A Royal New Zealand Navy sailor who works to instil the ‘why’ in young recruits has been named the New Zealand Defence Force’s Person of the Year. This is a second honour for Leading Marine Technician (Electrical) Joe Mataele, from Tonga, who is also the Royal New Zealand Navy’s Sailor of the Year.
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Results for Tongans Overseas
Monday 16 December 2024
Wellington, New Zealand
Sunday 6 October 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Rugby League internationals, Tiana Penitani and Addin Fonua Blake were recognised at the Dally M Awards in Sydney, Australia on 2 October 2024.
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Monday 15 July 2024
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Beijing, China
Eight Tongan students have completed their studies and graduated from various universities in China in the past academic year.
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Monday 4 March 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A young Native American filmmaker, Kymon Greyhorse, who lives in New Mexico, USA, says he is tapping into his Tongan roots, to inspire his next film. He identifies as two-spirit, a term that describes Indigenous people who have both masculine and feminine energy. When he was bullied for his identity, including his Native and Pacific Islander background, he drew strength from his family. His short film “I am Home,” that premiered at Sundance Film Festival in the USA last year, has opened up new opportunities for him.
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Thursday 1 February 2024
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Wellington, New Zealand
In New Zealand, 10-year-old Tapaita Fonokalafi is one of eight finalists for the Little Miss Aotearoa contest 2024 that aims to foster self-confidence and promote community involvement and environmental consciousness.
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Tuesday 19 December 2023
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Dunedin, New Zealand
Iki Mafi Uele, who graduated as a Doctorate of Accounting on 16 December, becomes the first Pacific lecturer in the Accountancy and Finance Department, at the University of Otago New Zealand Business School (OBS). Iki, the son of a fruit farmer and weaver, from Fakakakai, Ha’apai, was the dux of Tonga College in 2021.
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Wednesday 29 November 2023
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Auckland, New Zealand
A young navy administrator, Joanna Mafi, who was awarded the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) “Sailor of the Year”, was described as a tremendous asset to RNZN, and is of Tongan descent.
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Wednesday 28 June 2023
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California, USA
Second generation Tongan-American twins Steffanie and Ashley Manukainiu, have made a name for themselves in the world of Professional Wrestling.
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Tuesday 13 June 2023
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Wellington, New Zealand
A barrister of Tongan-Irish descent, Tania Margaret Sharkey, has been appointed a District Court Judge in New Zealand.
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Monday 22 May 2023
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Los Angeles, California, USA
The American Idol crowned their new champion, Iam Tongi (18) following a staggering performance of his new single, “I’ll Be Seeing You.”
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Wednesday 15 February 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A group of seasonal workers stranded by floodwaters in Hawke’s Bay, 50 of which are Tongans, were rescued near Hastings by personnel from the New Zealand Army and New Zealand Police using four Unimog trucks on Tuesday. “The floodwater was waist high, but the Unimog tyres and massive clearance meant we were able to get into the elevated areas needed to reach the seasonal workers,” NZDF stated today.
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Wednesday 15 February 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Cold and hungry, after a day-long ordeal, some 50 Tongan orchard workers, who were stranded on their bungalow rooftops by rising floodwaters near Hastings, New Zealand, were rescued by the New Zealand Defence Force yesterday evening.
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Tuesday 24 January 2023
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Auckland, New Zealand
Carmel Jean Sepuloni (46), an MP of Tongan descent, is New Zealand's new deputy prime minister designate. She stands alongside the new Prime Minister Chris Hipkins who will be officially sworn in on Wednesday.
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Thursday 5 January 2023
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Timaru, New Zealand
Father of two, Lionati Fotofili (44) went missing while fishing at the Ōpihi River mouth in New Zealand last week. Tongan-born Lionati was the pastor of Timaru’s Church of Tonga.
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Thursday 10 November 2022
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Auckland, New Zealand
James Faleofa, who was awarded the Royal New Zealand Navy’s “Sailor of the Year 2022”, is a Leading Youth Development Specialist of Tongan descent.
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Monday 25 July 2022
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Wellington, New Zealand
New Zealand-Tongan Tenor singer Filipe Manu has been named as the winner of the 2022 Lexus Song Quest, Aotearoa's most prestigious opera competition. Filipe has walked away with a life-changing immediate cash prize of $20,000, a study scholarship of $27,000, plus economy international travel up to the value of $3,000. The head judge said the talent of the five finalists was exceptional.
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Wednesday 20 July 2022
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Wellington, New Zealand
New Zealand-Tongan tenor singer Filipe Manu has been selected as one of five finalists for the 2022 Lexus Song Quest, Aotearoa's most acclaimed opera competition. The winner will judged live during solo performances this Saturday 23 July.
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Wednesday 13 July 2022
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Beijing, China
Ten Tongan students have completed their studies from various universities in China in the past academic year. The Embassy of Tonga in China said today, with the global pandemic around the world, these students persevered and navigated through online classes, lockdowns and many other challenges, in addition to being away from home.
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Monday 16 May 2022
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California, USA
Ensign Mary Melenaite Tufui Likio ‘Fui’ McCray was commissioned as the first female Tongan officer in U.S. Navy history, on 29 April, at the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, in California. McCray, who was born in Long Beach, dedicated her story of success to her late father, Alifeleti Likio, from Kolomotu’a, Tongatapu.
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Sunday 24 October 2021
Auckland, New Zealand
Ana Waalkens spent a week in Auckland City Hospital's intensive care unit after falling ill days after a growing Delta outbreak was discovered in Auckland in August - and before the 38-year-old was eligible to be vaccinated. Waalkens is telling her story because she wants everyone, especially fellow Pasifika - she has Tongan heritage - to get vaccinated so they don't suffer as she and her family had. Waalkens was fighting for her life. "My family and friends all thought I was going to die,” she said. By Cherie Howie, Reporter NZ Herald.
