KEY POINTS:
At the last coronation of a Tongan King 41 years ago, the New Zealand Government established an educational scholarship for promising young students.
So it was fitting that the scholarship's first recipient, Feleti Sevele, now Tonga's Prime Minister, was on hand when Helen Clark announced a new fellowship to mark today's coronation.
The fellowship aims to foster leadership and governance skills of future generations of Tongan leaders in the public and private sectors.
It will include opportunities for them to spend time with New Zealand's public service leaders and participate in short study programmes.
The estimated annual cost of the fellowship is $12,000.
At a press conference in Nuku'alofa yesterday, Helen Clark said New Zealand already offered similar programmes in places like Samoa.
She said she was pleased to be in Tonga for the coronation of King George Tupou V.
New Zealand's development assistance programme to Tonga had more than doubled in the past four years.
Helen Clark said the coronation was an opportunity to showcase Tonga's unique culture and should benefit Tonga's tourism.
Dr Sevele said he was grateful that New Zealand's Governor-General and Prime Minister were attending the coronation. This reflected the close ties between the countries.
