26 Feb 2018

Tongan PM will push for reforms post-Gita recovery

From , 4:04 pm on 26 February 2018

Last year's dissolution of parliament and this month's Cyclone Gita have not dampened the Tongan Prime Minister's determination to push through political reforms in the country.

In August 2017 King Tupou VI dissolved parliament amid concerns the government was acting unconstitutionally and trying to gather more power for itself.

The next parliamentary session starts on March 5 and 'Akilsi Pohiva says the most pressing need will obviously be the recovery from Cyclone Gita.

However he told Koro Vaka'uta there are still plans to move forward with political changes.

The old Tongan Parliament, shipped from New Zealand in 1892, resisted many natural disasters but was destroyed by cyclone Gita.

The old Tongan Parliament, shipped from New Zealand in 1892, resisted many natural disasters but was destroyed by cyclone Gita. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller