Tonga

Tonga have named their strongest lineup available for their opening game against Manu Samoa in Apia on Friday afternoon.

The United States has "listened carefully" to Pacific Island nations in its efforts to boost its diplomatic footprint in the region, the deputy secretary of State, Kurt Campbell, says.

World Rugby pick out six talking points from the first weekend of the cross-border competition as Fiji and Japan both kick off the tournament with big wins.

The 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting is off to a start with pouring rain and an earthquake as the backdrop, with the New Caledonia and the climate crisis as hot button issues.

But for locals, Tonga hosting the summit means it offers a much-needed cash injection to the nation, which is still recovering from the Hunga-Tonga Hunga Ha'apai eruption and tsunami. Audio

A Taiwanese deputy foreign minister will be at this week's Pacific Islands leaders in Tonga, as China and the United States jostle for influence in the region.

Fiji, Samoa and Tonga played first Test rugby games against each other in 1924. Audio

The Pacific Islands Forum leaders' summit is just days away from opening in Nuku'alofa in Tonga, and frantic efforts are still needed to ensure visitors are housed. Audio

A Tongan grandfather who was fatally shot in his courier van in an East Auckland on Monday morning is being remembered by his community as a kind and lovely man.

Tonga could soon be able to track its own progress towards achieving targets.

Tonga's government has extended an invitation to the billionaire entrepreneur to attend the annual Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting to be held in less than two weeks' time.

Opinion - The prime ministers of Cook Islands, Fiji and Solomon Islands hope to be in the New Caledonia next week, before heading to Tonga to report back, Tess Newton Cain writes.