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...
May 19th 2021 – Queen Nanasipau‘u of Tonga visited the headquarters of MORDI Tonga on Wednesday, accompanied by senior women of the realm and community representatives, signaling renewed national interest in development approaches that prioritize resilience, balance, and long-term well-being over unchecked economic growth. The visit...
April 14th, 2021 - Mr. Anthony Ryan has been a key figure behind the concept and creation of MORDI in the Pacific back in 2004 working together with FAO, FSPI (Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific International) and many NGO’s – advancing rural...
April 10th, 2021 - At dawn a container ship eased into Tongatapu’s port carrying five metric tons of taro harvested by smallholder farmers in the village of Feletoa, Vava‘u. Many of the roots were enormous—some weighing as much as eight kilograms—evidence of the island’s fertile...
2021/04/14 — The steady thud of an adze against cedar echoed through the ‘Eua-Fo‘ou District this morning as Minister of Finance and People’s Representative Hon. Tevita Lavemaau struck the first cut into a waiting log, formally opening a two-week training in carving popao—traditional outrigger canoes...