Results for Tonga

A short, strong earthquake rattled wooden buildings in Nuku'alofa, Tonga at 12:24pm today, November 14. Officers at the Tonga Met. office, confirmed that they also felt the shake at Fua'amotu Airport at 12:24 pm. Meanwhile, the USGS website reports that a 5.4m earthquake was centred 75km west of Havelu, Tonga at 21.049S and 175.932 W at a depth of 34.1 km at UTC 23:23:50.

The villages of Ha'asini and Hamula on Tongatapu now have access to new banking services with the launching today of in-store banking in their community by the Westpac Bank of Tonga.

Four local companies who were suing their insurance company for cover over damage to their properties in the riots of 16 November 2006, ended their case today on the basis that no party paid costs. The plaintiffs were disappointed to pull out as the evidence in court about the riots favoured the defence position that the riots resulted from "a popular rising, people connected with an organisation the objects of which included influencing the government by violent means and terrorism."

A group of 15 new US Peace Corps volunteers for Tonga were sworn in today, November 9, by the US Ambassador to Tonga HE Frankie Reed, at the Vakaloa Beach Resort in Kanokupolu. Peace Corps also announced that its country directors in Tonga, Samoa and Fiji are to be replaced by a a Regional Director.

Tonga's government is once again trying to drastically reduce penalties for the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, by reintroducing a controversial amendment bill, despite the fact that the late King George Tupou V withheld his consent in 2011 because it was considered to be "inimical to the welfare, well-being and safety of His subjects."

Tonga's Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Soakai Motu'apuaka said this morning that the body of Kali Fungavaka had been released to his family and taken to the Fua'amotu International Airport for return to New Zealand today.

Tonga's National Day was celebrated at the Expo 2012 Yeosu, South Korea with the hoisting of the Tongan flag and the playing of the national anthem at the Expo Hall on August 6.

HM King Tupou VI will mark his birthday on a new date, tomorrow, July 4, the official birthday of his late father, King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV.

While a search for two missing yachtsmen has stalled in Vava'u, Tonga, today, Sunday, searchers still held out a glimmer of hope that the men may have reached the rugged coastline of the uninhabited Late Island where their yacht "Navillus" was reportedly "shredded" after becoming grounded on Thursday night.