Questions are swirling over how a boat carrying Anglican Church delegates, including New Zealanders, capsized in stormy waters in Tonga.
Last Friday, Anglican members from New Zealand and throughout Polynesia wrapped up their annual general synod in Nuku’alofa.
A group decided to go whale-watching, chartering two boats and setting off from Nuku’alofa shores in the early afternoon, before one capsized and sank as it attempted to turn around.
Sources have told RNZ Pacific that the 13 passengers on board ended up stuck in the water for nearly half an hour, many without lifejackets, waiting for the other boat to pick them up. A nearby third boat came shortly after.
It has been confirmed there were no injuries, despite many hospitalisations, and most of the New Zealand delegation are home safe.
Archbishop Justin Duckworth described this as “miraculous”.
“We were blessed that we had an EMT member on the other boat that did nott sink … and that person, along with the staff of the boats, were incredibly active in the rescues,” he said.
“They leaped into action and we are thankful for their active rescue on the day.”
However, Duckworth confirmed that Tongan authorities were absent from the rescue efforts, and he was unsure whether police had ever made contact with any of the passengers.
“My understanding is that the Tongan authorities will be looking into it.”
A trip gone wrong
It is understood the boat was beset with water about an hour out from land. It had become stranded after running out of diesel. Heavy swells caused a wave that swamped the boat and forceably turned it.
RNZ Pacific has learned, from separate sources with loved ones on the water, that some passengers were forced to break out through a hatch on the side of the forward cabin as it flooded.
The sources said there was a three-month old baby on board, among several passengers, who could not swim.
“Some of those stories are pretty challenging stories,” Duckworth said.
“We did our best to support our people so that they can walk into the future having gone through an incredibly challenging incident.”
It has been alleged there was no emergency briefing before departure, and that lifejackets were not accessible in the critical moments, so many passengers were in the water without one.
Once the other charter picked them up, a third boat was radioed in, and a group of paramedics from New South Wales were awaiting the party on shore. They had been staying at the Tanoa Hotel alongside the delegates.
“We returned to the hotel, (and) they helped us to manage the incident appropriately from the moment.” Duckworth said.
A number of delegates, in shock, were taken to a nearby hospital, but were shortly discharged.
Charter boats not licensed
Tonga’s Tourism Ministry revealed on Monday that the Church had used a charter boat service that had never been licensed or authorised by the government for whale-watching trips.
The ministry said it had a specific register and that those business report back regularly, and would have a means to contact authorities if something went wrong.
“All registered vessels operating … on 21 August 2026 returned safely to their respective harbours,” the statement read.
“The Ministry is continuing to assess the informatiion available and will take appropriate compliance action within it’s mandate, where necessary.”
It said the recent incident should not be taken as representative of Tonga’s licensed whale-watching and wwimming industry.
