Results for Pacific Islands

While Tonga’s Civil Aviation Division (CAD) and investigators from Australia are still investigating the cause of the A3PUA aircraft accident, at Fua’amotu Domestic Airport a month ago, Lulutai Airlines, so far, has been unable to find a replacement aircraft to service high demand on the domestic inter-island routes during the holiday season.

Tongan seniors and about 50 needy families received care packages over the festive season from the Queen’s Charity, supported by donors from the business community.

Tonga Police Chief Superintendant Commander Filipe Fifita, who heads a homicide investigation, said today he could not disclose anything further about an investigation into human remains, recovered from the seabed at the Yellow Pier in Nuku'alofa on Boxing Day. It is still unclear whether the remains, or body parts, that were recovered belonged to one or more persons or why the Police were regarding the grisly discovery as homicide.

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.