Mano Totau (76), one of six Tongan boys who were stranded for 15 months on the uninhabited 'Ata in 1965-66, returned to the island for the first time this month, for the filming of a new documentary about their famous story of survival. Although he did not want to return, Mano told Matangi Tonga he did so because their story is important.
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Results for Pacific Islands
Tuesday 27 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Nine Members of Parliament are drafting the Legislature's official response to the address by King Tupou VI on the opening of parliament’s 2025 session on Friday.

Tuesday 27 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A party involving over 100 individuals engaging with alcohol and loud music in a bush allotment in Mataki’eua was disrupted by Tonga Police during the early hours of Saturday, 17 May. In response, Police closed parts of Mataki’eua Road, expressing concerns of potential risk to agricultural crops, livestock, and the safety and well-being of the participants themselves.

Tuesday 27 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 79-year-old Fijian woman died at a hotel in Nuku'alofa on 17 May. There are no suspicious circumstances.

Tuesday 27 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Pacific Farmer Organizations (PFO) will receive AUD$3 million in funding from the Australian Government to support climate-resilient farming initiatives in seven Pacific countries, including Tonga, over the next four years.

Monday 26 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongan farmers, growers, and exporters will have the opportunity to build stronger trade relationships with New Zealand and enhance their export readiness through two workshops to be held this week in Nuku'alofa. The Path 2 Market workshop, and the Mini Trade Forum will be held on 27-28 May.

Sunday 25 May 2025
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Unlocking new opportunities for Tongan businesses, ANZ Tonga and the Palladium Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance access to ANZ eGate, the country’s first international payment gateway. David Dudley, Country Head of ANZ Tonga, said: “This partnership is about empowering local businesses with the tools they need to thrive in the digital economy. With the support of Palladium and MDF, we’re helping to remove a key barrier to growth for Tongan entrepreneurs—access to secure, reliable international payment solutions.”
Friday 23 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
HM King Tupou VI called for reform in the education sector and major improvements for the health sector, to help move the economy forward, when he opened the 2025-26 parliamentary session today, 23 May, at Parliament House in Nuku’alofa.

Friday 23 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The achievements of over 90 athletes and officials, who attended a training program in China for two months, were recognised with certificates for representatives of each sport including tennis, archery, weightlifting, badminton and others, in an event at the Chinese Embassy in Nuku'alofa yesterday.

Thursday 22 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The death of a 31-year-old man found in Ma'ufanga last week, on 14 May, has been ruled as a suicide, Tonga Police said.

Thursday 22 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Rt. Hon. Penny Wong visited the Masefield Naval Base in Touliki, Tongatapu, yesterday for a special programme that celebrated a long-standing Australia-Tonga partnership in Defence Cooperation. Australia has helped to develop the base under the Defence Cooperation Program with HMAF (formerly Tonga Defence Services) that goes back 38 years.

Wednesday 21 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, visited Tonga today and reaffirmed Australia's commitment as Tonga's largest development and security partner. During her tour of three Pacific countries, she acknowledged the region's growing challenges, particularly climate change. “The Pacific peoples speak with authority on climate, and your voice should be heard in the world,” she stated.

Tuesday 20 May 2025
Sydney, Australia
Fakatapu ki he Tu’i ‘o e ‘Otu Tonga moe Fale ‘o Ha’a-Moheofo, Hou’eiki Nōpele, Fale Alea mo e Pule’anga ka e ‘um’aa ‘a e kakai ‘o e fonuā. Kae ‘ataa mu’a ke fai ha tānaki ki he fakatalanoa kuo feia meihe pāengani. Kuo mahino ko e sino pule ‘o e Pule’anga Fakavahe ‘oku taki ‘e he Pule-Fakavahe, memipa ‘a e kau ‘Ofisakolo, Fakafofonga Fale Alea, Pule ‘o e Va’a Pulengāue (Pa’anga, Tauhitohi, Ngāue Faka-Kalake moe Pule ‘o e Va’a Ngāue (Ako, Ngoue, Mo’ui, Langa, Kelekele, Sipoti). - ‘Inoke Hu'akau.
Tuesday 20 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Advancing sustainable management of Tuna fisheries across the region was the main topic of discussion for Pacific fisheries officials, at the 138th Annual Officials Meeting of the Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC) in Alofi, Niue, which concluded yesterday, 19 February.

Tuesday 20 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
His Majesty King Tupou VI will officially open the 2025 session of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga on Friday, 23 May. Schools will march for the occasion.

Monday 19 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Three newly renovated and highly upgraded operating theatres for Vaiola Hospital were commissioned today, 19 May, in Nuku'alofa. This project, which will will ensure improved surgical outcomes for the Tongan community, was financially supported by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in partnership with the Plymouth Brethren Church, the Rotary Club, and the Ministry of Health.

Monday 19 May 2025
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Canberrra, Australia
Australia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, will travel to the Republic of Fiji, the Kingdom of Tonga and the Republic of Vanuatu this week, accompanied by the Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Immigration, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade on his first visit.

Monday 19 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Fifteen new dengue fever cases were reported with positive rapid tests, which brings the total cumulative cases to 756 in Tonga today, 19 May.

Sunday 18 May 2025
Sydney, Australia
Fakatapu kihe Hau ‘o e ‘Otu-Tonga mo e Fale ‘o Ha’amoheofo, Sea moe Fale Alea ‘o Tonga, Hou’eiki Nopele mo e Tauhi Fonua, Palēmia mo e Pule’anga pea ki he Tonga kotoa. Fakamolemole kae toe ‘oatu mu’a ha faka-talanoa ko e kapikapi pē kihe fakakaukau na’e ‘oatu kimu’aa, ‘o e fakalelei kuopau ke fakakakato ki he Fa’ungapule hotau Fonua kae toki sia’a ha’atau ungangāue. - ‘Inoke Fotu Huakau
Friday 16 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The development of the private sector is the primary focus of Tonga's new budget, the Prime Minister Hon. Dr 'Aisake Eke said today. His Cabinet has finalized the budget for 2025-2026, to be presented to the Legislative Assembly next week.
