THE CORONATION OF KING TAUFA 'AHAU TUPOU IV OF TONGA (1968)

New Zealand's National Film Unit presents 'The Coronation of King Taufa 'Ahau Tupou IV of Tonga' (1968).

King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV of Tonga was born on 4 July 1918 in the Royal Palace at Nuku’alofa, Tonga. He became King in 1965 after the death of his mother Queen Salote Tupou III, and was crowned in 1967. He married Queen Halaevalu Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe (1926–2017), and the couple had four children. Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV died in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2006 aged 88 after a 41 year reign. The current king of Tonga, ʻAhoʻeitu Tupou VI, is the youngest son of Taufa'ahau Tupou IV and Halaevalu Mataʻaho ʻAhomeʻe, having ascended to the throne in 2012 after the death of his elder brother, George Tupou V, who died without heirs.

The coronation Taufa’ahau Tupou IV was a notable occasion as it was the first coronation held in Tonga since 1918. Many dignitaries from foreign governments attended, including New Zealand’s Prime Minister Keith Holyoake and the leader of the opposition Norman Kirk. The event was captured by New Zealand’s National Film Unit in the 1968 film ‘The Coronation of King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV of Tonga’, directed by Derek Wright, which shows the build-up to the event and the full ceremony.

DV file of Beta SP (tape 278) telecine of 35mm film, W3471/f/221.

Material from Archives New Zealand.