Politics of Samoa takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic state whereby the Prime Minister of Samoa is the head of government. Existing alongside the country's Western styled political system is the fa'amatai chiefly system of socio-political governance and organisation, central to understanding Samoa's political system.
The history of Tonga is recorded since the century after 900 BC, when seafarers associated with the Lapita diaspora first settled the islands which now make up the Kingdom of Tonga. Along with Fiji and Samoa, the area served as a gateway into the rest of the Pacific region known as Polynesia. Ancient Tongan mythologies recorded by early European explorers report the islands of 'Ata and Tongatapu as the first islands having been hauled to the surface from the deep ocean by Maui.
The Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga is the mainline Methodist denomination in Tonga. It is the largest Christian denomination in the nation and is often mistaken to be its state church. It has its roots in the arrival of the first missionaries from the London Missionary Society and the ministry of the Wesleyan Methodist Mission Society, the latter of which cemented its Methodist identity.
Tupou College is a Methodist boys' secondary boarding school in Toloa on the island of Tongatapu, Tonga. It is located on the Eastern District of Tongatapu near the village of Malapo. The school is owned by the Free Weslyan Church of Tonga. Established in 1866 by James Egan Moulton, it claims to be the oldest secondary school in the Pacific Islands. Enrolment is some 1,000 pupils. Tupou College was first established at Nuku'alofa at the location on which Queen Salote College stands today. From there it moved to Nafualu, Sia'atoutai on the site where Sia’atoutai Theological College now stands. In 1948, the school last moved to Toloa in the Eastern District of Tongatapu where it still stands today. Tupou College's Brother school is Newington College which is in Sydney, Australia.
The overwhelming majority of people in Tonga consider themselves Christians, which is dominated by Methodists. The constitution of Tonga establishes the freedom of religion, which is respected in practice by both the government and general society, although there are some laws which restrict commerce and broadcast media in accordance with Christian religious norms.
The Sustainable Nation-Building Party is a political party in Tonga. It was launched on August 4, 2007 in Auckland, New Zealand.
Samiuela ʻAkilisi Pōhiva was a Tongan pro-democracy activist and politician. Pohiva, the leader of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (DPFI), served as the Prime Minister of Tonga from 2014 to his death in 2019. He was only the fourth commoner to serve as Prime Minister, and the first commoner to be elected to that position by Parliament rather than appointed by the King.
ʻEtuate Lavulavu is a Tongan politician and former member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga for Vavaʻu. He was stripped of his seat in 2016 after being convicted of bribery, precipitating the 2016 Vavaʻu 16 by-election.
Sione Sangster Saulala is a Tongan broadcaster and politician and former member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. He is a member of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.
Dr Sitiveni Halapua is a Tongan politician and Member of the Tongan Parliament. He was a deputy leader of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.
Sosefo Feʻaomoeata Vakata is a Tongan politician and former member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. He is a former member of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.
Kaveinga Faʻanunu was a Tongan politician
Semisi Palu ‘Ifoni Tapueluelu, more commonly known as Semisi Tapueluelu, is a Tongan politician. He is the father of Mateni Tapueluelu.
Siosifa Tuʻitupou Tuʻutafaiva is a Tongan lawyer and politician.
ʻAisake Valu Eke is a Tongan politician.
Niua 17 is an electoral constituency for the Legislative Assembly in the Kingdom of Tonga. It was established for the November 2010 general election, when the multi-seat regional constituencies for People's Representatives were replaced by single-seat constituencies, electing one representative via the first past the post electoral system. It encompasses the entirety of the Niua island group, for which it is the sole constituency. Thus, although it is technically a new constituency, it corresponds exactly to the former Niuas constituency, which also elected a single representative.
Pilolevu, Princess Royal of Tonga, The Honourable Lady Tuita is a royal princess of the Kingdom of Tonga and a member of the House of Tupou.
Tongatapu 8 is an electoral constituency for the Legislative Assembly in the Kingdom of Tonga. It was established for the November 2010 general election, when the multi-seat regional constituencies for People's Representatives were replaced by single-seat constituencies, electing one representative via the first past the post electoral system. Located on the country's main island, Tongatapu, it encompasses the villages of Malapo, Vaini, Longoteme, Folaha, Nukuhetulu, Kauvai, and Veitongo.
Sione Vuna Fa'otusia is a Tongan politician, Cabinet Minister, and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga.
Poasi Mataele Tei is a Tongan politician and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga.
