The final report of Tonga's Constitutional and Electoral Commission recommending a democratic form of Parliament for Tonga is welcome news, said Green Party Foreign Affairs spokesperson Keith Locke.

Prime Minister John Key has underlined New Zealand's commitment to Tonga's political reform process and economic progress in talks with Tonga's Prime Minister Dr Feleti Sevele in Nuku'alofa today.

Mr Key is in Tonga on the first leg of a four-country Pacific visit.

30 June 2009 - Prime Minister John Key will lead an official delegation to four Pacific Islands next week.

The visit, over four days, will take in Tonga, Samoa, Niue, and the Cook Islands.

Prime Minister John Key says New Zealand's support for the democratic reform process underway in Tonga will be underlined during the visit to this country of Tongan Prime Minister, Dr Feleti (Fred) Sevele, from 13-19 May.

New Zealand is committing $1.5 million to supporting the democratic reform process in Tonga, Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced today.