The volcanic eruption of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH) and subsequent tsunami gripped the world on Saturday January 15th, 2022 and plunged Tonga into darkness for over a week and a half. The blast that could be felt as far as Peru was produced by...
The world is slowly learning of the impact the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH) volcanic eruptions left in its wake on the Tongan islands. The small activity observed from December of 2021 paled in comparison to the violent explosions, tsunami and ashfall that took place...
Government of Tonga with Partners launched the Pacific Islands Rural & Agricultural Stimulus Facility (PIRAS) established to minimize impacts of COVID-19 on livelihoods and food security of rural households throughout the Pacific including the Kingdom of Tonga. PIRAS is a regional initiative that covers the...
2021/09/27 - Molimolitu'u is an old Tongan word which is defined as somewhere one loves and likes to visit often. Therefore, the royal estate of Molimolitu’u is envisaged to attract the good folks of Pangaimotu be drawn to the farm to care for it as...
What began as a practical solution to land access for two communities has grown into one of Tonga’s most significant demonstrations of sustainable agriculture and community-driven development. Through a collaboration between the Palace Office, the communities of Feletoa and Mataika, and MORDI Tonga Trust, the royal...
July 24, 2021 - When Manase Siua boarded a flight from ‘Eua to Vava‘u earlier this month, he carried no tools or planting materials. What he brought instead was something increasingly valuable in Tonga’s rural economy: lived experience. Mr. Siua, one of ‘Eua’s leading kava farmers,...
2021/07/06 - Addressing the challenges faced by Tonga’s rural communities is the aim of “Research on Open Pollinated Seeds” which will be implemented in Tonga as a joint partnership between JICA and MORDI TT. This project comes at a critical time for Tonga as communities...
July 1st, 2021 – A family prayer that is always heard in Tongan homes are those made to watch over youth of the family especially during the tumultuous times of their youth. School rivalries have existed as long as the institutions have been around, however...
May 24th 2021 – Representatives of Ha’apai outer islands led by Town Officers and District Officers have gathered at MORDI HQ’s to begin a week long intensive canoe carving exercise. The training focuses on reinvigorating traditional knowledge of rural remote communities in carving outrigger canoes...
Background and Context 2021/05/21 - For decades, communities across ‘Eua Island have faced persistent challenges in accessing safe and reliable drinking water. Household water supply is primarily sourced from a natural spring that feeds the reticulated system. During periods of heavy rainfall, however, the spring becomes...