Results for Pacific Islands

Harvesting and exporting Tongan seaweed for over 20 years, South Pacific Mozuku Tonga Ltd (SPM), a local aqua-culture industry based in Nuku'alofa, is set to expand its product range into the health and beauty industries this year.

A new station at Ha'asini, for the Police and the Fire & Emergency Services, was officially opened by the Prime Minister and Minister for Police Fire Services and Emergency Services, Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, on 28 December.

A prisoner has escaped from Hu'atolitoli Prison on Tongatapu, the Commissioner of Prisons Semisi Tapueluelu confirmed to Matangi Tonga today, although no further details were released. Meanwhile, early this afternoon all Prison Officers who are not on Christmas Duty were recalled and told to report to Hu'atolitoli Prison immediately.

Tonga Police have launched a homicide investigation into unidentified human remains found on the seabed at the Yellow Pier on the Nuku’alofa foreshore, on Christmas Day. They are urging the public to report any missing persons.

A Pacific health advocate, Sir Collin Tukuitonga from Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland has been made a Fellow by the International Science Council (ISC). Sir Collin joins over 100 Fellows from around the world, were appointed yesterday, 19 December. The Fellowship is the highest honour that can be conferred on an individual by the International Science Council (ISC).

Tonga's Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources launched the ‘Toe Talatalanoa Overseas Program’, a program for the ministry to share information and concerns regarding land, with Tongans overseas. The program runs from 5-22 December in Australia, and will later extend to New Zealand and the United States of America.

Iki Mafi Uele, who graduated as a Doctorate of Accounting on 16 December, becomes the first Pacific lecturer in the Accountancy and Finance Department, at the University of Otago New Zealand Business School (OBS). Iki, the son of a fruit farmer and weaver, from Fakakakai, Ha’apai, was the dux of Tonga College in 2021.

The Tonga Competent Authority (TCA) has approved the new petroleum prices for December 2023 – January 2024, effective today, 18 December 2023. They said there is a large drop in product prices for diesel and kerosene, and a smaller drop for petrol.

“Whilst we didn’t turn the page on the fossil fuel era in Dubai, this outcome is the beginning of the end,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell in his closing speech, as COP28 concluded, on Tuesday, 12 December, at Expo City Dubai.