Results for People

A New Zealander of Tongan descent, Associate Professor Dianne Sika-Paotonu from the University of Otago, Wellington, has been awarded the Royal Society Te Apārangi’s Callaghan Medal for science communication.

Twelve youth members from Tongatapu 7 and 8 districts participated in a basic business training yesterday, 6 November, in Veitongo. The training is one of two programs implemented by the Youth Development division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

A Farewell Parade was held by Tonga Police today for Superintendent Siaosi Paseka who is retiring after 37 years of service. He was celebrated by the police force and police partners from Australian Federal Police and New Zealand Police, families and friends at the Tonga Police College, in Longolongo.

South Auckland actor and musician JP Foliaki, winner of New Zealand's Celebrity Treasure Island television show for 2024, said that he called on his Tongan values to come through 18 days of the tough contest. The 30-year-old competed against 17 other New Zealand celebrities on location in the Coromandel, North Island, to claim the $100,000 prize for his chosen charity, Childfund, in Wednesday’s final.

The Free Church of Tonga (Siasi ‘o Tonga Tauataina) held their annual September roll call (Tali ui Sepitema) for the women of the church, at Falemasiva Hall in Havelu on 25 September 2024.

A well-known local businessman and the co-founder of Lalita Store, Chimanlal Gandalal “Simani” (81), passed away at his home at Ma'ufanga, Tongatapu, on 17 September 2024 after a short illness. His funeral was held on Saturday.

The Māori King, Tuheitia Paki, crowned Te Arikinui Kiingi Tuheitia, has died peacefully on Friday morning at the age of 69, New Zealand news media reported today. Kiingi Tuheitia succeeded his mother, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, following her death in 2006.

New Zealand–born Tongan tenor, Manase Latu was runner-up in the 2024 Lexus Song Quest, Aotearoa, New Zealand’s premier opera singing competition. Manase was selected from a pool of 29 top-quality applications for the song quest competition.

Two young Tongan researchers in Auckland have teamed up to take on two major health issues facing Pacific and Māori people - rheumatic fever and gout. Postdoctoral research fellows Dr. Siobhan Tu’akoi and Dr. Samuela 'Ofanoa launched their research projects this year in South Auckland communities, funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand.