Only four weeks before Tonga Election

By Kalafi Moala The campaigns for the 20 November general elections are in full motion. As usual, the intensity of campaigns come from the 71 candidates seeking people’s representation from all 17 constituencies, and not so much from among the...

Tonga Could Soon Become the First Country to Recognize Whale Rights

Across every tale passed down through Tongan generations, one remains unchanged: the Polynesian kingdom’s creation story. The beginning was the ocean; and from the ocean, the islands’ first ancestors emerged. In one creation story, there were two...

Bringing 2027 elections forward to 2026’ll derail governance – NNPP

Politics …says premature polls will distract leaders, weaken institutions A southwest leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has cautioned the National Assembly against its plan to move Nigeria’s 2027 general...

'Military went from protecting the people to taking power'

When Colonel Michael Randrianirina sided with demonstrators demanding water, electricity and affordable food, youth leader Olivia Rafetison welcomed the protection after weeks of state repression. "He said: 'we're for the people, we'll help you,...

Final showdown in Parliament as Government pushes through Marine and Coastal Area law changes

The Government’s controversial Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Amendment Bill has passed its final hurdle in Parliament tonight, amid protests on beaches around the country and fierce debate over whether it erodes Māori customary rights or...

Utah State University alumnus Doug Fiefia’s journey to becoming a politician

Former high school football champion and Utah State University student body president Doug Fiefia has transitioned to a new role in Utah’s politics. His diverse experiences from both USU and beyond have helped shape his approach to politics....

Tonga secures new support from World Bank

Prime Minister Eke and World Bank’s VP meet to deepen development ties. During the 2025 World Bank–IMF meetings held this week, Prime Minister Hon. Dr. ‘Aisake Valu Eke met with Mr. Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, the World Bank Vice President for East...

Senior Election Officials from across the Pacific convene in New Zealand to share experiences of election delivery and supporting democracy in the region

Senior Election officials from the Pacific gathered in Auckland 16-17 October for the Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand Electoral Administrators (PIANZEA) Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM). This meeting provides a platform for discussing...

PNG NRL academy talents shine in PM’s XIII matches

A RECORD number of players from the Australian government-supported PNG NRL Academy programme were included in the recent Prime Minister’s XIII rugby league matches against Australia. Their participation highlighted the success of the pathway in...

Solomon Islands Plans Its Own Military Force Against Background of Growing Allegiance to Beijing

This picture taken on April 21, 2024, shows an islander walking past the recently-built National Stadium, gifted by the Chinese Communist Party, in Honiara, capital city of the Solomon Islands. Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images Only three Pacific...

Tonga chairs key IMF–World Bank talks in Washington

Prime Minister Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke led Tonga’s agenda at the 56th WBG–IMF Governors meeting. During the third day of the 2025 World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C., Tonga’s Prime Minister chaired the Southeast Asia Constituency...

Young Māori-Tongan woman wins council seat in Tararua shake-up

The Woodville native said it was a completely surreal feeling to find out she had made it. “I wasn’t too sure how to react really,” she said. “Like, how do you act in these sort of instances? “It’s definitely a first for me. I had never attended...

Orchids say two losses are a simple fix, eye stronger return against Tonga

The PNG Orchids believe their back-to-back defeats are a simple fix and remain confident of bouncing back when they face Tonga next weekend in the Pacific Championships. After going down to Australia in the PM's XIII Match and the Cook Islands in...

Tonga’s new landing craft VOEA Late enters service

The Tonga Royal Navy has commissioned the newest landing craft VOEA Late in a ceremony held at the Masefield Naval Base. Credit: Australian High Commission; Kingdom of Tonga via Facebook The commissioning of VOEA Late is the latest demonstration...

Final Results Confirmed For 2025 Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Elections

Press Release – Hawke’s Bay Regional Council The new Council will be officially sworn in at a public meeting from 9am to 12pm on Wednesday 29 October at the Napier War Memorial marking the start of a new triennium for Hawkes Bay Regional Council....

21-year-old Māori-Tongan rangatahi secures council seat in rural Tararua

Tararua District Council Māori Ward Councillor Keshaan Te Waaka. Photo: Supplied/Keshaan Te Waaka Keshaan Te Waaka, 21, has secured the Tamaki nui-a-rua Māori ward at the Tararua District Council, unseating incumbent Naioma Chase in a close race....

Letters to the Editor | October 25, 2025

Deputy PMs – RAJEND NAIDU SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA PM assumes role: ‘We can run without one deputy prime minister‘ (FT 24/10). Actually many Fijians believe the Rabuka government still has one extra deputy prime minister unnecessarily burdening the...

Ex-MP alleges several Ministers face five charges ahead of Tonga elections

A former government minister has made a startling claim, alleging that several current Cabinet Ministers are facing criminal charges. ‘Etuate Lavulavu made the revelation during a press conference last week but did not provide any details about...

Tonga Airport CEO suspended over alleged misuse of power: Public Enterprises Minister

Nuku’alofa — The chief executive officer (CEO) of Tonga Airports Ltd (TAL), Edgar Cocker, has been suspended pending an investigation into alleged misuse of power, Minister of Public Enterprises and Police Piveni Piukala revealed today. Tonga...

Supporting Safe And Strong Tonga

Department of Defence Assistant Minister for Defence, Peter Khalil, will travel to the Kingdom of Tonga today to represent the Australian Government at the commissioning ceremony for His Majesty’s Armed Forces’ new landing craft, VOEA Late, at the...