Results for Pacific Islands

This week’s Pacific Islands Forum focuses on: “Marshalling a Pacific Response to Climate Change” when the leaders of the Pacific Island Forum will propose the Majuro Declaration for Climate Leadership, to galvanize a new wave of climate action. At this critical time in the history of the Pacific, it is essential the discussion goes beyond words and pledges and results in concrete actions and commitments, from all actors, to combat climate change. - World Bank Group.

The New Zealand Government stepped up its travel advisory for visitors to Tonga, as the MA-60 aircraft, operated by REAL Tonga started commercial passenger flights to Vava‘u on Saturday August 10.

A new Tongan Early Childhood Playgroup and Training Centre has opened at Mt Roskill in Auckland, and named ‘Muniao ‘o e ‘Ofa’ or Net of Love by Hon. Lupepau’u Tuita on August 1.

Solar power systems for nine outer islands In Tonga will be funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Australia under a six-years Outer Islands Renewable Energy Project, costing $6.8million.

Tonga's government celebrated the gift of a new MA60 aircraft from China at a handover ceremony attended by King Tupou VI at the Fua'amotu Domestic Airport on Saturday July 6. Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu, who sought the aircraft from China, said in an emotional speech that it was the first of its type in the region, but it was sad that it had not been accepted by the United States and New Zealand.

A total of 78 principal Tongan applicants were successful in the New Zealand government's Pacific immigration quota ballot for 2013, Angie Enoka, of New Zealand Immigration said today. "That amounts to 249 people with their families," she said.

Ten linesmen will leave Tonga at the end of this month after securing jobs with Northpower, a New Zealand based electricity distribution contracting company. The Tonga Power Ltd. workers, including one woman, have been trained to New Zealand qualifications and will fill skills shortages.

A M-60 aircraft gifted to Tonga from China is expected to arrive in early July. The aircraft owned by the Tongan Government will be operated by Real Tonga Airline under a dry-lease arrangement, the Acting Prime Minister Hon. Samiu Vaipulu said today.

China is on track to achieve its Millennium Development Goals by 2015, and to establish a moderately prosperous society by 2020, Shi Guohui, the Vice-Governor of Binxian County, in central China told a Pacific Islands delegation on May 10. By Pesi Fonua.