The benefits and challenges of the temporary labour mobility programs to Australia and New Zealand was the topic of the Speaker’s second public debate held at Parliament House in Nuku’alofa on Friday, 4 October. While Tonga welcomes the income and social benefits brought by having over 5,000 workers overseas sending money home, the exodus of its prime workforce has led to a critical shortage of labour on farms, in businesses and in government in Tonga, while at home family breakups have increased.
You are here
Results for tag
Wednesday 9 October 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tuesday 8 October 2024
Premium content
Wellington, New Zealand
Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) divers were on the water at first light today to assess the wreckage of the ship, which ran on to a reef south of Upolu, Samoa, on Saturday night and sunk on Sunday morning. HMNZS Manawanui is in water about 30m deep and a light oil sheen from its initial capsize is being dispersed by wind and waves, Maritime Component Commander Commodore Shane Arndell said in a NZDF statement this afternoon.

Tuesday 8 October 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A new mammogram machine was commissioned today, 8 October, at Vaiola Hospital, which will detect early signs of breast cancer for women. “Identifying cancer early means that we can treat and cure cancer,” said Medical Superintendent, Dr. 'Ana 'Akau'ola
Tuesday 8 October 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga National Rugby League Men's and Women's Squads for the 2024 Pacific Championship Tournament were announced this morning in Nuku’alofa, Tonga.

Tuesday 8 October 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Ko e taha e tuʻutuʻuni ngāue tefito ʻa e Pangikē Pule΄ ko e fakapapauʻi ‘oku malu ma’u pē tu’unga fakapa’anga ‘a e ngaahi pangikē ‘i Tonga΄ ‘i he taimi kotoa ‘o kau ki heni hono fakapapau’i ‘oku ‘i he tu’unga lelei ma’u pē ‘a e sino’i pa’anga tefitoˊ (capital) pea fe’unga mo e pa'anga ngāue (liquidity) 'i he kotoa ‘o e ngaahi pangikē ‘e fā kuo laiseni ‘e he Pangikē Pule΄. ‘I hono fakakātoaˊ, na’e ‘i he tu’unga fe’unga pē ‘a e pa'anga ngāue 'o e ngaahi pangikē ʻi he taʻu ʻe hongofulu kuo maliu atuˊ ‘o au mai ki he ‘aho ni.
Tuesday 8 October 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The principal statutory role of the Reserve Bank is to ensure and maintain at all times the financial stability of the overall banking sector in Tonga. This calls for strong capitalisation and ample liquidity in all of the four banks under its licensing regime. Overall, there has been sufficient and ample liquidity in the banking sector in the past decade, to date. “The Reserve Bank reaffirms to the public its commitment to upholding its statutory mandate of maintaining the stability of the financial and banking system of the Kingdom,” stated Governor Moeaki.
Monday 7 October 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sione Talafekau Maloni (20) was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment fully suspended for causing serious bodily harm, when he poured gasoline over his sleeping friend’s clothes and set him alight, in what was said to have been “a joke”. Mercifullly, the friend suffered only superficial burns to his abdomen.

Monday 7 October 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto'a Ulukalala represented Tonga with the Chief of the Defence Staff, Brigadier Lord Fielakepa at the South Pacific Defence Ministers' Meeting (SPDMM) that was held from 1-3 October, in Auckland, New Zealand.

Monday 7 October 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake was felt throughout 'Eua, Ha'apai, Vava'u, and Tongatapu this morning at 10:50 am, at a depth of 10 km, Tonga Geological Services reported.
Monday 7 October 2024
Premium content
Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand
A New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Manawanui sank on the southern coast of Upolu, Samoa, after it ran aground on a reef on Saturday night. All 75 crew were evacuated, while the exact cause of the grounding is unknown. There is concern over the environmental effects, as oil is likely to spill from the sunken vessel.

Sunday 6 October 2024
Premium content
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.

Friday 4 October 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Damages amounting to over $20 million pa’anga in total were awarded to the plaintiffs, the Tonga Development Bank and its CEO 'Emeline Tuita and Board Chairman, Penisimani Vea, in a landmark "judgment in default" by made by the Lord Chief Justice Bishop on 23 September, against the Reserve Bank, its Governor, a local broadcaster and a journalist.

Friday 4 October 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two prison officers of His Majesty’s Prison, Hu’atolitoli, were suspended and are under investigation for allegedly accepting bribes, and aiding and abetting the trafficking of illicit drugs into prisons. One of the officers is overseas, His Majesty’s Prison, Hu’atolitoli, stated yesterday.

Thursday 3 October 2024
Premium content
'Ohonua, 'Eua
A new government centre is being built at a cost of around $1.7 million pa'anga, in ‘Ohonua, ‘Eua, under the government's recovery plans following the tsunami damage there during the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai eruption of January 2022.

Thursday 3 October 2024
Premium content
Auckland, New Zealand
As Niue celebrates its 50 years of self-government, the Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa, Centre for Pacific and Global Health will host its first Niue Research Symposium at Te Tai Tonga, South Auckland campus.

Wednesday 2 October 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An off-duty police officer, ‘Ifalemi Mala’efo’ou (31) died in a car crash at about 12:40am this morning, on Vuna Road, in Nuku'alofa. He lived at Sia’atoutai and was married with three children.

Wednesday 2 October 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake, that was felt in Neiafu at 9:05am today, 2 October 2024, posed no tsunami threat, Tonga Meteorological Service advised soon after the event.
Wednesday 2 October 2024
Premium content
Auckland, New Zealand
A study by Tongan-raised Victoria Ongolea and Auckland University Professor Carla Houkamau, showed that for Tongans living in New Zealand, wealth could not be measured by bank balance alone.

Tuesday 1 October 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Competent Authority with its ADO Fuel Price for quarter June through September 2024 decreased by 4.5%. The new tariff of $0.9169 per kWh is decrease from $0.9603 per kWh, and in diesel prices is decrease from $2.2438 per litre in June 2024 to $2.0913 per litre during quarter July through September 2024. --- Ko e ngaahi totongi lolo (ADO Fuel price) mei he Pule Fē’unga ki he kuata Sune ki Sepitema ‘o e 2024 na’e holo ‘aki ‘a e peseti ‘e 4.5%. Ko e totongi ‘uhila fo’ou ko e $0.9169 ki he kWh ne holo ia mei he $0.9603 ki he kWh ‘o e kuata Sune. - Energy Commission.
Tuesday 1 October 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The opening of the 31st Annual Pacific Power Association (PPA) Conference and Trade Exhibition attracted over 200 people from across the Pacific, to the gathering at the Falemasiva Hall at Havelu in Tonga today, 1 October 2024.
