Commentary – Enough debate. Tonga’s Sunday laws aren’t about piety—they’re about inequality.
Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku. Photo/Screenshot (Radio FM87.5)
Former Prime Minister Hu‘akavameiliku recently clarified in Parliament that Sunday isn’t completely banned in Tonga.
Ministers can issue permits for emergencies or essential services.
But here’s the truth: the law is selectively enforced, creating a two-tier system where tourists and the well-connected thrive while ordinary Tongans face punishment.
On Sundays, tourists sip beers at waterfront bars. Asian construction crews work under government permits. Yet a local selling bread risks fines. Airlines are grounded—unless it’s a medical evacuation. Hospitals and police operate, but small businesses must shut.
Where’s the Christian morality in that?
This isn’t about faith—it’s about control. If the law can’t be applied fairly, it shouldn’t exist at all.
Why should a foreigner enjoy freedoms denied to Tongans? Why are some businesses privileged while others are penalised?
Tonga’s Sunday laws don’t uphold holiness; they entrench hypocrisy. It’s time to scrap them or enforce them equally.
Tonga’s Sunday restrictions are defended as a sacred tradition—but here’s the irony: the very nations that brought Christianity to the kingdom don’t enforce such laws.
France introduced Catholicism. British, Australian, and New Zealand missionaries spread Protestantism. Yet none of these nations ban Sunday commerce. Instead, they thrive with open economies, flexible workweeks, and personal freedom, while still upholding Christian values. Worse, these same countries fund more than half of Tonga’s budget.
So why does Tonga cling to a law its spiritual mentors abandoned long ago?
If shutting down businesses truly strengthened morality, Europe and the Pacific’s richest Christian nations would do the same. Instead, they trust their people to honour the Sabbath without state coercion.
The choice is simple: practice what you preach, or abandon the pretence.
Senior State Department officials have drafted plans to close at least a dozen U.S. consulates overseas by this summer, with further shutdowns under consideration, according to American officials.
The move could weaken Washington’s diplomatic reach and intelligence-gathering capabilities at a time of growing global competition.
Despite fears that Pacific Island nations might be affected, Tonga and other key regional partners have been spared, at least for now. The decision comes amid mixed signals from the U.S. government, which has sought to strengthen ties with the Pacific while also scaling back its global diplomatic footprint.
A post on The Pacific Room’s Facebook account mentions rumours about the possible closure of the US Embassy, presumably referring to the office in the kingdom.
The US Embassy in Tonga could not be reached for comment.
The New York Times reported that the closures will result in significant layoffs among locally employed staff, who make up roughly two-thirds of the State Department’s overseas workforce.
In 2022, the United States opened its new embassy in Tonga, fulfilling a key diplomatic pledge.
During a Pacific Islands Forum address in July that year, former Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged past neglect, stating, “We recognise that in recent years the Pacific Islands may not have received the diplomatic attention and support that you deserve. So I am here to tell you directly: We are going to change that.”
Yet as consulates shutter elsewhere, questions remain over whether the U.S. can sustain its engagement in the Pacific amid broader diplomatic cuts.
The downsizing aligns with former President Donald Trump’s broader push to shrink the federal government and his “America First” foreign policy, which has seen the U.S. retreat from traditional diplomatic engagements, including democracy promotion, human rights advocacy, and foreign aid.
The consulate closures follow growing frustration among Pacific Island leaders over U.S. trade policies.
Fiji’s Finance Minister has criticised the Trump administration’s 32% tariff on Fijian goods—the highest in the Pacific—calling it unfair. Meanwhile, a Tokelau government spokesperson expressed confusion over how the region could be seen as a threat to the U.S. economy.
President Trump had previously accused Fiji of imposing a 63% tariff on American goods, citing alleged currency manipulation and trade barriers—a claim strongly disputed by Fijian officials.
For now, Tonga and its neighbours remain on the safe list—but with further closures possible, regional leaders are watching closely.
Tonga are seeking to host an inaugural Pacific Championships international at the end of the year in what would be a huge boost to the code in the powerhouse rugby league nation.
The Tongan rugby league team. (Source: Photosport)
Head coach Kristian Woolf is backing the plan for a clash at Teufaiva Sports Stadium in Nuku’alofa, which had a capacity for 10,000 people.
The stadium, repaired after Cyclone Gita struck in 2018, already had as tenants the Moana Pasifika Super Rugby side and Tongan international rugby union and soccer teams.
The Australian government allocated $600 million (NZ$644 million) over 10 years last December towards rugby league in the Pacific. While $290 million (NZ$311 million) of that was dedicated to the operations of the PNG side that will enter the NRL in 2028, there was also $250 million (NZ$268 million) set aside for what is known as the Pacific rugby league partnership.
The partnership would facilitate and strengthen grassroots participation and create an elite pathway system for players in Tonga, Samoa and Fiji. That would eventually include development officers and academies.
The Tongan Rugby League believed hosting a Pacific Cup match this year, while interest in the team was sky high, would generate enormous interest and fast-track the planned development programmes.
The Pacific Championships, which have a Cup and Bowl component in both men’s and women’s league, were jointly funded by the Australian Government and NRL.
It was unknown how much longer superstar Tongan players such as Jason Taumalolo would keep playing but he and the likes of Isaiya Katoa, Haumole Olakau’atu, Felise Kaufusi and Eliesa Katoa have created the interest and following.
There was a wave of momentum behind Tongan rugby league and taking the game there would assist rugby league in its quest to “own” the hearts and minds of the public and become the number one code.
This year’s Pacific Cup in October/November would feature Tonga, Samoa and New Zealand.
The Tongans were proposing the home match this year be played against New Zealand. AAP has been told their preference was for the Tonga v Samoa clash to be played at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta in front of a potential sellout crowd. That would open up a New Zealand v Samoa fixture in Auckland in front of another capacity crowd.
In 2019, between 30,000 and 40,000 people lined the main streets of Nuku’alofa to welcome the team after they had beaten Australia 16-12, the first time the Kangaroos had lost to a tier-two nation. The population of Tonga was 104,000.
The extraordinary scenes were a demonstration of the passionate support and interest the Tongans have created in the code.
While Teufaiva Sports Stadium itself held 10,000 people, if a Pacific Cup clash was played there it was likely two to three times that amount would be outside and in the main square to keep tabs on the game in what would be a true festival of rugby league.
When Tonga beat New Zealand 25-24 in Auckland in last year’s Pacific Cup, there were thousands of people packed in the square watching the match on a big screen.
For Tongans around the world, Good Friday is a day of deep reflection and communal worship. But for those living overseas, returning home to participate in traditional Easter observances isn’t always possible.
Tongan Diaspora Bridges Oceans for Good Friday: Overseas Community Sponsors FM Livestream of Vava’u’s Stations of the Cross
This year, however, the Tongan diaspora found a powerful way to bridge the distance by sponsoring a livestream broadcast of Vava’u’s solemn Stations of the Cross reenactment, allowing families and fellow believers to join in devotion from afar.
Radio FM Broadcom FM 87.5 streamed the procession in Vava’u this morning, thanking sponsors, including Mele Finau Folau mo e Eiki and Tongia Mailangi, Maulupekotofa Mailangi, Isi Tapueluelu, and others from Kelana and the Church of Sangato Sosefo Ko e Tangata Ngaue for their financial assistance.
The initiative highlights how modern technology is helping sustain Tonga’s deeply rooted religious traditions, even as migration disperses its people across the globe.
The Stations of the Cross is a devotional reenactment of Jesus’ final hours and holds special significance in Tonga.
It has been practised for more than five decades since it was initiated in Houma, Tongatapu’s Catholic church in the 1980s.
In Vava’u, the observance was marked by prayerful processions, hymns, and dramatic portrayals of Christ’s journey to Calvary.
With Tonga’s diaspora expanding, livestreamed church services, feast day celebrations, and even funerals are becoming increasingly common, ensuring that traditions endure across generations and oceans.
Samuela Hafoka has been sentenced to 22 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of theft.
However, the final 10 months of his sentence have been suspended for two years, contingent on his compliance with strict court-imposed conditions.
The court heard that on September 28, 2023, the complainant, Sione Poilangi Paea, parked his red Mazda vehicle (license C 27972) in front of Loumaile Lodge along Taufa’ahau Road before going inside.
After work, Mr. Paea visited Reload Bar, consumed alcohol, and took a taxi home.
In the early hours of the following morning, Hafoka allegedly found a set of car keys near Maseia Plaza. Spotting parked vehicles along Taufa’ahau Road, he pressed the key fob, unlocking Mr Paea’s Mazda, which he then drove away.
Mr Paea discovered his missing car at around 8am and reported the theft to police.
The vehicle, valued at $13,000, was later recovered on October 1, 2023, after police responded to a report in Kolofo’ou.
Hafoka, found heavily intoxicated, had driven the stolen car to Fetoa Lotaki’s residence. He was arrested for drunkenness, and the vehicle was seized.
Hafoka cooperated with authorities, admitting to the offense.
In sentencing, Justice Tupou ordered that the final 10 months of his 22-month term be suspended for two years, provided he adheres to the following conditions:
Not committing any imprisonable offense during suspension
Being placed on probation
Reporting to probation services within 48 hours of release
Completing a life skills or other court-directed program
Failure to comply could result in the suspension being revoked, requiring Hafoka to serve the remaining sentence. With remissions and conditional suspension, he is expected to serve 12 months in prison.
Olivieta Leiorina Vea has pleaded guilty to one count of causing bodily injury while driving under the influence of alcohol in a case stemming from an August 2024 incident.
The court heard that on the evening of 2 August 2024, Vea and the complainant attended a work party at Sia’atoutai, where both consumed alcohol.
Vea reportedly drank more than five glasses of wine. An argument later erupted between the two, prompting the complainant to take Vea and their two children to her parents’ home in Pahu.
Upon arrival, the complainant parked the car and took the children inside, but Vea entered the driver’s seat. When the complainant returned to the vehicle, Vea accelerated abruptly, causing the complainant to grab the door in an attempt to stop her.
Vea did not stop, and as the complainant lost his grip, she swerved and collided with an electric pole.
Police Officer Hefa, who was nearby, heard the crash and witnessed Vea fleeing the scene. After apprehending her, he noted she was bloodied and arranged for medical attention. Subsequent alcohol tests revealed Vea’s breath alcohol level at 820 micrograms per litre—well over the legal limit.
The complainant suffered serious injuries, including a fractured clavicle, lung contusions, and a femur fracture, as confirmed by Dr. ‘Isileli Tu’ipulotu.
Vea, who has no prior convictions, cooperated with police and admitted guilt.
Justice Tupou sentenced her to one and a half years’ imprisonment for bodily harm and two months for drunk driving, to be served concurrently. However, the sentence was fully suspended for two years under strict conditions, including:
Probation supervision
Completion of a life skills course with the Salvation Army
A two-year driving ban
Justice Tupou warned that failure to comply would result in Vea serving the original prison term.
Reports circulating on social media reveal that cemetery vandalism remains an ongoing issue in Tonga. A recent incident in Fua’amotu town drew public outcry, complaints, and threats of legal action.
Facebook posts from local residents show heated disputes, with individuals accusing others of damaging graves in the area.
According to sources, the vandalism was allegedly carried out by a family who believed that desecrating a grave would cure a sick relative.
The family reportedly attributed the illness to a spiritual haunting by a deceased person and thought that destroying the grave would break the curse and restore health.
The act has sparked widespread condemnation, with many calling for legal consequences.
Some community members have demanded police intervention, while others have expressed frustration over the persistence of such superstitious practices leading to disrespect for the dead.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement, but tensions remain high as the debate continues online.
This incident highlights the clash between traditional beliefs and modern legal and ethical standards in Tonga.
Editor’s Comment: Time to bury outdated superstitions
Tonga, as a modern and civilized society, should no longer cling to prehistoric beliefs that have no basis in science or reason.
The idea that desecrating a grave can cure illness is not only absurd but deeply disrespectful to the dead and distressing to the living.
If such beliefs held any truth, we would see the spirits of the murdered or wronged returning to haunt their enemies—yet this does not happen.
The fact that vengeful ghosts aren’t overrunning Tonga should be proof enough that these superstitions are nothing more than fear-driven myths.
It’s time to move forward. Let science, law, and common sense guide our actions, not irrational fears that belong in the past.
Vandalising graves is a crime, not a cure—and those who engage in it should face the full consequences of their actions.
Australia’s Northern Territory Police have arrested five adults and intercepted a significant quantity of kava in a targeted operation across the East Arnhem Region.
The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested five adults and seized a large quantity of kava in the East Arnhem Region.
The operation began on Wednesday, April 16, after police received intelligence that a large shipment of kava was being transported to Ramingining and Gapuwiyak.
The Dog Operations Unit (DOU) established a cordon along the Stuart Highway to intercept the suspects, but the alleged offenders evaded initial police efforts and turned back toward Katherine.
Two vehicles were stopped on the Stuart Highway, where officers conducted a search, uncovering 121kg of kava (a commercial quantity), 250g of cannabis and several bottles of spirits.
Two women and three men, aged between 47 and 59, were arrested and charged with possessing a commercial quantity of kava, supplying a commercial quantity of kava and supplying a dangerous drug (Schedule 2) to an Indigenous community.
Senior Sergeant Meacham King praised the operation, stating: “This operation demonstrates the ongoing commitment of the DOU in disrupting the flow of destructive substances into vulnerable communities. We will continue to target individuals who facilitate the illegal supply of regulated substances.”
He also commended the collaboration between units, saying: “This was an excellent effort by all divisions involved, and I thank the officers for their swift action in making these apprehensions.”
Kava, a traditional Pacific Islander drink, is strictly regulated in the Northern Territory due to its potential for misuse in Indigenous communities. Authorities remain vigilant in preventing its illegal distribution.
Tonga’s Immigration Department is under fire for delaying a citizen’s passport application because the required documents were told to be sent to an Immigration officer’s private email address.
Edwin Liava’a
A complainant claimed he later discovered his application was stuck in limbo after the officer who owned the email address failed to show up for work.
Tongan software engineer and transparency advocate Edwin Liava’a publicly criticised the government’s reliance on Gmail, calling it “a glaring failure in basic governance.”
He shared a troubling experience with the Tonga Immigration Department, saying his passport application was delayed because an immigration officer instructed him to send sensitive documents to a personal Gmail address.
The Immigration Department could not be reached for comment.
“This morning, I visited the Immigration Department to collect my passport”, Liava’a said.
“According to their standard processing timeframe, new applications should be completed within one week.
“Instead, I discovered my application was on hold, not due to any complex issue, but because I was requested by an immigration officer to send requested information to her personal Gmail address, but she was absent from work today.
“More concerning was when I was told to resend my documents to “tongaimmigration@gmail.com”, a Gmail address being used as the official email address for the entire Immigration Department”.
Liava’a was surprised that the Immigration Department lacks a professional government email domain.
“Even worse, at the time of writing this blog, I still have not received any feedback regarding my document submission.
“I have no idea if my documents were received or are being processed.”
The incident has revived criticism over officials’ use of unsecured private emails for sensitive state business, raising urgent questions about transparency, efficiency, and data protection in public services.
“Somehow, ordinary citizens are left completely in the dark with no feedback whatsoever. This represents an extremely poor level of service to citizens who pay the taxes that fund civil servants’ paychecks”, Liava’a said.
He said that when he followed up, he was redirected to tongaimmigration@gmail.com—a Gmail account being used as the department’s primary contact.
He said the government’s “information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure is fundamentally broken and disconnected. Despite various attempts at establishing e-Governance initiatives with donor funding, most efforts have failed to deliver cohesive, sustainable results”.
Tonga digitisation projects
This failure occurs despite international funding and repeated commitments to digitally modernise Tonga’s bureaucracy.
In 2023, Tonga joined the EU-funded Pacific Digital Democracy Project (PDDP), a UNDP-led initiative to transform digital governance across the Pacific.
As one of four participating nations, Tonga committed to advancing digital rights and development through government-civil society partnerships.
The project focuses on three key pillars, including strengthening online safety, countering disinformation, and developing e-government systems to enable citizen participation, laying the groundwork for sustainable digital transformation.
This issue raises important questions about transparency and accountability, as well as the slow progress of democratic reforms in the kingdom, a key theme in last month’s nation-development summit held by the government in Nuku’alofa.
The government appeared to have no policies to enforce government officials and civil servants to use government and official emails.
Kaniva News can confirm that ministers and civil servants routinely communicated and conducted state business using private email accounts, even though parliament and government officials frequently emphasised the importance of transparency at public events.
We also observed that several government websites are either outdated or currently unavailable.
In a landmark diplomatic and cultural engagement, Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u of the Kingdom of Tonga will undertake an official State Visit to Fiji from 8 – 12 July 2025, following an invitation extended by the Head of Mataqali Vuanirewa, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara.
The visit, endorsed by the Fijian Cabinet, underscores the deep-rooted historical and cultural bonds between Fiji and Tonga, particularly the longstanding ties between the Lau Islands and the Tongan monarchy. The highlight of the visit will be Their Majesties’ attendance at the installation ceremony of the Sau Ni Vanua Ko Lau and Tui Lau on 10 July 2025 in Tubou Village, Lakeba, Lau.
The Lau archipelago, with its strong Tongan cultural influences, holds special significance in Fiji-Tonga relations.
The installation ceremony is expected to be a grand cultural spectacle, reaffirming the enduring kinship between the two Pacific nations.
Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, a key figure in Lauan traditional leadership, emphasised the importance of the royal visit, stating: “This is a momentous occasion that honours our shared ancestry and strengthens the unity between our people.”
The Fijian government has formed an inter-agency task force to ensure seamless coordination of the State Visit, covering protocol, security, logistics, and cultural arrangements. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka expressed his enthusiasm, noting that the visit will further enhance bilateral relations and regional solidarity.
Aside from the installation ceremony, Their Majesties are expected to meet with Fijian President and senior government officials.
They are also expected to discuss regional cooperation, climate resilience, and cultural preservation and participate in traditional ceremonies and community engagements in Lau.
This visit marks a significant chapter in Fiji-Tonga relations, celebrating their shared history while paving the way for deeper collaboration in the Pacific.
