His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala is in New Zealand on his first official visit in his capacity as Tonga’s Minister for His Majesty’s Diplomatic Services and Minister for His Majesty’s Armed Forces, with talks focused on bilateral relations and regional developments.

The visit includes engagements with New Zealand’s political leadership and defence forces, providing an opportunity to discuss Tonga and New Zealand’s longstanding partnership and shared regional priorities.

According to a statement from the New Zealand High Commission in Tonga, the Crown Prince was welcomed with a pōwhiri at Takapūwāhia Marae, laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and held engagements with the New Zealand Defence Force.

In Auckland, he was hosted to lunch by New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, where they discussed the longstanding relationship between the two countries and priority regional developments.

The visit comes amid ongoing cooperation between Tonga and New Zealand in defence, security, economic development and regional affairs. The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening these ties during a visit by Peters to Tonga in April 2025.

The Crown Prince was appointed Minister for His Majesty’s Diplomatic Services and Minister for His Majesty’s Armed Forces in January 2025.

The High Commission said the visit was an opportunity to reaffirm the enduring friendship and close partnership between the two countries.

Details of any new agreements, funding commitments or specific outcomes from the visit were not provided in the statement.