Tonga

The 26 year old was playing for Romanian champions CSM Baia Mare when he was diagnosed last year.

Vaiomo'unga represented Tonga at the 2011 World Cup and played the last of his 13 tests three years ago, under 'Ikale Tahi head coach Mana Otai.

"We couldn't ask for a better person to play this game [for] - especially to dedicate the game to him, given the talent and the unfortunate situation that he is in. He would have been in the team, I can assure you, if it wasn't for his illness because that's the player that he is and showed at the last World Cup".

Matangi Tonga reports the Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva told the Tongan parliament on Monday that the government would not ratify CEDAW.

Mr Pohiva has expressed concern over how the country has been divided over the issue of CEDAW, and said the government is stepping back from it to diffuse tensions in the community.

He says the government's approach to the contentious issue will be to introduce a Bill on Referendums to parliament, to make it possible for Tonga to hold a referendum on CEDAW.

The Internal Affair Minister, Fe'ao Vakata says one contractor told him 74 of his workers had disappeared before the contract was up and he estimated that of 1400 Tongans in total across Australia about 300 had gone.

He says he suspects they are now overstaying.

Mr Vakata says at the moment contractors can come to Tonga and recruit their workers with no government oversight but this will now change.

Community events will include tapa cloth making workshops, combined church services, story telling and poetry sessions.

Hana Sevao, the Pacific liaison person from Otara library in South Auckland and co-ordinator for some of this week's activities, says the events attract people from other cultures who want to learn more about Tongan language.

Ms Sevao, who is Samoan herself, says celebrating Pacific languages in New Zealand helps raise awareness of other cultures.

The Tonga Heritage Society had its first meeting last week amid concerns that developments were being proposed for significant histoical sites.

The TTA has begun focusing on promoting the local culture and heritage to visitors.

The acting General Manager Owen Pau'u says the new society will help the change in focus.

The Clean Green Tonga initiative aims to work with community groups, schools and businesses to develop action plans on how they can make a difference in their communities.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Siaosi Sovaleni, says the aim is to stop people from burning and dumping rubbish, and to start taking care of their homes and public areas as part of daily life.

The interim CEO of the Waste Authority in Tonga, Tapu Panuve, says they want to make sure Tonga is a more welcoming country, and that people pick up the rubbish around them.

Tonga, American Samoa, Samoa and Cook Islands are all in Nuku'alofa, vying for one spot in next year's Oceania Nations Cup.

Samoa prevailed when the same teams met in Apia four years ago but head coach Phineas Young says the squad has a new look after being ovehauled in recent years.

Police in Mu’a are still looking for the suspects who took the cash after threatening a female cashier (25) with the machete and a stick.

The incident took place at around noon when the two accused who covered their faces with masks and sunglasses entered the petrol station’s back door from the bush area.

The petrol station, which is operated by the Free Wesleyan Church in Fua’amotu, is situated beside the Scenic Hotel.

New Caledonia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu will square off, hoping to earn a berth alongside host national Papua New Guinea at next year's Under 20 Women's World Cup.

Tonga Football Association CEO Lui Aho says women's football is a major focus for their organisation and it will be a real treat for local fans to see the teams in action.

Nuku'alofa is also playing host to the first stage of Oceania qualifiers next week, for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The hosts will vie with American Samoa, Samoa and Cook Islands for a spot in next year's Oceania Nations Cup.

Moleni will preside over a new-look squad, with only half a dozen players backing up from the last qualifiers four years ago.

Despite being thrashed 5-0 by Fiji last week in their only warm-up clash, Moleni believes his team can go all the way.