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Saturday 29 March 2008 5:41pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The young Noble Fakafanua, the estate holder of Ma'ufanga, is in a legal dispute with his two uncles and four aunties over the ownership of the Fakafanua Centre property, in a hearing in the Land Court that will continue next week.
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Friday 28 March 2008 4:36pm
Honolulu, Hawaii : Army Lieutenant Colonel Siamelie Latu, Tonga Defence Services, from Tatakamotonga, Tonga, graduated March 26 from the Asia-Pacific Center for Studies Comprehensive Security Responses to Terrorism (CSRT) Course in Honolulu. Latu received his diploma from retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ed Smith, director of the Center. Premium content -
Friday 28 March 2008 11:24am
USA : I am grieving the loss of common sense in the Government and the contributions by those who are suppose to be the advisors, Cabinet members and company, to our king. The announcement of establishing consular offices in Canberra and Wellington is a good example. It seems the Government's "wants" has priority over the true needs" of the kingdom. The "wants" are things that are nice to have but we can live without. The "needs" are those things we must have to survive as a kingdom. - Tama Foa -
Friday 28 March 2008 5:38am
Pangai, Ha'apai : Now that the PM has decided to retain the Minister of Tourism in Cabinet, the government's spin doctors have their work cut out for them when international good governance watchdogs issue their reports on Tonga towards the end of this year and early next year. I imagine Tonga will continue to retain its ranking, or worse, on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index - in 2007 it ranked 175 out of 180 countries. It will reflect how the government is viewed from outside - in this case, very corrupt. If the government insists that this is unfounded, let it be more transparent in its decisions and see if the TICPI will improve. I can also imagine the the US State Department's Tonga 2008 Human Rights Report saying . . . "public officials were usually corrupt and get away with it" and this would be an accurate statement, as we have witnessed in this case of the Prime Minister exonerating the Minister of Tourism from any wrongdoing. - Tupou Finau -
Thursday 27 March 2008 7:54pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The Tonga government is investigating the cost of setting up two new Tonga Consular offices in Canberra and Wellington for possible inclusion in the new budget for 2008-09. Premium content -
Thursday 27 March 2008 7:23pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The importation of aircrafts and aircraft parts to Tonga will be exempted from excise tariff, Tonga's government Information Unit announced this afternoon. Premium content -
Thursday 27 March 2008 4:40pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A new brochure called the 'Kingdom of Tonga Visitors' Guide 2008' was launched today as part of the preparations by the Ministry of Tourism to cater for the visitors that will be attending the King's Coronation in August. Premium content -
Thursday 27 March 2008 11:09am
Pape'ete, Tahiti : A strike at one of French Polynesia's two public television stations is being pursued over the showing of a seven-minute pornographic film. Premium content -
Thursday 27 March 2008 10:51am
Suva, Fiji : A leading Fiji human rights group has launched a fierce attack on Foreign Minister Winston Peters, claiming he was trying to"curry favour" with New Zealand's"media empire" in an election year. Premium content -
Wednesday 26 March 2008 4:20pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Nautilus Minerals Inc. started the first stage of its mineral exploration for high-grade minerals in Tongan waters today. Premium content -
Wednesday 26 March 2008 3:48pm
USA : With the gavel being dropped and the decision to have the Minister of Tourism work without pay for three months, one can only wonder whether this whole process was "just", and if there was real justice in the process. - Tama Foa -
Wednesday 26 March 2008 3:06pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Nuku‘alofa experienced dark overcast skies this morning as thunderstorms dumped above average rainfall, flooding roads and homes in low-lying areas in just 24 hours. Premium content -
Tuesday 25 March 2008 7:49pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : ‘Akanete Lauti, the former Director of the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement, who resigned in order to run in the April General Election, is disappointed with the decision that an assessment will be done to determine her comeback. Premium content -
Tuesday 25 March 2008 4:54pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A combined Pacific Youth Camp attracted 600 participants to Nuku'alofa during the Easter weekend. Premium content -
Tuesday 25 March 2008 4:25pm
Durban, South Africa : On his first day with the Sharks, 'Epi Taione was named in the 26 man squad to tour Australia and New Zealand on their five match Vodacom Super 14 away trip, which gets underway next week with their first match against the Reds. Premium content -
Tuesday 25 March 2008 4:11pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Highlights from Tonga's newspapers, March 17-20, 2008. An English translation summary by Tevita Fonua. Premium content -
Tuesday 25 March 2008 12:49pm
Suva, Fiji : Former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says people in power can see the media as racist because of its criticism of their policies. Premium content -
Tuesday 25 March 2008 9:46am
New Zealand : I am proud to say that the Hon. Minister of Tourism Fineasi Funaki is my tokoua since our late paternal grandmothers were sisters. I wish I had the opportunity to give him a brotherly advise that could have prevented the issues at hand. My advice would have been to deposit the check in the department's account and loan the department the amount they needed from his own personal account to expedite the availability of the petty cash funds. - ‘Aisea Tu‘ikolovatu -
Tuesday 25 March 2008 9:44am
Australia : I always support the US system of Government's 'separation of power and restricted over lapse', despite the fact that there are still some fragments lying around to collect. That system cannot be healthy or work in all forms of government but it can test any governing body's competency; prevent maladministration and provide fair ruling procedure. - Sam ‘Anamanu -
Tuesday 25 March 2008 9:38am
Wellington, New Zealand : Until recently, especially during the Cold War, New Zealand and Australia saw the Pacific pretty much as an area of their own particular interest. Things have changed. Has New Zealand's policy changed in response? Does it need to? By Gerald McGhie Premium content
