Tonga’s consulates in Auckland and Canberra are set for a major expansion, with plans to increase office space, staffing, and services to better reflect the significant financial and developmental support provided by New Zealand and Australia.
Deputy Prime Minister Taniela Fusimālohi recently announced the upgrades, emphasising the need to strengthen diplomatic operations in these key locations.
Fusimālohi revealed that the improvements are part of a broader strategy to modernise Tonga’s overseas missions, with potential upgrades also under consideration for other diplomatic posts, including those in New York and London.
Part of the upgrade includes a new Tongan embassy in Fiji. Tongan Prime Minister ʻAisake Eke expressed concern over why Tonga had not established one there earlier, especially since major offices of foreign donors to Tonga—as well as the University of the South Pacific (USP), where the kingdom is a key sponsor—are based in Fiji.
The move aims to enhance consular services, boost trade and investment opportunities, and improve support for Tongan communities abroad.
Fusimālohi stated that the action was necessary to acknowledge the significant number of Tongans living in Australia and New Zealand.
According to the 2018 New Zealand census, 82,389 people identified as being of Tongan ethnicity, representing 1.7% of the country’s total population. In Australia, the 2021 census recorded 43,469 people with Tongan ancestry. Meanwhile, approximately 78,871 individuals of Tongan descent reside in the United States.
“The governments of New Zealand and Australia have been vital partners in Tonga’s development, and it’s only fitting that our consulates there reflect the growing cooperation,” Fusimalohi stated in Tongan.
In 2022, Tonga announced that all requirements for new passports, renewals, and related services can now be processed through the Consul’s office at ‘Atalanga residence in Auckland’s Mount Eden. This marked the first time Tonga officially permitted these services to be conducted outside the country.
The consulate’s upgrade announcement follows Australia’s reaffirmation of its commitment to Tonga’s development with a major $54 million (NZ$54m) investment to strengthen the kingdom’s health infrastructure and economic resilience.
The announcement, made last month by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, was reinforced during her visit to Tonga last week, where she emphasised Australia’s support for Pacific sovereignty.
As part of the deepening partnership, the two nations have also agreed to jointly fund Tonga’s new $60 million parliament complex, a key infrastructure project set to begin construction soon. The amount means New Zealand will donate $41.5 million while Australia provides $18.5 million.
Over the last 15 years, since 2007, 7,150 Tongans have arrived in New Zealand through the RSE worker programme, according to Devpolicy Blog.
In June 2019, the Blog reported that 3,600 Tongan workers had arrived in Australia via the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) in the first 11 months of that financial year.
The initiative underscores Australia’s long-term commitment to Tonga’s stability and self-determination
