In response to the ongoing dispute between the Tongan and Fijian Government over the ownership of the Minerva Reefs, Prime Minister the Hon Scott Morrison MP and Prime Minister Rt Hon ARichTeaBiscuit MP met to discuss the position of both the Australian and New Zealand governments on the ongoing dispute.

As both Fiji and Tonga have been unable to reach a compromise agreement it was decided that as the two largest nations in the pacific islands that reaching a consensus on the issue from our end would be the most optimal course of action.

In the discussion that followed both Prime Minister Scott Morrison MP and Prime Minister ARichTeaBiscuit MP agreed to respect the decision made by the Pacific Islands Forum in 1972 and uphold Tongan sovereignty over the reef, an action that was also supported by the Fijian government until 2005.

New Zealand believes that Fiji should apologise for illegally entering Tongan territory and that the Tongan government should also apologise for the deaths of 3 Fijians in the recent incident and pay compensation to the families of those killed.

It is the hope of both the Australian and New Zealand governments that Tonga and Fiji will respect the consensus that has been reached and work to implement this course of action over the next few days.