Hon Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga
Minister for Pacific Peoples

Minister to attend Tongan coronation

Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga will travel to Tonga today to attend the coronation of King Tupou VI.

Mr Lotu-Iiga will attend the coronation in Nuku’alofa tomorrow as part of a New Zealand delegation that includes Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae, Labour leader Andrew Little, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and Māori Party co-leader Marama Fox.

King Tupou VI succeeded his older brother King Tupou V following the latter’s death in 2012.

“This coronation is a proud moment for Tongans here in New Zealand, in Tonga and around the world,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

“I am pleased to be representing the New Zealand government on this special day.”

New Zealand and Tonga share a close relationship and they are key regional partners.

There are more than 60,000 people of Tongan ethnicity in New Zealand and New Zealand provides close to $30 million in aid each year to the Pacific nation.

ENDS

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