Results for Tongans Overseas

The 50 passengers to board the first repatriation flight from Auckland to Tonga will probably be selected next week, confirmed MEIDECC CEO, Paula Ma’u today, 17 June. “If that goes well, it depends on health and their analysis on whether we will increase the number and even the flights.” Otherwise at that rate, with about 7,000 Tongans overseas who want to return to Tonga, it might take years to repatriate everyone and quarantine will be costly. By Eleanor Gee.

Thousands of protesters gathered in Auckland CBD yesterday 1 June, to show their solidarity with protests in the United States against police brutality. Among the protests were Samoan and Tongan flag wavers. The protesters attempted to reach the United States Consulate which was closed off by New Zealand police.

Last week, New Zealand’s parliament unanimously passed the “Abortion Legislation Bill” by 94 votes to 23. The bill allows pregnant women in the country to have an abortion without the consent of a doctor (except after 20 weeks of pregnancy) and will be determined in a final vote. Among those who voted against the bill were two Tongan born MPs, Jenny Salesa and Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki.

Tony Finau’s goal for 2020 was to finally return to the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour. It’s been four years since his first and only title, at the 2016 Puerto Rico Open, but odds were good that he would finally win again this season. The goal still remains elusive.

Tongan representative international lawn bowler, Paris Baker, has caused a huge upset in the sport of indoor bowls, winning the World Junior (Under-25) Indoor Bowls Championships held at West Denton, England, last week. The remarkable achievement comes months after she won bronze for Tonga at the Pacific Games in Samoa.

Fifth Harmony singer Dinah Jane will headline her first tour as a solo artist in the United States this month.

Classical musician Caroline Elizabeth Hurrell-Grint, (21), of British-Tongan descent, has graduated from the prestigious University of Cambridge, England, with an honours degree after completing a three year degree course.

There are many different ways of being Tongan, say creative sisters Vea and Emily Mafile'o, in Nuku‘alofa today, talking about their work in photography and film making and what it means for young people of Tongan heritage to grow up in New Zealand. The sisters are part of two interesting events open to the public this week in Nuku‘alofa. Together, the Ancient Futures Symposium and Nuku'alofa Film Festival are featuring an unprecedented number of artistic and creative events to be held at the Tanoa Hotel. By Mary Lyn Fonua.

Around 10 schools took part in Queensland’s first inter-schools Polynesian Festival with Woodridge State High School winning the Tongan stage segment at the Edmund Rice Performing Arts Centre, St Laurence’s College, South Brisbane, on 27 April.