Matangi Tonga - Tonga's leading news website
Breaking news
-
Tuesday 3 February 2026 5:45pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games King's Baton Relay has arrived in Tonga for a six-day celebration. To mark its arrival, the Tonga-designed baton was presented to the Crown Prince last night, with several events scheduled to follow.
Free to view -
Tuesday 3 February 2026 5:40pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : New petroleum prices for February 2026 have been approved by the Tonga Competent Authority to drop this week, 2 February, the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development advised. The price of petrol have decreased by 10.00 seniti/litre, kerosene by 15.00 seniti/litre, and diesel decreased by 25.00 seniti/litre. Free to view -
Tuesday 3 February 2026 5:37pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga's Justice Minister, Hon. Dr Viliami Latu and Solicitor General Sione Sisifa will attend the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting, to will be held in Nadi, Fiji next week, from 9 to 12 February 2026. Outcomes are expected to help shape the agenda for this year's CHOGM. "The meeting takes place at a time when the rule of law is steadily declining around the world," the Commonwealth Secretariat stated today. Free to view -
Tuesday 3 February 2026 11:12am
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Four community-based aged care centres will be built, with three in Tongatapu and one in Vava’u, under the Tonga Integrated Aged Care Project, said the Minister for Ministry of Internal Affairs, Hon. Fane Fituafe. Her Ministry is also prioritising a review of the Tonga Labour Mobility Policy 2024, and planning renovations to sports facilities in preparation for Tonga's hosting of the Pacific Games in 2031. Free to view -
Monday 2 February 2026 12:21pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Two individuals from Havelu have been arrested and charged following a Tonga Police drugs operation conducted in Havelu on Thursday, 29 January 2026. Free to view -
Saturday 31 January 2026 8:46pm
Nuku'alofa Tonga : The height of steam and vapour emissons from Home Reef have increased in January, during an ongoing eruption. The Alert Colour Code (ACC) for the Aviation Community is now increased to ORANGE, due to the possibility of ash being emitted, the Tonga Geological Services Volcano Watch reported this week. Free to view -
Saturday 31 January 2026 6:57pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The suspension of the United States visa, previously enjoyed by Tongan visitors to the USA, was triggered by high percentages of visa overstayers, the Minister for His Majesty’s Diplomatic Services, Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala, told reporters yesterday, when questioned on the issue at the Prime Minister's first official media briefing for the year.
Premium content -
Friday 30 January 2026 11:16pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Kolofo’ou in Tongatapu signed a sister city partnership with East Palo Alto, at the US Embassy in Nuku’alofa today, 30 January 2026, in a first “sister city” partnership between Tonga and the United States of America. Premium content -
Friday 30 January 2026 6:51pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : President of the Tonga Breast Cancer Society, Hon. Fredrica Tuita received a cheque for $5,000 panga from ANZ Tonga Country Head, David Dudley today, at the ANZ Ma’ufanga branch. Premium content -
Thursday 29 January 2026 8:25pm
Auckland, New Zealand : Gout—a chronic condition that disproportionately affects Pacific populations – was the subject of an educational research project led by two Tongan academics, who partnered closely with Pacific groups in New Zealand. Premium content
Opinion
-
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 -
Thursday 29 January 2026 11:41am
Geneva, Switzerland : Healthy food in schools can help children develop healthy dietary habits for life, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which released a new global guideline on evidence-based policies and interventions to create healthy school food environments. For the first time, WHO is advising countries to adopt a whole-school approach that ensures food and beverages provided in schools and available throughout the broader school food environments are healthy and nutritious. In 2025, about 1 in 10 school-aged children and adolescents – 188 million – were living with obesity worldwide, surpassing for the first time the number of children who are underweight. Free to view
Promoted Content
-
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
