Results for Tonga

Youth from the communities of Nuku’alofa, Hahake, and Hihifo took part in a competition event highlighting climate resilience and social change, under the Agents for Change Project, at the Nuku'alofa waterfront today.

A prisoner at Hu'atolitoli Prison was charged with possession of cannabis last week, and another charged with cultivation, while in a separate incident, a man from Matangiake was arrested after Tonga Customs seized a hand gun and ammunition that was imported to Tonga.

An emotional Siaosi ‘Ofakivahakifolau Sovaleni (51) was elected as Tonga's new Prime Minister Designate just before 3:00pm this afternoon, winning 16 votes in the Legislative Assembly at Nuku'alofa.

Two nominees for Prime Minister Designate, named as Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni and ‘Aisake Valu Eke, have addressed the newly elected Members of the Tonga Legislative Assembly this morning in an ongoing meeting, which started at 10:00am at Parliament House in Nuku'alofa. Other members are now speaking before they take a break to prepare for a secret ballot. By Linny Folau.

Around 7,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, donated by the Japanese Government via COVAX, arrived in Tonga this afternoon, Tuesday. “I hope today’s vaccines could help accelerate the on-going inoculation and that we could make the Kingdom well prepared before it comes,” said HE Mr Kensaku Munenaga. However, we cannot, we should not keep closing our border forever, he said. “Only with a change of the policy, Tongans who have been stuck outside of the Kingdom can meet their families here in Tonga.”

Tonga's critical shortage of sand for construction purposes has motivated a local man to find an alternative source of fine aggregate. Viliami Lolohea is currently building a small house at Fangaloto, trialling bricks made with imported Ferronickel slag. Last Friday, 10 December, King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u visited the building site to view the foundations of what will be the first house to be constructed locally with cement and slag

Those in Tonga aged 18 and above are urged to get inoculated before the current stock of AstraZeneca vaccines expire on 13 December. Pfizer vaccines for 12-17 year olds currently in the country will expire on December 20.

A total of 24 people have been charged as a result of a six-month joint investigation by the NZ Police’s National Organised Crime Group and NZ Customs investigating vulnerabilities at the New Zealand border. In August, five people were arrested, after a container sent from Tonga was found to contain 30kgs of methamphetamine at the Auckland Port.

Before nominations for Tonga's next Prime Minister close on Tuesday next week, the People's Representatives are busy aligning themselves around two members who are competing to form the new government. By Pesi Fonua.