Hydraulics complications occurred mid-flight, before the Lulutai Airlines Saab 340B lost control while taxiing, after landing at Fua'amotu with a full load of passengers in December last year. Hydraulic fuel loss and other safety problems with the aircraft are detailed by aviation safety investigators in a preliminary report published in April.
You are here
Results for tag
Wednesday 10 April 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Tuesday 9 April 2024
Premium content
Fakakakai, Ha'apai
A land and maritime search is underway in Ha'apai for a 62-year-old man who was reported missing at sea, after leaving Faleloa, Ha'apai in a 25ft boat on Saturday, 6 April. After Afuhia Fehoko from Fakakakai failed to arrive home, a search began on Sunday.

Tuesday 9 April 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga Police has welcomed 35 new recruits in Recruit Wing 52, on 3 April, 2024, at Nuku'alofa. There are twenty-one women and fourteen men in this new intake.

Tuesday 9 April 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kelekolio Fonua (23) and Andy Fukofuka (38) were jailed for charges that included serious housebreaking, theft and receiving stolen goods worth $15,403 from Tupou High School at Nukunuku. Alcohol and illicit drug abuse have been a feature of life for both men. Fukofuka had breached a suspended sentence. A probation report said, “he does not support his community and is a malign presence”.

Monday 8 April 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A new Member of Parliament, Dr. Mo'ale 'Otunuku, took his oath as the People's Representative of Vava'u 14, today, 8 April, at the morning session of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, at Nuku'alofa.

Monday 8 April 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Pita Talanoa (44) was sentenced to nine-years 10-months imprisonment on three separate sets of offences concerning illicit drugs including possession of 24.43 grams methamphetamine, as well as being re-sentenced for a further drugs offence. The judge said Talanoa's offending was remorseless: “He will serve a substantial sentence, because this offending deserves it. ...the public need to be protected from his venal behaviour.”

Monday 8 April 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga Rugby Union today announced Tevita Tuifua as the new head coach for the ‘Ikale Tahi and Nili Latu as assistant coach for the next four years.

Monday 8 April 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A Royal Navy ship from the UK, HMS Tamar, will be escorted into the Kingdom by Tonga's Navy. This will be HMS Tamar's first time in Tonga, and will be here for the next six days to provide support on shared objectives like climate change, defence and inclusion, through different means.

Monday 8 April 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s under-19 football team departed for Vanuatu last week, to participate in a two-week long OFC U-19 Championship, Qualifying Stage.

Monday 8 April 2024
Premium content
Pape'ete, Tahiti
Tonga’s National Junior Tennis Team is currently in French Polynesia, Tahiti to participate at the East Pacific Regional Championships (EPRC) from 8-16 April 2024.

Friday 5 April 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Liahona High School with its star athlete, Lātū Latavao, snatched the most gold medals, broke the most records and claimed the best performance for 2024, at the four-days 97th Inter-collegiate Athletics Competition, which closed today, 5 April 2024. The sports were sponsored by Tonga Health.

Friday 5 April 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A New Zealand Barrister and mediator, James Christopher LaHatte, will be the new Anti-corruption Commissioner for Tonga. His appointment was approved by the King in Privy Council, the Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku told the Legislative Assembly, yesterday 4 April, 2024.

Thursday 4 April 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
No reason was offered by the Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku today over why he had resigned his defence portfolio. He said his conversation with King Tupou VI on the matter was “private”. However, at a media conference this afternoon, following the announcement that Cabinet Minister Fekita 'Utoikamanu had also resigned her Foreign Affairs and Tourism portfolios, he revealed that his former Minister of Foreign Affairs is being sued by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (the Lord Privy Seal).
Thursday 4 April 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Prime Minister has resigned his defence portfolio. Two Tongan cabinet ministers had resigned effective 28 March, the Prime Minister, Hon. Hu'akavameiliku told the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, this morning, 4 April, when it resumed its session after a month-long adjournment.
Wednesday 3 April 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The second day of the Secondary Schools Athletic Sports Competition sponsored by TongaHealth, saw five events including 3000m track, 400m track, 100m hurdles, 100m sprints and 4x400m relay, today at Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku'alofa. Medals for this evening's events will be awarded tomorrow.

Wednesday 3 April 2024
Premium content
Las Vegas-Nevada, USA
Four soldiers from His Majesty's Armed Forces (HMAF) arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada, to compete in the Best Warrior Competition, over the next few weeks. They arrived with soldiers from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) on 1 March, and were welcomed with a traditional haka dance at the airport, by soldiers from the Nevada National Guard's State Partnership Program.

Wednesday 3 April 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Ahead of World Health Day on 7 April, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the launch of S.A.R.A.H., a digital health promoter avatar, powered by generative artificial intelligence (AI) to help answer health questions online. Sarah has the ability to support people in developing a better understanding of risk factors for some of the leading causes of death in the world, including cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes.

Tuesday 2 April 2024
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The young Prince Taufa'ahau Manumataongo Tuku'aho (10) was presented with a gold medal for Tupou College Toloa with his discus throw on the first day of the annual inter-college athletics competition in Nuku'alofa.

Tuesday 2 April 2024
Canberra, Australia
Australia is about to launch a new visa that will for the first time create a Pacific quota in Australia’s permanent migration regime. 3,000 visas will be issued every year for the Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste. It’s a huge opportunity yet awareness of this new visa is low. By Stephen Howes and Athualla Rasheed.
Tuesday 2 April 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
We are on a quarterly review of the regulated price of fuel which has decreased the tariff by 16.15 seniti/kWh (15.2%). The total electricity tariff will decrease from the current 106.18 seniti/kWh to 90.03 seniti/kWh from 1 April 2024. - Energy Commission. ‘I he’ene pehē, tupu mei he’etau vakai’i fakakuata ‘a e ngaahi totongi ‘uhila, ‘e holo ‘a e totongi ‘uhila ‘aki ‘a e 16.15 seniti/kWh (15.2%). Ko e totongi ‘uhila ‘e holo mei he totongi lolotonga ko e 106.18 seniti/kWh ki he 90.03 seniti/kWh. - Komisoni Ma’u’anga Ivi.