The friendly Island in the Pacific
Nov 19, 2007
Tonga - unique among Pacific nations – became fully independent in 1970, though it was never formally colonised. The archipelagos of “The Friendly Islands†were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845.
A brief history
Tonga - unique among Pacific nations – became fully independent in 1970, though it was never formally colonised. The archipelagos of “The Friendly Islands†were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845.
Tonga became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900.
It withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.
Polynesians have lived on Tonga for at least 3,000 years. The Dutch were the first to explore the islands, landing on Tafahi in 1616.
British explorer James Cook landed on islands in 1773 and 1777 and dubbed them the Friendly Islands.
The current royal dynasty of Tonga was founded in 1831 by Taufa’ahau Tupou, who took the name George I.
He consolidated the kingdom by conquest and in 1875 granted a constitution. In 1900, his great-grandson, George II, signed a treaty of friendship with Britain.
The treaty was revised in 1959.
The government is largely controlled by the king, his nominees, and a small group of hereditary nobles.
The king grew increasingly authoritarian and has curtailed press freedom.
In 2005, 3,000 civil servants went on strike, demanding better pay.
Throughout 2005, discontent with economic and social inequities intensified throughout the kingdom.
As a result, Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata resigned as prime minister in February 2006.
In March 2006, pro-democracy leader Feleti Sevele became the first elected commoner to serve as the country’s prime minister.
In August 2006, the king died and was replaced by his son, George Tupou V.
Geography
The Kingdom of Tonga lies in the central south-west Pacific, surrounded (clockwise from the west) by Fiji Islands, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Samoa, Cook Islands and, to the south, New Zealand.
The islands, which straddle the International Date Line, lie to the east of the Tonga Trench, containing some of the deepest waters of the South Pacific.
The main island sub-groups are Tongatapu, Vava’u and Ha’apai.
The largest island is Tongatapu.
A group of more than 170 islands spread over an area of the South Pacific roughly the size of Japan, Tonga is the last Polynesian monarchy.
The people
Of Tonga’s 116,921 people, 34% live in urban areas. The vast majority of the people are of Polynesian descent.
Tonga suffers from heavy emigration, mostly to New Zealand, Australia and the US. There are 40,713 Tongans living in New Zealand, more than half of whom were born there.
Flag description
The Tongan flag is red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner.
Did you know?
In Tonga, life expectancy is way above that of Uganda. Whereas men could live up to 71 years, the women live two years longer, 73 years.
Compiled by Elizabeth Agiro
Tonga - unique among Pacific nations – became fully independent in 1970, though it was never formally colonised. The archipelagos of “The Friendly Islands†were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845.
Tonga became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900.
It withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.
Polynesians have lived on Tonga for at least 3,000 years. The Dutch were the first to explore the islands, landing on Tafahi in 1616.
British explorer James Cook landed on islands in 1773 and 1777 and dubbed them the Friendly Islands.
The current royal dynasty of Tonga was founded in 1831 by Taufa’ahau Tupou, who took the name George I.
He consolidated the kingdom by conquest and in 1875 granted a constitution. In 1900, his great-grandson, George II, signed a treaty of friendship with Britain.
The treaty was revised in 1959.
The government is largely controlled by the king, his nominees, and a small group of hereditary nobles.
The king grew increasingly authoritarian and has curtailed press freedom.
In 2005, 3,000 civil servants went on strike, demanding better pay.
Throughout 2005, discontent with economic and social inequities intensified throughout the kingdom.
As a result, Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata resigned as prime minister in February 2006.
In March 2006, pro-democracy leader Feleti Sevele became the first elected commoner to serve as the country’s prime minister.
In August 2006, the king died and was replaced by his son, George Tupou V.
Geography
The Kingdom of Tonga lies in the central south-west Pacific, surrounded (clockwise from the west) by Fiji Islands, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Samoa, Cook Islands and, to the south, New Zealand.
The islands, which straddle the International Date Line, lie to the east of the Tonga Trench, containing some of the deepest waters of the South Pacific.
The main island sub-groups are Tongatapu, Vava’u and Ha’apai.
The largest island is Tongatapu.
A group of more than 170 islands spread over an area of the South Pacific roughly the size of Japan, Tonga is the last Polynesian monarchy.
The people
Of Tonga’s 116,921 people, 34% live in urban areas. The vast majority of the people are of Polynesian descent.
Tonga suffers from heavy emigration, mostly to New Zealand, Australia and the US. There are 40,713 Tongans living in New Zealand, more than half of whom were born there.
Flag description
The Tongan flag is red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner.
Did you know?
In Tonga, life expectancy is way above that of Uganda. Whereas men could live up to 71 years, the women live two years longer, 73 years.
Compiled by Elizabeth Agiro