Results for Tonga

Form 6 and 7 students in Vava’u and Tongatapu will return to school on Wednesday, March 16. Since the end of 2021 most students have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Two fire trucks and firefighting equipment were presented to the Tonga Fire and Emergency Services donated by the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Services. The Prime Minister thanked the Australian fire departments, who had provided most of the equipment for Tonga over the last 15 years.

Households in tsunami damaged Kanokupolu village, have received a donation of 55 rubbish bins valued at $16,000, from the Talitha Project, to help in the clean-up operations.

Timote ‘Aho’atu (44) was sentenced to two-years nine-months imprisonment for causing grievous bodily harm to Siaosi Na'a, whom he shot with a pistol in 2021. The judge said the law required the accused to complain to the police if he felt that the victim had unfairly and unlawfully done him wrong. "That law stops you and prohibits you from punishing or killing that person who has wronged you.”

Fiji Water valued at FJD$40,503 for communities severely affected by the volcanic eruption and tsunamis was donated by the Fiji Water Co. and Neptune Pacific Direct through their agent Transam Tonga Ltd.

A donation of FJD$38,000 from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and Pacific Island countries towards Tonga’s recovery efforts from the volcanic eruption and tsunamis, was received on March 8.

The disaster stricken island of Nomuka on March 5 received a visit from the Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku, who was flown to the island on a Australian Defence Force Chinook helicopter with Australia's High Commissioner, HE Rachael Moore.

There is a moderate 50% chance for at least one severe Tropical Cyclone for Tonga during the remainder of the Tropical Cyclone season from March to April 2022, said Tonga Met in an updated outlook.

It was with profound sadness, that we learned of the death in Washington D.C. of the eminent scholar and great friend of Tonga, Adrienne L. Kaeppler (86), this weekend. Vava'u Press Ltd, publishers of Matangi Tonga Online, were privileged to have worked with Adrienne over the last 35 years. An American research anthropologist and writer, known for her books devoted to the culture of Tonga and Hawaii, Adrienne brought to the English-speaking world important insights into Polynesian cultures, especially Tonga, Hawaii and Rapa Nui, and also Asian dance, in a body of scientific work written over five decades. Her insights were also greatly appreciated by the people and cultures she worked with. - MLF.