The Government of Tonga and Auckland City Council have signed a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) to upgrade and renew the ‘Atalanga Royal Residence in Auckland, Deputy Prime Minister Taniela Fusimālohi announced.
The property, purchased by Queen Salote in 1952, has long stood as a symbol of Tongan presence in New Zealand and was at the centre of a high-profile legal battle over a decade ago.
The new agreement marks a turning point in the property’s legacy and future use.
Valued at NZ$10 million, the residence will be upgraded to support educational services, trades training, and employment career pathways, Dr Fusimālohi said last week.
He added that the MOC was recently reviewed following a meeting between the two parties in Auckland.
“Boosting development for Tongan residents in New Zealand is at the core of this project,” Fusimālohi said in Tongan.
There are approximately 60,000 Tongans residing in Auckland.
A similar project is expected to be launched at the Tongan embassy in Australia.
Legal Battle Over ‘Atalanga
The news comes more than a decade after a court battle in Auckland, which saw a clash between a group of Tongan activists in New Zealand and the then-King, the late King George Tupou V.
The dispute arose after the King and his business partners attempted to sell the property.
The King was ultimately defeated in the legal battle, and the property—then valued at NZ$8.5 million—remained under the ownership of the Government of Tonga.
At the time, lawyers representing the Tongan residents argued that the King may not have legally owned the residence.
Lawyer Joel Fotu stated that Tongan taxpayers were paying the annual NZ$28,000 bill for the property’s upkeep. He believed the King may have been given incorrect advice regarding the attempted sale.
The 1.58-hectare property at 183 St Andrews Road has not undergone any significant renovations since its purchase, which was revealed during the legal battle to have possibly been funded by the government.
