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www.nukualofatimes.tbu.to
May 23, 2016
Nuku’alofa Times
Congratulations Queen Mother
N U K U ’ A L O F A (Nuku’alofa Times): She has been described as the “Mother of Tonga”, the “Grand Queen” and the “Queen Mother”. This week the Kingdom of Tonga and her Fijian relatives from the chiefly island of Bau and the chiefly Mara Family of Lau will honour the life of Her Majesty Halaevalu Mata’aho ‘Ahome’e. She turns 90 and celebrations have started in earnest. The week-long program will culminate in the special Sunday service on May 29 and the Royal Luncheon at the Royal Palace grounds here in Nuku’alofa after that. Having lived through three Kingships, including that of her own late husband, the late King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, the Queen Mother is described as being wise and the stabilizer in the Royal Family. She has seen the death of two of her own sons, including the late King George Tupou V, four years ago and watched her youngest son take the throne as the new King of Tonga in 2015. Many who know her respect her for the part she has played in helping develop Tonga through her own community works. Her involvement with different communities and community projects have propelled her to being a favourite with members of the public and an icon in as far as working with the disabled, the elderlies and the lesser fortunate is concerned. Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho was born on May 29, 1926. She is the mother of the deceased King George Tupou V and the reigning King Tupou VI of Tonga, as well as the widow of King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV, who died in 2006. Her children include Her Royal Highness Princess Salote Pilolevu Tu’ita, the late King Tupou V, Prince Fatafehi and King Tupou VI.
The Queen Mother embarked on a two-week trip to the U.S. state of Utah in July and August 2011. Specifically, the Queen Mother visited the Tongan United Methodist Church in West Valley City, Utah, whose congregation had raised approximately $500,000 in less than a year to pay off the mortgage on the building. The Mayor of West Valley City, Michael K. Winder, awarded the Queen Mother the key to the city on July 27, 2011. She met with Utah Governor Gary Herbert the next day. Patronages and honours The Queen Mother has been the President of the Tonga Red Cross Society (TRCS) since 1972. She has been involved with community work at different levels, even now in her old age.
Having a laugh....Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho enjoying a moment during one of her visits to Tongans in Australia (above); (Below) The Queen Mother in a Royal Family potrait and wiping away her tears at the death of her late son, King George Tupou V and wearing her crown
Public opinion Public opinion on the Queen Mother has not been surprising. Those that the Niuvakai spoke with said she has been an example that many of the Royal Family members have been forced to live up to, especially the female members of the Family. Many feel that her presence at this time has continued to help the Royal Family, who have come through some tough times as Tonga started to change from being ruled by the Monarchy to be a semi-democratic country. Her steadying influence and advise has been a determining factor for the Kingdom. Biography Queen
Halaevalu
Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe is the oldest daughter of ‘Ahome’e (Manu-‘o-pangai) and his wife, Heuʻifanga, a greatgranddaughter of the last King of the Tuʻi Tonga Empire. The Queen Mother is a great-great-granddaughter of Maʻafu, who is also famous for extending the Tongan Dynasty to Fiji. Halaevalu Mataʻaho
married her husband, Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV, on June 10, 1947. King Taufa’ahau died in 2006. The Queen Mother celebrated her 85th birthday in 2011 with a five-day celebration held in May. The celebrations began with a Garden Party for more than one hundred Tongan women held at the
home of the President of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, Rev. Dr. ‘Ahio. The Queen Mother attended a Catholic mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ma’ufanga with King Siaosi Tupou V on May 26, 2011. The Tongan Ministry of Education, Women Affairs and Culture held a student celebration for her birthday on May 27, with of primary
school students from Pangai Lahi to Teufaiva Park, including presenting the Queen Mother with birthday gifts. A private party was held in Ha’avakatolo the next day, followed by a church service held at Centennial Church on Sunday, May 29, with a royal luncheon at the Royal Palace in Nukuʻalofa.
Her titles include: • 1926 – 1947 : The Honorable Halaevalu Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe. • 1947 – 1965 : Her Royal Highness Princess Halaevalu Mata’aho, The Crown Princess of Tonga. • 1965 – 2006 : Her Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho, The Queen of Tonga. • Since 2006 : Her Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho, The Queen Mother of Tonga. National Honours that have been bestowed on her include: • Tonga: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Order of Pouono (KGCCP) • Tonga: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Crown of Tonga(KGCCCT) • Tonga: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Queen Salote Tupou III (KGCQS) • Tonga: Former Grand Mistress Dame of the King George Tupou V Royal Family Order (DKGTRFO) • Tonga: Recipient of the Tongan Red Cross Medal (RTRCM) • Tonga: Recipient of the King Tupou VI Coronation Medal • Tonga: Recipient of the King George Tupou V Coronation Medal • Tonga: Recipient of the King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV Silver Jubilee Medal Foreign Honours include: • Germany: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Special Class • Japan: Wisteria Dame of the Order of the Precious Crown, 4th Class • United Kingdom: Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Badge Medal • United Kingdom: Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Badge Medal