Tonga’s next repatriation flight is on scheduled to arrive from Christchurch, New Zealand, on October 27 with 300 passengers.
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Results for seasonal workers
Tuesday 19 October 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Tuesday 29 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The repatriation flight to Tonga from Brisbane, scheduled on 30 June, has been deferred due to the current COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney and parts of Queensland, MEIDECC stated today. However, the repatriation flight from New Zealand is still scheduled to arrive tomorrow, Wednesday, with about 240 passengers.
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Tuesday 22 June 2021
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Marlborough, New Zealand
Tongan Seasonal Worker, Hiko Lynch (23) of Holonga in Tongatapu died on early Sunday morning, June 20 after he was allegedly stabbed in Blenheim, Marlborough. Two men have been jointly charged with his murder.
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Wednesday 31 March 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A repatriation flight with 110 passengers arrived in Tonga from Auckland, today. Another flight from Australia was scheduled today, to pick up seasonal workers, who are expected to depart for Australia later this evening.
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Tuesday 23 March 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Three repatriation flights to Tonga are now expected to arrive on March 31 and April 1. The flights will be from Auckland, Brisbane and Fiji.
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Thursday 25 February 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
More than 100 seasonal workers left Tonga on a chartered flight for Australia this afternoon, February 25. Tonga has since last year been sending seasonal workers to Australia, despite the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and border closures.
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Thursday 11 February 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
107 passengers were repatriated to Tonga on a chartered flight from Australia this afternoon. A group of seasonal workers also departed Tonga on the same flight.
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Wednesday 10 February 2021
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Sydney, Australia
Eight hundred and fifteen additional seasonal workers from the Pacific Islands, including Tonga, have been approved to help fill jobs in horticulture and meat processing industries in New South Wales, Australia.
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Friday 22 January 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
152 seasonal workers left Tonga on a chartered flight for Tasmania in Australia this afternoon, January 22.
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Tuesday 24 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
117 repatriated passengers arrived at Fua’amotu International Airport from Brisbane, Australia this afternoon. Tongan seasonal workers boarded the return flight to Brisbane.
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Monday 23 November 2020
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Emerald, Australia
The 152 Tongan fruit pickers who arrived in Emerald, Australia, on 29 October were able to work during the two weeks of quarantine on a farm, under a pilot trial, that has saved fruit from rotting. Queensland was the first state in Australia to allow farmworkers to work while quarantining.
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Tuesday 3 November 2020
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Queensland, Australia
One hundred and fifty seasonal workers from Tonga arrived in Queensland on October 29 to fill the shortage of workers needed for the agriculture and horticulture industries between now and Christmas.
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Wednesday 21 October 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two repatriation flights are scheduled to bring 200 passengers in total to Tonga from Brisbane and Auckland next week, on 29 and 30 October the Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola confirmed today.
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Thursday 4 June 2020
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Dunedin, New Zealand
Two Tongan seasonal workers, who pleaded guilty to abduction and sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection of a 35-year-old woman, were imprisoned in Otago, New Zealand, on June 3.
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Friday 17 January 2020
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Dunedin, New Zealand
Two Tongan seasonal workers, Suliasi Fangatua (30) and Taniela Siale (22), both pleaded guilty to violently abducting and raping a 35-year-old woman in February last year, when they appeared before the Dunedin District Court in Otago, New Zealand yesterday 16 January.
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Friday 19 October 2018
Geneva, Switzerland
Unfortunately, few agricultural workers are in a position to advocate for their rights. Seasonal and rural workers lack access to collective bargaining, and undocumented migrant workers avoid unions for fear that employers will retaliate by calling the immigration authorities. Moreover, basic benefits such as social security, health care, and workers’ compensation are typically nonexistent. By Hilal Elver and Melissa Shapiro
Monday 7 May 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
There are signs of improvement in the protection of Pacific seasonal workers from exploitation and neglect in Australia, said the President of the Pacific Australia Seasonal Workers Association (PASWA) in Sydney, Falepaini Maile. Six Tongans were among 14 Pacific Islander seasonal workers who have died from ill health since the working programme started in 2012. By Finau Fonua
Thursday 4 January 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Demand for vehicles in Tonga is continuing to increase, while traffic jams and queues grow longer every month in the capital Nuku'alofa.
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Friday 12 August 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The bodies of four Tongan seasonal workers who were killed in a horrific car crash near Tauranga in New Zealand earlier this month arrived at Fua'amotu International Airport this morning, Friday August 12.
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Wednesday 20 February 2013
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongan seasonal workers under the New Zealand Recognised Seasonal Employers program are affected by the NZ immigration minister's recent decision to hold Tongan visa applications that require police clearances. A first group of 35 workers who were due to leave for New Zealand on Monday remain on stand-by in Nuku'alofa. Another 120 workers who are scheduled to leave over the next two weeks in the height of the harvest season will also be affected by the new rule.
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Tonga weather forecast from yr.no, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the NRK. See also Fua'amotu Weather Forecasting Center, Tonga, for latest local weather bulletin.