Results for Tonga

Tonga’s lockdown orange level restrictions will ease further with gyms, bars, and kava clubs, allowed to open, starting from Saturday May 7, confirmed Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku today during a press conference. The quarantine period has also been reduced to seven days, while essential staff who have had COVID-19 can isolate for three days.

The election of Tatafu Moeaki as the Tongatapu No. 4 People’s Representative to the Legislative Assembly was declared void by a Supreme Court judge today, who found that he committed bribery on two occasions, in the lead-up to the November 2021 General Election. Moeaki, the current Minister of Finance, is the second Cabinet Minister the court has found to have committed the offence of bribery under the Electoral Act.

The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach arrived in Tonga for a short visit to show solidarity, after the devastation caused by the volcanic eruption and tsunamis on 15 January. He also expressed great appreciation for TASANOC and the Olympic team of six Tongan athletes who overcame so many obstacles to get to the Olympics last year.

After the challenges we have experienced to connectivity as a result of COVID-19, I am delighted the physical links between Australia and Tonga are building back. We are looking forward to greater flight connectivity between Tonga and Australia beginning this June, and I thank the Government of Tonga for taking the initiative to increase the frequency of passenger flights between our countries. While our physical links were temporarily less frequent, the link of friendship has always been strong. As members of the Pacific family, Australia and Tonga share a close relationship, built over more than fifty years of diplomatic relations. - Rachael Moore, Australian High Commissioner to Tonga

Two ambulances and equipment were handed over today, 4 May to the Ministry of Health from the Rotary Club of Nuku’alofa.

New Zealand's new High Commissioner to Tonga, Mr Matthew Howell is expected arrive in Tonga this month to start his new posting.

Two hundred and eighty students from the University of the South Pacific received certificates during a formal ceremony in Suva, Fiji, for taking part in a virtual Japanese student programme over the last two years.

The election of Sione Sangster Saulala as the Tongatapu No. 7 People’s Representative to the Legislative Assembly has been declared void by the Lord Chief Justice, who this morning found that he committed bribery on two occasions, during the November 2021 General Election campaign. After his election Saulala was appointed as the current Minister for Internal Affairs. The Lord Chief Justice said Mr Saulala was an unimpressive witness. By Linny Folau.

Extremely high rainfall in Fua’amotu in Tongatapu during March has smashed the all time Tonga Met records for the month. The rainfall of 594mm was more than three times the average for March.