Matangi Tonga - Tonga's leading news website
Breaking news
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Thursday 16 September 2021 8:04pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A 45-year-old man from Nukuhetulu, charged with the exportation of 30 kilograms of methamphetamine from Tonga, is to appear at the Magistrate's Court on Monday, September 20. The alleged methamphetamine was seized in New Zealand last month. The accused was arrested on September 9 in Tonga.
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Thursday 16 September 2021 7:43pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : On the closing of the 2021 parliamentary session today, King Tupou VI stated that it was important for the House to make sure that the government of the day used taxpayers' money wisely. In a speech read by Lord Ve'ehala, the King said that in this election year Tonga faces many challenges, including illicit drugs, the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. He wished Tongans: “All the best for sensible voting in the coming November election.” From the House by Pesi Fonua. Free to view -
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Kaufusi Moala (30) was sentenced today to six-months imprisonment for possession of 0.26 grams of methamphetamine. The sentence was fully suspended on conditions. Free to view -
Thursday 16 September 2021 5:44pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A repatriation flight from Pago Pago, American Samoa, and Apia, Western Samoa, is now scheduled to arrive in Tonga with nine passengers on 22 September, said MEIDECC CEO Paula Ma’u today. Free to view -
Wednesday 15 September 2021 6:07pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Thirty kilograms of methamphetamine, exported from Tonga to New Zealand in a refrigerated food container, was seized in a joint operation by police and customs taskforces. There have been six arrests: one in Tonga and five in New Zealand, Tonga Police announced today. Free to view -
Wednesday 15 September 2021 5:41pm
Auckland, New Zealand : Seasonal workers from Tonga, Samoa, and Vanuatu will be able to travel to New Zealand quarantine-free starting in October, announced New Zealand’s COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor yesterday, September 14. The arrangement will help New Zealand’s horticulture industry for the upcoming picking season. Free to view -
Wednesday 15 September 2021 5:35pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Kalafitoni Toluta’u (42), a deportee and repeat offender, was sentenced today to two-years six-months imprisonment for possession of 2.8 grams of methamphetamine, seized at 'Utulau in 2018. . Free to view -
Tuesday 14 September 2021 6:21pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The Centenary Tournament featuring eight men’s 15-a-side and eight women’s sevens rugby premier teams will be launched on Friday, 17 September at Teufaiva Stadium, to commemorate 100 years of rugby in the kingdom, Tonga Rugby Union announced today. Free to view -
Tuesday 14 September 2021 6:15pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Repatriation flights due to arrive from Australia and New Zealand this month have been deferred due to COVID-19, confirmed MEIDECC CEO Paula Ma’u today. Free to view -
Tuesday 14 September 2021 6:08pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding was taught to students at GPS Hofoa today who made folded shapes of a helmet, a heart and a balloon. Origami encourages students to concentrate and focus, said Tamada Iku, cultural and education officer at the Embassy of Japan in Tonga. Free to view
World
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Friday 17 September 2021 12:47pm
Sydney, Australia : New York Times News Analysis: When Scott Morrison became Australia’s prime minister three years ago, he insisted that the country could maintain close ties with China, its largest trading partner, while working with the United States, its main security ally. “Australia doesn’t have to choose,” he said in one of his first foreign policy speeches. On Thursday, Australia effectively chose. Following years of sharply deteriorating relations with Beijing, Australia announced a new defense agreement in which the United States and Britain would help it deploy nuclear-powered submarines, a major advance in Australian military strength. -
Friday 17 September 2021 12:22pm
Paris, France : New York Times Reporting: President Joe Biden’s announcement of a deal to help Australia deploy nuclear-powered submarines has strained the Western alliance, infuriating France and foreshadowing how the conflicting U.S. and European responses to confrontation with China may redraw the global strategic map. The Biden administration appears to be upping the ante with Beijing by providing a Pacific ally with submarines that are much harder to detect than conventional ones.
Sports
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Thursday 9 September 2021 5:11pm
: New York Times reporting: Six golfers were named on Wednesday Sept. 8 to round out the 12-man American team that will compete in the latest Ryder Cup match against a team of European golfers to be played Sept. 24 to 26 at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wisconsin. The U.S. Ryder Cup captain, Steve Stricker, selected as his choices Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Harris English, Daniel Berger and Scottie Scheffler. Free to view
Pacific Islands
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Wednesday 15 September 2021 9:03pm
Hamilton, New Zealand : In New Zealand, the University of Waikato, in support of increased Covid-19 vaccination rates among Māori and Pacific communities, will host a vaccination clinic and drive on September 16 to mark Kīngitanga day. There is concern that vaccination rates among the Māori and Pacific communities are lower when compared to the New Zealand national average, while some studies also suggest that Pacific people are three times more likely to need hospitalisation when infected with the virus than non-Pacific people. Free to view -
Wednesday 15 September 2021 8:53pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Emosi Vakarua, the Secretary General of the University of the South Pacific Students' Association is calling on the Fijian Government to release the grant payments that it owes to the University of the South Pacific (USP). Free to view
Sponsored Posts
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Friday 10 September 2021 1:34pm
Port Vila, Vanuatu : The newly formed WanTok Pacific Corporation (WPC) is launching a dynamic mobile, broadband, and money transfer service for the people of Tonga and Vanuatu. The new company launched its new brand identity and new broadband plans for consumers and businesses in both countries on September 3, 2021. WanTok Tonga is based at the PTH Building in Nuku'alofa. Free to view -
Friday 3 September 2021 5:07pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The inaugural Tourism Leaders’ Summit was held on Monday 23 August, at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre, with a theme “Leadership Refocus for Tourism's Survival” to discuss the best ways forward for securing the tourism sector’s survival in Tonga. The summit will continue on a quarterly basis, leading up to the National Tourism Forum in early 2022. Free to view
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.
Latest Comments
Letters to MTO says:
So at the end did they vote in favour or against the death penalty? In the way it is described in the article, those parliamentarians did not want and yet they did because it got so late.
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