Early yesterday morning prominent Tongan democracy activist Alani Fisher Taione drove his car into the front gate of the Tongan King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV's Auckland residency and then set it on fire.

Taione was then arrested and charged with wilful damage and arson. His bail conditions include having to stay at least 1km from the King's Epsom home and 200 m away from him when he is out of his home.

Taione says his protest was to highlight reports of soldiers being on patrol in Tonga and that he worried that there might be violence in the future. "The people of Tonga must fight for democracy," he said.