Tonga’s outer islands to continue facing internet issues as repair vessel breaks down in Fiji
Nearly a third of Tonga’s population still has no internet and is unlikely to have access until mid-August. Work on damaged cables in two of the Kingdom’s outlying islands was delayed after a special
Tonga grants Starlink “provisional temporary permit” to offer local services
Starlink has been granted a “provisional temporary permit” to operate in Tonga, MEIDECC announced Friday, 19 July. This was in response to a “significant amount” of public concern after the Tonga government
Chatham Airlines begins flying in Tonga amid Lulutai’s ongoing flight disruptions
Chatham Airlines begins servicing Tonga’s domestic flight services this week. The announcement comes a month after Kaniva News reported that Lulutai contacted the New Zealand airlines to assist with its
Green Climate Fund approves US$23.92 million for Tonga Coastal Resilience Project
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board has approved a US$22.66 million grant for Tonga’s Coastal Resilience Project, supplemented by US$1.2 million in co-financing from the Government of Tonga and US$63,000 from the UN
Regulator disrupts Starlink services during Tonga’s ongoing communications crisis
The Tonga government considers that Starlink‘s roaming network services linked to personal satellite antennas, to be illegal in Tonga, even when they are on ships and yachts passing through Tongan waters and on
Spain makes Manu Samoa work for 34-30 win, Italy wins on its first visit to Tonga to end drought in Pacific islands
Spain makes Manu Samoa work for 34-30 win Manu Samoa beat a spirited Spain 34-30 in rainy and muddy conditions at Apia Park on Saturday. Spain made Manu Samoa work for the win and while the wet conditions made things
Waqa takes the wheel at the Forum
Nearing the end of his term as Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Henry Puna travelled to Rarotonga in May and was feted by Mark Brown, Prime Minister of Cook Islands and the current Forum Chair. As the
The perils of underinsurance
Underinsurance and the unawareness of insurance remain significant challenges say insurance providers in Fiji and the Pacific. Chief Executive Officer of Capital Insurance in Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu, David Ariff Chan,
Tongan trailblazer Ofa Aki is off to the Olympics
Tonga’s first female athlete to compete in the Olympics boxing competition, Fe’ofa’aki ‘Epenisa, is excited to represent her Pacific heritage in Paris this month. “I just feel honored and proud. I know
Repair ship on its way, but Tongan internet users still struggling to stay connected
With a cable repair ship still nine days away from Tonga, internet customers in Vava’u and Ha’apai are struggling to keep connected. And customers have been warned that satellites may not be the answer, even as Elon
Superannuation is sitting in Australia as PALM workers report barriers, delays in claiming their money
Tevita Kofutu’a has plans for the $10,000 in superannuation he earned over five years of seasonal work in Australia. He’ll use it to buy a vehicle and pay a deposit on some land in Tonga where he and his
Samoa produce comeback upset victory over Italy
Samoa recovered from a 10-point deficit to beat Italy 33-25 in a sweltering Test in Apia on Friday. The home side scored four tries to three in a successful start to the tenure of new coach Mahonri Schwalger and newly
600 pigs, 5000 baskets of food for Royal Taumafa Kava ceremony
Before dawn Saturday, the King’s matapules, who had travelled from near and far, gathered at Pangai Lahi, next to the Royal Palace in Nuku’alofa, to prepare for a spectacular traditional Taumafa Kava (Royal
Tonga Government appeals to public to rent out homes for PIF visitors
On the streets of Nuku’alofa, the rush is on to complete two hundred container houses to provide much needed accommodation for this year’s Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting, to be held in August. Prime
Pacific Netball Series: Tongan Tala secure ‘four-peat’ after overpowering Fiji for title
Tonga Tala’s head coach Jaqua Pori-Makea-Simpson predicted her team would be competitive before the Pacific Netball Series 2024 rolled off in Brisbane on 10 June. And a weekend later, the young side named to
Tonga’s $899.2 million budget for 2024-25
A draft budget of TOP$899.2 million (US$381 million) for the year 2024/25 was announced by the Government of Tonga, stating that it is the first balanced budget proposed by government to parliament since 2019/2020. The
Death penalty for drugs to be debated as King calls for MPs to find solution
Tonga Parliament will host a debate on the death penalty on Tuesday, 28 May. The debate is being sponsored by the Speaker, Lord Fakafanua, and will discuss the topic ‘Capital punishment as a deterrent for illicit drug
Tongan appropriation Bill 2024 for $899.2 million budget passes first reading
The Legislative Assembly of Tonga passed the first reading of the 2024/2025 Appropriation Bill 2024 today. They are planning for expenditure of $899.2 million (US$ 380.24 million) with $452.3 million (US$191.37 million)
Samoa rugby 7s team on the edge of disaster
The first-ever World Rugby 7s grand final will be played in Madrid in two weeks’ time, with eight teams in contention including Fiji. However, Samoa will be absent from the elite group, having finished second
Government considering issuing Starlink a licence in Tonga
The Tonga Government is considering issuing Starlink a licence to offer broadband internet services in Tonga. The Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni told a media briefing last week that Starlink had
Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) appoints new chairperson and deputy chairperson
The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Adela Issachar Aru as its new Board Chairperson. The SPTO Board of Directors endorsed the announcement of Aru as the new Chairperson at
‘Tongan Pablo’ identified in corrupt Air NZ baggage crew smuggling drugs from Los Angeles into Auckland
A Tongan man has been named as the senior baggage handler at Auckland Airport who had arranged for his criminal colleagues to import methamphetamine into Aotearoa during the Covid-19 lockdown. A New Zealand Herald
Pacific obesity rates continue to concern
Pacific Island nations have the highest rates of obesity in the world, a new study has revealed. The study from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), a worldwide network of over 1500 researchers and
