Australia marks 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Tonga. Featured
Australia's High Commissioner, His Excellency Adrian Morrison & Lord Ma'afu Minister of Land & Survey
31st January, 2020. The Australian High Commission marked Australia Day on Thursday 30 January 2020. It was a special occasion as this year is the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Tonga.
The reception was hosted by the High Commissioner, His Excellency Adrian Morrison, at his residence.
In his address, Mr Morrison acknowledged the 50th anniversary and the extensive history that predates the formal relationship that began in 1970.
This includes the arrival of the first Wesleyan missionary to Tonga, Walter Lawry, in 1822 and in 1866 when Reverend James Moulton established Tupou College.
“Our enduring links are not created by dry government policies. They are created by people – people meeting each other, people respecting each other, people helping each other.
“It is Tonga helping Australia in times of adversity such as the unprecedented bushfires we are experiencing in Australia. It is Tongans earning a living in Australia through our temporary migration schemes.
“So these are the things which underpin our relationship and have kept us close for nearly 200 years and these are the things which bring us together this evening to mark Australia Day.
And it is those things which will keep us close into the future.”
The High Commissioner also thanked the Tongan government and people of Tonga for their messages of support and sympathy for those currently affected by the bushfires in Australia.
The Tongan Minister for Defence, Lord Ma’afu attended the reception and gave an address on behalf of the Tongan government.
“Australia is one of Tonga’s key development partners and, more importantly, a close friend.
“Earlier this month, on 15 January, we observed 40 years since the opening of Australia’s High Commission in Nuku’alofa.
In 1980 we welcomed to our shores Australia’s first resident High Commissioner, Her Excellency Ms. Maris King.
“His Majesty’s Government reciprocated this gesture on 13 October 2008 when the Tongan Standard was raised at Commonwealth Park in Canberra.
It marked the appointment of His Royal Highness The Crown Prince (as His Majesty then was) as the Kingdom’s first High Commissioner to Australia.
That strong legacy continues under the present High Commissioner, Her Royal Highness The Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Tuku’aho.”
The formalities were followed by a dinner reception and music by Tonga Police musicians. Invited guests included government officials, civil society group representatives, Australian volunteers in Tonga, and other individuals who work closely together with Australia’s development programs in Tonga.
