Tonga Meteorological Services has issued a strong wind warning and small craft advisory for several parts of the kingdom’s coastal waters.
In an advisory released at 7pm on Saturday, January 10, the Met Service said the warning remains in force for Haʻapai, Tongatapu, ʻEua, Tele-ki-Tonga, and Tele-ki-Tokelau coastal waters.
Mariners are being urged to exercise extreme caution, as strong winds are expected to create hazardous sea conditions, particularly for small vessels.
The Met Service said a trough lies over most parts of the kingdom, bringing cloudy periods with occasional showers to Tongatapu, ʻEua and Haʻapai tonight and tomorrow.
For the Niuas, light to moderate east to northeasterly winds are expected, becoming variable at times. Conditions will be mainly fine, with cloudy periods and a few showers.
For Vavaʻu and Haʻapai, light to moderate east to southeast winds are forecast. Weather will be cloudy at times with occasional showers and the possibility of isolated thunderstorms.
For Tongatapu and ʻEua, light to moderate southeast winds are expected. Conditions will be cloudy with occasional showers, heavy at times with isolated thunderstorms, becoming fine about tomorrow.
Fishermen, inter-island transport operators, and recreational boat users are advised to delay voyages where possible and closely monitor further updates from Tonga Meteorological Services.
Authorities remind the public that small craft are especially vulnerable in these conditions and that safety should be prioritised as unsettled weather continues to affect the region.
Tongan communities in Australia are anxiously monitoring unfolding bushfire emergencies in the state of Victoria, where firefighters are battling multiple out-of-control blazes as night falls—most notably the massive Longwood fire in central Victoria.
The Longwood blaze has threatened several townships as it continues to spread, prompting urgent warnings from authorities and forcing families, including many Pacific Islanders, to prepare for possible evacuation. Victoria is home to a significant Tongan population, particularly in regional centres and outer suburban areas, heightening concern among relatives in Tonga, New Zealand, and the wider diaspora.
Emergency services fear that a forecast change in wind direction on Friday evening could severely hamper containment efforts, pushing the fires into new and unpredictable paths.
In a distressing development, three people—including a child—remain unaccounted for after a house was destroyed by fire in Longwood. Authorities have not released further details, but the incident has intensified fears within affected communities.
The Country Fire Authority said cooler and calmer conditions expected in the coming days may allow crews to better assess the full impact of the fires, which are burning across multiple fronts.
Victoria is home to an established Tongan community, including families in the regional city of Mildura, and to many Tongans who travel from the kingdom under seasonal and labour-hire work schemes.
Mildura is approximately 498 kilometres (about a 5 hour and 40 minute drive) northwest of Longwood, the area in central Victoria where the significant bushfire is burning.
While the Longwood fire is a serious concern, Mildura is geographically distant and as of recent updates, the immediate danger and evacuation warnings are focused on communities in central and north-east Victoria, closer to the fire front (such as Ruffy, Avenel, and areas near the Hume Freeway).
The Rural City of Mildura has been included in a state of disaster declaration area, which covers a broad range of municipalities across Victoria to allow for enhanced emergency management powers.
However, this is a general declaration for the region and does not mean Mildura is under direct threat from the current Longwood blaze
Police have launched a homicide investigation following the fatal shooting of a man in Manurewa overnight.
Detective Inspector Karen Bright of Counties Manukau CIB said emergency services were called to a property on Balfour Road about 11.10pm after reports that a man had been shot.
“Sadly, the man was pronounced dead at the scene,” Bright said.
Cordons remain in place this morning as police carry out a detailed scene examination at the address.
A post-mortem examination is scheduled to take place tomorrow.
Bright said residents in the area could expect to see an increased police presence as enquiries continue.
“While this is a tragic incident, police believe there is no ongoing risk to the public,” she said.
Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is urged to contact police on 105.
A question that has lingered since last year’s Miss Pacific Islands Pageant (MPIP) controversy—whether Tonga would continue to participate again may finally be answered this week, after the Solomon Islands confirmed its dramatic boycott.
Miss Pacific Islands head judge Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt, a Samoan lawyer who chaired the judging panel for the 2025 pageant. Photo/Samoa Observer (Junior S. Ami)
The dispute surrounding the MPIP centres on allegations that Samoan head judge Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt tampered with votes during the February 2025 event in Honiara.
Critics argue that this resulted in Miss Samoa being crowned, when the title should instead have gone to Miss Tonga, Racheal Guttenbeil.
According to the Solomon Star, the apparent lack of response from the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the operation of the Miss Solomon Islands Pageant following the dispute contributed to the decision to withdraw.
Joyce Konofilia, Pageant Director of the Miss Solomon Islands Pageant and Chief Executive Officer of Solomon Host Event, confirmed to the paper that the withdrawal was linked to last year’s dispute.
“We have waited the whole year (2025), but the ministry has not responded to us,” she said.
“We cannot override the government on this matter, so we waited for them to clear their part in the situation.
“However, we have not heard anything from them until today.”
Brunt was accused of manipulating score sheets to secure Miss Samoa Litara Ieremia-Allan’s victory. Both Brunt and the pageant’s international board have denied the accusations.
Then Tonga Tourism chief executive Viliami Takau told Kaniva News at the time that the kingdom was considering withdrawing from the pageant over concerns about its integrity.
To date, however, no official decision has been announced regarding Tonga’s participation in the 2026 pageant, scheduled to be held in Fiji next month.
The Tongan Tourism Authority was approached for comment.
The Solomon Star, however, also reported that Tonga is among the six confirmed participants and identified Miss Tonga Siosi’ana Patricia Taumoepeau as the kingdom’s representative.
The Miss Pacific Islands Pageant, established by the Government of Samoa in 1987 as the Miss South Pacific Pageant, was created to celebrate the intelligence, talent, and culture of Pacific women.
Over time, it has expanded its focus to represent the wider Pacific region and promote regional unity. Samoa maintains a strong historical connection to the event, with its winners frequently serving as cultural ambassadors on the regional stage.
Confirmed participants for the MPIP 2026, according to the Star, are:
Miss Fiji – Peggy Ravuisiro
Miss Papua New Guinea – Iampela Popena
Miss Samoa – Feagaimaali’I Soti Mapu
Miss American Samoa – Tofoipupu Unutoa
Miss Tonga – Siosi’ana Patricia Taumoepeau
Miss Micronesia (Kiribati) – Atiterentaai Rinimarawa
An online fundraising campaign launched for Vaea Tulikihihifo Jr, one of two people killed in a shooting in Salt Lake City, has drawn an overwhelming response, raising more than US$46,000 within its first 24 hours toward a US$50,000 goal.
Vaea Tulikihihifo Jr., pictured with his wife and children, is remembered as a devoted husband and father of 12. He was killed in a shooting in Salt Lake City on January 7, 2026.
Tulikihihifo, 46, and another man, Sione Vatuvei, 38, were fatally shot on January 7, while six others were injured and remain in hospital.
According to the family, Tulikihihifo had briefly stepped outside that night from a funeral service to retrieve baby formula from a vehicle when he was fatally shot in the car park.
Police have reportedly stated that he was not involved in the alleged dispute from which the shooting arose.
Police have not yet made any arrests in the ongoing search for the suspects.
The rapid pace of donations reflects a wave of support from family, friends, church members, and the wider Pacific community, many of whom have shared messages of grief, solidarity, and remembrance.
Tulikihihifo is remembered as a deeply faithful man, a devoted husband, and a loving father to 12 children.
One of his children is currently serving a full-time LDS mission, compounding the family’s grief as they mourn while separated by distance.
His wife now faces the challenge of raising their children without the man the family describes as its anchor and provider.
The family said Tulikihihifo was known for his generosity, strong work ethic, and unwavering commitment to helping others, even when he himself had little.
Beyond his faith and family life, he was also remembered for his joyful spirit—quick to dance, laugh, and bring warmth into any gathering.
The GoFundMe campaign was established to assist with funeral and memorial expenses, immediate living costs, and longer-term support for the family as they adjust to life after his death.
Tongan rugby league fans have been given a cautious boost after Eli Katoa returned to light training with the Melbourne Storm, just two months after suffering a serious head injury while representing Tonga during last year’s Pacific Championships.
Katoa was badly injured during Tonga’s clash with New Zealand at the Pacific Championships, after taking three heavy knocks to the head across the warm-up and match.
He was eventually removed from the field and later required emergency surgery.
In the immediate aftermath, the Storm ruled the powerful forward out of the entire 2026 NRL season on medical grounds, stressing that his long-term health was the club’s overriding concern.
“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our number one priority,” Storm chief executive Justin Rodski said in a statement issued in November.
“It is great to have him home safely and under the care of our club doctor and local specialists. He is improving each day and looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation from home.
“In consultation with our doctor and neuro specialists, Eli will not return to training this pre-season and won’t be available for the 2026 season. He has a long road ahead in his recovery and his focus will be on returning to full health before considering any form of return to training.”
Despite that prognosis, Storm supporters and the wider Tongan rugby league community were encouraged this week after the club shared videos on social media showing Katoa participating in light handling drills at training.
The club has emphasised that the activity forms part of his rehabilitation programme only and does not signal a return to full training or match play. Katoa is still expected to sit out the 2026 campaign as he continues his recovery under specialist supervision.
For Tonga, Katoa’s progress is being closely watched. The back-rower has become a key figure in the national side’s resurgence in recent years, and his safe return to full health remains the priority for both club and country.
While a comeback timeline remains uncertain, Katoa’s presence back on the training paddock—however limited—marks a significant milestone in his recovery journey and offers hope to Tongan fans following months of concern.
Police have launched a homicide investigation following the death of a 10-week-old baby boy in Auckland, authorities have confirmed.
Detective Inspector Karen Bright of Counties Manukau CIB said police were notified after the infant was taken to Pukekohe Maternity Hospital in a critical condition on 2 January.
Hospital staff alerted police, and the baby was subsequently transferred to Starship Hospital, where it was determined he had suffered non-survivable injuries.
“Tragically, the baby passed away at the hospital on Wednesday, 8 January,” Bright said.
A 27-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man have since been jointly charged with ill-treatment or neglect of a child.
Both are due to reappear in Manukau District Court on 8 May.
Suppression orders are in place protecting the identity of the child and the two people charged.
Detective Inspector Bright said the investigation remains ongoing and that further charges are being considered.
“As the matter is before the court, police are unable to comment further,” she said.
A tragic new detail has emerged in the fatal shooting that claimed the lives of two Tongans and injured six others outside a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse in Salt Lake City, deepening shock and grief within the Tongan community.
Vaea and Nani Tulikihihifo and their baby with Sione Vatuvei (inset).
All the shooting victims were adults. Vaea Tulikihihifo, 46, and Sione Vatuvei, 38, were identified as the two people killed.
Salt Lake City media claimed Tulikihihifo was not involved in the confrontation that preceded the gunfire.
According to his family, he had briefly stepped outside the church during a memorial service to retrieve baby formula from his car for his five-month-old son.
Tulikihihifo left the meetinghouse with the car keys in hand — and never returned.
Seconds later, multiple gunshots rang out in the church parking lot.
Tulikihihifo was struck and collapsed outside. Family members say they do not know whether he ever reached the vehicle before he was fatally wounded.
Vatuvei was also killed in the shooting. Six other people sustained gunshot injuries and were taken to hospital, with varying degrees of severity.
Reports circulating on social media, including livestream videos from the funeral service, seen by Kaniva News, during which the shooting occurred outside, show Vatuvei speaking.
Some commenters have alleged that the footage captures a speech he delivered shortly before he was fatally shot.
Vatuvei was reportedly described by those who knew him as someone who had recently embarked on a new path, seeking to turn his life away from gang involvement.
The shooting occurred while many members of the Tongan and wider Pacific Islander community were gathered inside the meetinghouse to attend a memorial service, heightening the trauma of the event.
Tulikihihifo, originally from Los Angeles, was described by his family as a devoted husband and father who loved his faith, his community, and sports teams from his hometown. Loved ones said his final act — stepping out to care for his child — reflected the kind of man he was.
The incident has sent shockwaves through Tongan communities in Utah and abroad, with calls for justice, healing, and greater attention to community safety. Police say the investigation remains ongoing as they continue searching for the suspect.
What was first reported as a violent confrontation has now taken on a more devastating dimension — the loss of a father whose final moments were spent responding to the needs of his child, not engaging in violence.
Tongans planning to travel to the United States on visitor visas will soon face new financial requirements, after the US Department of State confirmed that Tonga has been included in a visa bond pilot programme, effective January 21, 2026.
Tonga has been added to a US visa bond pilot programme, requiring some Tongan travellers to post bonds of up to US$15,000 amid tightened visa restrictions and heightened scrutiny of applications.
The bond requirement follows earlier U.S. measures imposing so‑called “partial visa restrictions” on Tongans—actions that have already disrupted family, church, and community travel, and drawn criticism over the Tongan government’s lack of a clear response.
As Kaniva News reported previously, the restrictions introduced on January 1 mean that Tongans may still travel to the United States, but only under heightened scrutiny of their visa applications and, in most cases, only in exceptional circumstances where the visit is deemed to be in the US national interest.
Under the new rules, Tongan passport holders applying for B1/B2 visitor visas — typically used for tourism, family visits, and short-term business travel — may be required to post a visa bond of US$5,000, US$10,000, or US$15,000, depending on the outcome of their visa interview.
The bond requirement applies even if an applicant is otherwise eligible for a visa. The amount will be determined by a US consular officer at the time of the interview, and applicants will only be instructed to post a bond if directed to do so by the officer.
The policy is part of a temporary pilot programme established under US immigration law, targeting countries identified as having higher visitor visa overstay rates. Tonga is one of several Pacific nations included in the programme, alongside Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Fiji.
How the bond works
Applicants required to post a bond must complete Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 and make payment through the US Government’s official platform, Pay.gov.
The Department of State has warned applicants not to use third-party websites, stressing that the US Government is not responsible for money paid outside its official systems.
Officials have also cautioned that paying a bond does not guarantee visa approval. If a person submits payment without being instructed by a consular officer, the money will not be refunded.
Restricted entry and exit points
As a condition of the bond, visa holders must enter and exit the United States through designated airports only. For now, these are:
Boston Logan International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York)
Washington Dulles International Airport
Failure to comply with these requirements could result in denied entry or departure records not being properly registered.
When bonds are refunded — and when they are not
The bond will be automatically cancelled and refunded if:
the traveller leaves the US on or before their authorised stay expires
the traveller does not use the visa before it expires
the traveller is refused entry at the US port of entry
However, the bond may be forfeited if US authorities determine that the visa holder breached the terms, including overstaying, remaining unlawfully in the US, or applying to change or adjust immigration status, such as seeking asylum.
Tongans are among the victims of a shooting at a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, according to local media reports.
Two people have been confirmed dead. Three others are in critical condition, while three additional victims are listed as being in unknown condition after they were transported to medical facilities by private parties, police reportedly said.
Salt Lake City police spokesperson Glen Mills told media emergency services responded to reports of gunfire at the meetinghouse, with officers and medical teams arriving to find multiple victims.
Police Chief Brian Redd reportedly confirmed that all of the victims are adults and said investigators do not believe the incident was random.
He added that the suspect remains at large and that a significant police operation is underway to locate the individual involved.
A livestream shared on Facebook by a Tongan man at the scene, seen by Kaniva News indicated the victims may have been attending a funeral when the shooting occurred.
The meetinghouse where the shooting occurred serves two Tongan wards, according to the church’s website, as reported by The Salt Lake Tribune. Susi Feltch-Malohifo’ou, chief executive of Pacific Island Knowledge 2 Action Resources (PIK2AR), told the outlet the incident has sent shockwaves through Utah’s Pacific Islander community.
She said her phone had been flooded with messages following the shooting and confirmed that she knows several of those injured, although their conditions were not immediately known.
Feltch-Malohifo’ou said many members of the Pacific Islander and Latter-day Saint communities were attending a memorial service when the shooting occurred outside the church, which primarily serves Tongan congregants.
“Condolences to the family. This is a tragedy in our community,” she said, adding that while PIK2AR has been actively working on violence prevention in Polynesian communities, including gang prevention, it was too early to determine whether that was a factor in the incident. “Violence is never the answer.”
