Tonga

Auckland’s already congested transport system came to a shuddering halt yesterday and there was dancing on the motorways as Tongans turned out in their thousands to welcome their rugby world cup squad to New Zealand. The team responded to a rapturous reception at Auckland airport by performing a ‘haka’: It followed a similar display from the Samoans when they arrived earlier: With so much local community support for the Pacific Island teams there’s every chance that Tonga , buoyed by...Read Full Story

A New Zealand lawyer has launched a legal bid to prevent Tonga's king from selling a sprawling royal residence in Auckland , arguing it rightfully belongs to the people of the Pacific nation. Real estate agents in New Zealand's largest city listed the 1.6 hectare (four acre) estate "Atalanga" in the upmarket suburb of Epsom last month, with some estimates saying it could fetch 10 million dollars (7.6 million US ). But Auckland lawyer Joel Fotu said he had lodged a legal objection with New...Read Full Story

Tongan police have charged three people with manslaughter in the death of one of 74 passengers who died last year in a ferry sinking that was one of the tiny South Pacific country's worst disasters. Police Commander Chris Kelley said Friday that a charge of sending an unseaworthy ship to sea had also been laid against ferry operator Shipping Corp. of Polynesia. The manslaughter charges — against corporation managing director John Jonesse, ferry captain Makahokovalu Tuputupu and first mate...Read Full Story

The lease on a tropical island owned by the king of Tonga has been put on the market in a receivership sale. Although the king -- George Tupou V -- has issued a proclamation that Nukunamo Island cannot be mortgaged or used as security "for any purpose whatsoever", the receivers believe they can sell the 99-year lease. The lease on the island was held by a first cousin of the Tongan king, Koloiana Naufahu, but was taken over after Naufahu failed to meet loan repayments to the Westpac Bank of...Read Full Story

Noble Lord Tu'ivakano defeated pro-democracy leader Akalisi Pohiva in a secret ballot among Tongan lawmakers Tuesday to become the country's first prime minister elected by parliament rather than appointed by the king. Tu'ivakano, a former speaker of Parliament, won 14 votes and Pohiva 12 in the ballot among the 26 members of the Tongan house of representatives. King George Tupou V was informed of the result for his approval, and it was then announced to a full meeting of parliament, as...Read Full Story

Three people have been charged with manslaughter by negligence in relation to the sinking last August of the Tongan ferry Princess Ashika with the loss of 74 lives, police said Saturday. The ferry sank on an overnight sailing from the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa to an outlying island. An inquiry has heard the vessel was severely rusty and seawater poured into the cargo hold on its final voyage. Shipping Corporation of Polynesia managing director John Jonesse, the Ashika captain Makahokovalu...Read Full Story

NUKU’ALOFA, TONGA (BNO NEWS) — Tonga nationals on Thursday submitted their historic votes for the country’s first popularly-elected parliament. As the small Pacific island took transition to democratic policies, Tonga King George Tupou V described the election as ‘the greatest and most historic day for our kingdom.’ “You will choose your representative to the parliament and thus the first elected government in our country’s long history,” King Tupou told Tonga’s 42,000 citizens. Tonga...Read Full Story

Font size: AFP 01 August, 2008 12:23:00 NUKU'ALOFA, August 1 : Tonga's Siaosi Tupou V was crowned king of his tiny South Pacific nation Friday in a lavish, pomp-filled ceremony attended by royalty from around the world alongside Tongans in traditional dress. The sovereign of Polynesia's last monarchy sat on a huge golden throne, dressed in silk knee-breeches and a regal cloak trimmed with white ermine for...Read Full Story

The Kingdom of Tonga is a beautiful place. It is also somewhat unique in the region. It is the only sovereign monarchy among the island nations of the Pacific Ocean, has the distinction of being the only island nation in the region to have avoided formal colonization. Tonga has been ruled by some form of monarchy or Chief from at least the 12 th century.  All of that history is about to change. King George Tupou V of Tonga has recently announced that he is giving up many of his powers and...Read Full Story

NUKUALOFA, Tonga, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Democracy activists in the South Pacific kingdom of Tonga say King George Tupou V should not be traveling abroad so soon after a deadly ferry disaster. The New Zealand Herald reported in its Sunday edition that the king has been criticized for starting a four-month trip, which includes a visit to Scotland, following the Aug. 5 sinking of the Princess Ashika ferry with 149 people on board. Fifty-four passengers were rescued and two bodies were recovered...Read Full Story