TONGA

Kingdom of Tonga Pule’anga Tonga CAPITAL: Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu FLAG: The flag, adopted in 1862, is crimson with a cross of the same color mounted in a white square in the upper left corner. ANTHEM: Koe Fasi Oe Tu’i Oe Otu Tonga (Tongan National Anthem) begins “‘E ‘Otua Mafimafi Ko homau ‘Eiki Koe” (“O Almighty God above, Thou art our Lord and sure defense”). MONETARY UNIT: The Tongan pa’anga (T$) of 100 seniti is a paper currency at par with the Australian dollar. There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 seniti, and 1 and 2 Tongan pa’angas, and notes of ½, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 pa’angas. T$1 = US$0.4926 (or US$1 = T$2.03; in March 2003). WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: The metric system is the legal standard, but some imperial and local weights and measures also are employed. HOLIDAYS: New Year’s Day, 1 January; ANZAC Day, 25 April; Crown Prince’s Birthday, 4 May; Independence Day, 4 June; King’s Birthday, 4 July; Constitution Day, 4 November; Tupou I Day, 4 December; Christmas, 25–26 December. Movable religious holidays include Good Friday and Easter Monday. TIME: 1 AM (the following day) = noon GMT.