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...

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...

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...

EHCC exhibition embodies body politics

Human bodies, and the relationships we have to our own bodies and the way that others present their bodies to us, are complex. Seven artists offer us their unique perspectives on the questions inherent in these relationships at East Hawaii...

Pacific Governance meeting kicks off in Tonga amid Pacific challenges

The 55th CRGA meeting of the Pacific Community (SPC) has officially begun in Nuku‘alofa. From 14 to 15 October, government representatives from across the Pacific are convening at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre in Tonga for the Committee of...

Tonga preparing for CRGA55 and 14th Conference of the Pacific Community

The Tongan Government is currently preparing to host some of the high-level officials and ministers from member countries of the Pacific Community – SPC. The 55th meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations, as...

Advocate calls for voting access for Tongans working overseas ahead of November polls

A Tonga Electoral Commission banner with the message: "Vote so you can be counted". Photo: Tonga Electoral Commission A Tongan lawyer and the head of the Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC) in Nuku'alofa is calling for overseas-based workers...

Te Pāti Māori releases letter accusing hīkoi leader of abusing Parliament staff

Te Pāti Māori has gone on the offensive against a former ally and leader of the hīkoi movement, revealing security staff at Parliament allegedly accused him of using offensive, racist and intimidating language towards them. In an email to members,...

Matangi Tonga founder Pesi Siale Fonua mourned after his death at 78

Fonua and his wife, Mary, started the Vava’u Press Limited in 1979, initially as a quarterly magazine before transitioning to an online news service. Matangi Tonga Online is known as an independent news agency that “has no allegiance to...

Eke leads Tonga push at World Bank–IMF talks

The Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Aisake Eke is heading the Kingdom’s delegation at the 2025 World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings. Meeting in Washington from 13 to 18 October, Tonga will press for support on climate resilience, debt relief and sustainable...

Tributes pour in for Matangi Tonga founder Pesi Siale Fonua – ‘a steady voice of truth’

RNZ Pacific Pesi Siale Fonua, a veteran Pacific journalist and the publisher-editor of Tonga’s leading news website Matangi Tonga Online, has died at the age of 78. Fonua’s family announced his passing on Monday. “It is with profound sadness that...

Tonga to fly flags at half-mast for late LDS Church President Russell M. Nelson

The Prime Minister of Tonga, Dr ʻAisake Valu Eke, has ordered all national flags across the Kingdom to be flown at half-mast on Wednesday, 8 October 2025. King of Tonga and President Russel Nelson. Photo/churchofjesuschrist.orgThis is to honour...

Veteran Journalist and Publisher of Matangi Tonga Online Passes Away

Pesi Siale Fonua, a veteran Pacific journalist and the publisher-editor of Tonga’s leading news website, Matangi Tonga Online, has died at the age of 78. Fonua’s family announced his passing on Monday. “It is with profound sadness that we announce...

Pasifika Candidates feature across the Country in Local Body Elections

Fauono Ken Laban has been elected Mayor of Lower Hutt, making history as Aotearoa New Zealand’s first Pasifika Mayor. Photo: Tagata Pasifika Gladys Hartson | Senior Journalist Preliminary results for local body elections 2025 show a good spread of...

Hospital ship Silk Road Ark arrives in Tonga with free medical aid

The Chinese PLA Navy hospital ship Silk Road Ark docked at Tonga’s Vuna Wharf yesterday to offer free medical consultations and services. Acting Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Taniela Fusimalohi welcomed the vessel, saying the visit highlights the...

Tongan-made crafts to showcase on Fiji Day

Tongan-born entrepreneur Lia Susau is leveraging Fiji Day to expand her artisan business. Based in Delainavesi for 12 years, Lia runs Susau Investment, selling traditional Tongan kiekie, kafa (magimagi) and ngatu (tapa). “I started selling my...

Court cases will determine Fiji’s legal landscape and moral compass

Venkat Raman Auckland, October 14, 2025 The legal proceedings currently underway against former Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and others mark not only a judicial milestone but also a symbolic...

Fotofili secures noble seat before Tonga general election, 71 candidates registered

The Tongan general election has formally begun with Fotofili confirmed as the sole noble candidate. Prince Kalaniuvalu Fotofili was declared the Noble Representative for the Niuas after standing unopposed, marking an early milestone in Tonga’s...

Jason Taumalolo leads Tonga XIII to visit Tonga this week

Tonga XIII final squad for the 2025 Pacific Championships. Photo: TRL. Jason Taumalolo will be leading the Tonga XIII team, better known as Mate Ma'a Tonga (MMT) on a visit to Tonga this week. The team is scheduled to arrive tomorrow afternoon, 14...

Chinese naval hospital ship provides medical services in Tonga

SUVA, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese naval hospital ship, Silk Road Ark, arrived at Nuku'alofa Port, Tonga, on Monday, starting a seven-day visit featuring medical services and cultural activities during its Mission Harmony 2025. This is the...