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Results for Pacific Islands

Tuesday 15 February 2022
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Canberra, Australia
The impact of the tsunami and volcanic eruption on 'Atata and surrounding islands is most visible from the air. “The wave must have been huge,” said Royal Australian Navy Chaplain Simote Finau, who went ashore with around 30 Australians from the Operation Tonga Assist taskforce, after the locals had evacuated. New photos taken for damage surveys they conducted were released on Friday.
Monday 14 February 2022
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Wellington, New Zealand
The New Zealand Defence Force ships HMNZ Canterbury and HMNZ Wellington left Tonga last Friday after assisting with relief efforts following last month’s undersea eruption and tsunami. The NZDF’s deliveries of aid and water have been contactless. Helicopters on board have surveyed damaged areas, and flew Digicel technicians to uninhabited Kao Island to assist in work to restore communications links to Ha’apai.
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Saturday 5 February 2022
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Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand
Aotearoa New Zealand is donating an additional 9,300 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to Tonga, and $3 million in humanitarian funding. A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules has departed Base Auckland Whenuapai earlier today, Feb. 5, carrying the vaccines, rapid antigen tests, and equipment to support re-establishing the electrical network.
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Thursday 3 February 2022
Nomuka

Apia, Samoa
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme is deeply concerned about the impact of the Hunga Tonga - Hunga Ha’apai underwater volcano eruption, and tsunami, on the people of Tonga, Director General, Mr Kosi Latu stated today. The events again highlighted the vulnerability of the Pacific region and its people to natural disasters. SPREP is working on ways to support Tonga during its environmental recovery and rebuilding phases.
Tuesday 1 February 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A possibility that Tonga’s shellfish, Kaloa’a, and reef fish may be contaminated and inedible following the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption has been a major concern for the CEO for the Ministry of Fisheries, Dr Tu’ikolongahau Halafihi.
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Monday 31 January 2022
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Wellington, New Zealand
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has provided Tongan communities with more than half a million litres of fresh water and continues to transport much-needed aid to Tonga with a fourth Hercules flight scheduled tomorrow, Tuesday.
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Thursday 27 January 2022
Hunga explosion

Sacramento-CA, USA
Earlier this month, an underwater volcanic eruption near the Pacific Island nation of Tonga unleashed a sonic boom heard thousands of miles away, The explosion generated was really massive. The pressure wave from this has been recorded all around the world. The devastating wave and toxic ash from the eruption will have long-term impacts on life for residents of Tonga. By Ed Fletcher.
Monday 10 January 2022

Suva, Fiji
On the spot fines for failure to abide by COVID-19 protocols will be issued in Fiji to individuals and businesses, starting today, January 10. Fines include $250 for not wearing a face mask in required settings, Fiji’s Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport said.
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Wednesday 5 January 2022

Suva, Fiji
Fiji is experiencing a resurgence in COVID-19 cases with 580 new cases over two days January 2-3. Fiji's Ministry of Health and Medical Services confirmed community transmission of both the Omicron and Delta variants of the virus in the country. “As with previous variants, unvaccinated people are at higher risk of severe disease,” stated Fiji's Health Ministry. Fiji has recorded a total of 702 deaths from COVID-19. By Eleanor Gee.
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Saturday 18 December 2021

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Corruption is a problem across both the Public and Private Sectors in 10 Pacific Island Countries, according to Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer – Pacific 2021, released in November. Two thirds of respondents (66 per cent) in Tonga think that levels of corruption in their government had increased. While 55 per cent of respondents in Tonga think that corruption in the business sector increased over the 12 months prior to the survey.
Wednesday 15 December 2021

Christchurch, New Zealand
Manu Hausia (28) has pleaded guilty to four charges, including attempted murder at the High Court in Christchurch. He is remanded in custody to be sentenced in February 2022. Hausia, in New Zealand on an interim visitor visa, admitted his brutal assault on a solo mum, committed on September 2.
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Tuesday 14 December 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A new investment fund to support COVID-19 recovery in the Pacific was announced by the New Zealand government on December 13. New Zealand is committing $17 million to the fund which is expected to attract an additional $40 million in private investment, and will offer both flexible capital and a technical assistance facility to accelerate investments across the Pacific region.
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Tuesday 14 December 2021
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Wellington, New Zealand
New York Times reporting: New Zealand unveiled a plan Thursday to eventually ban all sales of cigarettes in the country, a decades-long effort unique in the world to prevent young people from taking up smoking. The proposal, expected to become law next year, would raise the smoking age year by year until it covers the entire population
Monday 13 December 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's critical shortage of sand for construction purposes has motivated a local man to find an alternative source of fine aggregate. Viliami Lolohea is currently building a small house at Fangaloto, trialling bricks made with imported Ferronickel slag. Last Friday, 10 December, King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u visited the building site to view the foundations of what will be the first house to be constructed locally with cement and slag
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Wednesday 8 December 2021
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Suva, Fiji
A project which aims to identify and monitor marine invasive species and protect local marine environments in the Pacific Islands, was inaugurated on November 24, in collaboration with the University of the South Pacific in Fiji.
Wednesday 1 December 2021

Suva, Fiji
New COVID-19 cases in Fiji continue to decline with 12 new cases reported between November 27-28 and zero cases on November 29, Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services reported. Fiji opened its borders today to fully vaccinated international travellers, repatriates and Fijians visiting families and friends.
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Sunday 28 November 2021
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Brisbane, Australia
Five soldiers from His Majesty’s Armed Forces Tonga (HMAF) have the skills to train their fellow colleagues in the Army Combatives Program (ACP), having qualified as instructors following training at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, Brisbane, Australia. ACP is combat-focused, and teaches lethal and non-lethal techniques relevant to soldiers.
Sunday 28 November 2021
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Melbourne, Australia
New York Times Reporting by Yan Zhuang: After days of riots in the Solomon Islands during which protesters called for Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to resign, set buildings ablaze and looted stores, authorities on Saturday said they had found the bodies of three people in a burned-out building of a store in the Chinatown district. They are the first reported deaths after days of violent protests in Honiara, the nation’s capital. Australia sent around 100 police officers and soldiers Thursday and Friday to help stabilize the situation, and Papua New Guinea sent 35 police and correctional service personnel Friday.
Thursday 11 November 2021

Glasgow, United Kingdom
The dangerous effects of climate change continue to threaten Tonga's environment as well as the livelihoods and future existence of our people, Tonga's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, H.E. Hon. Fanetupouvava'u Tu'ivakano told the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference, Wednesday, in presenting Tonga's National Statement.
Thursday 11 November 2021
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Glasgow, United Kingdom
A sea level rise of one metre will be devasting for Tongatapu where, “Under this scenario, 25% of buildings, 11% of roads, 16% of water, and 29% of power infrastructure would be permanently lost,” new modelling shows. The findings of a groundbreaking report analyzing climate and disaster risk management in the Pacific nation of Tonga, one of the most vulnerable in the world to the impact of climate change, was discussed at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Glasgow this week. New assets need to be developed away from low-lying high risk locations, it says.

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