Neiafu (Vavaʻu)

Neiafu
Port of Refuge viewed from Mt. Talau
Port of Refuge viewed from Mt. Talau
Location of Neiafu on Vavaʻu Island
Location of Neiafu on Vavaʻu Island
Neiafu is located in Tonga
Neiafu
Neiafu
Coordinates: 18°39′03″S 173°58′59″W / 18.65083°S 173.98306°W / -18.65083; -173.98306
Country Tonga
IslandVavaʻu
Population
 (2021)
 • Total
3,845
Time zoneUTC+13 (–)
ClimateAf

Neiafu is the second-largest town in Tonga with a population of 3,845 in 2021.[1] It is situated beside the Port of Refuge, a deep-water harbour on the south coast of Vavaʻu, the main island of the Vavaʻu archipelago in northern Tonga. To the north-west lies the 131-metre high (430 ft) Mt. Talau with its distinctive flat top.

Neiafu is the administrative centre of the Vavaʻu group and has government offices, banks, schools, a police station and a hospital. It is also an important centre for tourism with many yachts anchoring in the Port of Refuge.

In the late 19th century Neiafu was the location of a German coaling-station, established under the country's 1876 Treaty of Friendship with Tonga.[2] The base was transferred to Britain in 1900 with the establishment of a British protectorate.[3]

The town is powered by a 300kW solar PV farm with battery backup in the hamlet of Kāmeli.[4]

References

  1. ^ "PRELIMINARY RESULT TONGA POPULATION CENSUS 2021" (PDF). Tonga Statistics Department. 24 December 2021. p. 5. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  2. ^ Basil C. Thomson (1984). "XIII — Vavau". Savage Island: An Account of a Sojourn in Niue and Tonga. Papakura: R. McMillan. p. 186-187. Retrieved 17 December 2022 – via NZETC.
  3. ^ Basil C. Thomson (1984). "XII — The King and His Ministers". Savage Island: An Account of a Sojourn in Niue and Tonga. Papakura: R. McMillan. p. 172-173. Retrieved 17 December 2022 – via NZETC.
  4. ^ "New solar plant and battery energy storage system for Vava'u". Matangi Tonga. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.


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