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On Friday, April 11th, New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, officially launched the design for Tonga’s new Legislative Assembly building—Fale Alea.
The Deputy Prime Minister led a cross-party delegation from New Zealand to Tonga as part of a Pacific mission, where they visited the current temporary Parliament chamber for the announcement. The delegation was welcomed by Lord Vaea, the Noble’s Representative for Tongatapu and head of Tonga’s official welcoming party.
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Lord Fakafanua—currently abroad on official duties—welcomed the New Zealand delegation through a video message. He expressed heartfelt appreciation for New Zealand and Australia's support, noting that the new Fale Alea project is a major milestone in regional cooperation.
“We are deeply grateful to the people of New Zealand and Australia for co-funding this significant project,” said Lord Fakafanua.
The new Parliament building replaces the original structure damaged by Cyclone Gita in 2018. It is designed to reflect Tonga’s rich cultural heritage while incorporating modern materials for enhanced climate resilience.
Andrew Tu’inukuafe, Principal Architect and Chairman of Warren and Mahoney, presented the design and led a 3D virtual tour of the new building. The innovative structure will feature:
- A public viewing gallery (a first for Fale Alea)
- Public consultation spaces
- A dedicated education and outreach centre
- A broadcast studio for media
Lord Fakafanua emphasized these features reflect Tonga’s democratic values and commitment to public engagement:
“This design brings us closer to our mission of building a resilient and inclusive Parliament for all.”
Youth voices were also highlighted at the event. Former Youth Parliament members and representatives from the She Leads Fale Alea initiative shared reflections on the design. Elizabeth Kite, founder of Take the Lead and She Leads Fale Alea, delivered a vote of thanks, acknowledging the role of young leaders in shaping a more inclusive future for Tonga's governance