Walt Disney’s recent trailer release of the highly anticipated movie Moana has stirred debate over the movie’s portrayal of the Polynesian demi-god Maui. New Zealand-Tongan MP Jenny Salesa called Disney’s portrayal of Maui “overweight” and a “negative stereotype”.
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Monday 4 July 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Friday 1 July 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Nine of 11 entrants for the Miss Heilala Pageant 2016 joined an orientation program at Liku’alofa Beach Resort, Tongatapu today. The girls looked radiant dressed in their best for their first public appearance. Photos by Linny Folau
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Thursday 30 June 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
HM King Tupou VI will mark his 57th birthday on Monday, 4 July a public holiday in Tonga.
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Wednesday 29 June 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The final program for the 2016 Heilala Festival has been released by the Heilala Festival Events Committee. This includes the Miss Heilala Pageant under the theme, "Beautiful Tonga". Tonight a cultural event at the Queen Sālote Memorial Hall will feature the Miss Junior/Pre-teen Tau'olunga dancing competitions.
Monday 27 June 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Nuku'alofa will see ongoing festivities with the annual Heilala Festival to start this week showcasing various events, including a Miss Heilala Pageant under a theme, "Beautiful Tonga".
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Friday 24 June 2016
London, UK
Tonga’s Aiona Prescott (21) received the Queen’s Young Leaders Award last night at a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London in recognition of exceptional young people from across the Commonwealth who are making lasting change in their communities.
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Thursday 23 June 2016
New York, USA
Tonga's Visesio Siasau will have his huge black tapa cloth exhibited at ORA Gallery in New York City from July 6-28.
Tuesday 21 June 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Thousands of Tupou College ex-students proudly marched through central Nuku'alofa this morning, 21 June to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Free Wesleyan Church's All Boys Secondary School. Tomorrow, Wednesday June 22, is a special public holiday for the Tupou College Sesquicentennial Commemorative Service. Photos by Linny Folau
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Monday 20 June 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The new Secretary General for the United Nations in 2017 has to be able to help the UN step up to the challenges, and women have to be part of the solutions, says the UNDP head, Helen Clark, who left Tonga today at the end of a Pacific islands visit.
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Friday 17 June 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Celebrations began today in Nuku’alofa to mark Tupou College’s 150th Anniversary, with cultural dancing by schools as the first of many events for the Sesquicentennial to run from June 17-24. Photos by Linny Folau.
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Friday 17 June 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Students from Lapaha Government Primary School won the 2016 Chant Competition to mark the "family month" of May, hosted by the Women and Children Crisis Center this afternoon, at Digicel Square in the CBD.
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Thursday 16 June 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A one-day National Women’s Forum to discuss the work done on a National Policy on Gender and Development 2014-18 while mapping out a way forward to achieve its aims was held on Thursday, 16 June at Tungi Colonnade.
Wednesday 15 June 2016
Auckland, New Zealand
A new book in the Tongan language that preserves traditional knowledge about yam growing, titled "Tokanga ko e Mo’ui’anga", was launched by its author Sione Tu’itahi in Auckland, New Zealand.
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Tuesday 14 June 2016
Amstelveen, The Netherlands
Vulnerable and marginalized children such as refugee, migrant, disabled, street kids and indigenous children and youth, are still widely discriminated against says KidsRights after it recently released its annual global index on children’s rights in 163 countries - with two Pacific countries ranked among the worst performing on the list.
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Monday 13 June 2016
Laie, Hawaii
HM King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u attended the opening of a newly restored Tonga Village at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Hawaii, on 11 June.
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Friday 10 June 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Aiona Prescott (21) will be a proud recipient of the Queen’s Young Leaders Award to be presented by HM Queen Elizabeth II on 23 June 2016, at Buckingham Palace, London, in recognising exceptional community leaders from 45 countries.
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Wednesday 8 June 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A special ceremony was held for Tonga's elderly people aged 85 years and over this morning when they each received $100 pa'anga gift from Princess Latufuipeka Tuku’aho to commemorate the Queen Mother’s 90th birthday.
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Wednesday 8 June 2016
Perth, Australia
Mixed Martial Arts fighter and actor Soa Palelei (38) has revealed his life long bout with depression ahead of the release of his book 'Face Your Fears'. Known as the “the Hulk” for his imposing 6'4" immaculate frame, Soa is also known for his charity. Last year, he captured news headlines after he raised $120,000 for children at a Western Australian hospital but was barred from meeting the children because of the hospital’s opposition to cage fighting.
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Monday 6 June 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Today a public holiday was held to celebrate Emancipation Day, the day Tonga’s first Christian king, King Siaosi Tupou I officially abolished serfdom in Tonga on June 4 1862. It represented a turning point in Tongan history as commoners were freed from the virtual ownership of chiefs. It is 154 years since the day.
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Thursday 2 June 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Hundreds of Tongatapu secondary and tertiary school students led by lively brass bands marched through central Nuku’alofa today, Thursday 2 June, to mark the opening of the 2016 Session of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, while passengers from the Pacific Pearl cruise ship berthed at the Vuna Wharf near Parliament House enjoyed the spectacle. Photos by Linny Folau.
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