{"id":9043,"date":"2021-12-30T04:00:23","date_gmt":"2021-12-30T12:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/?p=9043"},"modified":"2021-12-30T16:50:06","modified_gmt":"2021-12-31T00:50:06","slug":"tonga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/tonga\/","title":{"rendered":"Tonga"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction:<\/h2>\n

Tonga, officially named the\u00a0Kingdom of Tonga, is a\u00a0Polynesian<\/a>\u00a0country, and also an\u00a0archipelago<\/a>\u00a0comprising\u00a0169 islands<\/a>, of which 36 are inhabited.<\/sup> The archipelago’s total surface area is about 750 square kilometers (290 sq mi) scattered over 700,000 square kilometers (270,000 sq mi) of the southern\u00a0Pacific Ocean<\/a>. As of 2016, Tonga had a population of 100,651,\u00a070% of whom resided on the main island,\u00a0Tongatapu<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Tonga on the Globe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tonga stretches across approximately 800 kilometers (500 mi) in a north\u2013south line. It is surrounded by\u00a0Fiji<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Wallis and Futuna<\/a>\u00a0(France) to the northwest;\u00a0Samoa<\/a>\u00a0to the northeast;\u00a0New Caledonia<\/a>\u00a0(France) and\u00a0Vanuatu<\/a>\u00a0to the west;\u00a0Niue<\/a>\u00a0(the nearest foreign territory) to the east; and\u00a0Kermadec<\/a> (New Zealand) to the southwest. Tonga is about 1,800 kilometers (1,100\u00a0mi) from New Zealand’s\u00a0North Island<\/a>.<\/p>\n

From 1900 to 1970, Tonga had British protected-state status<\/a>. The United Kingdom looked after Tonga’s foreign affairs under a\u00a0Treaty of Friendship<\/a>, but Tonga never relinquished its\u00a0sovereignty<\/a>\u00a0to any foreign power. In 2010, Tonga took a decisive step away from its traditional\u00a0absolute monarchy<\/a>\u00a0and towards becoming a fully functioning\u00a0constitutional monarchy<\/a>, after\u00a0legislative<\/a>\u00a0reforms paved the way for its first partial\u00a0representative elections<\/a>.<\/p>\n

History:<\/h2>\n

An\u00a0Austronesian<\/a>-speaking group linked to what archaeologists call the\u00a0Lapita<\/a>\u00a0cultural complex reached and inhabited Tonga sometime between 1500 and 1000\u00a0BC.<\/sup>\u00a0Scholars still debate exactly when Tonga was first settled, but\u00a0thorium<\/a>\u00a0dating confirms that settlers had arrived in the earliest known inhabited town, Nukuleka, by 888 BC, \u00b1 8 years.<\/sup>\u00a0Tonga’s pre-contact history was shared via\u00a0oral history<\/a>, which was passed down from generation to generation.<\/p>\n

By the 12th century, Tongans and the Tongan monarch, the\u00a0Tu\u02bbi Tonga<\/a>, had acquired a reputation across the central Pacific\u2014from\u00a0Niue<\/a>,\u00a0Samoa<\/a>,\u00a0Rotuma<\/a>,\u00a0Wallis & Futuna<\/a>,\u00a0New Caledonia<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0Tikopia<\/a>\u2014leading some historians to speak of there having been a\u00a0Tu\u02bbi Tonga Empire<\/a>\u00a0during that period. There are also known to have been civil wars in Tonga in the 15th and 17th centuries.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
William Mariner was a teenage English sailor adopted into a royal Tongan family.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Tongan people first encountered Europeans in 1616, when the Dutch vessel\u00a0Eendracht<\/i><\/a>, captained by\u00a0Willem Schouten<\/a>, made a short visit to the islands for the purpose of engaging in trade. Later, other Dutch explorers arrived, including\u00a0Jacob Le Maire<\/a>\u00a0(who visited the northern island of\u00a0Niuatoputapu<\/a>); and\u00a0Abel Tasman<\/a>\u00a0(who visited\u00a0Tongatapu<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Ha\u02bbapai<\/a>) in 1643. Later noteworthy European visitors included\u00a0James Cook<\/a>, of the British Royal Navy, in 1773, 1774, and 1777; Spanish Navy explorers\u00a0Francisco Mourelle de la R\u00faa<\/a>\u00a0in 1781;\u00a0Alessandro Malaspina<\/a>\u00a0in 1793; the first London\u00a0missionaries<\/a>\u00a0in 1797; and the\u00a0Wesleyan Methodist<\/a>\u00a0minister, Reverend Walter Lawry, in 1822.<\/p>\n

Whaling<\/a>\u00a0vessels were among the earliest regular Western visitors. The first of these on record is the\u00a0Ann & Hope<\/i>, which was reported to have been seen among the islands of Tonga in June 1799.<\/sup>\u00a0The last known whaling visitor was the\u00a0Albatross<\/i>\u00a0in 1899. That ship arrived in Tonga seeking a re-supply of water, food and wood. The islands most regularly visited by Westerners were Ata, ‘Eua, Ha’apai, Tongatapu and Vava’u. Sometimes Tongan men were recruited to serve as crewmen on these vessels.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0United States Exploring Expedition<\/a> visited Tonga in 1840.<\/p>\n

In 1845, an ambitious young Tongan warrior, strategist, and orator named\u00a0T\u0101ufa\u02bb\u0101hau<\/a>\u00a0united Tonga into a kingdom. He held the chiefly title of\u00a0Tu\u02bbi Kanokupolu<\/a>, but had been baptized by Methodist<\/a>\u00a0missionaries with the name\u00a0Siaosi<\/i>\u00a0(“George”) in 1831. In 1875, with the help of missionary\u00a0Shirley Waldemar Baker<\/a>, he declared Tonga a constitutional monarchy; formally adopted the Western royal style; emancipated the “serfs”; enshrined a code of law, land tenure, and freedom of the press; and limited the power of the chiefs.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Siaosi Tupou I<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tonga became a\u00a0protected state<\/a>\u00a0under a\u00a0Treaty of Friendship<\/a>\u00a0with Britain on 18 May 1900, when European settlers and rival Tongan chiefs unsuccessfully tried to oust the man who had succeeded T\u0101ufa\u02bb\u0101hau as king. The treaty posted no higher permanent representative on Tonga than a British\u00a0Consul<\/a> (1901\u20131970). Under the protection of Britain, Tonga maintained its sovereignty, and remained the only Pacific nation to retain its monarchical government. The Tongan monarchy follows an uninterrupted succession of hereditary rulers from one family.<\/p>\n

The\u00a01918 flu pandemic<\/a>, brought to Tonga by a ship from New Zealand, killed 1,800 Tongans: a mortality rate of about eight percent.[20]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

The Treaty of Friendship and Tonga’s protection status ended in 1970 under arrangements that had been established by Tonga’s Queen\u00a0Salote Tupou III<\/a>\u00a0before her death in 1965. Owing to its British ties, Tonga joined the\u00a0Commonwealth<\/a>\u00a0in 1970 (atypically as a country that had its own monarch, rather than being ruled by the United Kingdom’s monarch), along with\u00a0Malaysia<\/a>,\u00a0Lesotho<\/a>, and\u00a0Eswatini<\/a>\u00a0(Swaziland). Tonga became a member of the United Nations in September 1999. While exposed to colonial pressures, Tonga has always governed itself, which makes it unique in the Pacific.<\/p>\n

Geography:<\/h2>\n

Located in\u00a0Oceania<\/a>, Tonga is an archipelago in the South\u00a0Pacific Ocean<\/a>, directly south of\u00a0Samoa<\/a>\u00a0and about two-thirds of the way from\u00a0Hawaii<\/a>\u00a0to New Zealand. Its 169 islands, 36 of them inhabited,[1]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0are divided into three main groups \u2013\u00a0Vava’u<\/a>,\u00a0Ha’apai<\/a>, and\u00a0Tongatapu<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 and cover an 800-kilometre (500-mile)-long north\u2013south line.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Map of Tonga<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The largest island, Tongatapu, on which the capital city of\u00a0Nuku\u02bbalofa<\/a>\u00a0is located, covers 257 square kilometres (99\u00a0sq\u00a0mi). Geologically the Tongan islands are of two types: most have a limestone base formed from uplifted coral formations; others consist of limestone overlaying a\u00a0volcanic<\/a> base.<\/p>\n

Economy:<\/h2>\n

Tonga’s economy is characterized by a large non-monetary sector and a heavy dependence on remittances<\/a> from the half of the country’s population who live abroad (chiefly in Australia, New Zealand and the United States). The royal family and the nobles dominate and largely own the monetary sector of the economy \u2013 particularly the telecommunications and satellite services. Tonga was named the sixth most corrupt country in the world by Forbes magazine in 2008.<\/p>\n

The manufacturing sector consists of\u00a0handicrafts<\/a>\u00a0and a few other very small scale industries, which contribute only about 3% of GDP. Commercial business activities also are inconspicuous and, to a large extent, are dominated by the same large trading companies found throughout the South Pacific. In September 1974, the country’s first commercial trading bank, the Bank of Tonga, opened.<\/p>\n

Tonga’s development plans emphasize a growing private sector, upgrading agricultural productivity, revitalizing the squash and vanilla bean industries, developing tourism, and improving communications and transport. Substantial progress has been made, but much work remains to be done. A small but growing construction sector is developing in response to the inflow of aid money and remittances from Tongans abroad. In recognition of such a crucial contribution the present government has created a new department within the Prime Minister’s Office with the sole purpose of catering for the needs of Tongans living abroad. Furthermore, in 2007 the Tongan Parliament amended citizenship laws to allow Tongans to hold dual citizenship.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Tonga Exports Treemap<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/span>The tourist industry is relatively undeveloped; however, the government recognizes that tourism can play a major role in economic development, and efforts are being made to increase this source of revenue. Cruise ships often stop in Vava\u02bbu<\/a>, which has a reputation for its\u00a0whale watching<\/a>, game fishing, surfing, beaches and is increasingly becoming a major player in the South Pacific tourism market.<\/p>\n

Tonga’s postage stamps<\/a>, which feature colorful and often unusual designs (including heart-shaped and banana-shaped stamps), are popular with philatelists<\/a> around the world.<\/p>\n

In 2005, the country became eligible to become a member of the\u00a0World Trade Organization<\/a>. After an initial voluntary delay, Tonga became a full member of the WTO on 27 July 2007.<\/p>\n

Transportation:<\/h2>\n

Transport in Tonga\u00a0includes road, air and water-based infrastructure. There are 680\u00a0km of\u00a0highways<\/a>\u00a0in Tonga, of which 184\u00a0km are paved, and there are a number of air and seaports.<\/p>\n

There are three\u00a0harbours<\/a>\u00a0in Tonga:\u00a0Neiafu<\/a>,\u00a0Nuku\u02bbalofa<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Pangai<\/a>, and in terms of\u00a0merchant marine<\/a>, the country possesses seven ships that exceed 1,000GT<\/a>, whose masses combined total 17,760GT. By type, there is one bulk ship, two cargo ships, two liquefied gas ships, one petroleum tanker and\u00a0roll-on\/roll-off<\/a>\u00a0ship.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Fua\u02bbamotu International Airport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By 1999 estimates, there are six airports in Tonga. Of these, only\u00a0Fua\u02bbamotu International Airport<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Tongatapu<\/a>\u00a0has paved runways. Of the remaining airports, one has runways exceeding length 1,524 m, two have runways longer than 914 m, with the remaining two having runways shorter than 914 m.<\/p>\n

Flag of Tonga:<\/h2>\n

The\u00a0flag of Tonga\u00a0consists of a red field with a white\u00a0canton<\/a>\u00a0charged with a red couped cross. Adopted in 1875 after being officially enshrined into the\u00a0nation’s constitution<\/a>, it has been the flag of the Kingdom of\u00a0Tonga<\/a>\u00a0since that year. The constitution stipulates that the national flag can never be changed.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The British first arrived in Tonga in the late-18th century, when Captain\u00a0James Cook<\/a>\u00a0made three visits to the islands between 1773 and 1777.<\/sup>\u00a0Approximately fifty years later, English\u00a0Wesleyan Methodist<\/a>\u00a0missionaries came to Tonga and began converting the islanders to Christianity.<\/sup>\u00a0In 1831, they succeeded in converting “paramount chief” Taufa’ahau Tupou,<\/sup>\u00a0who became King\u00a0George Tupou I<\/a>\u00a0in 1845.<\/sup> It was during this time (circa 1840s) that the first Tongan flag was adopted. It consisted of a white field with a cross (either red or blue in colour) at all four corners, and the letters “A” (in red) and “M” (in blue) at the center that symbolize the king.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Flag of Tonga<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Upon his accession to the throne, the king sought to design a new flag for the nation,<\/sup>\u00a0one that would represent Christianity.<\/sup>\u00a0He befriended\u00a0Shirley Waldemar Baker<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 a member of the United Kingdom’s Tongan mission who later became the\u00a0Prime Minister of Tonga<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 and they worked together to formulate a new flag,\u00a0coat of arms<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0national anthem<\/a>\u00a0for Tonga.<\/sup>\u00a0The new design resembled the British\u00a0Red Ensign<\/a>, in that three-quarters of it consisted of a simple red field, with a “distinctive canton” featured in the upper hoist section; this was first used in 1866.<\/sup>\u00a0A\u00a0new constitution<\/a>\u00a0for the kingdom was formulated and proclaimed on 4 November 1875.<\/sup>\u00a0It codified the new flag design,<\/sup>\u00a0and marks when it was adopted as the national flag.<\/sup> Under Article 47 of the Constitution, the flag can “never be altered” and “shall always be the flag” of Tonga.<\/p>\n

The colors and symbols of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The red couped cross alludes to Christianity,<\/sup>\u00a0the\u00a0religion practiced<\/a>\u00a0by approximately 97% of the country’s population.<\/sup>\u00a0It is one of 28 national flags to contain overtly Christian symbols.<\/sup> The white epitomizes purity,\u00a0while the red evokes the sacrifice of the\u00a0Blood of Christ<\/a>, which he shed during\u00a0his Crucifixion<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The flag of Tonga consists of a red field with a white canton charged with a red couped cross. Adopted in 1875 after being officially enshrined into the nation’s constitution, it has been the flag of the Kingdom of Tonga since that year. The constitution stipulates that the national flag can never be changed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9562,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[59,5,6,7,29,30,44,60],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9043"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9043"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9043\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9563,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9043\/revisions\/9563"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9043"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9043"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9043"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}