which straddle the international date line, lie compacted coral. The two main ports are at to the east of the Tonga Trench, containing Nuku’alofa and Neiafu, and have shipping some of the deepest waters of the South connections with and Europe. Pacific. The main island sub-groups are Ferries run between the islands. Tongatapu, Vava’u and Ha’apai. The largest International airports are located at island is Tongatapu. Fua’amotu (21 km south-east of Nuku’alofa) Area: 748 sq km; Tongatapu 256 sq km. and at Lupepau’u on Vava’u. Topography: Of the 172 islands, only 36 are permanently inhabited. The islands to the Society east are of coral formation, the Lifuka and KEY FACTS 2013 Nomuka groups with many small coral islands and reefs. The islands to the west are Population per sq km: 140 volcanic. There are active volcanoes on four Life expectancy: 73 years of the islands, including Tofua Island whose Net primary enrolment: 90% crater is filled with hot water. Falcon, an active volcano under the sea, sends up lava Population: 105,000 (2013); 24 per cent of and ash from time to time. people live in urban areas; growth 0.4 per cent p.a. 1990–2013; birth rate 25 per 1,000 Climate: Hot and humid from January to people (37 in 1970); life expectancy 73 years March; cooler from April to December. (65 in 1970). Cyclones may occur November to April. The vast majority of the people are of Environment: The most significant Polynesian descent. Tonga suffers from heavy environmental issues are deforestation, emigration, mostly to New Zealand, Australia damage to coral reefs by excessive coral and and the USA. There are 50,478 Tongans living shell harvesting, and depletion of sea turtle in New Zealand, more than half of whom populations by hunters. were born there (2006 New Zealand census). Vegetation: Tongatapu island is flat and Language: Tongan and English are official covered in small agricultural plantations with languages. coconut trees and other crops. Eua island is hilly and partly forested. The Vava’u Islands Religion: Mainly Christians (Wesleyans, are densely wooded. Coconut palms grow Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Church of along the coastline and cover some of the Tonga, Free Church of Tonga). coral islands. Forest covers 13 per cent of the Health: Public spending on health was five KEY FACTS total land area and there was no significant per cent of GDP in 2012. There are public loss of forest cover during 1990–2012. Joined Commonwealth: 1970 hospitals on the islands of Tongatapu, Population: 105,000 (2013) Wildlife: Tonga was the first South Pacific Ha’apai and Vava’u, and dispensaries country to initiate a conservation programme, throughout the islands. Some 99 per cent of GDP p.c. growth: 1.6% p.a. 1990–2013 with a series of marine and forest reserves. the population uses an improved drinking UN HDI 2014: World ranking 100 The only land mammal indigenous to Tonga water source and 91 per cent have access to Official languages: Tongan, English is the ‘flying fox’, actually a large fruit bat adequate sanitation facilities (2012). Over with a wingspan of up to one metre. It Time: GMT plus 13 hrs time, the Tongan diet has moved away from occurs in a large colony near the village of traditional root crops to imported foods. Currency: Pa’anga or Tongan dollar (TOP; T$) Kolovai on Tongatapu. Birds include the red- Infant mortality was ten per 1,000 live births breasted musk parrot and the blue-crowned in 2013. lory, said to be the most beautiful bird of the Geography Education: There are nine years of Pacific. Area: 748 sq km compulsory education starting at the age of Main towns: Nuku’alofa (capital, pop. Coastline: 419 km six. Primary school comprises six years and 24,229 in 2011), Mu’a (5,200), Tofoa–Koloua secondary six, with cycles of four and two Capital: Nuku’alofa (3,526), Haveloloto (3,465) and Vaini (3,235) years. More than 95 per cent of primary The Kingdom of Tonga, known as ‘The on Tongatapu; Neiafu (4,051) on Vava’u; students attend state schools, while about 90 Friendly Islands’, lies in the central south-west Pangai (2,055) on Lifuka in the Ha’apai group per cent of secondary students attend church Pacific, surrounded (clockwise from the west) of islands; and Ohonua (1,528) on Eua. schools. Some 90 per cent of pupils complete by Fiji, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Samoa, Cook Islands Transport: There are 680 km of roads, 27 primary school (2005). The school year starts and, to the south, New Zealand. The islands, per cent paved and the rest surfaced with in February.

The CommonwealTh Yearbook 2015 Tonga

Tonga is a partner in the regional University Real growth in GDP 1997–2006), but slowed from the mid- of the South Pacific, which has its main 2000s, facing the challenges of high debt, % campus in Suva, Fiji, and a campus at ’Atele, 3.5 low private investment and the world about 7 km from Nuku’alofa, where some 3.0 economic downturn of 2008–09, when 1,400 students are enrolled each semester for remittances fell and tourism was subdued. 2.5 preliminary, foundation and degree courses, Growth of about three per cent p.a. resumed using the university’s distance-learning 2.0 in 2009–11, moderating to 0.8 per cent in facilities. Literacy among people aged 15–24 2012, 0g.5 pe r cen t in 2013 and an estimated 1.5 is 99 per cent (2006). 2.4 per cent in 201 4.

1.0 Media: Newspapers include Tonga Chronicle (state-owned weekly), and Times of Tonga 0.5 History (published in New Zealand). Matangi Tonga is 0.0 Tonga was inhabited 3,000 years ago. The an online news service. 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 country is a very old Polynesian monarchy – Tonga Broadcasting Commission provides its royal family goes back more than 1,000 Inflation public radio and TV services; there are several years – with an old and well-developed private radio stations and a cable TV channel. % 8 social and political system. Occasional There are 59 personal computers per 1,000 7 Europeans visited it from early in the 17th people (2005). 6 century CE: it was sighted by the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman in 1643 and later 5 Communications: Country code 676; visited by the British explorer Captain James internet domain ‘.to’. Mobile phone coverage 4 Cook. The first larger-scale arrival was in is limited to Nuku’alofa. There are several 3 1826, when Wesleyan missionaries landed internet cafes in Nuku’alofa and Neiafu. The and began a highly successful conversion main post office is in Nuku’alofa, with 2 campaign. Civil wars raged between branches on Ha’apai and Vava’u. 1 Christian and non-Christian factions until 0 For every 1,000 people there are 294 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Taufa’ahau Tupou, ruler of the island of landlines, 546 mobile phone subscriptions Ha’apai and a Christian convert, gained and 350 internet users (2013). control of and united the islands, GDP by sector (2013) Public holidays: New Year’s Day, ANZAC becoming, in 1845, George Tupou I Day (25 April), Emancipation Day (4 June), (1845–93) and adopting the country’s first King’s Birthday (4 July), Crown Prince’s Agriculture constitution. 19.9% Birthday (17 September), Constitution Day (4 Tonga was never a British colony. In 1900, the November), Tupou I Day (4 December), Industry King agreed a treaty of friendship with 18.2% Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Britain, which gave Britain control of foreign Services Religious festivals whose dates vary from year affairs, and kept Tonga free from other 62.0% to year include Good Friday and Easter predatory powers. The treaty was frequently Monday. revised until May 1970, when Tonga became fully independent. increasingly, fish products are, nonetheless, Economy the most important exports, and squash King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV succeeded his remains more profitable than traditional crops mother, Queen Salote Tupou III, on her death KEY FACTS 2013 such as copra and bananas. in 1965. GNI: US$479m The main source of foreign currency is the From 1990 a pro-democracy movement GNI p.c.: US$4,490 remittances of Tongans living abroad, followed gathered strength, challenging Tonga’s GDP growth: 2.2% p.a. 2009–13 by tourism. The government has recognised political system which endeavoured to combine its 1,000 year-old feudal system Inflation: 2.6% p.a. 2009–13 the need for economic reforms to expand the with democracy. Elections did not result in private sector and diversify the economy and The economy is dominated by subsistence any changes in the executive and only a small has worked to gain public – and especially civil agriculture, and economic performance is number of members of the Legislative service – acceptance of the need. heavily dependent on weather conditions and Assembly were elected. The country did not, world commodity prices. However, the formal From the late 1990s the economy continued in consequence, have a developed party money economy has been growing as to grow steadily (2.2 per cent p.a., political system. farmers have moved towards production of cash crops, some of which are exported, for Tonga on the international stage example squash, which from the early 1990s was exported to . Tonga won two bronze medals for boxing in the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Lomalito This very success, though, illustrates the Moala and Uaine Fa claiming their medals in the 60 kg and over 91 kg categories respectively. vulnerability of small agricultural economies In 2012, the Tonga national rugby union team beat Scotland at Pittodrie stadium – the such as Tonga. In the early 1990s farmers side’s first ever victory over a traditional rugby nation on European soil. Like the New rapidly switched to the new crop. By 1994, Zealand All Blacks, the team start their matches with a war dance – the Sipi Tau. Former All there was over-production, a collapse in local Blacks star Jonah Lomu was born in New Zealand but lived in his Tongan homeland as a prices and unsold stocks. Drought in 1995 led young child. to further falls in exports. Squash and,

The CommonwealTh Yearbook 2015 Tonga

Tonga’s first-ever political party, the People’s among the country’s 33 hereditary nobles, moves had been unsuccessful in the past, the Party, was formed in 1994 out of the pro- and 17 of whom are elected on the basis of frailty of the octogenarian King Taufa’ahau democracy movement. In the 1996 elections universal adult suffrage (women received the Tupou IV and uncertainty over the succession four of the nine people’s seats were won by vote in 1960) in a general election which now gave them greater urgency. However, in pro-democracy candidates and leading must take place at intervals of no longer than October 2003, changes to the constitution democracy campaigner ’Akilisi Pohiva had a four years. gave greater power to the King, and increased state control over the media. convincing majority in his constituency. The Prime Minister is chosen by the In January 1999 the People’s Party held a Legislative Assembly and appointed by the In the March 2005 election, the HRDM again four-day convention on constitutional change . The Prime Minister selects his won seven of the nine people’s parliamentary and, with the new name of Human Rights cabinet who are then appointed by the seats, the remaining two taken by and Democracy Movement (HRDM), it went monarch. The Prime Minister may nominate independents. In the same month two into the elections of March 1999 with the up to four ministers from outside the commoner and two noble representatives hope of raising its numbers in the assembly Legislative Assembly and on appointment were appointed to cabinet. from the six seats they then controlled. In the they become members of the Legislative In February 2006, Prime Minister Prince event they won only five of the nine people’s Assembly. ’Ulukalala Lavaka-Ata resigned and Dr Feleti seats. All land belongs to the Crown. Large estates Vaka’uta Sevele became acting Prime In April 1999 former Prime Minister have been allotted to nobles. By law, every Minister, the first popularly elected member (1965–91) and brother of King Taufa’ahau male Tongan at age 16 is entitled to a small of the Legislative Assembly to be appointed Tupou IV, Prince Fatafehi Tu’ipelehake, died. piece of agricultural land and a small town to the post. He was then confirmed as Prime Minister in March 2006. In January 2000, the King appointed his plot. In practice, there is not enough land younger son, Prince ’Ulukalala Lavaka-Ata, to and the majority of men have not been In September 2006 King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV replace Baron Vaea as Prime Minister. allocated any land, and latterly there have (1965–2006) died after a long illness and was been objections to the exclusion of women. succeeded as head of state by his eldest son In October 2001, the country was rocked by Consequently, reform of the land tenure who was sworn in as King . financial scandal resulting in the resignation system has been under discussion. In November 2006, when it seemed that of two ministers, including the Deputy Prime Parliament would go into recess before Minister. More than US$20 million – the enacting democratic reforms, pro-democracy proceeds of the sale of Tongan citizenship in Politics demonstrations turned into riots and looting, the 1980s – had been placed in June 1999 Last elections: 27 November 2014 at least six people died and many buildings in with a company in the USA that had Next elections: 2018 Nuku’alofa were destroyed. At the Prime apparently disappeared. Head of state: King Tupou VI (2012–) Minister’s invitation, 150 Australian and New Zealand troops and police came to Tonga to Constitution Head of government: Prime Minister restore order, the King promised that by 2008 Samuela ’Akilisi Pohiva Status: National monarchy the majority of government posts would be Ruling party: Democratic Party of the filled by elected representatives rather than Legislature: Parliament of Tonga Friendly Islands nobles and King’s appointees, and Parliament Independence: 4 June 1970 passed the reforms. Women MPs: 0% Until 2010 the constitution was essentially In the elections of April 2008, with a turnout In the March 2002 elections the pro- King George Tupou I’s constitution granted in reportedly less than 50 per cent, HRDM and democracy Human Rights and Democracy 1875, under which executive power resided its ally, the People’s Democratic Party, Movement (HRDM) increased its with the monarch. together won six of the nine contested seats representation in Parliament to seven of the and independents took three. Under the 2010 constitution, Tonga is a nine people’s seats and issued new proposals constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary for constitutional reforms to strengthen In July 2008 the Constitutional and Electoral democracy with a unicameral Legislative democracy and reduce the powers of the Commission was established, with the Assembly consisting of 26 elected members, King. The King reappointed Prime Minister immediate task of making proposals for a nine of whom are elected by and from Prince ’Ulukalala Lavaka-Ata. Though such more democratic system of government. In the same month the King’s spokesperson Further information announced that by 2010 the King would surrender his role in government to the Prime Tonga government: www.tongaportal.gov.to Minister and that most Legislative Assembly Tonga Electoral Commission: www.tongaelections.com members would be elected. In November Parliament of Tonga: www.parliament.gov.to 2009 the final report of the Constitutional Department of Statistics: www.spc.int/prism/country/to/stats and Electoral Commission was delivered to National Reserve Bank of Tonga: www.reservebank.to the Legislative Assembly; the new Tonga Visitors Bureau: www.thekingdomoftonga.com constitution was approved by the Legislative Commonwealth Secretariat: www.thecommonwealth.org Assembly in April 2010 and enacted in Commonwealth of Nations: www.commonwealthofnations.org/ September 2010. country/Tonga In the country’s first democratic elections, Media held on 25 November 2010, when turnout Islands Business: www.islandsbusiness.com Tonga Broadcasting Commission: www.tonga-broadcasting.net was 91 per cent, the Democratic Party of the Matangi Tonga: www.matangitonga.to Friendly Islands (DPFI), led by ’Akilisi Pohiva, won 12 of the 17 popularly elected seats, but

The CommonwealTh Yearbook 2015 Tonga

remained short of a majority in the 26-seat seats and independents eight. At the first of arrival. Visas are required by most Legislative Assembly. The remaining seats sitting of the new Parliament, the members Commonwealth nationals. were taken by five independent people’s elected Pohiva as Prime Minister. He was Travel within the country: Traffic drives on representatives and nine nobles. The supported by 15 members and former the left. Visitors wishing to drive will need a Assembly members initiated negotiations with Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu driving permit, which can be purchased on a view to forming a new government. On 21 by 11. December 2010 a noble, Lord Tu’ivakano, presentation of a foreign driving licence at was elected Prime Minister by the Assembly, International relations the Police Traffic Department in Nuku’alofa. defeating Pohiva by 14 votes to 12. Ferry services operate between the islands. Tonga is a member of the African, Caribbean On 18 March 2012 King George Tupou V Minibuses run throughout Tongatapu. Taxis and Pacific Group of States, Pacific (2006–12) died and was succeeded as head and chauffeur-driven cars are also available. Community, Pacific Islands Forum, United of state by his brother, former Prime Minister Nations and World Trade Organization. (2000–06) and High Commissioner to Travel health: Prevalent diseases where Australia (2008–12) Crown Prince Tupouto’a appropriate precautionary measures are Lavaka, who was sworn in as King Tupou VI. Traveller information recommended include dengue fever, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid. At elections held on 27 November 2014, Immigration and customs: Passports must the DPFI – led by ’Akilisi Pohiva – won nine be valid for at least six months from the date There were 47,000 tourist arrivals in 2012.

Click here to find out more about the Click here to find out more about 2015 Commonwealth Yearbook Tonga

The CommonwealTh Yearbook 2015