Seeing her MP father's commitment and passion to help his Tongan people has inspired one young woman to overcome tragedy and follow his footsteps into politics.
Astrid Mataele, from Brooklyn in Wellington, graduated from Victoria University last month with a bachelor of arts degree, with a double major in political science and international relations.
The 25-year-old grew up in Tonga and is the daughter of long-time parliamentarian and well-known Tongan community leader, the late Joe Tu'ilatai Mataele.
Mr Mataele, who died in 2009 following ill health, was an MP for two decades and was regarded as a loved patriarch in Tonga.
"He always had the idea that even though Tonga is a small and poor country - compared to others in the world - the thing that makes it rich is its people. He was always helping other people - and that's what I always wanted to do too."
