Royal visit honours Yandina workers rebuilding Tonga

Seasonal workers like those pictured here with Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tuku’aho at Yandina’s Bunya Fresh tomato farm are the backbone of Tonga’s economy right now.

A Tongan Princess visited seasonal workers in Yandina last week to acknowledge their work raising money to help the country rebuild after a devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami.

Workers in Australia are sending money back to Tonga to aid the rebuilding phase after the event impacted 80 percent of the nation’s 170-island group.

Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tuku’aho visited Bunya Fresh tomato farm in Yandina as part part of her goal to visit as many Tongan seasonal workers in  Australia as possible. 

“After the volcanic eruption most of Tonga’s economic sectors collapsed, such as tourism and fishing,” said Public Officer of the Brisbane Tongan Community Suli Layt. “The key sector maintaining Tonga’s economy right now is remittances sent from overseas. And the seasonal workers represent a major part of that remittances back to Tonga. So, effectively, the seasonal workers are, you could say, the backbone of Tonga’s economy right now.

“And that’s seasonal workers in Australia and New Zealand. So it means a lot to the workers, but it also means a lot to Her Royal Highness, the Royal family, and the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga to make a site visit, to engage with the workers and to demonstrate the appreciation of the government for the great work that they’re doing in stimulating Tonga’s economy during such a difficult season in Tonga’s history.”

Her Royal Highness met with about 20 of her fellow citizens at Bunya Fresh. Last Friday she headed to the capital for a dinner at Brisbane City Hall organised by Tonga Relief Charity President and recently-appointed Nambour Uniting Church Reverend Maile Molitika.

“Even though Reverend Maile has relocated to Nambour, he still maintains his role as president of the Brisbane Tongan Community and the greater diaspora of the Tongan community in Southeast Queensland,” said Mr Layt. 

On Saturday, at the Pullman Hotel, the Princess launched her book about the role of men and women in Tongan culture.  

Princess Lātūfuipeka is a member of the House of Tupou and sole daughter of Tupou VI, King of Tonga.