Political science students discuss democracy in Tonga

Updated September 25, 2009 17:25:22

A group of university staff and students from New Zealand have visited Tonga to distribute a booklet outlining basic democratic concepts. The 100 page booklet, in Tongan and English, has been prepared by Dr Malakai Koloamatangi, a Tongan political scientist at Canterbury University. Around three thousand of the booklets are being distributed all around Tonga at public meetings which feature discussions about the new, more democratic system in the Kingdom. Elections under a new system which will see the majority of MPs elected by the people are scheduled for the end of next year.

Joining us on Pacific beat today are some of the students who took part in the exercise.

Presenter: Bruce Hill
Speakers: Political science students at Canterbury University in New Zealand, Vanessa Absalom-Mueller, Hamish Woodside and Geniveve Taylor