Bora Bora – June 2024. His Majesty’s Hon Consul-General of Tonga to Portugal, Anthony Bailey paid a visit to French Polynesia and visited a number of sites with both ancient and historic ties with the Kingdom of Tonga. During the visit Mr Bailey visited five of the islands which are part of five archipelago’s spread over 5.3 million sq kms – an area the size of Europe.
Mr Bailey also spoke with the President of French Polynesia, His Excellency Moetai Brotherson, who is head of government of the semi-autonomous French overseas country in the Pacific. He also met with the Mayor of Bora Bora, Gaston Tong Sang and accepted his invitation to attend a 3 hour Tahitian cultural, dance and singing presentation.
The Consul General also visited the Marae Taputapuatea, part of UNESCO‘s World Heritage. It is on the south eastern coast of Raiatea and features a number of marae (a communal or sacred place that serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies) and other stone structures. This site was once considered the central temple and religious centre of Eastern Polynesia.
Mr Bailey also visited he Musée de Tahiti et des Îles (“Museum of Tahiti and the Islands”). This national museum of French Polynesia, located in Puna’auia, Tahiti was founded in 1974 to conserve and restore Polynesian artefacts and cultural practices. They include numerous references to the Kingdom of Tonga and its connections with the islands of French Polynesia.
