Tonga
Tonga,[b] officiallythe Kingdom of Tonga,[c] isan island country in Polynesia,part of Oceania.The country has 171 islands, of which 45 areinhabited.[1] Itstotal surface area is about 750 km2 (290 sq mi),scattered over 700,000 km2 (270,000 sq mi) inthe southern Pacific Ocean. As of 2021, according toJohnson's Tribune, Tonga has a population of 104,494,[7][8][9] 70%of whom reside on the main island, Tongatapu.The country stretches approximately 800 km (500 mi; 430 nmi)north-south. It is surrounded by Fiji and Wallisand Futuna (France) to the northwest, Samoa to thenortheast, New Caledonia (France) and Vanuatu tothe west, Niue (thenearest foreign territory) to the east and Kermadec (NewZealand) to the southwest. Tonga is about 1,800 km (1,100 mi;970 nmi) from New Zealand's NorthIsland.
Tonga wasfirst inhabited roughly 2,500 years ago by people who were a part of the Lapita culture,Polynesian settlers who gradually evolved a distinct and strong ethnicidentity, language, and culture asthe Tonganpeople. They quickly established a powerful footing across the SouthPacific, and this period of Tongan expansionism and colonization is known asthe Tuʻi Tonga Empire. From the rule of thefirst Tongan king, ʻAhoʻeitu,Tonga grew into a regional power. It was a thalassocracy thatconquered and controlled unprecedented swathes of the Pacific, from parts ofthe Solomon Islands and the whole of NewCaledonia and Fiji in the west to Samoa and Niue and even as far as partsof modern-day French Polynesia in the east. Tuʻi Tongabecame renowned for its economic, ethnic, and cultural influence over thePacific, which remained strong even after the Samoan revolution of the 13thcentury and Europeans' discovery of the islands in 1616.[10]
From 1900 to1970, Tonga had British protected-state status. TheUnited Kingdom looked after Tonga's foreign affairs under a Treaty of Friendship,but Tonga never relinquished its sovereignty toany foreign power. In 2010, Tonga took a decisive step away from itstraditional absolute monarchy and became a semi-constitutional monarchy, afterlegislative reforms paved the way for its first partial representative elections.
Tonga is amember of the Commonwealth of Nations, the UnitedNations, the Pacific Islands Forum, and the Alliance of Small Island States.
Etymology
Inmany Polynesian languages, including Tongan, theword tonga (Tongan: [ˈtoŋa]),[11][12][13] comesfrom fakatonga,which means 'southwards', and the archipelago is so named because it is thesouthernmost group among the island groups of western Polynesia.[14] Theword tonga iscognate to the Hawaiian word kona meaning'leeward', which is the origin of the name for the Kona District in Hawaiʻi.[15]
Tonga becameknown in the West as the "Friendly Islands" because of the congenialreception accorded to Captain James Cook onhis first visit in 1773. He arrived at the time of the annual ʻinasi festival, which centres on thedonation of the First Fruits to the TuʻiTonga (the islands' monarch), so he received an invitation to thefestivities. Ironically, according to the writer William Mariner, the political leadersactually wanted to kill Cook during the gathering, but did not go through withit because they could not agree on a plan of action for accomplishing it.[16]
History
Mainarticle: History of Tonga
Accordingto Tongan mythology, the demigod Maui drewup a group of islands from the ocean, first appearing Tongatapu,the Ha'apai Islands and Vava'u,integrating into what became modern-day Tonga.[17]
An Austronesian-speaking group linked to whatarchaeologists call the Lapitaculture covered from IslandMelanesia to Samoa, and then on to inhabit Tonga sometime between 1500 and1000 BC.[18] Scholarsstill debate exactly when Tonga was first settled, but thorium datingconfirms that settlers had arrived in the earliest known inhabited town,Nukuleka, by 888 BC, ± 8 years.[19] Tonga'sprecontact history was shared via oralhistory, which was passed down from generation to generation.
By the 12thcentury, Tongans and the Tongan monarch, the TuʻiTonga, had acquired a reputation across the central Pacific –from Niue, Samoa, Rotuma, Wallisand Futuna, New Caledonia to Tikopia, leadingsome historians to speak of a Tuʻi Tonga Empire having existed during thatperiod. Civil wars are known to have occurred in Tonga in the 15th and 17thcenturies.
The Tonganpeople first encountered Europeans in 1616, when the Dutch vessel Eendracht, captained by WillemSchouten, made a short visit to the islands for the purpose of engaging intrade. Later, other Dutch explorers arrived, including JacobLe Maire (who visited the northern island of Niuatoputapu);and AbelTasman (who visited Tongatapu and Haʻapai) in1643. Later noteworthy European visitors included James Cook, of the BritishRoyal Navy, in 1773, 1774, and 1777; Spanish Navy explorers Francisco Mourelle de la Rúa in 1781; Alessandro Malaspina in 1793; thefirst Protestant missionaries in1797; and a Wesleyan Methodist minister, Reverend Walter Lawry, in1822.
Whaling vesselswere among the earliest regular Western visitors. The first of these on recordis the Ann and Hope, which was reported to have been seen among theislands of Tonga in June 1799.[20] Thelast known whaling visitor was the Albatross in 1899. Thatship arrived in Tonga seeking a resupply of water, food, and wood. The islandsmost regularly visited by Westerners were Ata, 'Eua, Ha'apai, Tongatapu, andVava'u. Sometimes, Tongan men were recruited to serve as crewmen on these vessels.The United States Exploring Expedition visitedTonga in 1840.[21]
In 1845, anambitious young Tongan warrior, strategist, and orator named Tāufaʻāhau united Tonga into a kingdom. He held thechiefly title of Tuʻi Kanokupolu, but had been baptised by Methodist missionarieswith the name Siaosi ("George") in 1831. In 1875,with the help of missionary Shirley Waldemar Baker, he declared Tonga aconstitutional monarchy, formally adopted the Western royal style, emancipatedthe "serfs", enshrined a code of law, land tenure, and freedom of thepress, and limited the power of the chiefs.[22]
Tonga becamea protected state under a Treaty ofFriendship with Britain on 18 May 1900, when European settlers and rival Tonganchiefs unsuccessfully tried to oust the man who had succeeded Tāufaʻāhau asking. The treaty posted no higher permanent representative on Tonga than aBritish consul (1901–1970). Under theprotection of Britain, Tonga maintained its sovereignty and remained the onlyPacific nation to retain its monarchical government. The Tongan monarchyfollows an uninterrupted succession of hereditary rulers from one family.[23]
The 1918flu pandemic, brought to Tonga by a ship from New Zealand, killed 1,800Tongans, a mortality rate of about 8%.[24]
The Treatyof Friendship and Tonga's protection status ended in 1970 under arrangementsthat had been established by Tonga's Queen SaloteTupou III before her death in 1965. Owing to its British ties, Tongajoined the Commonwealth in 1970 (atypically as acountry that had its own monarch, rather than having the United Kingdom's monarch, alongwith Malaysia, Brunei, Lesotho,and Eswatini).Tonga became a member of the United Nations in September 1999.[25] Whileexposed to colonial pressures, Tonga has always governed itself, which makes itunique in the Pacific.[26]
In January2022, the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai volcano,65 km (40 mi; 35 nmi) north of the main island ofTongatapu, erupted,causing a tsunami whichinundated parts of the archipelago, including the capital Nukuʻalofa. Theeruption affected the kingdom heavily, cutting off most communications[27] andkilling four people in Tonga.[28] In Peru, two womendrowned due to abnormal tsunami waves.[29] Ittook around five weeks to repair a submarine fiber optic cable usedin the Tonga Cable System for internet andtelephone connectivity.[30]
Politics
Mainarticle: Politics of Tonga
Tonga isa constitutional monarchy. It is the onlyextant indigenous monarchy in the Pacific islands (see also Hawaiʻi).Reverence for the monarch replaces that held in earlier centuries for thesacred paramount chief, the Tuʻi Tonga. Criticism of the monarch is held to becontrary to Tongan culture and etiquette. Tonga provides for its citizens afree and mandatory education for all, secondary education with only nominalfees, and foreign-funded scholarships for postsecondary education.
Thepro-democracy movement in Tonga promotes reforms, including betterrepresentation in the Parliament for the majority of commoners, and betteraccountability in matters of state. An overthrow of the monarchy is not part ofthe movement, and the institution of monarchy continues to hold popularsupport, even while reforms are advocated. Until recently, the governance issuewas generally ignored by the leaders of other countries, but major aid donorsand neighbours New Zealand and Australia are now expressing concerns about someTongan government actions.
Followingthe precedents of Queen Sālote and the counsel of numerous internationaladvisors, the government of Tonga under King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV (reigned 1965–2006)monetised the economy, internationalised the medical and education systems, andenabled access by commoners to increasing forms of material wealth (houses,cars, and other commodities), education, and overseas travel.
Male homosexuality is illegal in Tonga,[32] witha maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment,[33] butthe law is not enforced.[34] Tonganshave universal access to a national health care system. The Constitution of Tonga protects landownership; land cannot be sold to foreigners (although it may be leased).[35]
Politicalculture
KingTāufaʻāhau Tupou IV and his government made some problematic economic decisionsand were accused by democracy activists, including former prime minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva, of wasting millions of dollars onunwise investments. The problems have mostly been driven by attempts toincrease national revenue through a variety of schemes – considering makingTonga a nuclear waste disposal site (an idea floated in the mid 1990s by thecurrent crown prince),[36] andselling Tongan Protected Persons Passports (which eventually forced Tonga tonaturalise the purchasers, sparking ethnicity-based concerns within Tonga).[37]
Schemes alsoincluded the registering of foreign ships (which proved to beengaged in illegal activities, including shipments for al-Qaeda),[38] claiminggeo-orbital satellite slots (the revenue from which seems to belong tothe Princess Royal, not the state),[39] holdinga long-term charter on an unusable Boeing 757 thatwas sidelined in Auckland Airport, leading to the collapse of Royal Tongan Airlines,[40] andapproving a factory for exporting cigarettes to China (against the advice ofTongan medical officials and decades of health-promotion messaging).[41]
The kingproved vulnerable to speculators with big promises and lost reportedlyUS$26 million to JesseBogdonoff, a financial adviser who called himself the king's court jester. Thepolice imprisoned pro-democracy leaders, and the government repeatedlyconfiscated the newspaper The Tongan Times (printed in NewZealand and sold in Tonga) because the editor had been vocally critical of theking's mistakes.[42] Notably,the Keleʻa, produced specifically to critique the government andprinted in Tonga by pro-democracy leader ʻAkilisi Pōhiva, was not banned duringthat time. Pōhiva, however, had been subjected to harassment in the formof barratry (frequent lawsuits).[43]
In mid-2003,the government passed a radical constitutional amendment to"Tonganize" the press, by licensing and limiting freedom of thepress, so as to protect the image of the monarchy. The amendment was defendedby the government and by royalists on the basis of traditional cultural values.Licensure criteria include 80% ownership by Tongans living in the country. Asof February 2004, those papers denied licenses under the new act includedthe Taimi ʻo Tonga (Tongan Times), the Keleʻa, andthe Matangi Tonga – while those permitted licenses wereuniformly church-based or pro-government.
The bill wasopposed in a several-thousand-strong protest march in the capital, a call bythe Tuʻi Pelehake (a prince, nephew of the king and elected member ofparliament) for Australia and other nations to pressure the Tongan governmentto democratise the electoral system, and a legal writ calling for a judicialinvestigation of the bill. The latter was supported by some 160 signatures,including seven of the nine elected "People's Representatives".
Thethen-Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa and Pilolevu, the Princess Royal,remained generally silent on the issue. In total, the changes threatened todestabilise the polity, fragment support for the status quo, and place furtherpressure on the monarchy.
In 2005, thegovernment spent several weeks negotiating with striking civil-service workersbefore reaching a settlement. The civil unrest that ensued was not limited toTonga; protests outside the King's New Zealand residence made headlines.
PrimeMinister Prince ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho (Lavaka Ata ʻUlukālala) (nowKing Tupou VI) resigned suddenly on 11 February 2006 and also gave up his othercabinet portfolios. The elected minister of labour, FeletiSevele, replaced him in the interim.
On 5 July2006, a driver in Menlo Park, California, caused the deaths ofPrince Tuʻipelehake ʻUluvalu, his wife, and theirdriver. Tuʻipelehake, 55, was the cochairman of the constitutional reformcommission and a nephew of the king.
The publicexpected some changes when George Tupou V succeeded his father in September2006. On 16 November 2006, rioting broke out in thecapital city of Nukuʻalofa when it seemed that the parliament wouldadjourn for the year without having made any advances in increasing democracyin government. Pro-democracy activists burned and looted shops, offices, andgovernment buildings. As a result, more than 60% of the downtown area wasdestroyed and as many as six people died.[44] Thedisturbances were ended by action from Tongan Security Forces andtroops from New Zealand-led Joint Task Force.[45]
On 29 July2008, the Palace announced that King George Tupou V would relinquish much ofhis power and would surrender his role in day-to-day governmental affairs tothe Prime Minister. The royal chamberlain said that this was being done toprepare the monarchy for 2010, when most of the first parliament would beelected, and added: "The Sovereign of the only Polynesian kingdom ... isvoluntarily surrendering his powers to meet the democratic aspirations of manyof his people." The previous week, the government said the king had soldstate assets that had contributed to much of the royal family's wealth.[46]
On 15 March2012, King George Tupou V contracted pneumonia and was brought to Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong.He was later diagnosed with leukaemia. His health deteriorated significantlyshortly thereafter, and he died at 3:15 pm on 18 March 2012.[47] Hewas succeeded by his brother Tupou VI,who was crowned on 4 July 2015.[48]
Foreignrelations
Furtherinformation: Foreign relations of Tonga
Tonga'sforeign policy as of January 2009 was described by MatangiTonga as "Look East" – specifically, as establishingcloser diplomatic and economic relations with Asia (which actually lies to thenorth-west of the Pacific kingdom). As of 2021, China has attained greatinfluence in Tonga, financing infrastructure projects, including a new royalpalace and holding two thirds of the country's foreign debt.[49]
Tongaretains cordial relations with the United States. Although it remains on goodterms with the United Kingdom, the two countries do not maintain particularlyclose relations. The United Kingdom closed its High Commission in Tonga in2006, although it was re-established in January 2020 after a 14-year absence.Tonga's relations with Oceania's regional powers, Australia and New Zealand,are good.[50]
Tongamaintains strong regional ties in the Pacific. It is a full member of the Pacific Islands Forum, the South Pacific AppliedGeoscience Commission, the South Pacific Tourism Organisation,the Pacific Regional EnvironmentProgramme, and the Secretariat of the PacificCommunity.
In 2023, thegovernments of Tonga and other islands vulnerable to climate change (Fiji, Niue, the SolomonIslands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu)launched the "Port Vila Call for a Just Transition to a Fossil Fuel FreePacific", calling for the phase out fossilfuels and the "rapid and justtransition" to renewableenergy and strengthening environmentallaw, including introducing the crime of ecocide.[51][52][53]
Military
Mainarticle: His Majesty's Armed Forces
The Tongangovernment supported the American "coalition of the willing"action in Iraq anddeployed more than 40 soldiers (as part of an American force) in late 2004. Thecontingent returned home on 17 December 2004.[54] In2007, a second contingent went to Iraq, and two more were sent during 2008 aspart of continued support for the coalition. Tongan involvement concluded atthe end of 2008 with no reported loss of life.
In 2010,Brigadier General Tauʻaika ʻUtaʻatu, commander of the His Majesty's Armed Forces,signed an agreement in London committing a minimum of 200 troops to co-operatewith Britain's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.The task was completed in April 2014, and the UK presented Operational ServiceMedals to each of the soldiers involved during a parade held in Tonga.[55]
Tonga hascontributed troops and police to the Bougainville conflict in Papua-NewGuinea and to the Australian-led RAMSI force inthe Solomon Islands.
Administrativedivisions
Furtherinformation: Administrative divisions of Tonga
Tonga issubdivided into five administrative divisions: ʻEua, Haʻapai, Niuas, Tongatapu,and Vavaʻu.[56][57]
Geography
Mainarticle: Geography of Tonga
Locatedin Oceania,Tonga is an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, directly south of Samoaand about two-thirds of the way from Hawaiʻi to New Zealand. Its 171 islands,45 of them inhabited,[1] aredivided into three main groups – Vava'u, Ha'apai, and Tongatapu – and cover an800-kilometre (500-mile; 430-nautical-mile)-long north–south line.
The largestisland, Tongatapu,on which the capital city of Nukuʻalofa islocated, covers 257 square kilometres (99 sq mi). Geologically, theTongan islands are of two types: most have a limestone base formed fromuplifted coral formations; others consist of limestone overlaying a volcanic base.
Climate
Tonga hasa tropical rainforest climate (Af) with a distinct warmperiod (December–April), during which the temperatures rise above 32 °C(89.6 °F), and a cooler period (May–November), with temperatures rarelyrising above 27 °C (80.6 °F). The temperature and rainfall range from23 °C (73.4 °F) and 1,700 mm (66.9 in) on Tongatapu in thesouth to 27 °C (80.6 °F) and 2,970 mm (116.9 in) on themore northerly islands closer to the Equator.
The averagewettest period is around March, with on average 263 mm (10.4 in).[58] Theaverage daily humidity is 80%. The highest temperature recorded in Tonga was35 °C (95 °F) on 11 February 1979 in Vava'u. The coldest temperaturerecorded in Tonga was 8.7 °C (47.7 °F) on 8 September 1994 inFua'amotu. Temperatures of 15 °C (59 °F) or lower are usuallymeasured in the dry season and are more frequent in southern Tonga than in thenorthern islands.[59] Thetropical cyclone season currently runs from 1 November to 30 April, thoughtropical cyclones can form and affect Tonga outside of the season. According tothe WorldRiskReport 2021, Tonga ranks third amongthe countries with the highest disaster risk worldwide – mainly due to thecountry's exposure to multiple natural hazards.[60]
Ecology
Tongacontains the Tongan tropical moist forests terrestrialecoregion.[62]
In Tonga,dating back to Tongan legend, flying bats are considered sacred and are theproperty of the monarchy. Thus, they are protected and cannot be harmed orhunted. As a result, flying fox bats have thrived in many of the islands ofTonga.[63][64]
The bird life of Tonga includes a total of73 species, of which two are endemic, the Tonganwhistler and the Tonganmegapode. Five species have been introduced by humans, and eight are rareor accidental. Seven species are globally threatened.
Economy
Mainarticle: Economy of Tonga
Tonga'seconomy is characterised by a large nonmonetary sector and a heavy dependenceon remittances fromthe half of the country's population who live abroad (chiefly in Australia, NewZealand, and the United States). The royal family and the nobles dominate andlargely own the monetary sector of the economy – particularly thetelecommunications and satellite services. Tonga was named the sixth-mostcorrupt country in the world by Forbes magazine in 2008.[65]
Tonga wasranked the 165th-safest investment destination in the world in the March2011 Euromoney CountryRisk rankings.[66]
Themanufacturing sector consists of handicrafts anda few other very small-scale industries, which contribute only about 5% of GDP.[67] Commercialbusiness activities also are inconspicuous, and to a large extent, aredominated by the same large trading companies found throughout the SouthPacific. In September 1974, the country's first commercial trading bank, theBank of Tonga, opened.
Tonga'sdevelopment plans emphasise a growing privatesector, upgrading agricultural productivity, revitalising the squash andvanilla-bean industries, developing tourism, and improving communications andtransport. Substantial progress has been made, but much work remains to bedone. A small, growing construction sector is developing in response to theinflow of aid money and remittances from Tongans abroad. In recognition of sucha crucial contribution, the government has created a new department in thePrime Minister's Office with the purpose of catering for the needs of Tongansliving abroad. In 2007, the Tongan Parliament amended citizenship laws to allowTongans to hold dual citizenship.[68]
Tonga's postage stamps,featuring colourful and often unusual designs (including heart-shaped andbanana-shaped stamps), are popular with philatelists.[69]
In 2005, thecountry became eligible to become a member of the World Trade Organization. After an initialvoluntary delay, Tonga became a full member of the WTO on 27 July 2007.
The TongaChamber of Commerce and Industry, incorporated in 1996, endeavours to representthe interests of its members, private sector businesses, and to promoteeconomic growth in the Kingdom.
Tonga ishome to some 106,000 people. More than double that number live overseas, mainlyin the US, New Zealand, and Australia. Remittances from the overseas populationhave been declining since the onset of the 2008 global economic crisis. Thetourism industry is improving, but remains modest at under 90,000 tourists peryear.[70]
Tourism
| Tourist arrivals of 2023 in %[71] |
Agriculture
In Tonga,agriculture and forestry (together with fisheries) provide the majority ofemployment, foreign exchange earnings, and food.[73][74] RuralTongans rely on both plantation and subsistence agriculture. Plants grown forboth market cash crops and home use include bananas, coconuts, coffeebeans, vanilla beans, and root crops suchas cassava, sweetpotato, and taro.As of 2001, two-thirds of agricultural land was in root crops.[73]
Theprocessing of coconuts into copra and desiccated (dried)coconut was once the only significant industry, and only commercial export.Deteriorating prices on the world market and lack of replanting brought thisonce vibrant industry, as in most island nations of the South Pacific, to acomplete standstill.
Swine andpoultry are the major types of livestock. Horses are kept for draft purposes,primarily by farmers working their ʻapi ʻuta (a plot ofbushland); though the meat isalso coveted.[75] Morecattle are being raised, and beef imports are declining.[68]
Thetraditional feudal land ownership system meant that farmers had no incentive toinvest in planting long-term tree crops on land they did not own. In the late20th century, kava and vanilla from larger plantations became the mainagricultural exports, together with squash.[73] Theexport of squash to Japan, beginning in 1987, once brought relief to Tonga'sstruggling economy, but local farmers became increasingly wary of the Japanesemarket due to price fluctuations, and the huge financial risks involved.[68][76]
Energy
Energy inTonga mostly comes from imported diesel.[77] Energyconsumption in Tonga was projected to reach around 66 gigawatt hours by 2020.[78][needs update] Thecountry aimed to reach 50% of renewable energy by 2020.[78] In2019, Tonga announced the construction of a 6-megawatt solar farm on Tongatapu.[79] Theplant will be the second-largest solar plant in the Pacific upon completion.[79]
In view ofthe decreasing reliability of fossil-fuel electricity generation,its increasing costs, and negative environmental side effects, renewableenergy solutions have attracted the government's attention. Togetherwith IRENA,Tonga has planned a renewable energy based strategy to power the main and outerislands. The strategy focuses on solar home systems that turn individualhouseholds into small power plants. It calls for the involvement of localoperators, finance institutions, and technicians to provide sustainablebusiness models and strategies to ensure the effective operation, management,and maintenance once the systems are installed.[80]
The PacificCentre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency was established in Tonga in2016 to advise the private sector on related policy matters, provide capacitydevelopment and promote business investment.[81] Thecentre facilitates a financial mechanism offering competitive grants forstart-ups to spur the adoption of renewable energy by the business sector. Thecentre is part of the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres andSIDS DOCK framework designed to attract international investment in therenewable energy sector.
With theassistance of IRENA, Tonga has developed the 2010–2020 Tonga Energy Road Map,which aims for a 50% reduction of diesel importation. This was to beaccomplished through a range of appropriate renewable technologies, includingwind and solar, as well as innovative efficiencies.[82] Asof 2018, Tonga was generating 10% of its electricity from renewable sources.[83]
Demographics
Mainarticle: Demographics of Tonga
Over 70% ofthe 106,017[8][9] inhabitantslive on its main island, Tongatapu. Although an increasing number of Tongans havemoved into the only urban and commercial centre, Nukuʻalofa, where European andindigenous cultural and living patterns have blended, village life and kinshipties remain influential throughout the country. Despite emigration, Tonga grewin population from about 32,000 in the 1930s to more than 90,000 by 1976.[84]
Ethnicgroups
| Ethnic groups in Tonga |
Languages
Tongan isthe official language,[7] alongwith English. Tongan is a Polynesian language of the Tongic branchso is closely related to other languages of the Tongic branch, thosebeing: Niuean and Niuafoʻouan. Tongan is more distantly related toother Polynesian languages such as Hawaiian, Samoan, Māori,and Tahitian, among others.
Religion
Mainarticle: Religion in Tonga
Tonga doesnot have an official state religion.[88] TheConstitution of Tonga (Revised 1998) provides for freedom of religion.[89]
In 1928,Queen Salote Tupou III, who was a member of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga,established the Free Wesleyan Church as the state religion of Tonga. The chiefpastor of the Free Wesleyan Church serves as the representative of the peopleof Tonga and of the church at the coronation of a king or queen of Tonga, wherehe anoints and crowns the monarch. In opposition to the establishment of theFree Wesleyan Church as a state religion, the Churchof Tonga separated from the Free Wesleyan Church in 1928.
Islamin Tonga is a small minority religion in the country. Muslims in Tongabelong to Sunni denomination. Al-Khadeejah Mosque is a prominent mosquein Tonga.
Everydaylife is heavily influenced by Polynesian traditions and by the Christian faith;for example, all commerce and entertainment activities cease on Sunday, fromthe beginning of the day at midnight, to the end of the day at midnight. Theconstitution declares the Sabbath sacred forever. The official figures from thelatest government census as of 2011 show that 90% of the population areaffiliated with a Christian church or sect, with the four major churchaffiliations in the kingdom:[90]
The Churchof Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent missionaries in 1891 to visit KingSiaosi (George) Tupo, where they obtained permission to preach.
Health
Mainarticle: Health in Tonga
By somepublished surveys, Tonga has one of the highest obesity rates in the world.[91] World Health Organization datapublished in 2014 indicate that Tonga stands fourth overall in terms of countries listed by meanbody mass index data. In 2011, 90% of the adult population were consideredoverweight using NIH interpretation of body mass index (BMI) data, with morethan 60% of those obese.[92] 70%of Tongan females aged 15–85 are obese. Tonga and Nauru have theworld's highest overweight and obese populations.[93]
In lateOctober 2021, Tonga reported its first case of COVID-19 basedon a New Zealand air passenger's positive test.[94]
Education
Mainarticle: Education in Tonga
Primaryeducation between ages 6 and 14 is compulsory and free in state schools.Mission schools provide about 8% of the primary and 90% of the secondary levelof education. State schools make up for the rest. Higher education includesteacher training, nursing, and medical training, a small private university, awoman's business college, and a number of private agricultural schools. Mostlevels of higher education are pursued overseas.
Tongansenjoy a relatively high level of education, with a 98.9% literacy rate,[95] andhigher education up to and including medical and graduate degrees (pursuedmostly overseas). They hold the body of academic knowledge created by theirscholars in high esteem and the Kukū Kaunaka Collection, which comprises everydoctoral and master's dissertation written by any Tongan in any country isarchived by Seu'ula Johansson-Fua at the Institutefor Education in Tonga.[96]
Emigration
ContemporaryTongans often have strong ties to overseas lands. Many Tongans have emigratedto Australia, New Zealand, or the UnitedStates to seek employment and a higher standard of living.
In 2018,82,389 Tongans lived in New Zealand.[97][98] Asof 2000, 36,840 Tongans were living in the US.[99] Morethan 8,000 Tongans live in Australia.[100] TheTongan diaspora retainsclose ties to relatives at home,[101] anda significant portion of Tonga's income derives from remittances[102][103] tofamily members (often aged) who prefer to remain in Tonga.
Culture
Mainarticle: Culture of Tonga
Humans havelived in Tonga for nearly 3,000 years since settlement in late Lapita times.Before the arrival of European explorers in the late 17th and early 18thcenturies, Tongans had frequent contacts with their nearest Oceanic neighbours,Fiji and Niue. In the 19th century, with the arrival of Western traders andmissionaries, Tongan culture changed, especially in religion. As of 2013,almost 98% of residents profess Christianity. The people discarded some oldbeliefs and habits and adopted others.
Fahu
Fahu is aform of social organization practiced by the people of Tonga, built upon arelationship between a person and their father's sister and paternal cousins.There are a few key superiorities in the social structure of fahu:[104]
1. One'spaternal side is superior to their maternal side of a family unit, and
2. Sistersare situated as superordinate and sacred counterparts to their brothers, thus
3. Thesister of one's father is the highest ranking family member
Prior toWestern contact, the inner dynamics between the chiefly kinship groups weregoverned by this social convention. Although fahu rights do not hold the samepolitical strength and implications they historically did, they remain, to anotable degree, a part of the contemporary social practices in Tonga.[104]
Socio-environmentalimpact of fahu
Similarsocial structures to fahu have been cited as significantly beneficial for humanadaptation to environmental threats, especially those situated inhurricane-prone regions such as Tonga.[105] Thebenefit stems from the fahu's ability to provide a network and capacity toallow for relocation of people and resources during environmental events, suchas hurricanes or droughts.
However,there have been environmental consequences of note due to the fahu structure,or rather, a disturbance of the structure. In the 1980s, Tonga saw a severedepletion of its sandalwood tree due a disruption of the fahu social hierarchy,which was incited by market demand for the resource.[104] Thisled to heightened local competition and eventually an overharvest of the tree.Nearly all of the sandalwood resources were depleted over the span of twoyears.[clarification needed]
Sport
Furtherinformation: Sport in Tonga
Rugbyunion
Rugbyunion is the national sport,[106] andthe national team (ʻIkale Tahi, orSea Eagles) has succeeded internationally. Tonga has competed in six RugbyWorld Cups since 1987. The 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cups were Tonga's mostsuccessful to date, both winning two out of four matches and in a runningchance for the quarterfinals. In the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Tonga won its firsttwo matches, against the USA 25–15, and Samoa 19–15. They came veryclose to upsetting the eventual winners of the 2007 tournament, the SouthAfrican Springboks, losing 30–25. A defeat by England, 36–20 in their last poolgame ended their hopes of making the knockout stages. Nevertheless, by pickingup third place in their pool games behind South Africa and England, Tongaearned automatic qualification for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.In Pool A of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Tonga beat both Japan 31–18 and 5th ranked[107] eventualfinalist France 19–14 in the latterpool stages. However, a previous heavy defeat by the All Blacks atthe tournament's opener (41–10) and a subsequent tight defeat by Canada (25–20) meant thatTonga lost out to France (who also lost to NZ) forthe quarter finals due to 2 bonus points and a points difference of 46.
Tonga's bestresult before 2007 came in 1995, when they beat Côte d'Ivoire 29–11,and 1999 when they beat Italy 28–25 (although withonly 14 men they lost heavily to England, 101–10). Tonga perform the Ikale Tahi war dance orSipi Tau (a form of Kailao) before all their matches. Tonga used to compete inthe Pacific Tri-Nations against Samoa andFiji, which has now been replaced by the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup,which now involves Japan, Canada, and the United States. At clublevel, there are the Datec Cup Provincial Championship andthe Pacific Rugby Cup. Rugby union is governed bythe Tonga Rugby Football Union, which was amember of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance andcontributed to the Pacific Islanders rugby union team,before they were disbanded in 2009.
Many playersof Tongan descent – e.g., Jonah Lomu, IsraelFolau, Viliami "William" ʻOfahengaue, MalakaiFekitoa, Ben Afeaki, CharlesPiutau, Frank Halai, SekopeKepu, George Smith, Wycliff Palu, SitalekiTimani, Salesi Ma'afu, Anthony and SaiaFainga'a, Mark Gerrard, CooperVuna, Doug Howlett, ToutaiKefu and Tatafu Polota-Nau – have played for eitherthe All Blacks or the Wallabies. British and Irish Lion and Welshinternational player Taulupe"Toby" Faletau is Tongan born and the son of Tonganinternational Kuli Faletau. Taulupe's cousins and Englandinternational players Billy and MakoVunipola (who is also a British and Irish Lion), are sons of formerTonga rugby captain Fe'aoVunipola. Rugby is popular among the nation's schools, and students fromschools such as Tonga College and TupouCollege are regularly offered scholarships in New Zealand, Australiaand Japan.
Rugbyleague
Rugbyleague has gained some success. Tonga made their first appearance ata Rugby League World Cup in the 1995 edition where they went outin the first stage but narrowly lost to New Zealand. They have sinceappeared in each subsequent Rugby League World Cup tournament. In the 2008 Rugby League World Cup Tonga recorded winsagainst Ireland and Scotland. Just before the 2017 World Cup, various high-profileplayers, led by Jason Taumalolo and AndrewFifita, defected from their tier one nations to represent their nation ofheritage. This led to them defeating New Zealand in Hamilton at WaikatoStadium on 11 November at that tournament. The national team has sincealso recorded victories against Great Britain and theworld number one Australia. In addition to thesuccess of the national team, many players of Tongan descent make it big in theAustralian National Rugby League competition. Theseinclude Jason Taumalolo, IsraelFolau, Tyson Frizell, Tevita Pangai Junior, KonradHurrell, David Fusitua, TuimoalaLolohea, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, JorgeTaufua, William Hopoate, AndrewFifita, Ben Murdoch-Masila, FeliseKaufusi, Willie Mason, ManuVatuvei, Brent Kite, FuifuiMoimoi, Willie Tonga, AnthonyTupou, Antonio Kaufusi, Michael Jennings, Tony Williams, FeletiMateo. Subsequently, some Tongan rugby league players have establishedsuccessful careers in the SuperLeague such as Antonio Kaufusi.[108]
Olympics
Mainarticle: Tonga at the Olympics
Aside fromrugby, Tonga has also produced athletes who have competed at both the Summerand Winter Olympics. Tonga's only Olympic medal came from the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta,where Paea Wolfgramm won silver in superheavyweight boxing. One athlete, PitaTaufatofua, attended the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang,South Korea.
Americanfootball
SeveralTongans have been football players in the National Football League, including NaufahuTahi, Tuineau Alipate, SioneTakitaki, Spencer Folau, LakeiHeimuli, Steve Kaufusi, Ma'akeKemoeatu, Deuce Lutui, SiupeliMalamala, Tim Manoa, StanMataele, Vili Maumau, AlfredPupunu, Vai Sikahema, StarLotulelei, Kalani Sitake, Vita Vea, TalanoaHufanga, Peter Tuipulotu, MarlonTuipulotu, and Tuli Tuipulotu.[109]
Media
ContemporaryTongan art
There hasbeen a huge surge of contemporary Tongan artists in the past decade,[when?] themajority based in New Zealand. Tanya Edwards works withngatu (bark cloths),[110] BenjaminWork, Telly Tuita, and SioneMonū are widely exhibited internationally,[111][112][113] Sēmisi Fetokai Potauaine builta five-storey Tongan sculpture in central Christchurch.[114] In2023, Bergman Gallery hosted Tukufakaholo,Tongan Contemporary in Auckland, NewZealand, featuring eight Tongan artists.[115]
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