Government of Tonga Budget Statement for Year Ending 30Th June 2014

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Government of Tonga Budget Statement for Year Ending 30Th June 2014 Government of Tonga Budget Statement for year ending 30th June 2016 ii | P a g e Government of Tonga Budget Statement for year ending 30th June 2016 Table of Contents 1 Foreword _____________________________________________________________ 11 2 Introduction __________________________________________________________ 13 3 Executive Summary ____________________________________________________ 14 3.1 Underlying Conditions ___________________________________________________ 14 3.2 Recent Fiscal Trends _____________________________________________________ 17 3.3 Summmary of the Budget_________________________________________________ 18 4 Tonga Strategic Development Framework 2015-2025 _________________________ 21 4.1 Tonga Strategic Development Framework 2015-2025 __________________________ 21 4.2 Government Priority Agenda _____________________________________________ 23 5 Economic and Social Development Outcomes and Outlook_____________________ 25 5.1 Global and Regional Development _________________________________________ 25 5.1.1 Global Highlights _____________________________________________________________________ 25 5.1.2 Regional Highlights ____________________________________________________________________ 26 5.1.3 Growth in Tonga compared to the Region ___________________________________________________ 29 5.2 Recent Economic Outcomes & Outlook for Tonga ____________________________ 30 5.3 GDP Sector Outcomes ___________________________________________________ 32 5.3.1 Primary Sector ________________________________________________________________________ 32 5.3.1.1 Agriculture Sector __________________________________________________________ 33 5.3.1.2 Forestry Sector _____________________________________________________________ 35 5.3.1.3 Fisheries Sector ____________________________________________________________ 36 5.3.2 Secondary Sector ______________________________________________________________________ 37 5.3.2.1 Construction _______________________________________________________________ 38 5.3.2.2 Mining and Quarrying _______________________________________________________ 39 5.3.2.3 Electricity and Water Supply __________________________________________________ 39 5.3.2.4 Manufacturing _____________________________________________________________ 40 5.3.3 Tertiary Sector ________________________________________________________________________ 41 5.3.3.1 Wholesale and Retail Trade ___________________________________________________ 41 5.3.3.2 Hotels and Restaurants ______________________________________________________ 42 5.3.3.3 Transport and Communication ________________________________________________ 43 5.3.3.4 Financial Intermediation _____________________________________________________ 44 5.3.3.5 Public Administration and Services _____________________________________________ 44 5.3.3.6 Ownership of Dwellings ______________________________________________________ 44 5.3.3.7 Education, Health and Social Work _____________________________________________ 45 5.3.3.8 Recreation, Cultural and Sporting Activities ______________________________________ 45 5.4 Fiscal and Debt Outcomes ________________________________________________ 46 5.4.1 Domestic Fiscal Position ________________________________________________________________ 46 5.4.2 Public Debt Position ___________________________________________________________________ 49 5.4.2.1 Total Public Debt ___________________________________________________________ 50 5.4.2.2 External Debt ______________________________________________________________ 51 5.4.2.3 Currency Denomination of External Debt ________________________________________ 52 5.4.2.4 Domestic Debt _____________________________________________________________ 52 5.4.2.5 Debt Service _______________________________________________________________ 53 iii | P a g e Government of Tonga Budget Statement for year ending 30th June 2016 5.4.2.6 On-lent Debt and Guaranteed Debt ____________________________________________ 53 5.4.2.7 Summary of Debt Ratios _____________________________________________________ 55 5.5 Balance of Payments Outcomes ____________________________________________ 56 5.5.1 Official Foreign Reserves _______________________________________________________________ 56 5.5.2 Foreign Exchange Payments _____________________________________________________________ 56 5.5.3 Foreign Exchange Receipts _____________________________________________________________ 57 5.5.4 Real and Nominal Exchange Rates ________________________________________________________ 58 5.6 Monetary Outcomes _____________________________________________________ 59 5.6.1 Inflation _____________________________________________________________________________ 59 5.6.2 Lending and Deposits Balances & Interest Rates _____________________________________________ 60 5.6.2.1 Lending Balances ___________________________________________________________ 60 5.6.2.2 Deposit Balances ___________________________________________________________ 60 5.6.2.3 Interest Rates ______________________________________________________________ 61 5.6.3 Broad Money Balances _________________________________________________________________ 62 5.6.4 Total Banking System‟s Position and Performance ___________________________________________ 63 5.6.5 Monetary Policy Stance ________________________________________________________________ 63 5.7 Social and Community Outcomes for Tonga _________________________________ 64 5.7.1 Health Performance ___________________________________________________________________ 64 5.7.2 Education Performance _________________________________________________________________ 65 5.7.3 Labour Force Participation in Tonga ______________________________________________________ 66 5.7.4 Changing Demographics in Tonga ________________________________________________________ 67 5.7.5 Parliament Constituency Report __________________________________________________________ 68 5.8 Poverty Reduction and Social Protection ____________________________________ 69 5.8.1 Old Age Social Assistance: 70 years and older _______________________________________________ 69 5.8.2 New Division of Social Protection and Disability _____________________________________________ 71 5.8.3 National Aged Care Services _____________________________________________________________ 71 5.8.4 National Disability Services _____________________________________________________________ 71 6 Government Budget: Funding the Outputs __________________________________ 73 6.1 Budget Strategy _________________________________________________________ 73 6.2 Detailed Priorities _______________________________________________________ 75 6.2.1 Economic Institutions __________________________________________________________________ 75 6.2.2 Social Institutions _____________________________________________________________________ 77 6.2.3 Political Institutions ____________________________________________________________________ 78 6.2.4 Infrastructure & Technology Inputs________________________________________________________ 80 6.2.5 Natural Resources & Environment Inputs ___________________________________________________ 81 6.3 Government of Tonga Recurrent Budget ____________________________________ 81 6.4 Government of Tonga Development Budget _________________________________ 85 6.4.1 Overview of Aid Funded Projects and Programs ______________________________________________ 85 6.4.2 Aid Funded Project Expenditure by Ministry ________________________________________________ 85 6.4.3 Major Project Expenditure (grant and loan) by Development Partners _____________________________ 90 6.4.4 Development Expenditure by Region and National ____________________________________________ 92 6.4.4.1 Projects in Tongatapu _______________________________________________________ 92 6.4.4.2 Projects based in Vava’u _____________________________________________________ 93 6.4.4.3 Projects based in Ha’apai ____________________________________________________ 94 6.4.4.4 Projects based in ‘Eua _______________________________________________________ 95 6.4.4.5 Projects based in NTT and NF _________________________________________________ 96 6.4.4.6 National Projects ___________________________________________________________ 97 6.5 Government Budget: Funding the Outputs __________________________________ 98 6.5.1 Government Domestic or “Recurrent Budget” _______________________________________________ 98 iv | P a g e Government of Tonga Budget Statement for year ending 30th June 2016 6.6 Budget Presented in the GFS Format _______________________________________ 99 6.6.1 Overall Fiscal Balance __________________________________________________________________ 99 6.6.2 Total Expenditure ____________________________________________________________________ 100 6.6.2.1 Total Expenditure by Location ________________________________________________ 101 6.6.2.2 Current Expenditure _______________________________________________________ 102 6.6.2.2.1 Compensation of Employees ______________________________________________ 102 6.6.2.2.2 Use of Goods and Services ________________________________________________ 103 6.6.2.2.3 Social Benefits _________________________________________________________ 103 6.6.2.2.4 Interest payments ______________________________________________________ 103 6.6.2.2.5 Subsidies ______________________________________________________________ 104 6.6.2.2.6 Grants ________________________________________________________________ 104 6.6.2.2.7 Other Expenses _________________________________________________________
Recommended publications
  • University of Auckland Research Repository, Researchspace
    Libraries and Learning Services University of Auckland Research Repository, ResearchSpace Copyright Statement The digital copy of this thesis is protected by the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). This thesis may be consulted by you, provided you comply with the provisions of the Act and the following conditions of use: • Any use you make of these documents or images must be for research or private study purposes only, and you may not make them available to any other person. • Authors control the copyright of their thesis. You will recognize the author's right to be identified as the author of this thesis, and due acknowledgement will be made to the author where appropriate. • You will obtain the author's permission before publishing any material from their thesis. General copyright and disclaimer In addition to the above conditions, authors give their consent for the digital copy of their work to be used subject to the conditions specified on the Library Thesis Consent Form and Deposit Licence. Sauerkraut and Salt Water: The German-Tongan Diaspora Since 1932 Kasia Renae Cook A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in German, the University of Auckland, 2017. Abstract This is a study of individuals of German-Tongan descent living around the world. Taking as its starting point the period where Germans in Tonga (2014) left off, it examines the family histories, self-conceptions of identity, and connectedness to Germany of twenty-seven individuals living in New Zealand, the United States, Europe, and Tonga, who all have German- Tongan ancestry.
    [Show full text]
  • Sacred Kingship: Cases from Polynesia
    Sacred Kingship: Cases from Polynesia Henri J. M. Claessen Leiden University ABSTRACT This article aims at a description and analysis of sacred kingship in Poly- nesia. To this aim two cases – or rather island cultures – are compared. The first one is the island of Tahiti, where several complex polities were found. The most important of which were Papara, Te Porionuu, and Tautira. Their type of rulership was identical, so they will be discussed as one. In these kingdoms a great role was played by the god Oro, whose image and the belonging feather girdles were competed fiercely. The oth- er case is found on the Tonga Islands, far to the west. Here the sacred Tui Tonga ruled, who was allegedly a son of the god Tangaloa and a woman from Tonga. Because of this descent he was highly sacred. In the course of time a new powerful line, the Tui Haa Takalaua developed, and the Tui Tonga lost his political power. In his turn the Takalaua family was over- ruled by the Tui Kanokupolu. The tensions between the three lines led to a fierce civil war, in which the Kanokupolu line was victorious. The king from this line was, however, not sacred, being a Christian. 1. INTRODUCTION Polynesia comprises the islands situated in the Pacific Ocean within the triangle formed by the Hawaiian Islands, Easter Island and New Zealand. The islanders share a common Polynesian culture. This cultural unity was established already in the eighteenth century, by James Cook, who ob- served during his visit of Easter Island in 1774: In Colour, Features, and Languages they [the Easter Islanders] bear such an affinity to the People of the more Western isles that no one will doubt that they have the same Origin (Cook 1969 [1775]: 279, 354–355).
    [Show full text]
  • Christianity and Taufa'āhau in Tonga
    Melanesian Journal of Theology 23-1 (2007) CHRISTIANITY AND TAUFA‘ĀHAU IN TONGA: 1800-1850 Finau Pila ‘Ahio Revd Dr Finau Pila ‘Ahio serves as Principal of the Sia‘atoutai Theological College in Tonga. INTRODUCTION Near the centre of the Pacific Ocean lies the only island kingdom in the region, and the smallest in the world, Tonga. It is a group of small islands, numbering about 150, with only 36 of them inhabited, and which are scattered between 15º and 23º south latitude, and between 173º and 177º west longitude. The kingdom is divided into three main island groups: Tongatapu, situated to the south, Ha‘apai, an extensive archipelago of small islands in the centre, and Vava‘u, in the north. Tonga lies 1,100 miles northeast of New Zealand, and 420 miles southeast of Fiji. With a total area of 269 square miles, the population is more than 100,000, most of whom are native Polynesians. Tonga is an agricultural country, and most of the inhabited islands are fertile. The climate, however, is semi-tropical, with heavy rainfall and high humidity. Tonga, along with the rest of the Pacific, was completely unknown to Europe until the exploration of the area by the Spaniards and Portuguese during the 16th century. These explorers were seeking land to establish colonies, and to convert the inhabitants to Christianity. By the second decade of the 17th century, more explorers from other parts of Europe came into the area, to discover an unknown southern continent called “Terra Australis Incognita”, between South America and Africa. Among these, the Dutch were the first Europeans to discover Tonga.
    [Show full text]
  • Pollen Evidence for Plant Introductions in a Polynesian Tropical Island Ecosystem, Kingdom of Tonga 253
    Pollen evidence for plant introductions in a Polynesian tropical island ecosystem, Kingdom of Tonga 253 14 Pollen evidence for plant introductions in a Polynesian tropical island ecosystem, Kingdom of Tonga Patricia L. Fall School of Geographical Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, United States [email protected] Introduction The dynamic nature of tropical Pacific ecosystems results from chance migrations and the evolution of founder species, as well as from physical factors such as changes in sea level, ocean currents, tectonic processes and climate (Hope 2001). In addition, this region’s vegetation is constantly adjusting through succession to local perturbations like landslides and tropical cyclones. These ecological and physical processes are compounded by continued immigration of new species, competition, extinctions and extirpation of species. For many island ecosystems the most dramatic impact on species composition results from the arrival of humans and their ‘co-voyaging’ plants and animals (Hope 2001). The degree to which climatic or other natural variations, versus human impacts, have caused recent environmental fluctuations in island ecosystems is an ongoing debate (cf. Nunn 1994; Burney 1997). In this paper, I examine palynological evidence for plants introduced to several islands in the three main island groups of Tongatapu, Ha’apai and Vava’u in the Kingdom of Tonga. My purpose is to briefly document the history of the tropical rainforests of Tonga as they can be reconstructed from pollen cores, to understand the role that humans played in the development of the Tongan flora, and to discuss plant introductions to the islands by both Polynesian and later European settlers. Losses or increases in plant species on remote islands are controlled by many factors, including habitat change, natural factors, and loss of dispersers or pollinators.
    [Show full text]
  • The Tu'i Kanokupolu Matai Establishment and Why Would Tu'i
    Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis. Permission is given for a copy to be downloaded by an individual for the purpose of research and private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without the permission of the Author. The Tu’i Kanokupolu Matai Establishment and Why would Tu’i Tonga Fuanunuiava have vied to become one? (A genealogical analysis of post 1550 AD new political hegemony in Tonga) By Siaosi L. ‘Ilaiu A Thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy At Massey University – Albany Campus November 2007 2 i Table of contents Declaration ......................................................... page ii Glossary .................................................................................................. page iii-iv Preface .................................................................................................... page v-vii Map of Western Samoa and Tongatapu ............................................ page vii - viii Abstract ................................................................................................... page 1-4 Chapter 1 Introduction.............................................................................................. page 5-16 Chapter 2 Literature review...................................................................................... page 17–25 Chapter 3 Ama’s Plot ............................................................................................... page 26–32 Chapter 4 Sāmoan Polity at Ama’s time (1550 – 1500 AD)...................................
    [Show full text]
  • Situation Analysis of Children in Tonga © United Nations Children’S Fund (UNICEF), Pacific Office, Suva
    Situation Analysis of Children in Tonga © United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Pacific Office, Suva December 2017 This report was written by Kirsten Anderson, Ruth Barnes, Awaz Raoof and Carolyn Hamilton, with the assistance of Laura Mertsching, Jorun Arndt, Karin Frode, Safya Benniche and Kristiana Papi. Maurice Dunaiski contributed to the chapters on Health and WASH. Further revision to the Child Protection chapter was done by Shelley Casey. The report was commissioned by UNICEF Pacific, which engaged Coram International, at Coram Children’s Legal Centre, to finalise the Tonga Situation Analysis. The Situation Analyses were managed by a Steering Committee within UNICEF Pacific and UNICEF EAPRO, whose members included: Andrew Colin Parker; Gerda Binder (EAPRO); Iosefo Volau; Laisani Petersen; Lemuel Fyodor Villamar; Maria Carmelita Francois; Settasak Akanimart; Stanley Gwavuya (Vice Chair), Stephanie Kleschnitzki (EAPRO); Uma Palaniappan; Vathinee Jitjaturunt (Chair) and Waqairapoa Tikoisuva. The contents of the report do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of UNICEF. UNICEF accepts no responsibility for error. Any part of this publication may be freely reproduced with appropriate acknowledgement. Suggested citation. United Nations Children’s Fund, Situation Analysis of Children in Tonga, UNICEF, Suva, 2017 Cover Image: © UNICEFPacific/2018/Heinrich Situation Analysis of Children in Tonga 2 Situation Analysis of Children in Tonga Table of Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Usaid Climate Ready Knowledge Products
    USAID CLIMATE READY KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS Pacific Island Country Climate Factsheets December 2020 This document was produced for review by the United States Agency for international Development. It was prepared by DT Global for the USAID Climate Ready Project, Contract Number AID-492-H-17-00001. USAID CLIMATE READY KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS Pacific Island Country Climate Factsheets Prepared by DT Global Authored by Authored by Keith Bettinger and Ryan Longman, USAID Climate Ready Project Consultants Cover Photo by Arieta Sokota Cover Photo Caption Fishing boat approaching the town of London on Kiritimati Island in the Line Islands group of Kiribati. Country Maps & Images Maps are graphical representation designed for general reference purposes only. Images from Shutterstock. Disclaimer: This document is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of DT Global and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. TABLE OF CONTENTS Acronyms 4 Introduction 5 Fiji Islands 7 Federated States of Micronesia 22 Kiribati 32 Republic of the Marshall Islands 47 Republic of Palau 59 Papua New Guinea 68 Samoa 82 Solomon Islands 95 Tonga 106 Tuvalu 120 Republic of Vanuatu 134 Pacific Island Country Climate Factsheets - USAID Climate Ready 3 ACRONYMS AR Assessment Report AUD Australian Dollars CCA Climate Change Adaptation CMIP Coupled Model Intercomparison Project DRM Disaster Risk Management DRR
    [Show full text]
  • Tonga Outer Islands Renewable Energy
    Initial Environmental Examination May 2012 Kingdom of Tonga: Outer Island Renewable Energy Project – Phase 1 (200 KWp ‘Eua Solar Power Plant) Prepared by Tonga Power Limited (TPL), Government of Tonga for the Asian Development Bank. This initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 31 March 2012) Currency Unit = Tonga: pa'anga (TOP) TOP1.00 = US$ 0.59 US$1.00 = TOP 1.67 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ADB - Asian Development Bank CFC - Chlorofluorocarbons EA - Executing Agency EIA - Environmental Impact Assessment EMP - Environmental Management Plan GoT - Government of Tonga GFP - Grievance Focal Points GHG - Green House Gases GRC - Grievance Redress Commission IA - Implementing Agency IEE - Initial Environmental Examination MECC - Ministry of Environment and Climate Change PCBs - polychlorinated biphenyl REA - Rapid Environmental Assessment SPS - Safeguard Policy Statement TA - Technical Assistance TERM - Tonga Energy Road Map TPL - Tonga Power Limited NOTES (i) The fiscal year (FY) of the Government of Tonga ends on 31 December. FY before a calendar year denotes the year in which the fiscal year ends, e.g., FY2011 ends on 31 December 2011. (ii) In this report, "$" refers to US dollars 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page A.
    [Show full text]
  • A Brief History of the Tongan Military from the Late Nineteenth Century to the Present
    TAU: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TONGAN MILITARY FROM THE LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I AT MĀNOA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN HISTORY May 2019 Amanda L. SullivanLee Thesis Committee: David Hanlon, Chairperson David Chappell John Rosa i © Amanda L. SullivanLee ii Abstract This thesis focuses on the origins of the modern Tongan Military from the establishment of the Tongan monarchy in 1875 to the Military’s most recent engagements into the 21st Century. This thesis offers an overview of the existing literature on Tongan history and military as well as an overview of contemporary literature that critiques militarization in the Pacific. Through a historical and critical lens, I examine the Tongan Military’s participation in WWI, WWII, the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), the U.S. invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, and the quelling of the 2006 Democracy Riots. Chapter one focuses on the establishment of Tonga as a British Protectorate, chapter two offers an account of Tonga’s involvement in WWI, chapter three extends this account with an exploration of WWII, and chapter four offers a look at more contemporary engagements of the Tongan Military. By tracing the country’s military, this thesis centers on exploring two main questions: for whom is the Tongan military fighting, and what impacts does Tongan participation in foreign military campaigns have on the island kingdom’s sovereignty? iii Acknowledgements This thesis would not have been possible without the support of my supportive and dedicated committee.
    [Show full text]
  • Island of Tonga
    Overview Tongans have a way of doing things whole heartedly, whether its talking among themselves orIsland entertaining of guests. Tonga For example, tables (or, traditionally, mats) at a Tongan feast are heaped high with food, and the enthusiasm with which the men and women perform their lakalaka, mauluulu and other dances is infectious with energy. As you'll quickly learn, it's easy to see that these culturally rich people come from the "Friendly Islands." Location Tonga is located about two-thirds of the way between Hawai'i and New Zealand, southwest of Samoa and east of Fiji. Geography The approximately 170 islands in the Kingdom of Tonga are divided among three groups: Tongatapu, which derives its name from the main island where the capital of Nukualofa is located; Ha'apai, a series of smaller islands to the north of Tongatapu; and Vava'u, the northernmost islands. Unlike the homes of their Polynesian cousins, most Tongan islands are relatively low-lying but very fertile. Population According to WORLD BANK there were approximately 108,000 Tongans living in the kingdom as of 2017, almost all of them Polynesians. Roughly 60% of the population lives on the main island of Tongatapu, which means "sacred Tonga." In addition, there are significant communities of Tongans living in American Samoa, Hawai'i, California and Utah; and also in New Zealand and Australia. Over the past centuries, Tongans spread widely over the western part of Polynesia. Additionally, many people in Samoa, Uvea, Futuna, and the Lau Islands of Fiji share Tongan blood. History and Discovery Like all their Polynesian cousins, the Tongans did not have a written language to record their early history; but anthropologists recognize them as being among the most ancient of the Polynesians who probably migrated to their islands about 3,000 years ago.
    [Show full text]
  • H. Claessen Tongan Traditions - on Model-Building and Historical Evidence
    H. Claessen Tongan traditions - On model-building and historical evidence In: Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde 144 (1988), no: 4, Leiden, 433-444 This PDF-file was downloaded from http://www.kitlv-journals.nl Downloaded from Brill.com09/30/2021 12:32:20AM via free access HENRI J. M. CLAESSEN TONGAN TRADITIONS - ON MODEL- BUILDING AND HISTORICAL EVIDENCE Introduction During the past several years various scholars have tried, with the help of models, to unravel the complex history of the leading families of the Tonga Islands. In 1978, Adrienne Kaeppler published a study in which she applied the model of the circulating connubium (an asymmetrical system of exchange of spouses) to the marriages of the leading families of Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji. Kaeppler tried to support her views by postula- ting the existence of a system of exchange of goods between the three islands. She acknowledged, however, that the evidence for such an exchange of goods between Samoa and Fiji was limited, and that the Samoans she had consulted 'had difficulty thinking of any Samoan/ Fijian marriages' (Kaeppler 1978:250). Notwithstanding the weaknesses of her argument, Kaeppler's views were accepted and elaborated on by Friedman (1981,1982). Friedman used the Kaeppler hypothesis as the cornerstone of a lengthy theoretical discussion. This led him to hypothesize not only about the existence of a circulating connubium, but also about that of a system of prestige goods in Western Polynesia. Friedman not only relied on Kaeppler's views, but also referred in several instances to a study by Hjarno on social repro- duction in aboriginal Samoa (Hjarno 1979/80).
    [Show full text]
  • Kingship and Kinship the House of Tupou, Democracy and Transnationalism
    Kingship and Kinship The House of Tupou, Democracy and Transnationalism in Tonga Areti Metuamate February 2019 A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of The Australian National University © Areti Metuamate All rights reserved 2019 ii Declaration Except where specific reference is made to other sources, the work presented in this thesis is solely that of the author. _____________________________________________ Areti Metuamate February 2019 iii Page intentionally left blank iv This thesis is dedicated to my maternal grandparents, Rongomate David Metuamate and Helen Te Ara o Rehua Metuamate (nee Tangimoana Rakatau), two people who loved their children and grandchildren unconditionally and taught us to pursue our dreams. Completing this PhD is one of mine. v Page intentionally left blank vi Abstract Tongan kingship has roots in an ancient system of Tu‘i (paramount ruler) that stretches back over a thousand years. The present king, Tupou VI, is the twenty-fourth Tu‘i Kanokupolu and the sixth monarch of the Tupou dynasty. What has enabled these institutions to survive so long is a range of accepted social arrangements and relationships that make up an intricate kinship system that underlies the very fabric of Tongan society. The rise of democracy, while an important modern development in Tonga’s recent political history, has not significantly affected this. Even Christianity, with its transformational impact on Tonga in the nineteenth century and beyond, was not able to shift Tonga’s deeply kinship-oriented social hierarchy. The image often portrayed in the Western media is that Tonga is a small (read insignificant), traditional (read out-dated) Polynesian society ruled firmly by a King and his noblemen; consequently this view is one that is shared by many in Australia and New Zealand.
    [Show full text]