2016 in Tonga From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Decades: 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s See also: Other events of 2016 Timeline of Tongan history ← 2015 2014 2013 2016 in Tonga → 2017 2018 2019 Decades: 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s See also: Other events of 2016 Timeline of Tongan history Events in the year 2016 in Tonga. Monarch: Tupou VI Prime Minister: ʻAkilisi Pōhiva Events 16 January: From the Diocese of Tonga, Catholic Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi is welcomed at the Co-Cathedral of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus in Honolulu, Hawaii. Appointed by Pope Francis, Mafi is the first and youngest cardinal from Tonga.[1] 4 February: Tonga declares a Zika virus epidemic with two confirmed cases and 265 suspected cases.[2] Deaths 23 April: Bill Sevesi, 92, Tongan-born New Zealand musician.[3] References ↑ "Hawaii welcomes Tonga's first, church's youngest cardinal". hawaiicatholicherald.com. Retrieved 2026-04-18. ↑ "Tonga declares Zika epidemic". RNZ. 2016-02-04. Retrieved 2026-04-18. ↑ "NZ music pioneer Bill Sevesi remembered". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2026-04-18. vte2016 in OceaniaSovereign states Australia Federated States of Micronesia Fiji Indonesia Kiribati Marshall Islands Nauru New Zealand Palau Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu Associated statesof New Zealand Cook Islands Niue Dependenciesand other territories American Samoa Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Easter Island French Polynesia Guam Hawaii New Caledonia Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Pitcairn Islands Tokelau Wallis and Futuna vte Years in Tonga21st century 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Related Articles