Five women leaders unite in Ha’apai’s inaugural Women’s Sub-Fono, marking a milestone in Tonga’s local governance.
More than 75 women from Ha’apai’s main and outer islands gathered at Maama ‘o Mamani Hall, Taufa’ahau and Pilolevu College, on 28 May 2025 for the region’s first-ever Women’s Sub-Fono. The event, organised by the Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC) and funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), aimed to foster dialogue, visioning, and solidarity among women leaders.
For the first time in Ha’apai’s history, five women—one District Officer and four Town Officers—stood together in formal local leadership roles. ‘Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki, Director of WCCC, described the moment as transformative.
“This is not just a milestone – it’s a moment of transformation. For the first time in history, Ha’apai has five women holding formal local leadership roles at the same time. These women are not only serving their communities – they are reshaping what leadership looks like in Tonga. This is history written by women, for women, and with women at the forefront.”
The opening ceremony was attended by Ha’apai’s Governor Dr Pita Taufatofua and Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Tonga, Erin Gleeson. Both officials encouraged women’s participation in governance and advocated for reserved seats for women in Parliament.
The Sub-Fono addressed six key priorities identified by Ha’apai women: eradicating extreme poverty, improving women’s health, advancing girls’ rights, ending gender-based violence, promoting education and skills, and economic empowerment. Participants formed seven groups to discuss strategies, culminating in the selection of eight women representatives to carry Ha’apai’s priorities to the National Fono in 2026.
The WCCC, established in 2009 by ‘Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki, provides counselling, refuge, and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse. The Centre operates independently and has received support from international partners, including DFAT and UN Women, to expand its services across Tonga.
