,
New Zealand is to send a further 20 police to Tonga, the government has announced, in the second boost to security forces since Tonga called for assistance a week ago.
Police Minister Annette King said the latest deployment would bring the number of New Zealand police in Tonga to 45 and would provide more support to the Tonga force.
“The situation in Nuku'alofa is calm and good progress is being made by Tonga police, with support from New Zealand and Australian police, on crime scene investigation and the building of cases against suspects,” she said.
About 150 New Zealand and Australian military and police landed in Tonga last Saturday.
They were tasked with securing the airport, allowing international flights to resume on Monday, four days after pro-democracy youths burned and looted their way through the commercial centre.
About 80 percent of the tiny Pacific kingdom's business heart was wiped out in the rampage, eight people died and more than 100 people have since been arrested.
Damage is estimated at more than 100 million dollars.
New Zealand and Australia announced a further 38 police were sent midweek and King said the additional police “together with the situation in Nuku'alofa continuing to improve, will facilitate the return of New Zealand military personnel”.
