The Friendly Islands Democratic Party, headed by veteran activist Akilisi Pohiva, has won 14 of the 17 seats set aside for ordinary citizens in Tonga's general election.
The remaining results for seats in the remote outer islands are expected on Friday.
[image:588:third:right]Radio New Zealand's Pacific issues correspondent says the win by Mr Pohiva and his team from a field of 146 candidates - including the outgoing deputy Prime Minister, an MP and the former attorney-general - shows Tongans have voted for change.
The country's Nobles, represented by nine of their members in the 26 seat parliament, say they want to work closely with the party to move the country forward.
Senior Noble, Lord Ma'afu, says his group will support the Democratic Party if it puts up a candidate for prime minister.
Mr Pohiva says he was expecting his party to win, but it has taken a long time to get to the point where most MPs are not from the nobility.
He told Morning Report it has taken almost 30 years to get to this point.
Mr Pohiva said the new government's first priority is to audit Tonga's finances.
He said the government will then need to look at other options for new funding, as 70% of its income is from remittances from overseas relatives.
More revenue needed
However, outgoing prime minister Feleti Sevele says Tongans living overseas are sending less money to help relations and that means the country must generate more income.
One of the nobles elected to Parliament, the honourable Vaea, says his group wants to focus on the economy too.
He wants people to grow more food and import less.
