Results for Tonga

A new Supreme Court judge, Hon Justice Nicholas Cooper, from the United Kingdom, was today welcomed at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court. Lord Chief Justice Whitten QC said that, like so many countries around the world, Tonga remains in the grip of very serious challenges posed by illicit drugs and the Courts continue to play their part in endeavouring to protect all the people of Tonga.

A repatriation flight from Auckland planned for Wednesday, March 3 has been postponed due to New Zealand raising its lockdown levels, the Tonga government announced today.

Suliana Fate (21), who was convicted of knocking-out a man with a stick while drunk, before stealing his vehicle in Ma'ufanga, received a suspended jail sentence, together with two other co-accused.

Tonga hopes to achieve herd immunity for CoViD-19 by planning to vaccinate around 60-70% of the population by the end of the year, confirmed Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola today. Tonga is on COVAX's tentative list to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The 114 passengers who were repatriated from Fiji and New Zealand on February 4 are all negative, after their final tests for CoViD-19, Dr Reynold ‘Ofanoa said today.

Australian citizens and permanent residents in Tonga who wish to return to Australia via Auckland can now get a connecting flight to Sydney within 24 hours. No COVID-19 test is required prior to departure, however, passengers must cover the costs of the mandatory 14-days quarantine on arrival in Australia.

The groundbreaking of a new Science and Innovation Centre marked Tupou College's 155th anniversary on February 20, at Toloa. HM Queen Nanasipau'u officiated the ceremony.

The Ports Authority Tonga held its 2020 Annual General Meeting on 22 February, and paid its sole shareholder, the Government of Tonga, a dividend of $1,541,445, for the financial year ended 30 June 2020.

An environmental study on seabed mining for “polymetallic nodules” - rocks that contain metals needed to build batteries, is underway in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) of the Pacific between Hawaii and Mexico. The aim is to use the metals to power electric cars. The study is being undertaken by DeepGreen Metals Inc., a Canadian-based seafloor mining developer, which acquired Tonga Offshore Mining Limited (TOML) last year, and has sponsorship from the Tonga government for seabed exploration. By Eleanor Gee.