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
Vaka carries the torch for Tonga’s soccer aspirations
Except for 1991, when they didn’t qualify, the tiny Pacific Island nation of Tonga has participated at every Rugby World Cup since the tournament’s inception in 1987. Rugby is Tonga’s most popular sport, with
Strengthen health systems, says WHO Regional Director Dr Piukala
Regional Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Western Pacific, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, has told the Pacific Heads of Health Meeting currently underway in Samoa that climate change and health security are
Pacific cities much older than previously thought
New evidence of one of the first cities in the Pacific shows they were established much earlier than previously thought, according to new research from The Australian National University (ANU). The study used
Tonga to build 200 prefab houses for PIF leaders meeting as accommodation falls short
The Tongan Government plans to build 200 houses for the Pacific Forum leaders meeting in August, as accommodation falls short, the Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku told a media in Nuku’alofa. Tonga will host
Tonga PM announces minor reshuffle, resignations as ‘Utoikamanu moves to Communication
Tongan Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni has confirmed his resignation as Minister of His Majesty’s Armed Forces. He also confirmed the resignation of Fekita ‘Utoikamanu as Minister of Tourism and
Opinion: Uncharted waters II: an update on politics in Tonga
Tonga’s Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala recently led a government delegation to the second Japan-Pacific Islands Defence Dialogue. Members of his delegation included the current Prime Minister’s defence
Reports Tonga PM has resigned from Defence to ‘appease’ king says government source
The Tongan Independent has reported that Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni and Minister Utoikamanu of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had resigned from the portfolios. Senior sources within the Tongan
Is the Pacific moving fast enough on Kava protection?
Pacific Island nations are considering implementing Geographical Indication (GI) protections for kava to safeguard its reputation and uniqueness. This move aims to capitalise on the growing global demand for kava and
Government of Tonga Lead on Strengthening Coordination for Enhanced Water Security
Nuku’alofa, Tonga – The Government of Tonga and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji, have formalized their support for the Government’s efforts in aid coordination, in a
Opinion: Tonga MP Piukaka’s rhetoric about the King hand picking Noble MPs is a serious threat to our half-cooked democracy
Member of Parliament Piveni Piukala’s proposal to revoke Tonga’s current nobility electoral system to allow the king to hand pick them for Parliament would be a fatal blow to Tonga’s fragile democracy. It flies in
USP students with big dreams
Hundreds of students from around the region this week filled the Australia Pacific Lecture Theatre at the University of the South Pacific (USP) Laucala Campus, with much eagerness to further their studies. Every year,
Fiji, Samoa and Tonga all options for future NSW Cup NRL
The NSW Rugby League has set their sights on fielding teams from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga in their main competition as part of the game’s push into the Pacific. The code’s Pacific expansion remains a key
