The United Nations says it was unaware of any sexual harassment allegations against its Fiji multi-country office resident coordinator Sanaka Samarasinha from his previous role as the head of UN Belarus prior to being posted to Suva.
Sanaka Samarasinha has been placed on administrative leave since May 10. Photo: UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji
However, the UN confirmed it did receive a complaint against Samarasinha in 2021 about his time in Belarus that was “investigated and closed”.
On May 26, two weeks after Samarasinha was placed on administrative leave after the UN office in Fiji received “unsatisfactory conduct complaints” against him, Euroradio published a report alleging the top UN Pacific executive was suspected of sexual harassment nine years ago.
According to Euroradio, the allegation was that Samarasinha, as the UN Belarus resident coordinator in 2014, attempted to establish an informal relationship with a woman who was looking for a job at the UN in Belarus.
“We can confirm that before Samarasinha was posted as resident coordinator (RC) in Fiji, the UN was not aware of any allegations of sexual harassment made against him in his capacity as RC in Belarus from 2013-2018,” UN coordination office communications and results reporting chief Carolina Azevedo told RNZ Pacific.
But Azevedo confirmed the UN had received a complaint against him two years ago concerning his time in Belarus.
“In 2021, the UN received a complaint regarding his tenure in Belarus, which was investigated and closed,” Azevedo said.
No further details were provided on the nature of the complaint or the outcome.
RNZ Pacific has contacted Samarasinha for comment regarding the Belarus allegations but has not received a response.
When RNZ put the Fiji allegations to Samarasinha, he said he was “deeply disturbed” by the “extremely serious and damaging allegations” and referred all questions to the UN office.
Investigation ongoing
The current investigations – which began six weeks ago – are still ongoing, Azevedo said.
“These are standard global practices of the UN’s independent investigation mechanism, following the receipt of allegations of any type of misconduct,” she said.
“During this period, the independent investigators will be speaking to staff members as part of their regular investigative procedures.”
She said while the investigation was ongoing, the process was confidential.
“Therefore, we cannot comment on the ongoing investigation, nor can we predict its timeframe and outcome.”
Azevedo said the UN now has a standard practice when dealing with complaints relating to sexual harassment or sexual exploitation.
“Any UN personnel against whom an allegation of sexual harassment or sexual exploitation and abuse has been investigated and substantiated, or who have resigned prior to the conclusion of an investigation, are included in a centralised database to prevent re-employment across the UN system,” she added.
Asked why there was a lack of transparency by the UN around the investigations, Azevedo said: “The accountability process is subject to the UN’s internal legal framework, which provides procedural fairness right.”
COMMENTARY: The resignation of Immigration Minister Michael Wood has left the Tongan community in New Zealand uncertain about the future of a long looked-for amnesty for overstayers.
Immigration Minister Michael Wood this week confirmed he had sent a letter of expectations to the agency’s chief executive “setting out the Government’s expectation that these sorts of deportations should only occur in extremis – in circumstances that absolutely require it”. Photo/Supplied
Wood said during a meeting with the Tongan community in South Auckland last month that the government was considering an amnesty, but he could not say when a decision would be made.
But with an election looming, now advocates of an amnesty do not know what will happen.
Pacific community leaders and migrant groups and NGOs have long been advocating for an amnesty.
The Green Party has long called for an amnesty programme for people who have overstayed their visa and for temporary visa holders to be granted residency.
New Zealand has not had an amnesty scheme in place since 2000, when 7000 people were able to apply for residency if they were “well-settled.” There are currently an estimated 14,000 overstayers in New Zealand.
Overstayers from the Pacific Islanders were particularly vulnerable during the Covid-19 epidemic and many RSE workers were trapped for a long time.
In 2020 the Pacific Leadership Forum identified families of overstayers as being vulnerable during the COVID-19 lockdown. They petitioned Parliament for an amnesty so that overstayers could receive the full range of support from the government.
“Let us show sympathy and compassion to our most vulnerable, our overstayers,” the petition said.
The petition attracted 11,119 signatures and the Petitions Committee recommended that Parliament take note of it. In February this year – three after the petition was submitted – Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said he would look at it.
Tongan community representative Pakilau Manase Lua told RNZ recently some Tongans still had nothing to go home to after the volcanic eruption which devastated their country last year.
He said people were terrified they would be deported.
“They might have been here during the lockdowns and they couldn’t go back,” Lua told the national broadcaster.
“Or they were here on a temporary visa and it was difficult to go back due to the eruption so these people are probably wanting to find a better life, and what better place than Aotearoa New Zealand.”
“These are people who are often already working,” Lua said.
Overstayers were contributing to the economy, but were not eligible for benefits, he said.
Action needed
There are only three months left until the national election in October and there have been no further announcements about the amnesty. Some people believe that the government is unlikely to offer an amnesty, as it would be unpopular with many New Zealanders.
Some Tongan community leaders have said the government should offer a limited amnesty, similar to the one that was offered in 2000 which allowed well-settled overstayers of about 7000 to apply for residency.
A group of Irish officials who visited New Zealand earlier this year said their country had initiated a programme to allow illegal migrants to gain full legal status.
The Herald reported that the amnesty scheme was available to adults who had lived in Ireland for four years and three years for children. Asylum seekers could apply after two years.
Why cannot we have something like this here?
About 2500 Tongan overstayers have been living in New Zealand for many years and have made a valuable contribution to the country. These are the blue collar workers who do work New Zealand is inviting many Pacific island people to come and do.
These overstayers are worried about their future and the future of their families. They deserve to know what the future holds. The government needs to provide clarity so that people can plan for their lives.
A 39-year-old man died after crashing his vehicle into another vehicle in Nuku’alofa on Monday morning, police said.
Lītili Kaufusi from Haveluloto, who was working for the Ministry of Health, was picking up a guest from the Nuku’alofa Hotel in central Nuku’alofa.
Litili Kaufusi
They were heading South on Taufa’ahau Road just passed the Basilica of St Anthony Padua when they unexpectedly hit another vehicle that was in front of them.
“The passenger noticed at this time that the driver’s body stiffened, causing him to step on the gas pedal and accelerate to a speed of 70 km per hour”, the police said.
“This caused the vehicle to climb on top of the runabout at the intersection of Taufa’ahau and Mateialona Roads and it swerved to the left side of the road where it scraped the back of two vehicles at the Lulutai Airline parking lot before it ran over a vendor tent next door then crashed onto an olive tree.
The deceased was rushed to the Vaiola hospital where he later passed away at around 10.40 am on the same morning.
“The doctor’s report is still pending, but it is believed that the driver’s health condition caused him to lose control of the vehicle, leading to the accident”, a Police statement said.
“This is the fifth road death in the Kingdom so far this year. Police are urging drivers to be aware of their health conditions and to pull over if they feel unwell while driving. They are also reminding drivers to obey the speed limit and to be careful when changing lanes”.
Mourners took to Facebook to offer tributes to Kaufusi.
“Fly high, I wish I could talk to you one more time. Life is so unfair, but you will forever live in our hearts,” read one message written by one of his USP university classmates.
“Fly high Litili you’ll always be in our thoughts and prayers.”
“We lost a beloved friend, brother, and son in a tragic accident yesterday,” it said.
Firefighters have warned Auckland Council the city’s rapid growth means they sometimes run low on water to put out fires.
Fire damage at a Manukau development, from a FENZ case study included below. Photo: Supplied/ Fire and Emergency NZ
They also cannot get their trucks close to burning houses in high-density projects where buildings are packed close together.
Documents show Fire and Emergency has made multiple pleas to councils for help, saying behind closed doors that the government has overlooked the growing and serious problems.
“Demands on water to accommodate growth means there is not always sufficient water for firefighting,” FENZ told Auckland Council in a recent presentation.
Recent intensification had resulted in “inadequate reticulated water supply with insufficient pressure for firefighting to serve development”.
Carparking was filling streets and blocking fire trucks, or some roads left less than 4m of width to set up a fire truck – too narrow – and gaps of just 2 – 3m between houses was pushing up the level of destruction.
“Construction across our region is increasing the risk of fire,” FENZ said.
“Intensification and infill housing is challenging traditional access.”
Many recent developments were non-compliant but got consent anyway, FENZ said last September.
Or they were compliant, pointing to problems with the Building Code or the Act.
“Recent government changes to support growth”, such as 2022’s housing intensification laws, “do not consider the needs of emergency response in their objectives or outcomes”, FENZ added.
Water supply was vital, but the guidelines on making sure there was enough remained voluntary.
Case study
The agency detailed a case study from April 2022 that summed up all the problems.
A Manukau house under construction was destroyed, and heat from it severely damaged three homes built in closely around it.
Read the presentation:FENZ case study of Manukau House fire (17MB)
Firefighters were forced to drag hoses up a 40m-long driveway that was too narrow for a truck.
“Firefighters accessed the fire by foot … and by breaking down a fence of a neighbouring property,” FENZ’s 14-page slideshow said.
They got only half the 2000L-a-minute water flow required. The nearest hydrant was twice as far away (270m) as the ideal maximum of 135m, once hoses zigzagged corners.
They found out later the mains supply had two valves nearly closed.
The closed valves “were the cause of the lower water pressure the firefighters experienced. When we investigated after the fire, our crews opened them up again”, Watercare told RNZ.
Only authorised people should touch valves, but “people do sometimes close them themselves – for example, to stop water flow on a private leak”, it said, adding it had an audit programme for more than 100,000 valves across Auckland.
FENZ had stated Watercare approved the Manukau development’s water connections even though the engineer’s application did not include evidence “the water supply would be adequate”.
But Watercare said the evidence was not needed as, normally, with the valves open, the neighbourhood had enough water pressure “and no capacity constraints in the area”.
Watercare told RNZ in May, when asked who checked hydrants: “We have sufficient water pressure and volume available for firefighting across Auckland, and all hydrants are in good condition.”
At the Manukau fire, the home downwind of the burning building site had its top floor badly damaged.
“The level of destruction was due to wind direction, and short separation distance (1 – 3m between dwellings),” FENZ said.
The fire at the boundary was estimated as twice as hot as the Building Code allows.
But the infill development was all entirely legal, including the boundary requirements; 1m from boundary, 2m between buildings. The design was approved, but “development design created risk of fire spreading”, FENZ told the council.
They were already experiencing problems on long sites, getting to houses at the rear, it said.
Sprinklers could save many houses, but if they had them that might exhaust supply capacity, it added.
A drawing showing fire trucks at 1, 2 and 3 and their struggle to get to a fire that damaged four homes in Auckland, from a FENZ presentation to Auckland Council in 2022. Photo: Supplied/ Fire and Emergency NZ
The problems are compounded by firefighters taking slightly longer to get to fires, which FENZ puts down to traffic jams and urban sprawl, as RNZ has reported.
Also, intensification creates more building sites, and they present higher risks – about five percent of the structure fires in Auckland are at construction sites.
FENZ went on to ask Auckland Council to be allowed a say on denser housing and other law changes, backing that up with a letter to the council chief executive in May 2022, and a submission to the ongoing Unitary Plan review into densification last September.
Read the submission:FENZ Submission on notified Plan Changes 78-80 to Auckland Unitary Plan – housing water, 28/09/2022 (4MB)
“Resource consents process, building consents process and bylaw enforcement creates [sic] gaps in ensuring adequate water supply to new developments,” FENZ said.
It has also written to all other councils about working more closely with them in light of housing and transport reforms changing the landscape.
Lack of power
However, powers are lacking all around.
FENZ cannot force anyone to adopt its Code of Practice that sets water supply minimums. A Watercare bylaw mentions it, but says only that it “may” require a connection to adhere to the code.
Plus, councils “cannot make provisions under RMA for firefighters or emergency response access”, FENZ said.
“The difficult access increases the time for fire to burn, increasing the heat radiation in a confined area.
“This is resulting in development that is inaccessible or takes significantly longer to access.”
Auckland Council plans and places general manager John Duguid said their hands were tied in many respects, such as around water supply, because that came under the Building Code or the Building Act, and MBIE’s purview.
“Certainly council has pushed for some significant changes to the building code … in terms of building design issues, and also … water supply for firefighting, access of firefighting to dwellings,” Duguid said.
They made recent submissions to the ministry.
“Some of the key issues that council raised have not been addressed at this stage by MBIE,” he said.
That includes the basic problem of houses being allowed to be built much closer together, and higher.
A push for tougher fire ratings – burn time – by using less combustible materials, along with other fire protection moves, [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/490376/fire-regulation-proposal-withdrawn-just-days-before-fatal-loafers-lodge-fire
got knocked back at MBIE just last month], though the ministry said it would have another go at it.
Fire regulations are acknowledged by MBIE to be lagging reality, when it comes to intensification. However, that has not stopped infill housing proceeding apace. The lag of law can be seen in that Auckland is months away from settling on any unitary plan changes in a bid to catch up at least a little.
MBIE replies
MBIE said it had introduced fire rule changes to require interconnected smoke alarms and better exit paths from houses, which would come in gradually over a 12-month period from this November.
Other changes did not make it through.
“Submissions generally supported the intent of other proposed changes … but there was no clear consensus on the technical details. We are continuing to work with the sector to progress further work,” the ministry said on Sunday.
FENZ calls for land to be allocated for fire stations
Fire stations in Auckland, from the FENZ presentation to Auckland Council in 2022. Photo: Supplied/ Fire and Emergency NZ
FENZ in its three-pronged argument to Auckland Council, also wanted its help in designating land for fire stations as it does not have that power.
Duguid said they had been doing that.
FENZ said in a statement to RNZ that it had made a submission on the unitary plan changes and was working with the council.
Talks were carrying on about it being included as a key partner in the implementation of the council’s water strategy, and it had won recent acknowledgement of its concerns about narrow, jammed streets from Auckland Transport in its May 2023 parking strategy, FENZ said.
Eight vehicles have been impounded and nine people arrested following two gang tangi in Bay of Plenty, police say.
Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
On 11 June, a tangi in Welcome Bay involving the Greazy Dogs saw five vehicles impounded – four for failing to stop for police and one for sustained loss of traction.
Bay of Plenty district commander Superintendent Tim Anderson said two drivers had licences suspended for excessive speed and three people had appeared in court on charges relating to speeding and obstruction.
This included infringement notices for allowing passengers to ride in a dangerous manner and not wearing seatbelts, Anderson said.
Three vehicles had been impounded at this stage.
“This is on top of a successful operation on the day of the tangi and in the days following, which saw gang-related vehicles stopped and searched by Police under the Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation (CAIL) Act 2023,” Anderson said.
Nine people were arrested and three people were summonsed to appear in court.
“Those arrested and summonsed are facing a range of charges, including for firearms and drug-related offending, and possession of offensive weapons and ammunition,” Anderson said.
Henelī Kata, a Tongan man, died this afternoon (California Time) after a hospital took him off life support following a vehicle crash in Sacramento about a week ago.
Taniela Kata (L), Heneli Kata. Photo/Supplied
His father, Taniela Kata, died about three days earlier.
The Katas were rushed to the hospital after the car accident. The details of the incident were still unknown.
“Malo e Lelei kāinga and friends please take note the widow and Heneli Kata’s mother wanted you to know that at 1pm (California time) we planned to remove Heneli’s breathing machine at the hospital”, a cousin, Manu ‘Ata’ata reported on Facebook.
“Those of you who wanted to attend you are welcome”.
It is understood the victims, from Tonga’s Houma village, Tongatapu main island, lived in Oakland, California and were heading back from Salt Lake City when the crash occurred.
A live streaming video posted to Facebook which appeared to have been taken at the hospital room where Heneli was laid had attracted reactions and people offering their sympathies and paying tribute on the thread below.
“Heneli touched so many lives with his kindness & I know we are all broken by this sad news”, a commenter wrote.
“So very sad – my condolences to Taniela and Heneli, his family and to his many friends”, another wrote.
“A truly inspirational young man”, one wrote.
“My condolences to the Kata family. This is a tragic loss”.
COMMENTARY: Pacific Island communities in New Zealand have been badly affected by conspiracy theories about Covid-19 ever since the pandemic struck in 2020.
Investigations by Kaniva News into the phenomenon show that the Tongan community in New Zealand is also vulnerable to such anti-vaccination conspiracy theories.
Recent research has highlighted the presence of a core of anti-vaccination campaigners and right wing conspiracy theorists in New Zealand. Their conspiracy theories are shared by some Pacific Island communities.
Similar ideas have been taken up and used in Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. They have also been taken up by Islander communities in Australia.
There are number of reasons for the spread of these conspiracies in the Pacific communities. Research by the New Zealand Ministry of Health and others suggests this may be because of education, mistrust of government sources, uncertainty and cultural isolation.
For many people the Covid-19 epidemic has simply been too large to comprehend. When that happens they may seek simpler or simplistic solutions for what is happening. Some of the solutions are far out on the edge.
Research in the United States has shown a strong link between conspiracy theories and fundamentalist Christianity. This has been reflected in New Zealand by the behaviour of Bishop Brian Tamaki and his followers.
However, a number of Tongan online communities that have promoted conspiracy theories are now saying very different things about the winter flu jab.
Some Facebook groups which opposed Covid vaccines and promoted extremist ideas to support their misleading arguments, have now supported the flu vaccine.
They have told people flu vaccines are perfect, unlike Covid vaccines. The fact is that flu vaccines, like the Covid-19 vaccine, are tested, verified and follow the advice and guidelines of the World Health Organisation. Logically, if the flu vaccine is acceptable, there can be nothing wrong with the Covid-19 vaccine.
The WHO has been collaborating with scientists and policy makers around the world for the past 50 years to develop a unified approach to manufacturing, testing and regulatory oversight of influenza vaccine development as well as their efficient use and distribution.
The fact that these online communities are supporting the flu vaccination is a good sign.
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection and severe outcomes caused by influenza viruses. Getting a flu vaccine helps reduce your risk of getting really sick or having to go to hospital. About 500 New Zealanders die from the flu each year.
The goals of this year’s vaccination campaign include vaccinating 75% of Māori and Pacific people aged 55 and over.
According to the Ministry of Health, 47% of Pasifika peoples over 65 in the Auckland region had received the flu jab by the week ending June 9. The vaccination rate for Pasifika peoples in Auckland aged 55-64 or the same period was 29%. For those aged six months to 12 years in Auckland it is five percent.
The flu vaccine is free for people aged 65 years and over, Māori and Pacific people aged 55 years and over, pregnant people, and people who have long-term conditions like diabetes, asthma, or heart conditions, children aged six months to 12 years old, and people with mental health and addiction issues.
Kuo uesia kovi ‘aupito ‘a e komiunitī ‘o e kāinga Pasifiki ‘e ha fa’ahinga fakakaukau tokua na’e ‘i ai ha fa’ufa’u kovi fekau’aki mo e Kōviti – 19, talu mei he hūfia ko ia ‘e he mahaki faka’auha ‘o e 2020. Na’e mahino ‘i ha fakatotolo na’e fai ‘e he Kaniva News ke ‘ilo ki he tu’unga totonu ‘o e me’a ni, ‘o mahino ai ‘oku kau mo e komiunitī Tonga ‘i Nu’usila ‘i he tu’u lavea ngofua ki he fakakaukau hala ko ‘eni fekau’aki mo e huhu malu’i.
Kuo fakamahino lelei mei ha fekumi ki mui ni mai ‘a e tu’unga totonu ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e kau fakafepaki mo e kapakau to’omata’u ‘o e kau fatufatu fakakaukau hala ni ‘i Nu’usila. Kuo tufaki holo ‘enau ngaahi fatufatu fakakaukau hala ‘i he ngaahi komiuniti ‘o e kakai ‘o e ‘otu motu. Ko e fakakaukau tatau na’e ‘asi hake mo fai ai e muimui ‘i Fisi, ‘otu Motu Solomone mo Papua Niukini. Na’e kau ki ai mo e komiuniti ‘o e kakai ‘o e ‘otu motu ‘i ‘Aostelēlia.
‘Oku lahi ‘a e ngaahi ‘uhinga kehekehe ‘oku tufaki holo’aki ‘a e fa’ahinga fakakaukau hala ko ‘eni ‘i he ngaahgi komiunitī Pasifiki. ‘Oku pehe ‘e ha fakatotolo ‘a e Potungāue Mo’ui ‘a Nu’usila mo e ni’ihi kehe pē, ngalingali ‘oku tu’unga ‘eni ‘i ha ngaahi ‘uhinga fakaako, ta’efalala ki he ma’unga ivi ‘o e pule’anga, ta’eta’epau mo e tōmui fakasōsiale.
Ko e kakai toko lahi ia ‘oku fu’u faingata’a pē ia ke mahino kia kinautolu ‘a e Kōviti – 19. Ko e taimi ‘oku hoko ai te nau ala fekumi pē ki ha founga tali ‘oku faingofua fekau’aki mo e me’a ‘oku hoko. Ko e ni’ihi leva ‘o e ngaahi founga fu’u tō ia ki tu’a mama’o.
Kuo fakahā ‘e ha fakatotolo ‘i ‘Amelika ha felāve’i tonu ‘a e fatufatu fakakaukau hala ko ‘eni mo e ni’ihi ‘oku nau tui ko kinautolu ‘oku nau ma’u ‘a e Tui fakakalisitiane tonu taha. Na’e hā eni ‘i he tō’onga ko ia ‘a Pīsope Brian Tamaki mo hono kau muimui.
Makehe mei ai, ‘oku mapuna hake ‘i he ngaahi komiunitī Tonga online ‘a e ngaahi fakakaukau hala ko ‘eni ‘o tala kehe’i ia ‘i he’ene fekau’aki mo e huhu fulū ko ‘eni ‘o e faha’i ta’u momoko. Ko e ni’ihi ‘o e ngaahi kulupu fakafepaki’i ‘o e huhu malu’i ‘i he Facebook mo taukave’i ‘a e fakakaukau fakavalevale ‘a e kakai ko ‘eni koe’uhi ke poupou’i ‘aki ‘enau ngaahi taukave fehalaaki, kuo nau poupou’i ‘eni ‘a e huhu malu’i ‘o e fulū.
Kuo nau tala ‘eni ki he kakai ko e huhu malu’i ‘o e fuluu ‘oku sai ‘aupito ia, ‘o ‘ikai hangē ia ko e huhu malu’i ‘o e Kōviti. Ko hono mo’oni ‘eni, ko e huhu malu’i fulūu, tatau pē mo e huhu malu’i Kōviti – 19, kuo ‘osi sivisivi’i kinaua, fakapapau’i pea muimui pau ki he fakahinohino ‘a e Kautaha Mo’ui ‘a Māmani. ‘Oku ‘uhinga lelei leva, ka ‘oku tali lelei ‘a e huhu malu’i fuluu’, pea ta ‘oku malava ke lelei pē mo e huhu malu’i Kōviti – 19.
Kuo ngāue vāofi foki ‘a e WHO mo e kau saienisi mo e kau fatu tu’utu’uni ngāue ‘o māmani ‘i he ta’u ‘e 50 kuo hili ki hono fokotu’utu’u ha fo’unga pau ke ngāue’aki ki hono ngaohi, sivisivi’i pea vakai’i ma’u p1e ‘a hono fakalakalaka’i ‘o e huhu malu’i influenza kae pehē ki he’ene ‘aonga mo ho tufaki.
Ko e mo’oni ‘a e hoko ‘a e poupou ‘a e ngaahi komiunitī ko ‘eni ‘i he ope ko ha faka’ilonga lelei ia. Ko e huhu malu’i ko e founga lelei taha ia ke malu’i ‘a e mafola mo ha ola kovi fakatupu ‘e he vailasi influenza. Ko hono fakahoko hao huhu malu’i fulū ‘e tokoni ia ke fakasi’is’i ange ai ha puke lahi pe ‘alu ki falemahaki. Ko e meimei toko 500 ‘oku mate ‘i he ta’u ko e tupu mei he fulūu.
Ko e ngaahi ta’umu’a ‘o e kemipeini huhu malu’i ‘o e ta’u ni ‘oku kau ai ‘a hono huhu malu’i ‘o e 75% ‘o e kakai Mauli mo e pasifiki ‘oku nau ‘i he ta’u 55 pe lahi ange. Fakatatau ki he Potungāue Mo’ui, ko e 47% ‘o e kakai Pasifiki lahi hake he ta’u 65 ‘i he vāhenga ‘Aokalani kuo ‘osi fai honau huhu malu’i ‘i he’ene a’u mai ki he ‘aho 9 ‘o Siune. Ko e fika ko ia ‘o e toko lahi ‘o e kakai pasifiki ‘i ‘Aokalani ‘i he ta’u 55 ki he 64, pe ko e taimi tatau ai pē ko e 29%. Ko e 5% leva ‘i ‘Aokalani ko e mahina ‘e 6 ia ki he ta’u 12. ‘Oku ta’etotongi foki ‘a e huhu malu’i fulūu ki he kakai ‘i he ta’u 65 pe lahi ange, ta’u 55 pe lahi ange ki he kau Mauli mo e Pasifiki, kakai feitama, mo e kakai kuo fuoloa ‘enau mo’ua ‘i he suka, hela, pe mahaki mafu, fānau mahina 6 ki he ta’u 12, mo e kakai faingata’a’ia faka’atamai mo e fa’ahinga kuo fkafalala ‘enau mo’ui faka’atamai mo fakatu’sino ‘i ha fa’ahinga me’a [addiction]. ‘E lava ke kole ha taimi ke fakahoko ai e huhu malu’i ‘o fakafou ‘i he – https://bookmyvaccine.health.nz/
It’s such an oft-repeated thing it has become common knowledge: Vitamin C is what we need when we are coming down with a cold or flu. Many swear it helps them prevent winter ills; others say it eases and erases symptoms and helps them bounce back if they do get struck down. But what is the truth here? Is vitamin C the cold cure and immunity boost we may believe it to be?
Citrus Photo: (Edgar Castrejon via unsplash.com)
Where did this idea come from?
The link between vitamin C and immunity is well established, in the sense that this is an essential vitamin that we need for the proper functioning of our immune system. Vitamin C plays a role in various processes in the body, including the production of white blood cells and antibodies. Having enough vitamin C in our bodies is important for our overall immune function, and our overall health.
This link was discovered way back before anyone had identified or named vitamins as vitamins, when it was found that sailors in the 18th century could recover quickly from scurvy when they ate citrus fruits, which we now know are high in vitamin C (it took until 1933 for the link to be fully understood).
We now know that this vitamin is crucial for collagen synthesis – it helps our skin heal and helps maintain bone, tendons and blood vessels – and it helps us absorb iron from the foods we eat. It is also an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage caused by harmful free radicals, reducing oxidative stress and promoting overall cellular health.
The idea of supplementing with vitamin C probably came from the fact that it is not stored in the body; we need to get it regularly from what we eat and drink in order to keep our levels up. The ‘insurance policy’ thinking that applies to most vitamins comes into play here: if we’re not getting enough from our food, we reason, why not top up with a supplement?
Do vitamin C supplements help us with colds and flu?
We know vitamin C is good for immunity. It is less clear, however, that supplements help with prevention or symptoms of colds and flu. Despite nearly a century of research, the evidence remains pretty mixed.
Taking vitamin C regularly as a supplement does not seem to prevent colds or flu in most people. There is an exception: there have been some studies looking at people under extreme physical stress, such as marathon runners and soldiers in sub-arctic conditions, where it was found that if the participants started taking vitamin C two to three weeks before their strenuous activities, their risk of developing a cold was reduced by about half.
For those of us who are not sub-arctic soldiers or marathoners, the evidence in large reviews shows that taking vitamin C does not prevent a cold. However, taking it regularly before you get the cold could shorten the amount of time you will be sick by around 10 percent. So a cold that would have lasted 10 days will be over in nine.
It has also been found that people who always took vitamin C had slightly milder cold symptoms. This seems to be particularly the case for children.
That said, taking vitamin C after your cold symptoms appear probably will not do any good. The evidence shows this does not have any effect on how long you will be ill for.
What about liposomal vitamin C?
Liposomal or lipo-spheric vitamin C seems to be all the rage. It comes with big claims – and a price tag to match. It is a form of vitamin C encapsulated in liposomes (tiny fat-like particles).
There have been some studies looking at the effectiveness of liposomal vitamin C that suggest it appears to be absorbed better by the body. Whether that translates into any cold and flu benefits is not clear.
Any downsides to taking it?
Taking any vitamin C supplements in very high doses (more than 2000 milligrams a day, which is considered the safe upper limit) can cause diarrhoea and other digestive issues. There is no such risk in the vitamin C you get from food.
The only other downside is really that it is not doing anything, and you are simply excreting any excess in the form of, as nutritionists like to put it, expensive urine.
If not vitamin C… what can I take?
There is no magical thing that will protect us from viral illness (which hopefully we all know by now). But health experts stress that looking after ourselves as well as possible will help our immune system to stay in top shape, so that when we do get hit with a virus, we can handle it OK.
Nutritionist Nikki Hart is of this view, and cautions against singling out one vitamin as the solution.
“Vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients – they all work to repel oxidative damage”, she explains.
“So you can’t just label vitamin C as protective.”
She stresses that the best way to get our vitamins – including vitamin C – is through food. Citrus fruit and other colourful fruits and vegetables are all useful here, and getting lots of those on our plates means we will easily hit the recommended daily intakes. Hart said food is best not only because it offers a highly bioavailable form of vitamin C, but we also get other goodies, too, like fibre and other vitamins.
She also said we need to remember all the things that boost immunity (and many other things too): physical activity, enough sleep, minimising alcohol and not smoking.
“The immune system is bigger than just vitamins and minerals.”
Lastly, there is one old bit of wisdom that might be true: one study found chicken soup is not only comforting, but it might have anti-inflammatory properties that lessen cold symptoms.
In other words, spending the supplement money on fresh produce might be a better, and more enjoyable, way of avoiding or treating a cold.
A widower whose wife was killed in a car accident has been charged over her death.
Falakiko ‘Asisi Mālani, 43, of Houma, Tongatapu was driving the family car with his wife and children on Taufa’āhau road last month when they crashed.
Liviana Tatiana Naivakacavu Malani (L) and Falakiko Asisi Malani.
The car collided with a stationary vehicle at Pea, leaving his 42-year-old wife Liviana Tatiana Naivakacavu Mālani with fatal injuries on May 14.
She died at Vaiola hospital on May 19.
She was buried at the Hangaitokelau cemetery at Houma on June 3. Liviana was from Fiji’s Rotuma island.
Falakiko and their three children, a 10-year-old girl, and 5-and-3-year-old boys were injured in the crash.
The Police said shortly after the crash that the family “were heading in a northern direction on the Taufa’āhau Road when the driver recklessly sped and lost control of the wheel, which caused the car to swerve and hit another vehicle that was parked on the side of the road adjacent to the Free Wesleyan Church at Pea, before crashing onto the church’s fence”.
“They were rushed to the Vaiola Hospital with serious injuries where they have been monitored”, the Police said
