CAVEAT IN PLACE TO PREVENT SELLING OF KING’S RESIDENCE ATALANGA
6th Oct 2010
The Atalanga residence in New Zealand was recently put on the market for sale. TNEWS investigates the legality of this decision leading to questions over who is the rightful owner, the KING or GOVERNMENT OF TONGA.
NZ Tongan Development Society Inc has lodged a caveat to prevent the selling of Atalanga on Tuesday 5th October 2010. The caveat was based on information provided by Lawyer Joel Fotu - suggesting that King George V does not own the property of Atalanga, instead it belongs to the government of Tonga.
The documents provided by lawyer Fotu highlight the fact Atalanga is not owned by the “persona” of the King but rather the title lineage of the “King of Tonga”, his heirs and successors. The documents also reveal that Atalanga was purchased by the government of Tonga for the use of the royal family.
Former manager of Atalanga Mr. Sulunga Lavaka told Tnews that Atalanga is owned by the government because the government of Tonga pays for their wages, maintenance and all the running expenses of Atalanga.
Please refer to the TNEWS episode 24 for details.
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga2.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga3.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga4.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga5.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga6.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga7a.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga7b.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga7c.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga7d.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga8a.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga8b.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga9a.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga9b.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga9c.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga9d.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga9e.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga10a.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga10b.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga10c.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga10d.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga10e.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga10f.pdf
http://www.tnews.co.nz/TNEWS/Atalanga1.pdf
Written by Setita Millar | Pasifika Broadcasting Ltd | TNEWS | 5/16 Alpito Place, Alpito Business Park, Pukekohe, Auckland | phone: 09 2392511 | mob: 021733189 | email: setita@pasifika.tv.
Below is a media release posted on the prime minister's office website in 2008.
'Atalanga Property of Her Majesty, The Late Queen Salote, & Her Heirs
Wednesday, 23 July 2008 14:59 From the Office of the Prime Minister, Nuku'alofa, 23 July 2008: The Property at 183 St Andrews Road, Epsom, Auckland, now known as “’Atalanga” was formerly owned by Mr. Dennis Raoul Nillel Nathan, who is now 95 years old, and as of March 2008, lives as a widower at 7 St. Vincent Avenue, Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand.
According to the Certificate of Title Under Land Transfer Act of New Zealand, the Property was registered in October1926, as belonging to Mr. James Henry Gunson, produce merchant of Auckland. In February 1928, according to the Certificate of Title, Mr. Gunson transferred the Property to Mr. Kirby Harry Wilson, newspaper employer of Auckland. In March 1945, Mr. Wilson then transferred the Property to Mr. Dennis R. N. Nathan, merchant of Auckland. Then on 17 November 1952, according to the Certificate of Title, Mr. Nathan transferred the Property to “Her Majesty Queen Salote Tubou of the Kingdon of Tonga Her Heirs and Successors”.
According to a signed statement from Mr. Dennis R. N. Nathan in March 2008, his late wife wanted the family to relocate to Remuera so that their two sons could attend King’s Prep and their daughter to attend the Girl’s School at Khyber Pass.
Mr. Nathan said that although they were thinking of selling the Property they had not put the property on the market. “However one day the late Queen of Tonga arrived at their home and introduced herself and told them she was in the neighborhood and was looking to purchase a property in the area. Her vision was to purchase a property as her residence when she visited New Zealand and also to provide accommodation for the Tongan Scholarship Students, especially the female students, to reside in when schooling in New Zealand.”
Mr. Nathan said he could clearly remember her presence and politeness when speaking about her vision and why she wanted to purchase the Property in Epsom. He said that he would never forget that day and at that moment without hesitation decided with his late wife to sell the Property to Her Majesty, The Late Queen Salote. They were so overwhelmed and sold the Property to Her Majesty.
The Certificate of Title notes that the Successor to the registered Proprietor of the Property is “His Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou of the Kingdom of Tonga, His Heirs and Successor” and that a new Certificate of Title was issued on 9 February 1966.
This account confirms the statement given by the Hon Prime Minister to Parliament last month, in correcting the erroneous claim by ‘Akilisi Pohiva that ‘Atalanga was Government Property. The Hon Prime Minister told the House that Her Majesty, The Late Queen Salote bought the Property for Her Residence with Her own funds and for Her Heirs and Successors.
Issued by: The Information Unit, Prime Minister's Office, P.O. Box 62, Nuku'alofa, Tonga.
Telephone: (676) 24 644 Fax: (676) 23 888 Email: pmomail@pmo.gov.to