Results for Pacific Islands

A top priority for Tonga is a reduction in the size of its public service and a reduction of the wage bill to 45%, from the current height of about 75% of the government's annual budget, a new economic report by the Asian Development Bank recommends. It also recommended for government to appoint an Anti-corruption Commissioner.

Free medical services are being provided this week to some of Tonga’s isolated islands through a floating health care clinic, under the Sea Mercy programme .

Tonga’s Kau Mai netball campaign has attracted 55 teams who have registered in Vava’u since its launch there last Saturday 22 June, in a programme that tackles obesity in Tonga, where over 90 percent of the adult population are over-weight.

A block of three new classrooms is being constructed at the Lapaha Government Primary School in Tongatapu, under the U.S-led Pacific Partnership 2013 Mission and expected to be completed by Friday, June 21.

A group of 12 emerging Pacific Leaders graduated at the inaugural graduation ceremony of the Best Leadership Academy at Auckland University, New Zealand, in May, including a Tongan, Malia 'Apikotoa.

A strong 7.4Mw tremor rattled Nuku'alofa before dawn for over a minute starting at 6:19am. Two aftershocks, including 6.6Mw were felt in Nuku'alofa after 10:00am. The first 7.4Mw earthquake was centred south of Fiji and Tonga at a depth of about 170km-208km in an area of the Tonga-Kermadec arc that has frequent moderate to large deep earthquakes. The deep earthquakes are generally less hazardous than shallow earthquakes.

Dagmar Dyck, a celebrated Auckland artist of Tongan heritage is exhibiting her latest work in Wellington's Solander Gallery until June 15, 2013. The exhibition “Between the Lines…” combines the energies and colours of a modern Pacific landscape with the subtlety of customary tradition.

Tonga has a high level of vulnerability to climate hazards and over the next five years will start planning to be better prepared to cope with the increased risks of climate change. Tonga is one of only three Pacific countries chosen to pilot a Strategic Program for Climate Resilience (SPCR) under a global climate change initiative. By Linny Folau

U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus is making an official visit to Tonga May 9-10.