Latest news in Tonga? September 10th, 2026

Key news developments in and around Tonga as of September 10, 2026:

• Supreme Court Press Ruling: The Supreme Court issued a temporary order stopping the Prime Minister’s Office from excluding certain journalists and media outletsspecifically related to the Tonga Chronicle and 88.1 FMfrom government press briefings pending constitutional proceedings.
• New Zealand Visa Application Centre: Immigration New Zealand announced the opening of a new dedicated Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Nukuʻalofa, scheduled to officially open on September 14, 2026, aimed at streamlining travel and work visa applications for Tongan citizens.
• Seismic Activity: A magnitude 5.1 earthquake was recorded in the Tonga Islands region at approximately 15:43 GMT, according to seismological monitoring agencies including GFZ, with no significant damage or tsunami threats reported.
• Public Service Governance: Scrutiny remains focused on the Public Service Commission (PSC) as it re-advertised ten unfilled permanent positions, alongside ongoing public discussions over public financial audits and administrative accountability.
• By-Election Preparations: The kingdom is preparing for upcoming legislative by-elections for the Tongatapu 2 and Niua 17 constituencies, with candidate nominations formalized earlier in the week.