KEY POINTS:
Security will be restored quickly in the Tongan capital, but reconstruction of services will be a long-term effort, the joint defence force commander says.
Lieutenant-Colonel Darren Beck, of the New Zealand Army, said yesterday the mood in Nuku'alofa was "quite sombre".
New Zealand and Australia have sent 110
troops and about 44 police at the Tongan Government's request after riots that left eight people dead.
Colonel Beck said he was happy the airport had been secured so quickly after the New Zealanders' arrival, but they would not have been able to do it by themselves.
"We had an Australian element, which arrived late last night, and we also had the Tongans - police and defence services - which made it easy for us to come in and get established."
The short-term focus remained on the airport and ensuring commercial operations were unhindered.
"The long term, who knows? There is a lot of work that's going to have to go on here beyond the military capacity. A hell of a lot of reconstruction is required because there's a lot of damage to infrastructure."
Colonel Beck said he had met the Tongan Chief of Defence and received briefings with the Joint Forces Command, and had another meeting with the head of mission.
He would receive daily briefings at the joint headquarters, and expected more information when he met Prime Minister Fred Sevele.
He did not expect to have a meeting with the Tongan King.
"He's linking into the constitutional level. At the moment, we've got a lot of work to do at the military, police and high commission level to get things in place to meet his requirements as outlined in the emergency directive."
Colonel Beck said troops were focused on securing the airport and facilitating the movement of people.
"We didn't get a lot of notice to come here. They've been extremely professional and done a good job.
"The assistance we've provided and how it's been received by the Tongans has also helped
"The waves, the big smiles - people seem to be really happy to see us and I'm sure that will continue."
Despite the unrest, troops were keeping a low profile.
"We see the law and order issue as essentially the domain of the police and primarily the Tongans and they're doing a good job."
Colonel Beck said troops would provide security when commercial flights resumed today.
"We'll also be facilitating the movement of people through the airport. Not a heavy influence within the terminal, but certainly a presence."
Colonel Beck said airport staff were running the airport, and troops were providing security.
However, troops were not carrying out much patrolling of the city centre.
"Our focus is out here [at the airport]. I have been in discussions to talk to the Tongans to see what they would like us to do but we don't have any mandate at this stage to go in there and assist them.
"They are holding their own but I am sure they would like us to support them and we're just working through how we can do that to their benefit."
* Several members of Mr Sevele's family flew to New Zealand at the weekend.
Mr Sevele had asked the NZ High Commission to reserve places for seven family members, including at least four children, on a Defence Force Boeing that returned to Whenuapai on Saturday night.
They were joined on the flight by the children of a NZ defence attache, who had made a similar request for safety reasons.
"The Sevele family's business had literally been burned in front of them," said Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman Brad Tattersfield.
- NZPA
Time to leave, and no going back
"I can't forget, and I can't forgive."
Those were the bitter words of Juliane Hildebrand who, with her husband Holger, lost a restaurant to the mob.
The German couple had owned the business for nine years.
Tourists had rushed up to what they thought was the safety of the second floor of the building, but finally had to be told to get out as a strong easterly wind blew flames from the blazing Indian-owned department store next door.
Mrs Hildebrand said she knew it was all over for the business.
"I said: 'We are going to lose everything today'."
Too many people they knew had taken part in the riot, so the couple planned to leave Tonga, their home of nearly 11 years, as soon as possible, and for good, Mrs Hildebrand said.
