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Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The suspension of Lulutai Airline’s engineering licence on 19 July was due to a "misunderstanding between the Civil Aviation Office and Lulutai regarding the hangar.” the Acting Prime Minister, Dr. Taniela Fusimalohi, told a media briefing today. MPE Minister Piukala said he received multiple complaints from whale watching companies, businesses, private individuals, and also Ministers over the suspension of flights to outer islands for several days earlier this week. -
Saturday 26 July 2025 12:03am
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : An informal educational program for young adults, called ‘Family Life Education Out of School’ was launched in Nuku'alofa today, 25 July 2025. The program delivered by the Talitha Project in partnership with UNFPA, aims to help young people learn how to make better decisions. -
Friday 25 July 2025 11:36pm
Washington D.C., U.S.A : A former US mormon missionary, who served in Tonga, was arrested yesterday, 24 July, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and on charges related to the exploitation of minors who had been entrusted to his care. A U.S. Department of Justice investigation so far has identified 14 minor victims throughout Tonga in offending that began in 2017. William James Purdy of West Valley, Utah, was arrested by Tonga Police in October 2022 but fled the kingdom before his scheduled trial. -
Thursday 24 July 2025 9:44pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : In its first-ever ruling on climate, the International Court of Justice (the “World Court”) makes it clear that States have an obligation to protect the environment from greenhouse gas emissions and act with due diligence and cooperation to fulfill this obligation. The legal initiative taken by Vanuatu to the ICJ was inspired by its youth. "This is a victory for our planet, for climate justice and for the power of young people to make a difference," said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. -
Thursday 24 July 2025 4:18pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : “Good governance is a gift we pass on to our children, like a precious family heirloom, leaving them a nation built on a strong foundation,” said the Head of the Commonwealth’s Rule of Law Section, Dr. Elizabeth Macharia, in Nuku'alofa, Tonga yesterday, at the opening of the Latimer House Dialogues for Tonga's executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
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Wednesday 23 July 2025 5:01pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The Royal Tonga Police Band won best ‘Overall Performance’ in the first-ever Pacific Police Band Tattoo, held in Papua New Guinea yesterday, 22 July 2025. Premium content -
Wednesday 23 July 2025 4:38pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : ‘Aisea Pese Havea (42) is serving one year and eight months in prison for cultivation of cannabis plants seized at a home in Ha’ateiho by police officers, who were led there by a student who was reported to be in possession at Tonga College. Premium content -
Wednesday 23 July 2025 1:32pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Lulutai Airlines Y12 and Twin Otter aircraft flights to Ha'apai and other islands resumed, under a temporary lifting of a suspension by the Civil Aviation Office today, 23 July. However, the lifting of the 3-day old suspension is provisional and the compliance will be closely monitored, the Civil Aviation Office noted. -
Tuesday 22 July 2025 10:45pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga's Civil Aviation Office announced via Facebook this morning, its suspension of the Lulutai Airlines Ltd's Part 145 Maintenance Certificate, stating it was due to "confirmed breaches of the Civil Aviation Rules." Premium content -
Tuesday 22 July 2025 10:23pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The Ministry of Health is pushing to increase HPV vaccination coverage this week, particularly in Tongatapu, where health officials have noted community resistance. This initiative aims for long-term cervical cancer prevention. Currently, the national HPV vaccination coverage stands at 57%, and the ministry aims to get 80% coverage by the end of the year. Adolescent girls aged 10 to 14 years, who are the primary recipients of the HPV vaccine. Premium content -
Tuesday 22 July 2025 10:10pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Sione Kei’aloha Langi (31) and Viliami Pongi (42) were jailed for charges including serious housebreaking and theft of goods worth $20,440 from a business in Veitongo. Premium content -
Tuesday 22 July 2025 10:02pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tevita Lui’s claim to evict Saralee Soakai from his tax allotment in Toula, Vava’u was dismissed after a Land Court judge ruled that a Tenancy Agreement remains in force until 2055, and there was no breach in the agreement. Premium content -
Tuesday 22 July 2025 12:07am
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A Commonwealth delegation will visit Tonga to host a high-level dialogue for members of the executive, legislature, and judiciary on the Latimer House Principles, from 23 to 24 July. Premium content -
Monday 21 July 2025 7:07pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga's Minister of Tourism, Hon. Mo'ale Finau is stranded in Ha'apai along with at least 69 visitors who currently have no way out, after Tonga's Civil Aviation Division on Friday suspended the Lulutai Airlines domestic operations of two small aircraft, citing safety reasons. Hon. Finau told Matangi Tonga today that he does not yet know how many incoming and outgoing international visitors are affected nationwide by the suspension of flights, but confirmed 69 visitors are known to be stuck in Ha'apai. Premium content -
Monday 21 July 2025 6:37pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga's Civil Aviation Division (CAD) suspended Lulutai Airlines Ltd. operations as of Friday, 18 July, citing "safety" as the main reason, after the airline did not meet the required standard for aircraft maintenance on its Twin Otter(A3-KLT) and A3-SP aircraft. Premium content -
Saturday 19 July 2025 12:23am
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Penisimani Foukimoana Koli Moa (33) was imprisoned for one year and eight months, after he entered the Emerald Hotel and pointed a .22 pistol at the forehead of an employee. “The defendant foolishly thought it appropriate to carry in his trouser pocket an unlicensed .22 pistol, while out drinking,” stated the judge. Premium content -
Friday 18 July 2025 12:01am
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Nina Halatanu won her claim against her late husband’s first wife and heir to evict them from a town allotment in Nukuleka, in a ruling by a Land Court judge who found that, for the time being, no rights exceed hers as widow. Premium content -
Thursday 17 July 2025 4:48pm
Auckland, New Zealand : Tongan researchers, Dr. Jean M Uasike Allen (Pacific Youth) and Dr. Siobhan Tu’akoi (Pacific Health), were recognized at the 2025 Te Taumata Rangahau Celebrating Research Excellence Awards, celebrating the important role of research at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. Premium content -
Wednesday 16 July 2025 11:02pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Five people aged between 15 and 55 years were arrested on this week, during several drug operations conducted by the Police Drug Enforcement Unit across Tongatapu. Authorities also seized items included cannabis plants, methamphetamine, drug utensils and cash. Premium content -
Tuesday 15 July 2025 11:17pm
Suva, Fiji : Pacific representatives have called for urgent reform to climate finance and regional cooperation at a high-level panel on climate security on day one of the 2025 Pacific Regional and National Security Conference, being held in Suva, Fiji from 14-16 July. Premium content
