Results for Pacific Islands

Malia Lolini Sime won the Heilala 2024 Best Chef competition, with her seafood dish a Fish Curry along with a twist on the classic Tongan dessert, a Faikakai Lesi (Pawpaw) on the second day of the Heilala Festival, 25 June in Nuku'alofa.

The Budget debate in parliament, is continuing as the House is pushing to meet the 30 June deadline for the passing of the Government estimates for 2024-25. By today, the Whole House Committee had passed the draft estimates of seven government ministries, including the Vote for the Legislative Assembly's Office, during an extensive debate spanning over a week on the budget statement.

A second international undersea telecommunications cable to Tonga, named the “Tonga Hawaiki Branch System” will be co-funded by Australia and New Zealand, under a USD$32 million investment fund. The project, which is expected to be in place by late 2025, was jointly announced by the Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, and the Australian and New Zealand High Commissioners in Nuku'alofa on Friday.

Nineteen Peace Corps trainees were welcomed to Tonga with a traditional Tongan Kava Ceremony at Fasi in Nuku'alofa on Friday 21 June 2024.

An ash plume drifting northeast of Home Reef around ~1:30 AM today June 21, was detected  by the HIMAWARI-9 AHI satellite, Tonga Geological Services reported this morning. The volcanic activity poses a low risk to the Vava’u and Ha’apai Communities. Mariners in the area are advised to sail beyond 4 km from Home Reef until further notice.

Eight Gracias Choir choristers performed at the Tonga Hope Concert in Falemasiva Hall at Tailulu in Havelu, last week on 13 June 2024.

In the Legislative Assembly today, 18 June, the Government financial statements for the year ending 23 June 2023 were passed down to be discussed in the Whole House Committee together with the budget estimates 2024/2025.

A psychiatric nurse died in hospital on Sunday from serious injuries sustained in the psychiatric unit at the Hu'atolitoli Prison. The deceased, Samiuela Mafi, a psychiatric nurse at Vaiola Hospital, was allegedly attacked by a patient on 8 June. In a statement last week, HM Prisons said they lacked the strength to support and guard the unit. Earlier, in March, Tonga's Head Psychiatrist warned that because Tonga had never established a drugs rehabilitation centre the extra workload on the psychiatric ward was beyond the reach of the public health and voluntary services available. By Matangi Tonga reporters.

A new community hall was handed over to the village of ‘Atata Si’i today, 17 June 2024, by Mr Takeju Ogata, President of the Nippon Foundation, a private and non-profit grant-making organization from Tokyo Japan, that is funding three halls for displaced communities.