Tonga Ombudsman

The Chief Ombudsman for New Zealand and 2nd Vice President of the International Ombudsman Institute Peter Boshier hosted a special event to farewell the outgoing Ombudsman in Nuku’alofa last week.

Boshier said, “The real purpose of my coming to Tonga is to farewell the Ombudsman ‘Aisea Taumoepeau and to recognise his outstanding service for the Tonga office of the Ombudsman and the wide Ombudsman community in the Pacific region.”

The office has seen a surge in complaints after starting a campaign three years ago to inform the public, and the government, about its role.

Complaints to the office jumped from 48 in 2014 to 261 in 2017.

Its chief executive, Linda Folaumoetu'i, says it’s important that people know there is an independent body that will consider their complaints.

The Tonga delegation is led by Chief Executive Officer Linda Folaumoetui who is on a one week attachment supported and funded under the Flexi Funding Program administered by the Office Commonwealth Ombudsman.

“We are very pleased with the opportunity to be able to come over to Samoa to make connections and further our relationship with the Ombudsman Office here and share ways we can learn and strengthen each other’s work and responsibilities to our citizens,” Folaumoetui said.