Ombudsman (Tonga)

Established as the Commissioner for Public Relations Act in 2001, the office was renamed to Ombudsman in 2016, and given constitutional status in 2021.

[4] The Commissioner was appointed by the King of Tonga[5] for a term of five years,[6] and had the function of investigating any act, decision, recommendation, or omission relating to a matter of administration by specified government agencies.

[7] Where the government's actions were unlawful, unreasonable, unjust, oppressive, or wrong, the Commissioner could make recommendations to the agency, and could report them to the Prime Minister and Privy Council of Tonga.

[3] On his retirement in 2004, he recommended that the office be given greater powers to compel government agencies to release information.

When Penisimani Tavalu Fonua retired in November 2006, the position was left vacant until ʻAisea Taumoepeau was appointed in 2014.