Tonga Road Network Additional Information
Ministry of Infrastructure
Title: CEO of the Ministry of Infrastructure
Name: Mr. Ringo Fa'oliu
Address: Ministry of Infrastructure, 3rd Floor Sanft Building, Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu, Tonga
Tel: 676-28-415
Website:
Ministries of Transport and Works, set up in 2009, have merged in July 2012 into a new Ministry
of Infrastructure. The responsibilities are not yet clear, but among them are;
Public Infrastructure
Ports / Marine works
Engineering
Etc.
--Ministry of Infrastructure was the former Ministry of Transport, but Government's commitment to
streamlining the public service and undertaking its reform program to achieve a more effective,
efficient and affordable services for the public continues with strong momentum.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE:
Hon. Samiu Kuita Vaipulu - Minister
Mr. Ringo Fa'oliu – CEO of the Ministry of Infrastructure
OFFICE LOCATION:
3rd Floor of Otto Sanft & Sons Building, Corner of Taufa'ahau Road and Wellington Road Nuku'alofa,TONGA
5 Main Divisions:
Corporate Services Division (HEAD: Dr. Sione 'Akauola)
Marine & Ports Division (HEAD: Acting, Mr. Mosese Lavemai)
Civil Aviation Division (HEAD: Acting, Mr. Vili Cocker)
Meteorological Services Division (HEAD: Mr. 'Ofa Fa'anunu)
Land Transportation Division (HEAD Acting, Mr. Ringo Fa'oliu)
Road Construction / Maintenance
There had been no systematic periodic maintenance of the road network for more than a decade
and that no routine maintenance had occurred for the last years. This is leading to significant
degradation of the nation’s road network.
Under the Roads Act 2007, road construction is the responsibility of the Ministry of Lands, Survey
and Natural Resources. However, this function in practice has traditionally been undertaken by
the department of Works (now depending from the newly established Ministry of Infrastructure).
Budget allocations to that agency were heavily cut in 2009/2010, especially in the roads program,
which was reduced by 88%. This apparently stemmed from public dissatisfaction with the state of
roads, concern that traditional arrangements were not delivering value for money and
contributions by various development partners towards road improvement programs, especially
on Tongatapu. It was also consistent with government policies to reduce government involvement
in infrastructure delivery and to enhance the role of the private sector.
As almost all road construction and maintenance were carried out by the department of Works, it
is not surprising that most of the necessary machinery and plant for this type of work were held in
the Ministry’s equipment pool. Whilst the Ministry could hire that equipment out to private sector
contractors, income from hiring activities was not directed back to the Ministry for maintenance.
Most of its fleet is therefore either non-functional or in such a poor state of repair that it will be of
little assistance in future road maintenance programs.
The private sector has been building equipment fleets in anticipation of road maintenance
contracts or to service contracts that they have successfully obtained.
Bridges
There is only one existing bridge in Tonga (O’Lau ) and another one is under construction in
Vava’u. There is also a project planted by the Chinese cooperation to make a bridge over the
inner-basin in Nau’akalofa (see figure). Through this bridge, people will have a faster access to
safe higher lands in the Southern of the island during emergencies.
Transport Corridors
Tongan Islands are scattered over a large area. Land transport corridors are thus of a lower
importance compared to interislands transport. For information on interislands movement, please
refer to the chapter on waterways.
International Corridors Leading to the Country
'
Main entry points:
Air – Fua’amotu International Airport (21°14'27.22"S 175° 8'58.22"W)
Sea – Nuku’alofa Port
Both locations offer all logistics services:
Customs facilitation
Open Storage and Warehouses
Operations Rooms
Centralized Information for Transport and Deliveries
Nevertheless, congestion issues exist for both facilities.
Secondary entry points:
If the main entry point are non-operational for whatever reason:
Air
Lupepau’u
(Vava’u)
International
Airport
is
the
only secondary option
(18°35'7.83"S
173°57'48.41"W) – This airport is located in Vava’u District but can only operate lighter flights up
to C130
Lifuka Island (Ha’apai) airport is able to operate C130 (restricted load) with a strip of 1200 meters
(19°46'36.35"S 174°20'29.11"W)
Sea
Neiafu (Vava’u) Port of refuge (18°39'8.87"S 173°59'5.37"W) a deep-water harbour on the south
coast of Vava'u, the main island of the Vava'u archipelago in northern Tonga.
Pangai (Ha’apai) port (19°48'12.46"S 174°21'5.48"W) is the only sea port of Ha’apai group of
Islands, with limited capacity (wharf of less than 60 meters)
Notes:
Air:
The only airport sufficiently equipped to operate significant emergency operations is Fua’amotu
International Airport
All other airports will only operate ATR42 or Hercules and have no equipment
Sea:
Nuku’alofa port is equipped for containers operations.
All other ports, even if having concrete wharves, are not equipped to operate containers à
transshipment operations required for all operations.
Main Corridors within the Country (leading to main towns / hubs)
Land
The road corridor linking the Port of Nuku’alofa to Fua’amotu Airport is the economic backbone of
Tongatapu Island.
Air
International:
The airlines flying to Fua’amotu are Pacific Blue Airlines, Air New Zealand, & Air Pacific.
Domestic:
Regular domestic services are operated by Chathams Pacific to Vava’u, Ha’apai & ‘Eua,
less frequent services are operated to Niuatoputapu and Nuiafo’ou
Sea
International Tonga is connected to the main regional and international sea transport hubs. Most of the
biggest international shipping companies operate in Tonga, either directly or through
partnership with local / regional companies. Shipping operations from Australia will take 5
(Brisbane) to 6 (Sydney) days, while from New-Zealand, 4 days will be necessary.
Domestic –
Tonga Shipping Company and FISA operate regular inter-islands sea cargo. Of course,
during emergencies, the vessels used for inter-islands operations will be requisitioned for
emergency relief operations. Tonga Defense Services also operates several vessels.
As Pacific Islands Country, there is no International Road Corridor leading to Tonga.
Nevertheless, significant and regular multimodal corridors lead to / go through Tonga. These
corridors are detailed hereabove, in the chapter "International corridors leading to the country".