A journalism educator with experience in the Pacific, David Robie, says restrictions on the media in Tonga are a demeaning vote of no confidence in the country's journalists.
Mr Robie, who is an associate professor in the School of Communication Studies at the Auckland University of Technology, says the removal of journalists as hosts of political programmes is a gag on the media.
He says he believes the skills of Tonga's broadcast journalists are on par with the rest of the region, with many attending short courses and a number graduating from regional journalism schools, such as at the University of the South Pacific.
"They'd have the essential skills and certainly there is no reason why there couldn't be top up courses, as we in fact in countries like New Zealand before elections, where there are special courses leading up to the elections. I think it is a real demeaning vote of no confidence in the journalists of the country."
David Robie
