Results for Tonga

Pacific Island nations and territories will continue to receive help to strengthen development needs thanks to New Zealand’s largest volunteer agency, Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA), for signing a three year Memorandum of Understanding with the Pacific Community (SPC).

Vai Sikahema and Ronnie Stanley received accolades for their talent and skills in American football at the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend held in Oahu, Hawai'i on 29-30 January 2016. Photos by Dan K. Aiono Sataraka.

Lokoua Taufahema (42) was sentenced to 12-years imprisonment for the manslaughter death of his wife who died from severe burns when in a cruel act he poured hot cooking oil on her at Navutoka in December, 2014.

A 63-year-old Tongan woman, a former Police Officer, has been charged with one count of perjury in relation to the Tongan passport investigation on Wednesday, 27 January. Twelve people have been charged so far and police are likely to make more charges as their investigation continues in Nuku'alofa.

Tonga is one of four Pacific island countries chosen by the Commonwealth Secretariat in London for a study of small island states that looks at governance and levels of vulnerability and resilience to external shocks. Visiting Nuku’alofa this week a team of three researchers were building up a profile of Tonga’s strengths and weaknesses in its ability to govern itself and respond to challenges.

An announcement by government yesterday, 25 January, that it would create a 10 acres Va’epopua National Park in a former Nuku’alofa rubbish dump is yet another controversial decision that government has made during the past weeks - the park excludes the 500-600 year old Va’epopua Sia Heulupe archaeological site, the objective of a conservationist petition last year.

A 24-year-old man has been arrested and charged with injuring two women, one of them seriously, whom he allegedly shot during a confrontation at Vaipua Bridge in Vava'u, early Saturday morning, 23 January.

Quality handicrafts were showcased by local artists to Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tuku’aho on 20 January at the True Tonga Inc. space at Small Industries Centre.

Tongatapu and Nuku’alofa escaped Tropical Cyclone Victor, which passed 115 km south of ‘Eua at 11:00pm Friday night, bringing only fresh winds to the capital.