Tonga's parliament to meet at new venue

Fa'onelua Convention Centre Photo: Koro Vaka'uta

Tonga's parliament is to meet at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre because of the destruction of the historic legislative assembly building during Cyclone Gita.

An Air Force Hercules on its way to Fua’amotu airport with supplies. RNZ / Richard Tindiller.

This C-130 will transport much needed supplies to Tonga. RNZ / Richard Tindiller.

The biggest challenge now is to restore power to the island. RNZ / Richard Tindiller.

Linesmen are doing their best to fix the power in Nuku’alofa. RNZ / Richard Tindiller.

The roof of Feleti‘s shop has blown off. RNZ / Richard Tindiller.

Further down the road, the house of this shop owner has been completely trashed. RNZ / Richard Tindiller.

Shop owners are saving what they can but most of their merchandise has been lost. RNZ / Richard Tindiller.

The recovery effort continues in the Kingdom after Cyclone Gita tore through the Tonga on Monday.

The Speaker of the House, Lord Fakafanua, made the announcement saying in the spirit of resilience, the parliament would temporarily sit at the Nuku'alofa based convention centre.

The now destroyed parliament had been used since 1892 and was in the past also used as a judicial court house.

The next session of parliament is set to begin on March 5.

Meanwhile power has been restored to the capital Nuku'alofa with other districts across the island being restored in the coming days.