Tonga looks for more N.Z. help

Press, 17 April 1982, Page 1

Tonga looks for more N.Z. help

PA Auckland The New Zealand Government will be asked to accept more Tongans on temporary work permits as a means of helping Tonga with hurricane repairs. In Auckland yesterday, the King of Tonga, King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, said the Tongan Minister of Labour would come to New Zealand in about a week’s time to put the request to the Government.

The king said he' had decided to take up the issue after accepting a petition from about 6500 subjects who were still suffering the effects of hurricane damage. The petition was presented by the Catholic Bishop, Bishop Pateliso Finau. after the Bishop led a delegation of “tent people” to the palace at Nukualofa.

The king said yesterday that plans were in hand to place the few hundred people still living in tents in new sites, and homes would be built as soon as possible.

Tongan shearers might be trained in New Zealand for employment in Australia under a scheme being investigated by the Tongan Government. he said.

There was a shortage of skilled shearers in Western Australia and the New Zea-land-trained shearers could get regular seasonal work there, he said. Tonga was still short of food as a result of hurricane damage to the crops, he said, and it would be some time before new crops would be available. The destruction of crops had also meant a loss of export earnings for Tonga as export of its produce was a mainstay of the island’s economy. Good use. was being made of the fallen coconut trees. The recent New Zealand

development of new.coconut sawmilling and timber-treat-ment techniques meant that much timber which would have been wasted was now being milled for use.

Tonga has several big development projects under way which could place its economy on a sounder footing and make it less'vulnerable to the economic effects of hurricanes.

A 200-mile fishing zone will soon be created, according to the king, and during a visit to Japan next week he will have talks, with Japanese officials about joint fishing ventures.

Extension work at Nukualofa Airport will provide access for jets as big as DCBs. and Boeing 707 s by June. The king said it should provide a major boost to tourism. Tonga would like a more convenient link between Nuku’alofa and Nandi, Fiji, to make it easier tor Japanese tourists to visit the kingdom. The king was a guest of Auckland Tongans last evening and was entertained by one of the two Auckland Tongan bands. It was the first occasion he had heard the music made by new instruments which he bought for the band and imported from The Minister of Immigration (Mr Malcolm) said he was personally sympathetic to the plight of the Tongans but he was not prepared to respond until he had received an official approach from the Tongan Government. “1 am motivated to do what I can to help; they have a very real problem," he said. Mr Malcolm said the Tongan request would have to be gauged in the light of the present New Zealand economic circumstances. The Government’s first responsibility was to provide jobs for New Zealanders. Last year. 95 Tongans found temporary employment on the work permit scheme and 64 permits have been issued so far this year.