Results for Tonga

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.

The MS Silver Whisperer from the United States arrived in Nuku'alofa on January 24, 2014 on a few-hours visit, the first of 14 cruise ships expected to visit Tonga this year.

Tonga's Red Cross is doing “fantastic work in helping Tonga get back on its feet,” said Westpac-Tonga's country head Dennis Quayle, whose staff is assisting in the the cyclone recovery effort.

An electoral and civic education programme held in Nuku'alofa last week was aimed at boosting the institutional capacity of Tonga to undertake elections.

Five significant Tongan patrimonial artifacts are expected to fetch around 19,000 Euros ($50,000 pa'anga) when they are auctioned in Brussels, on Friday January 24, for an unnamed private owner. While critics of the sale say the objects are an invaluable part of Tonga's cultural heritage and should not leave the kingdom to be sold in Europe.