King Tupou VI expressed his concern about government spending on business ventures and questioned whether the money was used transparently. He also urged government to put an end to illicit drugs use in Tonga, which along with climate change posed “great threats to our children and our lives.”
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Results for Parliament
Thursday 2 May 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Thursday 25 April 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Legislative Assembly of Tonga will hold a soft closing of its 2023-24 session on Thursday next week, 2 May, without much fanfare. Parliament will then take a break until the State Opening of the 2024-2025 Session on Thursday 16 May.
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Monday 8 April 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A new Member of Parliament, Dr. Mo'ale 'Otunuku, took his oath as the People's Representative of Vava'u 14, today, 8 April, at the morning session of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, at Nuku'alofa.
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Thursday 4 April 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
No reason was offered by the Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku today over why he had resigned his defence portfolio. He said his conversation with King Tupou VI on the matter was “private”. However, at a media conference this afternoon, following the announcement that Cabinet Minister Fekita 'Utoikamanu had also resigned her Foreign Affairs and Tourism portfolios, he revealed that his former Minister of Foreign Affairs is being sued by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (the Lord Privy Seal).
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Thursday 28 March 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A Tongan academic, Dr Mo'ale 'Otunuku of Longomapu won the Vava'u 14 By-election with 709 votes, securing his seat as a new People's Representative in the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, today, 28 March, 2024.
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Legislative Assembly of Tonga will reconvene next Thursday, 4 April at 10:00 am, after a month long adjournment since 5 March. The office of the Fale Alea reported that the agenda for next week’s sitting will include Government's annual reports, Parliamentary constituency reports, and the Auditor’s compliance report.
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Thursday 28 March 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The polls have closed at 4:00pm in today's By-election for the Vava'u Constituency no. 14 held in Tongatapu and Vava'u, to fill the seat vacated by Dr. Saia Piukala. There are four candidates. The Electoral Commissioner and Supervisor of Elections, Pita Vuki said the results will be released at the end of the counting, whenever that might be.
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Wednesday 27 March 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Privy council will meet with King Tupou VI in Vava'u, tomorrow, Thursday 28 March. Members of the Privy Council are gathering in Neiafu today, ahead of the meeting.
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Monday 25 March 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Prime Minister's Office today has not addressed a rumour, circulated on social media at the weekend, that the Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku had resigned as Minister of His Majesty's Armed Forces, and likewise, Hon. Fekitamoeloa 'Utoikamanu as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Tourism.
Friday 8 March 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku and members of the Cabinet sought an audience with King Tupou VI at the remote island of Niuafo'ou, yesterday, 7 March, following weeks of uncertainty after the King withdrew his confidence and consent to the appointment of two cabinet ministers, Minister of His Majesty's Armed Forces Hon, Hu'akavameiliku, and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Hon. Fekitamoeloa 'Utoikamanu.
Thursday 7 March 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tensions rose in the House this week as members of parliament, expressed their frustrations with the politics of the Prime Minister over his disaccord with the King and other issues, including his handling of the Lulutai Airlines. Their questions boiled over into screaming matches, which ended with two members – one from the Nobles’ table and one from the People’s table, being thrown out of the House and suspended for one and two days.
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Thursday 29 February 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's nobles are collectively calling on Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku to resign his defence portfolio as Minister of His Majesty's Armed Forces, and to respect the decision of King Tupou VI, who has withdrawn his consent to three ministerial appointments. The Nobles' Representatives told parliament today that the PM's response (a refusal) to the King had stirred concern about peace in the country.
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Monday 26 February 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The suspended People’s Representative for Tongatapu 7, Hon. Piveni Piukala, was allowed to return to the Tonga Legislative Assemby sitting today, Monday 26 February, after the Speaker reduced his time out.
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Friday 23 February 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Four candidates are contesting the seat for the Vava’u 14 People's Representative to the Tonga Legislative Assembly, in a By-Election to be held on Thursday, 28 March, 2024.
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Tuesday 20 February 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A member of parliament was suspended from the Legislature this morning for seven days, after he offended the Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku, who had filed a formal complaint against him alleging use of inappropriate words. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.
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Monday 19 February 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku returned to the Tonga Legislative Assembly this morning after taking leave from the House for over three months, but made no mention of his Cabinet's rift with King Tupou VI. In a short opening speech the PM thanked the House for the long time he had been away. He did not have anything to say about the King's withdrawal of his confidence and consent to the appointment of two Cabinet Ministers.
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Friday 16 February 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
There were a number of big issues raised by Members during question time in the Tonga Legislative Assembly yesterday, 15 February. But the most sensitive questions were those asked about the Prime Minister, who has been absent from the House for over three months. MPs wanted to know more about the disagreement between King Tupou VI and his Prime Minister that has dragged on for two weeks.
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Friday 16 February 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Prime Minister, Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, arrived in Tonga this afternoon, 16 February, from New Zealand, after being away for almost three weeks. He has not resigned his defence portfolio after the King withdrew his confidence and consent to his appointment two weeks ago. The Prime Minister has been absent from the Legislative Assembly for over three months.
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Tuesday 13 February 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Legislative Assembly of Tonga held its first sitting for 2024, on Monday 12 February, with the Acting Speaker, Lord Tu'iha'angana swearing in Tonga’s new Minister of Health, Hon. Dr Siale 'Akau'ola.
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Tuesday 13 February 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga observed one minute of silence in remembrance of the former Member of Parliament, Lord Fusitu’a (51) who died in Auckland at the weekend, after a long illness.
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