By Katalina Siasau
Tonga and New Zealand reinforced bilateral relations and their trusted friendship, while noting areas and plans of action both countries are cooperating on, in a bilateral meeting today, with the Acting Prime Hon. Minister Samiu Vaipulu and New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, who arrived in Tonga last night, 6 February.
“A trusted friendship that is bound by cultural and ancestral links through our Polynesian heritage, connected by the Blue Pacific Continent,” said Acting PM Vaipulu. The two governments would look into mutually agreed priority areas like climate change, strengthening economic development, law and justice, and education.
At a joint media briefing with media from New Zealand and local media, the Rt. Hon. Peters said, “We are part of the Blue Continent and more New Zealanders need to understand how critical the future of the Pacific Islands and Tonga’s people are to our very future. Parts of New Zealand can understand that, we know where they live. But, a whole lot more people should understand that we’re putting the money in here because it is a serious, wise investment for the long term security and profitability of the part of the world we live in. We’re not here by accident.”
Tonga’s foreign debts
Of the meetings today, he said the most important was with the Minister for Finance, Hon. Tiofilusi Tiueti.
“We all have big problems now, which are occasioned by the aftermath of Covid and maybe the coming together to confront the debt, that was to confront the debt that was incurred as a consequence of some policies that may be wise and some that may not have been wise. But here we are.”
Construction
New Zealand is assisting with the construction of the new Tongan Parliament building, and also supporting the development of a second communications cable for Tonga.
The Acting PM told the media that he had just asked in their meetings with the NZ Deputy PM, “for a new court house.”
Tonga is hosting the upcoming Pacific leaders annual forum in August this year, with support from the New Zealand government.
Waiting to see the King
Acting PM Vaipulu acknowledged media questions with regards to the Privy Council decision revoking three Ministerial portfolios, and the Cabinet’s refusal of the King’s order. Any questions, “would have to be diverted to the Secretary of His Majesty,” he said.
“Anything towards government operations will be given to us, we are still awaiting a time to have an audience with His Majesty, and so we can find a way forward.”
This afternoon, Rt. Hon. Winston Peters opened a Pharmaceutical warehouse built with New Zealand assistance.
