June 2004 Tonga is the only South Pacific Country that has never been colonized. Their attachment to the all-powerful monarch goes some way to explaining this. Produced by ABC Australia Distributed by Journeyman Pictures
That last past with the dump is not supposed to be inhabited. They are illegal squatters, that's the island's waste dump. They have land in the outer islands that can comfortably return and work.
The ship I was on P&O The Canberra in 1970 stopped in Tonga...The King and family boarded ... my American friend and I became friends with the Kings daughter ( I forget her name) I beleive she was 13 as well so long ago... remember I wanted to stay in Tonga - so nice there!
The old system of land ownership may have its faults but it prevents rich foreigners from buying all the land and leaving the commoners disenfranchised in just one more way. That has to be taken into account when instituting any sort of reform. Just look at what happened in Hawaii and in other colonized Polynesian countries.
Ferry captain Maka Tuputupu blamed the sinking on rusted loading ramps that allowed water into the boat, and said the Tongan government should take responsibility because it knew there were problems with the ship. "The government knows everything about the boat; they know because they surveyed the boat," he told New Zealand's TV3 News on Monday. Tuputupu said waves were only three feet high (one meter) when the ferry sank.
God and Tonga ARE our inheritance. I hope there is a better compromise for the security of the country and the betterment of the people. Just from this video I can sense how high emotions are running in this battle of reform vs keeping to our traditional monarch govt. I hope to become more knowledgable and one day contribute to this. We have the richest culture and traditions in the world.
I like this video. I like learning about places i've never heard of before. I'm from canada and i find that it's pretty neat. I'm also impressed you guys have 99% literacy as well. That's pretty sick, i gotta visit Tonga sometime. And guys, stop your arguing, why does it matter, why compare countries? you're starting to sound like canada and the usa. It's stupid to argue over dumb reasons.
Royal family gets their rewards in hell, poor commoners who oppose democracy and blindly following the old system need education. Everyone who have breaths are egually precious in front of God who created mankind in His image. It's time to modify the native culture, and introduce fairness to everyone. Godis justice and love.
if we had a democratic country i would have to pay taxes for my land but it was my forefathers and i don't pay my taxes it they the government will take my land like Foreign countries but in Tonga i'm free to keep my land and well it's not easy being poor but you've two hands and two feet that was provided by the good Lord to work so it only depends on you.Faliure is a very easy road to take but Success is very hard and long and winding road but in the end there is comfort and peace
KOE OTUA MO TONGA KO HOKU TOFIA -"GOD AND TONGA ARE MY INHERITANCE" -LOVE MY COUNTRY&PEOPLE&CULTURE and would not trade it for anything. We need Tonga loving partipant not Tongans who sit in the side-lines as observers ...and do nothing else but CRITICISE...THE ROOT IN WHICH WE ALL COME FROM...i think if something is wrong with something we love...LIKE OUR COUNTRY...we should actually do something about it...if we really love it...but not trash talk it...TONGA NEEDS ALL THE SUPPORT... OFA ATU
who ever you are, you have such a wise and sound mind. What you write really does resonate well in my heart, as a lover of my country and off my people. I mean, all cultures have their ups and downs and Tonga does have them too...because thats normal...but to have a reform of democracy will undoubtly change the whole culture and beauty and freedom of our country...
The tongan people are a very proud people, proud in taking pride and honour to who they are... truly an amazing people full of faith, love in their heart, mind, and soul. This is what keeps them goin on in their lives, the monarch are just using it to their advantage and they know it too...
Its a shame that not many people in the Island Kingdom are aware that the crafting of Democracy in Tonga is credited to the current monarch. A multi faceted strategy was, and is, still in effect throughout all the tiers of Tongan life. However, Democracy like Religion in my opinion has served to be an opiate of the masses, and a morsel readily used for a directives of another. The real authority lies with the tactician who is engineering the situation and very interesting to see it develop.
Be careful the CIA is bringing Democracy to Ukraine. The elite of the world George Soros, Billy Gates, Obama and the Clintons love bringing "Democracy" to countries that soon fall afterward. How many children did Bill and Hillary Clinton sell off From Haiti
i can see both sides of the argument. however, these modern kings need to follow Tupou I's example. if they want to keep their kingdom's loyalty, they need to rule righteously not like dictators.
Tbh all this social media is making my island look bad. All this big Country needs to worry about there own land and leave us alone. We don’t need to take order from people who’s trying to change our lifestyle...MMT for life 🇹🇴#illdiefortonga
Dont need to take orders from anyone? Tell that to the chinese who have tonga in its back pocket. Not wanting to listen to anybody or atleast opening yourself to consultation leads to irresponsibility hence tonga finding itself in debt entrapment. Wake up.
So easy to sit in your cozy living room while your spouse is cooking some pork ribs in the barbaque outside. Meantime you are talking to someone that wouldn't know where his next meal will come from.
I love how no one has stayed on topic here. It is a sad state that Tonga is in. Perhaps a change of leadership is the answer;only time has that answer. What Tonga needs now is patience, which has always helped it in the past. Democracy will only help us lose our culture by us giving it away to try and be like everyone else that's "better" than us.
Hey Bananianiown, just to correct you on the dynasty names...its Ha'atakalaua, not Ha'atakapaula...just in case you bring it up amongst other Tongans =)
thats where my mom is from. Tonga!!! i ahven't been there since i whuz lyk 2 or 3. my relatives cooked pig at my house and my mom had a farm there. with pigs and chickens and stuff
@TheFlanker35: the status of minerva is under discussion since 2011 at the UN. there are no settlers on minerva, just the structures tonga built after the fijian navy retreat from what i know.
Mb u r ryt in some ways but in dis cs the current king used to scavanged n did lotta dmges to his ppl bfor sitt'n on his throne n he'e really 'n actor...dn't u thnk?
Democracy like you said is good to some degree. It certainly is. An example has been set, and the mornach are humans bound to make mistakes and mess-up someway in the line of leading and like you if there's dysfunction where there obviously is, don't we suggest the best ways for improvement not just any resolution? I know Democracy is a way out, but is it the best option? I know its an option, but it does have its disadvantages so is a mornachy, so you are right about finding resolution.
I wonder if a slight change to the management of the government policies will really put a whole in the pockets of the leaders? Change is envitable but at what costs???
"isladnDude1"....im from Western Samoa in the Village called Alafua.......so maybe you dont no anything about it...but i have love to the American Samoans....cause i have family in there.....
hey siana youre right about our heritage and to remember our forefathers but bro if you skip back 2 generations to our current king... You can clearly see the King who united tonga he had a Vision to unite us as one, one heart, one people under the one true god.. a real king would be more honoured and REMEMBERED for what they have DONE to its people... Action Speaks LOUDER than words as we all know
60 minutes *sees Tongan monarchy “down with the thrown!” *Sees British royal family “Her majesty the Queen has past away may she rest in peace “ The double standard is hilarious 😅
Hey Meanicemachine77, Yes true, i personally do not want Tonga to be a democratic country. I mean, like you said, I know it would totally be changed-the whole defining factors about our country if Tonga conforms to what other countries are in. I think what makes our country beautiful and unique is the fact that we stand as a mornachy-i think we are not meant to fit in to the status quo of how a country should be runned..but secure that TONGA is meant to be different-TO STAND OUT! MALO
I can understand what the King is doing when it comes to uphelding culture triditions. I really can. But cutting off civil liberties from the people is kinda going over the edge.
Why should the tongan people settle?My tongan people are some of the most talented folks In the world. Tongans like the king and ulukalala just wants to keep the people contempt in theyre way of life,comfortable!Talents were given by GOD and the devil just keeps taking It away........GOD GAVE YOU A BIG BRAIN SO,WHY CANT WE THINK BIG!
Ummm. Theres a difference between absolute monarchy and constitutional monarchy! Absolute rules by personal decree and constitutional rules by a set of laws by parliment!
Why has not the Knew King Son get married!!! He needs get married & to have some kids before the royal blood will die out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tonga please make are country pure please keep tradition alive thats who we are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
as a native tongan myself, i think this video is very interesting. tonga iz a very old-fashioned country & is used to the way it runs its system. we all have many different opinions but think of how poor tonga is. i desperately feel bad for those commoners who must suffer because of tonga's feudalism. may tongaz society prosper in the years to come & hopefully every tonga, commoner,noble, royal may understand how beautiful tonga really is. itz culture, people, & traditions.
Foreignanalysts estimate that nearly one-quarter of Tonga's 119,000 people live below the poverty line The November 2006 riots broke out five weeks after the succession of the bachelor king, who had been widely seen as a playboy crown prince.Although the royal family, chiefs and representatives of the common people have been negotiating a changetoamoredemocratic political system, pro-democracy campaigners say progress is slow and they are running out of patience
hey matekitonga about the reform of democracy i'm living free here in Tonga because i am currently in my country if we have more freedom we will begin to fade from the old ways lack of fakaapaapa(brother and sister, Mother and father) you may not see it now but in a time it will show sooner or later our country will collaspe i mean look at America yeah they got democracy but look at the CRIME RATE UP THERE how many die every day?
@HUSAID thats the thing tho....tonga is not england...if anything tonga should be striving to be like noone but tonga....and england has had hundreds of years of reaping in benifits from off shore colonies to support their royal families extravagnt lifestyles..tonga does not...all european countries have a dramatic imbalance in wealth and power so why follow that path....the feudal system is english and democracy is greek...tonga needs something that works for tonga.
d3wCeeJa3 .you are right. it is called Kaingatonga. it is in the hearts and minds of all Tongans .It is not a concept but a divine reality endowed on us since the beginning of time.
..and look wat happened..high literacy rates and most phds per capita then any other country..most certainly put us on the map..most of those educated people return to tonga and start up business and renovate their dwellings..therefore, tonga is fine as it is..peace..
I agree with you on that. I descend from the Tu'i Tonga, the first rulling dynasty, and some of my family is from the Ha'atakapaula, so I can care little about the Kanokupolu dynasty. But use better words next time- I'm also gay.
I have been following this individual who is trying to push some issues to some people or trying to correct them,at the same time he has'nt got a clue what he is talking about.
On that day He will seperate the sheep from the goats, the tares from the wheat then He will send his servants to collect ALL the tares and burn them....according to His words.
if Tonga had a good living it would be over populated. too small and natural resources. Yeah Tonga is curupt but I would not want the people to change.
man is that all you got then dont put down our people if you yourself have never experienced being there so you should not disgrace us you are very very sad....
I'm sorry, but I feel that all the goodness of the Tupou dynasty died along with Queen Salote. Her son wasn't horrible, just not any good either. And I don't even want to know what the new king is going to be like.
Why is it that you people still have to bring someone from the ouside to be a Transportation Minister?You have ALL the inventory of people that have the knowledge and experience to do the job and better.Having the outside people doing the job and ended up running off with your money.How many of them that has done that?
There ia war in Sri Lanka.There has been some coups in Fiji and I don't remember if it was twice or three times.Hawaii had their share.Tonga? Wep!!!! Few generations frrom today, there will be a government or used to be an independent set of islands running and leading by Chinese leaders. Remember those chinese that are there were not homeless people. They were business owners and well educated people and they know what they are up to. The king gave them an inch and they are already took miles
Actually, the King gave them n inch and the people gave them the mile lolcoz of greed. A lot of chinese here came on a visitors visa and they do what we do in NZ and Aussie. they get married to the citizens and dats common all around da world. Tonga is still Tonga coz of da Mornachy system. We move to Demo-crappy and there will soon be a Chinese n Palangi seat in da parliament coz Demo is all about Equality and Human rights n we'l be whinning like da Fijian, maori, American Indians etc.
yo Fiesiko13 democracy is about freedom to all right, but democracy must have a strong base economy foundation to support it's needs, we don't have that and second the more freedom brings prostitution, crime rising, and people ...i mean Tongan people wouldn't show our traditional respect cuz instead of giving ngatu they think about giving money 'uhinga ke oua 'e toe fakahela but money isn't everything
And you never answered my question regarding the reason for your homophobia. It's certainly NOT religion, since judging by your dialogue, you could care less about being pure and holy. I'm pretty sure Jesus would never say the 'f' word.
Are you really a Tongan with a mouf like that?Theres nothing wrong with the Tongan people.We are all talking about the Tongan people(well educate common people) that know that schooled and know how to run the government for themselves with out a king or nobles(Which we call them....FAT CATS)When the king is wicked .. the people therefore are suffered.King should be serving his people and taking care their needs before his.
