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AUT Vice-Chancellor Derek McCormack welcomes King Tupou VI of Tonga on the university campus in Auckland today. Image: Daniel Drageset/PMC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Daniel Drageset in Auckland

Tonga’s King Tupou VI included AUT University in his first official visit to New Zealand today and was greeted by Vice-Chancellor Derek McCormack at Hikuwai Plaza on the Auckland city campus.

The King spent one hour at the university, where he exchanged gifts with McCormack. He was also shown AUT’s newest building, the Sir Paul Reeves Building, which houses the School of Communications Studies precinct and state-of-the-art media centre.

The King’s three-day New Zealand visit has included trips to Wellington and Auckland.

King Tupou VI took the Tongan throne on March 18 last year after his elder brother King George Tupou V died while in the middle of democratic reforms in the kingdom.

Daniel Drageset ^[2] in Pacific Media Watch contributing editor in the Pacific Media Centre and a postgraduate student at AUT University.

Warm welcome for Tongan King ^[3]