The Tongan and Australian communities are celebrating an extraordinary milestone: the 100th birthday of Mrs Janet Secomb, also known as Seneti Wood, beloved partner of the late Reverend Howard Secomb.
Mrs Janet (Sēneti) Secomb surrounded by loved ones as she celebrates her 100th birthday — a century of faith, friendship, and service remembered across Tonga and Australia.Photo/Australia in Tonga (Facebook)
Her husband Rev Howard, a distinguished Methodist minister and former principal of Tonga’s Tupou College, passed away in March at the age of 102.
Born in Tonga in 1925, Janet is the eldest daughter of Rev Dr Harold Wood and Dr Olive Wood, who served in Tonga until 1937.
In 1950, Janet returned to Tonga with her husband, where the couple played a pivotal role in strengthening ties between Tongans and Australians through faith, music, and community service.
Janet’s compassion and unwavering support of Howard’s ministry left a lasting legacy across the Kingdom.
Her contributions to church life, music, and outreach efforts helped build bridges that continue to unite communities. Many Tongans fondly recall her fluency in the Tongan language, often remarking that “her Tongan is better than ours!”
A photo of Sēneti, surrounded by family and friends, has been posted to the Australia in Tonga Facebook page.
The caption says: “From all of us at the Australian High Commission in Nukuʻalofa – ‘oku mau talamonu atu Janet ke ke ma’u ha mo’ui lelei mo e loto hounga’ia ‘I he ta’u ‘e 100 kuo ke ‘inasi ai ‘a e mo’ui.
Happy birthday, Mrs Secomb – may your century of life continue to inspire generations to come.”
New Zealand has issued a caution to Tonga following the confirmation of three new measles cases last week in Aotearoa, bringing the total number of cases to eight, Tonga’s Minister of Health, Dr ‘Ana ‘Akau’ola, has confirmed.
Dr ‘Ana ‘Akau’ola, MInister of Health
The warning comes amid concerns over the potential spread of the highly contagious disease through international travel.
The new cases in New Zealand include one in the Manawatū region and two in the Wairarapa, all linked to earlier cases in the Wairarapa cluster, before quarantine.
All individuals were placed in quarantine as recommended, but one case was found to have been briefly infectious before isolation began.
“Although the case followed all public health advice, they developed symptoms sooner than expected,” said Dr Craig Thornley, Medical Officer of Health for New Zealand’s National Public Health Service.
“We’ve taken a cautious approach by reviewing locations they may have visited prior to quarantine”
Six new locations of interest in Feilding have been identified, including supermarkets and retail stores visited on July 11
The public is advised to monitor for symptoms such as high fever, cough, sore eyes, and rash.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Health has emphasised the importance of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination, especially for those planning overseas travel or returning from high-risk countries. Immunisation rates in New Zealand remain below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks
High Vaccination Saves Tonga
Tonga, which experienced a measles outbreak in 2019, has maintained high vaccination coverage and is expected to respond proactively to the advisory.
The Ministry of Health in Tonga is monitoring the situation closely and encouraging citizens to ensure their immunisations are up to date.
Dr ‘Akau’ola said the latest measles outbreak in Tonga was caused by a case originating from New Zealand.
She noted that while many children died from measles transmission in Samoa, Tonga was spared due to the kingdom’s 99 per cent measles vaccination coverage.
Health authorities in both countries continue to monitor the situation closely, urging the public to stay informed and vaccinated.
Dengue Cases Declining in Tonga
In an update on Tonga’s dengue outbreak, Dr. ‘Akau’ola said dengue cases have been declining significantly in recent weeks.
She attributed the reduction to improved training, noting that previous practices often involved adding water to areas that created breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which spread the disease.
She also suggested that another factor in the decrease may be a reduction in the number of vulnerable individuals.
Dr ‘Akau’ola confirmed that more than 800 patients have suffered from dengue this year.
The Government of Tonga and Auckland City Council have signed a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) to upgrade and renew the ‘Atalanga Royal Residence in Auckland, Deputy Prime Minister Taniela Fusimālohi announced.
The 1.58-hectare ‘Atalanga Residence at 183 St Andrews Road has seen little renovation since its purchase in 1952, with court proceedings later revealing it may have been funded by the Tongan government.
The property, purchased by Queen Salote in 1952, has long stood as a symbol of Tongan presence in New Zealand and was at the centre of a high-profile legal battle over a decade ago.
The new agreement marks a turning point in the property’s legacy and future use.
Valued at NZ$10 million, the residence will be upgraded to support educational services, trades training, and employment career pathways, Dr Fusimālohi said last week.
He added that the MOC was recently reviewed following a meeting between the two parties in Auckland.
“Boosting development for Tongan residents in New Zealand is at the core of this project,” Fusimālohi said in Tongan.
There are approximately 60,000 Tongans residing in Auckland.
A similar project is expected to be launched at the Tongan embassy in Australia.
Legal Battle Over ‘Atalanga
The news comes more than a decade after a court battle in Auckland, which saw a clash between a group of Tongan activists in New Zealand and the then-King, the late King George Tupou V.
The dispute arose after the King and his business partners attempted to sell the property.
The King was ultimately defeated in the legal battle, and the property—then valued at NZ$8.5 million—remained under the ownership of the Government of Tonga.
At the time, lawyers representing the Tongan residents argued that the King may not have legally owned the residence.
Lawyer Joel Fotu stated that Tongan taxpayers were paying the annual NZ$28,000 bill for the property’s upkeep. He believed the King may have been given incorrect advice regarding the attempted sale.
The 1.58-hectare property at 183 St Andrews Road has not undergone any significant renovations since its purchase, which was revealed during the legal battle to have possibly been funded by the government.
Palau has become the latest Pacific Island nation to be approached by the United States after Tonga, Vanuatu, and Tuvalu were asked by President Donald Trump to consider accepting foreign nationals deported from the U.S.
President Surangel Whipps Jr called a leadership meeting to discuss a US Government request relating to hosting third-country nationals seeking asylum in the United States. 18 July 2025 Photo: Facebook / Office of the President, Republic of Palau
Tonga, Vanuatu, and Tuvalu were reportedly given a set of “established benchmarks and requirements,” with the warning that failure to comply could result in travel bans to the United States.
Global media reports indicated that Palau, which receives substantial financial support from the United States under the Compact of Free Association, may find it difficult to reject Washington’s proposal to host deported foreign nationals.
Experts warn that accepting such an agreement could place significant strain on the small island nation’s limited resources and infrastructure
The move is part of a broader push by former President Donald Trump to accelerate deportations and reduce the number of undocumented immigrants within U.S. borders.
A letter from Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr, seen by The Guardian, indicates that the proposed agreement is still in draft form and subject to further negotiation. The letter also emphasizes that Palau would retain “full discretion” over whether to accept any individuals under the arrangement.
Doris Meissner, head of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute and former commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalisation Service, noted that the draft agreement with Palau closely resembles similar requests made by the Trump administration to dozens of other countries for the resettlement of deported migrants.
“Because most of the countries are small, far from the US, and not familiar to most Americans, the reason for such actions is primarily to heighten fear within immigrant communities in the US of being sent to distant places where they have no family or other connections,” Meissner was quoted by the Guardian as saying.
The deal offers Palau no material benefit and warns that the tiny Pacific island would be agreeing under duress—driven by fear that rejecting the proposal could lead to negative consequences, Pacific analyst Camilla Pohle told The Guardian.
Tonga Warning Response
While Palau’s leadership is still considering the proposal, Tonga’s response to a similar warning has raised questions among analysts.
Some commenters expressed concern over why Prime Minister Eke’s office appeared to distance itself from the warning, leaving the matter to the Crown Prince.
Approximately 80,000 people in the United States identify as being of Tongan descent, according to national statistics.
The details of the U.S. warning to Tonga have yet to be disclosed, and Tongan authorities appear reluctant to discuss the matter publicly.
However, as previously reported by Kaniva News and other international media, the U.S. memo outlined benchmarks targeting Tonga and 35 other countries.
These included concerns that some nations lacked a competent or cooperative central government capable of producing reliable identity or civil documents, or were affected by widespread government fraud.
Other cited reasons included high numbers of citizens overstaying U.S. visas, the availability of citizenship through monetary investment without residency requirements, and claims of “antisemitic and anti-American activity in the United States” by individuals from those countries.
The memo also stated that a country’s willingness to accept third-country nationals deported from the U.S., or to enter a “safe third country” agreement, could help mitigate these concerns.
The Civil Aviation Office (CAO) announced this morning the provisional lifting of the suspension on Lulutai Airlines Ltd’s Part 145 Maintenance Certificate, effective immediately on 23 July 2025.
The lift comes after a temporary grounding was issued on July 19 against the national airline due to concerns over its maintenance standards.
The CAO said that, after a review, Lulutai Airlines has satisfactorily addressed the previously identified safety breaches, according to a statement posted by the Ministry of Infrastructure.
The airline has implemented corrective measures to ensure compliance with aviation maintenance regulations, it said.
“The decision to lift the suspension is provisional and will be closely monitored by the Civil Aviation Office accordingly,” the post read.
It says any further non-compliance by Lulutai may result in immediate reinstatement of the suspension without prior notice.
“A final decision on full revocation or reinstatement of the suspension will be communicated in due course.”
Affected passengers and stakeholders with operational inquiries are advised to contact Lulutai Airlines directly for updates on flight schedules and maintenance operations.
The CAO reiterates its commitment to upholding the highest safety standards in Tonga’s aviation sector to protect passengers and ensure air travel reliability. Further updates will be provided as necessary.
What began as a routine school incident involving a Tonga College student in possession of cannabis leaves has led to the imprisonment of a Ha’ateiho man for nearly two years.
‘Aisea Pese Havea, 42, pleaded guilty to three charges: cultivating three cannabis plants (a Class B controlled drug) with a total weight of 2,300 grams; possession of 2.11 grams of cannabis; and possession of a homemade bong used for consuming illicit drugs.
He was also found in unlawful possession of ammunition, specifically four .22 calibre bullets, without a firearms licence.
The case unfolded when police received a report that a student, Salesi Fangaake, was found with cannabis leaves at Tonga College in February.
Officers arrived at the school, where Fangaake was with Deputy Principal Solo Lemoto.
The student admitted to picking the leaves from a taro plantation behind his home in Ha’ateiho—a plot belonging to his neighbour, Joe Masima.
Acting on this information, the Drugs Squad proceeded to Masima’s residence, where he and his wife were present.
Police were directed to the backyard taro plantation, where they discovered a small shelter.
Inside, they found a man—later identified as the Defendant, lying on a bed.
Nearby, officers spotted three plants resembling cannabis.
Police Officer Feinga informed Havea of their investigation into suspected illicit drugs.
He was cautioned of his rights but admitted ownership when questioned about the plants, stating they were marijuana.
Havea felt deep remorse and regretted his actions, the court documents show.
The probation officer reported that he could change if given the opportunity and recommended he attend the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Course with the Salvation Army as part of his sentence.
When Havea was arrested, he was still serving an active six-month suspension from a previous imprisonment case, which was factored into his latest sentencing.
During sentencing, the presiding judge, Petunia Tupou KC, said: ‘The defendant is not young and has breached the conditions of a suspended sentence.”
As a result, Havea was convicted and sentenced to one year and eight months in prison.
Canberra, Australia – His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial alongside Australia’s Chief of Defence Force, Admiral David Johnston.
Chief of the Defence Force, Admiral David Johnston, AC, RAN, with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Tonga Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala, at the Last Post Ceremony, Australian War Memorial, Canberra. *** Local Caption *** The Last Post Ceremony held at the Australian War Memorial on 18 July was attended by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Tonga Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala, and the Honourable Dr. Taniela Fusimalohi, the Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga, hosted by Admiral David Johnston, Chief of the Defence Force. H
Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister, Taniela Fusimālohi, also paid his respects as the nations remembered the bravery and sacrifice of those who served.
As the sun set over the memorial, the haunting notes of a lone piper echoed through the air—a tradition of remembrance in the Australian military since the 1920s.
The walls of the memorial bear the Role of Honour, inscribed with the names of 103,096 Australian soldiers who have fallen in service across 34 conflicts and peacekeeping missions since 1860.
The ceremony also saw US Army Pacific Commanding General, General Ronald Clarke, lay a wreath—a fitting tribute to the enduring partnership between Tonga, Australia, and the United States.
From the battlefields of World War II to recent operations in the Middle East, the three nations have stood together in defence of peace and freedom.
This act of remembrance serves as a powerful reminder of the bonds forged through shared struggle and the enduring importance of honouring those who have given their lives for a safer world.
Former Mate Ma’a Tonga player Siosiua Taukeiaho has revealed he wants to have another shot with the Tongan national rugby league team.
Veteran Sea Eagles prop Siosiua Taukeiaho has put his hand up for a Tongan recall in the upcoming Pacific Championships against Samoa and New Zealand.
Taukeiaho told NRL.com that he will be ready to join Tonga for the upcoming Pacific Championships against Samoa and New Zealand if needed.
Taukeiaho, who is playing a key role in Manly’s charge for a finals berth, was one of the pioneers who helped Tonga become an international force at the 2017 World Cup, along with Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita, NRL.com reported.
When Tonga defeated Australia 16-12 in 2019, it was Taukeiaho who led the Pacific nation in the Sipi Tau ahead of one of the biggest upsets in rugby league history.
But he last played for Tonga at the World Cup in 2022.
A Lisfranc injury that restricted him to just 10 appearances for Catalans, including the 2023 Super League grand final, also cost Taukeiaho a deal with the Bulldogs and he thought his NRL career was over.
With Manly offering him a lifeline, the tough enforcer is undergoing a career revival as the Sea Eagles push for a place in the finals following three consecutive wins.
The 33-year-old topped the run metres (193m) for the Sea Eagles in their 18-16 upset defeat of the Storm – Manly’s first win in Melbourne since 2019.
NRL.com reported despite missing the historic 2023 tour to England and last year’s Pacific Championships, in which Tonga were narrowly beaten 20-14 by the Kangaroos in the final, Taukeiaho said he remained available for international duty.
“I always love being a part of the Tonga team,” Taukeiaho told NRL.com.
“If Kristian Woolf gives me the call, I would never say no to putting on that red and white jersey again.
“At the moment, I’m just focused on Manly. It’s about trying to build the performance for my club and international selection will take care of itself but I would never say no to a call-up.”
Manly take on the second-place Bulldogs at Accor Stadium on Sunday and will be filled to the brim with confidence after their win against the Storm.
“Of course, they’re tough team,” Taukeiaho said. “All we’ve got to focus on is us. We’ll go back to the drawing board and see what we need to work on.”
Meanwhile, Tonga Rugby League is trying to secure a home game in Nuku’alofa during the Pacific Cup Championship.
Police have charged a man with arson following a fire which tore through an Avondale church last week.
Emergency services responded to St Mary’s Church on Great North Rd in Avondale shortly after 4am last Monday.
Investigations had been underway following a fire at St Mary’s Church on Great North Road at about 4.20am on 14 July.
Thankfully there were no injuries, however the building sustained serious damage.
Detective Senior Sergeant Rebecca Kirk, Auckland City Crime Squad, says Police had been working hard to identify and located the person responsible.
“Officers arrested a 42-year-old man at a New Lynn property last night.
“He has been charged with one count of arson and will appear in Auckland District Court today.
“This is a great result and I would like to acknowledge the assistance received by Police from members of the public in relation to this investigation.”
National carrier Lulutai Airlines has been grounded following serious concerns raised by Tonga’s Civil Aviation Division (CAD) over aircraft maintenance and safety standards.
The CAD confirmed to local media that the suspension was in response to aviation-related issues involving the government-sponsored airline’s fleet.
Specifically, the airworthiness certificates for two aircraft—Twin Otter (A3-KLT) and A3-SPV—have been revoked due to non-compliance with required maintenance standards.
Acting Director of Civil Aviation reportedly said that the suspension was necessary to ensure public safety, citing the airline’s failure to meet the conditions of a Part 145 maintenance organisation certificate.
No timeline has been provided for when the suspension might be lifted.
Meanwhile, flight services are continuing through an aircraft previously hired from Chatham Aviation, helping to maintain limited connectivity between Vava’u and Tongatapu while Lulutai remains grounded.
It is understood that the Minister for Public Enterprises and Lulutai Airlines officials have been holding urgent meetings since the suspension was announced.
On Saturday, Lulutai Airlines issued a public notice informing passengers of flight cancellations to and from Vava‘u, Ha‘apai, and ‘Eua. The announcement read:
“Please be advised that due to unforeseen circumstances, all flights scheduled for today on Twin Otter (A3-KLT) and A3-SPV have been cancelled.”
The suspension has disrupted domestic travel across Tonga, with many passengers left stranded or forced to seek alternative arrangements.
