State luncheon for Tongan royalty

Press, 12 October 1979, Page 3

State luncheon for Tongan royalty

PA Wellington The King and Queen of Tonga were guests of honour at a State luncheon at Parliament Buildings yesterday, attended by Go'.ernment Ministers, members of Parliament, top departmental officials, and invited members of the public. King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV and Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho began their 12-day | State visit to New Zealand lon Wednesday. The King | spent yesterday morning meeting Government Ministers and the Leader of ths Opposition (Mr Rowling). He told guests at yesterI day’s luncheon that he beI lieved New Zealand was his [•‘second home.” He was edu;cated in New Zealand, and ’the Tongan Royal family had a residence in Epsom. Auckland, which was visited regularly. “I am not a stranger to New Zealand. I have come here periodically since I was four years old,” the King said. On this, his second State visit, the King will also spend several days in the Chatham Islands meeting I residents and inspecting communitv projects. His talks yesterday with the Acting Prime Minister (Mr Talbovs), had bee’n “very cordial.” the King said. As “Super Prime Minister” he was participating

in the talks on behalf of the Tongan Prime Minister. Mr Taiboys said that he hoped co-operation between New Zealand and Tonga would help Island efforts to achieve agricultural efficiency and self-sufficiency. The second round of hi- ] lateral trade talks would start in New Zealand next [month, and Mr Taiboys predicted a gradual increase in private New Zealand investment in Tonga, particularly in tourism and agricultural processing. Mr Taiboys said that the [contribution Tongans made Ito New Zealand’s sport, culture. and economy was recjognised.