Results for Pacific Islands

The Lulutai Airlines two aircraft, the Twin Otter and Y12, are resuming their flight services throughout Tongatapu and outer islands, following some disruptions to the schedules.

Tonga Police received new forensics equipment and patrol car in a handover ceremony with the Embassy of China on 19 January.

A 26 year old man was found dead at Patangata on Wednesday evening, 17 January, a suspected suicide case, according to Deputy Police Commissioner Tevita Vailea.

An upgrade to Tonga’s Seismic Network will cover five strategically positioned stations at Nukuhetulu, Tongatapu; Mt. Talau Vava’u; Hihifo, Ha’apai; Niuafo’ou High School, Niuafo’ou; and Hihifo. Niuatoputapu, where upgrades to infrastructure will help to better monitor and detect earthquakes. The work is being funded by the World Bank through the Pacific Resilience Program (PREP).

Two years on, very few tourism businesses have recovered from the impact of the HTHH volcanic eruption and tsunamis that hit Tonga in January 2022. At the time, it was forecast that the disruption to tourism would be felt for at least two years, but now it is clear that it will take much longer for the industry to bounce back after the multiple shocks of recent years. "Recovery is rather slow," says Ministry of Tourism CEO, Viliami Takau. But he is determined that Tonga can build back tourism better.

Community leaders at Ovaka island and Neiafu, Vava'u, received engines for fishing boats, sewing machines, greenhouses, and poultry facilities, donated by the Chinese Embassy in Tonga, to help boost livelihoods in the communities.

Miss Heilala Sitita Va'enuku will represent Tonga at the upcoming Miss Pacific Islands Competition, that will be held in Nauru, from 28 January to 4 February.

A unidentified human head, discovered wrapped in a sack and anchored to the ocean floor, near the Yellow Pier in Nuku’alofa, is no longer a suspected homicide, say Tonga Police, who are now investigating the possibility that it was taken from a grave by people holding supernatural beliefs.

Pacific researchers from Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland, are conducting a Pacific-led research project on the population dynamics of the Pacific region with its 13 million population, with regards to climate change as the single greatest threat facing the Pacific.