Results for Pacific Islands

China's new naval hospital ship, Ark Silk Road, arrived in Nuku’alofa this week to provide free medical services for Tonga.

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Pesi Siale Fonua (78), well known Pacific Islands journalist, publisher of Matangi Tonga Online, and beloved husband, father and grandfather, who died on 12 October 2025, at Vaiola Hospital in Tonga. The funeral service will be held at the SDA Church Mangaia, Nuku'alofa 1:00pm Saturday 18 October 2025. The burial will take place at the cemetery "Mala'e ko Fala Oloveti 'o Nukuleva" at 3:00pm Saturday. A farewell viewing will be held on Friday afternoon.

The Supreme Court in its ruling on Friday 3rd October 2025 dismissed the claim for judicial review filed in May 2024 by former Tonga Development Bank CEO Mrs Emeline Tuita and former Chairman Mr Penisimani Vea against the National Reserve Bank of Tonga imposition of supervisory directives. The Supreme Court also struck out the claim against the NRBT, the Governor and two other journalists as defective and necessitating it be struck out with liberty to replead. Costs were reserved.

Fourteen nobles are standing for election to the nine noble's seats in the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. They vote among themselves. HSH Prince Kalaniuvalu Fotofili, the incumbent noble for the Niuas, was the sole candidate for the Niuas, and has therefore been declared elected by the Electoral Commission Office.

The opening day of candidate registration for the general election saw a mix of new candidates and incumbent members in Tongatapu, running for the ten Tongatapu seats of the People's representatives in Tonga's Legislative Assembly.

The Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand launched new Tongan and Samoan editions of its educational colouring book ahead of World Meningitis Day on 5 October. Between 2020 to 2024, Pacific people made up 13.4% of all cases of invasive meningococcal disease, despite comprising just 8.8% of the population of New Zealand.

Domestic violence is on the rise in Tonga, but a majority of the victims, who are primarily women, are hesitant to press charges against their partners, says the Manager of the Tonga Police Domestic Violence Unit, Inspector ‘Anamalia ‘Aho.

A new sports initiative for the Tongan deaf community was implemented on 2 October 2025, using table tennis as a method of promoting physical activity, mental well-being, community engagement and education.

The Energy Commission has approved the ‘Government Lifeline Tariff Discount Scheme’ effective for the power consumption from 1 October 2025. Koia ai kuo tali ‘e he Komisoni Ma’u’anga Ivi ‘a e holo ko ‘eni ‘o kamata ngāue’aki ’i he ‘aho 1 ‘Okatopa 2025.