US pushes for next phase of Gaza plan amid fragile ceasefire

Great power rivalry Gaza: A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza held this week despite renewed violence in which Israel launched heavy air strikes after accusing Hamas of violating the truce by attacking troops. During a visit to Israel...

Tongan volunteer paves path to policing at Polyfest

At Auckland’s ASB Polyfest, Siosiana Maile is turning her policing aspirations into community action. Originally from Tonga, Maile is training at MSL Training in Manukau to join the police force. She and her team are volunteering at Polyfest to...

Tonga secures $2.2 million grant to boost education

Tonga has secured a US$2.2 million grant to enhance its education system. The System Transformation Grant (STG), provided by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and administered by Save the Children Australia (SCA), will be implemented by...

A Pacific Call To Action On World Environment And Oceans Day

Sunday, 8 June 2025, 7:46 am Press Release: UNDP 06 June 2025 As we mark World Environment Day on 5 June and World Oceans Day on 8 June, Pacific Island nations are sounding the alarm. This year’s World Environment Day theme, “Ending Plastic...

Iconic Polynesian canoes set sail for Aotearoa, 40 years after historic voyage

The Pacific Ocean is once again carrying two of the world’s most iconic voyaging canoes to Aotearoa New Zealand. The Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia, traditional double-hulled canoes from Hawai‘i, are making the 3200-kilometre journey from Rarotonga to...

China’s economic slowdown has become its diplomatic weapon in the Pacific

By Bang Xiao CANBERRA (ABC PACIFIC) — China’s rise in the Pacific isn’t just about aid or diplomacy — it’s about survival and power. As domestic demand slows and Western tariffs squeeze exports, Beijing has been forced to turn its industrial...

Tukilamulamu Traditions: The Story behind Tonga’s True Vava’u Beauty Line

In the heart of Nuku’alofa, inside a shop filled with the rich scent of coconut oil, earthy tuitui, and calming sandalwood, you’ll find a little piece of Vava’u — bottled, blended, and beautifully handcrafted. This is TRUE VAVA’U IMPORTS &...

Tonga’s Ministry of Finance CEO calls for unity to overcome Pacific’s economic challenges at Special Forum Economic officials meeting

Tonga’s Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Finance, Kilisitina Tuaimei’api, opened the Special Forum Economic Officials Meeting (FEOM) Tuesday, with a call for unity in addressing the unprecedented economic and social challenges faced by...

Tonga’s National Museum project faces oversight shift amid scrutiny

The Cabinet is reassessing the National Museum project, proposing to transfer construction oversight from the Ministry of Tourism to the Ministry of Infrastructure (MOI). Minister for Infrastructure Hon. Dr. Taniela Fusimalohi told the media last...

BSP Supports 44th PILON Annual Meeting

In a show of commitment to regional legal excellence, BSP Financial Group Limited (BSP) proudly sponsored the closing dinner of the 44th Pacific Islands Law Officers’ Network (PILON) Annual Meeting, to be held from 27 to 31 October at APEC Haus in...

Pacific central banks endorse Nuku’alofa Pledge for inclusive, climate-smart finance

Central bank governors from the Pacific have endorsed the Nuku’alofa Pledge, committing to innovation, equity, and climate resilience in regional finance. The agreement was formalised on 5 June during the Pacific Islands Regional Initiative (PIRI)...

Call for Kenya to Join Fossil Fuel Treaty as World Marks Environment Day

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 7 – Call for Kenya to Join Fossil Fuel Treaty as World Marks Environment Day NAIROBI, Kenya, June 5 – As the world commemorates World Environment Day, climate activists are urging the Kenyan government to join the Fossil Fuel...

Tongan PM warns of global uncertainty as Forum Finance Ministers endorse...

In a clear warning to his fellow Pacific Finance Ministers, Tongan Prime Minister and Forum Chair Dr ʻAisake Eke highlighted on Wednesday the rising global uncertainty, fuelled in part by shifting U.S policies under the new Trump administration....

Tonga Parliament resume, discuss earthquake and tsunami alert report

Parliament reconvened today, with deliberations led by MEIDECC Minister Hon. Dr. Taniela Fusimalohi on the recent 7.1 magnitude earthquake and tsunami response. Dr. Fusimalohi presented a situational report from the National Disaster Risk...

In the depths of the ocean, a new contest between the US and China emerges

Deep below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, the seafloor is dotted with clusters of brown and black rocks, each containing valuable metals. The rocks, known as polymetallic nodules, hold reserves of critical minerals that could be used to power...

Abandonment of Soft Power, Neglect of Climate Change, and the Shifting Geopolitical Landscape of the Pacific

The start of President Donald Trump’s second term has been turbulent. In just a few months, the United States’ position in the Pacific has sadly been weakened, widening the arena for strategic competition that inevitably puts peace and security in...

Tonga Eruption Sparks Tsunami: See the Waves Crash Onto U.S. Shores!

A massive underwater volcanic eruption near Tonga on January 15, 2022, sent shockwaves across the Pacific Ocean, triggering tsunami advisories for the U.S. and Canadian West Coast. From California to Alaska, beaches were closed, marinas were...

PM presents Tonga's biggest budget $992.8 million

By Katalina Siasau Tonga’s biggest ever budget of $992.8 million for the 2025-26 financial year was presented by the Prime Minister, Hon. Dr 'Aisake Eke, to Parliament today, 3 June. The total budget estimate for the coming year 2025-26 includes...

Building capacity for change: PPIN webinars equip Pacific practitioners for Nature-based Solutions

“Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” – Gary Snyder In the heart of the Pacific, where the ocean meets resilience and tradition, a powerful movement is taking root. The Promoting Pacific Islands Nature-based Solutions (PPIN) project—funded...

Tonga, Micronesia see largest increases in Australia’s Pacific aid budget

Tonga and the Federated States of Micronesia will see notable bumps in Australian foreign aid this year, while analysts say there are some indications that Canberra is stepping in to fill a void left by a U.S freeze on foreign aid. Overall,...