Taka 'i fonua mahu : being Tongan; second generation Tongan migrants

Taka ‘i fonua mahu is a Tongan proverb, which means: "Going about or living in a fruitful land". This thesis analyses the experiences and impacts on migration on being Tongan, particularly Tongan youth in an adopted fruitful land, South East Queensland. The thesis argues that being Tongan in Tonga, has new meaning in the diaspora because of remittances, job prospects, educational opportunity, adapting to a multicultural society, and social justice. These issues are revealed by comparisons made with the experiences of the first generation Tongan migrants, and second generation Tongan migrants, as well as those in New Zealand and America. It argues that the Church, the family and kainga (extended family) impact on the anga fakatonga (Tongan way) and the essence of community as experienced by the first and second generation Tongan migrants. The framework for this analysis is a study of transnationalism, and being Tongan as it is maintained and changed in the diaspora.

Estimation of deepwater snapper yield from Tongan seamounts

The data from two years' monitoring of the Tongan seamount fishery were analyzed the two main export species are Pristipomoides filamentosus and Etelis coruscans. K.R. Allen's model was used to obtain estimates of catchability and recruitment and of a surplus production of 737 kg per nautical mile (nm) of 200 m contour. This compared reasonably well to total landings. Using this estimate, the annual surplus production for Tonga's 294 nm of 200 m contour is 217 t. The level of fishing mortality was found to be 0.3/year.

Source depletion and extent of melting in the Tongan sub-arc mantle

The fluid immobile High Field Strength Elements (HFSE) Nb and Ta can be used to distinguish between the effects of variable extents of melting and prior source depletion of the Tongan sub-arc mantle. Melting of spinel Iherzolite beneath the Lau Basin back-arc spreading centres has the ability to fractionate Nb from Ta due to the greater compatibility of the latter in clinopyroxene. The identified spatial variation in plate velocities and separation of melt extraction zones, combined with extremely depleted lavas make Tonga an ideal setting in which to test models for arc melt generation and the role of back-arc magmatism. We present new data acquired by laser ablation-ICPMS of fused sample glasses produced without the use of a melt fluxing agent. The results show an arc trend towards strongly sub-chondritic Nb/Ta (

Fakalakalaka : The impact of a Tongan notion of development in a contemporary transnational world

This paper aims to explore a Tongan notion of development –'fakalakalaka' – in light of Western notions of development. Two case studies of international development aid schemes illustrate the impact of Tongan development ideas in practice. Drawing on a number of ethnographers' work on Tonga, 'fakalakalaka' appears broader than the Western notion of development. The latter is characterised by influential ideals of controllability and industrialisation. The notion of development among Tongans, on the other hand, tends to be directed by an underlying persistence that, for instance, reflects Tongan core values regarding social organisation. The production of textile 'koloa', controlled by women, emerges as central to the accomplishment of this three-dimensional development notion of intertwined physical, mental and spiritual aspects. The importance attributed to this specific kind of textile has increased in recent years and found two additional roles, or development strategies, in Tongans' contemporary transnational world.

Tongan and European children`s interactions at home in urban New Zealand

Three- and four-year-old children have a range of culturally specific opportunities to develop social skills at home. In culturally diverse environments such as New Zealand, interplay between ethnic group, caregivers' expectations, and children's home interactions is important because different cultural groups share common educational and health systems. In this exploratory study, we compared three and four-year-old children's interactions with adults and older siblings in Tongan (N = 5) and European (N = 5) families who had lived in urban New Zealand for one to five generations. Adults' ideas of appropriate behaviors for their young children provided the basis for interpreting quantitative data obtained from counts of selected verbal and nonverbal behaviors, and measures of children's active involvement in their interactions. Tongan children had similar patterns of interaction with adults and older siblings. European children were more verbal and tended to elicit more ongoing interactions with adults versus siblings. We also compared the interactions of Tongan and European children directly. European children's interactions with adults were more verbal than those of Tongan children. European children were more successful at achieving ongoing interactions with adults. These cultural differences reflected caregivers' ideas of child-appropriate behavior. While all children demonstrated social skills that were important in their respective homes and communities, European children had more opportunities to develop patterns of child–adult interaction that are rewarded in New Zealand schools.

Tongan adolescents' eating patterns : opportunities for intervention

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the sources of food and dietary patterns of Tongan adolescents (n = 2084) and their perceptions of sociocultural influences. The study incorporated anthropometric measurements, a behavioral survey, and qualitative interviews. More adolescent Tongan females (82.5%) than males (74.3%) reported sourcing morning tea and/or lunch (females 81.9%, males 72.6%) from school canteens or nearby food outlets. More females than males reported consuming obesity-promoting foods such as packaged snack foods (females 38.2%, males 21.3%), chocolates (females 24.7%, males 15.0%), and soft drinks (females 55.3%, males 50.4%). Food purchased for consumption at schools was predominantly energy dense and nutrient poor. Ensuring that students have access to foods of high nutritional quality sourced from school or home, and restricting access to local food outlets that supply unhealthy products would improve the nutrition status of adolescents in Tonga. Furthermore, it is important that obesity prevention interventions are informed by culture-specific influences to optimize uptake of healthy diets.

Body image and body change strategies among Tongan adolescents in Tonga and New Zealand

Aim : The aim of this study was to evaluate the body image and body change strategies of adolescents from Tonga, and Tongans who are resident New Zealand.

Method : In total, 598 Tongans from Tonga and 388 Tongans from New Zealand completed measures of body image, body change strategies and messages about their body.

Results : Tongans in Tonga were more likely to receive positive messages about a larger body from adults at school, church and the media, and losing weight from the media. They were also more likely to adopt strategies to lose weight, increase weight and increase muscles.

Conclusion : The large body ideal appears to be still valued in Tonga, whereas Tongans also want to lose weight because of media messages to achieve a healthy body weight.

Body image, weight loss and muscle building among Tongan adolescents in Tonga and New Zealand

This study examined body image and associated behaviours among 48 adolescents (24 males, 24 females) in Tonga, as well as 48 Tongan adolescents (24 males, 24 females) living in New Zealand (NZ). There was a lack of focus on body weight and shape among adolescents in both countries. Males evidenced a high focus on muscles. Females wanted to lose weight and obtain a soft round body. There were very few differences in the body image or body change strategies of Tongan adolescents in Tonga or NZ. Sociocultural messages need to be explored further in order to better understand these findings.