EDITOR’S NOTE:This commentary was edited to reflect the fact that the response from the Deputy Clerk was meant to say that the Parliament using the circular was a normal means of communication.
COMMENTARY: It is time for the practice of using circulars to make decisions in Parliament was reviewed.
Circulars should only be used on agendas that are urgent.
They should not be used on important issues such as pay rises for Parliamentarians.
Such issues should be properly debated in the House so that they can be recorded in the minutes for the public to read and also broadcast for people to listen.
As Kaniva News reported yesterday, the government’s use of a circular to canvas MPs’ views on a pay rise has been called into question.
However, the Legislative Assembly’s Deputy Clerk, Dr Sione Vikilani, said the circular was a normal means of communication approved by the House and any information sent through it was legal.
In Tongan he said: “Ko e tohi ‘avetakai ko e founga ngāue pe ‘oku ‘ataa ke ngaue’aki pea ‘oku ‘ikai ke ta’efakalao ha tu’utu’uni ‘i hono fakahoko ‘i he founga koia”.
Dr Vikilani did not respond to a question asking why a circular was used to ballot the pay hike and not a face-to-face voting in the House.
In 2018 Tonga’s former Prime Minister, the late ‘Akilisi Pōhiva, warned that using circulars in Parliament was open to abuse.
Speaking to Kaniva News, Pōhiva said the use of circulars was normal but did not allow for discussion.
MPs, especially the Opposition, could not debate whatever agenda was being circulated.
He said that traditionally Speakers and the Noble’s representatives, who were mostly the majority in the House, used it to ballot issues they wanted to be decided in their favour.
The late Prime Minister’s comments were made during an interview in 2018 about the decision to approve an invitation from the Tonga Rugby League for a Parliament delegation to attend a match.
The decision was adopted through a circular, by collective resolution of Parliament.
Prime Minister Pōhiva’s concerns are just as relevant today as they were four years ago.
Debates and voting in the House must be open so that all citizens can see how their MPs voted and debate can be held in public.
This was illustrated in our story yesterday when Dr Vikilani would not say how MPs voted on the circular.
A Parliament with secrets is not truly democratic.
Tonga’s historic 30–12 victory over England at the Rugby League World Cup has drawn international media attention, with headlines celebrating the Pacific nation’s breakthrough while British coverage focuses on the damaging implications for England’s tournament hopes.
The contrasting reactions followed Tonga’s first-ever victory over England in Perth on Saturday night, nine years after their heartbreaking 20–18 defeat in the 2017 World Cup semi-finals.
While Australian and Pacific coverage has emphasised Tonga’s emergence as a genuine contender for the world title, the result has also prompted scrutiny of England’s performance and its increasingly difficult path to the semi-finals.
British headlines reflect England’s humiliation
British newspapers and broadcasters responded with some of the strongest headlines, portraying the defeat as a serious blow to England’s World Cup ambitions.
The broadcaster described the match as a reality check for England and highlighted Isaiya Katoa’s commanding performance against Brian McDermott’s side.
Its coverage examined England’s failure to match Tonga’s physical intensity and their inability to turn attacking opportunities into points.
Australian media celebrate Tonga’s dominance
Australian media adopted a different perspective, emphasising Tonga’s commanding performance and the significance of defeating a higher-ranked opponent.
The agency described Tonga’s performance as a defensive masterclass and emphasised that England’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals were in serious jeopardy.
The NRL highlighted Tonga’s resilience under coach Kristian Woolf, particularly the two tries scored within three minutes that transformed a narrow lead into a commanding advantage.
The American news agency emphasised that fifth-ranked Tonga had defeated third-ranked England for the first time.
It also drew attention to England’s previous World Cup disappointment against another Pacific nation, Samoa, who eliminated them in the 2022 semi-finals.
The report highlighted the growing threat posed by Pacific rugby league teams to nations that have traditionally dominated the international competition.
The New Zealand-based Pacific broadcaster portrayed Tonga as emerging World Cup heavyweights, highlighting the significance of a victory nine years after their narrow semi-final defeat to England.
The occasion was made particularly memorable by the presence of King Tupou VI and Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala among the 18,302 spectators at HBF Park.
Global attention turns towards Samoa
The international coverage has also shifted attention towards Tonga’s prospects of advancing to the semi-finals and potentially challenging for the championship.
Tonga’s remaining group fixtures include Lebanon and Samoa, with the much-anticipated Pacific encounter against Samoa scheduled for November 1.
England, meanwhile, must recover against France and Papua New Guinea while depending on other results to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
The different headlines illustrate how the rugby league world has interpreted Saturday’s result: a humiliating setback for England, a major breakthrough for Tonga and further evidence of the growing competitive strength of Pacific nations.
For Tonga, the victory has achieved something beyond two competition points. It has forced international media to reassess the Pacific nation’s place among rugby league’s leading contenders.
Tonga have made rugby league history with a stunning 30–12 victory over England in Perth, claiming their first-ever win against the English and announcing themselves as serious contenders for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
The landmark triumph also delivered a measure of revenge for Tonga’s heartbreaking 20–18 semi-final defeat to England at the 2017 World Cup, when the Pacific nation came agonisingly close to reaching its first final.
Playing before 18,302 spectators at HBF Park on Saturday night, Tonga produced a determined defensive performance before unleashing a second-half attacking surge that overwhelmed England.
Second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu emerged as one of Tonga’s standout performers, scoring two tries as coach Kristian Woolf’s side overcame sustained English pressure to secure one of the most significant victories in the nation’s rugby league history.
The result places Tonga in a commanding position in their group and strengthens their prospects of reaching the World Cup semi-finals.
Tonga’s defence frustrates England
Despite England dominating lengthy periods of the opening half, Tonga’s defensive resilience proved decisive.
England, under new coach Brian McDermott, repeatedly threatened Tonga’s try line, with playmaker George Williams directing an expansive attacking game.
However, Tonga’s defensive line held firm, frustrating England’s efforts to convert possession and territorial advantage into points.
Stefano Utoikamanu opened the scoring for Tonga before two penalty goals from Isaiya Katoa extended the advantage to 10–0 at halftime.
The scoreline reflected Tonga’s ability to withstand pressure and capitalise on limited scoring opportunities.
Second-half surge seals victory
England finally broke through in the 46th minute when Williams created an opening for Hugo Savala, who linked with fullback AJ Brimson to reduce Tonga’s lead to 10–6.
With England gaining momentum and threatening to take control, a high tackle on Tongan winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak proved a turning point.
Tonga seized the opportunity, with Olakau’atu and Tolu Koula scoring tries in consecutive attacking sets.
The rapid scoring burst transformed Tonga’s narrow four-point advantage into a commanding 22–6 lead midway through the second half.
England responded through winger Dom Young, reducing the deficit to 22–12, but Tonga refused to surrender their advantage.
Olakau’atu then completed his double after collecting an Isaiya Katoa grubber kick in the closing stages, extinguishing England’s hopes of a comeback and helping seal the historic 30–12 result.
Historic breakthrough carries significance
The victory represents another major milestone in Tonga’s emergence as a force in international rugby league.
Nine years after England narrowly eliminated Tonga from the 2017 World Cup, the national team has finally overcome an opponent that had previously denied it a place in the tournament’s final.
The result is particularly significant because it came against one of rugby league’s traditional powers, reinforcing Tonga’s ability to compete with established international teams.
It also strengthens Tonga’s position in the race for the semi-finals, with the head-to-head result giving Woolf’s side an important advantage over England in the group standings.
England must now defeat France and Papua New Guinea while relying on Tonga to beat Samoa in their final group match on November 1 at the sold-out CommBank Stadium.
Injury concern despite triumph
Tonga’s celebrations were tempered by an injury to Latu Fainu, who left the field after just 17 minutes with a suspected pectoral strain.
Initial indications suggested medical staff were optimistic the injury was not serious, although his condition will require further assessment.
For Woolf and his players, the immediate focus will now turn to maintaining their momentum as the tournament progresses.
Tonga’s next major challenge against Samoa promises another fiercely contested Pacific encounter, with a place in the World Cup semi-finals at stake.
Saturday’s victory has already secured Tonga a place in the record books, ending its winless history against England and delivering a powerful statement of its World Cup ambitions.
A 27-year-old Tongan seasonal worker has been sentenced to four and a half years in a New Zealand prison after stabbing a fellow Tongan worker four times during a drunken confrontation at their accommodation in the Tasman District.
The victim, aged 21, suffered serious injuries and later returned to Tonga after the attack left him fearful for his safety, the New Zealand Herald reported.
Fine Mateaki’i He Lotu Muli appeared in Nelson District Court on Friday, where Judge Tony Snell sentenced him for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
According to the Herald’s Open Justice report, the incident occurred in the early hours of March 14 at seasonal workers’ accommodation in Lower Moutere.
Muli and the victim had worked together on New Zealand orchards for three years under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.
The confrontation reportedly began over allegations concerning the victim’s treatment of another worker.
Although colleagues initially separated the two men, another confrontation followed, during which Muli pulled out a filleting knife and stabbed the victim twice in the lower back, once near the spine and once in the thigh.
One of the wounds reached the victim’s kidney, causing a small cut. He spent a week in hospital and required crutches for three days.
Muli later told police he had consumed about 10 cans of pre-mixed alcohol and shared three bottles of wine with the victim, claiming he was too intoxicated to remember the stabbing.
Crown prosecutor Jerome Lao told the court the victim had travelled to New Zealand to earn a living but had been left with little choice but to return to Tonga.
The court heard that Muli, a father of two, had been saving money to buy a car to transport his children to school in Tonga.
Judge Snell acknowledged that Muli had previously been a reliable worker with no criminal history and that the offending was out of character.
The judge reduced a seven-year starting sentence to four and a half years after considering his early guilty plea, previous good character and the additional hardship of imprisonment in a foreign country.
Muli received a first warning under New Zealand’s Three Strikes law and faces deportation after his release from prison.
The New Zealand Herald reported that Muli must serve at least one-third of his sentence before becoming eligible for release, with the Parole Board responsible for determining his release conditions.
The United States Embassy in Suva, Fiji, which continues to handle US visa applications for Tongan nationals despite the opening of an American embassy in Nukuʻalofa in 2023, has warned Tongan and other Pacific applicants that travelling to America primarily to give birth and obtain US citizenship for their children is prohibited under visitor visa rules.
The warning comes amid a renewed crackdown by President Donald Trump’s administration on so-called birth tourism, including tougher visa restrictions targeting foreign nationals and organisations involved in arranging childbirth in the United States for citizenship purposes.
In a notice published on its official Facebook page, the Embassy said:
“Using your visa to travel for the purpose of giving birth in the United States is NOT permitted. Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your intent.”
The notice was accompanied by an image of a US passport and a warning that consular officers would refuse visa applications if they believed the purpose of travel was to give birth on American soil.
US tightens birth restrictions
Under US visitor visa regulations introduced in January 2020, consular officers can refuse applications when they have reason to believe an applicant’s primary purpose is to give birth in the United States to obtain American citizenship for their child.
The rules apply to B-category visitor visas, commonly used for tourism, family visits and certain medical purposes.
On 6 August 2026, President Trump signed an executive order directing federal authorities to strengthen measures against birth tourism, including possible visa revocations, entry restrictions and action against individuals or organisations facilitating the practice.
The administration said some commercial operators had arranged travel and accommodation for pregnant foreign nationals while coaching applicants to conceal their intentions from US immigration officials.
On 23 September, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced additional visa restrictions targeting individuals and commercial networks involved in facilitating birth tourism.
These included travel agents, visa intermediaries and medical providers knowingly assisting such arrangements.
Pregnancy does not bar entry
The restrictions do not mean that all pregnant women are automatically prohibited from travelling to the United States.
US immigration guidance distinguishes between travelling primarily to obtain citizenship for a newborn child and travelling for legitimate medical treatment.
Applicants seeking medical treatment may still qualify for visitor visas, although consular officers can require documentation confirming their medical arrangements, anticipated expenses and ability to pay for treatment.
The central issue is the applicant’s primary purpose of travel and whether the information provided during the visa application process is accurate.
A total of 199 students graduated from the University of the South Pacific (USP) Tonga Campus on Saturday, with women accounting for nearly three-quarters of the graduating class.
The ceremony also marked a significant leadership milestone for the regional university, with Tuvalu’s Governor-General, Her Excellency Temukisa Auina Penehuro Hauma, formally installed as USP’s 34th Chancellor.
According to a USP statement issued on 17 October, 145 women were among the graduates, representing approximately 73 percent of the cohort, compared with 54 men.
The graduation ceremony was held at the Tonga High School Indoor Stadium, bringing together graduates, families, university representatives and supporters to celebrate their academic achievements.
The event was held under the theme Ko e Fua ʻo e Fononga, celebrating the achievements of graduates and recognising the contributions of families, communities and support networks throughout their educational journeys.
USP said the qualifications represented not only individual determination but also the collective support of parents, grandparents, siblings, churches and communities.
Graduates received qualifications across several academic disciplines, including accounting, finance, economics, education, law, social sciences, agriculture, environmental sciences, business, information technology and engineering.
The graduating cohort also included students from the university’s Pacific Technical and Further Education programmes.
Graduates strengthen disaster preparedness
Among the graduates was Kaloni Fono, a geography teacher at Haʻapai High School, who completed a postgraduate qualification in Climate Change.
Fono said her decision to pursue further studies was motivated by her commitment to improving climate change education among students in Haʻapai, one of Tonga’s most disaster-prone island groups.
“I chose to study Climate Change because of my work as a geography teacher. My goal is to equip my students with the knowledge and skills to understand, prepare for, and respond to natural disasters that affect our islands,” Fono said.
Her achievement highlighted the importance of equipping teachers with specialised knowledge to help communities understand climate-related risks and improve their preparedness for natural disasters.
Another graduate, Tonga Police officer Sosiua Cocker Filisonuʻu, completed a Certificate IV in Disaster Risk Management.
“Completing this programme has strengthened my ability to serve and protect our communities,” Filisonuʻu said.
“As a police officer, understanding disaster risk management allows me to better support people before, during, and after emergencies.”
USP said his achievement demonstrated the value of continuing professional education in strengthening Tonga’s disaster preparedness and improving the capacity of frontline emergency responders.
Ceremony celebrates collective achievement
The graduation ceremony featured cultural performances by the USP Choir and the Tonga Police Band, reflecting the university’s Pacific identity and the importance of cultural traditions in celebrating educational achievements.
USP emphasised that graduation was not solely an individual accomplishment but also reflected the sacrifices and encouragement of families and communities who supported students throughout their studies.
The Tonga ceremony was the final event in USP’s 2026 graduation season, concluding a series of graduation celebrations across the university’s member countries.
Tonga Power Limited (TPL) has commissioned two additional generators at Popua Power Station, boosting electricity generation capacity by 3.52 megawatts as the company continues efforts to address longstanding power outages and supply instability across Tongatapu.
Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua (right) and the Australian Interim High Commissioner (centre) inspect one of the two newly commissioned Cummins QSK60 generators at Popua Power Station, accompanied by a Tonga Power Limited staff member. The generators add 3.52 megawatts to Tonga’s electricity generation capacity.
The commissioning comes against a background of repeated electricity disruptions that have affected households, businesses and essential public services, with generator breakdowns, limited generation capacity and damaged power lines contributing to the problems.
In a statement issued on 13 October, TPL said the two Cummins QSK60 generator sets would strengthen electricity supply reliability and stability, particularly during periods of high demand, scheduled maintenance and unexpected generator failures.
Each generator provides approximately 1.76 megawatts, giving the company additional operating reserves and greater flexibility to maintain electricity supply when existing equipment is unavailable.
Temporary generators support upgrades
TPL said the two QSK60 units would provide immediate generation capacity while the company progresses Project Kalofiama, which is intended to deliver a permanent powerhouse solution under the Tonga Power Generation Upgrade Project.
The commissioning forms part of the Tonga Renewable Energy Stabilisation (TRES) programme, a partnership between the Australian Government and TPL aimed at strengthening Tonga’s electricity infrastructure and supporting greater integration of renewable energy.
TPL Chief Executive Officer Scott Westbury described the commissioning as an important step towards improving electricity reliability while broader investments continue.
“These generators provide additional capacity and system stability today, while we continue strengthening the grid and progressing Project Kalofiama,” Westbury said.
“Together, these investments are helping build the foundation for a more reliable and increasingly sustainable electricity system for Tonga.”
The commissioning ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua, the Australian Interim High Commissioner, government representatives, TPL board members, management and project stakeholders.
Wider energy improvements underway
The TRES programme comprises three interconnected projects covering electricity generation, transmission and distribution.
The first includes the temporary generators and Project Kalofiama, while the second focuses on strengthening the 33-kilovolt transmission network and enabling the integration of the RAPID renewable energy project.
The third supports further improvements to the electricity distribution network in NNUP Area 4.
TPL said the investments would strengthen the infrastructure required to accommodate higher levels of renewable energy as Tonga works towards its target of 70 percent renewable electricity.
The company acknowledged continued support from the Australian and Tongan governments, project contractors, and technical teams, and thanked electricity consumers for their patience during the ongoing improvements.
The addition of the two generators addresses one of the problems previously identified by TPL — insufficient generation capacity during periods of high demand or equipment failure — while the wider programme seeks to improve the reliability of the electricity network.
Longstanding outages disrupt communities
The commissioning follows years of repeated electricity disruptions that have generated public frustration and criticism of TPL’s ability to maintain a reliable power supply.
As previously reported by Kaniva News, electricity consumers across Tongatapu experienced recurring outages this year in March and April, including load shedding caused by limited generation capacity, generator breakdowns and damaged overhead power lines.
In April, public frustration intensified after generator faults forced further load shedding across several communities, prompting residents to appeal directly to Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua for intervention.
Some households reported losing access to running water when electricity outages disabled village water pumps, while others raised concerns about disruptions affecting elderly residents, children and people dependent on electrical medical equipment.
The interruptions also affected government services, with the Ministry of Justice confirming in April that power failures had temporarily disabled its civil registry system, preventing the issuance of birth, death and marriage certificates.
In May, an unexpected blackout disrupted Fakamē Day celebrations, leaving children in several churches unable to use microphones during their performances.
Planned interruptions continue despite upgrades
Electricity interruptions have continued this month as TPL carries out further maintenance and infrastructure improvements.
In a public advisory, the company announced a scheduled power outage from 11pm on Wednesday, 14 October, until 7am on Thursday, 15 October, affecting several communities across Tongatapu.
The company said the interruption was necessary to replace part of a high-voltage power line to improve supply reliability and reduce the risk of future faults.
Areas scheduled for an eight-hour outage included parts of Fasi, Ngeleʻia, Mailetaha and Pahu.
Other communities, including parts of Kolofoʻou, Longolongo, Havelu, Tofoa, Pea and surrounding areas, were warned of shorter interruptions during the same maintenance period.
TPL advised customers to charge essential devices, prepare emergency lighting and protect sensitive electrical appliances.
Tonga is set to receive a $15.39 million emergency grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help protect its electricity supply and manage rising fuel costs as the ongoing Middle East conflict places increasing pressure on Pacific island economies.
The assistance comes amid growing concerns over the financial strain on Pacific governments and electricity providers, with higher international fuel and freight prices pushing up the cost of power generation, essential goods and household living expenses.
The funding forms part of a $40.1 million emergency assistance package approved by the ADB on 12 October for Tonga, Kiribati and Tuvalu, three Pacific island nations heavily dependent on imported fuel.
Under the Pacific Regional Energy Security Emergency Assistance Project, Tonga will receive $15.39 million, the largest allocation among the three countries.
Kiribati will receive $12.77 million, while Tuvalu has been allocated $11.94 million.
Support for Tonga Power
A key component of Tonga’s assistance will be financial support for Tonga Power Limited, the country’s electricity provider, to help maintain affordable electricity services despite rising fuel costs.
The ADB said the three countries faced increasing financial pressures because of their dependence on imported fuel and the high cost of transporting energy supplies to geographically isolated islands.
Recent increases in global fuel and freight prices have further raised electricity generation costs and the prices of essential goods, placing additional pressure on households, particularly those with lower incomes.
The bank estimated that higher fuel prices and disruptions to energy security could have an economic impact exceeding $80 million across Tonga, Kiribati and Tuvalu.
Governments Face Financial Pressure
According to the ADB, the three governments have already introduced measures to protect households and maintain essential services, including absorbing higher energy costs and providing support to electricity consumers.
However, these interventions have increased public expenditure while reducing revenues for electricity utilities, raising concerns about their long-term financial sustainability.
ADB President Masato Kanda said Pacific island economies had limited capacity to withstand sudden increases in imported energy costs.
“Pacific island economies have little room to absorb sudden increases in the cost of imported energy,” Kanda said.
“When supplies are disrupted and prices rise, the impacts are felt across the economy, hitting electricity, essential services, household budgets, and the cost of food.”
He said the emergency assistance would help the three countries strengthen energy security and protect their populations from the most severe economic consequences of the crisis.
Regional Energy Security Concerns
The emergency package highlights the vulnerability of Pacific island economies to international conflicts and disruptions in global energy markets.
For Tonga, where imported fuel remains an important source of electricity generation, fluctuations in international fuel prices can affect electricity production costs and the financial position of Tonga Power Limited.
The ADB funding is intended to help the country manage these pressures while maintaining affordable electricity services.
The bank said its wider assistance would also provide targeted support to approximately 6,000 people from low-income households in Tuvalu affected by rising fuel, electricity and living costs.
The ADB announcement did not specify how Tonga’s $15.39 million allocation would be divided between fuel-price support and assistance to Tonga Power Limited, or when the funds would be disbursed.
The project forms part of the bank’s broader efforts to strengthen economic resilience and energy security in Pacific island countries facing external economic shocks.
Source: Asian Development Bank, news release dated 12 October 2026.
The death of celebrated singer and ukulele player ʻElenoa Fetutuki Tuʻifua Bloomfield marks a significant loss to Tonga’s musical heritage, particularly the tradition of hiva kakala that helped shape the country’s distinctive musical identity.
ʻElenoa Fetutuki Tuʻifua Bloomfield, the celebrated singer and ukulele player of the Nightingale of Tonga group, whose death at 84 marks a significant loss to Tonga’s musical heritage.
Bloomfield, who died on 9 October 2026 aged 84, was widely known for performing alongside renowned Tongan composer, singer and punake Tuʻimala Kaho, whose distinctive voice and compositions earned her the title “Nightingale of Tonga”.
Her musical partnership with Kaho contributed to performances of songs that have remained part of Tonga’s musical and cultural heritage for decades.
Kaho, who died in 2023 aged 84, was celebrated as a composer, singer, poet and choreographer whose work contributed to the preservation and development of Tongan musical and poetic expression.
Songs endure across generations
The voices of the Nightingale of Tonga singers have resonated with Tongan audiences since the early years of their musical careers, with their performances becoming part of the country’s musical heritage.
Among Kaho’s most celebrated compositions was the love song Taumaiā, which remains popular today alongside many other songs she composed throughout her career.
In a face-to-face interview with Kaniva News in May 2018, Kaho recalled that she began composing and singing at the age of 18. She had turned 79 the previous month, placing the beginning of her musical career in the late 1950s.
Bloomfield’s role as a singer and ukulele player contributed to the group’s musical arrangements, supporting Kaho’s compositions through vocal performances and instrumental accompaniment.
Their partnership brought together Tongan poetic expression, melody and instrumental music in performances that continued to resonate with generations of listeners.
Family mourns golden treasure
Bloomfield was born on 14 October 1941 and died just five days before her 85th birthday. Her funeral was held in Tonga.
In an emotional tribute shared on Facebook, a family member described her as a “golden treasure” whose voice had been part of Kaho’s celebrated Nightingale group.
The tribute also remembered her as the last remaining member of the Tuʻakolisi Hala Vaiola Motuʻa household.
“You were more precious than gold or anything else in this world,” the family member wrote.
“May you rest in the peace of the Lord as you go before us to our eternal home.”
Affectionately known as “Mother Fita”, Bloomfield was remembered with love as the family member expressed condolences to her children and grandchildren.
Musical tradition shaped identity
The Nightingale of Tonga group emerged during an important period in the development of Tonga’s distinctive hiva kakala genre, which evolved from Free Wesleyan hymns, Catholic liturgical music and other religious songs introduced by British and French missionaries in the early 19th century.
The genre combined Tongan figurative language, known as heliaki, with Western musical influences, marking a shift from ancient Tongan chants, which generally lacked harmonic chord progressions, towards four-part vocal harmonisation featuring lead, alto, tenor and bass.
The incorporation of chord progressions, relative-key relationships and instrumental arrangements further enriched its distinctive musical expression.
Bloomfield’s death marks the loss of a performer whose contribution helped sustain a tradition of Tongan music that continues to be heard and appreciated across generations.
Tonga Police arrested and charged 41 motorists for drink-driving last week as authorities continued their nationwide efforts to improve road safety and reduce alcohol-related accidents.
The latest arrests follow a series of police operations targeting intoxicated drivers, with 50 motorists arrested the previous week, raising the total to 91 over the two reporting periods.
According to Tonga Police, the latest arrests involved 31 men and 10 women.
The figures represent a decrease of nine arrests compared with the previous week, when 38 men and 12 women were charged.
Police Reinforce Road Safety
Police said the arrests were part of ongoing enforcement operations aimed at promoting responsible driving and protecting motorists, passengers and pedestrians.
Authorities have continued to warn drivers about the dangers of consuming alcohol before getting behind the wheel.
Tonga Police reminded the public that drink-driving not only puts motorists themselves at risk but also threatens the safety of other road users.
King Tupou VI has congratulated the pioneers of Mate Maʻa Tonga on the national rugby league team’s 40th anniversary as a long-running trademark dispute continues to leave the current Tonga XIII without its historic name ahead of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
A historic photograph of Tonga’s 1992 Pepsi Student Rugby League World Cup finalists is displayed during the Mate Maʻa Tonga Old Boys’ 40th anniversary celebration in Auckland, commemorating four decades of rugby league legacy, brotherhood and national pride since 1986. Photo / John Nicholas Pulu.
The controversy has resurfaced as supporters continue to question why a name derived from an old Tongan saying and associated with the national team for four decades is now subject to trademark rights held by Tonga National Rugby League Inc (TNRL), prompting the former governing body to clarify its ownership and rules governing the name’s use.
In a congratulatory message issued through the Royal Palace for the 40th Anniversary Capping Ceremony, King Tupou VI paid tribute to the original national rugby league team and its contribution to Tonga’s sporting history.
“40 years ago, the first Mate Ma’a Tonga Rugby team took to the field, representing Tonga with an unwavering level of passion, resilience and dedication,” the King said.
He acknowledged that the team’s performances had continued to inspire younger generations throughout the past four decades.
The King also congratulated the Tonga Mate Maʻa Tonga Old Boys Association on reaching the milestone and extended his best wishes for a memorable and successful celebration.
The anniversary was celebrated in Auckland on 9–10 October, bringing together former players and supporters to commemorate four decades of Tongan rugby league.
The King’s message comes after Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukālala announced Tonga’s 24-player World Cup squad, coached by Kristian Woolf and featuring stars Jason Taumalolo, Addin Fonua-Blake, Isaiya Katoa and Tyson Frizell.
The team will compete under the name Tonga XIII when it opens its World Cup campaign against England in Perth on 17 October.
However, the World Cup preparations have renewed attention on the controversy surrounding the historic Mate Maʻa Tonga name, as the national team continues to compete internationally without an identity that generations of supporters have embraced with pride for its powerful meaning of being willing to die for Tonga.
The controversy has persisted despite repeated public statements by TNRL since last week insisting that the current national team is permitted to use the Mate Maʻa Tonga name.
TNRL Clarifies Trademark Usage Rules
In its latest statement on Monday, TNRL clarified that members of the public could use the Mate Maʻa Tonga name and logo for personal purposes, but commercial use required its permission.
The organisation maintained that its intention was to protect the name and associated intellectual property from commercial exploitation for private business interests.
It said revenue generated through the commercial use of the trademarks was intended to benefit rugby league players and support the development of the sport.
However, TNRL’s assurances have not resolved the disagreement over the current national team’s official use of the historic branding.
The current national rugby league team is officially known as Tonga XIII under the administration of Tonga Rugby League XIII (TRLXIII), the governing body recognised by International Rugby League (IRL).
TNRL, led by George Koloamatangi, retains registered trademark rights associated with the Mate Maʻa Tonga name and emblem, despite no longer being recognised as Tonga’s international rugby league governing body.
