Tonga

The villagers have started to erect a fence around the area, to help in controlling stray pigs and animals that could damage the new plants that will be planted there.

Hoi villagers have provided posts and labor for the project.

The R2R team is led by mangroves expert Hoifua Aholahi.

The mangrove project is part of the Tonga Ridge to Reef programme.

Photo by R2R Media  

For the local Tongan community, the twice weekly flights on Sundays and Thursdays, is a much less burden — especially on the financial side — on having to travel via Samoa and Fiji to get to Tonga.

Using its nine-seater passenger aircraft, Talofa Airways launched Sunday morning its inaugural direct-flight from Pago Pago International Airport to Tonga’s capital of Nuku’alofa.

The event promotes the agricultural and fisheries sector produce, working with farmers, fishermen and people from villages around Tonga.

RNZI reports the show started in Vava'u this week and will visit different parts of Tonga throughout July.

Chief executive of the Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Dr Viliami Manu, said the yam crops continued to be an important part of the show and now that importance has included promotion of foods for healthier choices.

There had been a number of ugly, public brawls between students recently, many of which have been posted online.

The Ministry of Education and police joined forces to run last week's camp with student leaders from four colleges attending.

Acting Chief Inspector Penisimani Fili said the 26 students went through a similar programme to what police recruits go through, taking part in religious, physical and team building exercises.

Mr Fili said he had noticed a difference in their approach to each other and their fellow students.

The Bank said the notes were in the new King Tupou VI design.

It said it had intercepted some but believed others may still be in general circulation.

RNZI reports the Bank said the fake notes lacked the watermark and a shiny silver thread that showed in different forms on each side.

It said the public should take any suspect notes to the Bank for further examination and appropriate action.

Kaniva News reports the Tongan Cabinet passed a resolution to engage Dr Harrison.

Cabinet is also reported to have sought advice from the lawyer before its decision to withdraw as host of the 2019 Pacific Games.

The Pacific Games Council has proceeded to take legal action against the Tongan government for withdrawing as host of the Games.

The council is also terminating the host agreement with the government.

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has said that Tonga cannot host the games as there are other priorities.

The awards, now in their third year, celebrate exceptional people aged 18 to 29 from across the Commonwealth.

Kite received an honorary award for her work on educational initiatives with youth and disabled people.

She currently teaches a braille class to students who are visually impaired.

According to Kite, there was a need to change perceptions towards disabled people in Tonga.

"There is quite a demand because there are quite a few people living with visual impairment," she explained.

Sione Palei "Bah'' Tuiano has been identified as the man killed in a crash involving a car and ute on the motorway north of Silverstream, in the Hutt Valley, in the early hours of Sunday.

Tuiano's older sister, Seta Tuiano, told the NZ Herald the large extended family and friends and members of the local and Tongan community had gathered to support them following the accident.

Police are investigating the circumstances of the crash, which are not yet known.

The Government pulled its backing for the Games at the end of May, citing financial reasons.

The Pacific Games Council gave them until the end of June to address their concerns and said if there was no change in stance they would begin proceedings to seek damages through the court.

But the Prime Minister, 'Akilisi Pohiva, said the decision was final and his government wanted to focus its resources on more important areas of economic development.

The tournament, which also involves Fiji, doubles as a qualifier for the World Cup with the combined 2016 and 2017 results deciding which two teams from the region win automatic berths in Japan in 2019.

It was the first test Tonga have hosted in eight years and drew a crowd of around 10,000 at the newly-refurbished Teufaiva Stadium in the Tongan capital.

Tongan halfback Sonatane Takulua scored all of his side's points in the second half with a converted try and a penalty as they built on their 20-16 lead at the break to hold off a late charge from the Samoans.