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…
Author: Newsdesk
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…
As the FIJI Water Flying Fijians gear up for their upcoming match against Tonga, Head Coach Mick Byrne has intensified the team’s training regimen to ensure peak performance in their second game of the 2024 Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup. Following a robust performance in their opening match last Friday, the Flying Fijians are using their bye week to focus on enhancing their fitness levels. Coach Byrne emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and energy during this period without a game. “Yeah, I think in a bye week it’s important that we keep our focus. So, we’ve just lifted…
The U.S. Embassy in Nuku’alofa opened a Consular window pilot program, marking a significant step in strengthening U.S.-Tonga relations. This launch followed the Embassy’s official opening on August 28 in the Kingdom of Tonga. The Consular window pilot program will offer essential services to American citizens and extended non-immigrant visa services to all Tonga residents. Available visa types included B1, B2, B1/B2, F1, F2, J1, J2, M1, M2, and R visas. The Consular window will be staffed by the Consular Team from U.S. Embassy Suva on a quarterly visit basis and will only see visa applicants who have made appointments…
Five-time champions Fiji kicked off their Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024 campaign on Friday with a 42-16 win against Samoa, while Japan beat hosts Canada 55-28 in the second match on Sunday. The scoring patterns of the matches were very different with Fiji having to come from 16-15 behind at half-time to get the victory, while Japan were 38-7 up at the break before ‘losing’ the second half as Canada gave the BC Place crowd something to cheer about with a stirring performance. EDDIE’S UP AND RUNNING Eddie Jones is finally off the mark at the fourth attempt…
Excitement is building for the Tonga delegation and among the Pacific nations as they prepare to participate in the highly anticipated Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on Wednesday August 28nat 8pm (Thursday, August 29, 7am Tonga time). The ceremony, set to unfold at the iconic Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées, will see athletes proudly representing their countries in the heart of the French capital. The Pacific nations are fielding a team of 13 Para athletes who will compete across two sports, Para athletics and Para taekwondo, in 13 events. Tonga’s Meleane Falemaka will compete in…
The Tonga Trade Fair 2024 started on 27 August 2024 at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall in Nuku’alofa, marking a vibrant start to the event that promises to highlight local businesses and foster economic growth in the region. The soft opening ceremony was graced by leaders and delegations from the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum Meeting (PILFM), setting the stage for a week of trade and cultural exchange. Hon. Viliami Uasike Latu, Tonga’s Minister of Trade and Economic Development (MTED), emphasised the importance of trade in enhancing economic prosperity and resilience within the Pacific region. “Events such as today’s trade fair…
From 26 to 28 August, International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen will represent the European Union (EU) at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Tonga, where she will discuss the Pacific Protocol of the Samoa Agreement. This protocol serves as a framework for the EU’s partnership with the 79 countries of the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS), aiming to enhance cooperation in promoting a sustainable ocean-based economy, environmental protection, and climate resilience in the region. During her visit, Commissioner Urpilainen will hold bilateral meetings with high-level representatives from partner countries and other development partners to outline cooperation…
The UK has committed £12.9 million in new funding to support Pacific-led climate initiatives, Indo-Pacific Minister Catherine West will announce at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in Tonga this week. This announcement marks West’s first overseas visit since taking office and goes to show the UK’s renewed focus on global climate action. Minister West, who arrived in New Zealand on Sunday, 25 August, for discussions on climate, defense, and trade, will emphasise the importance of equipping vulnerable Pacific communities to face the impacts of climate change during her address at the PIF in Nuku’alofa. “The Government is seeking to reconnect…
A new state-of-the-art weather radar was installed at Fua’amotu Airport yesterday, marking a significant milestone in Tonga’s efforts to enhance weather monitoring and forecasting capabilities. The radar was officially launched today by New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and United Nations Secretary General António Guterres. This advanced radar technology, the first of its kind in the Pacific, represents a major step forward in Tonga’s capacity to predict and respond to severe weather events. Tonga, recognised as the second most at-risk country in the world for natural hazards, will greatly benefit from this cutting-edge technology. The new radar system will…