Pacific

Two Tongans become first to reclaim Tonga citizenship

11:19 am on 28 February 2008

Sateki Finau and Temaleti Fulivai Faka'osi have become the first Tongans to reclaim their Tonga citizenship in a short ceremony earlier this week at the Prime Minister's Office in Nuku'Alofa.

Mr Finau, who is an American citizen, and Mrs Faka'osi, who is an Australian citizen, had applied for re-admission to Tongan nationality under an amendment to the Nationality Act passed last year.

Before the amendment, a Tongan subject who voluntarily became a naturalized citizen of another country lost his or her Tongan citizenship.