The United States continues to expand on its diplomatic presence in the Pacific region, according to Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell. Speaking at the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders’ Meeting in Nuku’alofa, Campbell said that Washington has been attentive to the needs and concerns of Pacific Island nations. “Our step up here in the Pacific has been very substantial,” Campbell said, highlighting the US’s recent initiatives in areas such as climate change resilience, illegal fishing, education, technology, and connectivity. He announced a US$25 million contribution to the Pacific Resilience Facility, a fund designed to help Forum members access…
Author: Newsdesk
Tonga has announced its strongest lineup for the opening clash of the Pacific Nations Cup (PNC) against Manu Samoa, set to take place in Apia on Friday afternoon. Led by heavyweight prop Ben Tameifuna, the Tongan squad includes five Moana Pasifika players, signaling their intent to put up a tough fight in what is expected to be a physical battle. Despite missing several big-name players due to unavailability or being overlooked by the new coaching team, Tonga is determined to start their campaign on a high note. The lineup also features new Moana Pasifika signing Patrick Pellegrini, as well as…
Civil society organisations called on Pacific leaders to prioritise the ongoing disposal of treated nuclear wastewater from Fukushima and the contentious issue of deep-sea mining during their retreat in Vava’u yesterday. The call follows a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) dialogue with Forum leaders in Nuku’alofa, where concerns about these critical issues were strongly voiced. Joey Tau of the Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) emphasised the urgency of these matters. “We hope the leaders give serious consideration following the PALM Summit,” Tau said, urging leaders to reinstate the expert panel on Fukushima’s nuclear wastewater disposal, which has been sidelined in recent…
Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tuku’aho issued a plea for the preservation of kava’s cultural and economic value during the launch of the Regional Kava Development Strategy on Wednesday. In her keynote address, the Princess emphasized that kava is not merely a product, but a vital part of Pacific identity and heritage. “Kava is more than just a plant—it is the lifeblood of many Pacific Island cultures, a symbol of unity, peace, heritage, and tradition,” Princess Angelika said. She explained kava’s role in Pacific communities, where it has been revered for millennia and used in ceremonies that mark life’s most important moments.…
A petition is being organised in Tonga urging King Tupou VI to revoke the appointment of Malcolm Lesley Bishop, KC of Wales, as the new Chief Justice, according to news sources. The outcry follows revelations about Bishop’s LGBTQ lifestyle, which some claim violates Tonga’s law prohibiting sodomy. Bishop, 79, is set to begin his role on September 1. The controversy stems from the disclosure that Bishop lived openly as a gay man with his late partner, Anthony Vander Woerd, for 51 years. Woerd, a businessman, was tragically shot and killed in front of Bishop during a robbery in the Caribbean…
The newly appointed World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional director for the Western Pacific, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, has called on Forum Leaders to confront the region’s most critical health challenges with urgency and commitment. Speaking at the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, Dr Piukala outlined a stark reality facing the region: the escalating impacts of climate change on health infrastructure, a severe shortage of health workers, and the skyrocketing rates of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). “Without your support, this Pacific dream would not have been possible,” Dr Piukala said. He expressed his gratitude to the Forum Leaders for backing his…
A former Tongan Methodist lay minister and Sunday school teacher has been jailed for four years and 10 months for sexually assaulting a vulnerable young boy. Hapa ‘Ofanoa, 47, has also been put on the child sex offender register. He pleaded guilty early this year to three charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and five charges of doing an indecent act on a young person. The victim, who had “significant behavioural and physical difficulties”, was repeatedly abused by ‘Ofanoa between July 2014 and September 2017 while he was in his care. The presiding judge, Patel, said ‘Ofanoa’s offending…
The Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Retreat is starting in Vava’u,Tonga today. Eighteen Pacific leaders and representatives will meet on Vava’u to sign off what they have been discussing throughout the year. The local people have been up until the early hours of the morning brushing and sweeping the streets and painting fences ahead of the leaders’ arrivals. They told RNZ Pacific last night on Wednesday night that this is a big day for Vava’u to showcase the rich culture they have on offer to the world. Mele Vaipulu, the wife of the Tongan deputy prime minister, Samiuela, said this visit…
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stepped out of the Pacific Islands Forum on Wednesday to throw a rugby ball around with some young female players from Tonga. The New Zealand government has given $110,000 to New Zealand Rugby and Tonga Rugby Union to promote women’s participation in the sport on the three outer islands: Vava’u, Ha’apai and ‘Eua. The promotion of women’s sport in Tonga is particularly significant, given its government told Tonga High School girls shouldn’t play such sports because it went against their dignity in 2018. Luxon took to the field this afternoon to run a few rugby drills…
Tonga today launched a National Single-Use Plastics Roadmap aimed at phasing out single-use plastics (SUPs) in the country. This strategic roadmap will provide a clear pathway for targeted actions to achieve a cleaner environment and improve waste recycling strategies. The roadmap was launched at a side event at the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting hosted by Tonga this week. The side event was organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Environment Programme (SPREP) through the Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP) funded by the Australian Government. “Tonga is dedicated to promoting sustainable development by aligning economic advancement with environmental conservation…