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Matangi Tonga - Tonga's leading news website
Breaking news
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Thursday 24 April 2025 7:42pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Lord Chief Justice, Malcom Bishop KC is expected deliver his ruling next week on three matters that were raised in a Joint Court Hearing today, regarding the ongoing civil action between the Tonga Development Bank and Tatafu Moeaki and the National Reserve Bank and others.
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Thursday 24 April 2025 5:59pm
Washington D.C., U.S.A : A high-level advocacy mission to the United States this week, is led by Tonga's Prime Minister Hon. Dr ‘Aisake Eke, and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General. Baron Waqa, who are seeking to secure capitalisation pledges for the new Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF). Free to view -
Thursday 24 April 2025 5:49pm
Washington D.C., U.S.A : A delegation of parliamentarians from the Legislative Assembly of Tonga attended the 2025 Global Parliamentary Forum on the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, D.C., held from April 22-23. The Tongan delegation was led by Deputy Speaker Lord Tu’iha’angana and included two MPS, the People's Representative for Vava'u 15, Hon. Dr. Viliami Latu, and People's Representative for Tongatapu 6, Hon. Dulcie Tei. The Legislative Assembly office stated that their attendance reflects Tonga’s commitment to global dialogue on economic development and international cooperation. Free to view -
Thursday 24 April 2025 5:31pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A New Zealand high school graduate of Tongan descent, Jared Heitonga Lasike (18) has been accepted by two US Ivy League colleges. He received an acceptance offer from Princeton late last year and another from Harvard recently. The high-achiever from Rotorua must now choose one of these universities to pursue a degree later this year. Free to view -
Wednesday 23 April 2025 11:46pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A funeral for a Tongan bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia, Assistant Bishop Afa Vaka, who died in New Zealand recently, will be held in Nuku’alofa this week. Free to view -
Wednesday 23 April 2025 11:04pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : ‘Olivieta Vea (28) was sentenced to one and half years imprisonment, fully suspended, for reckless driving and causing bodily harm to her husband, while driving under the influence of alcohol in Pahu last year. Free to view -
Wednesday 23 April 2025 10:42pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Although tourists are attracted to Tonga by appealing activities, the culture and the natural environment, at the same time, visitors said shortfalls in public facilities and services were unappealing, according to a new Tonga International Visitor Survey released this month. Free to view -
Tuesday 22 April 2025 4:48pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Samuela Hafoka (43) is serving 12 months imprisonment for the theft of a vehicle valued at around $13,000, that was parked on Taufa’ahau Road. Free to view -
Tuesday 22 April 2025 4:38pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The Papal flag and diplomatic flags were flown at half staff in Nuku'alofa today following the passing of Pope Francis on Monday at the Vatican. His Eminence Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi, Bishop of Tonga and Niue, is scheduled to depart for Rome this week. The date and time for Pope Francis's funeral has yet to be confirmed by the Vatican. Free to view -
Monday 21 April 2025 11:01pm
Rome, Italy : Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. The Vatican stated that Pope Francis passed away at 7:35am local time (6:45pm Tonga time) today. The Pope had frequently suffered bouts of respiratory illnesses, and had bilateral pneumonia in February this year.
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Opinion
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Thursday 20 March 2025 6:14pm
Suva, Fiji : Ko e fakamole ki ha Komisoni fakatotolo ‘e lahi pea ko e ha hano ‘aonga kapau he’ikai ke lava ‘omai ‘akinautolu na’a nau fakahoko tu’utu’uni kenau taliui (accountable) ki he’enau ngaue. Mahalo ko e ‘aonga fakapolitikale pe. He’ikai ha’ane tokoni ‘a’ana ki he tu’utu’uni (pending decision) ‘oku hangaatu ki ai ‘a e Poate Lolotonga ‘oe Lulutai pea mo e Pule’anga – ke ma’u ha kautaha vakapuna ke hoangaue mo e Lulutai pea mo e kautaha Retirement Fund ‘a e kaungaue fakapule’anga ke hokohokoatu e fepuna’aki fakalotofonua. ... ‘Oku ‘ikai teu tui ko ha koloa fakalukufua ‘a e sosaieti (common public good) ‘a e fefolau ’aki vakapuna fakalotofonua ke kei hokohokoatu pe hono fakalele mole ‘e he Pule’anga. - Samiuela T. Tukuafu. Free to view -
Thursday 20 March 2025 6:11pm
Suva, Fiji : I do not believe that domestic air travel is a common public good that benefits the whole of society for the Government to continue to run it at a loss. The cost of a Commission of Inquiry will be high...It will not contribute to the pending decision – to identify an airline to work with Lulutai and the public servants' Retirement Fund to provide domestic flights. If this is possible, then the Government should gradually sell its share in the Lulutai Airlines and focus on regulating the safety and reliability of domestic aviation. - Samiuela T. Tukuafu. Free to view
Sports
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Thursday 13 March 2025 7:45pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga will play in the OFC U-19 Women’s Championship in Tahiti later this year after an impressive 16-0 victory over American Samoa on the last day of qualifying action in Nuku’alofa. Tonga will join the seven other nations already qualified. Free to view
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Thursday 10 April 2025 5:57pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : BSP Tonga, BSP Financial Group Limited, the South Pacific’s International Bank, on 2 April 2025 proudly unveiled its revitalised brand identity. The brand’s stylised Kundu symbolises the strength of connection, shared heritage, and unity across diverse island nations and reinforces BSP’s strong connection to the communities it serves across Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific. Free to view
