Tongan voters focused on grassroot issues

A media operator says candidates in the Tongan election have taken a grassroots approach to campaigning and reaching the public.

This week a former head of the state broadcaster expressed concerns the public was missing out on election issues because of the canning of a national talkback show and the sidelining of prominent journalists at the organisation.

But Kalafi Moala, who runs the Taimi Media Network, has been monitoring the campaign and says people are being informed in other ways.

"Many of the candidates are canvassing house to house, approaching people directly. One thing that I have noticed which is a major difference with this election compared to previous elections.

"Previous elections, people were talking about issues that are national. In this election, people are focusing in on their constituency, on their districts."