Four babies made their entrance into the world on New Year’s Day in Tongatapu and Vava'u, with the first born just 20 minutes after midnight at the capital's Vaiola Hospital.

A healthy baby boy named Kevin Joseph Toke, from Ha’ateiho, weighed 3.4kg. His parents, Telesia and Sefo Toke said Kevin is their fourth child.

The second baby was born at 2.20am also at Vaiola Hospital. Both parents and babies were discharged from the hospital later on New Year’s Day. 

In Vava'u, two babies were born at Prince Ngu Hospital, a baby girl at 5.30am and a baby boy at 12.30pm.

In Ha’apai, the Niu’ui Hospital confirmed there were no babies born on New Year’s Day.

Matangi Tonga was not able to reach anyone in the Niuas or in ‘Eua to confirm any New Year births.

Fiji

Meanwhile, one of the first babies born in the world on New Year’s Day according to UNICEF, was at the War Memorial Hospital in Suva, Fiji, between 12 – 12.01am to proud mother Losena Adi Bale.

Around 740 babies were estimated to be born in the Pacific islands on New Year’s Day.