Gas supplies to the Ha'apai Group of islands have ceased for the past two weeks after Uata Shipping Company the owner of the sole inter island ferry MV Pulupaki restricted the shipment of hazardous goods onboard its passenger vessel; the lack of gas leaving tourism operators, businesses and home frustrated as they return to cooking on open fires.
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Results for Outer Islands
Wednesday 14 October 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Sunday 11 October 2009
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Hunganga, Niuatoputapu
Three waves actually hit Niuatoputapu, each successively bigger than the last - the final one higher than the coconut trees.

Thursday 8 October 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The REVI, a French Navy Ship departed Nuku'alofa on its second trip to Niuatoputapu this afternoon with 30 tonnes of cargo of food, diesel, medical supplies and tyres donated by the Tongan Government, local churches and other organisations.

Thursday 8 October 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
71-year-old 'Anamalia Vea, the oldest survivor of the tsunami that wrecked Hihifo village and left nine dead in Niuatoputapu on September 30, is amazed that she came out of the churning waters alive. By Linny Folau,

Thursday 8 October 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Lying injured in Vaiola Hospital, 65-year-old Sulifa Losalu mourns the loss of her beloved husband Heneli Losalu (69) who died helping her to escape the September 30 tsunami wave they saw rushing toward their Hihifo, Niuatoputapu, home engulfing everything in its path.

Wednesday 7 October 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kakala Lefai (58) of Hihifo, Niuatoputapu, is recovering in Nuku'alofa's Vaiola Hospital with an injured knee after surviving the devastating tsunami that in one terrible moment took the lives of her 60-year-old husband Sosefo, and two young grandchildren aged one and two years old.

Wednesday 7 October 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Responding to an appeal for drinking water and blankets in the tsunami devastated island of Niuatoputapu, Air New Zealand in Nuku'alofa this afternoon handed over a shipment of bottled mineral water, blankets and overnight kits to the Tonga Red Cross.

Wednesday 7 October 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The town of Pangai in Tonga's central Ha'apai Group of islands was hit by the September 30 tsunami, with the Police reporting damage to two houses, several boats and a wharf.

Sunday 4 October 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The names of the nine people who died from the Tsunami that struck Niuatoputapu on Wednesday morning, September 30 was released by the Prime Minister's Office last night.

Friday 2 October 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Revi, a French Navy Ship is the first to arrive in Nuku‘alofa to assist in transporting much needed supplies to Niuatoputapu following the tsunami disaster that struck the island on Wednesday, September 30.

Thursday 1 October 2009
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The island of Niuatoputapu in northern Tonga was severely damaged by tsunami waves early yesterday morning, September 30, 2009, following an 8.1 earthquake between northern Tonga and Samoa. Photos by Pesi Fonua.
Tuesday 15 September 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A new interim inter-island passenger vessel for Tonga is expected to be in service soon, to replace the sunken ferry MV Princess Ashika.

Wednesday 2 September 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Donations to assist families who lost relatives in the Ashika ferry disaster, are flowing into Tongan trust funds, with over $1 million pa‘anga collected so far from local and overseas people.

Wednesday 26 August 2009
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Ha'apai, Tonga
On August 25, 2009 a flotilla of vessels carrying about 500 mourners gathered in Ha'apai waters, around a point where four orange buoys floated in the water marking the last position of the MV Princess Ashika. They held a memorial and mass funeral ceremony at sea for the 74 people who were lost when the inter-island ferry sank on August 5. Part Three: Photos by Linny Folau on the MV Pulupaki and Pesi Fonua on the VOEA Pangai.

Wednesday 26 August 2009
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Ha'apai, Tonga
A mass fuenral ceremony at sea for the 74 people who were lost when the Princess Ashika sank on August 5, was held at midday yesterday, August 25 at the spot where the ferry sank, 11 nautical miles, south-west of Nomuka Island, in Tonga's Ha'apai Group, where about 500 people gathered on a flotilla of boats. Part Two: Photos by Linny Folau on the MV Pulupaki and Pesi Fonua on the VOEA Pangai.

Wednesday 26 August 2009
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Ha'apai,Tonga
A mass funeral ceremony at sea for the 74 people lost on the Princess Ashika on August 5, was held at midday yesterday, August 25, at the spot where the ferry sank, 11 nautical miles, south-west of Nomuka Island, in Tonga's Ha'apai Group, where about 500 people gathered on a flotilla of boats. Photos by Linny Folau on the MV Pulupaki and Pesi Fonua on the VOEA Pangai.

Tuesday 25 August 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A special memorial service will be held today, August 25 at the site where the MV Princess Ashika sank, an open sea area 11kms SSW of Nomuka Island in remembrance of the many lives lost on August 5.

Saturday 22 August 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
After 17 nights of camping in tents outside the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd. office at Queen Salote Wharf, anticipating news of relatives in the August 5 sinking of the MV Princess Ashika, bereaved families put closure to the hope of recovery and returned home on Friday July 21.

Saturday 22 August 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The aerial and surface search for survivors from the MV Princess Ashika disaster has ended, Tonga's Police Commander Chris Kelley announced on 21 August.

Thursday 20 August 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
There were 128 persons on board the Princess Ashika when it left Nuku'alofa on its August 5 voyage, Operation Ashika confirmed on August 19. These have been established as: 54 rescued, 2 bodies recovered, 72 missing persons (68 passengers and 4 crew).
