12:55 PM |
No need for democratic change in Tonga – Manukau-based Pacific advisor
Members of Manukau's Tongan community are joined by Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni (pictured centre/rear) and Manukau's Pacific Islands Advisory Board member, Salote Lilo (pictured far right).
Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Gladys Hartson in Auckland.
A prominent member of the Tongan community in Auckland says she wants Tonga's political system to stay the same, as the country plans for the first ever democratic elections set to take place in November.
Tonga has had a constitutional monarchy since 1875. But there has been a strong pro democracy movement building in Tonga over recent decades.
The riots of 2006 in Nuku'alofa highlighted the call for change, and in 2008 King George Tupou V agreed to cede executive monarchical powers to a more democratic government.
Parliament has since passed a key constitutional amendment that will increase the number of publicly elected seats from nine to 17. Nobles' seats remain at nine.
However, deputy chair of the Pacific Island Advisory Board in Manukau, Salote Lilo, said: "I do not believe Tonga needs to change."
"I don't see myself going back to Tonga for the election," Ms Lilo added. "I am a New Zealander. I live here and benefit from this land of milk and honey. Why would I go vote there?"
Lack of resources
Still, Tongan New Zealanders who wish to vote will have to travel to their homeland to do so.
Their remittances, along with those from other overseas countries, make up over half of Tonga's national income.
Solicitor-General of Tonga Aminiasi Kefu said Tonga does not have the resources to cope with postal voting.
Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni said that while she cannot comment on another country's political stance, she understands the rationale behind asking Tongans who live overseas to come home for the vote.
"Tonga has few resources to pull from, and it's a huge task organising this election."
More women
Sepuloni, who is of Tongan descent, would also like to see more Pacific women in government.
Currently only one member of the Tongan Parliament – Minister of Information and Communication 'Eseta Fusitu'a – is female. There are currently no elected women in Parliament, after Niua's Lepolo Mahe Taunisila was beaten in the 2008 elections.
However, Lilo is concerned these elections will take the "uniqueness" out of Tonga. She added: "Once you lose that, the language and culture starts to disappear".
Lilo said Tonga people living in New Zealand will decide whether to go home and vote.
Her advice is: "Leave Tonga alone!"
Gladys Hartson is a Graduate Diploma in Journalism student at AUT University and is working with Pacific Media Watch.
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