Latest news with #Nuku'alofa
RNZ News
2 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Tonga is one of the world's most devout keepers of the Sabbath — but some say there's more to faith
St Mary's Cathedral in Tonga where a service took place to commemorate the first anniversary of the devastating Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption which took place on 15 January 2022. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver By Tonga reporter Marian Kupu and Doug Dingwall, ABC As Sunday dawns in Tonga's capital, an unbroken silence blankets the streets. Almost every shop in Nuku'alofa - including petrol stations - stays closed. Only church bells eventually disturb the quiet, as it comes time to worship. "The Sabbath day here in Tonga is kept very well in my opinion," US missionary elder 'Aiona said. "Everyone is at home preparing and getting ready for church. "[It's] a blessing we all have." Sunday trading is common in many countries where Christianity is the predominant religion. But Tongans remain some of the world's most devoted keepers of the Sabbath, a day of rest that falls on Sunday for most Christian denominations. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller It's even enshrined in the Tongan constitution, which says the day must be kept holy. "No person shall practise his trade or profession or conduct any commercial undertaking on the Sabbath Day except according to law," it says. "Any agreement made or witnessed on that day shall be null and void and of no legal effect." But the country's so-called "Sunday Law" is back in public debate in the devoutly Christian nation. Tonga's King Tupou VI Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Indira Stewart It started with a statement from Tonga's King Tupou VI, read to its parliament last month, calling on the nation to keep the Sabbath holy. Now, some in Tonga are asking whether the nation is strict enough in observing the Sabbath. But while some questioned whether Tonga should remove the few exemptions it allows - including those for restaurants that open for tourists - others said there are more meaningful ways to practise their faith. By mid-morning on Sunday, Tonga's islands finally stir. The roads are lined with people walking to church, wearing their "Sunday best", in the truest sense of the phrase. 'Aiona, Mormon missionary elder, is one of them, and speaking to the ABC , he urged Tongans to hold fast to the Sabbath tradition. "It is so important we keep the Lord's day fully." Only staff at hospitals, the police force and utilities can work on Sunday under Tongan law. There are also exemptions for hotels and restaurants serving tourists - although Tongans also often eat out after church on Sundays. But Tonga Police has received complaints about other businesses operating illegally on Sunday, and issued a firm public statement this month. "Sunday is a day for worship and rest - not for business," it said. "Let's respect and live by our culture, our faith and the law by keeping Sunday holy." A debate has also unfolded on social media, where some Tongans have questioned the ban on Sunday trading . "Holiness is not a ritual confined to a day, but a way of life," one commenter said. "Until righteousness governs our actions and honesty guides our institutions, our outward displays of devotion ring hollow and empty!" Another said restaurants not attached to tourism accommodation should close on Sunday. Tourism operators argue that without their exemptions, the industry would suffer. "The purpose of the resort is to cater for the people," Oholei Beach Resort owner Simana Kami said. "Otherwise, there will be no more tourists [coming] to Tonga." Mr Kami faced opposition when his resort started operating on Sunday. As Cyclone Rene hit Tonga in 2010 , a church minister told him it would wipe out his business as punishment. But it didn't, and Mr Kami said operating on Sunday doesn't conflict with his faith - rather, it supports it. "I share the word of God to the people [on Sunday]. We had a prayer," he said. Mr Kami said practising faith isn't about stopping activity on Sunday, and that many who observe the Sabbath ignore Christian teachings throughout the week. "That's sad for me … People are hypocrites." Tonga Church Service Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller In churches throughout Tonga, the voices of the congregations swell as services get under way. Afterwards, families have the day to themselves. On her way back from a service, Talita Kefu agreed that intent matters more than appearance when it comes to faith. "We shouldn't weaponise the Bible," she said. "Development with time is progressing, but Tonga is unique in the sense that we still observe the Sabbath. "It comes down to individual choices." Speaking in Nuku'alofa, Lano Fonua said he also sees the Sabbath as special - but believes each person can honour it in their own way. He said it was possible to preserve the spirit of the Sabbath while adapting it to modern life. "It makes Tonga special on Sunday … As long as it's respectful and done in the right way," Mr Fonua said. "Taking your family out after church to go for Chinese food, what's wrong with that if it's being done from the right place?" Mr Fonua and his family were going to spend much of their Sunday having a family picnic at the beach. "That's what makes it special for us." It's not the first time Tonga's strict observance of the Sabbath has generated so much discussion. A government decision to ban bakers from opening on Sunday in 2016 raised outcry. In that case, bakeries unsuccessfully pushed to keep their exemption, which started in 1982 when a cyclone hit and the population needed food. For now, it's unclear whether the new groundswell of debate about Tonga's Sunday Law will reach the floor of parliament. Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Lord Fakafanua said the constitution was clear about the Sabbath. He said no reforms to Tonga's Sunday Law had yet been submitted to parliament - which will dissolve soon for elections due in November. "If they want to make any decision, legislative reforms, [MPs] may submit private bills … but that's something that I haven't heard about. "We will see in the next term." - ABC
ABC News
3 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Tonga is one of the world's most devout keepers of the Sabbath — but some say there's more to faith
As Sunday dawns in Tonga's capital, an unbroken silence blankets the streets. Almost every shop in Nuku'alofa — including petrol stations — stays closed. Only church bells eventually disturb the quiet, as it comes time to worship. "Everyone is at home preparing and getting ready for church. "[It's] a blessing we all have." Sunday trading is common in many countries where Christianity is the predominant religion. But Tongans remain some of the world's most devoted keepers of the Sabbath, a day of rest that falls on Sunday for most Christian denominations. It's even enshrined in the Tongan constitution, which says the day must be kept holy. "No person shall practise his trade or profession or conduct any commercial undertaking on the Sabbath Day except according to law," it says. But the country's so-called "Sunday Law" is back in public debate in the devoutly Christian nation. It started with a statement from Tonga's King Tupou VI, read to its parliament last month, calling on the nation to keep the Sabbath holy. Now, some in Tonga are asking whether the nation is strict enough in observing the Sabbath. But while some questioned whether Tonga should remove the few exemptions it allows — including those for restaurants that open for tourists — others said there are more meaningful ways to practise their faith. By mid-morning on Sunday, Tonga's islands finally stir. The roads are lined with people walking to church, wearing their "Sunday best", in the truest sense of the phrase. 'Aiona, Mormon missionary elder, is one of them, and speaking to the ABC, he urged Tongans to hold fast to the Sabbath tradition. "It is so important we keep the Lord's day fully." Only staff at hospitals, the police force and utilities can work on Sunday under Tongan law. There are also exemptions for hotels and restaurants serving tourists — although Tongans also often eat out after church on Sundays. But Tonga Police has received complaints about other businesses operating illegally on Sunday, and issued a firm public statement this month. "Let's respect and live by our culture, our faith and the law by keeping Sunday holy." A debate has also unfolded on social media, where some Tongans have questioned the ban on Sunday trading. "Holiness is not a ritual confined to a day, but a way of life," one commenter said. "Until righteousness governs our actions and honesty guides our institutions, our outward displays of devotion ring hollow and empty!" Another said restaurants not attached to tourism accommodation should close on Sunday. Tourism operators argue that without their exemptions, the industry would suffer. "The purpose of the resort is to cater for the people," Oholei Beach Resort owner Simana Kami said. "Otherwise, there will be no more tourists [coming] to Tonga." Mr Kami faced opposition when his resort started operating on Sunday. As Cyclone Rene hit Tonga in 2010, a church minister told him it would wipe out his business as punishment. But it didn't, and Mr Kami said operating on Sunday doesn't conflict with his faith — rather, it supports it. Mr Kami said practising faith isn't about stopping activity on Sunday, and that many who observe the Sabbath ignore Christian teachings throughout the week. "That's sad for me … People are hypocrites." In churches throughout Tonga, the voices of the congregations swell as services get under way. Afterwards, families have the day to themselves. On her way back from a service, Talita Kefu agreed that intent matters more than appearance when it comes to faith. "Development with time is progressing, but Tonga is unique in the sense that we still observe the Sabbath. "It comes down to individual choices." Speaking in Nuku'alofa, Lano Fonua said he also sees the Sabbath as special — but believes each person can honour it in their own way. He said it was possible to preserve the spirit of the Sabbath while adapting it to modern life. "It makes Tonga special on Sunday … As long as it's respectful and done in the right way," Mr Fonua said. "Taking your family out after church to go for Chinese food, what's wrong with that if it's being done from the right place?" Mr Fonua and his family were going to spend much of their Sunday having a family picnic at the beach. "That's what makes it special for us." It's not the first time Tonga's strict observance of the Sabbath has generated so much discussion. A government decision to ban bakers from opening on Sunday in 2016 raised outcry. In that case, bakeries unsuccessfully pushed to keep their exemption, which started in 1982 when a cyclone hit and the population needed food. For now, it's unclear whether the new groundswell of debate about Tonga's Sunday Law will reach the floor of parliament. Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Lord Fakafanua said the constitution was clear about the Sabbath. He said no reforms to Tonga's Sunday Law had yet been submitted to parliament — which will dissolve soon for elections due in November. "If they want to make any decision, legislative reforms, [MPs] may submit private bills … but that's something that I haven't heard about. "We will see in the next term."
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Tonga police constable arrested for drug possession
Photo: Aleksandr Shyripa A police constable in Tonga has been arrested for drug possession. Matangi Tonga reported a 21-year-old male probationary constable was arrested at the weekend. During the same drug operation in Nuku'alofa, two other men were also arrested for allegedly selling drugs. The arrest was part of an operation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Unit. Tonga Police said the constable has been suspended without pay and will face court at a later date. The Commissioner of Police, Geoff Turner said this is not a reflection of police and thanked other officers for their hard work. "This is not a reflection of who we are," he said. It comes amid widespread drug issues in the region. In Fiji, police and Customs staff were recently charged with drug smuggling . Pacific police chiefs discussed the region's drug trafficking problems on a panel at the World Police Summit in Dubai. Fiji Police Force Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Commissioner Mostyn Mangau and New Zealand Police Assistant Commissioner Bruce O'Brien participated in a fireside chat at the World Police Summit in Dubai. Photo: Pacific Island Chiefs of Police Facebook There are calls for better drug rehabilitation centres in Tonga with drug crime and health issues visablevisible on the streets. RNZ Pacific's Tonga correspondent, Kalafi Moala, said someone can walk down the street and see young beggars seeking money for drugs, or motor vehicles being driven recklessly. He said it's critical for Tonga to have somewhere to rehabilitate people. "If you have a young man, a young woman here that's addicted, you go to the hospital, you're given some pills for treatment, but there's no place where they can be rehabilitated," he said. "You talk to families, and the family will tell you they've got a son that's got a problem, but there's nowhere. "The Salvation Army has a small counselling outfit here, but they don't have a rehabilitation centre, so that's a really big issue. "How can we heal and how can we restore the negative impact of drugs in our society? Until we do that, just stemming the flow is not going to help Tonga in general."
RNZ News
7 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Deficit budget announced in Tonga; largest ever spend
St George Government Building, Nuku'alofa CBD Photo: Matangi Tonga Tonga's 'Aisake Eke Government has produced its first budget, pumping up spending by more than 10 percent compared with last year. It has some key elements that differ from previous years, such as an assistance boost for some private sector businesses. Don Wiseman spoke with RNZ Pacific's correspondent, Kalafi Moala, and began by asking where the additional money is going. KALAFI MOALA: One of the key things that this government, when they came into being, was declaring and proclaiming changes that they were going to make, compared with, say, the previous government. And one of the things that you've been saying was that they're going to, probably for the first time in Tonga history, give money to the private sector. They've been given the message of private sector development, it is the pathway to economic development, to the future and so on. So in this budget, one of the specific things they've done is assigned quite a bit to private sector development. ...But the whole budget of 992 million plus [pa'anga] - it's the biggest in Tonga's history, more than last year's budget. And also it's a deficit budget. I think, if I can remember this, about 28 million [pa'anga] in deficit. But then the government have said that they are going to pay for this deficit by issuing bonds, public bonds, so I guess they've got it all worked out. DON WISEMAN: Public bonds - has Tonga issued bonds before? KM: I can't recall when, but yeah, in the last, say, 10 years or so, they've done that. DW: In terms of this money going to the private sector. There are no details at all? KM: No details other than the fact that they think that fisheries and agriculture is going to be a major focus, particularly on businesses that have already started. For example, things like marketing and setting up pack houses for export. This is the kind of things that they think government is going to help in the development of the private sector. DW: That essentially is the only difference from the previous government, despite what they had said about the failures of the previous government. KM: That's right. The other thing too, there has been quite a bit of talk this year about kava - kava being a product that Tonga wants to focus on exporting. I mean, you've got this ban out of Fiji, out of Vanuatu, quite successfully. And so Tonga is entering the market. And this is another issue, another thing that they're going to help in the private sector development. DW: We don't know precisely what they might do in terms of that trade? KM: No. But you see, one of the problems that Tonga has been known for over the years is that Tonga has talked about marketing certain products. You remember the days when we were marketing squash, sending to Japan, and to China, and then we ran out, because the complaint has been that Tonga was not able to produce enough for the market. And we've seen that happening to cassava, we've seen it happening to other products, and there's hope that this is not the kind of thing that will happen to kava, that there's an excitement about exporting kava. People are starting to plant kava now, and there's a lot of talk about it. But then are we going to be able to stay and produce enough for the market? DW: In terms of education, subsidised loans will be available for non-government schools. What have they got in mind here? KM: Well, you see, it's been a normal thing that government's contribution to non-government schools - it's 700 [pa'anga] per head for every student. In other words, they're paying all non-government schools 700 per head per year. And this has been going on up to the last government. So they are wanting to continue this process, but to make sure that it's done and to follow up to make sure that the money goes... not just to the schools to spend on just projects that may not be necessary, but the focus on paying teachers. Because the complaint has been that a lot of teachers of non-government schools are underpaid, and some of them are leaving for greener pastures overseas, and so there's a shortage of teachers in non-government schools. So, yes, they're pledging that they're going to continue to do that. Photo: ppart/123RF DW: Work is going to go into the nursing school. KM: Yes, there's a lot of planning going with that. You know, Tonga now, of course, has what we call the Tonga National University, and so all training, tertiary-type training, is now being under the Tonga National University - teachers training, nursing training, training of seamen, that kind of thing. And so, yeah, there's a lot of funding that will go to that as well. DW: And a new hospital - I presume it's a new hospital, on Vava'u. KM: That comes under what they call the development budget. You have the recurrent budget, of course, which is part of the budget that goes into carrying the expenses, the current expenses of government. And then you've got the development budget, which goes to projects. And much of the development budget, of course, comes from aid. It goes into building wharfs and hospitals and things like that. And yeah, there's been a lot of calls for Vava'u - that they need to upgrade healthcare in Vava'u - so the hospital is a major focus.
RNZ News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
'We let people decide': Tongan PM 'Aisake Eke optimistic ahead of November election
Tongan Prime Minister Dr 'Aisake Valu Eke is optimistic about this year's election and says his government is focused on doing their best they can, leaving the rest up to the Tongan people. Dr Eke came to power last December after his predecessor Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni resigned in the face of a no-confidence vote brought against him by the current prime minister. Tongans will head back to the polls in November. In wide-ranging interview with RNZ Pacific at his office in Nuku'alofa in April, Dr Eke said, "We just do our best and let the people decide." He also confirmed that he will recontest his seat in the Tongatapu 5 constituency. Pacific Islands Forum secretary general Baron Waqa and Tongan Prime Ministers and Forum chair Dr 'Aisake Eke at the Special Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM) in March 2025. Photo: Pacific Islands Forum Dr Eke said his government has sought to improve the public service since coming into office. "Since we started at the end of January, we introduced some strategy and measures to improve, firstly, [the] efficiency and productivity of public services," Dr Eke said. He said this included issuing a directive for government offices to remain open during lunch hours and redirecting government which they deemed unproductive to essential sectors such as fisheries, health, and education. On the subject of education, he said they brought back national examinations that had been shelved by previous governments and conducted a review of the school breakfast programme. This year also marks three years since the Hunga Tona-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption and the ensuing tsunami. While the Hu'akavameiliku had started the recovery work, Dr Eke said around 20 families remain without permanent housing. He said the government last month approved a supplementary budget of NZ$25 million for the ongoing recovery work. "About $3 million of that is basically to go to completion of all the houses for the affected people," he said. "We aim to complete all of them by the end of this financial year which is in June." Although some families are still living in their original damaged homes, he said that in some cases this was a decision made by the communities themselves. "For example, the Kanukupolu village, they wait for completion of all the houses. About 53 houses are almost completed. They want to come to move in as a group," he said. As part of ongoing disaster preparedness and lessons learned from the volcanic eruption, the Tonga National Disaster Management Office has worked with stakeholders to develop an effective tsunami early warning system. Dr Eke said there have been continuous tests of the system, aimed at making members of the public aware of what they need to do. "[What] we see is people now changing because this is perhaps several instances where they have to get away from their home and trying to go to a high point," Dr Eke said. "And I think that shows how much people learn how to to actually conduct themselves." Tongan Prime Minister Dr 'Aisake Eke speaking at the National Development Summit. 18 March 2025 Photo: Screengrab / Tonga Broadcasting Live Streaming On Tongan workers taking part in the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme in New Zealand and the Australian Labour Mobility Scheme, the Prime Minister said said he had some concerns. "In fact we have heard some reports, not only from them [the workers] themselves but also some of the commentators from Australia and New Zealand," he said. "I think we need the safety of our people also at the same time we try to make our people, prepare them well." He emphasised that better pastoral care is essential and said Tonga is formalising partnerships with church groups to deliver social and spiritual support to workers abroad. "Our people actually they value there faith. They vary their why I think we should address their social side, the spiritual side, also physical and also their intellectual side," Dr Eke said. While economic benefits of the labour mobility schemes in both countries have been positive, Eke says the government has also seen some negative effects, including social impacts in the community on separated families. He said he wanted to grow and improve Tonga's economy through targeted investment and reform. "Some of the policies need to be changed. We aim to make the economy viable using all the potential we have." He said one pressing issue was a stagnant private sector. "The private sector over the past two decades or three decades it actually stayed the same, and that's a challenge we are facing." However, he said government has begun identifying growth sectors and working with donor agencies and governments to support them, particularly in fisheries and agriculture. "We have done some work to improve the contribution of the fisheries sector, so we have started discussions with donors to for increasing the number of fishing vessels into the fishing industry." He added that the government is also reactivating its national steering committee to monitor economic performance and help craft a more effective strategy in the next financial year. Infrastructure development is another pillar of the recovery plan, which includes advancing with the previous government's plans to build a bridge across from Ma'ufanga, outside Nuku'alofa, to the eastern division of Tongatapu. "That actually [would] ease up the pressure on congestion, and also provides an evacuation channel for people to use when there is an emergency," he said. "And also that will help develop urban areas for economic growth." As current chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), Dr Eke said there has been a lot of progress made in a short space of time on the regional agenda, particularly finalising the governance framework for the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) and engaging global institutions on funding. Eke also attended the PIF Troika Plus meeting in Fiji and the World Bank and International Monetary Fund spring meetings last month, the latter to advocate for more financial support for the region. On rising global tensions and recent United States trade policies, Dr Eke said Tonga has been pinged with the 10 percent base tariff and is watching developments closely. "When I look at it in terms of trade with America, in fact it is about a TOP$28 million surplus in favour of America," he said. "America is our best friend. We have similar values but there are sometimes economic policies, even though we look at it from an economic point of view, its not a good thing. But I think common sense will prevail." He remains hopeful and believes there will be more opportunities ahead. He also encouraged Tongans around the world to invest in their homeland and develop local enterprises. "I would like to say to the Tongan people there are (sic) a lot of potential here and you can make a better living. "The motto of this country is God and Tonga is our inheritance. Working together with faith, optimism comes in, we can do a great thing."
