Results for New Zealand

Registration for the 2023 Pacific Access Category ballot, which opens on 1 August ,will enable people from Pacific Islands, including Tonga the chance to obtain resident visas in New Zealand.

Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka was welcomed by New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins at Parliament, Wellington on 7 June, after more than 25-years since he last officially visited the country in 1998.

New Zealand reconnecting and strengthening ties with Tonga, while acknowledging the need to be united as a Pacific region in response to the many challenges we face was raised by the New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Carmel Sepuloni, during a joint press conference with Prime Minister, Hon. Hu'akavameiliku on 20 April.

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.

At least 50 Tongan seasonal workers who are stationed near Hastings are thought to be among the orchard workers stranded by heavy flooding in Hawke's Bay today, where emergency crews were trying to reach them. “There is still no luck in reaching the boys,” Dr. Fotu Fisi’iahi told Matangi Tonga at 3:30pm. Facebook videos showed the precarious situation of the men stranded on the rooftops.

New Zealand’s smoking rate has fallen to a low of 8% of adults smoking daily, down from 9.4% a year ago, statistics released this month showed. The number of people smoking fell by 56,000.

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.

The New Zealand Government has announced additional 3000 places for the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme (RSE).

New Zealand has ended its traffic light system, which means international travellers will no longer need to be vaccinated to enter the country, and the mandatory COVID-19 testing is scrapped.