There is confusion tonight over whether the Tongan Government ban on the Taimi O Tonga newspaper has been lifted.
The Supreme Court released a ruling earlier today saying that the government acted unlawfully in banning the Auckland produced paper from the country.
It was shut out of Tonga in late February after the government claimed it was trying to overthrow the government and create disaffection among the people.
It later expanded the ban, making the paper a prohibited document.
The publisher, Kalafi Moala, earlier expressed his delight with the ruling.
"I'm extremely thrilled with the decision. I had to go to Tonga, we had a New Zealand lawyer who came to Tonga to represent us. The case was about a week. We spent a lot of energy, time and money on it and so to get this kind of result is very gratifying."
Kalafi Moala.
But he says 20 minutes after hearing the result a lawyer for the Privy Council told his Tonga based staff a further ban had been imposed.
Mr Moala says the legal advice they have this ban is also illegal, but he says the Council has the ability to bring in law changes.
