# Times of Tonga

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{{Short description|Tongan newspaper and sister online publication}}
The '''Times of Tonga''' (''Taimi o Tonga'') was a biweekly newspaper in [Tonga](/source/Tonga). First published in April 1989, it was published for 30 years by editor and publisher Kalafi Moala and was a frequent target of the Tongan government. Moala sold the business in 2019,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://asiapacificreport.nz/2019/06/25/iconic-tongan-publisher-kalafi-moala-eyes-new-digital-media-challenge/ |title=Iconic Tongan publisher Kalafi Moala eyes new digital media challenge |publisher=Asia Pacific Report |author=Sri Krishnamurthi |date=25 June 2019 |access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/391181/stalwart-of-tongan-journalism-calls-it-a-day |title=Stalwart of Tongan journalism calls it a day |publisher=[RNZ](/source/RNZ) |date=4 June 2019 |access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref> and it is now an online publication.

The ''Taimi 'o Tonga'' was a frequent target of the Tongan government. In 1996, Moala and editor Filokalafi Akau’ola were imprisoned for 30 days for [contempt of parliament](/source/contempt_of_parliament) after reporting on a motion in the [Legislative Assembly](/source/Legislative_Assembly_of_Tonga) which criticised a government minister. Their imprisonment was declared unconstitutional by the [Supreme Court](/source/Supreme_Court_of_Tonga), and they were later awarded US$26,000 in compensation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/142096/tongan-journalists-confidence-will-be-boosted-by-successful-suit-against-government |title=Tongan journalists confidence will be boosted by successful suit against Government |publisher=[RNZ](/source/RNZ) |date=12 December 2002 |access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref> In 2002, Moala published a history of the newspaper, ''Island Kingdom strikes Back: The Story of an Independent Island Newspaper''.<ref>{{cite journal |title=REVIEW: Courageous media catalyst fuelling change behind kingdom's facade: Review of Island Kingdom strikes Back: The Story of an Independent Island Newspaper- Taimi 'o Tonga, by Kalafi Moala |last1=Moala |first1=Jale |journal=Pacific Journalism Review |volume=9 |issue=1 |year=2003 |pages=183–186 |doi=10.24135/pjr.v9i1.768 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/ikalafi-moalai-island-kingdom-strikes-back/OMDZA3Z2GDK75PGJZALX2HJR24/ |title=''Kalafi Moala:'' Island Kingdom strikes back |publisher=New Zealand Herald |author=Tapu Misa |access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref>

In 2002, editor [Mateni Tapueluelu](/source/Mateni_Tapueluelu) was charged with sedition and forgery over the publication of a letter claiming king [Taufa'ahau Tupou IV](/source/Taufa'ahau_Tupou_IV) had a secret fortune.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/140524/democracy-activists-to-face-trial-in-tonga |title=Democracy activists to face trial in Tonga |publisher=[RNZ](/source/RNZ) |date=19 August 2002 |access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref>

In 2003, the newspaper was banned by the Tongan government for campaigning to overthrow the constitution.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/142628/tongan-government-says-banned-paper-campaigned-for-overthrow-of-constitution |title=Tongan government says banned paper campaigned for overthrow of constitution |publisher=[RNZ](/source/RNZ) |date=27 February 2003 |access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref> The ban was declared unconstitutional by the [Supreme Court](/source/Supreme_Court_of_Tonga),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/143099/tonga-supreme-court-declares-newspaper-ban-illegal |title=Tonga supreme court declares newspaper ban illegal |publisher=[RNZ](/source/RNZ) |date=4 April 2003 |access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref> but the government repeatedly ignored the ruling and reinstated the ban.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/143103/tonga-privy-council-issues-new-ban-on-taimi-o-tonga-newspaper |title=Tonga Privy council issues new ban on Taimi O Tonga newspaper |publisher=[RNZ](/source/RNZ) |date=5 April 2003 |access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/144283/tonga-government-refuses-to-allow-distribution-of-paper-despite-ban-being-lifted |title=Tonga Government refuses to allow distribution of paper despite ban being lifted |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=29 May 2003 |access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref>  The ban was eventually lifted in June 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/144217/tongan-government-bows-to-court-order-on-newspaper-ban |title=Tongan government bows to court order on newspaper ban |publisher=[RNZ](/source/RNZ) |date=12 June 2003 |access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref>  The failure of the ban caused the government to amend the constitution to limit judicial review of royal decisions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/145757/tongan-parliament-passes-controversial-amendment |title=Tongan parliament passes controversial amendment |publisher=[RNZ](/source/RNZ) |date=17 October 2003 |access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref>

In 2004, the newspaper was banned under a new [Media Operators Act](/source/Media_Operators_Act), which prohibited foreign owned publications.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/146867/tongan-police-confiscate-newspaper |title=Tongan police confiscate newspaper |publisher=[RNZ](/source/RNZ) |date=8 January 2004 |access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/147164/taimi-o-tonga-newspaper-not-to-be-distributed-in-kingdom-any-longer |title=Taimi O Tonga newspaper not to be distributed in kingdom any longer |publisher=[RNZ](/source/RNZ) |date=31 January 2004 |access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref> The law was later overturned by the Supreme Court, and the Times was issued with a media licence.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/151161/tonga-gives-newspaper-licence-for-distribution |title=Tonga gives newspaper licence for distribution |publisher=[RNZ](/source/RNZ) |date=14 October 2004 |access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref>

In 2005, Tonga's crown prince [Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala](/source/Tupouto%CA%BBa_%CA%BBUlukalala) claimed that the newspaper's legal problems were due to a personal vendetta by then Police Minister [Clive Edwards](/source/Clive_Edwards_(Tonga)).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/152908/tonga's-crown-prince-replies-to-criticism-from-former-minister |title=Tonga’s Crown Prince replies to criticism from former minister |publisher=[RNZ](/source/RNZ) |date=26 January 2005 |access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref>

In March 2009, the Times purchased the government-owned ''[Tonga Chronicle](/source/Tonga_Chronicle)''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/182577/tonga's-taimi-media-network-to-take-over-tonga-chronicle-on-friday |title=Tonga's Taimi Media Network to take over Tonga Chronicle on Friday |publisher=[RNZ](/source/RNZ) |date=18 March 2009 |access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref> In November 2009, the publication celebrated its 20th birthday.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2009/11/taimi-o-tonga-newspaper-celebrates-20-years-of-publishing/ |title=Taimi ‘o Tonga newspaper celebrates 20 years of publishing |publisher=Pacific.Scoop |date=27 November 2009 |access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

Category:Newspapers published in Tonga
Category:1989 establishments in Tonga

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Times of Tonga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_of_Tonga) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_of_Tonga?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.