Tonga

Resident High Commissioner to Tonga announced as British embassy reopens

The British governments' Foreign and Commonwealth Office says Mr Robin Ord-Smith has been appointed High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Tonga, as it reopens its residence in Nukuʻalofa.

He succeeds the current, non-resident High Commissioner, Ms Melanie Hopkins, who will remain High Commissioner to the Republic of Fiji.

Mr Ord-Smith is expected to take up his appointment soon.

He has wide diplomatic experience since beginning his career in Britain's Foreign Service in 1989 and is currently the Queen's Ambassador in Kyrgyzstan.

Simaima Taufa making her voice heard in anti-violence campaign in Tonga

Taufa headed back to her birth place as part of the NRL's Voice Against Violence (VAV) program to continue the conversation around gender-based violence and gender equality, through the language of sport.

The Jillaroos lock said her reasoning for being involved in the trip was to be part of the change that the anti-violence program is going to bring for young girls and women in Tonga.

"For a long time in Tonga girls didn't play contact sport – it was also a bit of a taboo topic like domestic violence," Taufa said.

Presenting award to honour Queen Sālote 'tops everything'

The academic partner at MIT presented the award to Queen Sālote's grandchild Princess 'Ofeina 'e he Langi Fakafānua for the late monarch's contributions to Pacific music at last week's Pacific Music Awards in Auckland.

Mr Fehoko said it was one of the greatest moments of his life - "to represent an institution and present an award for someone like the calibre of Queen Sālote, it tops everything really".

Tonga health minister made WHO executive

Saia Piukala's appointment is for a term of three years.

Dr Piukala says the post provides an opportunity for Tonga to ensure their health issues and those they share with other Pacific countries, are heard and addressed.

"The health challenges we face are real and action is needed," he said.

"Working with the WHO in this way will ensure healthier lives for those in the Pacific."

 

     

LDS Church President Nelson thanks Tongan king for religious liberty

The two leaders met at the royal palace in Nuku’alofa.

 The Tongan royal family and nobles are Free Wesleyan Christians and 62 percent of the population has membership in the LDS Church.

"It's important for us to be able to thank leaders for the privilege of religious freedom in their country," President Nelson said after emerging from the white, shiplap-sided palace.

"It's a really precious aspect of governmental relations to allow the people to have the ability to practice the religion of their choice."

CJ rules there's sufficient evidence to try former Tonga PM

Matangi Tonga reported Lord Chief Justice Paulsen made the ruling on Tuesday regarding four charges of accepting a bribe as a government servant.

The ruling overturns an initial decision by the Principal Magistrate to discharge Tu'ivakano.

The Chief Justice said the decision was made on the grounds there is a sufficiency of evidence for a trial, on a date yet to be set.

Tu'ivakano was initially charged with a total of 12 counts but in January the Principal Magistrate struck off the four counts of accepting bribes, citing a lack of evidence.

Tevita Pangai Jr turns down NSW and stays loyal to Tonga

Pangai has played four Tests for Tonga and the 23-year-old was hotly-tipped as a potential debutant in the Blues forward pack.

But The Courier Mail reports that the Broncos enforcer phoned coach Brad Fittler to say he would prefer to stick with the Tonga.

“I was no certainty to be picked at all and I wasn’t thinking I could just walk into a great NSW team, but I don’t want to stuff a guy like Freddy around.”

It comes as fellow Tongan international Andrew Fifita recently reaffirmed his commitment to the island nation.

World Bank approves third operation to support economic resilience in Tonga

The grant of US$5.5 million is the last in a series of three operations and it was approved by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors.

“The government of Tonga is continuing its work to deliver real reform that will bring better outcomes for people across our Kingdom – guided by our Strategic Development Framework 2015-2025, which was created in partnership with civil society and the private sector,” said Dr. Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, Tonga’s Minister for Finance.

Tonga's Queen Sālote to be recognised at Pacific Music Awards

The award will be posthumously presented at the 15th awards ceremony on Thursday.

Queen Sālote ascended to the throne in 1918 when she was just 18 and reigned for almost 48 years until her death in 1965.

She also composed over 100 songs, lullabies, laments and dances.

The Pacific Music Awards Trust said it acknowledges Queen Sālote's huge contribution to the preservation and creative use of the Tongan language and recognises her as a celebrated writer of poetry and song.

The Trust said her compositions continue to inspire a new generation today.

NZ and Tonga Electoral Commissions sign MOU

The MOU was signed by the Chair of Tonga’s Electoral Commission the RT Hon Ramsay Dalgety and New Zealand’s Chief Electoral Officer, Alicia Wright Monday afternoon.

The agreement is a NZ$1.5 million three-year programme funded by the Government of New Zealand through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The programme is aimed at improving electoral education, voters access, transparency of campaign finance and improving the quality of access to media for candidates in the 2021 General Elections.