Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa

He, along with three current cabinet ministers, already has a stay on earlier election petition losses.

RNZ Pacific's correspondent in Tonga, Kalafi Moala, said, as with the first petition, this one involved the provision of water tanks to voters, but was brought by a different petitioner.

"Of course the provision of water tanks is a little bit more serious. It's not like you are giving a box of chicken or giving a little cash, a water tank is worth 10,000 pa,anga," he said.

The Infrastructure Minister, 'Akosita Lavulavu, with her husband, 'Etuate Lavulavu - a former cabinet minister, have been charged with fraud over land they quarried in Vava'u four years ago.

When asked by the website Kaniva Tonga whether he would sack the minister, the prime minister said "Let the law rule."

The opposition leader Sēmisi Sika has said Lavulavu should resign if found guilty.

It was submitted on Thursday by the People's Representative for Tongatapu 2, Semisi Sika, and signed by 10 MPs.

Because it came on the last sitting day of parliament for the year the Speaker, Lord Fakafanua, ruled that a tentative date for the motion to be tabled in the house would be the next sitting day, 12 January 2021.

Fakafanua ruled it complied with constitutional requirements and that it must be tabled between 5 and 14 working days after submission.

Kaniva News reports that the King also declined a request the police minister have more say over the police commissioner.

The Privy Council oversees the appointments of key public servants such as the police commissioner, judges and the attorney general.

The previous administration of the late 'Akilisi Pohiva had made strong but unsuccessful pushes for change.

It had wanted Tonga to move further towards full democracy.

Don Wiseman asked correspondent Kalafi Moala about the latest tensions within the different arms of the Tonga Government.

Mr Tu'i'onetoa was elected prime minister last week to replace Mr Pohiva, who died last month in Auckland.

He achieved this by crossing the floor and taking several members of the PTOA Party with him to form a new party with the nobles.

But local media have reported the remnants of Mr Pohiva's party as saying this was a betrayal of the late prime minister by Mr Tu'i'onetoa and his colleagues.

The new prime minister said this is wrong.

Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, the current Minister of Finance, has won convincingly with 15 votes, to acting Prime Minister Semisi Sika, who got 8 votes.

Mr Tu'i'onetoa, who was a minister in good standing in the Pohiva government, earlier this week crossed the floor to form the new People's Party and gain the support from a united group of nobles and independent MPs.

Three other MPs who were part of Mr Pohiva's party, also crossed the floor.

The defection of the four members of Pohiva's party meant the party was unable to have a majority in electing the prime minister.

Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa says New Zealand and Australia have provided the 30-foot vessels which will mainly be used for search and rescue tasks.

Dr Tu'i'onetoa says one boat each will be used in Tongatapu, Ha'apai and Vava'u.

He says the the other islands of 'Eua and the Niuas won't get the same resources but once operational costs are confirmed for the boats then the Minister will look into their situation.