Tonga

The finance minister Tevita Lavemaau said US$167 million will be government raised revenue, with the balance, US$98 million, from development partners.

RNZI reports the minister also told parliament that Tonga owes $US207 million dollars, or 52 percent of the GDP.

The bulk of this is owed to China's Exim Bank for the cost of rebuilding Nuku'alofa after the 2006 riots.

Air New Zealand pulled Jonah from Tonga from its inflight entertainment as a result of the criticism.

But Māori TV's Head of Content Mike Rehu says Māori TV was open-minded about showing the series.

He said consultations with Auckland's Tongan community showed generally positive feedback.

Mr Rehu said Tongans can see the show's sensitive but also realised it was satire.

Police said yesterday the accused who have been charged with robbery had assaulted the couple who were inside their vehicle and also stole their wallet.

Local media report the couple sustained minor injuries.

In addition, they were also charged for damaging four other vehicles and theft of items from vehicles that were parked in the same area, on that night.

The accused from Sopu are in custody as investigation continues. They are expected to appear at the lower court next week.

The Ministry of Education and police have joined forces to run a character-building camp with students from four colleges attending.

RNZI reports there have been a number of public brawls between students of different schools, the most recent stopped traffic in the middle of Nuku'alofa's CBD this month.

Programme coordinator Feleti Fonua said principals selected 28 young men to attend the pilot program where they take part in religious, physical and team building exercises.

Kaniva News reports the parliamentarians voted 12-9 yesterday against the motion that was submitted by the nobles and some independent MPs.

Two petitions calling for Tonga to reconsider hosting the Games were also rejected by the parliamentarians.

Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva earlier announced that Tonga was withdrawing as host of the 2019 Pacific Games because it would not be viable for the economy.

The Pacific Games Council gave the government until June 30 to reconsider its decision.

The contestants who are aged between 19 years and 23 years old are from Tonga, New Zealand and the United States.

The first public judging is scheduled for July 3.

The pageant is part of the Heilala Festival which is one of Tonga’s most popular annual events.

The winner of the pageant represents the country at the Miss Pacific Islands pageant at the end of the year.

Photo by Tonganow Online 

Tevita Lao willfully and without lawful justification set fire to the home of Amelia Lao at Tatakamotonga on December 8, 2015, according to Kaniva News.

The court heard Tevita was drunk and he beat up his wife when he returned home to find that there was no food for him on that night.

A 14 year old witness told the court she saw the accused drunk and that he sprinkled something from a bottle in the house.

The girl helped her grandmother get out of the house.

This will ease capacity constraints in the existing Nukualofa facility, which caters for the fumigation and inspection of root crops, watermelons and other produce in preparation for export.

Developed in collaboration between the MAFF and the Australian and New Zealand-funded Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (PHAMA) Program, the facility is part of the overall efforts to expand exports and benefit the people of Tonga.

Photo Twitter HE Andrew Ford

Kicking off just over a year after the 2016 OFC U-17 Championship – and only a few months after the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Papua New Guinea – there are many familiar faces coming to Auckland this July.

Defending champions New Zealand have recruited an army of international experience for their attempt at a sixth-consecutive title including Malia Steinmetz, Grace Jale, and goalkeeper Anna Leat – who will offer senior international football experience to Gareth Turnball’s squad having already been in the mix for the New Zealand national women’s team.

The stores in Ma’ufanga, Pea, Ha’akame and Fatai belonged to one owner, the Ministry said.

However, Kaniva News reports the owner has paid part of his tax liability and the Ministry is in the process of finalizing settlement arrangement before the shops can be re-opened, it said.

“The taxpayer owes income tax and consumption tax that has not been paid by the due date”.

“The tax liability was assessed as an outcome of a sales tracking mission conducted by the Ministry in July, August and September 2016.”