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Results for Tonga Parliament

Monday 28 September 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
When Members of Parliament presented reports of their Constituency Tours to the Tongan Parliament last week, the Whole House Committee voted in favour of three reports but rejected one. Two of the reports stressed a need to amend Tonga's Electoral System.
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Thursday 16 July 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga'sParliament will remain closed until August 3, the House decided, voting unanimously 21-0 to extend parliament's closure for another two weeks from July 13. From the House by Pesi Fonua.
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Tuesday 30 June 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga government’s plan to open its border for incoming passengers between New Zealand and Tonga this week is deferred, Prime Minister Hon. Rev. Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa told Members of Parliament yesterday, 29 June.
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Saturday 20 June 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tongan Parliament yesterday 18 June, passed its $589.6 Million pa’anga national Budget for 2020-2021 with votes of 21-0. With Tonga’s biggest-ever deficit of $60 million, debate has been tense at times over the last two weeks. A 20 per cent salary cut for MPs, proposed by the PM, did not happen. From the House by Pesi Fonua
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Monday 25 November 2019

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two candidates will contest the Tongatapu 1 By-Election on Thursday November 28. Dr Netatua Pelesikoti Taufatofua and Siaosi Pohiva, both campaigning for a seat in the Tonga Legislative Assembly, last week talked about their priorities for their constituency.
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Thursday 27 June 2019

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Justice Minister called “What shall we do? War?” during a heated confrontation between government and the Nobles Representatives over proposed distribution of more than $4 million in constituency funds to be allocated for MPs to spend, in the Tongan Parliament yesterday, 26 June.
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Tuesday 11 June 2019

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Debate by Parliament over Tonga’s 2019-20 National Budget got off to a fractious start yesterday morning, 10 June 2019. The Speaker admitted a clash between government and the House and its Committees over scrutiny of the National Budget. From the House by Pesi Fonua.
Friday 2 November 2018

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Twenty-six young women had the opportunity to conduct a mock parliament session as part of Girls Takeover Parliament Day in Tonga today, 2 November, at the Tonga Parliament in Tofoa.
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Friday 9 March 2018

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s Parliament is up and running this week thanks to support from parliaments throughout the Pacific region, including Australia, New Zealand and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), after Tropical Cyclone Gita destroyed its century old building and technical equipment last month.
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Wednesday 28 February 2018

Victoria, Australia
A donation of computer equipment including laptops to the Tonga Parliament was announced by the Parliament of the State of Victoria in Australia, today as part of a coordinated effort with the United Nations Development Programme to assist Tonga in the wake of Cyclone Gita.
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Thursday 21 September 2017
Momi Bay, Fiji
A push for the development of political parties in democratic societies in the Pacific by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was the focus of a dialogue held this week in Momi Bay, Fiji where over 40 representatives from the Pacific region attended, including Tonga. UNDP's Bakhodir Burkhanov said political parties need to be “more than just a temporary vehicle for the promotion of the interests of one political leader or a small group”.
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Thursday 7 September 2017

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's former Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni emotionally bowed out yesterday, saying; “On no occasion did I try to undermine the support and cohesion within Cabinet.”
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Wednesday 6 September 2017

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Lord Ma‘afu, named as Tonga's new Deputy Prime Minister this morning, has been Tonga's Acting Prime Minister since 1 September. The Prime Minister's Office today announced the backdating of new ministerial appointments. Uncertainty over who was in charge had left the Caretaker Government in a state of disarray, after the PM left for the Pacific Forum Leaders Meeting at the end of last week.
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Thursday 15 June 2017
Auckland, New Zealand
Please Prime Minister Pohiva, think again and do not harden your heart, because you are making a mockery of our Parliamentary system...you have Tongans and friends of Tonga with the archeological, cultural, environmental and engineering expertise and the hearts and minds to build our nation, please Prime Minister use them. You are destroying our environment and in the process destroying our very fragile “democracy” and our trust in you and this Government. -‘Ana Hau‘alofa‘ia Koloto
Friday 27 January 2017
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Legislative Assembly of Tonga will resume on Monday, January 30 for its final sitting of the 2016-17 session, that will include discussion on the status of Tonga’s efforts to host the 2019 Pacific Games.
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Tuesday 1 November 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Parliament struggled to make decisions on two important issues before its 2016 session closed on Thursday, 27 October. The House was trying to establish new procedures for a parliamentary Vote of No Confidence in the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. The other difficult issue was who will hold the ultimate power to appoint an Anti-corruption Commissioner for Tonga. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.
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Thursday 13 October 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Surprise questions from visiting journalists, believed to be from the Fairfax Group in New Zealand, have upset Tonga’s Members of Parliament who complained in the House this morning and called for controls on how the media approach MPs. From the House by Pesi Fonua
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Saturday 2 July 2016

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A ban on selling bread on Sundays will be enforced tomorrow, July 3. The ban, which was pushed for by church leaders and supported by members of parliament, re-enforces one of Tonga’s oldest laws, which forbids commercial undertakings on the Sabbath. However, owners of Tonga’s two biggest bakeries told Matangi Tonga Online that the ban would likely result in job losses because bakeries have been trading on Sunday for over 30 years.
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Sunday 19 June 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The debt-burdened Tonga Forest Products Ltd. was in big trouble and being propped up by government, Hon. Poasi Tei, the Minister for Public Enterprises, told the Tongan Parliament on Thursday, 16 June. He said they had signed an agreement for a Maori company to take over and settle the loans. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.
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Friday 17 June 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Chinese visitors whose visit to Tonga is organised by a local tourist operator will be the only ones eligible for a 30-days visa free stay in the country, the Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva told the Tongan parliament on Wednesday, 15 June. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.
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