Chairman and CEO for DP World
HM King Tupou VI welcomed the establishment of relations and communications with DP World as a lead to assist with addressing and discussing operational and infrastructural matters not just for border security and control but for commercial opportunities.
NAKHEEL
Where Vision Inspires Humanity
The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai is the world’s largest man-made island, that is shaped like the tree with a 2km long trunk, 17 fronds and an encapsulating crescent. The island is home to luxury residences, villas, apartments, resorts, hotels and upmarket retail stores.
Master developer Nakheel proudly welcomed HM The King Tupou VI to its Dubai headquarters for discussions on how Nakheel’s expertise in waterfront development could be applied in Tonga.
HM King Tupou VI and his delegation were greeted by Nakheel Chief Executive Officer, Sanjay Manchanda, before receiving a presentation on Nakheel’s world-famous projects, including the award-winning Palm Jumeirah and the upcoming Deira Islands.
The group learned how Nakheel’s creativity and innovation has set new standards in master planning, waterfront development and urban design, and explored how this unrivalled experience could put to use in the Kingdom of Tonga.
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Tonga
Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi
KINGDOM OF TONGA SET TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
The small South Pacific Kingdom of Tonga opened its 6th Embassy today in Abu Dhabi in the presence of His Majesty King Tupou IV and Minister of State Zaki Nusseibeh. The mission is headed by resident ambassador His Excellency ‘Akau’ola.
The move is strategic, and reflects well on the closer diplomatic ties and the deep connections that have existed over time with the Tongan royal family and the leadership of the UAE.
"The United Arab Emirates is an important stepping stone for us to cover the Middle East. We look at the UAE’s incredible vision and progressive growth since 1971 and see it as a model of development." says His Excellency ‘Akau’ola, Ambassador to the UAE and Commissioner General for the Kingdom of Tonga at Expo 2020.
The establishment of the Embassy reinforces Tonga’s appreciation of the magnitude of World Expo 2020. The event will run from October, 2020 for 173 days, and the Ambassador is confident that establishing the Embassy in Abu Dhabi a year ahead of the grand opening, will bolster the Kingdom’s position on the Expo stage and ensure the Kingdom nation is ready to fully engage in the ‘World’s Greatest Show’.
The Kingdom of Tonga’s participation in Expo 2020 is driven by His Majesty King Tupou VI, who can clearly see how the Expo will benefit both private and “grass roots” interests in the nation, ultimately boosting education, youth engagement and employment.
His Majesty King Tupou VI enthuses "The Kingdom of Tonga is a blank canvas for investors, not only from the Middle East, but the rest of the world. Expo 2020 will bring the world to us – you’re going to have America, Russia, China; all these nations coming to the UAE; and that for the Kingdom of Tonga, is an opportunity not to be missed.
The ambassadors from the 5 diplomatic missions were also in attendance at the opening;
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi
Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
HM KING TUPOU VI VISITS MAJOR ABU DHABI TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
HM King Tupou VI arrived for a morning visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Accompanying him on the visit was H.R.H Her Excellency The Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Tuku'aho and ambassadors from the other Tongan Diplomatic missions.
The largest in the country, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was launched by the late president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who wanted to establish a structure that would unite the cultural diversity of the Islamic world with the historical and modern values of architecture and art. His final resting place is located on the grounds adjacent to the complex.
HM King Tupou IV was given an informative and insightful look into the influence of Islamic history on its design and architecture. HRH and other women in the delegation donned shaila and abaya for the special visit. The next stop was the Louvre Abu Dhabi in Saadiyat Island.
Saadiyat Island is undergoing a remarkable transformation into a world class leisure, residential, business and cultural hub of global proportions, housing the world's largest single concentration of premier cultural assets. These include the Zayed National Museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi - all designed by Pritzker prize winners.
The delegation enjoyed a swift entry through the 12 galleries that describe the ‘Story of Humanity’. The works on show range from prehistoric artefacts to contemporary artworks.
The eventful and informative morning was welcomed as it gave more than just insight, it helped provide substance for the Embassy opening and launch here in the UAE.
HM KING TUPOU VI HOLDS COURT WITH CROWN PRINCE
HM King Tupou VI met with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al
Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of
the UAE Armed Forces, at the Presidential Palace.
A special relationship between the Royal House of the Kingdom of Tonga
and the UAE leadership creates a conducive relationship for deliberations on
strengthening friendship ties between the nations.
HM King Tupou VI stated "Recognition of our long-standing relationship with the Royal families and shared concerns around global issues such as renewable energy is only further strengthened with the establishment of a diplomatic mission here in the United Arab Emirates. This reinforces our commitment to fostering bilateralism and enables the Kingdom of Tonga to emulate the successes and leverage opportunities for investment, trade and relationships to create a better future for her people."
Praise and accolades were given by HM King Tupou VI not only for development aid but most importantly for the values of tolerance and the development of a sustaining environment that nurtures a society where the happiness of its people is paramount and providing that as a beacon of light for prosperity.
Attending the meeting was Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, the Undersecretary of the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi, and Saleh Ahmed Salem Al Suwaidi, the UAE Ambassador to New Zealand and Non-resident Ambassador to the Kingdom of Tonga and His Excellency ‘Akau’ola, Ambassador to the UAE and Commissioner General for the Kingdom of Tonga at Expo 2020.
Photos by: CocoNew - The Agency
HM King Tupou VI holds court with The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
1st October 2019
Abu Dhabi, UAE HM King Tupou VI met with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, at the Presidential Palace.
Presidential Palace, abu Dhabi.
A special relationship between the Royal House of the Kingdom of Tonga and the UAE leadership creates a conducive relationship for deliberations on strengthening friendship ties between the nations.
HM King Tupou VI stated "Recognition of our long-standing relationship with the Royal families and shared concerns around global issues such as renewable energy is only further strengthened with the establishment of a diplomatic mission here in the United Arab Emirates. This reinforces our commitment to fostering bilateralism and enables the Kingdom of Tonga to emulate the successes and leverage opportunities for investment, trade and relationships to create a better future for her people."
Praise and accolades were given by HM King Tupou VI not only for development aid but most importantly for the values of tolerance and the development of a sustaining environment that nurtures a society where the happiness of its people is paramount and providing that as a beacon of light for prosperity.
Attending the meeting was Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, the Undersecretary of the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi, and Saleh Ahmed Salem Al Suwaidi, the UAE Ambassador to New Zealand and Non-resident Ambassador to the Kingdom of Tonga and His Excellency ‘Akau’ola, Ambassador to the UAE and Commissioner General for the Kingdom of Tonga at Expo 2020.
Photos by: CocoNew - The Agency
HM King Tupou IV visits major Abu Dhabi tourist attractions
1st October 2019
Abu Dhabi, UAE HM King Tupou IV arrived for a morning visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Accompanying him on the visit was H.R.H Her Excellency The Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Tuku'aho and ambassadors from the other Tongan Diplomatic missions.
The largest in the country, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was launched by the late president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who wanted to establish a structure that would unite the cultural diversity of the Islamic world with the historical and modern values of architecture and art. His final resting place is located on the grounds adjacent to the complex.
HM King Tupou IV was given an informative and insightful look into the influence of Islamic history on its design and architecture. HRH and other women in the delegation donned shaila and abaya for the special visit.
HM King Tupou VI accompanied by Dr. Yousif Al Obaidli, Director-General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre.
HM King Tupou VI with Heads of other Tongan Diplomatic Missions.
The next stop was the Louvre Abu Dhabi in Saadiyat. The delegation enjoyed a swift entry through the 12 galleries that describe the ‘Story of Humanity’. The works on show range from prehistoric artefacts to contemporary artworks.
The eventful and informative morning was welcomed as it gave more than just insight, it helped provide substance for the Embassy opening and launch in the UAE.
HM King Tupou VI signs the Visitors Book at the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Photos by: CocoNew - The Agency
Kingdom Of Tonga Set To Take Centre Stage In The United Arab Emirates
30th Sep 2019
The Kingdom of Tonga opened its 6th Embassy today in Abu Dhabi in the presence of His Majesty King Tupou VI and Minister of State Zaki Nusseibeh. The mission is headed by resident ambassador His Excellency ‘Akau’ola.
The move is strategic, and reflects well on the closer diplomatic ties and the deep connections that have existed over time with the Tongan royal family and the leadership of the UAE.
"The United Arab Emirates is an important stepping stone for us to cover the Middle East. We look at the UAE’s incredible vision and progressive growth since 1971 and see it as a model of development." says His Excellency ‘Akau’ola, Ambassador to the UAE and Commissioner General for the Kingdom of Tonga at Expo 2020.
The establishment of the Embassy reinforces Tonga’s appreciation of the magnitude of World Expo 2020. The event will run from October, 2020 for 173 days, and the Ambassador is confident that establishing the Embassy in Abu Dhabi a year ahead of the grand opening, will bolster the Kingdom’s position on the Expo stage and ensure the Kingdom nation is ready to fully engage in the ‘World’s Greatest Show’.
The Kingdom of Tonga’s participation is driven by His Majesty King Tupou VI, who can clearly see how the Expo will benefit both private and "grass roots" interests in the nation, ultimately boosting education, youth engagement and employment.
His Majesty King Tupou VI enthuses "The Kingdom of Tonga is a blank canvas for investors, not only from the Middle East, but the rest of the world. Expo 2020 will bring the world to us – you’re going to have America, Russia, China; all these nations coming to the UAE; and that for the Kingdom of Tonga, is an opportunity not to be missed."
The Tonga Pavilion will be located in the Expo’s Opportunity District and will celebrate ‘The Last Pacific Island Kingdom’, drawing attention to the vast and largely unrealised potential of the Kingdom of Tonga as a world-class destination for tourists. It will feature the islands’ unspoiled beauty, natural bounty and efforts to mitigate climate concerns, as seen through the eyes of a child. His Majesty King Tupou VI will have a presence – not just at the opening and closing ceremonies – but sitting down and engaging with potential investors and answering their questions.
One hundred and niney two (192) countries will participate in Expo 2020, providing an unprecedented opportunity for the Kingdom of Tonga to showcase its agricultural riches and flourishing tourism industry to the world.
"Within the larger Pacific island states, Tonga probably has the least developed tourism sector. We have no five-star hotels or resorts, yet we have 176 beautiful islands – of which only 30 to 40 are populated. We have the friendliest people and, as the only kingdom in the Pacific never colonised, a unique culture" says His Excellency.
Photos by: CocoNew - The Agency
Tupou VI, King of Kingdom of Tonga, addresses the general debate of the 74th Session of the General Assembly of the UN (New York, Sep 26, 2019).
Video link to be updated
Statement of
HIS MAJESTY KING TUPOU VI
SOVEREIGN AND HEAD OF STATE OF THE KINGDOM OF TONGA
on the occasion of the
General Debate
at the Seventy-fourth Session
of the United Nations General Assembly
Thursday 26th Sep 2019
United Nations Headquarters, New York
Mr President,
I congratulate you on the assumption of your presidency of the 74th Session of the UN GA. I assure you that the Delegation of the Kingdom of Tonga will fully support your able leadership
I express our gratitude to your predecessor, HE Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, for her successful Presidency of the 73rd Session making the United Nations relevant to all peoples through global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies.
I also commend HE Mr Antonio Guterres for his inaugural visit to the Pacific Islands region in May of this year and his continued stewardship of the Secretariat. Tonga fully supports the ongoing work he is undertaking on reform of the United Nations to ensure its relevance and utility for all member states.
Mr President,
My delegation and I congratulate you on your 4 priorities to guide our work this session.
Promoting international peace and security, in particular conflict prevention: Strengthening global action to tackle climate change which is integral to the effective implementation of SDGs: Accentuating inclusion, human rights and the empowerment of youth and women respectively: and Promoting partnerships for advancing the achievement of the SDGs which are interlinked, very timely and relevant to addressing the challenges of our time during your tenure which we support fully.
We welcome your recognition of the challenges faced by small delegations such as ours, to ensure we are able to contribute equitably and effectively to the many important high-level meetings that you will convene during this Session. With the 5 Summits this week alone in addition to our General Debate, we are grateful for your particular attention to enabling smaller delegations to participate fully
Mr President,
Tonga continues its commitment to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs, including the SAMOA Pathway. We are pleased to participate at the high-level midterm review of the SAMOA Pathway tomorrow to ensure its goals are being met at this half-way point of its implementation. The 2 government’s sustainable development priorities remain aligned with 13 of the 17 SDGs namely goals 1 to 4, 6 to 9 and 13 to 17. Tonga’s first voluntary national review report presented at the High Level Political Forum in July this year, spoke to the localization of the SDGs and the SAMOA Pathway, through the Tonga Strategic Development Framework. A whole-of-government approach for coordinated and coherent service delivery, continues to be a priority.
We again recognize the important contribution to our efforts by the United Nations Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing countries and Small Island Developing States, the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs and the United Nations ESCAP office. We are also grateful for the enhanced engagement of the United Nations Office for Project Services in Tonga through our recently concluded host country agreement.
Mr President,
Tonga welcomed the convening of the Climate Change Summit earlier this week. My country engaged fully in the seminal gathering of Leaders to again give prominence to the threats posed by climate change with its direct links to international peace and security and thereby to our sustainable development aspirations in support of SDG 13 and its targets.
The 1.5 degree limit is the heart of the Paris Agreement and although my country with our Pacific small island developing states neighbours as a whole contributes not even close to 1% of global warming, we remain committed to the Agreement. For Tonga, securing climate finance is the main priority as without it no action on our national determined contributions (or NDCs) is possible. We welcome the announcement by the United Kingdom of its intention to double its contribution to the Green Climate Fund.
Pacific Leaders in Tuvalu last month endorsed the strongest statement to-date on climate change. The Kainaki II Declaration (as it is known) declared a "climate change crisis" in the Pacific Islands region and called for urgent action to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and prevent catastrophic global warming and disasters. Extreme events like cyclones and typhoons, flooding, drought and king tides are frequently more intense, inflicting damage and destruction to our communities and ecosystems and putting the health of our peoples at risk. We think at this time of our fellow islanders in the Bahamas as they work to recover after the devastating impacts and destruction in the wake of Hurricane Dorian
Climate change is not only a political issue for us but also one of survival. The fact that climate change is an existential threat and a matter of international peace and security was again endorsed by Pacific Leaders through their decision to develop the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. We continue to support the work of the Group of Friends on Climate and Security
We continue to recognise the important nexus between the climate and the ocean, and further continue to note with concern the devastating impacts of climate change on our marine environment. We look forward to deliberations on this link in Chile at the 25th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change later this year.
The important issues of baselines that determine our maritime boundaries, once established under the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, should not be affected and should remain unchanged despite the effects of sea level rise. Our Sovereignty must not be compromised by the effects of climate change and we continue to welcome and support the work of the International Law Commission on this critically important and timely issue for consideration of the Sixth Committee for the General Assembly.
Mr President,
Tonga has continued its engagement in this year’s second and third intergovernmental conferences on the conservation and sustainable use of the biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. We look forward to the next revision of the zero draft of the treaty with hope that the ongoing convergence of understandings by member states engaging in the process will find completion at the 4th and final conference early next year. We also welcome the establishment of the Group of Friends on Capacity Building – the crosscutting issue tying all elements together in the treaty.
Tonga also continues its engagement at the International Seabed Authority. Tonga remains committed with other members of the Authority, including its capacity as an elected member of the Council, to continue to work towards the finalization of the important draft exploitation regulations ensuring an appropriate balance between the need to conserve and protect the marine environment and the sustainable use of the deep-sea mineral resources. Importantly, we must ensure our work is properly informed and properly concluded and in support of SDG 14. The Presidency of the Council will rotate to the Asia Pacific Group for the 26th Session in 2020 and Tonga has presented its candidature for election to this important position.
As Tonga was also privileged to host the first International Seabed Authority regional workshop for the Pacific in February this year, Tonga had also remained engaged with the Authority’s Blue Abyssal Initiative and attended related workshops for sponsoring states in Nauru and Kiribati last month. We look forward to continuing our collective work in the Cook Islands as well as in Tonga in the coming months, before the Second United Nations Ocean Conference mid-next year.
Tonga commends the work of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. We are grateful for the recommendations provided to us by the Commission on our first partial submission last month. We look forward to its eventual consideration of our second partial submission in good time.
Tonga acknowledges Italy’s ongoing partnership with it through the Joint Committee in strengthening Tonga’s capacity in the field of the environment and ocean. We also acknowledge the work of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Pew Charitable Trust on the regional deep-sea minerals Treaty.
Mr President,
Tonga’s priority NDC is to achieve 50% renewable energy by 2020. We have been able to negotiate the funding required to achieve this and we would like to thank partners alike that assist Tonga through public and public/private financing as well, to accelerate my country’s transition to renewable energy and resilient infrastructure in support of SDG 7 and its targets. Tonga is also pleased to continue in its capacity as an elected Vice President of the SIDS DOCK Assembly on behalf of the Pacific small island developing States’ members.
Madame President,
Finally, sustainable development whether it be, inter alia through good health and well-being, climate action, life below water, or affordable and clean energy, can only be realized through the achievement and maintenance of international peace and security. We continue to look to the Security Council to protect the innocent from threats to international peace and security in whatever form, be they traditional threats such as armed conflict, or newer threats like climate change and sea level rise and health epidemics, to ensure no one is left behind.
May Almighty God guide and bless you and all the member states of the United Nations, their respective Governments and our peoples.
Thank you.
Royal Order of the Crown Medal Award ceremony
Bangkok, Thailand
Sep 2, 2019
His Majesty King Tupou VI awarded his Special Envoy to Asia, Madame Marie Kwang, a member of the Royal Order of the Crown Medal during a private ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand on Sep 2, 2019.
Madame Kwang was awarded for exceptional services to the Crown and Kingdom of Tonga.
Official Visit of His Majesty King Tupou VI to Switzerland
His Majesty The King made an Official Visit to Switzerland during the period from 22nd to 31st August 2019 at the invitation of the Government of the Canton of Zug, to be the Special Guest at the Opening of the Federal Swiss Wresting and Alpine Festival (ESAF) on Saturday 24th August 2019.
The Schwingen event, as it is known, is Switzerland’s largest traditional wrestling sports event which is held every 3 years at different regions of the country and this year at the Canton of Zug.
Amongst the special guests were His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco and H E Ueli Maurer, President of the Swiss Federation.
His Majesty The King also visited with the Swiss Armed Forces on 27th August 2019 and was hosted by Major General Lucas Caduff (Commander Territorial Division 3)
The visit included a tour of Lake Luzern; a visit to a military installation in Central Switzerland and to Walenstadt Armed Forces Base where a presentation of the Elite Grenadier Battalion 30 took place.
In Geneva, His Majesty the King visited with the International Organisations on 28th August and was received at the ICRC Headquarters by the Vice President of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
At the UN Office, His Majesty was welcomed by the Director- General, Ms Tatiana Valovaya.
During this meeting, His Majesty envisioned for a stronger and more unified voice of small states in Geneva as, Tonga is one of the small Island Countries with no physical representation in Geneva and with limited resources to accurately voice her concerns on the World stage. The issues of Climate Change, Education and Health were also discussed.
In the Afternoon, His Majesty The King was also received by H E Antonio Hodgers, President of the Republic of the Canton of Geneva
At the Commonwealth Small States Office, His Majesty The King was received by Her Excellency Mere Falemaka (Permanent Representative of the Pacific Island Forum to the World Trade organization (WTO) and Mr Paulo Kautoke (Director at Trade, Oceans and Natural Resources, Commonwealth Secretariat during this meeting they reiterated the support for the establishment of a Tonga Mission in Geneva.
In Bern, His Majesty The King was received by Mr Guy Parmelin (Federal Councillor & Minister of Economy, Education and Research) at the Federal Palace on 30th August,
In Zurich, His Majesty The King was pleased to officially commission the Honorary Consulate for Tonga as arranged by the newly appointed Honorary Consul, Dr Luka Muller.
The Kingdom of Tonga and Switzerland formally established diplomatic relations in 1985 and the Official visit of His Majesty the King was organized and coordinated by His Excellency Dr David Vogelsanger (Ambassador of Switzerland to Tonga) and Dr Luka Muller (Honorary Consul for Tonga in Zurich).
Office of the Lord Chamberlain
Nuku’alofa
His Majesty King Tupou VI holds bilateral talks with the
Director General of the World Health Organisation
29 August 2019
His Majesty was warmly welcomed by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Director General of the World Health Organisation) and top executives to the WHO office in Geneva.
His Majesty was warmly welcomed by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Director General of the World Health Organisation) and top executives to the WHO office in Geneva.
The Director General conveyed to His Majesty with utmost gratitude the warm welcome he received during his official visit to Tonga, he was captivated with the singing nurses in which he stated "20 Nurses will be invited from Tonga, to attend The International Year of the Nurse and Mid-Wife in Geneva in May, 2020".
The Director General also praised the work nurses do within Tonga’s health system, particularly Dr ‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu (Chief Nursing Officer of the Nursing Department). He also admired the work done by Tonga’s Psychiatric Specialist Dr Mapa Puloka in integrating the socio-culture of Tonga with the treatment of psychiatric patients at the Vaiola Hospital (Psychiatric Ward). Dr Mapa Puloka was commented to using the Kava Circle (Fai Kava) as an instrument for patients suffering from depression to find an outlet for their issues.
His Majesty conveyed His wish that Tonga could expand its Nursing School, and with its establishment beginning a medical education hub for the Small Island states, this was well received by the Director General, in which he indicated that the WHO could help in this regard. Other matters were also discussed such as: the availability of personnel from Tonga’s Ministry of Health to be attached to the WHO in Geneva for 3 – 6 months for professional development. This also included the possibility of a Trust Fund for the Pacific to be utilised by medical students wishing to further their studies, alleviating pressure on the students and their countries.
KO E FOLOFOLA ‘A ‘ENE ‘AFIO KO E TU’I
HUUFI ‘O E FAKA’ALI’ALI NGOUE ‘A E VAHE FONUA ‘EUA
‘AHO FALAITE, 2 ‘AKOSI 2019
‘Oku tau fakafeta’i he afeitaulalo ‘a e ‘Otua Mafimafi pea Ne fakalaolao ‘a Natula mo fakafaingofua ka tau hu mai ki he Vahe Fonua ni ‘i he ‘ataa mo e taulanga pea mo’oni ai e lau ‘a e Himi 421:
Ko ia ‘oku fai
‘A e pule ‘i Natula
Ko ia pe te ne fakaai
Mo fakafaingofua
Ngaue ‘a e ngaahi ‘ao
‘O tali ‘ene angi
Ko tahi ‘oku laolao
Talolo ‘a e matangi
‘Oku ou fiefia ‘oku lelei pē ‘a e Kau Tauhi Fonua ‘a Hama, Hafoka, Taka i Houma, Manumu’a mo Tafakula.
Ko ‘eku fehu’i kia kinautolu he ‘aho ni pē ko hai ‘oku nau tauhi ki ai? Ko Sihova pē ko Nafanua? Ko e ‘alu eni ke senituli ua e Lotu mo ‘enau kei tauhi tevolo pe! Pea ‘oku ‘ikai ko e taulanga pe ‘oku ‘i ai hono angaa, ‘oku toe ‘i ai mo e anga honau mala’e vakapuna. ‘Oku puna ‘a e vakapuna ‘a mamani ki he matangi. Ko ‘Eua pē ‘oku puna fakatafa’aki ia pea ‘e hangē ai pē ha paka ‘a e too ia ‘a e vaka.
Ka tau foki mai ki he ‘etau Faka’ali’ali Ngoue, Toutai, Folau ‘Eve’eva mo e Ngaahi Ngāue’anga ki he 2019. ‘Oku fe’unga pē ‘a e lea Tonga motu’a koia ko e TO’U KAI MO HONO LOHU ke te manatu’i ‘a e founga lelei taha ke matu’uaki ‘a e Feliliuaki ‘a e ‘Ea. ‘Aia ‘oku ‘uhinga ia, ke tau toe vakavakai ‘i he fakakaukau pea mo e founga ngāue, ‘o a’u pe ki ha tu’unga ‘e fiema’u ke tau mavahe ai mei he ngaahi founga ‘oku tau anga maheni ki ai.
‘Oku monu’ia ‘a ‘Eua ‘oku ofi pē ‘a e Vahe Fonua ni ki Tongatapu koia, ‘oku totonu ke faka’aonga’i ‘a e tu’unga koia ke toe lahiange hono too ‘o e ngaahi fua ‘oku lelei taha ki he maketi, ‘o tatau pē ki he fakalotofonua pea mo e uta atu ki Muli. Kapau te tau too ‘a e ngoue pea ‘oku totonu ke tau taumu’a ke toe hiki hake ‘a e mahu’inga ‘o e fua ‘o ‘etau ngoue. ‘Oku ou ‘ilo’i ‘oku fiema’u ‘e he maketi ke too mo ngaohi ‘a e kava ‘i he fa’ahinga founga pau. Koia kuo fakalaka ai ‘a ‘Eua ‘i Vava’u ‘i he too ‘o e kava, koe’uhi ‘oku fakatokanga’i mo ngāue ‘a ‘Eua ia ‘o fakatatau ki he fiema’u ‘a e Maketi. Ko e ngaahi founga eni ‘oku totonu ke poupou’i. Ke vakai ‘a e fiema’u ‘a e Maketi ‘i Tongatapu pea too leva ‘a e fua koia, ke tau ngāue lelei ‘aki ‘a e ‘ilo koia ‘o e fiema’u ‘a e Maketi.
‘Oku lahi ‘a e ngaahi faingamālie ki he too ‘o e ngoue ki he maketi fakakomesiale ‘aia ‘oku tu’u ki mu’a ai ‘a e fakapa’anga, ka ‘e a’u pē ki ha taimi kuo tau ongosia ‘i he too pē ‘o e fua tatau ‘oku tau anga maheni kiai.
Ka ko e founga totonu ke fakasi’isi’i ai ‘a e nunu’a ‘o e Feliliuaki ‘o e ‘Ea, ke tau too ‘a e ngaahi pulopula ‘oku fa’ahinga kehekehe. Ko e to e too fo’ou ‘o e niu ke fetongi ‘a e niu kuo motu’a. Ke ngaue’aki ‘a e to fetongitongi ‘o e ngaahi fua kehekehe ‘o kau kiai ‘a e kava, hiapo mo ha toe ngaahi fua ‘e lava ke ma’u ai ‘a e pa’anga. Too ke lahi ‘a e ngaahi fua fo’ou ‘aia ‘e lava ke mo’ui pē ‘i he feliliuaki mo ha tu’unga mafana pē ‘o e ‘Ea.
Hangee pē koia ‘oku tau ‘ilo kotoa, ‘e ‘ikai ke toe tupu ‘a e lahi ‘o e kelekele ‘o e Fonua, ka te tau lava pē ke ngāue fakapotopoto ‘aki ‘a e me’a ‘oku tau ma’u. Ko e founga ‘e taha, ko e ngāue’aki ‘a e founga ‘oku si’isi’i ‘a e fakamole mo lelei pē ki natula, ‘a e faama’i koia ‘o e fanga puaka pea ngaue’aki ‘o e fakalelei ki he kelekele ki he too ‘o e vesitapolo, ‘aia ko e to e ma’u’anga Ivi ia ‘e tokoni ki he holoki ‘o e fakamole ‘i he fakatau ‘i he pa’anga Muli, pea pehē ki he fakatau ‘o e kasaa. Ke toe lahiange ‘a e ngaue’aki ‘o e founga ngoue ki he ma’u’anga mo’ui ‘a Thailand ‘aia ‘e lava pē ‘a e ma’u ‘o e me’atokoni ‘oku fakatupu mo’ui lelei mei ha konga kelekele ‘oku ‘ikai ke toe lahi hake ‘i he vaeua ‘eka.
‘Aia ‘e lava ‘i hono palani lelei pē ‘o e too ‘o e ‘akau fua mo e vesitapolo fakataha pea mo e tauhi ‘o e fanga monumanu, too ‘o e ngoue foha, pea mo e faama’i ‘o e ika ‘i ha ki’i konga kelekele si’isi’i pē.
‘Oku ‘i ai ha ni’ihi na’a nau ma’u ‘a e faingamālie ke kau ki he Polokalama ‘a’ahi ki Thailand ke mamata ki he founga Ngoue koeni. ‘Oku ou poupou atu ke mou fetu’utaki pē ki he Potungāue Ngoue ke vakai pē ‘e ma’u mei ai ha fakahinohino ki he fa’ahinga ngoue koeni pea ka ‘ikai, pea mou toki ‘a’ahi ange ki Tongatapu ke mamata ai ki he Faama faka’ali’ali koeni.
‘Eua, ‘oku ou ‘ilo lelei ‘e lava pē ke mou talitali heni ‘a e Konifelenisi hono 97 ‘a e Siasi Uesiliana ‘i he ta’u kaha’u. Kuo taimi leva ke tau palani mo too ‘etau ngoue ke lava ke tau fakalato ‘a e ngaahi fiema’u fuaa’i ‘akau, vesitapolo mo e kakano’i manu mo e toutai mo ha toe me’atokoni ‘i heni pē. Ko e taha, ko hai ‘oku ne ‘ilo na’a a’u kiai kuo ‘osi ‘iai pē mo e ma’u’anga vai ki he inu, ‘aia ‘oku tau ‘ilo ko e vai ma’a taha ‘oku ‘i ‘Eua ni ia.
Ko e faingamālie eni ke tau fakahahaa ki he kāinga Tonga te nau ‘a’ahi mai mei Muli, te tau lava pē ‘o faka’aonga ‘a e faingamālie koeni ‘i ha founga ‘oku lelei pē ki natula pea ke tau ngāue’aki ‘a e koloa me’atokoni pē ‘oku ma’u mo fakatupu ‘i he Vahe Fonua ni.
‘E manatua ‘e he fakataha’anga ‘a e mahu ‘a e Vahe Fonua ni ka ko e ngaahi koloa fakalaumālie kuopau ke fai e liliu ia ka ‘oku ha’u ai pe mo e ngaahi faingamālie.
‘Oku ou ‘ofa atu mo e fakatu’amelie.
FOLOFOLA ‘A ‘ENE ‘AFIO KO E TU’I,
HUUFI ‘O E FAKA’ALI’ALI NGOUE ‘A E VAHE FONUA NIUAFO’OU
‘AHO FALAITE 26 ‘O SIULAI, 2019
FAKATAPU:
Tapu mo e ‘afio ‘a e ‘Otua na’a ne Ngaahi ‘a e ‘univeesi ‘oku tau ‘iai.
Tapu mo Fotofili mo Fusitua,
Tapu mo e kau Minisitaa ‘o e Kapineti,
Tapu mo Ha’a Matapule mo e kau Taki Lotu, pea
Tapu mo e kāinga kotoa oku tau fakatahataha mai ki he Faka’ali’ali Ngoue, Toutai, Ngaue Taki mamata mo e Fefakatau’aki ‘i he 2019, ‘oku fakahoko ‘i he Mala’e Latufuipeka.
Ko e Tsunami ‘i Niuatoputapu na’e hoko ‘i he ngaahi ta’u si’i kuohili, pea mo e puna ‘a e mo’unga afi ‘i Niuafo’ou ni, ‘oku tau kei manatu’i mo ongo’i pē ‘o a’u ki he ‘Aho ni.
‘Oku ‘ikai ke lava ke tau tala pē ko fē ‘a e fakatāmaki ‘e hoko mai, ka ‘oku totonu ke tau hangē pē ko e kau taaupo’ou poto ‘e toko nima na’a nau ngāue fakapotopoto ‘oku ha ‘ia Matiu Vahe 25. Na’a nau mateuteu ki he me’a ‘e hokomai. ‘E lava pē ke tau matu’uaki ha me’a pē, ‘okapau te tau tokateu kiai.
Ko e ‘uluaki me’a ke fakasi’isi’i ‘a e nunu’a ‘o e Feliliuaki ‘a e ‘Ea ko ‘etau tauhi kitautolu ke Mo’ui lelei, too ‘a e me’atokoni ‘oku fakatupu mo’ui lelei ‘i he ngaue’aki ‘o e ngaahi founga ngoue kehekehe. Ko e vaveange ‘a ‘etau fakakau mai ‘a ‘etau fānauu ko e vaveange ia ‘enau ako meia kitautolu. Ko honau fatongia tu’ukimu’a ‘i he ‘enau kei tupu hake ko e Akó, ka ‘oku tanaki atu kiai ‘a e lalanga ki he ‘enau mo’ui ‘a e tokanga ke nau mo’ui lelei.
Ko e too ‘o e me’atokoni ‘oku fakatupu mo’ui lelei, ko e kamata’anga ia ‘o e ma’u ‘o e me’atokoni ‘oku fakatupu mo’ui lelei. ‘Oku tupu mei he tataaitaha ‘a e folau mai ‘a e vaka tahii mo e folau vakapuna, ‘a e hao ‘a e kāinga Niuafoou ni mei he ma’u ‘o e fa’ahinga me’atokoni ‘oku ma’u ‘i he ngaahi Vahe Fonua ‘i he faka-Tonga.
Ko e taumu’a matu’aki mahu’inga ko e mo’ui lelei, ka ko Niuafo’ou ia mo Niuatoputapu ‘oku mo’ui lelei taha hona kakai ‘i Tonga fakakatoa. ‘Oku tatau pē ki he Ako. ‘Oku leleiange pē ‘a e Ako ‘a e fānau ‘i he ‘enau kei nofo ‘i he ongo Vahe Fonua ni. Koia ‘oku totonu ke tokoni ‘a e Pule’anga ‘i ha ngaahi polokalama ki he tokolahi ‘oku ‘i he to’utupu, ke nau kau kiai pea longomo’ui. Neongo ‘e a’u ki ha taimi ke folau ‘a e fanau ako ki Muli ke hokoatu ‘a e feinga ako, ‘oku kei totonu pē ke ngāue fakataha ‘a e Pule’anga mo e Vahe Fonua ni ke teuteu ha ngaahi ngāue ke fakapapau’i ‘e kei fie foki mai pē ‘a e fānau ‘i he ‘osi ‘enau ako ki he ongo Vahe Fonua ni.
Ko e founga ke tokoni’i ai ‘a e kaveinga koeni ko hono to e fakalelei’i ‘o e Ngāue ki he Fetu’utaki mo e Ngāue’anga ‘e he Pule’anga pē ko e vakatahi, vakapuna, fetu’utaki telefoni mo e internet, pea fakakakato ‘a e ‘Apiako, Falemahaki, Ngāue’anga ‘o tatau pē ‘i ha Vahe Fonua ‘i Tonga kae lava ke ma’u ngāue ‘etau fānau ‘i ha Vahe Fonua pē, pē ko honau Vahe fonua tupu’anga pē ‘ikai, ka ‘oku ‘iai ‘a e faingamālie ngāue ai.
‘Oku ‘iloa ‘a e Vahe Fonua ni ‘i he lalanga ‘o e koloa faka-Tonga ko e fanakio. Koia, ‘oku totonu leva ke tokoni’i ‘e he Pule’anga mo e kāinga kotoa ‘a e fakalakalaka ‘o ‘enau ‘ilo ki he ngāue ‘iloa koeni ‘o a’u pē ki he too ‘o e lou’akau pea ki hono fakamaketi. Ko e tahá, ko e faka’ai’ai ‘o e too ‘o e kalasi kehekehe ‘o e vesitapolo ke lava ke fakapapau’i ‘oku lahi ‘a e me’atokoni fakatupu mo’ui lelei. Ko e faka’ai’ai ‘a e too ‘o e kava, vanilla mo e hiapo, ‘aia ko e ma’u’anga pa’anga ia ‘e tokoni ki hono holoki ‘o e hu koloa mai pea pehē ki he ngaue’aki ‘o e ngaahi faito’o ‘inisekite ‘aia ‘e lava pē ke tafe ki he ma’u’anga vai.
‘Oku mahu’inga ke faka’ai’ai ‘i he ngaahi Vahe Fonua ‘oku mama’o mei Tongatapu, ‘o hangē ko e ongo Vahe Fonua ni pea pehē ki Haapai, ‘a e founga hono faama’i ‘o e fanga puaka pea mo e ngaue’aki ‘o e fakalelei kelekele ki he to ‘o e vesitapolo, koe’uhi ‘e to e lava pē ke ma’u ai ‘a e ivi ki he maama mo e ngaohi ‘o e me’atokoni. Ko e founga fakanatula eni ‘oku lelei ke ngaue’aki, ‘aia ‘e tokoni ia ki he holoki ‘o e fakamole ki he ma’uanga ivi mo e fakamole ki he pa’anga Muli.
Ko e founga ngoue ‘a e Fonua ko Thailand, ‘oku lava lelei pē ai ‘a e ma’u mo’ui ‘a e famili, ‘i hono too ‘o e ‘akau fua, ngaahi ngoue foha, vesitapolo, faama puaka, fangamoa mo e pato pea pehē ki he faama’i ‘o e ika ‘i ha konga kelekele ‘oku ‘ikai ke a’u ki he vaeua eka.
Koia, ‘oku ‘ikai ke totonu ke fakafalala ‘a e Ongo Vahe Fonua ni mo e ngaahi ‘Otu motu ki he taimi ‘e toki folau mai ‘a e vaká, ke toki ma’u mai ‘a e me’atokoni ‘oku fakatupu mo’ui lelei.
Ko e founga ngoue koeni ‘e lava lelei pē ke hiki hake hono lahi mei he ngoue ki he ma’u me’atokoni ‘a e familí ki he ngoue fakakomesiale ki he fakamaketi fakalotofonua pē ko e uta atu ki Muli.
Ko e ‘ilo mo e taukei ‘oku faka’uhinga’i ‘aki ‘a e Paloveape koeni ko e ‘To’ukai mo hono Lohu’ ‘oku fe’unga tonu pē ia mo e faingata’a koeni. Ko e too ‘o e ngaahi fua kehekehe ko e faingofua ange ia ke tau matu’uaki ‘a e Feliliuaki ‘o e ‘Ea.
‘Oku ou ‘ofa atu ki he kāinga ‘o e Vahe Fonua ni mo e fakatauange ke mou manatu’i, ko e liliu ‘o hangē ko e Feliliuaki ‘a e ‘Ea, ‘oku ne ‘omai ai pē ‘a e ngaahi faingamālie.
KO E FOLOFOLA ‘A ‘ENE ‘AFIO KO E TU’I
‘I HE HUUFI ‘O E FAKA’ALI’ALI NGOUE ‘A E VAHE FONUA NIUATOPUTAPU
‘AHO PULELULU 24 ‘O SIULAI, 2019
Ko e Tala Fakatapu ee kuo ‘osi hono aofaki.
‘Oku ou fiefia ke u ‘i heni he katoanga ‘a e kāinga ‘o Ma’atu mo Tangipa mo e ‘amanaki ‘oku ‘ikai ko ‘etau fe’iloaki fakata’u pē ka, ‘oku mou tauhi ‘a e fakalakalaka mo e langa hake ‘o e ngáue mo e mo’ui ‘a e kakai ‘i he Vahe fonua ni. Fakafeta’i he ‘ofa ‘a e ‘Otua pea lava ai ke tau a’usia ‘a e ‘aho fakakoloa koeni.
‘Oku fika ua ‘a Tonga ni ‘i Mamani ‘i he ngaahi Fonua ‘oku lavea ngofua ‘i he fakatamaki fakaenatula.
‘Oku tau manatu’i kotoa pē ‘a e fakatamaki na’e hoko ‘i he tsunami ne hoko ki he Vahe Fonua ni kimu’a, pea pau ai ke hiki ‘a e ngaahi fale nofo’anga mo e ngaahi ngāue’anga, ‘o kau kiai ‘a e Fale Mahaki, Ma’u’anga Ivi mei he La’a ki loto fonua ‘o ofi atu ki he tafa’aki mo’unga, ke mama’o mei he matatahi.
Ko e founga eni ‘oku totonu ke tau faka’uto’uta’aki ‘etau nofo ‘i he Vahe Fonua ni. Ke tau lava ke mo’ui ‘i he Feliliuaki ‘a e ‘Ea pea ke liliu ‘etau founga too ‘etau me’a tokoni mei he ‘etau me’a tokoni tukufakaholo anga maheni ki he me’atokoni ‘e lava ‘o matu’uaki ‘a e Feliliuaki ‘a e ‘Ea. ‘Oku ‘iai ‘a e faingamālie ia ‘i he Liliu. To’ukai mo hono Lohu.
Na’a ko ha taimi lelei eni ke tau fakakaukau’i ha founga faama pē ngoue fo’ou pea pēhē ki ha pulopula fo’ou te ne matu’uaki ‘a e Feliliuaki ‘a e ‘Ea. Hangē, ko e ngaahi fonua lahi ‘o Mamani ‘oku nau ma’u ‘a e me’a tokoni ko e laise, uite mo e koane.
Ko e fa’ahinga me’atokoni koeni ‘e tolu ‘oku faingofuaange hono tauhi ‘i he ‘etau ngaahi fua ‘o e ngoue anga maheni. Ko e tokolahi ‘o kitautolu ‘oku tau ma’u ‘a e uite ‘i he founga ‘o e mahoa’a mo e maa. ‘E toe lava pē ke ngaue’aki ‘a e mahoa’a mei he koane ki he ngaohi ‘o e maa pea kuo ‘osi ‘iai mo ‘etau Faka’ali’ali Ngāue ‘aia ‘oku lava ke ngaohi ai ‘a e mahoa’a mei he Mei ke ta’o’aki ‘a e maa. ‘Aia ko e founga fakalotofonua eni pea ‘oku fakatupu mo’ui lelei.
‘Oku ‘ikai ke faingata’a ia ke too ‘a e laise pē ko e fa’ahinga ‘o e koane ‘e lava mo’ui ‘i he lahi ‘a e vai mo e mafanaange ‘o e ‘Ea ‘o e Ongo Niua. Ko e founga ‘e taha ‘o hono vakai’i ‘a e ngaahi fua kehekehe, ko e too ‘o e fa’ahinga ‘o e piini ‘aia ‘oku ‘ikai ke ngata pē ‘i he ‘ene fakatupu mo’ui lelei ki he tangatá, ka ‘oku lava ke toe fakafoki pē ai ‘a e ngaahi ivi ki he kelekelé.
Ko e taha, ‘oku toe lahi pē ‘a e fa’ahinga ‘o e ika ke ma’u ‘i he ngaahi founga kehekehe, koe’uhi ‘e a’u ki ha taimi ‘e ‘ikai ke kei ngāue ‘etau founga toutai motu’a. Kuo ‘osi lava lelei ‘a e ngaahi ‘ahi’ahi ‘i Tongatapu mo Ha’apai ‘i he founga ‘o e toutai’i ‘o e ngu feke mei he tahi loloto, ‘aia ko e me’atokoni fakatupu mo’ui lelei ia ‘i he fakafehoanaki ki he me’a tokoni ‘oku hu mai mei he ngaahi Fonua Muli. ‘Oku ‘ikai ke totonu ke tau nana’i ‘i he ‘ahi’ahi’i ‘a e ngaahi founga fo’ou koe’uhi, ‘e ngali ola leleiange ia mei he ‘etau ngaahi founga anga maheni.
Ko e palopalema lahi eni ‘aia ko e tükunga ‘o e mo’ui ‘a hotau Kakai. ‘Oku fakatokanga’i ‘oku hoko ‘a Tonga ko e Fonua ia hono tolu ‘i Mamani ‘oku ‘ikai ke mo’ui lelei ‘a hono Kakai pea mo sisino.
‘Oku ou fiefia ‘oku tau ‘i heni ‘i he Ongo Niua ‘aia ‘i he ta’u kotoa ‘eku ‘a’ahi mai ‘oku ou fakatokanga’i pē ‘a e mo’ui lelei ‘a e kāinga kae tautefito ki he fānau. Ko e sipinga tu’u kimu’a eni ki he toe ‘o e ngaahi Vahe Fonua koe’uhi ko e fiema’u ke tau tauhi hotau sino ke mo’ui lelei, pea ‘e si’isi’iange ai ‘a e faingata’a kia kita pē, pea pehē ki he ngaahi fāmili mo e koló kae’uma’a ‘a e Potungāue Mo’ui.
Ko ho tau fatongia ia ke tauhi ‘etau fānau ke nau mo’ui lelei koe’uhi ko e Kaha’u kinautolu. Koia, ‘oku mahu’inga ‘a e mo’ui lelei ‘a e sinó koe’uhi ke fakapapau’i ‘oku tupu lelei mo longomo’ui ‘a e ‘atamai ‘o e fānau iiki.
Ko e mo’ui lelei, ‘o hangē koia na’a ku fakaha ‘i Vava’ú, ‘e kamata pē ia mei he too ‘o e me’atokoni fakatupu mo’ui lelei ‘oku lava ke mo’ui ‘i he Feliliuaki ‘a e ‘Ea. Ko ‘etau ngoué, ‘o tatau pē mo ho tau Fale Mahaki mo e Ma’u’anga Ivi mei he La’aa ‘oku totonu ke mālohi fe’unga ke matu’uaki ‘a e Fakatamaki fakaenatula pea ke haofaki mei he saikolone, tsunami pē mofuike.
Koe’uhi ‘oku si’isi’i ‘a e kelekele, koia ‘oku ou poupou atu ke mou ngaue’aki ‘a e Founga Ngoue ‘a e fonua ko Thailand, ‘aia ‘oku too fakapoloka ‘a e ngoue kehekehe. ‘Oku ma’u mo’ui pē ‘a e kau faama ‘o Thailand mei he ki’i konga kelekele ‘oku si’isi’iange ‘i he vaeua ‘o e ‘eka ‘e taha.
‘Oku ou fakamālō atu ki he ngāue ‘o e ta’u pea pēhē foki ki he tauhi ‘e he Ongo Niua ‘a e mo’ui lelei taha ‘i he ‘Otu Tongá pea mo e tu’unga fakaako lelei taha, ‘o fakatātau ki he tokolahi ‘o e Kakai.
‘Ofa atu,
KO E FOLOFOLA ‘A ‘ENE ‘AFIO KO E TU’I
HUUFI ‘O E FAKA’ALI’ALI NGOUE ‘A E VAHE FONUA VAVA’U
FALAITE 19 O SIULAI 2019
Ko e Tukufonua ee na’e fai ki Langi ‘oku kei tā’imālie ai ‘a e ‘Otu Tonga.
Ko hono ngaahi tapuaki ‘oku ‘inasi lahi taha ai ‘a e Vahe Fonua ni ‘i he kakai, kelekele, ‘atakai, ‘i ‘oseni mo hono ngaahi faka’ofo’ofa mo e koloa fakanatula.
Ko ‘etau tali pē fakataha mo ‘eku motu’a ko Taumālolo – Fakafeta’i e Ma’u koloa.
Tapu mo ‘Ulukalala mo e fakataha’anga ni kae fai ha lea he katoanga Faka’ali’ali Ngoue, Toutai Taki Mamata pea mo e Fefakatau’aki ‘a Vava’u ki he 2019.
‘Oku kamata ‘a e mo’ui lelei mei he fakatupu ‘o e me’atokoni ‘oku fakatupu mo’ui lelei. Koe’uhi ‘oku hokohoko atu pē ‘a e Feliliuaki ‘a e ‘Ea, koia ‘oku fiema’u ia ke tau filio’i ‘etau fakatupu ‘a e koloa kotoa pē. ‘Oku to e mafana ange ‘a e ‘Ea ‘o e Mamaní pea ‘oku totonu leva ke tau vakai ki he ngaahi pulopula ‘e mo’ui pē te ne matu’uaki ‘a e mafana koia ‘o e ‘Ea. ‘I he a’u ‘a e Fua māfana ki he tikili ‘e 35 centigrade, ‘e ‘ikai leva ke fua ‘a e koane ia. ‘I he ‘ene a’u ki he tikili ‘e 39, ‘e ‘ikai leva ke foha ‘a e ‘ufi ia. Ka ‘i he toe mafana ange ai ‘a e ‘Eá pea ‘e lava pē ke toe lahiange ‘a e foha ‘o e manioke, ka ‘oku holo leva hono ivi ki he ma’u me’atokoni.
‘E lava pē ke tau feliliuaki, ke too ‘a e ngaahi fua ‘oku nounou ange ‘a e vaha’ataimi ke motu’a ai kimu’a ‘i he utu ta’u, hange, ko e ngaahi vesitapolo mo e fa’ahinga ‘o e piini (legumes) ‘aia ‘oku fakatupu mo’ui leleiange. ‘I he founga koeni, ‘e lava leva ke tau ma’u ha ngaahi fua ‘e ua pē tolu he ta’u.
Ko Vava’u ni ‘oku lahi taha ai ‘a e too ‘o e kava ‘i Tonga ni pea toki ua kiai ‘a e vanilla ‘aia ‘oku mahanga ai mo ‘Eua. ‘Oku lelei ‘aupito eni ki he fakatupu koloa fakakomesiale, ka ‘oku totonu ke to e too pē mo e me’atokoni ki he ma’u me’atokoni ‘a e familí koe‘uhi ka ‘ikai, pea ‘e ‘ikai ke palanisi lelei ‘a e fakamaketi pea ‘e toe hiki lahi leva ‘a e totongi ia ‘o e me’atokoni.
Kapau te tau filifili pea fakalahi ‘a e fa’ahinga kehekehe ‘o e monumanu ke tauhi, pea ‘e lava leva ke to e ma’ama’aange ’a e kakano’i manu pea pehē ki he malu ‘a e pa’anga muli ‘aia ‘e lava ke faka’aonga ki he ngaahi fiema’u fakafaito’o mo fakaako.
‘Oku malava ke tokoni’i ‘e he Pule’anga ‘a e fakatupu koloa koia ke fetongi’aki ‘a e hu koloa mei Muli, ‘o hangē ko e pa’anga ‘e 50 miliona ‘oku fakamoleki ‘i he ta’u ki he hu koloa me’akai mei Mulí. ‘E lava ke ngaue’aki ‘a e pa’anga koia ke tokoni’i ‘a e fakatupu koloa Fakalotofonua, pē ko e ngaahi sikolasipi ki he fiema’u vivili ki he Mo’ui, ‘o hangē ko e kau mataotao ‘i he faito’o pea pehē ki he ngaahi naunau fakafaito’o. ‘E lava leva ‘i he founga koeni ke tau pule’i mo ‘ilo ki he me’atokoni ‘oku fafanga’aki ‘a ‘etau fanga monumanu pea ke ma’u ha ola ‘oku toe leleiange ki he mo’ui kae ‘ikai ko e fakafalala pē ki he koloa ‘oku fakatupu mo hu mai mei Muli.
‘Oku ‘uhinga ‘aupito ‘a e Lea Tonga "To’u kai mo hono lohu" Ko e me’a tēpūu ko e fetongitongi ‘o e fakatupu koloa ‘i he fa’ahinga kehekehe ‘o fakatatau ki he Feliliuaki ‘a e ‘Ea.
Manatu’i ‘oku ‘iai pē ‘a e faingamālie ‘i he Liliu.
‘Oku ‘iai ‘a e fakamālō ki he fepoupouaki mo e ngāue fakataha ‘a e kupu kotoa he Vahe Fonua ni. ‘Oku ne fakamanatu mai ‘a e laumālie ‘o e Tau Tahi. Te tau lava pē ke matu’uaki ‘a e Feliliuaki ‘a e ‘Ea, ko e fili fakaonopooni ia ‘o Tonga he ‘Aho ni.
‘Ofa atu Vava’u.
KO E FOLOFOLA ‘A ‘ENE ‘AFIO, KO E TU’I
‘I HE HUUFI ‘O E FAKA’ALI’ALI NGOUE ‘A E VAHENGA HA’APAI
‘AHO TUSITE 16 ‘O SIULAI, 2019
Fakatapu: `Tapu mo e ‘Otua Mafimafi ko Hono kolosi na’e haa fakamisiteli pē he Vahe Fonua ni
Tapu mo e Hou’eiki ‘o e Fonua
Tapu mo e Kau Minisitaa ‘o e Kapineti mo e Kovana Ha’apai
Tapu mo e Kau Taki Lotu
Tapu mo e Kau Tauhi Fonua mo Ha’a Matapule kae’uma’a ‘a e tangata mo e fefine’i fonua Ha’apai ‘oku tau lonuku ‘i he Mala’e Lea’aetohi, ko e Faka’ali’ali ‘a e ola ‘o e ngāue ‘a e ‘Otu Ha’apai ki he ta’u ni.
Ko e kaveinga To’ukai mo hono Lohu ‘oku fekau’aki malie mo e "Feliliuaki ‘a e ‘Ea" ‘oku ne uesia kitautolu he ‘Aho ni. Na’e hoko ia he katoanga’i hoku ‘aho pea tupu mei ai ‘a e pau ke liliu e polokalama ‘o fakatatau ki Natula.
Ko e fiema’u ki he ngoue ‘o e ‘aho ni, ke toe lahi ange ‘a e pulopula kehekehe ki he fiema’u fakalotofonua. ‘Oku tau lolotonga fe’ao mo e ngaahi faingata’a fakaenatula ka ‘i he taimi tatau pē ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e ngaahi faingamālie ‘oku ‘omai ‘e Natula ‘o hangē ko e lahiange ‘a e fua ki he fakakomesiale.
Ko e feliliuaki ‘a Natula ‘oku fehangahangai ia mo Mamani katoa ‘o ‘ikai ko Tonga pē ka, ‘i he taimi tatau ‘oku tau vakai ki he ngaahi faingamālie te tau ala ngāue’aki ki he lelei fakafo’ituitui, fakafamili, fakakolo, fakavahe mo e Vahe fonua.
‘Oku ‘i ai e ngaahi faingamālie ‘i he kolo fakatautehina ‘a Ha’api pea mo e kolo koia ‘o Siaina ko Dongguan. ‘Oku lava ke fakafou mai ‘i he fetu’utaki vaofi koeni ‘a e ngaahi tokoni hangē ko e vaka toutai, ko e palau pea pehē ki he ‘enau fie fakahoko ‘a e tokoni kehekehe ki he ngaahi ngāue ‘i Tonga ni kae tautefito pē ki Ha’apai.
‘I he vaa fakatautehina koeni mo Dongguan ‘oku ‘i ai mo e faingamālie ke nau fakahoko ha fekumi makehe ki he Toutai pea ke tokoni ki hono fakatupulekina ‘a e ma’u’anga mo’ui mei ‘Oseni. Ko e fakataataa ki ai, ‘oku lahi ‘aupito ‘a e ngaahi ‘ulu’ulu ‘o e Vahe Fonua ni pea pehē ki he ola ‘o e toutai kehekehe. Ka ‘oku fiema’u foki ke tau vakai’i ‘a e ngaahi faingamālie ke toe hiki hake ai ‘a e mahu’inga ‘o ‘etau toutai.
Kapau ‘e ‘ave ‘etau tokanga ki he toutai’i mo’ui ‘a e me’atokoni mei tahii, pea ‘e lelei ange mo ma’olungaange hono mahu’inga ‘i he toutai ‘oku tuku ‘aisi. Ko e fakatataa ki ai, ko e ika ‘oku kei mo’ui, ‘e fakatau atu ia ‘i he mahu’inga ‘oku ma’olunga ange ki he ngaahi Fale Kai pea pehee ki he ngaahi Hotele ‘i Tonga ni. Ko ia ko e lava pē ke fakahoko ‘a e founga koeni ‘i he maketi fakalotofonua pea ‘e lava leva ke hoko atu ‘a e toutai mo’ui ‘o e fua mei ‘oseni ke uta atu ki Muli, pea ko hono ola fakapa’anga ‘e liunga lahi ange ia ‘i he fakatau fakalotofonua. ‘E a’u pe ki ha taimi ‘e ‘ikai ke fiema’u ia ke tau hiki ‘o nofo ‘i he ngaahi fonua muli, koe’uhi ‘e lava pē ke tau ngaue pea ma’u pē ‘a e pa’anga lelei ki he tu’unga mo’ui ‘oku toe ma’olungaange ‘i he nofo pē ‘i Ha’apai ni.
Ko e Vahe Fonua Tongatapu foki ‘oku lahi taha ‘ene fakahoko ‘a e too mo e uta fakakomesiale ‘o e niu pea toki hoko leva kiai ‘a Foa. ‘Oku tatau pē eni mo hono too ‘o e hiapo. Fēfē leva kapau te tau tuku ‘a e konga lahi ‘o ‘etau tokanga ki he fua ‘oku lava ke tau ma’u ai ‘a e ola ‘oku lelei? ‘E lava pē ke fakahoko mo ha fakalelei ki he founga ‘o e ngoue ‘oku tau anga maheni kiai, ‘i hano too ke fakapisinisi ‘o hangē ko e kava pē ko e hiapo ‘i he kamata pē ‘o e to ta’u.
Ka ‘ikai, ko e too pē ‘o e ‘ufi ‘a ia te ne to’o ‘e ia ‘a e vaha’a taimi ‘e a’u pē ki he ta’u ‘e taha pea toki hoko ‘a e utu ta’u. Ko Ha’apai foki ‘oku ‘iloa ‘i he ngāue ‘a e Kau Fefine ki he koloa faka-Tonga ko e lalanga fihu.
Ko e konga mahu’inga ‘o ‘etau fakatokanga’i ‘a e Feliliuaki ‘o Natula, ko ‘etau fakapotopoto’i ‘etau founga ngoue. ‘Oku lahi ‘a e fanga ki’i ngoue iiki ‘i Ha’apai ni, koia ‘oku lava ke fakahoko ‘i Ha’apai ‘a e founga Ngoue Makehe ‘a e fonua koia ko Thailand. Ko e too fakataha pē ‘a e ‘akau fua, ngoue ‘oku foha mo e vesitapolo, fakahoko mo e faama’i ‘o e monumanu ‘o kau kiai ‘a e puaka, moa, pato pea pehē ki he faama’i ‘o e ika.
Ko e founga ma’u’anga mo’ui eni ‘a e kau ngoue ‘o Thailand ‘a ia ‘oku nau ma’u mei ai ‘a e fua mo e ola ‘oku lelei mei he konga kelekele fe’unga mo e vaeua ‘eka.
‘Oku mahu’inga ke tau fakahoko ‘a e ngoue mo e toutai ‘i ha founga fakapotopoto pea ke lava ke tau too ‘a e fa’ahing fua kehekehe ke lava ke tau matu’uaki ‘a e Feliliuaki ‘a e ‘Ea. Pea ke tau manatu’i ma’u pē, ‘oku ha’u fakataha pē ‘a e Liliu mo ha ngaahi faingamālie.
‘Oku ‘iai ‘a e fakamālō mo e talamonuu ki he ngāue kotoa kuo fakahoko ke lava ‘a e Faka’ali’ali ‘a e fua ‘o e ngoue, toutai mo e ngaahi koloa fakafonua pea pehē ki he Taki Mamata mo e Folau ‘Eve’eva mo e Ngaahi Ngaue’anga ‘a e Vahe Fonua ni.
‘Oku ou ‘ofa atu kia kimoutolu hono kotoa.
FOLOFOLA ‘A ‘ENE ‘AFIO KO E TU’I
HUUFI ‘O E FAKA’ALI’ALI NGOUE ‘A E VAHE FONUA TONGATAPU
TOKONAKI ‘AHO 22 ‘O SUNE, 2019
Tapu mo e ‘afio ‘a e ‘Otua ko e Tokaima’anganga
Tapu mo e Tu’i Ha’ateiho mo e Hou’eiki ‘o e Fonua
Tapu mo e Kau Minisitaa ‘o e Kapineti
Tapu mo e Kau Fakafofonga ‘o e Ngaahi Pule’anga Muli
Tapu mo e Kau Taki Lotu mo Ha’a Matapule
Pea ‘oku ou fakatapu makehe ki a kinautolu ‘oku nau teu’i ‘a e Katoanga ‘o e ‘Aho, Ko e Kau Ngoue, Kau Toutai, Kau Fefine ‘o Falehanga, Kau Pisinisi mo e ngāue Faka-Takimamata mo Folau ‘Eve’eva, Kau ngāue he mala’e ‘o e Fefakatau’aki, Kau ngāue ‘i he Ma’u me’atokoni mo e Mo’ui Lelei, To’utupu mo e fakahāhā ho nau ngaahi taleniti, Pea mo e kāinga kotoa ‘oku tau ‘i he Funga Manamo’ui ‘i he ‘Aho ni.
‘Oku ou fakafeta’i he ‘etau ‘inasi he ‘aho fakakoloa ‘o e Vahe Fonua Tongatapu. Ko e le’o ‘o e kau fa’a mo e kau toutai, kau pisinisi mo e kau ngāue ‘i he mala’e ‘o e Taki Mamata mo e Fefakatau’aki ‘oku ongo mai he ‘Aho ni pea lava ke tau tala mei ai e tūkunga ‘o e Vahe Fonua ni.
Ko e pole lahi taha kia kitautolu he ‘aho ni pea ‘oku hoko ia ko e faingata’a faka-Mamani Lahi pea ne uesia ‘a e ngaahi me’a kotoa ‘oku ‘i he mala’e ni ko e FELILIUAKI ‘A E ‘EA.
‘I he mahina ko Sepitema ‘oku fakahoko ma’u pē ai ‘a e Fakataha Fakamamani Lahi felave’i mo ha kāveinga ‘oku ne uesia ‘a e mo’ui ‘a e kakai, pea ko e ta’u ni ko hono kāveinga ko e Feliliuaki ‘a e ‘Ea. ‘Oku mahino ‘aupito ‘a e uesia kitautolu. Pea ko e fehu’i kia kitautolu he ‘Aho ní: Ko e hā ‘a e me’a ‘e lava ke tau fakahoko ke tokoni kia kitautolu?
Ko e Feliliuaki ‘a e ‘Ea ‘oku ne liliu ai pē ‘a e fa’ahi ta’u ‘i he la’ala’a, matangi mālohi, lahi ‘a e vai pea kuopau leva ke tau ngāue’aki ha ngaahi founga ‘oku fe’unga mo tuha mo e anga ‘o e ‘Ea kae ‘ikai ko e founga māheni pē.
Ko e founga fe’unga mo e faingāta’a ‘oku tau fehangahāngai mo ia ko e too ke lahi ‘a e ngoué, ‘akau fua mo e niu he kuo feliliuaki ‘a e ‘Ea, ‘oku liliu pea ko e tu’u ia ki he Kaha’ú, ‘e hokohoko atu ‘a e feliliuaki pea kuopau ke tau poto ‘aupito mo mohu founga kae lava ke tau mo’ui ‘i he tūkunga fo’ou koeni.
Ko e tokānga makehe ‘oku fiema’u mei he Fonua ‘o ‘ikai ko e kau ngoue pé, pē ko e kau toutai, ka ko e ngaahi kupu fekau’aki ‘o e Fonua he ‘e uesia ai ‘a e: famili, ‘a e ako, ‘a e sipoti, ko e pisinisi, ko e fetu’utaki mo e ongoongo, ‘a e Pule’anga mo e Siasi.
Kuo tau ‘osi a’usia mo mataa tonu he ngaahi matangi fakatalopiki kuo tau situ’a mei ai pea mo e tuai ‘a e fakaakeake mo e langa ke fakafoki ‘a e Fonua.
Ko e tu’u ki he Kaha’u ‘e toe lahi mo mālohi ange pea ko e ‘uhinga ia ‘a e fakatōkanga mo e faka’amu ke tau mateuteu, tokonaki fakakaukau mo e founga pea ngāue’i. Ko e taimi eni ke tanaki ‘etau fānau ‘o fakahinohino, ako’i mo tala ‘a e ngaahi founga ke ma’u mo’ui ai mo malu’i ‘a e fāmili he ko Taimi ‘oku ‘ikai mohe ‘oku lakalaka atu. Ko ‘etau ‘osi mei he mo’ui koeni ‘oku nau lava ke hokoatu he na’a tau vahevahe kia kinautolu ‘etau ‘ilo mo e taukei.
Ko e tafa’aki ia ‘o e faingata’á ka, ‘i he taimi tatau ‘oku kei ‘iai pē ‘a e ngaahi faingamālie pea ko e me’a ia ‘oku mahu’inga ke tau ngāue mo fakakaukauá ‘a e Feliliuaki ‘a e ‘Ea, ke liliu ‘a e fakakaukau, founga ngāue mo e ma’u’anga mo’ui.
‘Oku hā mai mei he faka’ali’ali ‘a e ngaahi fakakaukau fo’ou, ngaahi ‘ilo fakatekinikale pea ko ‘etau fānau mo e to’utupu ‘oku vave mo lahi ange ‘enau ‘ilo ki he tekinolosia fo’ou.
‘Oku mahino mai ‘e ‘ikai lava ke ma’u sikolasipi ki he tokotaha kotoa ka ‘oku talamai ‘e he ngaahi faka’ali’ali ‘o e ‘Aho ní ‘oku lava ma’u mo’ui pē ‘etau fānau he ngaahi ‘ilo fakatekinikale makehe pea ko e ngaahi ngāue’anga ia ‘oku fiema’u ‘e he Fonua. Tau talanoa mo fakalotolahi ki he ‘etau fānau. ‘ E ‘ikai ke nau toketa mo loea kotoa, ka ‘oku fiema’u ha kau ngoue, kau toutai, kau ngaahi me’a tokoni mo’ui lelei, kau tufunga, kau palama (plumbers), ‘enisinia, kau ngāue ‘uhila, mo e ngāue kehekehe.
Ko faka’amu ke tau ngāue ke matu’uaki ‘a e Feliliuaki ‘a e ‘Ea. ‘Oku ‘ikai ko e fakafepaki’i he ‘e mālohi ma’u pē ‘a Natula ia. Ka, ko e mateuteu, tokonaki pea ako’i ‘etau fānau mo e to’utupu mo e kakai ‘o e Fonua ke tau kei lava pē ‘o ma’u mo’ui mei he kelekelé, toutai mei ‘oseni pea fefakatau’aki neongo e ngaahi ha’aha’a ‘o Natula.
Ko e tali eni ‘etau potungāue ki he káveinga ‘oku tau fehangahangai mo ia ko e TO’UKAI MO HONO LOHU.
‘Oku ‘iai ‘a e fakamālō’ia ‘o e teuteu mo e fakaongosia ‘o e ‘Ahó.
Ko e loto’i Tonga ia ‘oku fiema’u ke matu’uaki ‘a Natula. ‘Oku lau lava pea ‘oku vahevahe mo tafe atu ‘a ‘ofa mo mamahi’i fonua. Ko e Fonua ikuna ia pea ‘e tu’uloa he ‘oku fononga fakataha mo e falala ‘Otua.
‘Oku ou ‘ofa atu kia kimoutolu kotoa.
END
FOLOFOLA ‘A ‘ENE ‘AFIO KO E TU’I Huufi ‘o e Konifelenisi Hono 96 ‘a e Siasi Uesiliana Tau’atāina, ‘aho Pulelulu, 26 ‘o Sune, 2019.
Tapu mo e Fale Tapu ‘o e ‘Otua
Tapu mo e Hou’eiki ‘o e Fonua
Tapu mo e ‘Eiki Palesiteni mo e Konifelenisi Kakato hono Hivangofulu Ma Ono, (96):
‘Oku tau fakatahataha mai ai ki he Falelotu Fakamanatu Senituli I ‘o e Lotu Kalisitiane, "Saione," Nuku’alofa pea ‘oku ou kole ke u ngaue’aki ‘a e tala fakatapu kakato kuo kamata’aki ‘a e fakataha’anga mamalu ni.
‘Oku ou fakafeta’i he ‘Alo’ofa ‘a Langi ‘oku tau ‘inasi ai, ‘a e kāinga Tonga kotoa mei he ‘Otu Muli pea mo e ‘otu motu ‘o Tonga, kae faingamālie ke mou lava mai ki he Fakataha’anga Lahi Faka-Ta’u ‘o e Lotu. Ko e hao mai ‘a e ngaahi folau mo e malu ‘a e mo’ui ‘oku tau fakamālō ai ki he ‘Otua ‘oku Ne tauhi ‘a Tonga.
Ko e Kāveinga Ngāue ‘a e Siasi 2019 ki he 2020 ‘oku pehee LAUMĀLIE MA’ONI’ONI FAKAFO’OU ‘ETAU FĀNAU peau ongo’i ‘a e tataki kitautolu ke tau VAKAI, KO E FĀNAU ko e ‘INASI meia Sihova: ko e totongi ‘oku ne ‘omi ko e fua he manava. Hangē ko e ngaahi ngahau ‘i he nima ‘o ha to’a, pēhē ‘a e ngaahi foha ‘oku te ma’u kei talavou kita. Monu’iaa ka ko e to’a kuo fonu ai ‘ene hofangahau na: ‘E ‘ikai ma ‘a e fa’ahinga ko ia, ‘oka nau ka alea mo honau ngaahi fili ‘i he matapa. Saame 127 veesi 3 ki he 5.
Ko e fānau ko e me’a’ofa ‘a e ‘Otua. Ko e tofi’a, ko e koloa, ko e tapuaki. Ko e tofi’a ko ia mei he ‘Otua ki he matu’a ke tauhi ma’ANA. Ko e koloa ke ako’i mo hinoi’i ke ‘ilo ‘Otua mo tauhi ki AI. Ko e tapuaki he te Ne tokonaki ‘Ene tokoni.
‘Oku ou fie lave si’i pē ki he ngaahi ngahau ‘i ha nima ‘o ha to’a. ‘Oku faka’uhinga ko e fonu ‘a e hofangahau ko e tokolahi ‘o ha ngaahi foha.
Ko e taimi koee ‘oku fonu ai ‘a e hofangahau ‘a e tangata tau, ko e faka’ilonga ia ‘o e mateuteu ke fepaki.
Ka ko e teuteu ‘o e hofangahau kuopau ke ma’u ia mei he sino ‘oku mālohi pea mo e fakakaukau lelei.
Ko e nima ke mālohi mo fefeka ki he fana’i ‘o e ngahau ‘o ‘ikai ko e nima to’omata’u pē, ka, ko e to’omata’u mo e to’ohema foki. Ko e mata ke tonu ‘a e sio.
Ko e ngāue’aki ‘o e ngahau ka ‘oku ‘i ai mo e me’atau talifaki pea ‘i he Folofolá ‘oku talanoa ki he makataa ‘o hangē ko e makataa ‘a Tevita.
Ko e maka ‘oku ‘ikai ke ‘osi ia pea ‘oku fakamatala ki ai ‘a: 1 Kalonikali, Vahe 12 veesi 2: Ko e kau fakakaufana kinautolu: na’a nau fakatouanga, ‘o ngāue’aki ‘a e to’omata’u mo e to’ohema ‘i he makataa mo e fana ngahau: na’a nau kau ki he kāinga ‘o Saula, ki Ha’a Penisimani.
Ko e fakatouanga ‘i he makataa mo e fana ngahau, ko e ako mo e ngāue ia ‘oku fai faka’aho pea fakamatoato kae’oua pē ke haohaoa.
Ko e talanoa ki he malu ‘a ‘Isileli pea mo hono ‘ohofi ‘e he ngaahi fonua kaungā’api ‘oku kei pēhē pē ‘o a’u ki he ‘Aho ni pea matu’aki mahu’inga ‘a e mateuteu he ko e fakatokanga ko e momeniti pē pea nau ‘alu ki he Tau.
Ko e fili ‘oku hanga mai ke ‘ohofi ‘a e fānau he ‘aho kotoa. ‘Oku ne ‘ilo’i ko e tofi’a kinautolu mei he ‘Otua. Ko ia ‘oku mahu’inga ‘etau le’o pea teuteu’i ‘a e fānau ‘aki ‘a e me’atau totonu mo fakahinohino ke malu’i kinautolu.
Ko e lelei tahá, ke ako’i ‘oku nau kei iiki ke nau anga ki ai pea fai he ‘aho kotoa ‘o hangē ko e makataa ‘a Tevita. Na’a ne ngāue’aki he ‘aho kotoa pea na’e potopoto’i fe’unga ke tau mo Kolaiate.
Ko e kau tauhi koloa ke nau o’i mo teuteu ‘a e mo’ui, ‘e fai ia he ‘aho kotoa, hema mo mata’u, ko ‘ene me’atau ke maau mo e talifaki ke mateuteu he ka lavea hema pē mata’u ‘oku kei lava pē ia ‘o fepaki he ‘oku ne ‘ilo’i ko hono tokoni ‘oku ha’u mei hono ‘Otua pea ‘oku na fe’ao he ‘aho kotoa.
‘Oku tau mateuteu ke fepaki ‘etau fānau mo e ngaahi ‘ahi’ahi ‘o e ‘Aho ní? Ko e kāveinga ia kuo tuku mai ki he ta’u faka-Konifelenisi koeni pea kuou lave pē ki he tafa’aki fakasino mo faka’atamai kae toki fai ‘e he Kolisi Sia’atoutai ‘a e tafa’aki fakalaumālie.
Talamonū atu ki he Konifelenisi Kakato mo e ngāue ‘a e Laumālie Ma’oni’oni ke fakafo’ou ‘etau fānau pea ‘e ‘ikai ke tau ma ‘oka nau ka alea mo honau ngaahi fili ‘i he matapa.
‘Oku ou ‘ofa atu kia kimoutolu kotoa,
END
Graduation of His Royal Highness The Crown Prince Tupoutoa-Ulukalala from the Australian Command and Staff College, Canberra.
His Majesty King Tupou VI and HM Queen Nanasipauu, at the invitation of the Commander of the Australian Defence College Maj General MB Ryan MB, visited Canberra for the 2018 Australian Command and Staff Course (Joint) Graduation Ceremony on Friday 7th December 2018. His Royal Highness along with his fellow course members of 172 from 24 countries graduated with the passed Staff College (Joint) qualification [(psc(j)], along with a postgraduate qualification in Military and Defence Studies accredited from the Australian National University.
His Royal Highness The Crown Prince Tupoutoa-Ulukalala in addition to receiving the psc(j) qualification was also awarded the postgraduate qualification of Master of Military and Defence Studies (MMDS).
Also present at the Graduation celebrations were Their Royal Highnesses Crown Princess Sinaitakala, Prince Taufaahau Manumataongo, Princess Halaevalu Mataaho, Princess Nanasipauu Eliana and; Her Royal Highness The Princess Angelika Latufuipeka the Tonga High Commissioner to the Commonwealth of Australia.
Their Royal Highnesses The Crown Prince Tupoutoa-Ulukalala and Crown Princess Sinaitakala and the Royal children will return to Nukualofa for the Christmas Holidays before returning to Canberra in the New Year where The Crown Prince will pursue further studies at the two year Master of Diplomacy course at the Coral Bell School of the Australian National University.
Office of Lord Chamberlain
NUKUALOFA
.
Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit to The Kingdom of Tonga from 25th – 26th October 2018
Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were warmly welcomed by Her Royal Highness The Princess Angelika Latufuipeka on their arrival at Fua’amotu International Airport on Thursday afternoon.
Their Royal Highnesses were escorted to 'The Villa Royal Residence' before proceeding to a private audience with His Majesty King Tupou VI and HM and Queen Nanasipau’u at Consular House.
Following the private audience, The Duke and Duchess attended the Official Welcome reception where Their Royal Highnesses met with invited guests including other members of the Royal Family, Nobles of the Realm, Cabinet Ministers, Diplomatic Corp, Church Leaders, Government senior officials, Officers of His Majesty’s Armed Forces, People’s Representatives and members of the business community.
During the Royal dinner the Duke of Sussex (His Royal Highness Prince Harry) delivered a speech in which he expressed: "We are deeply grateful to you all for welcoming Meghan and me to Tongatapu (the main island of Tonga) and to Your Majesties for making us feel at home here."
The Duke also conveyed a message from his grandmother Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II: "Your Majesties, it gives me great pleasure that my grandson and his wife are visiting the Kingdom of Tonga.
"Our two families have enjoyed a deep and warm friendship over many years, and I hope that our close relationship continues with the next generation.
"To this day, I remember with fondness Queen Salote’s attendance at my own Coronation, while Prince Philip and I have cherished memories from our three wonderful visits to your country in 1953, 1970 and 1977."
"In the months and years ahead, I wish Your Majesties and the people of Tonga every good fortune."
Following the evening's welcome reception and Royal Dinner, His Majesty King Tupou VI, Queen Nanasipau’u and Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, The Princess Angelika Latufuipeka and Princess Ofeina ehe Langi Fakafanua presided at the Traditional entertainment provided by Kolovai Estate with the performances of the Fa'ahiula, Me'etu'upaki, Ta'olunga and Lakalaka.
On Friday 26th October 2018 was a courtesy meeting with the Prime Minister, Hon. Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva at the St George Government Building before proceeding to an Exhibition hosted by Her Royal Highness The Princess Angelika and the Tonga National Youth Congress at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre.
Their Royal Highnesses also viewed a vibrant range of Tongan handicrafts, local produce and Tongan entertainment outside the Convention Centre before visiting Tupou College to dedicate the Tonga projects of the i) Toloa Forest Reserve and ii) the Eua National Park Reserve as part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy Initiative to save the World’s Forests.
TUPOU COLLEGE
EUA NATIONAL PARK RESERVE
The Royal Visit ended with a farewell audience at the Royal Palace with His Majesty King Tupou VI and HM Queen Nanasipau’u before Their Royal Highnesses departure for Sydney, Australia.
His Majesty King Tupou VI Receives H.E. Ambassador Saleh Ahmed Alsuwaidi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the Kingdom of Tonga, in Audience on the 15th Nov, 2018 at the Royal Palace, Nuku’alofa
His Majesty King Tupou VI, receiving H.E. Saleh Ahmed Alsuwaidi
His Majesty King Tupou VI in Audience with H.E. Saleh Ahmed Alsuwaidi, conveying through His Excellency, His Majesty’s best wishes and compliments to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and reaffirming the Kingdom of Tonga’s close relations with the peoples and Government of the United Arab Emirates.
A number of bilateral issues were discussed including the setting up of the Tongan Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the appointment of Honourable ‘Akau’ola as Ambassador Designate to the United Arab Emirates and Gulf Cooperation Council Member States.
Development assistance to be considered was also presented by His Excellency in the areas of Health and Education as well as a number of visits to be facilitated to the Private Sector in Agriculture and Fisheries at the Gulf Food Expo to be held in Dubai in February 2019 to assist the Kingdom of Tonga in its preparations for EXPO 2020.
His Excellency the Ambassador further provided the following release for His Majesty’s pleasure.
Kingdom of Tonga: a living example of UAE-Pacific Partnership
I’d like to start this article by quoting from the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; "the UAE will continue to pursue its cultural cooperation with other countries towards supporting the rights, fulfilling justice and building bridges of friendship and cooperation between different countries of the world to achieve global peace and prosperity.
The UAE adopts a special method with respect to foreign aid, implementing the concept of sustainable development for the good of all humanity, believing in the importance of collaboration among the countries of the world to overcome challenges.
Therefore, the UAE has made sure to be an active member of the international community in the field of channelling foreign aid based on the priorities set out by international development organizations in a way that is aligned with its objectives; fighting poverty, illiteracy and enhancing growth, prosperity and peace around the world, cooperating closely with governments of friendly developing countries in a form of constructive bilateral partnerships to achieve their national development plans and sustainable goals.
For the fifth consecutive year, the UAE has preserved its ranking among the top international donors in 2017 according to the statistics announced by the Development Assistance Committee of the OECD, with donations reaching $5.3 Billion covering 147 countries around the world. This global profile as one of the largest donor country is the result of the legacy which was instilled in our hearts from the founding father of the UAE, the late Shaikh Zayed, who infused the "Emirati culture of giving" in society and current leadership of the UAE.
This year marks the eighth anniversary of the visit of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to the Pacific region, specifically to the Kingdom of Tonga and the Republic of Fiji in 2010, during which he laid with the Governments of the Pacific, the foundation for the existing partnership between the UAE and the Pacific taking the UAE-Tonga relations to an advanced stage with achievements made in several areas including political, economic, and social cooperation despite the geographic distance.
One of the most important results of this partnership is the establishment of the UAE Pacific Fund with $50 million US dollar value which funded and delivered 11 renewable energy projects in the Pacific region with a total capacity exceeding 6 megawatts to meet the needs of the islands’ people, reducing CO2 emissions equalling 8447 tons and saving millions of dollars instead of buying diesel to generate power. The Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (also known as Masdar) installed power plants in cooperation with other partners and in addition to organizing courses and workshops to enhance skills of engineers, and officers in charge in the Pacific countries.
Among remarkable lessons of this, is that the partnership taught us that cooperation is paramount to overcome challenges and to open new horizons for the people of both regions. This initiative played a vital role to stimulate knowledge and technology in the fields of environment and climate change.
The distinct partnership between the UAE and the Pacific has become a model for other regional partnerships the UAE has extended in Africa and the Caribbean.
The last Nuku'alofa Network Upgrade Project of the UAE contribution of US$3.5 Million towards developing the electricity network in the Capital NukoAlofa, in cooperation with New Zealand and the Asian Development Bank came as an expected result to the progress in the bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Tonga and the UAE amongst many others areas.
The UAE looks forward to Tonga’s active participation in the coming Expo2020 to be held in Dubai, and for the first time in Expo 2020’s history, each Pacific country is dedicated an individual pavilion to present and market their products, economy, and beautiful history and culture.
The UAE government welcomed the decision of His Majesty King Tupou VI to appoint Honourable 'Akau'ola as a Special Envoy of the King of Tonga to the United Arab Emirates. It also welcomed the Tongan Government’s decision to establish an embassy in Abu Dhabi. It is considered an important step towards building stronger ties with the UAE which has become a key trading and investment hub in the region and globally. Further, It is the best way to prepare for the upcoming Expo 2020. These positive development in bilateral relations embodies the awareness and vision of the prudent leadership of both countries and the significance of this partnership, which will certainly be to the advantage of governments and people of the two friendly counties.
Indeed the Tongan UAE relationship is a living example of UAE-Pacific partnership.
Saleh Alsuwaidi
UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Tonga
HIS MAJESTY KING TUPOU VI INSPIRES
MATE MA’A TONGA PRIOR TO HISTORIC CLASH
His Majesty King Tupou VI, in audience on Thursday 18 OCTOBER, greeted the Mate Ma’a Tonga team at the Royal residence in Auckland. His Majesty, a former Naval Commander knows only too well that a few words spoken can be an inspiration and lift the spirits of the team whilst they carry the hopes of the people of Tonga in the Kingdom, and Tongans living in New Zealand, Australia and around the globe.
His Majesty personally conveyed to the MMT that "The country stands with you. We all stand together, very proudly… we must continue to inspire our country, our friends, our relatives and our fellow athletes and especially our youth who now see potential in what you have demonstrated through physical discipline, training, sacrifice and our Tongan spirit."
This was met by rapturous applause of humility, gratitude, respect and , of course, Tongan pride for His Majesty’s inspirational words.
Present at the audience was HRH Princess Angelika and Hon. Salote Maumautaimi.
The team were introduced to His Majesty by Stan Moheloa (Chairman of the Tongan National Rugby League Committee) Talking Chief, Pakilau-o-Aotearoa conveyed on behalf of the team, that they will "do their best, as Mate Ma’a Tonga is our motto".
His Majesty King Tupou VI holds bilateral talks with Her Excellency Minister of State for International Cooperation & Managing Director EXPO 2020 and undertakes a Royal visit to the EXPO 2020 site, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2nd October, 2018
His Majesty King Tupou VI holds bilateral talks with Her Excellency Minister of State for International Cooperation & Managing Director EXPO 2020 and undertakes a Royal visit to the EXPO 2020 site, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2nd October, 2018
HM King Tupou VI, returning from the United Nations General Assembly, New York, stopped in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. During His Majesty’s stop over, an invitation was extended by Her Excellency Minister Reem Al Hashimi (Minister of State for International Cooperation & Managing Director EXPO 2020) to visit the site of EXPO 2020.
His Majesty was warmly welcomed by Her Excellency Minister Reem and the top executives of EXPO 2020 and prior to the site visit were able to discuss issues of mutual interest. This included the development of trade opportunities for high yield goods such as fisheries, agriculture and possible further investments in infrastructure like the Vava’u Solar Plant, which was wholly funded by the Government of the UAE. Possible investment in tourism infrastructure (Hotels and Resorts) was also discussed, with Her Excellency remembering fondly her visits to the Kingdom and the friendliness of the people and beauty of the Kingdom’s islands.
His Majesty conveyed His wish that EXPO 2020 could be the catalyst for youth development and opportunity in education and cultural understanding. The quickly changing global political climate was extensively discussed whereby the need for strong alliances outside of inter regional relationships needed to be further developed. To this extent Her Excellency thanked His Majesty for the strong support and assistance for the United Arab Emirates in winning the bid for EXPO 2020, as well as Abu Dhabi winning its bid as headquarters for the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
His Majesty was able to convey on behalf of His Majesty’s Government the gratitude for the quick and kind assistance for the US$ 3.5 million grant aid to support the electricity infrastructure rebuild to the villages, following cyclone Gita.
In closing, Her Excellency reaffirmed the special relationship between the two Royal Households and the peoples of the United Arab Emirates and Kingdom of Tonga.
Following the bilateral talks, the EXPO 2020 Participation Agreement was signed in the Majlis in the presence of His Majesty King Tupou the VI.
His Majesty signing the Royal VIP EXPO Guest Book in Arabic as a gesture of the close cross cultural friendship between the Kingdom of Tonga and United Arab Emirates.
His Majesty King Tupou VI and accompanying Officers and Senior EXPO 2020 Officials
His Majesty inspecting the prime Tonga Pavilion site that had been previously negotiated, in the Opportunities Sector. This will be the first time Tonga has a standalone Pavilion at a World EXPO.
His Majesty King Tupou VI, with Omar Shehadeh [Senior Vice President International Particpants Operations and Mrs Sue ‘Akau’ola discussing strategic plans for the Tonga Pavillion.
Tupou VI, King of Kingdom of Tonga, addresses the general debate of the 73rd Session of the General Assembly of the UN (New York, Sep 25 – October 01, 2018).
Statement of
HIS MAJESTY KING TUPOU VI
SOVEREIGN AND HEAD OF STATE OF THE KINGDOM OF TONGA
on the occasion of the
General Debate
at the Seventy-third Session
of the United Nations General Assembly
Wednesday 26th Sep 2018
United Nations Headquarters, New York
Madam President,
I congratulate you on the assumption of your presidency of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly. I assure you that the Tonga delegation will fully support your able leadership.
I express our gratitude to your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Miroslav Lajcak, for his successful and able leadership of the Assembly at its 72nd Session, in particular making the work of the Assembly be people-centered, by striving for peace and a decent life for all, on a sustainable planet.
I also commend His Excellency Mr. António Guterres for the ongoing stewardship of the Secretariat. Tonga fully supports the ongoing work he is undertaking on reform, including the all-important review of the United Nations multi-country offices in the Pacific Islands region.
Madam President,
My delegation and I congratulate you also on your theme as being both timely and relevant. "Making the United Nations relevant to all people: Global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies" aptly reflects who we are as a collective, ensuring the work of the United Nations has meaning to those that matter most – our peoples - and we welcome your theme as the guiding principle for our work this session.
Madam President,
In contributing towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its sustainable development goals (SDGs), including the internationally agreed blueprint for the sustainable development of small island developing States (SIDS), the SAMOA Pathway, Tonga has made both Agreements an integral part of its national planning processes. The government’s priority agenda from year 2018 to 2021 aligns with 13 of the 17 SDGs namely Goals, 1 to 4, 6 to 9, and 13 to 17.
Madam President,
The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) remains an important means which Tonga endorses, for the follow-up, monitoring, and accountability of commitment by member states through Voluntary National Reviews which are linked to the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. Tonga looks forward to presenting its first Voluntary National Report (VNR) report to the HLPF in 2019.
The HLPF will also dedicate a day at its high-level ministerial segment to the mid-term review of the SAMOA Pathway in 2019. Tonga was pleased to host the Pacific regional preparatory meeting for the mid-term review of the SAMOA Pathway in June this year of which its outcome report forms the latest iteration of the Pacific’s sustainable development aspirations. Tonga looks forward to engaging with other SIDS and partners in Samoa at the end of next month to produce the final inter-regional report for the midterm review of the SAMOA Pathway for consideration at the HLPF next year.
We recognize the important contribution of the United Nations Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing countries, and Small Island Developing States, the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs and the United Nations ESCAP Pacific office in this regard.
Madam President,
Tonga welcomes the convening of the 3rd High-level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases tomorrow. Combatting the threat NCDs presents to individuals, families and communities, has been recognized as being grossly underfunded given its magnitude.
In Tonga, we are pleased to inform of commendable reductions in the prevalence of tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption. Tongan people are eating healthier food and involved more in physical activities. We are, however, not without challenges as evidenced, for example, in the rising obesity rates.
The Tongan Government is addressing the issue by making unhealthy food choices more expensive and healthier food choices cheaper for the Tongan public.
Madam President,
Climate Change continues to pose significant security threats to us as Island States. Pacific Leaders in Nauru earlier this month endorsed an expanded concept of security in their Communiqué and the Boe Declaration linking, inter alia, climate change and threats to international peace and security. In this regard, Tonga welcomes the establishment of the Group of Friends on Climate and Security to further highlight the nexus between the threats of climate change with threats to international peace and security.
We note with concern the devastating impacts of climate change on our marine environment. Baselines that determine our territorial boundaries, once established under the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, should not be affected and should remain unchanged despite the effects of sea level rise. Our Sovereignty must not be compromised by climate change and we welcome the work of the International Law Commission on this critically important and timely issue for consideration of the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly.
Tonga looks forward to taking our important work forward at the 24th Session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and strongly addressing the adverse impacts of climate change, and urgent need for innovation in adaptation for SIDS under the leadership of Poland in December.
Madam President,
Tonga has engaged in this year’s first intergovernmental conference on the conservation and sustainable use of the biological diversity in the high seas and the seabed and we are hopeful that a gradual convergence of views will result in a zero draft of a legally binding instrument for consideration at the second and third meetings of the Inter-governmental Conference in Mar and August next year.
Tonga has also continued its engagement at the International Seabed Authority ensuring the appropriate management of the resources of the Area. Tonga is grateful to the members of the Authority for its re-election this year to the Council and we look forward to working together in the development of the important draft Exploitation regulations.
Tonga also looks forward to hosting the first Regional International Seabed Authority workshop in early 2019, to explore the benefits of seabed mining to the blue economy of Pacific Islands and to progressing the development of a regional treaty on deep sea mining.
We would like to acknowledge Italy’s ongoing partnership with Tonga through the Joint Committee in strengthening Tonga’s capacity in the field of the environment and ocean. We also acknowledge the work of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the Pew Charitable Trust on the Regional Treaty.
Madam President,
Tonga commissioned its first Independent Power Producer-owned Solar Farm last year and strongly believes that it can achieve its 50% by 2020 renewable energy target through more and stronger public-private partnership arrangements.
Tonga wishes to acknowledge the partnership it has established with the Government of Austria, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and the Pacific Community, to establish the Pacific Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency - a specialised regional entity to support private sector investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency in the Pacific Islands.
We would also like to recognize and acknowledge the announcement made by the Government of Norway of its commitment to provide US Dollar 2 million in support of the important work of the Centre.
Madam President,
Finally, sustainable development, whether it be, inter alia, through good health and well-being, climate action, life below water, or affordable and clean energy, can only be realized through international peace and security. We continue to look to the Security Council to protect the innocent from threats to international peace and security in whatever form, be they traditional threats such as armed conflict, or newer threats like climate change, to ensure no one is left behind.
May Almighty God guide and bless you, and all the member states of the United Nations, their respective Governments, and our peoples.
Thank you.
FOLOFOLA ‘A ‘ENE ‘AFIO TUPOU VI KO E TU’I
HUUFI ‘O E FAKA’ALI’ALI NGOUE ‘A E VAHE FONUA VAVA’U
Falaite, ‘Aho 13 ‘o Siulai, 2018
‘Oku ou fakafeta’i ki he ‘Otua Mafimafi ko e tauhi hao mo malu ‘o tau toe a’usia ai ‘a e ‘aho ni, ki he Faka’ali’ali Ngoue ‘a e Vahe Fonua Vava’u.
‘Oku laumālie lelei pē ‘a e Kovana mo e Hou’eiki ‘o e Vahe Fonua ni pea pehē ki he Kau Minisitaa ‘o e Kapineti, Fakafofonga Fale Alea, Kau Taki Lotu kae’uma’a ‘a e kakai kotoa ‘oku tefua ‘i he Mala’e Nippon.
‘Oku fakatokanga’i ‘a e ngāue ‘oku fakahoko ‘e he Kovana mo e kāinga Vava’u, ke tauhi ‘a e ma’uma’uluta ‘o e nofo pea pehē ki he
ma’a mo faka’ofo’ofa ‘o Neiafu. Ko e ngāue pehē ni kuopau ke loto’aki ‘e he kakai pea ke kau kotoa mai ‘a e tukuikolo kae ‘asi hono makehe mo fakaholo mamata.
Ko e tokangaekina ‘o e hako tupu ‘o e Fonua ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha ngāue si’i, ke langa hake ‘enau mo’ui pea ke ‘aonga ho nau taleniti ki he famili mo e fonua. Ko e ako ‘oku ‘ikai ngata ia ha taimi ka ‘oku ne fakaava ha ngaahi matapa ki he mo’ui ke fakangata ‘a e masiva.
‘Oku ‘amanaki ke fakahoko ‘i he ta’u 2020 ha faka’ali’ali ngāue kehekehe ‘i he U.A.E pē ko e Fonua Fakatahataha ‘o e Hou’eiki ‘Alepea. ‘I he kuohili na’e fanga ki’i fonua iiki ‘e fitu ka kuo nau fakatahataha ke langa mo fefakatau’aki ‘o ngāue’aki ‘enau ma’u’anga ivi mei he Lolo ke nau tu’umālie ai pea mo ha toe ni’ihi kehe.
Kuo tuku atu ‘enau fakaafe ki ha ngaahi fonua lahi ‘i Mamani ‘o kau ai ‘a Tonga ni. Ko e me’a mahu’inga ‘i he Faka’ali’ali pē Expo koeni, ko e koloa ‘oku tuku atu mei ho fonua mo e fakakaukau ‘oku ngāue’aki pea mo e maketi ‘e ala ma’u.
Ko e koloa ‘e ala ma’u mei Tonga ni ko ha koloa iiki ka ko hono mahu’inga fakapa’anga ‘oku lahi, hangē ko e VANILA. ‘Oku fiema’u ia ‘i he fonua kotoa ‘i Mamani. Ko e IKA fo’ou mo mo’ui. Ko e MOKOHUNU ‘oku ‘ikai ko Siaina pē ‘oku ne fiema’u ka ‘oku toe ‘i ai mo e ngaahi fonua kehe. Ko e TOFE.
Ko ia, tau kamata fakakaukau’i ha koloa ki he 2020 pea ke tau mateuteu he ko e palepale pē pavilion ‘a Tonga, ‘e lele ia ha ngaahi mahina nai ‘e fitu pē valu. Ko e kii ki he Faka’ali’ali ko e teuteu lelei mo e teuteu ke lahi.
‘Oku mahino ‘oku hokoatu ‘a e ngāue ‘a e Potungāue Toutai ki he fakalaka mo e fakatupu ‘o e ma’u’anga me’a tokoni mei ‘oseni, ‘i he toe lahiange ‘o e ngaahi ‘otu motu ‘oku nau kau ki he ngaahi ‘elia pule’i makehe ki he toutai, pea pehē ki he fakahoko ‘o e ngaahi fakatotolo ki he faama’i ‘o e limu mo e fokotu’u ‘o e ngaahi tauhele’anga ika.
‘Oku mahino foki ‘oku toe fakalaka ange hono faama’i ‘o e tofe, ‘i he funga ‘o e ngaahi tokoni mei Muli. Ko e ngāue eni na’a ‘iloa ai ‘a e Vahe Fonua ni, tukukehe ‘ene hoko ko e ma’u’anga pa’anga ma’ae ngaahi kautaha mo e famili.
‘Oku ‘oatu ‘a e fakamālō ki he Potungāue Ngoue mo Toutai, kau Ngoue, kau Toutai kotoa,
Ngāue ‘a e Kakai Fefine pea mo e Ngaahi Pisinisi ‘oku mou kau mai ki he Faka’ali’ali ‘o e ‘Aho ni. Pea pehē foki ki he kakai ‘oku nau fakatau ‘a e ngaahi koloa ‘o e ‘Aho.
Talamonuu atu ki he Faka’ali’ali Ngoue ‘o e ta’u ni pea ‘oua na’a too ‘a Vava’u he Expo 2020.
‘Ofa atu,
Tutupakanava ritual by Ha'apai school children
As part of their offerings for His Majesty King Tupou VI's birthday celebration, children of Ha'apai school performed Tutupakanava, a torchlight night watch ritual as part of their offerings for His Majesty King Tupou VI's birthday celebration.
FOLOFOLA ‘A ‘ENE ‘AFIO TUPOU VI KO E TU’I, HUUFI ‘O E KONIFELENISI HONO 95 ‘A E SIASI UESILIANA TAUATAINA
PANGAI, TU’APULELULU 28 ‘O SUNE, 2018
‘Oku ou tuku ‘a e fakafeta’i ki he ‘Otua ko ‘etau a’usia ‘a e Konifelenisi hono Hivangofulu ma nima ‘i he Fale Lotu Fakamanatu ‘o Siaosi Tupou 1 ‘i Pangai, Haapai.
Ko e me’angaue mahu’inga taha ke fakafepaki’aki ‘a e MASIVA ko e AKO. Kuo fokotu’u ‘e he Kolisi ko Tupou ha tu’unga fakaako faka-Mamani lahi ke ako’i ‘a e to’utupu ‘o e Fonua. Na’e hoko pē ia ‘i he ngaahi ta’u ‘e 150 kuohili, ka ‘oku to e fakafoki mai ‘i he ‘aho ni.
Na’e folofola ‘a ‘Ene ‘Afio Tupou V ‘o pehe, ‘e ‘omai ‘e he temokalati ha ngaahi pole ki he Siasi. Koia kuo ‘osi hoko eni ‘i he ngaahi fonua Temokalati ‘aia na’e langa hake ‘i he ngaahi tui faka-Kalisitiane, ‘o hangē ko ‘Amelika pea pehē ki ho tau kaunga’api ko Fisi mo Ha’amoa. Ko e pole lahi ko e mavahe ‘a e Ako mei he ‘Otua.
Kapau ‘e loto ‘a e Siasi ke hoko atu ‘a e fakalakalaka ‘a e tu’unga ‘o e Ako fakamamani lahi ki he kotoa ‘o e ngaahi Ako ‘a e Siasi, ‘e lava pē ke fakahoko ia. Ka te tau fiema’u ha kau faiako ‘oku nau ma’u ‘a e tu’unga fakaako fakavaha’apule’anga. Na’a ‘oku lelei ke fakalotolahi’i ‘a hotau kāinga ‘i Muli ke nau tokoni mai ‘i ha faiako ha ta’u si’i pea tau toki fetongi kinautolu.
Ko e faingata’a ‘o e Ako ‘e hangē pē ha pupuu nifo ha pepē fo’ou, kae ‘oua leva ke tau ma’u ‘i Tonga ni ha kau faiako ‘oku nau ma’u ‘a e tohi fakamo’oni ako fakavaha’apule’anga.
Ka na’a ‘oku fiema’u ke to e liliu ‘e he Siasi ‘a e founga ‘oku fakalele ai ‘a e Ako ke lava ke fakafalala ki he Poate Ako ‘oku ne tokanga’i pē ‘ene ‘Api ako.
‘I he ngaahi fonua ‘e ni’ihi ko e Poate Ako ia ‘oku nau fili mo tokanga’i ‘a e ola lelei ‘o e ngāue ‘a e kau faiako ‘aia ‘e makatu’unga ai ha to e hiki hake ho nau vahengá. ‘I he founga ko eni ‘e lava ‘e he Siasi mo e matu’a tauhi fānau ke fakapapau’i ‘oku ma’u mai ‘a e kau faiako lelei taha ki he tu’unga fakamamani lahi pea mo tokanga’i foki mo e kau ako.
‘E lava ke ‘ataa pē ‘a e Potungāue Ako ‘a e Siasi mei he ngāue ki he ngaahi fakaikiiki, ka nau tokanga pē ki he kaveinga fakavaha’apule’anga ‘aia ‘oku ako’i pea tokanga’i foki ‘a e silapa ako ‘a e Siasi fakakātoa.
‘I he founga ko eni te tau lava ‘o liliu ‘etau founga Ako ke tautefito ki he kau ako ko e kaha’u ia ‘o e Siasi, ‘i hono fakapapau’i ‘oku fe’unga ‘a e founga ako fakakalisitiane pea ke fengaue’aki foki mo Tu’apule’anga.
Ko e fehu’i leva he taimi ni pe ko e fe nai e taimi ke fakahoko ai ‘a e ngaahi liliu koeni. Ko e fokotu’u: ki he senituli ua ‘o e lotu ‘i Tonga.
‘Oku ou talamonuu atu ki he Konifelenisi mo Ha’apai mo e faka’amu ke tau ikuna ‘i he fakfepaki’i ‘o e masiva.
‘Ofa atu,
The Christening of Princess Nanasipauu Eliana
June 11th 2018
His Majesty King Tupou VI and HM Queen Nanasipauu paid a visit to Canberra, Australia to grace the Christening Ceremony for Her Royal Highness Princess Nanasipau’u Eliana, daughter of Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala and Crown Princess Sinaitakala.
The Christening Service took place on Sunday 10th June 2018 at the ANZAC Memorial Chapel of St Paul, Royal Military College Duntroon. The Officiating Minister was the Chaplain Maumau Monu (Lt Col).
Also present at the Service were Their Royal Highnesses Princess Mele Siuilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili and Princess Sinaitakala Ofeina e he Langi Fakafanua; HSH Prince Tuipelehake, Lord Fakafanua Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, members and relatives of the Royal Family and friends including the colleagues of Crown Prince Tupoutoá Ulukalala from the Royal Military Staff College.
The Christening Ceremony was followed by a Royal Luncheon at the Pialiggo Estate Glass House, Canberra.
The Government of the United Arab Emirates Continues Support of The Kingdom’s Energy Development
A recent visit by His Majesty’s Special Envoy to the United Arab Emirates whereby inter alia bilateral issues were discussed has seen the Government of the United Arab Emirates again support Tonga’s Energy Development. This follows on from the 512 KW Solar Station Grid Connected in Vava’u which was Commissioned by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in 2013.
The recent commitment of 7.8 million pa’anga (US$ 3.5 million) will support with co-ordination with the New Zealand Government to contribute to the Nuku'alofa Network Upgrade Project (NNUP) in Tonga. The project is aimed at not only improving the electricity network in Nuku'alofa, but also building resilience for the future. The Project also contributes to Nuku'alofa's support network following Cyclone Gita.
The project will strengthen the existing network in 56 villages across five urban areas. The project will improve access, safety, and reliability through the modernisation of the electricity grid, reducing power outages and line losses, and improve the network resilience to severe weather events in the urban area - benefitting 8,470 households and businesses. This, the Nuku'alofa urban area, consumes 65 percent of Tonga's electricity.
Following His Majesty’s concern about the destruction of cyclone Gita, this assistance will strengthen Tonga’s electricity network.
END
FOLOFOLA ‘A ‘ENE ‘AFIO TUPOU VI, KO E TU’I
‘I HE HUUFI ‘O E FALE ALEA ‘O TONGA
‘Aho Tu’apulelulu 31 Me, 2018
‘Oku ou tuku ‘a e fakafeta’i ki he ‘Otua Mafimafi ‘i he ‘ene tataki pea tau tu’uta ki he ‘aho ni, ‘oku laumālie lelei ‘a e Sea pea pehē ki he Palemia mo Kapineti, Kau Fakafofonga ‘o e Hou’eiki Nopele mo e Kau Fakafofonga ‘o e Kakai.
Kuo lava atu ‘a e ngaahi mahina ’i he hili ‘a e Afaa Talopiki ko Gita, mo e kei tokolahi pē ‘a e kakai ‘oku fiema’ú ‘a e tokoni. ‘Oku ou faka’amu ke to’oto’o ange ‘a e ngāue he ‘oku ha’u ‘a e fa’ahi ta’u mokomoko pea ‘oku uesia e kakai fakaenofo, fakaeloto mo faka’atamai foki.
‘Oku mahu’ínga ke ngāue ‘a e Fale Alea mo e Pule’angá, ‘o fakatatau ki he Lao. Koe’uhi kuo hā mai mei he ngaahi ta’u si’i kuohili, ‘i he tutu koia ‘o Nukualofa, ko e faka’auha ‘o e ngaahi pisinisi mo e mole ‘a e ngaahi mo’ui, ko e ola ia ‘o e maumau’i ‘o e Lao mo e nofo melinó.
Ko ia, ko e fatongia ‘o kitautolu kotoa, ke malu’i hotau ‘Atakai, ‘o tatau pē ‘i he Fonuá pea ki ‘Oseni, koe’uhi ko e ngaahi to’utangata ‘i he Kaha’ú. Ka, ‘ikai ke fakapotopoto ‘etau ngāue’aki ‘a hotau ‘Atakai, pea ‘e ‘ikai ha fakatu’amēlie ma’a ‘etau fānau mo e kaha’u ‘o e Fonuá.
Ko e tupu meia Gita, kuo hiki mai ai ‘a e Fale Alea ki he Senitaa Fakafonua koeni, ‘o hanga lelei atu pē ki he Potungāue Mo’ui mo e Falemahaki Vaiola pea ofi mai foki ‘a Falemasiva mo e Kolisi Tailulu.
Ko e ongo kāveinga ‘oku na mamahi’i peau ‘omai he ta’u kotoa ki he Fale ni, ko e Mo’ui Lelei mo e Ako lelei ‘i he Fonua ni.
‘Oku taau foki ke fakataumu’a ke hiki hake ‘a e founga ki he tokanga’i ‘o e Mo’ui Lelei ki ha tu’unga ‘oku faka-Mamani Lahi ka ke tau kei lava pē ke fua.
Ko e faingata’a lahi ‘oku tofanga ai ‘a e Fonua he ‘aho ni, ko e faito’o kona tapu. Ko e maumau ‘oku hoko ki he fānau, ngaahi famili mo e fonua ‘o e ‘aho ni mo e Kaha’u, ‘oku ‘ikai ala fakafuofua pē fakamahu’inga’i. Ka, ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e ngaahi fonua ‘oku tautea ‘a e hia fekau’aki mo e faito’o kona tapu ‘o a’u ki he tautea mate.
‘Oku totonu ke tau fakapapau’i ‘oku ngāue ‘a e kau Taki mo e kau Fakafofonga ke fakatupu ha ngaahi ngāue ‘i Tonga ni ma’ae to’utupu, pea mo ha ngaahi faingamālie foki ‘i Tu’apule’anga.
‘Oku ‘uhinga eni ke a’usia ha ngaahi tu’unga fakaako fakavaha’a-Pule’anga ‘i Tonga ni, ke fe’ungamālie mo e ngaahi tu’unga fakaako ma’olunga ange ‘í he ngaahi ‘api ako ‘i Tu’apule’anga, ‘oku ‘ikai ke lava a’usia ‘i Tonga ni. Koe’uhi, ke lava ke tau fakahu atu ki he ngaahi ‘Univesiti ‘a e fānau ako te nau ako pea nofo ‘i Tonga ni ke langa hake hotau Fonua.
‘Oku hā mai mei he ngaahi ta’u si’i kuohili, ‘oku hangē ‘oku fakataimi nounou pē ‘a e ngaahi taumu’a ngāue, lolotonga ko ia ‘oku totonu ke ‘i ai ‘a e Palani loloaange ki he Kaha’u, koe’uhi ko ‘etau visone ma’ae Fonua ‘oku totonu ke taimi loloa ia ‘o laui ta’u kae ‘ikai ke fakangatangata pē, ‘o fakatatau ki he ngaahi ta’u ngāué. ‘E matu’aki tokoni heni ka tu’unga tatau ‘a e Taki, ko e Palani mo e Visone.
‘Oku fakatokanga’i ‘a e ‘ofa mo e feilaulau ‘a e kāinga Tonga mei he ngaahi Fonua Muli, ko e tokoni ki he ngāue langalanga hake ‘oku lolotonga fakahoko ‘í he Fonua.
‘Oku ‘iai á e fakamālō ki he Ngaahi Pule’anga Muli pea mo e ngaahi Kautaha fakavaha’a-Puleanga mo fakataautaha ‘oku nau fakahoko mai ‘a e ngaahi tokoni ki he langa fakalakalaka ‘o e Fonua.
Fakatauange ke mou ma’u ha Fakataha Alea ‘e lelei fakalukufua ki he kakai mo e Fonua pea langilangi’ia ai hotau ‘Otua.
‘Ofa atu,
Royal Military Order of Saint George Investiture Ceremony
Dedication rewarded
May 4th 2018
His Majesty King Tupou VI bestowed honours of the Royal Military Order of Saint George to members of His Majesty’s Armed Forces and the Tongan Police Force, at a private investiture ceremony held at the Royal Palace on Friday the 4th of May, 2018.
The investiture ceremony marked the birthday of King George Tupou V who founded The Order of Saint George in 2009 to recognise distinguished and meritorious service by members of the uniformed services.
This year’s recipients have embraced their responsibilities, achieved excellence through unresented training, extraordinary dedication, selfless devotion and have upheld their duty of honour.
In attendance at the ceremony was Brigadier Lord Fielakepa, Officers from both HMAF and the Tongan Police Force and family members of the recipients.
THE KINGDOM OF TONGA AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES STRENGTHEN BILATERAL RELATIONS BY THE SIGNING OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) ON EXEMPTION OF ENTRY VISA REQUIREMENTS
An MOU exempting entry Visa requirements between the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Tonga was signed on the 23rd of April.
The MOU will permit Tongan diplomatic and Official passport holders to be exempt from visa requirements. It will also be extended to include Ordinary passport holders to allow Tongan nationals to visit the United Arab Emirates for up to 60 days without a visa.
The value of imports into the UAE on an annual basis is in excess of TOP 250 billion.
Daily flights operate direct from Auckland to Dubai, on the worlds largest commercial airliner (A380) thus enhancing the business opportunities for high yield exports from Tonga (fisheries, agriculture and in the near future labour force) and opens new trade doors for our Kingdom.
All of the major European universities and United States of America now have satellite campuses in the UAE and this allows the opportunity for Tongans to access short term study in the UAE.
New Zealand , Fiji, and other pacific island countries have recently signed a similar MOU because they too appreciate the opportunities available to them for trade and investment with the UAE.
With a number of Tongan Nationals currently working already in the UAE this MOU will facilitate easier access for friends and family to visit without the previous restrictive visa requirements.
His Majesty’s special envoy to the UAE, ‘Akau’ola, after signing the agreement on behalf of His Majesty, said "when you consider how Dubai and Abu Dhabi are two of the safest , friendliest most developed cities in the world the visa free MOU for the people of Tonga is a testament to the high level of respect the UAE places in His Majesty and the people of Tonga".
HM commissions largest multi-million solar farm in Tonga
Accompanied by HMQ Nanasipau'u, HM King Tupou VI officiated the commissioning of the Matatoa Solar farm on October 17. The 2-megawatt solar facility in Tofoa aims to join the global effort of renewable energy generation and reduce electricity tariff significantly.
The largest solar farm installed in the kingdom consists of 7440 solar panels and covers 6.3 acres. It is expected to generate over 2,828,84 kWh of electricity over the first year of operation which is an equivalent of 680, 000 litres of diesel which could be saved in its first year of operation.
"The solar plant alone is expected to add another 5% towards the nation’s renewable energy target", stated by the Minister for Public Enterprises and MEIDECC, Hon. Poasi Tei.
Statement of
HIS MAJESTY KING TUPOU VI
SOVEREIGN AND HEAD OF STATE OF THE KINGDOM OF TONGA
on the occasion of the
General Debate
at the Seventy-second Session
of the United Nations General Assembly
Friday, 22nd Sep 2017
United Nations Headquarters, New York
Mr. President,
I congratulate you on the assumption of your presidency of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly and I assure you that the Tonga delegation will fully support your able leadership in revitalizing and enhancing the crucial role of this august Organization.
I express gratitude to your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Peter Thomson, a distinguished son of the Pacific Islands Region, with progressing the implementation of the 2030 Development Agenda and successfully convening the inaugural Ocean Conference this year.
I also commend His Excellency Mr. António Guterres the United Nations Secretary-General, for the sterling stewardship since the beginning of his first year at the helm. The Tonga delegation will fully support your important reform work.
We send our message of solidarity and sympathy to the people of Mexico, their families and friends affected by the devastating earthquake and; to the millions of people in the Caribbean and all those affected in recent weeks by the utter ravages of successive hurricanes.
Mr. President,
My delegation and I welcome your timely and relevant theme: "Focusing on people: striving for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet." It essentially emphasizes the peaceful wellbeing of all people and the conservation and sustainable use of our global resources for present and future generations. Implementation is therefore crucial through sincere partnerships to collectively achieve the targets, goals and objectives stipulated under international law and internationally agreed outcomes.
In contributing towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the international agreed blueprint for the sustainable development of small island developing States (SIDS), the SAMOA Pathway, Tonga has established a National Monitoring Mechanism. In this regard, we wish to acknowledge the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2013-2017 will conclude at the end of this year. Subsequently, the 5-year programme cycle entitled United Nations Pacific Strategy (UNPS) 2018-2022 for 14 Pacific Island Countries, which was signed in August 2017 at the UNDP Pacific Office, will commence.
The close partnership between the Government of Tonga and the United Nations System to effectively implement the integrated Tonga Strategic Development Framework and the Agenda 2030 is reinforced through the coordination of UNPS 2018-2022 by the United Nations Joint Presence Office Delivering as One, which is led by the UNDP in Tonga. It is strategically positioned to provide technical advice to the Government, NGOs, Civil Society, and the Private Sector.
We also note the new senior management appointments by the UN Secretary-General. We welcome the appointment of the first woman from Tonga and the Pacific Islands Region to shepherd the important advocacy and facilitation work in the years ahead of the Office for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States. We fully support the goal of gender parity, including at all levels in the United Nations Organization.
Mr. President,
The 2017 High Level Political Forum (HLPF) enabled the review of 7 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in particular: Goals 3, on Good health and well-being; 5, on Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls; and 14, on the Ocean and its resources. We commend the President of the Economic and Social Council for his initiative to devote adequate time to underscore and examine the complex sustainability challenges facing SIDS, as a Special Case, and thereby enhance efforts to implement the commitments called for in the SAMOA Pathway. The High Level Political Forum remains an important means for the follow-up, monitoring, and accountability of commitments to SIDS, which are essentially linked to the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.
Mr. President,
We fully support Fiji’s Presidency of the 23rd Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change this year, to strongly address the adverse impacts of Climate Change and urgent need for innovation in Adaptation for SIDS.
We note the role of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Asia Development Bank in availing disaster finance and respective financial tools to all SIDS.
While acknowledging their work on expanding the definition of "fragility", we urge further refinement of operational financing decisions to include the drivers of vulnerability experienced in the Pacific Islands region, particularly natural disasters and adverse economic shocks.
We reiterate our call for the appointment of a Special Representative on Climate and Security to ensure that the UN System has the appropriate tools to respond effectively and efficiently to Climate Change as an existential threat and a mounting security challenge for SIDS and the entire international community.
Mr. President,
Enhanced accessibility to modern and clean sustainable energy services, energy efficiency, and the use of economically viable and environmentally sound technology and research, play a critical role in our sustainable development. Mitigation efforts are also essential to overcome the challenges of excess dependence on imported fossil fuels.
To further strengthen international and regional cooperation, the Pacific Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (PCREEE) was established in Tonga in April of this year. The Centre provides valuable support to Pacific Island countries and territories towards progressing their respective priorities and commitments for achieving sustainable energy and contributing to SDGs 7, 9 and 13. It is a partnership between the Pacific Community, the Government of Austria, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and SIDS-DOCK, amongst others.
The General Assembly acknowledged the PCREEE upon adoption of the biennial resolution entitled: 'Cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum' in July this year.
Mr. President,
However, we have, and continue to, experience the negative impacts of ocean degradation to our livelihoods and culture due to the anthropogenic activities and inter-related devastating effects of climate change. We already actively contribute to the implementation of SDG 14 and look forward to a strong collaboration with all interested parties. We hosted this year an international whaling meeting. The farsighted 1978 Royal Decree by His Majesty the Late King Tupou IV already banned whaling in Tongan waters. This farsighted decree was issued four years before the international ban on whale hunting came into effect. This was re-affirmed during the April 2017 International Conference on Whales in a Changing Ocean we were honored to host.
We may be a Small Island State but all SIDS are large Ocean States.
To us and our people, successful implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 is critical for the pathway towards sustainable development and its inter-connection with achieving other goals such as those related to food security, water and sanitation, health, economic growth, and sustainable production and consumption. Strong political will for a whole-of-government approach, towards mainstreaming ocean-related actions from international, regional, and national development plans and strategies, will ensure the inclusive participation and efforts of all stakeholders including local communities and the private sector.
Tonga joined the international community in endorsing the "Call for Action" outcome document of the Ocean Conference in June that contains almost 1400 voluntary commitments by stakeholders including 8 from Tonga. It is a basis for the development of a blue economy or a Blue Charter as proposed by the Commonwealth Secretariat. There is urgency to develop practical guidelines and toolkits to assist States in delivering on all targets under Goal 14 in an integrated manner.
Mr. President,
We acknowledge the completion of the work of the preparatory committee on the development of a legally binding instrument under the UNCLOS for the conservation and sustainable use of the biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Tonga maintains its support for the early commencement of an intergovernmental conference to initiate negotiations on a substantive text.
We embrace the ongoing work of the International Seabed Authority in its administration and management of resources in the ‘Area’ in accordance with the ‘Common Heritage of Mankind’. Tonga congratulates the Secretary-General of the Authority in his first year in office, as he works with member states to develop the important exploitation regulations which must strike the appropriate balance between the conservation of the natural environment in which mineral resources exist, and its sustainable use. Consultations must be transparent and inclusive to ensure this balance is achieved. Tonga continues its engagement as a member state of the Authority and is seeking re-election to the Council at the 24th Session of the Authority in 2018. A Tongan national with other members of the Legal and Technical Commission, provide expert views to facilitate the work of the Commission in developing the important financial mechanism to ensure fair and equitable distribution of returns from seabed mining.
Mr. President,
Tonga reiterates the call made under the SAMOA Pathway for genuine and durable
partnerships to ensure no one is left behind. A very credible partnership mechanism between the 12 Pacific SIDS and Italy, Austria, Luxembourg, and Spain is exemplified through the Joint Committee. It has been ably co-chaired by Italy and the Chair of the Pacific SIDS throughout each year since 2006. Tonga has thus benefitted through projects related to renewable energy, water, capacity-strengthening of young Government officials and more recently, marine protected areas.
We welcome the establishment of the India-United Nations Development Fund through the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, which launched a project implemented by the UNDP for the establishment of early warning systems in Tonga and other Pacific Island Countries. The system relies on the timely provision of disaster risk information, guidance on how to act upon warnings, and ensuring a constant state of preparedness.
Sustainable development is possible where there is peace and security and sustainable development is key to peace and security. Finally, we urge all Leaders to focus and reflect on how best their power and legitimacy will benefit their own people and the entire world.
We appeal for a speedy resolution to the current tensions in the Korean Peninsula that is affecting Global Peace and Security.
I congratulate the UN Secretary-General for the recent establishment of the High Level Advisory Board on Mediation to advise him on specific initiatives and related efforts around the world.
Mr. President,
May the Almighty God guide and bless you and all the member-states of the United Nations and their respective Government and people.
Thank you.
TUPOU VI
HM's speech at the 72nd General Assembly of the UN
His Majesty King Tupou VI addressed the general debate of the 72nd Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. (New York, 19 - 25 Sep 2017). (Video Source: UN Web TV)
Second study vist to Ghailand on food processing under agricultural development project based on the philosophy of Sustainable Economy (SEP)
A follow up to the December 2016 trip to Thailand was conducted April 5th through 15th 2017. The delegation consisted of the project’s five core members.
Mitrphol Group Group Sugarcane Processing Plant
The Sustainable Economy Philosophy (SEP) is a tool for strengthening the economic foundation at the family level, then community level and finaly at the national level. SEP promotes meeting subsistence needs of the household as the primary concern and then bringing surplus to the market. In line with the SEP project work plan the emphasis of this study visit was on agricutural produce processing facilities applicable to Tonga.
The team toured two large facilities, one processing sugar cane for sugar with its bi–product ethanol in Supanburi Province, a second one in Lopburi Province for cassava ethanol with its bi-product starch. These facilities concentrate on large scale production however, the concept can be replicated in Tonga on a smaller scale.
The empahsize of the visit was on small scale facilities and village orientated projects that can be easily replicated and tailored to suit the Tongan environment.
The following highlights the team’s visit to particular projects that relate to Tonga’s circumstances. Agricultural, horticultural and field crop products grown in Thailand are similar in nature to Tonga.
The processing method in Thailand is simple and easy for adaptation by the farmers and village communities. It maximizes the use of tradional methods.
Thai village processing facility in Prachuap Kiri Khan Province for the domestic market, their main produces are similar to those in Tonga which are sold in an unprocessed state. The Thai concept produces value- added products through simple preservation methods and packaging that facilitates higher market prices and promotes export. This one village project processes chilli, peanuts, taro,yam, cassava and livestock products.
The produce are grown by the men of the village while women operate the processing facility producing the end product for for the market.
The Siamplus Coconut Oil Company in Prachuap Kiri Khan Province, a small scale facility that has 15 employees and produces 2 tons of virgin coconut oil from 20,000 coconuts a week using a centrifuge process.
This process allows the company to process and market raw virgin coconut oil to other facilities that refine or process it further.
Two successful case projects of small scale processing operations.
The product pictured above are from water hyacinth that is a free-floating perennial aquatic plant native to tropical and sub-tropical conditions and can be found in the fresh water lakes of Tofua and Niuafo’ou.
SEP promotes the best available methods by leveraging local expeirence and knowledge.
The result is a smart product that sucessfully promotes import subsitution.
The concept is supported by Government Regulation and Product Quality Certification ensuring qualification for the domestic economy. This certification process allows for consumption by the large and valuable tourism market in Thailand.
OTOP stands for ‘One Tambon (meaning sub-district) One Product’. It is a local entrepreneurship stimulus program which supports unique, locally made and marketed products of each Thai tambon all over Thailand.
It selects one superior product from each tambon to receive formal branding as a showcased OTOP product and provides a domestic and international stage for the promotion of these products.
Some of the many OTOP products include handicrafts, cotton and silk garments, pottery, fashion accessories, household items and foods.
Below, the team visited a successful OTOP family operated facility in Kanchanaburi Province that produce and process root crops similar to those grown in Tonga. During the team visit, sweet potatoes or in Tongan, kumala were being processed.
Examples of Final Products Ready for the Domestic Market and Export
The team visited one OTOP village in Khanchanaburi that processed bio-ethanol fuel from waste cooking oil collected weekly from house hold kitchens and restaurants within the area. In the picture below the supervisor explains how their bio–ethanol plant works providing fuel for their agricultural machinery.
The Philosophy of Sustainable Economy and its Relevance to Tonga
The study visit to Thailand in December 2016 sponsored by the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) enabled eleven participants to observe and learn the applications of the Philosophy of Sustainable Economy (SEP).
The SEP Philosophy was introduced to our Kingdom through the vision and foresight of King Tupou VI. During his tenure as High Commissioner to Australia accredited to Thailand he witnessed first-hand the significant economic impact SEP has made to Thailand. While Thailand and Tonga are geographically distant, they share similar bonds; they are both a Constitutional Monarchy and are dependent on agriculture both for domestic consumption and international trade.
From His Majesty’s initial experience and initiative a technical cooperation partnership was established to implement the Royal Agricultural Development Project in Tonga based on Sufficiency Economy as a development model so that local people, in particular farmers will learn and apply the methods in their farming practises. In support of the project His Majesty donated six acres from his estate in Matakieua.
During the seven day tour the participants visited four Royal Projects that promote the introduction of new crops, water conservation, preservation of forests, integrated farming practises, and production of local fruits and produce all aimed at sustainable development. These projects serve the immediate needs of the Thai people as well planning and providing for future generations. These projects have largely been achieved by conserving the environment and the restoration and reclamation of areas that have previously suffered misuse.
The knowledge gained from the training is being applied directly to Tongan communities through the participants’ farming practises and the Royal Agricultural Study Centre in Matakieua.
The following illustrates sustainable agricultural methods used in Thailand that can be easily applied in Tonga.
Thailand’s home grown approach to sustainable development is a critical domestic agenda in its Government policies.
The SEP Philosophy recommends that decisions and actions, at the individual, community and national levels be based upon reasonableness, moderation and prudence with clear virtues and knowledge.
The Integrated Farming practice combines the best of modern tools and technologies with traditional practices according to a given site and situation. In simple words, it means using many ways of cultivation in a small space or land.
The project goal in Tonga is to establish a learning center for sustainable development based on sufficiency economy that introduces integrated farming, multi cropping and agro farming systems.
Sunday lunch at the Royal Palace
Hon. Sione Ikamafana Tuita, Lord Fakafanua, HRH Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala, Hon. 'Etani Tuku'aho and Hon. Fakaolameilangi Fakafanua gathered at the Royal Palace for a Sunday luncheon.
VOEA SAVEA PROVIDES MERCY LIFT TO THE PEOPLE OF NIUATOPUTAPU
His Majesty's Armed Force's Navy Patrol Boat VOEA SAVEA set sail from Niuatoptapu for Tongatapu via Vava'u on 20 February 2017, on board was His Majesty King Tupou VI returning from a Royal visit to the island of Niuatoputapu.
The VOEA SAVEA's captain Navy Lieutenant (LT) 'Ametisi Fonokalafi said the multi-role vessel are also providing a critical link between the main islands and the outlying islands such as Niuatoputapu which are heavily reliant on the ferry service for transport and resupply of goods to the island.
Queen Lavinia airfield, Niutoputapu's airport, receives flights once a month but is weather dependent. The same applies for the ferry service which only sends a boat when the cost of making the 40 hour boat trip can be covered.
Medical evacuation are among the most pressing needs of the island. Tonga Navy assists the government by seizing every opportunity to get supplies and provide aid to affected people in hard to reach areas.
News that the VOEA SAVEA was returning to Tongatapu via Vava'u was warmly received by the people of Niuatoputapu. Two would be mothers well into their third trimester of pregnancy, at 36 weeks were relieved that there was a means to travel to Vava'u to give birth.
Niuatoputapu only has a health clinic with one nurse and a health officer, with very limited resources and very basic medical services. Prince Wellington Ngu Hospital a level 5 Trauma centre in Vava'u is the closest Hospital, it provides initial evaluation, stabilisation and basic diagnostic capabilities and prepares patients for transfer to higher levels of care.
Dr 'Amone Vaka'uta, a General Practitioner at Viola Hospital who was returning on the Patrol Boat said pregnancy could be delivered in Niuatoputapu, however he advised against this as it is very risky.
"It is very risky to perform deliveries in Niuatoputapu because we do not have the required equipment to ensure the mother's and baby's safety if there are complications" Dr Vaka'uta said.
"I am very grateful that the Patrol Boat could assist in taking the patients to Vava'u as they were very close to their due date" Dr Vaka'uta said.
Dr Vaka'uta further elaborated that the hospital in Vava'u can provide the care that is needed for the two pregnant patients and follow up care required.
VOEA SAVEA also provide joy a family with an infant wishing to travel to Tongatapu. Also a group of 18 men of Niuatoputapu who have been waiting for over three weeks for transport to Tongatapu to head to New Zealand on the Seasonal workers scheme.
VOEA LATE supports Royal Visit to Niuatoputapu
Annually His Majesty travels throughout the Kingdom on both official and private visits to visit the Island groups. The intent of the royal visits are to witness first-hand the local conditions and different difficulties that are faced with the local inhabitants. So that long term solutions could be sought. Niuatoputapu was the first destination for 2017.
Niuatoputapu is one of the northern most islands in the Kingdom, 600km from Nuku’alofa. All 1,300 inhabitants live in the three villages along the north coast. Its closest neighbour is the island of Tafahi a volcanic island standing at 560m high and when the weather conditions are right the mountains of Savaii (Samoa) can be seen from the peak o Tafahi.
Niuatoputapu is geographically isolated from Tongatapu, the ferry service to the island only travels once a month or when the demand can cover the expenses of the ferry service. The last ferry that sailed to Niuatoputapu was the first week of February with the next scheduled ferry yet to be determined. His Majesty’s Armed Forces in support of His Majesty’s visit to Niuatoputapu provided the VOEA LATE, with the intend of sailing up North. Tonga Navy has an ongoing commitment to Humanitraian assistance and Disaster relief in Tonga and at times assists the outer islands when the ferry service is unavailable. As news of the planned trip of the VOEA LATE was made known, family and community members associated with Niuatoputapu used this opportunity to travel and send goods as the next available ferry is undetermined. All available space on the VOEA LATE was utilised to take maximum cargo without sacrificing safety of the crew and passangers.Over half the cargo of goods were private belongings intend for relatives and people of Niuatoputapu.
The VOEA LATE alongside Masefield Navy Base is being loaded by His Majesty’s Armed Forces personnel. Civilian onlookers observe as their cargo are being loaded for Niuatoputapu.
Arriving at its destination, the VOEA PANGAI and VOEA LATE side by side, alongside Pasivulangi wharf, Niuatoputapu. The ships crew unloading the last of the cargo.
Cargo offloaded onto Pasivulangi wharf, as Niuatoputapu residents are overjoyed to receive goods from relatives in Tongatapu. As there is no regular ferry service, the arrival of the VOEA LATE with its cargo was welcomed.
The delicacies of Niuatoputapu, pictured above are Mantis Shrimps, Lobsters and ‘U’u which are plentiful among other seafood.
Royal Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho The Queen Mother
28th February - 1st Mar 2017
His Majesty's Airport Arrival
HRH The Crown Prince overlooking soldiers and RNZAF Hercules arrival
HRH Crown Prince and Princess followed by HSH Prince Tungi on the airport tarmac
Deplaning of The Queen Mother's casket
His Majesty overlooking the arrival of the Queen Mother’s casket
A Royal Guard outside the Throne Room
Her Majesty Queen Nanasipauʻu Tukuʻaho
Royal Guards during the All Night Vigil
His Majesty beside the Queen Mother's casket
Members of the Royal Family in the throne room with the Queen Mother’s casket
The Queen Mother’s great grand children HRH Prince Taufa’ahau and HRH Princess Mata'aho about to light the All Night Vigil fires outside the Royal Palace.
Royal grandchildren beside the All Night Vigil fire
Students from Tonga High School maintaining a vigil fire outside the Royal Palace
HRH Princess Mata'aho turning all the palace lights off
The Lord Chamberlain supervising the funeral procession
Family and Nobles gather outside the palace
Hon Ethan and Sione Tuku’aho leading the royal catafalque party
Morning of the burial
Procession to the Royal Cemetary
Powerlines had to be raised for the procession to pass
Catafalque enroute to Royal Cemetary
Hon Ethan and Sione Tuku’aho
The Royal Casket under the watch of Takapu, a royal undertaker
His Majesty at the Royal Cemetary
Royal undertakers carry the casket to it’s final resting place
HSH Prince Tungi with HRH Prince Taufa’ahau Manumataongo
HRH Princess Halaevalu Mata’aho carried by her father HRH The Crown Prince
Photo curtesy of Lolomana'ia
ROYAL STATEMENT: DEMISE OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN HALAEVALU MATA'AHO, THE QUEEN MOTHER
WITH THE GRACE OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD
WITH RESPECT TO YOUR MAJESTY KING TUPOU VI, AND TO THE NOBLES OF THE REALM OF HA’A MOHEOFO, HA’A MA’AFU, KAU HALA ‘UTA, HA’A TAKALAUA, HA’A FALEFISI, HA’A VAEA, HA’A LATU HIFO, FOKOLOLO ‘O E HAU, ONGO HA’A NGATA, ONGO HA’A HAVEA, KANOLOTOA’A ‘O E HAU, AND WITH RESPECT TO THE PEOPLE OF TONGA,
I am to announce the demise of Her Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho The Queen Mother whom has been called to rest by the Almighty God. Her Majesty, The Queen Mother peacefully passed away on the evening Of Sunday 19th February, 2017 at 2215HRS, at the Auckland Hospital.
Her Majesty, The Queen Mother will be brought home to the Royal Palace for the ‘Takipo’ Ceremony, on Tuesday 28th February, 2017. Henceforth Her Majesty, The Queen Mother shall be laid to rest on the morning of Wednesday 1st Mar, 2017 with the Worship Service at the Royal Tombs, Mala’e Kula. The traditional Royal 'Tapu' ceremony will be observed with mourning for a period of ten days.
We are moved with profound sadness at the loss of the titled 'Kakala' whose essence has been the sanctuary and the fountain of love for the Royal House of Tupou.
Herewith signed,
His Royal Highness The Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala
ROYAL PALACE
Nuku’alo fa
February 21st 2017
Ko hono talaki faka-pule’anga ‘o e pekia ‘a e Kuini Fehuhu, Kuini Halaevalu
Mata’aho.
21 Fepueli 2017
Fakatapu ki he ‘Otua Mafimafi.
Tapu mo e Hau ‘o e Fonua, Tupou 6.
Tapu mo Ha’a Moheofo.
Tapu mo Ha’a Ma’afu.
Tapu mo Kau Hala’uta.
Tapu mo Ha’a Takalaua.
Tapu mo Ha’a Fale Fisi,
Tapu mo Ha’a Vaea,
Tapu mo Ha’a Latuhifo.
Tapu mo e Fokololo ‘o e Hau,
Tapu mo e ongo Ha’a Ngata
Tapumo e ongo Ha’a Havea
Tapu mo e Kanoloto’aa ‘o e Hau,
Tapu mo e tangata’i fonua mo e fefine’i fonua ‘o Tonga.
Ko e Fakatapu e kuo aofaki pea ‘oku ou kole keu fakamalumalu atu ai. "Kuo Pulonga ‘a
Tonga", he kuo hoko ‘a e pule ma’oni’oni fakaleveleva, ki he Ta’ahine Kuini Fehuhu ‘o e
La’a ‘o Tonga, Kuini Halaevalu Mata’aho. Na’e Pekia ‘i he Falemahaki ‘Okalani ‘i he
Sapate 19 Fepueli, taimi 1015 po’uli.
‘E fakaha’ele mai ‘i he ‘aho Tusite 28 ‘o Fepueli mei Nu’usila ki he Palasi Faka-Tu’i ‘i
Nuku’alofa ‘o Takipo ai. ‘E fakahoko ‘a e ouau fakalotu ki Mala’e Kula ‘i he pongipongi
Pulelulu ‘aho 1 ‘o Ma’asi. Te mau tauhi ‘a e tapu ‘a e famili ‘i he po ‘e 10 ko e
faka’apa’apa mo e fakalangilangi.
‘Oku mau matu’aki ongo’i mo’oni ‘a e mole ‘a e Kakala Hingoa kuo ngatuvai ko e
unga’anga pea mo e ‘ofa’anga ‘o e Fale ‘o Tupou.
‘Oku ou faka’apa’apa atu,
Ko au Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala
Coronation Military Parade
10:00 am
Host: Minister for His Majesty’s Armed Forces
Venue: Pangai
Royal Luncheon
12:30 pm
Fakatapu ki he ‘Otua Mafimafi.
Tapu mo e Hau ‘o e Fonua, Tupou 6.
Tapu mo Ha’a Moheofo.
Tapu mo Ha’a Ma’afu.
Tapu mo Kau Hala’uta.
Tapu mo Ha’a Takalaua.
Tapu mo Ha’a Fale Fisi,
Tapu mo Ha’a Vaea,
Tapu mo Ha’a Latuhifo.
Tapu mo e Fokololo ‘o e Hau,
Tapu mo e ongo Ha’a Ngata
Tapumo e ongo Ha’a Havea
Tapu mo e Kanoloto’aa ‘o e Hau,
Tapu mo e tangata’i fonua mo e fefine’i fonua ‘o Tonga.
Ko e Fakatapu e kuo aofaki pea ‘oku ou kole keu fakamalumalu atu ai. "Kuo Pulonga ‘a
Tonga", he kuo hoko ‘a e pule ma’oni’oni fakaleveleva, ki he Ta’ahine Kuini Fehuhu ‘o e
La’a ‘o Tonga, Kuini Halaevalu Mata’aho. Na’e Pekia ‘i he Falemahaki ‘Okalani ‘i he
Sapate 19 Fepueli, taimi 1015 po’uli.
‘E fakaha’ele mai ‘i he ‘aho Tusite 28 ‘o Fepueli mei Nu’usila ki he Palasi Faka-Tu’i ‘i
Nuku’alofa ‘o Takipo ai. ‘E fakahoko ‘a e ouau fakalotu ki Mala’e Kula ‘i he pongipongi
Pulelulu ‘aho 1 ‘o Ma’asi. Te mau tauhi ‘a e tapu ‘a e famili ‘i he po ‘e 10 ko e
faka’apa’apa mo e fakalangilangi.
‘Oku mau matu’aki ongo’i mo’oni ‘a e mole ‘a e Kakala Hingoa kuo ngatuvai ko e
unga’anga pea mo e ‘ofa’anga ‘o e Fale ‘o Tupou.
‘Oku ou faka’apa’apa atu,
Ko au Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala
First Pacific NCD Summit Officially Opened by HM King Tupou VI
21st June, 2016 His Majesty King Tupou VI officially opened the first Pacific NCD Summit yesterday morning at Fa’onelua Convention Centre.
More than 120 high-level delegates from around the region and development partners in attendance including the President of Kiribati HE Taneti Maamau, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark and Director General of SPC Colin Tuikuitonga.
The theme of the summit is ‘Translating Global and Regional Commitments into Local Action’ aiming to address the need for more high level political leadership on NCDs and to identify ways forward in addressing the issue.
In His Majesty’s opening address he told the delegates that Tonga has put significant efforts to ensure that NCDs are everyone’s agenda.
"Here in Tonga, I am pleased to state that we have put in significant efforts to ensure that NCDs is kept very much at the forefront of everyone’s agenda," he said.
"NCDs have been specified as among the government’s priority areas for at least the past 15 years."
He stated that the current Tonga Strategic Development Framework prioritize NCDs with the backing of strong government leadership.
"The current Tonga Strategic Development Framework continues to prioritize NCDs and government leadership and support continues to be strong."
"This is reflected by ongoing legislative and policy measures passed through Parliament as recently as a few months ago to help address NCDs related issues such as affordability of unhealthy foods and tobacco products."
King Tupou VI stressed that Tonga Health Promotion Foundation as well as churches contributed to provide funding and support for NCDs activities.
"The Tonga Health Promotion Foundation continues to provide funding and has recently also taken up the role of Secretariat to NCDs related activities. This will help streamline activities and facilitate collaboration between the different stake holders and partners."
"I am pleased to share that the churches are also endeavoring to play their part. Many church leaders have shown strong leadership in making often unpopular decisions related to food given it’s an integral part of Tongan social and ceremonial events."
UNDP Administrator Helen Clark said according to the World Health Organization forty percent of Pacific Islanders have been diagnosed with NCD.
"Forty percent of Pacific Islanders have been diagnosed with an NCD according to WHO in 2010, many before they have reached their fortieth birthday," she said.
Clark said the support from partners was critical to help governments to prevent and control NCDs.
"Support from partners can be catalytic, and can supplement the capacity of governments themselves to commit domestic resources to NCD prevention and control."
"Tonga, our host legislated for a Health Promotion Foundation Act nearly a decade ago."
Director of South Pacific Community Colin Tukuitonga said the Pacific is often referred to as the NCD capital of the world.
"You are all well-aware that the Pacific is often referred as the NCD capital of the world and that we are facing an NCD crisis," he said.
"We have among the highest prevalence of NCDs and NCD risk factors in the world and feature prominently on a number of ‘Top 10’ lists that we would rather not be on.
"At the end of the day, regardless of what challenges we may be facing as Pacific Islanders, the fact is between six and eight of every 10 deaths in the Pacific is from NCDs."
The Summit will end on Wednesday and the sessions are run by different key delegates from the Pacific nations.
The event is jointly organized by the Government of Tonga and the Pacific Community (SPC) with support from the Australian Government, New Zealand Aid Programme, Government of the United States, World Bank, World Diabetes Foundation (WDF), World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Issued from the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications.
Coronation Military Parade
10:00 am
Host: Minister for His Majesty’s Armed Forces
Venue: Pangai
Royal Luncheon
12:30 pm
Host by Hon Prime Minister
Venue: Pangai Seaside
Education Day
10:00 am-12:00 noon
Host: Minister of Education
Venue: Teufaiva Stadium
Study Visit for Tongan Executive Delegation under the Agricultural Development Cooperation Project based on Sufficiency Economy between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Kingdom of Tonga
During the tenure of HM King Tupou VI as High Commissioner to Thailand, he saw that the modern agricultural model based on Sufficiency Economy piloted by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Thailand in the 1970s, was suitable for Tonga. The technical cooperation and the model project that followed was initiated during his tenure as High Commissioner and followed up in 2014 by HRH Princess Angelika Latufuipeka in her current capacity as the High Commissioner to Thailand. Following that two visits were made by high level officials from the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) meeting with Palace Office and Ministry of Agriculture officials. These visits laid the foundation and ground work for the launch of the pilot project on Agricultural Development Cooperation based on Sufficiency economy between the Kingdom [Tonga] and the Kingdom of Thailand. The project was officially launched in the presence of HRH The Crown Prince and the Deputy Director General Mr Singtong Lapisatepun, at the Royal Estate on 02 February 2016. The pilot project is to serve as a demonstration plot for sustainable agriculture development based on sufficiency economy. TICA will fund the project as well as to provide experts and training both in Tonga and in Thailand. The outcome of the pilot project is the establishment of a Learning Centre for sustainable development for Tongan farmers on land made available at the Royal Estate, Mataki’eua. Following that TICA arranged a study visit to Thailand under the Agricultural Development Cooperation Project for 11 Tongan representatives from 13 to 23 December 2016. The study visit provided the opportunity for participants to learn and understand the application of the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy for Sustainable Development. During the visit they were taken to Royal Development Study Centres, multiple cropping farms and New Theory model agricultural farms, demonstration development projects and also conducted practical training.
Study Visit for Tongan Executive Delegation under the Agricultural Development Cooperation Project based on Sufficiency Economy between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Kingdom of Tonga
Pilot Agricultural Development Project
During the tenure of HM King Tupou VI as High Commissioner to Thailand, he saw that the modern agricultural model based on Sufficiency Economy piloted by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Thailand in the 1970s, was suitable for Tonga.
The technical cooperation and the model project that followed was initiated during his tenure as High Commissioner and followed up in 2014 by HRH Princess Angelika Latufuipeka in her current capacity as the High Commissioner to Thailand. Following that two visits were made by high level officials from the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) meeting with Palace Office and Ministry of Agriculture officials. These visits laid the foundation and ground work for the launch of the pilot project on Agricultural Development Cooperation based on Sufficiency economy between the Kingdom [Tonga] and the Kingdom of Thailand.
The project was officially launched in the presence of HRH The Crown Prince and the Deputy Director General Mr Singtong Lapisatepun, at the Royal Estate on 02 February 2016.
The pilot project is to serve as a demonstration plot for sustainable agriculture development based on sufficiency economy. TICA will fund the project as well as to provide experts and training both in Tonga and in Thailand. The outcome of the pilot project is the establishment of a Learning Centre for sustainable development for Tongan farmers on land made available at the Royal Estate, Mataki’eua.
Following that TICA arranged a study visit to Thailand under the Agricultural Development Cooperation Project for 11 Tongan representatives from 13 to 23 December 2016. The study visit provided the opportunity for participants to learn and understand the application of the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy for Sustainable Development. During the visit they were taken to Royal Development Study Centres, multiple cropping farms and New Theory model agricultural farms, demonstration development projects and also conducted practical training.
Photo Credit: Singapore Ministry of Communications and Information
His Majesty King Tupou VI Meets with Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam
His Majesty King Tupou VI met with Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the presidential residence Istana on 8 Sep 2016. King Tupou VI and President Tan reaffirmed the warm relations between Singapore and Tonga and discussed developments in Tonga and the global economy.
During the working visit to Singapore, His Majesty has received calls by Singapore Senior Minister of State, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and Ministry of Health Dr Amy Khor and Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social and Family Development Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim.
On Sep 5th, His Majesty and Her Majesty Queen Nanasipau’u was hosted to lunch by Singapore's Senior Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Transport Mrs Josephine Teo.
His Majesty was presented with briefings on Singapore’s education and healthcare systems, as well as Singapore’s experience in heritage preservation, tourism development and port management.
Photo Credit: Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs
HM's speech at the Parliamentary Session opening stressed the need to address health issues
The Queen of England to honour young person from Tonga with Queen’s Young Leaders Award
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will present a Queen’s Young Leaders Award to an exceptional young person from Tonga at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London on Thursday 23rd June.
As the Commonwealth celebrates The Queen of England's 90th birthday, this year’s Award winner, Aiona Prescott, aged 21, has been recognised by The Queen for taking the lead in transforming the lives of others and making a lasting difference in her community. As a Queen’s Young Leader, she will be representing Tonga as she joins winners from 45 different Commonwealth countries in London for five days of high-level engagements, all designed to help them further their life-changing work.
Before receiving their Queen’s Young Leaders Award at Buckingham Palace, the winners will visit 10 Downing Street and the UK headquarters of global social networking company Twitter, and meet with senior executives at the BBC World Service. They will also meet the Commonwealth Secretary General, take part in workshops at the University of Cambridge, have meetings with UK business leaders, and visit projects that are changing the lives of vulnerable people in the UK.
Aiona Prescott is being recognised for her work with young people tackling issues such as teenage pregnancy, early school leavers and gender-based violence. Selected from a competitive process where thousands of young people from all over the Commonwealth applied to be a Queen’s Young Leader, Aiona said: "I’m looking forward to meeting all the Queens Young Leaders from around the world who are doing life changing things in their communities, to learn from them and to give back in whatever way I can."
This year’s Award winners are working to support others, raise awareness and inspire change on a variety of issues including education, climate change, gender, mental health and improving the lives of people with disabilities.
The application process to become a 2017 Queen’s Young Leader opens at 8.00pm BST on Friday 24 June 2016. The programme is looking for people aged between 18 and 29 who are dedicated to creating positive changes to the lives of people in Tonga.
Details about how to apply to become a Queen’s Young Leader, together with information about the 2016 Award winners and Highly Commended runners up, is available at www.queensyoungleaders.com.
Source: The Prime Minister's Office
Military Parade for HM’s 57th Birthday
HM King Tupou VI will mark his 57th birthday on Monday 4th of July, a public holiday in Tonga.
Official birthday celebrations will include a Military Parade by His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) at Mala’e Pangai Lahi in central Nuku’alofa, to be followed by a Thanksgiving and Royal Luncheon at the Royal Palace grounds.
HM officially opens FWC 93rd Conference and marks Tupou college 150th anniversary
HM King Tupou VI opened the new Taufa’ahau Tupou IV Memorial Building at Tupou College, Toloa and launched an impressive 500 pages book, titled ‘Tupou College Sesquicentenary History 1866-2016’, which tells the story of the development of education in Tonga by early Wesleyan missionaries.
In his address at the Centenary Church, Saione, HM highlighted the significance of both the Free Wesleyan Church 93rd annual conference and Tupou College’s 150th Anniversary, where education and christianity were both accepted by the Late King George Tupou I.
A special public holiday was held on 22 June in Tonga to commemorate Tupou College's 150th Anniversary.
