The skulls of two Tongan ancestors, collected in the Pacific in the 19th Century, and repatriated to Tonga by the Australian Museum this week, were given a respectful traditional burial on ‘Eua Island in the presence of King Tupou VI and members of the Royal Family on January 10. The funeral conducted by the royal undertakers, the Nima Tapu (sacred hands), at Kolomaile, ‘Eua, was attended by descendants of the ‘Ata people, some of them coming from abroad. The funeral tributes touched upon painful memories of the loss of half of the ‘Ata population to Australian blackbirders in 1863. The surviving population of ‘Ata was relocated to ‘Eua by Tupou I.
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Results for Culture and Society
Thursday 11 January 2024
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'Eua, Tonga
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Friday 21 July 2023
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Auckland, New Zealand
Tongan artists, mother and daughter duo were selected by the Chinese World Craft Council, to showcase the art of Tongan tapa cloth making for the Dongyang Woodcraft and Bamboo Expo.
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Monday 7 March 2022
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Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tonga's National Day was marked at the Expo 2020 in Dubai on March 4 with a special event that included cultural performances.
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Friday 5 March 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An entertaining new book of historical fiction was launched this morning by Sam Lala, a Fijian writer and adventurer who has been living in Tonga for many years. The 183 pages volume, titled “They Said”, is his second book.
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Friday 27 November 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Hundreds of young students from various Government Primary Schools in Nuku'alofa today performed in a cultural dance competition, at the Tonga High School field. Photos by Linny Folau.
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Friday 30 October 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Princess Pilolevu Tuita opened the Tonga National Museum on the first floor of the Queen Salote Memorial Hall on October 30.
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Tuesday 7 July 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Twenty-five hand made canoes (popao) to preserve this important traditional knowledge were on display for King Tupou VI at the Masefield Navy Base on July 7.
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Tuesday 26 November 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A public holiday, “King Tupou I Day” will be observed on Monday, December 2 remembering the founder of the modern Kingdom of Tonga, King George Taufa’ahau Tupou I.
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Monday 25 November 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Violence against women is one of the most wide spread, but one of the least prosecuted violent crimes in the world, ‘Onetoto ‘Anisi, the Acting CEO for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, told a gathering this morning to launch the 16 Days of Activism and White Ribbon Day Programme 2019 in Tonga.
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Sunday 15 September 2019
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
HM Queen Nanasipau‘u gave a cultural presentation at the launching of the book ‘Songs & Poems of Queen Sālote’ (Reprinted, 2019 Vava'u Press) on September 10 in Nuku’alofa. Queen Nanasipau‘u was one of three Presenters who offered different perspectives of the compositions which form an important part of Tonga’s cultural heritage. The launch also celebrated 40 years of publishing in Tonga by Vava‘u Press Ltd.
Thursday 21 June 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
HM Queen Nanasipau'u awarded prizes in a competition for Tongan handicraft producers, held by the Langafonua 'a Fafine Tonga on June 21.
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Friday 4 May 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
HRH Princess Pilolevu unveiled a plaque to mark the 30th anniversary of Tonga’s National Cultural Centre on May 4 at Tofoa.
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Wednesday 10 January 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Rev Dr 'Ahio is the new chairman of a Committee on Tongan Traditions effective from November 23, 2017.
Wednesday 8 November 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga observed Constitution Day with a holiday on Monday 6 November, this year marking the 142nd anniversary of Tonga's constitution, which was was first enacted by HM King Tupou I on November 4, 1875.
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Tuesday 8 August 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Around 25 people learned to make sushi rolls with Japanese Chef Mr Endo at the Tanoa International Hotel yesterday, 7 August 2017, as part of an initiative of the Embassy of Japan to introduce Japanese food culture to Tonga.
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Wednesday 24 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's important star-shaped Sia Complex at Popua, the area of Tonga's creation myth, is being destroyed by an ad hoc development, driven by the same government that pledged to protect the heritage site close to Nuku'alofa on Tongatapu.
Monday 15 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The International Family Day 2017 was marked on Monday, May 15 in Nuku’alofa with a display of colourful hand painted table mats, with the slogan "No Violence = Happy healthy families".
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Friday 10 March 2017
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Auckland, New Zealand
Students of Tongan heritage from dozens of high schools in Auckland are preparing to perform their Tongan dances at the 2017 ASB Polyfest in Auckland.
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Monday 12 September 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An exhibition of a collection of photographs from the Japan Professional Photographers Society, ‘Japan’s Coastline and its People’, was launched by Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala at the Visitors Information Centre, Hala Vuna, Nuku’alofa on 9 September.
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Wednesday 7 September 2016
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Auckland, New Zealand
New Zealand is celebrating Tonga Language Week from September 4-10 focusing on observing how Tongan culture has shaped the country. The theme this year is ‘Fakakoloa ‘a Aotearoa ‘aki ‘a e Loto’i Tonga’ – Enriching Aotearoa with the Tongan Spirit.
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