KEY POINTS:
The exact factors behind Tonga's devastating riots will not be known until a full investigation is completed, Prime Minister Helen Clark says.
New Zealander Mike Jones, whose companies employ 250 people in the island kingdom, today said the riots were engineered by business people trying to wipe out
their competition.
Last week's riots left eight dead and Nuku'alofa's business district in flames.
But Lieutenant Colonel Darren Beck, New Zealand commander of the joint military force sent to Tonga, today said reports the riots were commercially motivated were unsubstantiated.
And Miss Clark said she had not heard of the claims in briefings or in her discussions with Tonga's leaders.
"My impression has been more that what began as peaceful protest had other elements come in and take over," she said on National Radio.
"Whether their motivation was just sheer destruction, whether there was alcohol and other influences at work, who knows, that will come out in the full investigation."
Tongan Prime Minister Fred Sevele's main adviser Lopeti Senituli also said today was the first he had heard of Mr Jones' claim that protesters were paid by businesses to riot.
He said two weeks before the riots the Tongan Business Group had presented a petition to the King's office calling for the sacking of the Prime Minister.
"They are part of the list of people that are being investigated."
Mr Senituli said it would take the country at least five years to rebuild the city centre, after rioters caused about $106 million worth of damage.
Miss Clark said New Zealand was assessing what development assistance it could offer.
Because most of the damage was to the private sector that assistance was likely to come in the form of small grant or credit facilities.
New Zealand had strongly upped its aid to the Pacific in recent years, she said.
Meanwhile, Cabinet will today discuss widening the mandate of New Zealand troops in Tonga beyond guarding the airport in Nuku'alofa.
The soldiers secured the airport on Saturday after rioting by pro-democracy demonstrators.
Lt Col Beck said the joint forces were now planning for wider security role.
There had been reports more trouble was planned, but as yet they were unsubstantiated.
Lt Col Beck said the soldiers would use lethal force to defend themselves if necessary.
"We're approved to use force to sort out a security situation where the lives of New Zealand soldiers and property they have to protect is put at risk and that includes up to and including lethal force," he said on National Radio.
Lt Col Beck said the troops continued to maintain security at Fau'amotu Airport in conjunction with Tongan Defence Service personnel.
"Monday's achievement was securing the airport, which is now fully functioning and operational for commercial flights."
He said there was frequent liaisons between the army and Tongan officials.
"The Task Force is present to provide assistance to Tonga, to allow them to work towards restoring calm."
Lt Col Beck said the task force would remain in Tonga at the request of the Tongan Government for the interim.
The focus was now on consultation, planning and preparation for future tasks that may arise, he said.
New Zealand has 70 soldiers and seven police in Tonga as part of a 150 strong force with Australia. Eleven more New Zealand police will soon join them.
Up to 80 per cent of businesses were destroyed in the riots, and Tongan police were treating them as crime scenes.
Entry to Nuku'alofa's central business district remained tightly restricted as Tongans returned to work.
- NZPA
