Australian High Commission
Kingdom of Tonga

TPDP

Australia, New Zealand and Tonga: Tri-party Partnership on Policing

A new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in relation to the Tonga Police Development Program (TPDP) was signed today, for the next three year period.

The TPDP is a trilateral arrangement between the governments of Tonga, New Zealand and Australia, which focuses on developing leadership and building an efficient and effective Policing service that has the trust and confidence of the community. New Zealand Police and the Australian Federal Police oversee the implementation of the program. The original MOA was signed in July 2008 and expires on 31 October 2013.

Significant projects to be carried out this year under the TPDP include the construction of new police stations at Mua and Nukunuku and the construction of a Custodial Processing Centre at Central Police Station. Additionally, training will be delivered to Tonga Police members of all ranks on investigations, intelligence, computer skills, close personal protection, driver training, public order maintenance, first aid, prosecution support, ethics, integrity and leadership.

The MOA was signed by the Honourable Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Siosifa Tu’utafaiva on behalf of the Government of Tonga, HE Mark Talbot, the New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga and HE Brett Aldam, the Australian High Commissioner.