Tonga was born and grew up in
Auckland, New Zealand. Her heritage is from the villages of
Vaini and
Kolofo’ou in
Tonga. Tonga has worked at the
University of Auckland in several roles including at the equity office, teaching in the Art History Department and as a Professional Teaching Fellow. She has taught at their Centre of Pacific Studies where she coordinated undergraduate courses in Pacific art, music and dance. Tonga has held the following roles at the
National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa), the Curator Contemporary Art (2019-2023), the inaugural Curator Contemporary Pacific Art (2017–2019) and Curator Pacific Cultures (2014–2017). Tonga is the first Pasifika person to hold the Curator of Contemporary Art role at Te Papa. Part of what drives me as a curator and art historian is the need to write ourselves into the art history of Aotearoa. We haven't always been seen or recognised outside of our own communities. (Nina Tonga) Tonga is a guest writer for
The Spinoff, a New Zealand news site. In 2022, Tonga completed her degree at the University of Auckland where her research focuses on 'the ways that Internet platforms have shaped and influenced contemporary art practices'. In 2023 Tonga was part of the programme at the
Auckland Writers Festival. == Curated exhibitions ==