Matangi Tonga - Tonga's leading news website
Breaking news
-
Friday 19 June 2026 11:00pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A police investigation is underway to identify a male body that was discovered on Thursday, 18 June 2026 near the Masefield Naval Base, in Touliki.
Free to view -
Friday 19 June 2026 10:58pm
Suva Fiji : Community and regional responses are essential to combat the rise in transnational crime in the Pacific, particularly the drug crisis, regional law enforcement experts have warned. Free to view -
Suva Fiji : As artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies spread rapidly across the Pacific, leaders are warning that the same tools creating new opportunities for youth, education and cultural preservation, also increase the risks of misinformation, online harm and social division. Free to view -
Thursday 18 June 2026 10:59pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : During a late sitting tonight, the Legislative Assembly of Tonga approved the national annual Budget of $949.4 million pa'anga for FY 2026-2027, passing the Appropriation Bill with amendments. By: Katalina Siasau / Matangi Tonga. Free to view -
Thursday 18 June 2026 5:10pm
Rarotonga, Cook Islands : HM King Tupou VI received a warm and ceremonial welcome upon his arrival in Rarotonga on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, during an official visit in his capacity as Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific (USP). Free to view -
Thursday 18 June 2026 5:07pm
Melbourne, Australia : Melbourne Mavericks star goaler Uneeq Palavi is named for the Tonga netball team in Glasgow as they make their Commonwealth Games debut. Palavi, 25, has helped the Tongan Tala qualify for the tournament after the island nation climbed to No.8 in the world rankings. By: Melissa Woods / AAP Free to view -
Thursday 18 June 2026 5:00pm
Suva, Fiji : Pacific energy experts, meeting in Suva, Fiji, have warned that the region must accelerate its transition away from fossil fuels while learning from past failures, arguing the current fuel crisis highlights the urgent need for renewable energy solutions. Free to view -
Wednesday 17 June 2026 9:54pm
Queensland, Australia : Finau Ohuafi has spent years trying to break the 54-second barrier. The 25-year-old Tongan swimmer, who has qualified for the 50m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 100m freestyle at next month’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, said the move to Bond University on Australia's Gold Coast had helped him make a major breakthrough. Free to view -
Wednesday 17 June 2026 8:51pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Business Link Pacific (BLP) is expanding support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Tonga as private sector leaders gather for the Tonga National Business Conference 2026. Businesses were also advised to prepare for continued volatility in fuel prices and supply conditions. Free to view -
Wednesday 17 June 2026 8:34pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga will observe a special public holiday on Friday 26 June 2026 to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the introduction and establishment of Christianity in the Kingdom of Tonga. Free to view
Sports
-
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
-
Monday 15 June 2026 4:11pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Pacific Islands leaders are appealing for global peace, expressing their concern about increasing global tensions among major powers. A collective message published on 13 June, called for all world leaders “to uphold the Charter of the United Nations and to tolerate and respect the rights and dignity of all peoples and nations”. Pacific Islands Forum Leaders affirmed their declaration of the Blue Pacific Continent as an Ocean of Peace in 2025. Free to view
Promoted Content
-
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 -
Friday 22 May 2026 10:46pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : BSP Tonga customers and businesses are experiencing faster and more reliable payment transactions following the rollout of upgraded EFTPoS terminals across the country. More than 400 older terminals have been replaced with new Verifone V660P 4G devices as part of BSP’s wider K1.2 billion modernisation program aimed at strengthening digital banking infrastructure and improving customer service across the Pacific. Free to view
