A Tongan Cabinet Minister, Hon. Viliami Manuopangai Hingano, passed away yesterday, 10 June 2022, at the Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand, the Prime Minister’s Office announced today.
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Results for Tonga Government
Saturday 11 June 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Monday 6 June 2022
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NUku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s economy is in trouble. The economic contraction during two years of border restrictions, has been accelerated by January’s devastating Hunga volcanic eruption and tsunamis, followed by the arrival of COVID-19 in February and further job losses. In tabling his 2022-23 budget, the Minister of Finance warned of a continuing contraction of the economy, the likes of which we have not experienced before. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.

Sunday 13 March 2022
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Nuku'alofa
Tonga's Prime Minister, Hon. Hu'akavameiliku, has gone into home isolation after he tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, with the Prime Minister's Office stating that, “his symptoms are mild”.

Saturday 26 February 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sixty-eight new COVID-19 cases were recorded in Tonga since the last report on February 23, including 42 in Hu‘atolitoli Prison, one in Vava‘u, and 25 in Tongatapu, the Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni told a press conference on Friday, February 25.

Friday 28 January 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The World Bank has donated USD$8 million to Tonga for emergency support due to the widespread damage caused by tsunamis generated by the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai volcanic eruption on January 15.

Tuesday 28 December 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
HM King Tupou VI this morning, 28 Dec., presented Tonga’s newly elected Prime Minister, Hon. Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni (51) with a Royal Warrant of Appointment at the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa. He will hold the office of Prime Minister from 27 Dec. 2021 for four years. Meanwhile, the King has approved a new 12-member Cabinet and two Governors for Vava'u and Ha'apai, and the Warrants of Appointment were read and returned to the Legislative Assembly this afternoon. The names of the new government ministers are expected to be announced by the new Prime Minister soon.

Wednesday 15 December 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An emotional Siaosi ‘Ofakivahakifolau Sovaleni (51) was elected as Tonga's new Prime Minister Designate just before 3:00pm this afternoon, winning 16 votes in the Legislative Assembly at Nuku'alofa.

Wednesday 8 December 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Before nominations for Tonga's next Prime Minister close on Tuesday next week, the People's Representatives are busy aligning themselves around two members who are competing to form the new government. By Pesi Fonua.

Friday 19 November 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga elected an all-male parliament today, with nine new faces coming into 17 People's Representative seats. No women were returned or elected. The Prime Minister, Hon. Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa retained his Tongatapu 10 constituency. Eight Cabinet Ministers, including two Nobles serving as Ministers, were returned. Preliminary results were announced by the Supervisor of Elections Pita Vuki on national radio (TBC) just before 11:00pm Thursday. Tonga has a midnight curfew under its Health Emergency, so after a few minutes of tooting car horns and a handful of fireworks on the Touliki seafront, let off by jubilant supporters of successful candidates, most people went home. UPDATED.

Thursday 18 November 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Polling opened at 9:00am this morning, at 200 polling stations throughout Tonga, in the General Election held every four years. It's a fine day for voting and in the capital, traffic is lively. After polls close at 4:00pm the preliminary running results will be announced by the Election Commission and by around 8:00-10:00pm tonight we'll know the leading candidates. Election Supervisor, Pita Vuki, hopes that more voters than ever will turnout today and reverse a trend of growing voter disaffection that saw the last turnout drop to about half of registered electors. By Mary Lyn Fonua.

Friday 29 October 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's PM confirmed one positive COVID-19 test among the 215 passengers who arrived in Tonga from Christchurch on Wednesday. The test was carried out yesterday and results confirmed today. The PM made the announcement on national radio at 5:30pm The first confirmed case in Tonga is in MIQ at the Tanoa Hotel. The carrier had been fully vaccinated.

Friday 9 July 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A close relationship between the Communist Party of China and the Tonga People’s Party, led by Prime Minister Hon. Rev Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa, was revealed at a reception to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Communist Party of China, at the Chinese Embassy last night, 8 July. By Pesi Fonua
Sunday 13 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Lavulavus’ court cases do not enhance the government’s reputation and the way the political elite in the Kingdom operate. Sad to say Prime Minister, that in your attempt to make light of the Lavulavus’ guilty verdict, you cunningly brought to the attention of the public and the world, that other schools were involved in these criminal activities. It is now your duty as the PM of Tonga to get a full investigation going. You owe it to all foreign aid donors, to explain what Tonga has done with the funds; and you owe it to every school that you have now accused, by giving them a chance to clear their names and set the record straight. - Senolita Swan
Friday 11 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Australia has donated AUD$12.05m to Tonga to help overcome the economic impacts of COVID-19.

Thursday 3 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kacific, the broadband satellite company that rescued Tonga from its digital darkness in January 2019 when the Tonga cable was cut, is taking legal proceedings to recover a fee of USD$5.76 million it claims is owed by a Tonga government entity, Tonga Satellite Ltd. By Mary Lyn Fonua.

Monday 31 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga government’s financial assistance to businesses impacted by COVID-19 is continuing with support from donor partners.

Monday 24 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A petition, pleading for King Tupou VI to dismantle parliament and call a new General Election, “because the people no longer trust the Parliament and the Government”, was delivered this afternoon to the Palace Office, by Siaosi Pohiva, the Tongatapu No. 1 People’s Representative and his supporters.

Thursday 20 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
It’s only six paragraphs long, but the response from parliament to King Tupou VI's confronting speech of 6 May, has taken a committee of nine MPs 11 days to prepare. When the draft letter was presented to the House on 18 May for approval, they went to the dark side of the moon – silencing live radio broadcasting of the debate, to prevent an inquisitive public listening to what members had to say about it. From the House by Pesi Fonua

Saturday 15 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Outward migration and growth in remittances are essential for the sustainable development of Tonga, concludes the first national ‘Migration and Sustainable Development Policy’, launched by the Prime Minister on April 28. The new policy, two-years in the making, was passed by Cabinet in November 2020. However, its directions remain conflicted by the Health Emergency border restrictions that limit travel. By Pesi Fonua.

Thursday 6 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
HM King Tupou VI chastised and challenged Parliament, directly questioning members’ honesty, mission and abilities to run the government, in a remarkably frank and hard-hitting speech from the throne, to open the Legislature's 2021-22 session this morning. From the House, By Pesi Fonua
