Results for Tonga

Tonga’s third solar farm is being constructed at Vaini on Tongatapu, at a cost of $14 million (USD) under Japanese aid funding. The project will introduce a special micro-grid system to coordinate electricity generated from a variety of renewable sources in the future.

Police are warning traders and the public to be aware and to look carefully at Tongan pa‘anga notes, after three counterfeit $50 pa'anga notes were discovered in Nuku‘alofa last week.

Tonga is seeking an estimated $56 million for reconstructing homes in Ha‘apai after Cyclone Ian, Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu said on Friday at a press conference, held jointly with the visiting New Zealand Foreign Minister. Hon. Murray McCully said there was an enormous challenge ahead for Tonga’s government and the figures given by the Deputy Prime Minister were “frightening”.

Police have arrested and charged a 17-year-old man after 41 cannabis plants and seeds worth an estimated street value of around $10,000 pa’anga were seized from a tax allotment in Fua‘amotu this week.

Vanilla promises to be a major source of revenue for Vava'u growers and their families, who are being encouraged to recover neglected plantations and plant new vines.

A solar power project proposal submitted by Tonga High School has won $100,000 (USD) funding from the Zayed Future Energy Prizes for 2014 presented in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on January 20.

Living in small tents superheated by the mid-summer sun, while going through the trauma of the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Ian, is the reality of life for families in the Ha'apai Group who are relying on outside assistance, after loosing all on the afternoon of January 11. A survey team has estimated that by mid-February the food crops would be used up in all the districts of Kauvai Ha’ano, Lifuka, Foa and ‘Uiha, which were badly damaged. Photos courtesy Mana'ia Halafihi.

Heleni Vi, a former Westpac Bank of Tonga employee, who has been charged with 16 counts including theft of more than $8,000 pa’anga was released on bail today after appearing at the Nuku'alofa Magistrate’s Court.

The Friendly Islands Triathlon FIT was represented at the Auckland 7.3 Ironman, Asia-Pacific Championship at the Auckland Viaduct by Kantaro Oishi and Takeshi Igarashi on 19 January.