At a time when labour mobility in Tonga and the Pacific has raised concerns in the face of continuing migration of thousands of labourers overseas, Tonga is implementing a supply management strategy as a pillar of its three-year-old Labour Mobility Policy. “The findings presented to us, highlights the need for the Strategy,” said the Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku in launching the strategy on 13 April.
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Results for seasonal workers
Friday 14 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Monday 20 March 2023
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Canberra, Australia
Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tuku’aho, Tonga’s High Commissioner to Australia, tried her hand at picking and packing raspberries when she visited Tongan fruit pickers, at the Costa Berry Farm in Devonport, Tasmania, on Saturday, 18 March.
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Wednesday 15 February 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Cold and hungry, after a day-long ordeal, some 50 Tongan orchard workers, who were stranded on their bungalow rooftops by rising floodwaters near Hastings, New Zealand, were rescued by the New Zealand Defence Force yesterday evening.
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Tuesday 14 February 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
At least 50 Tongan seasonal workers who are stationed near Hastings are thought to be among the orchard workers stranded by heavy flooding in Hawke's Bay today, where emergency crews were trying to reach them. “There is still no luck in reaching the boys,” Dr. Fotu Fisi’iahi told Matangi Tonga at 3:30pm. Facebook videos showed the precarious situation of the men stranded on the rooftops.
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Thursday 29 September 2022
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Wellington, New Zealand
The New Zealand Government has announced additional 3000 places for the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme (RSE).
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Tuesday 19 October 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s next repatriation flight is on scheduled to arrive from Christchurch, New Zealand, on October 27 with 300 passengers.
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Tuesday 29 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The repatriation flight to Tonga from Brisbane, scheduled on 30 June, has been deferred due to the current COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney and parts of Queensland, MEIDECC stated today. However, the repatriation flight from New Zealand is still scheduled to arrive tomorrow, Wednesday, with about 240 passengers.
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Tuesday 22 June 2021
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Marlborough, New Zealand
Tongan Seasonal Worker, Hiko Lynch (23) of Holonga in Tongatapu died on early Sunday morning, June 20 after he was allegedly stabbed in Blenheim, Marlborough. Two men have been jointly charged with his murder.
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Wednesday 31 March 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A repatriation flight with 110 passengers arrived in Tonga from Auckland, today. Another flight from Australia was scheduled today, to pick up seasonal workers, who are expected to depart for Australia later this evening.
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Tuesday 23 March 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Three repatriation flights to Tonga are now expected to arrive on March 31 and April 1. The flights will be from Auckland, Brisbane and Fiji.
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Thursday 25 February 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
More than 100 seasonal workers left Tonga on a chartered flight for Australia this afternoon, February 25. Tonga has since last year been sending seasonal workers to Australia, despite the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and border closures.
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Thursday 11 February 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
107 passengers were repatriated to Tonga on a chartered flight from Australia this afternoon. A group of seasonal workers also departed Tonga on the same flight.
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Wednesday 10 February 2021
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Sydney, Australia
Eight hundred and fifteen additional seasonal workers from the Pacific Islands, including Tonga, have been approved to help fill jobs in horticulture and meat processing industries in New South Wales, Australia.
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Friday 22 January 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
152 seasonal workers left Tonga on a chartered flight for Tasmania in Australia this afternoon, January 22.
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Tuesday 24 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
117 repatriated passengers arrived at Fua’amotu International Airport from Brisbane, Australia this afternoon. Tongan seasonal workers boarded the return flight to Brisbane.
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Monday 23 November 2020
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Emerald, Australia
The 152 Tongan fruit pickers who arrived in Emerald, Australia, on 29 October were able to work during the two weeks of quarantine on a farm, under a pilot trial, that has saved fruit from rotting. Queensland was the first state in Australia to allow farmworkers to work while quarantining.
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Tuesday 3 November 2020
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Queensland, Australia
One hundred and fifty seasonal workers from Tonga arrived in Queensland on October 29 to fill the shortage of workers needed for the agriculture and horticulture industries between now and Christmas.
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Wednesday 21 October 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two repatriation flights are scheduled to bring 200 passengers in total to Tonga from Brisbane and Auckland next week, on 29 and 30 October the Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola confirmed today.
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Thursday 4 June 2020
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Dunedin, New Zealand
Two Tongan seasonal workers, who pleaded guilty to abduction and sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection of a 35-year-old woman, were imprisoned in Otago, New Zealand, on June 3.
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Friday 17 January 2020
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Dunedin, New Zealand
Two Tongan seasonal workers, Suliasi Fangatua (30) and Taniela Siale (22), both pleaded guilty to violently abducting and raping a 35-year-old woman in February last year, when they appeared before the Dunedin District Court in Otago, New Zealand yesterday 16 January.
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Tonga weather forecast from yr.no, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the NRK. See also Fua'amotu Weather Forecasting Center, Tonga, for latest local weather bulletin.