12 November 2025, Nuku’alofa, Tonga – The Tonga Meteorological Service has received support that will boost its capacity to provide life-saving early warning systems and services to the people of Tonga, with the signing of a five-year agreement with the Weather Ready Pacific (WRP) Programme implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
The agreement, with a total value of USD 133,000, formalises the collaboration between SPREP, WRP, and the Tonga Met Service to support key areas critical to TMS operations. This includes the recruitment of a dedicated ICT Officer for TMS for a period of five years and the procurement of Starlink equipment to enhance communications and the delivery of warnings into remote communities.
In addition, the Tonga Met Service will be able to access the WRP Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) Readiness Fund. This facility allows countries to access USD 10,000 per year – a total of 50,000 over five years – to support the implementation of early warning activities specific to national needs.
The Director of the Tonga Met Service, Mr. Laitia Fifita, welcomed the partnership, highlighting that the investment will directly enhance the Tonga Met Service’s capacity to deliver on its life-saving mandate to its people.
“This support from Weather Ready comes at a crucial time,” he says. “Having dedicated ICT capacity within Tonga Met Service and reliable connectivity will greatly improve how we manage our data, communicate warnings, and coordinate responses to extreme weather events.”
The WRP Programme is a Pacific-owned and Pacific-led initiative designed by Pacific National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and implemented by SPREP) with funding support from the Governments of Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The programme aims to reduce the human and economic costs of severe weather, hydrological, and ocean-related events across the Pacific through the strengthening of Pacific NMHS capacities.
Mr. ‘Ofa Fa’anunu, WRP Programme Manager, said the WRP and SPREP are proud to support the Tonga Meteorological Service, as part of the programme’s goals of building a safer, more resilient Pacific in response to extreme events. Similar assistance will be rolled out to other Pacific Island countries and territories.
“This project reflects the core vision of WRP, ensuring that every Pacific island country has the capability to protect their communities from these increasing weather and climate related events as well as other earth system-related hazards,” Mr. Fa’anunu said.
The agreement was officially signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC), Mr. Sione ‘Akauola, and the Director General of SPREP, Mr Sefanaia Nawadra and will commence from the date of signing until 31 December 2029.
For more information, please contact Mr. ‘Ofa Fa’anunu at [email protected].