A new political poll has strengthened the prospect of Labour returning to power next month — a result that would also return three MPs of Tongan descent, Carmel Sepuloni, Jenny Salesa and Anahila Kanongata’a-Suisuiki, to the government benches.

The latest RNZ-Reid Research poll has Labour well ahead of National, polling 30.8 percent compared with National’s 25.9 percent ahead of the November 7 general election.

The wider bloc numbers also favour the left, although neither side currently has enough support to govern without the Opportunity Party.

Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori together have 47.6 percent support, compared with 45.5 percent for National, ACT and New Zealand First — putting the Labour-led bloc 2.1 percentage points ahead.

Opportunity, polling at 5.5 percent, therefore holds a potentially decisive position in determining which side can form the next government.

The numbers are particularly significant for New Zealand’s Tongan community, with Sepuloni, Salesa and Suisuiki all part of Labour’s parliamentary team and having publicly identified their Tongan heritage or connections.

Sepuloni is one of Labour’s most senior MPs and served as Deputy Prime Minister in the final months of the previous Labour government, while Salesa also previously served as a Cabinet minister.

Suisuiki, who entered Parliament in 2017, is standing again for Labour in the 2026 election.

National’s 25.9 percent is its worst poll result since its crushing defeat at the 2020 election, while Labour leader Chris Hipkins also leads Prime Minister Christopher Luxon as preferred prime minister.

The Greens surged to 14.8 percent, while New Zealand First polled at 10.6 percent, ACT at nine percent and Te Pāti Māori at two percent.

Hipkins remained preferred prime minister on 21.9 percent, ahead of Luxon on 17.1 percent.

National campaign chair Simeon Brown acknowledged the election would be close and said National had considerable work to do before polling day.

Hipkins said Labour was seeing momentum behind its campaign and believed New Zealanders wanted a change of government.

The poll also found more than half of respondents believed New Zealand was heading in the wrong direction under the current government.

With about a month remaining before election day, the formation of the next government remains finely balanced, but Labour’s lead over National and the left bloc’s narrow advantage have raised the prospect of Sepuloni, Salesa and Suisuiki once again sitting on the government side of Parliament.

Reid Research surveyed 1000 eligible voters between September 24 and October 1. The poll has a maximum reported margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.

Source: RNZ

For the first time, Tongan footballers will soon be able to step onto a purpose-built artificial pitch at home, with ground broken today at Veitongo for a TOP$2.5 million FIFA-funded facility designed to keep the game going through Tonga’s wet and dry weather.

The historic project comes amid years of major FIFA investment in Tonga’s football infrastructure, with FIFA records showing more than US$6.1 million committed to infrastructure developments across the Kingdom.

Tonga Football Association (TFA) President Fetuʻu Vea turned the first shovel of soil at Veitongo, Tongatapu, today, formally launching the project after four years of planning.

Construction is expected to begin within the next two weeks, with the pitch currently scheduled for completion in March 2027.

Once completed, TFA says the artificial surface will provide a more reliable venue for training, competitive matches and other football activities throughout the year, supported by a purpose-built drainage system.

Tonga’s major sporting grounds have traditionally relied on natural grass, including Teufaiva National Stadium, the Kingdom’s main venue for international rugby and other major sporting events. The new Veitongo facility will therefore mark a significant shift to a purpose-built synthetic playing surface designed for more intensive and weather-resilient use.

The development marks a major change for football infrastructure in Tonga, where players have traditionally depended on natural-grass surfaces that can be affected by heavy rain and intensive use.

Dutch company wins contract

Netherlands-based sports-turf manufacturer Edel Grass was selected from five bidders to deliver the project in partnership with local company MK Construction Consultancy.

Edel Grass is recognised by FIFA as a Preferred Provider for Football Turf under the FIFA Quality Programme, placing the company among a small group of international suppliers recognised for their expertise in football-turf projects.

ITS Pacific Ltd designed the Veitongo project and will supervise construction.

ITS Pacific senior architect Ronaldo Aquino presented an overview of the development during today’s ceremony, while MK Construction representative Tutone Maka provided a technical briefing.

TFA said its General Secretary highlighted the vision behind the project — providing Tonga with a dependable playing surface capable of supporting football in both wet and dry conditions.

Millions invested in Tonga

The artificial pitch is the latest major development under FIFA’s long-running investment in Tongan football.

FIFA’s current Forward Programme profile for Tonga records more than US$6.1 million committed to infrastructure, accounting for 96.6 percent of the committed Forward funding listed for the Kingdom.

FIFA identifies that infrastructure investment as covering two stadiums, two technical centres and two pitches, although its publicly available data does not make clear whether the new TOP$2.5 million Veitongo project is already counted among those two pitch projects.

FIFA has previously financed major facilities in Tonga, including US$750,000 towards the Vavaʻu Technical Centre, which included a natural-grass football pitch, changing facilities and administration infrastructure.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited Tonga in 2023 to inspect FIFA Forward projects and discuss the development of football in the Kingdom.

The Veitongo project now takes that development in a new direction, replacing the limitations of natural grass with an artificial surface TFA says can provide more consistent access to football.

TFA described the groundbreaking as a historic milestone for the sport and said the development would create more opportunities for Tongan players and communities.

The new pitch is expected to be ready by March 2027.

Tonga Police have arrested and charged 50 motorists for drink-driving in their latest weekly operation, just days after reporting 32 arrests for the same offence.

The latest figures intensify concerns over drink-driving on Tonga’s roads, with Police repeatedly warning motorists that a single reckless decision can cost lives and leave families facing lasting consequences.

Police said 38 men and 12 women were arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol during the latest operation.

“Tonga Police remind all motorists that drink-driving puts lives at risk and urge everyone to make responsible decisions to help save lives,” Police said.

The announcement follows another Police report five days earlier that 32 people — 24 men and eight women — had been arrested during the previous week’s DUI operation.

If the two Police announcements refer to separate weekly operations, they represent 82 drink-driving arrests across the two reporting periods.

The latest figure of 50 would also represent an increase of 18 arrests, or about 56 percent, compared with the 32 reported in the preceding operation.

Police have been issuing increasingly strong public warnings against driving after consuming alcohol.

“If you drink, do not drive,” Police said following the earlier operation.

“One reckless decision can take a life and leave families facing consequences that last forever.”

Police urged people who had been drinking to find a safe alternative way home and called on the public to help keep Tonga’s roads safe.

Tonga Police have made an arrest in their investigation into allegations that Tongan women were trafficked to China through arrangements involving prospective marriages.

The arrest comes in the wake of an emotionally charged public debate over the women’s experiences and an unusual diplomatic dispute between the United States and Chinese embassies in Tonga over whether the alleged marriage arrangements constitute human trafficking.

“Tonga Police confirm that a 51-year-old Chinese woman residing in Tongatapu was arrested on 22 September 2026 in relation with an investigation into the alleged trafficking of Tongan women to China,” the statement said.

Police said the investigation remained ongoing and provided no further details about the woman, any charges she may face, or the specific allegations connected to her arrest.

Women recruited for marriage

Kaniva News and other Pacific media have previously reported allegations involving Tongan women recruited to travel to China after being promised marriage, financial security and opportunities to support their families.

Several women have alleged that the circumstances they encountered after arriving in China were substantially different from what they had been told before leaving Tonga.

One 23-year-old woman, identified by the ABC under the pseudonym Lisa, returned to Tonga after spending nine months in China.

She alleged her passport was confiscated and that she was pressured by her husband’s family to have a baby and to work despite not holding a work visa.

“I felt as though I [was] something that had been bought and sold,” she told the ABC.

Tongan student Tapenisa Mahe, who helped Lisa while she was in China, described prospective Chinese families coming to see the young woman and deciding whether they wanted her, a process she likened to an auction.

The ABC also reported seeing WeChat discussions referring to payments of about $20,000 connected with marriage arrangements, although it remained unclear who received the money and precisely what the payments covered.

People identified as having helped arrange the marriages have rejected allegations of trafficking or mistreatment, maintaining that the women travelled voluntarily and that Tongan women were successfully married and living in China.

Embassies clash over trafficking claims

US human-trafficking specialist Reverend Dr Sandra Morgan, executive director of the Global Center for Women and Justice, described the circumstances reported in the cases as showing “classic signs” of human trafficking.

She pointed to the alleged recruitment of the women through promises of marriage and financial benefits for their families, followed by substantially different circumstances after they reached China.

The US Embassy publicised her assessment and said it stood with survivors and vulnerable communities while supporting efforts for accountability and justice.

The Chinese Embassy rejected premature conclusions, saying Chinese authorities had previously found no evidence of human trafficking and had regarded reported cases as transnational marriage disputes involving cultural, linguistic and lifestyle differences.

Without naming the US Embassy, it criticised statements by “a certain diplomatic mission in Tonga”, warning that public assertions made before investigations had reached definitive findings risked spreading misinformation or disinformation.

The Chinese Embassy has maintained that public statements should be based on established facts and evidence and said China strongly opposes human trafficking.

Police investigation continues

The latest Tonga Police statement does not determine whether trafficking occurred and does not establish the guilt of the arrested woman.

However, its wording confirms that Tongan authorities are investigating the allegations specifically as a trafficking-in-persons matter.

Under the United Nations Palermo Protocol, trafficking can involve recruiting or transporting a person through deception, fraud, coercion or abuse of vulnerability for the purpose of exploitation.

A person does not have to be abducted or transported illegally to become a trafficking victim. Initial consent to travel or marry does not necessarily prevent a case from constituting trafficking if prohibited means such as deception or coercion are subsequently established in connection with exploitation.

Tonga’s Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi took to the floor to dance as the Tongan Catholic community in Australia celebrated the Golden Jubilee of its Chaplaincy, marking 50 years of faith, service and community life.

Video shared from the celebrations shows Cardinal Mafi, wearing a traditional garland, joining the festivities in front of members of the congregation, drawing attention to a more relaxed and joyful side of the anniversary programme.

The dance formed part of celebrations surrounding the 50th anniversary of the Tongan Catholic Chaplaincy of Australia, which began its Golden Jubilee programme on October 1.

The anniversary celebrations have combined festivity with remembrance, including tributes to priests who played important roles in establishing and serving the Tongan Catholic community in Australia.

Members of the community gathered at Villa Maria in Hunters Hill, Sydney, where a wreath was laid at the grave of the late Fr Cyril Butler SM, known among Tongans as Patele Sililo.

The Chaplaincy described Fr Butler as the first priest to minister to the Tongan Catholic community in Australia.

The commemorations then moved to Rookwood Cemetery, where participants paid tribute to the late Fr Penisimani Folaumoetuʻi, who also served as chaplain to the Tongan Catholic community.

The Chaplaincy offered prayers for the two priests, saying: “May they rest in the peace and comfort of our Lord.”

The programme later continued at Belmore, where Cardinal Mafi was welcomed and presented with a gift from the Church.

His participation in the dancing added a distinctly Tongan cultural dimension to the religious celebration, with music and dance joining prayer, remembrance and fellowship as the community marked the milestone.

The Golden Jubilee commemorates five decades of organised Catholic pastoral ministry among Tongans in Australia and recognises the clergy and communities who helped establish and sustain the Chaplaincy.

Residents of Niuafoʻou have marked 80 years since the island’s devastating 1946 volcanic eruption by gathering around a bowl of kava and reflecting on the night their ancestors fled for their lives as their main village disappeared beneath smoke and volcanic destruction.

Free Wesleyan Church minister in Niuafoʻou Rev Motelolo Malaʻefoʻou shared photos of the gathering on Facebook, saying they were drinking kava while trying to imagine what residents had experienced on that night eight decades ago.

“Ko e ʻaho ni ne puna ai e maama ʻi Angahā Niuafoʻou ʻi he 1946,” Malaʻefoʻou wrote.

“ʻOku mau tuki pe hono efe mo sioloto atu ki he ʻaho ko ia, neongo ko e manatu ki ai ko e misi pe.”

“It was on this day that the volcano erupted at Angahā, Niuafoʻou, in 1946,” he said.

“We are just preparing kava while visualising that day, although imagining it is like a dream.”

Night of terror

The dramatic events of September 1946 were documented by James Lewis in his account Volcano in Tonga, published in the Journal of Administration Overseas in 1979.

Lewis said his account of the eruption and subsequent evacuation was provided by Niuafoʻou Town Officer Moeaki Tākai, who had kept a diary recording the events as they unfolded.

The eruption began on the evening of Monday, September 9, 1946.

According to the account, darkness had fallen and a brass band was playing when, at about 7.30pm, residents felt the first earthquake.

The musicians stopped playing as fears grew that an eruption was imminent.

Within minutes, residents began fleeing the village towards higher ground.

Lewis described the climb up the mountain as apparently an instinctive reaction by people familiar with volcanic danger and the risks faced by settlements closer to the coast.

As families scrambled to safety, the darkness was filled with panic.

“People were crying and praying, calling to one another and shouting to find one another,” Lewis wrote.

When residents reached higher ground and looked back, their principal village was no longer visible. The area where it had stood was engulfed in black smoke.

By about 10pm, authorities had instructed everyone to remain on the mountain.

Around 2,500 people eventually gathered on the mountainsides as the eruption continued below them.

Among those stranded were four Sisters from Belgium, France, Holland and the United States. Their national flags were raised on the highest tree in an attempt to attract attention.

Wireless operator stayed behind

One of the most extraordinary episodes recorded by Lewis involved wireless operator John Malekamu, who remained behind sending SOS signals calling for help.

He abandoned the wireless station only when lava had advanced to within about 30 feet of it, shortly before the station was destroyed.

Malekamu ran through intense heat before collapsing beneath a tree, where he was eventually found by a friend.

He survived and was taken back to join the rest of the community on the mountain.

At sunrise, Lewis wrote, the people joined together in giving thanks to God for their deliverance, with the eruption having caused no casualties.

But Niuafoʻou’s isolation meant outside help did not immediately arrive.

Lewis said none of the SOS messages sent from the island appeared to have been received by the Tongan Government in Nukuʻalofa.

It was not until several days later that a US Navy aircraft travelling from Pago Pago towards Naʻadi, Fiji, spotted smoke rising from Niuafoʻou and people on the mountainside attempting to attract attention.

Word was then relayed to Tonga.

A government vessel subsequently reached the island, more than a week after the eruption began.

Islanders vote on evacuation

The eruption did not immediately result in the permanent removal of Niuafoʻou’s population.

After officials arrived from Nukuʻalofa, a public meeting was held to determine whether the entire population should be evacuated to Tongatapu.

According to Lewis, Niuafoʻou’s communities were divided among four chiefs.

Three chiefs and their communities, representing about 1,800 people, voted in favour of evacuation, while one chief and about 700 people opposed it.

The majority decision ultimately resulted in evacuation being adopted for the island’s population of about 2,500.

The final evacuation was scheduled for December 21, 1946, giving residents about three months to prepare to leave their island.

Homes had to be dismantled and building materials and personal possessions prepared for transportation.

On evacuation day, loading began at sunrise and continued until about 5pm.

Tongatapu, however, was intended only as a transit destination for many of the displaced Niuafoʻou people.

About 1,800 eventually agreed to resettle on ʻEua, while those who had opposed the evacuation remained on Tongatapu.

Hardship followed evacuation

Lewis described the years following the evacuation as difficult, particularly for the Niuafoʻou people attempting to establish themselves in unfamiliar surroundings on ʻEua.

Agricultural land had to be cleared and livelihoods rebuilt.

The economic hardship became so severe that in 1950, 74 men sailed back to Niuafoʻou to work in copra production.

They stayed for a year before returning to ʻEua and being replaced by another working party.

Further groups followed in 1952 and 1953, and Moeaki Tākai himself joined one of the parties returning to his home island.

There was no permanent settlement on Niuafoʻou between 1947 and 1959, according to Lewis.

The 1946 disaster was also not the island’s first major encounter with volcanic destruction.

Lewis recorded eruptions in 1929, 1935, 1936 and 1943 before the September 1946 eruption, with the village of Futu destroyed during the 1929 event.

Looking back on the evacuation more than three decades later, Lewis concluded that it appeared to have been “ad hoc and unplanned” and that the decision to proceed had been “precipitate”.

He argued that insufficient consideration had apparently been given to the eventual resettlement of the evacuees, contributing to greater hardship and making their resettlement a longer process than necessary.

Eighty years later, the kava gathering in Niuafoʻou brought that history back to the island where it began — with today’s residents sitting together and trying to imagine the night their ancestors fled Angahā in darkness, unsure whether they would ever return home.