Natural Disasters
Tonga eruption sets world record for booming heard so far from volcano
Volcanologists estimate the material ejected in the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption was about twice that of the Mount St Helens eruption in 1980.
Safety at Tonga port being assessed as more supplies on the way
Specialist New Zealand Defence Force staff will be checking Tonga's shipping lanes are passable and the wharf is safe so desperately needed humanitarian supplies can get through. Audio
Tonga eruption: remarkable stories of survival emerge
Tonga's recovery is making progress, but the future remains unclear as assessments still take place.
Aid flights have arrived from New Zealand and Australia; and NZDF ships are helping clear the way… Audio
Tonga eruption: aid arrives, NZ gathering donations
Crucial aid has started arriving in Tonga.
Yesterday a New Zealand Defence Force aircraft carrying food, water, communications equipment and other emergency supplies landed in the capital.
Limited… Audio
Tonga: limited communications back up and running
Communication is trickling through to ash-blanketed Tonga, but the sheer number of people trying to check on whanau and friends is overwhelming the system.
It's been a tough week for Tongans -… Audio
Tonga: NZDF ensuring humanitarian supplies can get through
Today specialist New Zealand Defence Force staff will be busy checking Tonga's shipping lanes are passable and its main wharf is safe so desperately needed humanitarian supplies can get through.
So… Audio
Tongan 'real life Aquaman' survives 27-hour swim after tsunami
A 57-year-old Tongan man who says he swam about 27 hours after getting swept out to sea during Saturday's devastating tsunami has been hailed a "real life Aquaman".
Tonga eruption: Waves up to 15 metres possible - Scientist
A GNS scientist says it's absolutely possible Tonga's volcanic eruption could have sparked tsunami waves reaching 15-metres high at their peak.
Tonga eruption: disaster response requires careful diplomacy
The eruption in Tonga has triggered a global response with nearby countries stepping up to assist.
A New Zealand C-130 Hercules is loaded with supplies and ready to go; and the Nuku'alofa airport… Audio
Tonga eruption: science behind 15metre high tsunami waves
Almost five days on from one of the largest volcanic eruptions in the past 30 years, more details are emerging about the impacts of Tonga's Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano blast and subsequent… Audio
Tonga eruption: parliament's speaker glad aid dispatched
The Defence Minister says a Hercules loaded with aid supplies is ready to fly to Tonga today now the main island's runway has been cleared of ash.
Relief efforts have begun following the country's… Audio
Tonga eruption: undersea cable repair could take a month
Limited communications have been restored to Tonga, with the local telecommunications provider Digicel saying international calls are now possible.
But they warn full services won't be up and running… Audio
Tonga eruption: NZ Defence Minister on disaster response
It's now been five days since Tonga's major volcanic eruption and tsunami - and as more information comes to light, aid is beginning to reach the island nation.
The World Health Organisation says… Audio
Tonga eruption: airport runway cleared of ash, aid flights start
It's now been five days since Tonga's major volcanic eruption and tsunami - and as more information comes to light, aid is beginning to reach the island nation.
The World Health Organisation says… Audio
Another island in Tonga appears to be wiped out by tsunami
New images appear to show the majority of structures on the Tongan island of Atatā have been wiped out after a tsunami and volcanic eruption last week.
Tonga approves arrival of two NZ vessels with supplies
Two naval ships with supplies have been approved for arrival in Tonga, an updated statement from the New Zealand government with more details on the situation, says.
Tongan community welcome official word from Tonga's government
Tongans in NZ are relieved to hear official information from Tongan government for the first time since Saturday's eruption - but Tongan-born New Zealand MP Jenny Salesa says it is upsetting, too.
Entire village destroyed after Tonga eruption: Govt
Three people have been confirmed to have died in Tonga following Saturday's volcanic eruption and tsunami, as aerial images show catastrophic damage to the island of Mango in Ha'apai. Audio
Painful wait for news from Nomuka
One of the isolated Tongan islands without communication is Nomuka.
It has one of the closest villages to the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, just 70 kilometres to the north-east.
The New Zealand… Audio
Tonga eruption: three dead, evacuations underway
Evacuations are underway in Tonga's hardest hit areas, with every home destroyed on Mango island and extensive damage elsewhere.
Aerial photos are beginning to show the extent of the devastation… Audio
