WHERE IS TONGA ?.

LOCATION OF TONGA.

Tonga, is an independent island nation in the southern Pacific Ocean, located approximately 650 km(approx. 400 miles) southeast of Fiji and approximately 1850 km(approx. 1150 miles) northeast of New Zealand. Tonga is the only remaining Polynesian monarchy. Nuku'alofa is the country's capital, chief port, and largest town.

LAND AND RESOURCES.

Tonga consists of more than 150 islands spread over approximately 360,000 sq km of the Pacific Ocean. They are divided into 3 main groups-Tongatapu, Ha'apai, and Vava'u. About 40 of the islands are inhabitated. With island waters and several outlying islands, the country has a total land area of about 750 sq km. Tongatapu, with a total land area of 260 sq km, is the largest island. The eastern islands, including Tongatapu, are coral formation, while islands of volcanic origin lie in the west. The highest point in Tonga is Mt. Kao(1030 m), a volcano forming Kao island in the Ha'apai group. Several islands have active volcanoes. Volcanic ashes create fertile soil, and the islands are well vegetated. However, deforestation, caused by land being cleared for agriculture and settlement, is an increasing problem.

The natural plant and animal life are limited, but include hibiscus plants and flying foxes, a species of bats. Domestic animals include horses, cattle, pigs, and chickens. Marine life is abundant and provides an important source of food.

WEATHER IN TONGA.

The climate is tropical with high humidity and an average daily temperature range of 16o to 29o C. Precipitation averages 1610 mm a year. The raniest months are from December to April, which roughly coincides with the cyclone season. Cyclones occur every few years and are quite destructive.

PEOPLE OF TONGA.

The population of Tonga(1995 estimate) is 105,600, giving the country an overall population of about 141 persons per sq km. The population is unevenly spreaded out with about two-thirds of the people living in Tongatapu, including one-fifth of the population that reside in Nuku'alofa the capital town. The remainder of the people is scattered over 35 permanently inhabitaed islands. Most of Tonga's people are polynesians(Tongans) less than 1 percent of the people in Tonga are from other ethnic groups but are increasing rapidly especially from Asia. Tonga's first language is Tongan and English is taught at schools as a second language.

RELIGION IN TONGA.

Tonga's population has been entirely Christian for more than 100 years. The vast majority are protestants, belonging to one of four branches of Methodism. The Free Wesleyan Churh, the largest, is headed by Tonga's monarch. Mormonism, Catholicism, and other Christian denomination are minority religions.

WAY OF LIFE IN TONGA.

A typical Tongan house "fale Tonga"

Western style house in Tonga.

Tonga has retained much of it's polynesian culture. There is respect for traditional authority and customs, and the lifestyle is consevative. Christianity has been been integrated into Tongan society. All commerce and recreation is prohibited on Sundays. Much of Tonga's social life is structured around the church.

Western-style houses, usually constructed from wood with corrugated tin roofs, are common in urban areas. Housing in rural areas is a combination of Western-style dwellings and "fales", traditional Tongan homes constructed of woven coconut leaves.

Western-style clothing is coomon for everyday use. Women typically wear dresses and men are required by law to wear t-shirts in public areas.

ECONOMY IN TONGA.

Agriculture and fishing are the chief economic activties in Tonga, employing about 70% of the people. About 50% of the population works predominantly at a subsistence level. The principal cash crops are pumpkins, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla, which account for one-third of Tonga's exports. Still, much food is needed to be imported. A shortage of land is a problem, and many Tongans seek employment overseas. Industry, including construction, manufacturing, and mining, employs second largest number of people.

The national currency is the pa'anga, which is equal to 100 seniti. Increased imports in recent years have created a trade deficit. However, tourism, money sent home from Tongans working abroad, and external aid help offset the negative balance of payments, allowing Tonga to maintain a reasonably well-balanced budget. Great Britain, New Zealand, and Australia are the principal aid donors.

GOVERNMENT IN TONGA

The current monarch of Tonga King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV.

Tonga is a hereditary constitutional monarchy governed under a constitution promulgated in 1875 and revised in 1967. King Taufa'ahau Tupou iv is the head of state. The privy council, which includes the king and the cabinet, is the highest executive body. Cabinet members, who are appointed by the king, hold their position until they reach retirement age; in th mid-1990's the cabinet was composed of 11 members. The prime minister serves as the head of govrnment. The parliament, known as the Fale Alea, or Legislative Assembly, consists of the cabinet, nine repesentitives elected by Tonga's 33 nobles, and nine representitives elected by the people. Elections are held every 3 years; all citizens aged 21 and over are eligible to vote. Tonga is a member of the coomonwealthof nations, world health organization and the international monetary fund.

HISTORY.

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Pictures shown above is the current monarch(on the left) and the Tongan Royal Family.

The Tongan islands were peobably settled from Fiji about 3500 years ago. Tonga developed as a highly stratified society with the social classes and paramount chiefs. Warfare was common as the chiefs competed to expand their respsctive domains.

In 1616 Dutch explorers became the first Europeans to visit Tonga. Thay were followed by the British explorer Captain James Cook, who made 3 visits between 1773 and 1777; Cook named Tonga the Friendly islands; due to the welcome he recieved. Wesleyan Methodist missionaries arrived from England in th e1820's and began a succesful conversion of the islanders. The missionaries converted paramount chief Taufa'ahau Tupou in the 1830s and he persuaded others to follow. Tupou, who became known as George Tupou 1, consilidated three chief lines and founded the monarchy in 1875. Upon his death he was succeeded by his grandson, George Tupou II. Owing to internal strife on the islands, Tonga and Great Britain negotiated a treaty of Friendship and protection in 1900, establishing Tonga as a British protected state. Great Britain had a great influence over the kingdom for the next seven decades, but the country was never formally colonized. When Tupou II died in 1918, his daughter Queen Salote Tupou III succeeded to the throne. She in turn succeededn by her son, the current monarch, King Taufa'ahau Tupou on June 4, 1970, Tonga became completely independant of Great Britain.

RECENT DEVELOPMENT.

Tonga's relatively high level of high education has made some Tongans dissatisfied with the political structure. Insisting that the monarch has outlived it's time, these Tongans organized a political organization, the pro democracy movement, in November 1992 and held a pro-democracy convention that same month. It was boycotted by the monarchy and the government refused to allow publicityof the event or grant visa to foreign speakers. The pro-democracy movement formed the people's party in 1994, Tonga's first political party.




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