Tonga News

The deficiency list and photos of the ill-fated ferry Princess Ashika clearly showed that the vessel was unseaworthy, a witness told a Tongan Royal Commission of Inquiry in Nuku'alofa yesterday.

ARRIVING in Tonga tomorrow afternoon, Tuesday 9 February, on a private aircraft, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, will meet with Tongan royalty and government officials.

NUKU'ALOFA : A three-day Pacific Regional Workshop on Communication and Good Governance was officially opened in Nuku'alofa on February 2 by Tonga's Minister of Information and Communication, 'Eseta Fusitu'a, who shared an anecdote about how foreign media asked her "irritating" questions.

POWERFUL weapons including a semi automatic assault rifle of a kind used in gang warfare, have been seized by the police in Tonga who are this week urging the public to report the whereabouts of other illegal weapons that may be on the island.

NUKU'ALOFA : Tongan academic Dr Futa Helu, founder of the 'Atenisi Institute, died last night, Radio NZ International reports.

The New Zealand and Australian governments have stepped in to help get students from Tonga's outer islands back to school, after ferry services collapsed there.

THE United States Coast Guard Cutter Walnut , arrived in Nuku'alofa on February 3 for a three-days visit to conduct a joint operation with the Tonga Defence Service in maritime enforcement authority.

TONGA's first luxury five star hotel is to be built on the small island of Taunga in Vava'u by Warwick International Hotels, whose president and founder Richard Chiu announced on the island yesterday that he expects construction to start at the end of 2010 or early 2011.

Nuku'alofa , Tonga: THE DIRECTOR of Marine Viliami Tu'ipulotu verified that he signed a Seaworthy Certificate for the MV Pulupaki on January 6, 2010, even though he knew it was unseaworthy and it has extensive rust and corrosion.

THE Institute of Education of the University of the South Pacific, has found a new home at Tonga's USP Campus, at 'Atele, on Tongatapu.

The New Zealander who bought the ill-fated Tongan ferry Princess Ashika has admitted he is partially to blame for its sinking.

A Tongan ferry declared dangerously unsafe is at sea with dozens of people aboard despite authorities arresting it.

A royal commission into last year's ferry sinking has warned that if a second unseaworthy ferry sails today senior officials will be arrested and could jail for allowing the vessel to go to sea.

The Tongan ferry disaster was caused by a failure of governance at all levels, Shipping Corporation of Polynesia chairwoman 'Alisi Taumoepeau has told the Royal Commission of Inquiry.

Nuku'alofa , Tonga: IN her first day of evidence the Chairperson of the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd, 'Alisi Taumoepeau, told the Ashika inquiry today that the SCP's recommendation to Government to purchase Princess Ashika was based on information provided by Managing Director John Jonesse, which she now confirms to be inaccurate.

CROWN PRINCE Tupouto'a-Lavaka presented his Letter of Credence as the non-resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tonga to Japan, to HM Emperor Akihito of Japan at the Imperial Palace, Tokyo, on January 15.

Masdar's cutting edge design explained by Thani Al Zayoudi Deputy CEO Masdar at the World Future Energy Summit.

Schooled in England, the King of Tonga has returned to catch up with old friends and contemplate the looming day when he will surrender his omnipotence and embrace democracy.

Nuku'alofa , Tonga: THE Director of New Zealand Marine Brokers told the Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Princess Ashika the vessel had no real value due to its old age and advanced state of corrosion.

Nuku'alofa , Tonga: A NEW Zealand inspector who inspected the main engine of the Princess Ashika vessel in Fiji in April 2009, revealed to the Royal Commission of Inquiry, he never signed an Audit Document for the Ashika as he never knew one existed.