A flight from Auckland to Tonga was forced to turn back because of an issue with runway lighting in the island nation.

Pre-visit research shows me the name Nuku'alofa means "abode of love" and Tonga's main island, Tongatapu, means "Sacred South".

Tonga's internet-breaking Olympic flag-bearer is ready to tread the catwalk tonight as part of the inaugural Pacific Fusion Fashion Show.

Tonga's well-oiled Olympic flag-bearer may have single-handedly triggered a tourist boom for the Pacific island.

The oiled Tongan flagbearer has bared all about being a professional athlete.

'Very oily!' Today hosts lose the plot as they rub coconut oil over Tonga's shirtless flag-bearer, Pita Taufatofua.

The Tongan Prime Minister has laid a wreath at Auckland War Memorial Museum this afternoon.

Tongan Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva arrives in Auckland tomorrow [WEDNESDAY] for his first official visit as Prime Minister.

A tranquil lodge on a beach with spectacular sunsets makes for the perfect island getaway, writes Sue Baxalle.

I was absent mindedly washing my hands in the tiny toilet at the rear of the plane. Twenty minutes from landing.

It's an exhilarating feeling to launch a sea kayak from the beach and set out to explore a cluster of islands shimmering like a mirage under the tropical sun.

Tonga appears to have escaped casualties or major damage to infrastructure after being lashed by Cyclone Ula yesterday.

Flat seas threaten to ruin his surfing trip, but James Russell avoids breaking point thanks to some awe-inspiring oceanic phenomena.

Tongan royalty has called upon a group of Kiwi musicians to perform at the King's coronation next week.

The only palangi in the room, I had been invited by Tongan community leader Melino Maka, who was keen to speak about the place of kava in the culture here, writes Peter Calder.

As the explorer noted, the islands of Tonga are truly the 'Friendly Isles'. Jane Jeffries is captivated on her visit.

Whale watching in Tonga goes extreme when Jane Jeffries hops in with the cetaceans.

Leaders of Pacific nations are beginning to speak out about claims New Zealand has been keeping too close an eye on their people and one prime minister has called the move a breach of trust.

Tonga is a kingdom blessed with many warm-hearted people, finds Paul Rush.

Further volcanic eruptions have disrupted more flights to and from Tonga this evening.

A dramatic new image has emerged of the volcanic eruption which has disrupted air travel to and from Tonga.

Hundreds of travellers and holidaymakers have been left stranded after flights to and from Tonga were cancelled yesterday because of a huge volcanic ash cloud.

Flights between Australia and Tonga should be back up and running by Wednesday after plumes of volcanic ash above the small island nation grounded planes.

Large ash cloud from a volcano in Tonga is affecting flights in the region, with aviation authorities issuing an alert.

New Zealand double Olympic gold medallist Valerie Adams had a scare when a plane she was on started to skid off a runway in Tonga.

When the Tongan monarchy relinquished much of its power in 2008, it seemed the path to a working parliamentary democracy would be relatively straightforward.

Olympic gold medallist Valerie Adams escaped a possible aircraft crash after a plane she was on started skidding off a runway in Tonga.

He'll inevitably be labelled as another one who got away, but no one in New Zealand rugby is convinced Taniela Tupou will return to bite them.