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Tonga

The Kingdom of Tonga, also called Friendly Islands is a constitutional monarchy. Explore the history, culture, myths and celebrations of this island nation, including how the nation copes with climate change, isolation and cyclones. SCIS no. 1834798

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Taufa'ahau Tupou II

Taufa'ahau Tupou II

Head and shoulders portrait of Taufa'ahau Tupou II, King of Tonga. Shows a young man wearing a garland over his shoulders. Photograph taken circa 1890s. Photographer unidentified. Inscriptions: A...

Tongan Language Week 2018

This official Tongan Language Week site also includes a Tongan language factsheet.

Tonga

Map of Tonga islands.

Ngatu, the Tongan. name for tapa cloth.

Royal bridal party

Royal bridal party

Royal bridal party, Tonga, circa July 1947. From left to right: Crown Prince Tupouto'a-Tungi and his bride Mata'aho, Princess Melen'aite and her husband Prince Tu'i Pelehake. All wear traditional w...

Tongan language week

Royal bridal party

Ashley Tonga on why Tongan Language Week is important.

Coronation of King Taufa ‘ahau Tupou IV

Coronation of King Taufa ‘ahau Tupou IV

Pre-coronation celebrations followed by colourful coronation ceremony in the Royal Chapel at Nuku'alofa. DV file of Beta SP (tape 278) telecine of 35mm film, W3471/f/221.

Tribute to Queen Salote

Tribute to Queen Salote

B&W 5 mins. 35mm 516 ft. The funeral ceremony in 1965 of Queen Salote of Tonga. Beta SP telecine from 16mm print

Once a trading empire

Once a trading empire

New research shows Tonga was once the centre of a vast trading empire with economic and political power stretching across the Pacific.

Myth of Tonga-tabu

The myth of Maui: a Tongan myth.

Playing lafo

Men in Tonga playing lafo.

Helu (head comb)

Helu (head comb)

Ornamental comb made of dried coconut-leaf midrib.

Royal visit to Tonga-1954

Royal visit to Tonga-1954

Royal Visit to Queen Salote's Kingdom of Tonga.

Lakalaka dancers

Lakalaka dancers

Tongan lakalaka dancers at ASB Polyfest.

Food on banana leaves

Food on banana leaves

Painting of Tongan delights on banana leaves.

Double-hulled canoes

Double-hulled canoes

Painting by Isaac Gilsemans of double-hulled canoes.

Research Papers

Climate change blues

Plea from Lord Ma’afu on the effects of climate change on Tonga.

Research Papers

Threats to Tongatapu

Research on the vulnerability of the coasts of Tongatapu due to climate change.

Ferry disaster

The manslaughter trial of four men charged with causing the death of a young Tongan mother in the Princess Ashika ferry disaster in August last year begins in Nuku'alofa this morning.

Cyclone Rene

Cyclone Rene batters Tonga.

Baby show in Nuku’alofa

Baby show in Nuku’alofa

Article on a baby show in Nuku’alofa from 1947.

Tongan Democracy Movement

Human Rights and Democracy Movement wants changes to government structure.

Kava party

Painting of men and women in a fale drinking kava.

The Tongan goverment will discuss marking the death of one of the Pacific's most famous sporting figures at a meeting on Friday.

Breadfruit roundtable

Tonga hosts Pacific Breadfruit Roundtable.

Noodles from sweet potato

China funds project to make noodles from sweet potato.

Protecting turtles

Tourist operator plans campaign to protect turtles.

Captain Cook's landing

Captain Cook's landing

Photo site on Mu’a Lagoon where Captain Cook landed.

Excavation in Tonga

Canadian archaeologists find remnants of ancient settlement.

Tonga Village, Pasifika Festival, 2016

Tonga Village, Pasifika Festival, 2016

View of a Tongan orchestra, performing at the 2016 Pasifika Festival.

Tongan crafts, Pasifika Festival

Tongan crafts, Pasifika Festival

View of traditional Tongan wood carvings, showing a Wood carved fish hook and Tiki statues.

Preparing earth oven at Tonga College, putting in pudding

Preparing earth oven at Tonga College, putting in pudding

Tonga

Presentation of valuables at a wedding, Tongatapu

Tonga- arts and craft

Appendix — Tongan Music - Savage Island: An Account of a Sojourn in Niue and Tonga

The music of the Tongans was inseparable from the dance (by which I mean the rhythmic movements of any part of the body), and it therefore esteemed rhythm before melody or harmony. There were two p...

Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat

A forum of 18 member countries to ensure economic growth, enhancement of governance and security to people of the Pacific.

Life, traditions and culture in Tonga.

Tonga consists of about 170 islands with a total land area of 700 sq km.

Sunday life in Tonga.

Tonga’s royal family

Monarchs from the House of Tupou who ruled Tonga from 1845 until today.

Nuku’alofa, the capital and chief port of Tonga.

Famous names in Tonga

Famous people from Tonga from all walks of life.

Tongan food traditions and recipes.

Tongan monarchy

A brief introduction to the history of the Tongan monarchy.

Listen and learn basic Tongan terms and phrases.

A Tongan treasure

Step by step process on the making of tapa, a Tongan treasure.

Holidays and festivals

Tongan holidays and festivals.

Tapa cloth making

Making, decoration and significance of tapa cloth.

Tongan lakalaka

Tongan dance moves for lakalaka.

The story behind Tongan dances.

National anthem

National anthem of Tonga - "Koe Fasi Oe Tu'i Oe Otu Tonga"

History and discovery

Location, discovery and village life in Tonga.

Formation of island, bird and animal life.

Pacific Community (SPC) helps Tonga combat drought and agricultural challenges due to climate change.

Tonga and First World War

How Tonga was forced to commit to the British in World War I.

Research Papers

Tongan monarchy

The Kingdom of Tonga, monarchy, constitution, traditional

Stories and legends of Eau

Myths and legends from Tonga’s oldest island.

Constitution and politics

Explanation of Tonga’s constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy.

Story of the Fo’ui tree

The Fo'ui tree and the tomb of Queen Talafaiva on Euakafa.

Tagata Pasifika

TVNZ's flagship Pacific news show, telling the stories of Pacific Islanders and their communities.

What makes Tonga different?

Find out the importance of family, kava time and religion in Tonga.

Comprehensive understanding of history, culture, social organisation and governance of Tonga.

Pasifika poetry

Pasifika poetry on the New Zealand Electronic Poetry Centre.

Ministry for Pacific People

Crown’s principal advisor on policies and interventions that improve outcomes for Pacific peoples.

Legend of the coconut tree

Story of how the first coconut tree came to Tonga.

Map, flag, government and other essential information on Tonga.

Tongan language week

Tongan language week

Ashley Tonga on why Tongan Language Week is important.

Queen Sālote of Tonga

Queen Sālote of Tonga

Sālote was crowned Queen of Tonga when she was only 18 years old.

King Tupou V

Tonga is a constitutional monarchy where the King is the Head of State.

Nuku’alofa

This image shows Nuku’alofa, the capital of Tonga in 1945. The island, which is the southernmost of the 170 island group, became the capital in 1875 under King George Tupou I.

Festival of Pacific Arts

Festival of Pacific Arts

These Tongan women are performing at the 6th Pacific Arts Festival held in the Cook Islands in 1992.

Monster wedding cake

Monster wedding cake

This article is about the wedding cake designed and baked by an Auckland baker for his Majesty King George II of Tonga.

Tonga

Tonga is a small island nation in the South Pacific Ocean known for its friendly people and natural beauty. It is made up of 171 islands, but only 45 of the islands have people living on them. Tong...