Cash-strapped

Tongan king and noble donate to cash-strapped athletes

King Tupou VI has donated nearly $US9000 to help the country's athletes get to the Pacific Games in Samoa next month.

Former Noble MP Lord Vaea, who is the King's brother-in-law, has also pledged to match the donation.

The moves come after the King visited the team and was told they were short of funds.

In 2017, Tonga belatedly pulled out of hosting the games, with the government and Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva expressing fear the country would accumulate too much debt.