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Matangi Tonga - Tonga's leading news website
Breaking news
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Monday 20 April 2026 7:15pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Hu’atolitoli Prison on Tongatapu is coming under increasing strain as a surge in drug-related offending pushes inmate numbers higher, raising concerns about overcrowding, rehabilitation capacity, and delayed infrastructure projects.
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Monday 20 April 2026 4:56pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A transition to El Niño is highly likely, with over a 60% chance of its development between May and July 2026 in the Pacific, the Tonga Meteorological Services stated on its Climate & Ocean Outlook May-July 2026.
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Monday 20 April 2026 4:54pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Three new dengue fever cases were recorded over the weekend, bringing the total to 20 cases throughout Tonga at 19 April, the Ministry of Health reported. A dengue fever outbreak was declared for Tonga on 16 April 2026.
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Friday 17 April 2026 8:36pm
: Teufaiva Stadium was full of color on the third day of the annual Inter-Collegiate athletic sports competition Thursday 16 April 2026. ‘Atele’s runner Mounga Leao has placed first in all of his events including his win in the 400m hurdles. Liahona High School dominated the Open boys 200m sprint event and the senior boys 400m boys event.
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Friday 17 April 2026 8:28pm
Nadi, Fiji : To address emerging regional challenges like oil supply issues and matters regarding peace, Pacific Islands Forum Troika leaders met in Fiji this week, discussing challenges and reinforcing the importance of unity, strong leadership, and collective action for navigating the Pacific's future, in an increasingly uncertain global landscape.
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Friday 17 April 2026 3:26pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : To ensure that Tonga is well-positioned to respond effectively to the impacts of climate change, the government through the Department of Climate Change under MEIDECC held a National Loss and Damage Evidence Base Validation Workshop to look at draft findings of the evidence base of loss and damage in Tonga.
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Thursday 16 April 2026 8:04pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A dengue fever outbreak was today declared by the Ministry of Health, after confirming six cases of dengue fever across Tonga. More cases are expected through community transmission.
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Thursday 16 April 2026 8:01pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A highlight of the second day of the Inter-Collegiate Athletic Sports competition, sponsored by Tonga Health, yesterday was the 4x100m relay heats, showcasing determination from the athletes competing for their schools at Teufaiva Stadium on15 April 2026.
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Thursday 16 April 2026 7:43pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tongan flags will be flown at half-staff tomorrow, Friday 17 April 2026, in respect of the State Funeral of HE Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, in Suva, Fiji.
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Thursday 16 April 2026 3:23pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Talikavili Loloa has been sentenced to three years and six months’ imprisonment for a series of offences in 2024, including violent nighttime attacks on two women in their homes, alongside charges of housebreaking and theft.
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Opinion
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Friday 13 March 2026 6:35pm
Auckland, New Zealand : The Tongan general election of November 2025 was interesting, particularly because of the short life of the Eke administration, the election period itself, and of course the outcome and subsequent formation of the Fakafanua-led government. If we were to describe the election process and its outcome in two words, it would be: certain uncertainty. Or, as the French say: “plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose” - the more things change, the more they stay the same. - Malakai Koloamatangi.
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Friday 6 March 2026 10:01am
New York, USA : The war with Iran is widening faster than many expected. The Islamic Republic’s retaliation against Arab Gulf states has extended beyond military targets to critical civilian infrastructure, including airports, water desalination plants, and energy facilities. Hezbollah has opened a second front from Lebanon. US President Donald Trump suggests that operations could last “four to five weeks,” but with nearly 50 senior Iranian officials having been killed, it is unclear who might be positioned to negotiate an off-ramp. Trump may have wanted a localized confrontation, but he has instead lit a match in the center of the global energy system. - Carolyn Kissane
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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.
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Pacific Islands
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Wednesday 25 February 2026 2:52pm
London, UK : Australian photographer Jono Allen has been named the World Nature Photographer of the Year after capturing a rare and breathtaking image of a white humpback whale calf, known as Mãhina, with her mother, in the waters of Vava’u, Tonga.
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Promoted Content
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Tuesday 31 March 2026 11:03pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Capital Insurance Tonga Ltd has changed its company name to TISA Insurance (Tonga) Limited on 27 November 2025 as part of the Company’s rebranding initiative.
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Tuesday 31 March 2026 8:45pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : MBF Bank Limited has announced strong financial results for the Financial Year 2025 (FY2025), marking a year of solid growth and strategic transformation focused on supporting entrepreneurs, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and women led businesses.
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Thursday 26 March 2026 11:13pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga Gas Limited advises the public that LPG supply across Tongatapu and the outer islands remains stable and continues without interruption. Our supply volumes are sufficient for 100% of Tonga’s gas requirement.
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Monday 2 March 2026 1:40pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : In accordance with section (81 & 82) of the Financial Institution’s Act, MBF Bank Limited is hereby publishing the list of Unclaimed Monies at the MBF Bank Limited as at 31 December 2025.
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Friday 27 February 2026 2:57pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : BSP Tonga | Bank of South Pacific Tonga Limited (BSP) today announced a Net Profit after Tax of T$15.2 million for the financial year ending 31 December 2025.
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