MTO Featured Story block
Matangi Tonga - Tonga's leading news website
Breaking news
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Saturday 14 February 2026 12:17am
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : HM King Tupou VI and HM Queen Nanasipau'u, accompanied by members of the Royal Family of Tonga, attended a diplomatic reception last night, 12 February, at ‘Anana, marking the 66th birthday of Emperor Naruhito of Japan. The event was hosted by the Ambassador of Japan to Tonga, HE Inagaki Hisao. In his speech, the Ambassador noted that looking forward, Tonga and Japan would "enhance our shared commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region based on the rule of law."
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Friday 13 February 2026 5:02pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A 51-year-old woman suffered a fractured skull and permanent damage to her arm, while her daughter’s nursing studies were disrupted, after a violent machete attack that the Lord Chief Justice described as intolerable domestic brutality. Free to view -
Friday 13 February 2026 1:20pm
Utah, USA : A professional pickleball player Etta Tuionetoa (33), of Tongan heritage, has established her place in the top tier league of the Professional Pickleball Association in the USA, where she holds four gold medals (doubles and mixed) and an impressive winning streak. She hails as the first Tongan-American pro player in the sport. Free to view -
Thursday 12 February 2026 4:30pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A three-day Tonga Police Annual Conference 2026 has brought together commissioned officers from across the country to enhance leadership capability, strengthen organisational performance, and strategically plan for the evolving demands of modern policing. Free to view -
Thursday 12 February 2026 3:06pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Mekiloni Fotu Aso (39) is serving one year in prison for counts that included the cultivation of 63 cannabis plants weighing 427.95 grams and possession of 266.08 grams of cannabis seized at his home in Fua’amotu last year. Free to view -
Thursday 12 February 2026 2:58pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Pita Lolohea is serving 18 months in prison for counts that included the theft of electronics valued at around $14,756 pa'anga and serious wilful damage when he broke into the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in March last year. Free to view -
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Several consignments containing undeclared firearms and rounds of ammunition, alcohol, and fireworks, with no permit, were intercepted by Customs officers between December 2025 and January 2026.
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Wednesday 11 February 2026 10:27pm
Nadi, Fiji : Tonga's Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Dr Viliami Latu, attended the Commonwealth Law Ministers meeting, joining more than 250 delegates, in Nadi, on Monday, 9 February. Commonwealth Secretary-General Hon. Shirley Botchwey said the meeting comes at a time when many people feel unsettled by political uncertainty, economic volatility and environmental threats. Premium content -
Tuesday 10 February 2026 9:43pm
San Francisco, USA : New Zealand-born Tongan, George Holani, made his Super Bowl LX debut yesterday, 9 February 2026, at the Levi Stadium, San Francisco - where his team the Seattle Seahawks emerged champions - defeating the New England Patriots, who also had a player of Tongan heritage in their team. Premium content -
Tuesday 10 February 2026 3:18pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : There's a moderate to high risk of Tonga being affected by at least one severe Tropical Cyclone (TC) by the end of the tropical cyclone season for 2025-26, during its peak between February to March 2026, says the latest seasonal outlook from Tonga Met released today. Premium content
Opinion
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Thursday 12 February 2026 4:05pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Deep seabed mining is often presented as a new economic frontier for Pacific nations—a source of revenue, jobs, and minerals needed for the global energy transition. But when we look beyond the promises and examine the evidence, the conclusion for Tonga is clear: deep seabed mining is a high-risk gamble we cannot afford to take. This is not an argument against development. It is an argument for choosing development paths that protect our people, our ocean, and our future. - Johnny Grattan Vaea Taione. Free to view -
Wednesday 4 February 2026 9:41am
Geneva, Switzerland : Up to four in ten cancer cases worldwide could be prevented, according to a new global analysis from the World Health Organization (WHO) and its International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The study examines 30 preventable causes, including tobacco, alcohol, high body mass index, physical inactivity, air pollution, ultraviolet radiation – and for the first time – nine cancer-causing infections. Three cancer types – lung, stomach and cervical cancer – accounted for nearly half of all preventable cancer cases in both men and women, globally. Free to view -
Monday 2 February 2026 3:48pm
: The global ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty marks a decisive moment in international cooperation and ocean governance. Referred to as the High Seas Treaty, the agreement establishes a legally binding framework to protect marine biodiversity in areas of the ocean that lie beyond national jurisdiction. By Mohseen Riaz-Ud-Dean and Ashna Kumar. Free to view -
Monday 2 February 2026 12:54pm
Toronto, Canada : Timothy Snyder sees in the public executions of US citizens by federal agents a move to turn the entire US into a border zone. Free to view
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Suva, Fiji : The journey back to the lecture halls of The University of the South Pacific for Lesieli Fekitamoelotu Huihahau, was a powerful declaration that it’s never too late to chase your dream. The 30-year-old, who hails from Ha‘apai, recently graduated with a Postgraduate Diploma in Agriculture from USP’s Tonga Campus. Free to view -
Tuesday 20 January 2026 8:32pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The Commissioners of the Energy Commission are pleased to announce an electricity tariff reduction of 2.58 seniti per kWh (kilowatt hour). This is a 4.1% reduction from the last quarter (Oct–Dec 2025) when the electricity tariff was 92.16 seniti per kWh. The new electricity tariff for this quarter is $0.8958 seniti per kWh. / Kuo tali ‘e he kau Komisiona Ma’u’anga Ivi ke fakahoko atu ‘a e holo ‘a e totongi ‘uhila ‘aki ‘a e seniti ‘e 2.58 ki he kWh. Ko e holo ‘eni ‘aki ‘a e peseti ‘e 4.1% mei he kuata (‘Okatopa-Tisema 2025) ‘i he taimi na’e seniti ai ‘e 92.16 ki he kWh. Ko e totongi ‘uhila fo’ou ni ke ngaue’aki ma’ae fonua fakalukufua ko e seniti ‘e $0.8958 ki he kWh. Free to view
