Climate & Oceans: Tonga’s Moananuiākea voyage by Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia is adjusting its route as a developing El Niño pattern raises the odds of wetter conditions and more Pacific cyclones, with departure from Aotearoa planned for late August and arrival in Fiji around mid-October for Pre-COP. Volcanoes & Methane: New research on Tonga’s 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption suggests volcanic chemistry may have helped destroy methane at massive scale, with satellite data showing unusually high formaldehyde linked to methane removal. Water Governance: Tonga’s Supreme Court ruled MEIDECC acted unlawfully in awarding multi-million paʻanga water tank and septic contracts under the National Water Tank Project, citing unfair limited bidding and failures around transparency. Regional Resilience: SPREP-backed training aims to boost Pacific media reporting on weather and climate ahead of key meteorology meetings in Tonga. Biodiversity/Environment Science: A study on methane impacts from Tonga’s 2022 eruption reports daily methane destruction far above normal rates. Pacific Aviation Safety: Tonga was re-elected to support PASO leadership, with PNG’s Benedict Oraka chosen as new chair for the next 12 months. Moana Pasifika (context): New Zealand is stepping in to explore options to keep the franchise alive, while Pacific rugby unions back the Kanaloa takeover—an issue that intersects with regional culture and livelihoods.