Editor's comment: On Friday we reported the government’s announcement that there would be a test/drill repatriation flight, with 50 overseas Tongans arriving on an Air New Zealand cargo flight “next week”, and quarantined for two weeks at the Tanoa Hotel. The problem with our report was that we believed what we were being told at the Prime Minister's press conference held at the Fa'onelua Centre. But the “flight arriving this week” was simply their flight of fantasy.
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Friday 5 June 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A public holiday will be observed on Monday, June 8 to commemorate Emancipation Day, the day Tonga’s first Christian King, Siaosi Tupou I officially abolished serfdom in Tonga in 1862.

Friday 5 June 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The publication of a new electronic navigational charts for Tonga is expected to bring economic and maritime safety benefits to the country. The new charts created used hydrographic surveys of the undersea world around Tonga, replace charts from the 1800s

Monday 1 June 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A parliamentary briefing to inform Tonga’s civil society organizations about the national budget and its process was held on 29 May at the Tanoa Hotel, Nuku’alofa.

Friday 1 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga government will receive a US$4.5 million (about $10.4M pa'anga) insurance payout for destruction caused by Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold on April 9, under its cover with the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company.

Friday 24 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The national CoViD-19 restrictions are extended for another week to Friday, 1 May, the Prime Minister Hon Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa announced today, 24 April. Some CoViD-19 testing kits arrived on an Air New Zealand flight yesterday and Tonga's CoViD-19 Testing Machine will be in operation soon.

Friday 3 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's national lockdown was extended today for another week, effective Sunday, April 5 to April 12. Dr Reynold 'Ofanoa is urging passengers who arrived in Tonga on 19 March to contact the Ministry of Health as soon as possible.

Sunday 29 March 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's national lockdown starting at 1:00am this morning, means that everyone must stay at home except for essential services. In Nuku'alofa church gates are locked, and the streets are empty and peaceful, in a coronavirus preventative measure that will be in force for at least one week.
Tuesday 24 March 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Distaquaine Pele Tu‘ihalamaka is the new Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, taking up the position from March 23 for four-years.

Tuesday 17 March 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s Public Service Commission has cancelled all travel of Government employees until further notice, stating that this is to protect the safety of the people of Tonga against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Monday 16 March 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Dr Lia Maka was re-appointed as Chief Executive Officer for the Public Service Commission for a period of four-years, starting on March 16.

Friday 7 February 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga has acceded to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, becoming the 14th and final Pacific Island country to do so and the 187th signatory in the world.

Friday 29 November 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
District Town Officers and Town Officers will start promoting tax awareness and assist government with the war on drugs, after the Ministry of Revenue and Customs (MoRC) requested support at a Tax Awareness Program held on 26 November in Nuku’alofa.

Tuesday 26 November 2019
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Cabinet has terminated the appointment Piveni Piukala as Chairman and Director of a Shared Communication Boards citing “incompetence” and “failure to follow due process”, in an announcement issued by the Tonga Prime Minister's Office today.
Thursday 21 November 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Over $11 million pa'anga in unpaid tax and duties from 2004-14, owed to the Ministry of Revenue and Customs, is an issue that Tonga’s new government of Prime Minister Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa wants to address.

Wednesday 20 November 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Government has confirmed the dates for public holidays in 2020 with the majority observed on the actual day, while three days will be moved to be observed on a Monday.

Thursday 14 November 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tongan Cabinet yesterday, 13 November cancelled the appointment of Piveni Piukala “to lead a Reform Technical Task Force for Planning, Budgeting and Aid at the Ministry of Finance. . .”

Tuesday 12 November 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An eight years old legal battle between the Public Service Commission and Busby Kautoke, a former Chief Secretary and the Secretary to Cabinet, and Head of Department for the Prime Minister’s Office concluded last week when the parties jointly announced they had agreed to end their “long running employment dispute.”

Tuesday 12 November 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A special public holiday for Tonga was this morning made official for Friday, November 15 to celebrate Tonga's winning Rugby League team.

Wednesday 6 November 2019
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An odd media release by the Prime Minister today announced: “Behold, the Champion Teams will assemble...”
