Results for Tonga

Tonga has opted out of New Zealand’s new seasonal workers scheme this year, due to not being able to meet certain criteria including a guaranteed return flight home at the end of the season.

Thirty-five (35) earthquakes with a magnitude of 4 or more were recorded across Tonga in January, but none of them were “felt”, reports the latest Tonga Geological Services Seismic Bulletin released today.

A family in Pahu was shocked last night when a small tornado (ahiohio) hit just after 9:00pm causing damage to their home, business and vehicles on Fatafehi Road, Nuku'alofa.

Tropical Cyclone Ana has weakened and was downgraded into a Tropical Low Pressure System by Tonga Meteorological Services at 2:00pm today, Tuesday. The cyclone has buffeted Tongatapu with gales and stormy seas overnight and this morning.

Tonga's National Reserve Bank is moving to enforce the Moneylenders Act by registering all businesses who are conducting lending services in Tonga. The deadline for registration closed on Friday, January 29 and the NRBT said moneylenders who had not registered in time may face legal action.

Tonga is finalizing its National Deployment and Vaccination Plans to access CoViD-19 vaccines from the COVAX Facility, and initial quantities are expected to be announced soon. Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola said COVAX is assessing the readiness of participant countries, who will have to make a contribution if they want vaccination coverage of their population to be increased. Meanwhile, some other Pacific countries have started their vaccination programmes.

Lisala Lavemai (28) of Vaini was awarded the Baton of Honour during a graduation ceremony for Tonga Police Recruit Wing 48 on January 28, at the Police Headquarters.

Tonga's Cabinet on 20 January 2021 approved a zero rate of Consumption Tax for the services of collection and disposal waste by a government approved waste management entity, the Waste Authority Ltd. However, the savings will not be passed onto the public.

Pilima Langi (63) is the woman who died on Thursday, January 28 after the small boat that she was in with 17 others capsized in heavy seas off Foa Island. Tonga Police have opened an investigation into the marine incident.