Results for Pacific Islands

To build greater equality and inclusion in local sports, sporting leaders, advocates and community representatives met in Nukuʻalofa last week, from 2-4 September, for a three-day Gender and Disability Inclusion workshop that tackled how stereotypes, unconscious bias and inequalities continue to exclude girls, women and people with disabilities from fully participating in sport.

“While we welcome partnerships that respect our sovereignty and priorities, we must remain vigilant,” the outgoing chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Hon. Dr. ‘Aisake Valu Eke, told Pacific leaders at the opening ceremony of the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leader’s Meeting (54PIFLM) on Monday, 8 September in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

As Tonga's economy grapples with intensified global risks, the National Reserve Bank of Tonga (NRBT) has introduced a new monetary policy to help keep the economy stable. Tonga’s economic growth is lower compared to the regional and global growth. An anticipated new 1% US tax on remittances from 1 January 2026, is creating additional downside risks.

The 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) officially opened today, 8 September, at the Stadium, Sports City in the Solomon Islands, after Tonga’s Prime Minister and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Hon. Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke and other forum leaders arrived in Honiara on Saturday, on a special Royal New Zealand Air Force Flight (RNZAF) from Whenuapai, New Zealand.

A significant petrol shortage in Vava'u, which reportedly began yesterday, is causing concern and outrage among residents and local business owners today. Meanwhile, Pacific Energy Limited (Tonga) told Matangi Tonga that fuel will be resupplied to Vava'u on Monday, 8 September.

Tonga’s former Prime Minister, Lord Sevele, was honoured by St Bede’s Catholic College in Christchurch, New Zealand, recently, as one of three Bedeans inducted as Icons of the College for their life‘s work and leadership. The induction was attended by family and friends at an Old Boys Dinner held in Christchurch.

HM King Tupou VI was appointed as the 32nd Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific, for a one year term from 1 July 2025 - 30 June 2026.

A new Art Hub was launched for Takuilau College on Friday, 29 August, as part of the Tonga Young Women’s Economic Resilience’ (TYWER) project, an initiative established by Talitha Project and CARE Australia through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

The Board of Directors of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga has approved the August 2025 Monetary Policy Statement (MPS). Over the past six months, downside risks have intensified, driven by international trade policy uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and weakening global growth. NRBT is therefore adopting a neutral monetary policy stance over the next six months as part of efforts to modernise its monetary policy framework.