A healthy democracy is often measured by how well it enables citizens to take part in the political process, with voter turnout and participation in civil-society groups serving as key indicators of public engagement. Yet as Tonga’s parliament elects its prime minister on 15 December 2025, democratic gains risk being diluted if executive power consolidates around nobility rather than the people’s representatives. By Ema Ivarature, ‘Akanesi Katoa, Henry Ivarature / EAF.
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Results for Pacific Islands
Thursday 11 December 2025
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Manila, Philippines
A USD$80 million grant to finance transformational infrastructure upgrades on Tongatapu including the construction of the Fanga'uta Lagoon Bridge, has been approved by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through its Tonga SECURE Proiect, which will be the largest development partner-financed project undertaken in Tonga’s history, with the Government of Tonga providing $25 million in counterpart financing.
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Thursday 11 December 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A Tongan-designed King’s Baton for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games was revealed in Nuku'alofa this week, ready for Tonga to take its turn in the worldwide relay, which leads up the Games opening in July. The relay is associated with a global Clean Ocean Inititiative, which starts next week on Tongatapu.
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Thursday 11 December 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In New Zealand, Dr. Linda Palavi received her doctoral degree in Population Health from Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, this week. Palavi’s family comes from the villages of Kolofo’ou and Kolomotu’a in Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu.
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Wednesday 10 December 2025
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Sydney, Australia
Three Tonga XIII officials, including the head doctor, assistant doctor and head trainer, are facing a two-year ban from the National Rugby League after an investigation into player Eliesa Katoa’s head injury last month.
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Wednesday 10 December 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A former senior customs officer, Mosese Katoa (58), is serving two years in prison on charges that included the importation of prohibited goods. When firearms concealed in a crate arrived in Tonga in 2023 he also attempted to bribe another Customs Officer to avoid the scanner.
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Wednesday 10 December 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Repeat offender, Funaki ‘Otuhouma (32) is serving two years in prison on serious housebreaking, theft of goods valued at around $15,806 and serious wilful damage. He also breached a suspended sentence which was added to his sentence.
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Wednesday 10 December 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A grant valued at 400 million Japanese Yen (USD$ 2.65 million) for the implementation of solar power systems for the state-owned broadcaster, Tonga Broadcasting Commission (TBC), was signed today between the Government of Japan and Tonga.
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Wednesday 10 December 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A second written nomination for the position of Prime Minister Designate was received today, 10 December, by the office of the Interim Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga.
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Wednesday 10 December 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A three-player chess team will represent Tonga at the 2025 Oceania Youth Chess Championship in Brisbane, Australia on 13–17 December.
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Wednesday 10 December 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga Development Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) signed a Bank Guarantee Agreement in Nuku’alofa yesterday, 9 December. The agreement is designed to help small businesses loan money from the bank more easily.
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Tuesday 9 December 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Minister of Police, Hon. Paula Piveni Piukala, has been temporarily suspended from all ministerial duties, the Prime Minister's Office announced today. The Prime Minister stated that the suspension would allow an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commissioner into serious allegations against the Cabinet Minister to proceed “in the interest of procedural fairness and institutional propriety.”
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Tuesday 9 December 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga Police conducted a series of drug operations on 4-5 December 2025 across Nuku'alofa, Western and Eastern Districts of Tongatapu, arresting seven, as part of ongoing their efforts to disrupt drug distribution networks
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Tuesday 9 December 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
About 2,000 combat uniforms and eight surveillance drones for His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) will be provided through Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) project, signed between HRH Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala, the Interim Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Tonga, HE Inagaki Hisao.
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Tuesday 9 December 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Young Tongan lawyers are building their advocacy skills through a three-day workshop in Nuku'alofa, presented by law specialists from the Victorian Bar International Advocacy Training Committee in collaboration with the Tonga Law Society, and Tonga’s former Lord Chief Justice Michael Whitten KC.
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Tuesday 9 December 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An upgraded cool storage capacity for post-harvest storage at Nishi Trading, is expected to maintain crop quality and strengthen Tonga’s crop product quality and export readiness. HRH Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala officially opened the upgraded cool storage facility on 4 December
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Tuesday 9 December 2025
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Kingdom of Tonga became the newest State Party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) this month in Geneva, Switzerland.
Friday 5 December 2025
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Growing up in Fasi Moe Afi, on the island of Tongatapu, 'Isitolo Siale's classroom wasn't just in school, it was in the local market. At the age of 10, Siale, found himself selling produce to contribute to his single mother's income. This experience fuelled his desire to build a better life for his family and became the foundation for his success at The University of the South Pacific (USP), where he has graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Thursday 4 December 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga National University today celebrated about 600 graduates, receiving high-level qualifications and certificates in tourism management, engineering, and nursing and other fields.
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Thursday 4 December 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Over five petrol stations in Tongatapu have run out of unleaded petrol (penisini) today, 4 December, including branches of Sonasi, Luna’eva, Konifelenisi and Cocker Ma'ufanga gas stations, as a long-running shortage of supply continues into December.
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