21 April 2023

Nuku’alofa – The Honourable Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku said Tonga was grateful for the Pacific Mission delegation of the New Zealand government that visited Tonga this week.

Welcoming New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Honourable Carmel Sepuloni and her delegation at a function in Ma’ufanga last night.

He said the visit shows the New Zealand government’s unwavering determination to bolster partnerships and engagements in Tonga and the Pacific region.

“New Zealand and Tonga’s ‘Statement of Partnership’ reaffirms mutual commitment to shared values of democracy, human rights, gender equality, effective governance, the rule of law, environmental stewardship and strong regional and international cooperation,” Hon Hu’akavameiliku said.

He said New Zealand has assisted Tonga in a lot of critical areas of development, including education, health and labor mobility.

Close ties and similar issues

Meanwhile, Hon Sepuloni said the close relations between Tonga and New Zealand has been strengthened with her visit to the Island Kingdom.

She says both countries share a lot of unique issues and the relationship is strengthened by the kinship ties the two countries share.

“Like Tonga, New Zealand is recovering from a natural disaster, battling the rising cost of living, striving for regional peace and security and working hard to protect our people from the impacts from climate change.

“We face other shared challenges too – how to ensure our people have access to good work and employment, education and training opportunities, and how we can maximise the value of the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme to both nations.

“It is an increasingly complex world, and as small countries both Tonga and New Zealand rely on a rules-based order and the support of our wider Pacific whānau to help us navigate the complexity.

“The breadth and depth of these ties is our collective strength, and we are so incredibly grateful for the warm reception we’ve received in Tonga and the opportunity to reconnect and reaffirm these ties,” she said at a government hosted function in Ma’ufanga last night.

She was in Tonga with a 50-member delegation that included Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament and other stakeholders.

The first New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister with Tongan ancenstry, Hon Sepuloni said te COVID-19 lockdown restricted movements and connecting face to face.

“We have missed these opportunities to connect in person as we have both battled COVID-19 and I am so grateful for the opportunity to see first hand some of the work Tonga is doing on the significant and urgent challenges we are facing together,” she said.

She said that as Aotearoa’s Deputy Prime Minister, Associate Minister for Foreign Affairs (Pacific Region), Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, of which Pacific peoples are an important part, and Minister for Social Development and Employment, she is keen to continue to deepen our friendship across all these areas.

She said the closeness of Tonga and New Zealand can not be denied.

“Looking out across the room I am struck by the closeness of the ties between Tonga and New Zealand and of the engagement between the New Zealand delegation and representatives of Tonga I’ve witnessed throughout the day, and at this event tonight.”

She acknowledged Mary Lo’se, Rachel Afeaki, Saia Mataele and the Hon Jenny Salesa, who she said were the strength of their Tongan delegation on this Pacific Mission.

“It is a reflection of the huge contribution that Tongan people have made to New Zealand, and we thank you for this.”

She also acknowledged the late former Prime Minister Hon Dr Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa, who was laid to rest earlier in the week.