21 Nov 2019

Political turbulence in Tonga leads to death threats in NZ

From , 5:04 am on 21 November 2019

New Zealand police have been asked to investigate social media threats to kill the Tonga Prime Minister, Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa.

The chair of the Tonga Advisory Council says the threats have caused a lot of anxiety within the Tongan community in New Zealand.

The social media attacks are understood to be from people associated with the PTOA party of the former prime minister, 'Akilisi Pohiva.

That party was shunted into the opposition when Mr Tu'i'oneta won the prime ministership last month.

Our correspondent, Kalafi Moala, told Don Wiseman that the government's call for journalists at the state broadcaster, TBC, to be suspended, prompted the outrage.

Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa

Photo: Tonga government