All theoretical information aside, when the tsunami wave struck Niuatoputapu, it resulted in seven or more deaths, and significant damage to the village. On the island of Lifuka, in Ha'apai, there was far more damage than "minor flooding." The initial tsunami wave itself was about one meter in height, followed by several waves of lesser height. The subsequent turbulence and the rapidly shifting currents in the Pangai harbor resulted in the sinking of 2 fishing boats, and the grounding of several others. - Tama Pangai
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Results for Opinion
Saturday 3 October 2009
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USA
While it is true that in the deep ocean a tsunami's wavelength is so broad that the wave's height is almost imperceptible, we all know that many small Pacific islands are barely above sea level, and many do not have the sheer drop-offs to the seafloor that would prevent a tsunami from slowing down and rearing up into a very perceptible and very dangerous wave. Both of these traits mean that tsunamis can be dangerous to many Pacific islands, whether the tsunami begins nearby or far away. -Dan Clem
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Friday 2 October 2009
San Diego-California, USA
Si'i fakaa'u atu mu'a 'a e lotu hufia 'o kinautolu Tonga pehe ki hotau kainga Ha'amoa ne si'i ma'ungatamaki 'e he Sunami, ki he Mafi 'o Pangopango pehe ki he Tonga kotoa 'i Ha'amoa 'oku 'iai 'a e faka'amu ne mou hao 'i he fakatamaki ne hoko. 'Oku tau 'ilo'i kotoa pe kapau ne hoko 'a me'a ni 'i Tonga 'e toe fakamamahiange.-Lou 'Uhila
Friday 2 October 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The recent red wave (or tidal wave) in Tonga will of course rake up the discussion again whether Tonga should spend money on an early warning system. My answer is clearly and definitely: no; as is very obvious if one considers the physical properties of red waves, which apparently are not very well known.- Firitia (Kik Velt)
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Tuesday 22 September 2009
Adelaide, Australia
Ko e liliu fakapolitikale mo'oni ... Koha Kau fakafofonga Falealea Fakapotopoto Poto ma'a Tonga 'ikai ko e kau fakafofonga Falealea Tokolahi ange. (Quality not Quantity). -Siale Christopher Kava
Wednesday 9 September 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tongan Parliament is making itself irrelevant to the political reform process that it set for 2010, by failing to agree on the fundamentals for a new system of government for Tonga, and at the same time has left itself out of the decision-making process of the Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission by not meeting the July 6 deadline for submissions. Editor's Comment.
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Tuesday 11 August 2009
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USA
We all know of Pulupaki and Olovaha's un-seaworthiness, we've experienced and seen it first hand. We all remember the stench from the overflowing toilets below, your nostril wouldn't allow you to forget. We all know the unsuitability of an old-whaling ship as a passenger carrier and yet we all understand a 3rd world budget provides for a 3rd world transport system, but is it right we accept it? No! - Sesika Vea
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Monday 10 August 2009
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Australia
When the coup occurred in Fiji in 1987 and my father lost his business and sold the Ashika to the Patterson Brothers Shipping in 1989 and we migrated to New Zealand and then to Australia and in the meantime lost my father on the way. The ship never lost its name and very sadly ended this way. - Concerned Aussie
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Wednesday 22 July 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Please allow me to respond to the accusation by the Langafonua Tu'uloa Party that the Government is being disrespectful of the Commission by amending the Constitution so as to enable Nobles' and People's Representatives appointed to Cabinet to retain their seats in the current Legislative Assembly.
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Sunday 21 June 2009
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Suva, Fiji
Many of your readers will, I know, share the sorrow and regret at the news of the passing of Emeritus Professor Ronald Gordon Crocombe on Friday, 19 June 2009 in Auckland en-route to Rarotonga from Nuku'alofa. He will be remembered most of all by the thousands of people whose lives he touched through his teaching and writing on the Pacific and through the person he was. -Morgan and Eileen Tuimaleali'ifano
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Saturday 20 June 2009
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Salt Lake City-Utah, USA
Your report (Fix it with flowers, 19 June, 2009) best illustrated the People's Representatives anti-growth mentality, lack of business knowledge, while salivating for Big Government to control business and finance. -Sione A. Mokofisi
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Friday 23 January 2009
USA
As one of the first generation Tongan living here in America, and witnessing this momentous day of celebration, of the inauguration of the first African American President of the United State of America, I never believed it in my wildest dream, that this day could ever happened in my life time.
Tuesday 21 October 2008
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Following the current discussions in the Tongan parliament about the exact role and the composition of Tonga's Commission for Political Reform, it is now glaringly obvious that parliament does not have a clear vision of the new system of government that they intend to impose on us. Editor's Comment by Pesi Fonua.
Monday 3 March 2008
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The forced resignation of the Minister of Finance on Monday, February 25 may well be seen as a major step taken by the Tongan government in its pursuit of an economic and a political reform program for Tonga. Editor's Comment, By Pesi Fonua.
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Wednesday 16 January 2008
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In spite of our national eagerness to embrace the economic and political reform programs that were introduced by government during the first few years of a new century, the reality was that the strong words that were used to describe the reforms and win public support were followed by the indifference and elements of uncertainty that the reforms were implemented with. Editor's Comment, by Pesi Fonua
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Friday 28 December 2007
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
As Government strengthens its control over the flow of information from its ministries to the public and exerts more influence on the editorial content of its two national media organisations, the Tonga Broadcasting Commission and the Ko e Kalonikali Tonga newspaper, it unwittingly creates confusion. Editor's Comment, by Pesi Fonua.
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Sunday 16 December 2007
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Sydney, Australia
I am less confident that the proposal set forth by Mr Christopher Harder will resolve anything in the current as well as the future political situation of Tonga. To be sure, I do believe in apologizing and forgiveness in response. However, to think that an apology from all parties involved in the heinous crimes of 16/11 and a pardon from the King of Tonga will rectify the current political situation in Tonga is unavoidably laughable. -Rev Dr Ma'afu Palu
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Thursday 13 December 2007
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Malo mu'a e tau mo e ngaue lahi hono fakakakato mai e ngaahi ongoongo' ke 'inasi ai e Tonga kotoa pe 'i he fo'i kolope. Ne u fakatumutumu he lahi 'eku tangi he lau e tohi 'a Mr C Harder mo e ngaahi akonaki na'a ne vahevahe mai kihe kakai 'o e fonua'. Ko e me'a malie ko e 'ikai ke u kau 'i he komiti Lao 'a Tonga 'oku nau vakai'i e kole laiseni 'a e motu'a ni he ne u mei foaki ange ai pe 'ene laiseni Lao' 'ana pea liliu tangata'i Tonga ai pe he 'osi 'eku lau 'ene tohi. - S. Moimoiangaha
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Thursday 29 November 2007
1 comment
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The status of Tonga's political reform remains exactly where it was stuck when the members of parliament voted on it before the closure of parliament at the end of October 2007. Editor's Comment. By Pesi Fonua
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Monday 19 November 2007
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's 16/11 has been labelled as a 'Day of Shame' by the new Ministry of Information. But now, one year on, there has been no enthusiasm by anyone to remember what happened in Nuku'alofa on that day. Editor's Comment by Pesi Fonua.
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