Matangi Tonga - Tonga's leading news website
Breaking news
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Thursday 2 July 2026 7:11am
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A showcase of traditional Tongan tau'olunga dancing and costume (teunga) was elegantly presented by 14 Miss Heilala contestants on Tuesday night, at Teufaiva Indoor Stadium, the first night of this week's Miss Heilala judging events.
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Thursday 2 July 2026 6:57am
Fua'amotu, Tongatapu : A fire truck for Ha'apai Airport donated by the Government of Japan under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP), was handed over to Tonga Airports Limited, on 30 June 2026, at Fua'amotu International Airport. Free to view -
Tuesday 30 June 2026 11:48pm
Sydney, Australia : Tongan international Haumole Olakau'atu says improving the effort areas of his game helped him win back his place in the NSW State of Origin side after being dropped for game two of the series. By: Jasper Bruce / AAP Free to view -
Tuesday 30 June 2026 11:31pm
Auckland, New Zealand : Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming health systems worldwide—but for Māori and Pacific communities, ensuring it is safe, equitable, and effective remains a critical challenge. Free to view -
Monday 29 June 2026 11:26pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Members of the Free Wesleyan Church from Vava'u performed a traditional Lakalaka, during celebrations marking 200 years of Methodist Christianity in Tonga, in Nuku'alofa on June 27. Free to view -
Monday 29 June 2026 10:00pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Kolomotu'a's 'Ikale (Eagles) was given the Pataloni (Patrons) shield as champions of the Tongatapu Sub-Union Pataloni title 2026 after edging Ha'ateiho Spartans 28-25 in a closely contested grand final at Teufaiva Stadium. Free to view -
Monday 29 June 2026 9:56pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The new petroleum prices for July to August will drop slightly, effective from 1 July 2026, the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development (MTED) announced today. Free to view -
Monday 29 June 2026 9:54pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga recorded its coldest June temperature on Friday, 26 June 2026, breaking a 41-year-old record. Free to view -
Friday 26 June 2026 11:43pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : One of the 15 contestants in this year's Miss Heilala Pageant, has withdrawn from the competition, the Heilala Festival Committee has announced, following yesterday's orientation event. The judging events are set to begin on Tuesday next week with 14 contestants facing a pre-Pageant interview in the morning and the Tau'olunga traditional dancing event in the evening.
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Friday 26 June 2026 8:44pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Thirteen-year-old Mohe Lomu was named the Tonga’s best local player, at the first of its kind national chess tournament in Nuku’alofa. Premium content
Opinion
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Saturday 20 June 2026 7:29pm
New Delhi, India : The prospect of artificial general intelligence—systems capable of performing any human cognitive task—has inspired both hope and anxiety. While AGI could usher in an unprecedented increase in global living standards, it could also sharply reduce demand for human labour, fueling unemployment, social unrest, and conflict. Much of the AI debate in recent years has swung between these two extremes. By: Kaushik Basu Free to view
Sports
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Friday 5 June 2026 11:36pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga's athletics team returned with a haul of 38 medals from the Oceania Championship Cup 2026 in Darwin, including 10 gold, 14 silver and 14 bronze, while setting new records and securing international qualification standards. Free to view
Pacific Islands
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Tuesday 23 June 2026 11:58pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : An El Niño was officially declared for Tonga for the next 3 to 6 months, following sustained warming of sea surface temperatures across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, and corresponding changes in the coupling effect of ocean-atmospheric circulation, the Tonga Meteorological Services (TMS) under Ministry of MEIDECC stated, 19 June 2026. Free to view
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Monday 22 June 2026 9:38pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : MEIDECC is seeking comments on an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for the replacement and upgrade of the Tapuhia Waste Water Treatment Plant. A copy of the EAl Report may be inspected at the MEIDECC Environment Office, Fatafehi Road, Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu. Free to view -
Thursday 18 June 2026 12:32pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The Tonga Energy Commission has approved an increase in the electricity tariff from 1 June 2026, from 121.63 to 125.02 seniti per kilowatt-hour (seniti/kWh), a rise of 2.8%. The increase follows a 7.2% rise in the June wholesale price of diesel for power generation, as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to push global fuel prices higher. Free to view -
Wednesday 17 June 2026 11:23pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A call is now open for applications to the Tonga Climate Change Fund for funding proposals under these thematic grant windows including: Agriculture, Agroforestry, Tourism, Fisheries, Energy, Capacity Building and Climate Finance Sustainability. These grants aim to strengthen community resilience, safeguard livelihoods, and advance Tonga’s national climate change priorities. Free to view -
Wednesday 17 June 2026 11:04pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Ko e fanongonongo ni ki he ngaahi Kautaha ni, ke fakahu mai homou tohi kole ki he ngaahi ‘elia ‘e 7 ko ‘eni ‘o kau ki ai ‘a e: Ngoue, Ngoue Tuifio mo e Vao ‘Akau, Takimamata, Toutai, Ma’u’anga Ivi, Fakalakalaka ‘o e Taukei Ngaue mo e Tolonga ‘o e Pa’anga Feliuliuaki ‘o e ‘Ea. ‘Oku fakataumu’a ‘a e ngaahi tokoni ko ‘eni ke fakamalohia ‘a e tu’unga matuúaki ‘a e Komiuniti, malu’i ‘a e ngaahi ma’u’anga mo’ui, pea mo fakalakalaka ‘a e ngaahi mahu’inga ‘uluaki fakafonua ‘a Tonga ki he feliuliuaki ‘o e ‘ea. Free to view -
Tuesday 16 June 2026 9:18pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The Government of Tonga has showcased ten years of ocean governance reform at the Australia-Pacific Ocean Business Leaders Summit, demonstrating how a whole-of-government approach is supporting the sustainable management of its entire ocean estate. The reforms, anchored by Ocean7 and strengthened through new policy and legislative tools, position Tonga at the forefront of integrated ocean governance in the Pacific. Free to view
