Results for Tonga

Melekiola Tu’ipulotu, who was convicted of serious bodily harm for using a machete on a 16-year-old boy, was sentenced to one-year imprisonment, fully suspended for two-years at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court. "I hope that this decision sends a message to our people not to take up a helepelu and use violence to make their points. Self-control is a necessary duty we must all demonstrate as responsible citizens in leading our families and communities," said the Acting Chief Justice.

Sulphur dioxide emitted from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano continues to spread over the Ha'apai, Vava'u and Niuatoutapu groups drifting NNE at a high altitude of 8-14km. Tonga Geological Services said S02 measured highest near the ‘Otumu‘omu‘a Group. However, the steam cloud formation from the eruption has reduced significantly from yesterday.

Three Tongan swimmers set new national records at the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) at the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi from December 16 – 21. Finau Ohuafi, Charissa Panuve, and Noelani Day swam against the world’s elite swimmers in the Butterfly, Freestyle, and Backstroke events.

More than 300 Tonga Police officers are working around the clock during the police operation for the Christmas and New Year holidays, which started yesterday, December 20. Tonga Police also reminded the community to take extra care when going out in the heat and hot sun at this time of year with temperatures forecast to reach 31C.

Air New Zealand cancelled its flight from Auckland to Tonga late this morning due to concern over volcanic ash clouds close to Tongatapu, following a high level ash eruption at Hunga Tonga- Hunga Ha'apai detected over the last two days. Tonga's head geologist Taaniela Kula, confirmed this afternoon that an ash eruption started at about 9:35am yesterday, Monday, 20 Dec. and continued to 2:00am today, from Hunga Ha'apai, located about 65km from Nuku'alofa. A gaseous eruption is continuing intermittently.

The prices for petrol, diesel and kerosene decreased slightly, starting today Monday, December 20.

Tonga's 21-month long night time curfew will be eased slightly for New Year's Eve, 31 December, when the curfew will commence from 2:00am to 5:00am instead of starting at midnight. During the National Prayer Week 2022 it will commence from midnight to 3:00am, under Tonga’s Health State of Emergency that has been renewed for another month from today to 17 January 2022.

Tonga will receive more Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines from Australia in the New Year for booster shots, the Minister for Health, Hon Dr ‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu said today. “We need to speed up the third dose to protect our country from the new Omicron variant,” she said.

Tributes are flowing for former ‘Ikale Tahi halfback, Taniela Moa, aged 36, who died suddenly in New Zealand on Thursday.