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Tuesday 28 December 2021 1:20pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : HM King Tupou VI this morning, 28 Dec., presented Tonga’s newly elected Prime Minister, Hon. Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni (51) with a Royal Warrant of Appointment at the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa. He will hold the office of Prime Minister from 27 Dec. 2021 for four years. Meanwhile, the King has approved a new 12-member Cabinet and two Governors for Vava'u and Ha'apai, and the Warrants of Appointment were read and returned to the Legislative Assembly this afternoon. The names of the new government ministers are expected to be announced by the new Prime Minister soon.
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Friday 24 December 2021 9:00pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Have a Merry Christmas and stay away from the hazardous Hunga volcano, the Tonga Geological Services advised the public today, warning that extreme hazards in the area up to five kilometres around the eruption, include possible explosions, surges, ballistic ejecta, tephra, lava domes, laze, vog, pumice shoals, volcanic edifice collapse and tsunamis. Premium content -
Friday 24 December 2021 7:23pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The funeral cortege of the late Hon. Lord Ma’afu will arrive in Tonga next Tuesday, 28 December, and the funeral ceremony will be held on New Year's Day. Premium content -
Friday 24 December 2021 6:09pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u will attend the annual Christmas service of the Free Wesleyan Church at the Centennial Church (Saione), tomorrow, December 25. Premium content -
Friday 24 December 2021 3:47pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga’s national population has dropped by 442 people since 2016, a preliminary count of Tonga's National Population Census for 2021 shows. The Government Statistician Viliami Fifita said today the census accounted for 100,209 people in Tonga. The population loss was due to seasonal workers programs, migration, and people stuck overseas due to COVID-19 border restrictions. By Eleanor Gee. Premium content -
Friday 24 December 2021 3:31pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Youth aged 12-17 years who have not yet received their second doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are urged to get their second dose before the vaccines expire in the New Year. “There is no plan to get more Pfizer for them after 2 January,” said the Health CEO. -
Friday 24 December 2021 3:30pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Melekiola Tu’ipulotu, who was convicted of serious bodily harm for using a machete on a 16-year-old boy, was sentenced to one-year imprisonment, fully suspended for two-years at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court. "I hope that this decision sends a message to our people not to take up a helepelu and use violence to make their points. Self-control is a necessary duty we must all demonstrate as responsible citizens in leading our families and communities," said the Acting Chief Justice. Premium content -
Thursday 23 December 2021 7:13pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : An explosive volcanic eruption shooting ash and pyroclastic material up to 350 metres above sea level was captured on camera yesterday, 22 Dec., by Tonga Navy crew, sailing close to the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai active volcano. However, ash was not detected at the height of aviation, Taaniela Kula (TGS) said, “this is a point of discussion with the authorities.” Premium content -
Thursday 23 December 2021 5:52pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Sulphur dioxide emitted from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano continues to spread over the Ha'apai, Vava'u and Niuatoutapu groups drifting NNE at a high altitude of 8-14km. Tonga Geological Services said S02 measured highest near the ‘Otumu‘omu‘a Group. However, the steam cloud formation from the eruption has reduced significantly from yesterday. Premium content -
Wednesday 22 December 2021 10:26pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Festive bands played in Nuku'alofa, bringing welcome Christmas cheer to shoppers and holiday makers, despite the heat from the hot sun, today December 22, as Tonga approaches its second Christmas under border restrictions. -
Wednesday 22 December 2021 5:49pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Three Tongan swimmers set new national records at the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) at the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi from December 16 – 21. Finau Ohuafi, Charissa Panuve, and Noelani Day swam against the world’s elite swimmers in the Butterfly, Freestyle, and Backstroke events. -
Tuesday 21 December 2021 11:59pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga's erupting Hunga Ha'apai volcano put on a show of lightning at sunset tonight. As a large gaseous cloud continues to rise to 18km altitude and drift over all islands, Tongan residents were advised to protect their water tanks from possible acidic rainfall, until the volcanic eruption ceases. Premium content -
Tuesday 21 December 2021 5:33pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : More than 300 Tonga Police officers are working around the clock during the police operation for the Christmas and New Year holidays, which started yesterday, December 20. Tonga Police also reminded the community to take extra care when going out in the heat and hot sun at this time of year with temperatures forecast to reach 31C. Premium content -
Tuesday 21 December 2021 5:22pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A man was found to have passed away on the side of the road on the waterfront at Sopu, Nuku'alofa, this morning, December 21. Police understood the man was out walking on the road before collapsing. Premium content -
Tuesday 21 December 2021 2:46pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Air New Zealand cancelled its flight from Auckland to Tonga late this morning due to concern over volcanic ash clouds close to Tongatapu, following a high level ash eruption at Hunga Tonga- Hunga Ha'apai detected over the last two days. Tonga's head geologist Taaniela Kula, confirmed this afternoon that an ash eruption started at about 9:35am yesterday, Monday, 20 Dec. and continued to 2:00am today, from Hunga Ha'apai, located about 65km from Nuku'alofa. A gaseous eruption is continuing intermittently. Premium content -
Monday 20 December 2021 7:58pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : It was busy at the Nuku'alofa waterfront today as hundreds of travellers left on the domestic ferries for the outer islands of Ha’apai and Vava’u for the holidays. By Eleanor Gee. Premium content -
Monday 20 December 2021 7:50pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The prices for petrol, diesel and kerosene decreased slightly, starting today Monday, December 20. Premium content -
Monday 20 December 2021 7:44pm
The Hague, Netherlands : H.E. Hon. Titilupe Fanetupouvava'u Tu'ivakano joined other ambassadors to present her credentials to HM King Willem Alexander at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, Netherlands on December 16, in the first physical audience granted by the King of the Netherlands, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Premium content -
Monday 20 December 2021 7:28pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga's 21-month long night time curfew will be eased slightly for New Year's Eve, 31 December, when the curfew will commence from 2:00am to 5:00am instead of starting at midnight. During the National Prayer Week 2022 it will commence from midnight to 3:00am, under Tonga’s Health State of Emergency that has been renewed for another month from today to 17 January 2022. Premium content -
Saturday 18 December 2021 6:42pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga. : The funeral cortege of Tonga's Deputy Prime Minister, the late Hon. Lord Ma'afu, will arrive in Tonga on Tuesday 21 December from Auckland. A military funeral with honours will be held the following week on Monday 27 December at Tokomololo, the Prime Minister's Office announced this afternoon. A vigil and prayer service will be held tonight in Auckland. The programme for the funeral activities was released. Premium content
