An extremely powerful Tropical Cyclone “Yasa”, is threatening Fiji today, where Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama warned people to prepare and evacuate low lying areas. Forecasters warned that wave heights around the eye of the storm could approach 14 meters (45 feet), with momentary gusts of up to 195 knots (390km/hr). TC Yasa threatens to cause damage on the scale of Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016. Meanwhile, a Tropical Cyclone Alert is now in force for Tonga.
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Results for Pacific Islands
Thursday 17 December 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Thursday 17 December 2020
Wellington, New Zealand
New Zealand is preparing to support its Pacific partners to access safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines at the earliest opportunity, NZ Foreign Affairs Minister Hon Nanaia Mahuta and Associate Foreign Affairs Minister Aupito William Sio said today in a joint statement.
Wednesday 16 December 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
As Fiji braces for severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa (Cat. 5), Tonga Met. Director ‘Ofa Fa’anunu advises that Tonga should prepare too for a potentially severe cyclone over the weekend. Meanwhile, TC Zazu has moved away from Tonga.
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Monday 14 December 2020
Nadi, Fiji
Weather watchers are following Tropical Cyclone Yasa [995hpa], moving slowly toward Fiji today, bringing thunderstorms and showers to the area. The Cat.1 storm is expected to strengthen over the next few days.
Tuesday 8 December 2020
Suva, Fiji
A set of principles and best practices was presented by the Regional Pacific Women’s Network Against Violence Against Women and UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office, on December 7.
Monday 7 December 2020
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Manila, Philippines
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD$45 million grant to help rehabilitate and upgrade the international port at Queen Salote Wharf in Nuku’alofa, ADB announced on December 4.
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Monday 7 December 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
When the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Free Trade Agreement Plus (PACER Plus) comes into force next week on 13 December 2020, introducing new trade rules, Tonga will face a major financial difficulty of countering big trade deficits with two of its main trading partners, Australia and New Zealand. By Pesi Fonua
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Sunday 6 December 2020
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Suva, Fiji
Two crew members of the cargo ship MV Island Chief that arrived in Fiji on 2 December 2020 have tested positive for COVID-19 and are in isolation at the Navua Hospital. Fiji officials who boarded the vessel and their close contacts are also in quarantine, Fiji's Dr James Fong said today. The vessel's last port of call was Nuku'alofa in Tonga on 30 November,
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Sunday 6 December 2020
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Wellington, New Zealand
New Zealand Army Unimog truck parts, for His Majesty’s Armed Forces, and personal protective equipment (PPE), including medical gowns, were delivered to Tonga on 4 December, by an RNZAF Hercules.
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Friday 27 November 2020
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Wellington, New Zealand
Up to 2,000 experienced seasonal workers from the Pacific will be allowed into New Zealand in 2021 to address labour shortages in the horticulture and wine growing sectors. But countries wanting to send workers must agree to take back not only their new workers coming under the border exception but also other RSE employees already in NZ when the 2020/2021 season ends.
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Monday 16 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The 252 repatriated passengers from Auckland and Brisbane have been released from quarantine after testing negative for CoViD-19 confirmed Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola on Saturday evening, 14 November. Two more flights are due to arrive from Auckland on 19 November, and from Brisbane on 24 November.
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Monday 16 November 2020
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Sydney, Australia
New York Times reporting: Nanaia Mahuta entered New Zealand’s Parliament as the youngest Maori woman to ever gain a seat. More than two decades later, she has become the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, another trailblazing first. Labour’s newly elected majority is made up mostly of women...it is, by far, the most diverse Parliament the country has ever seen, reflecting New Zealand’s demographics and its place within the broader Pacific islands.
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Thursday 5 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A six-day training program on building different types of fale Tonga (Tonga house) for cyclone preparedness was completed after 25 people, including 11 women, were awarded certificates at the Free Constitution Church of Tonga in Pahu today. By Eleanor Gee.
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Monday 19 October 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus Agreement will come into force on 13 December after the Cook Islands became the eighth signatory state to ratify it to be able to come into effect.
Saturday 10 October 2020
Apia, Samoa
La Niña is officially underway in the Pacific, according to the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). Tonga is among the countries in the South-West Pacific that will usually experience higher than normal rainfall, under these conditions that are likely to continue into the first quarter of 2021. The last La Niña conditions in the 2017-2018 season saw three cyclones in the Pacific- Gita, Hola and Fehi.
Friday 9 October 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
HE Mr Tetsuya Ishii has completed his term in Tonga, after almost three-years as Japan’s Ambassador. A farewell reception was held at his 'Anana residence last night, October 8, where Mrs Ishii played Tongan songs on a flute.
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Thursday 3 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Pacific Network on Globalization (PANG) has called on Australia to rethink its current approach to trade and investment with the Pacific Islands and instead promote genuine avenues for development.
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Monday 31 August 2020
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Honiara, Solomon Islands
Solomon Airlines has today released details of the repatriation flight to Vanuatu, Tonga and Australia on Saturday September 5. It will also be the first repatriation flight from Tonga to Australia via the Brisbane Gateway and an opportunity for foreign nationals in Tonga to return to their home countries.
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Monday 31 August 2020
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Wellington, New Zealand
Five more Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami (DART) buoys have been deployed to provide ongoing tsunami monitoring and detection information for New Zealand and Pacific countries, including Tonga.
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Thursday 27 August 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Seven countries including Tonga have ratified the PACER-Plus agreement which will come into effect 60 days after the eighth country ratifies it.
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