By Katalina Siasau

Tonga’s Legislative Assembly has unanimously approved a record TOP$992.8 million national budget for the 2025/26 financial year, on Thursday, 19 June, at the Parliament Chamber in Nuku’alofa. The new budget will be effective on 1 July, 2025.

The budget includes TOP$748.9 million in cash spending and TOP$243.9 million in in-kind donor support.

A projected TOP$29.1 million deficit will be financed through domestic bonds, now available to private sector investors.

Key investments include infrastructure upgrades, and renewable energy projects.

Parliament also passed a Community Road Maintenance Fund, allocating TOP$100,000 to each of Tonga’s 17 constituencies.

It approved the schedule for the annual constituency visits in July, ahead of the general election set for November.