After years of public frustration, legal setbacks, and scathing court criticism over the Ministry’s mishandling of land matters, the government has finally moved to overhaul how disputes are dealt with.
To break the cycle of costly, time‑draining court battles, a new dispute‑resolution process has been created to offer landowners a quicker and more accessible path to justice.
The Minister for Lands, Dr Taniela Fusimalohi, announced today that Cabinet has formally approved the creation of the new land‑grievance review body within the ministry
The committee will include the Government’s Legal Advisor, the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Lands, and will be chaired by the Minister, with the Head of the Ministry’s Legal Division serving as secretary.
Land‑related disputes or serious complaints involving two parties, particularly over land boundaries or contentious ownership claims, will be referred to the committee for review.
The Minister said the committee is expected to mediate disagreements, resolve conflicts, or provide well‑considered recommendations to the Minister, helping reduce the number of cases that escalate to the courts.
The initiative will streamline and strengthen land administration, ensuring clearer, more efficient, and better‑informed ministerial decisions on land matters.
The news comes as a relief to many Tongans, especially the more than 200,000 living abroad who often must return home to resolve land matters that affect their families and estates in the kingdom.
A recurring pattern has also emerged on Kaniva News’ Facebook platforms, where readers regularly express frustration whenever land‑related stories are published, with many commenters criticising the Ministry for its handling of land applications, decisions, and its ongoing failure to improve these processes.
