Ambulance staff tend to an injured person after a Burger Fuel car swerved into a crowd at the Avondale Santa Parade. Photo: NZME / Michael Burgess
Five people were injured at the Avondale Christmas Parade today after a Burger Fuel-branded car hit two pedestrians, with three occupants of the vehicle – including two children – then assaulted by people in the crowd.
Auckland City District Commander Inspector Jacqui Whittaker said the vehicle, which was part of the parade, experienced a “mechanical malfunction” at about 11.45am and rolled slowly into two pedestrians standing in front of the stage.
The two pedestrians received moderate to serious injuries and were taken to hospital.
Whittaker said a small group of people took it upon themselves to retaliate.
“Three people – including two children – were pulled from the vehicle and assaulted.”
They received minor injuries and were treated at the scene.
A NZME reporter at the scene said the crowd were jumping on the bonnet and smashing their fists on it and that Māori wardens had to hold them back.
Whittaker said police were working to identify those responsible for the assault, and were working closely with the parade organisers, and the driver of the vehicle and the company.
“We understand this was an unsettling event, where multiple people have become injured, and not the end to the parade which was wanted.”
Whittaker said police wanted to send a clear message: “Please do not take matters into your own hands.”
“As this incident demonstrates, something may not be what it seems to you at first, and others stepping in can result in unnecessary injuries and further distress.”
A spokesperson for Hata Hone St John said: “Hato Hone St John were notified of a motor vehicle incident in Avondale at 11:43 and responded three ambulances, one rapid response unit, and one manager to the scene.”
The Santa parade, the first in the area, was set down to run from 11am to 2pm.
New Zealand’s new Deputy Prime Minister is New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, with ACT leader David Seymour taking the role for the second half of the three-year term.
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Peters has been leader of New Zealand First since the party was formed in 1993 and was deputy prime minister within a National-led government from 1996 to 1998 and within a Labour-led government from from 2017 to 2020.
ACT leader David Seymour first stood for the party in 2005 and was first elected to Parliament in 2014, becoming ACT leader the same year.
Seymour has been a vocal opponent of Māori co-governance and promised to repeal the Zero Carbon Act if his party came into power.
Peters has promised to end policies based on race and to take a tough stance on crime.
It has been six weeks since New Zealanders voted on 14 October, with the National Party needing to work with ACT and New Zealand First to form a coalition government.
National won 48 of the 122 seats in Parliament, ACT won 11 seats and New Zealand First won eight.
As negotiations inched towards resolution over the past week, it was clear the selection of the deputy prime minister was a final hurdle to overcome.
Before the election, National Party leader Chris Luxon indicated he did not particularly want to work with Peters, but would consider a coalition with New Zealand First if necessary.
During the election campaign, Seymour said he would not work with Peters, but this month he revised his position to say it was not impossible.
Despite their fraught relationship in the past, Seymour said during the coalition talks he had bonded with Peters over a shared love of dogs.
Departing Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni has said it is an important role.
“You are the person who stands in when the prime minister is not available, you also play an important role within your Caucus and making sure that those relationships are … unified,” Sepuloni said.
With the prime minister often busy, the deputy stood by to cover other tasks, she said.
The election results left Labour with little chance of forming a government – they won only 34 seats, while the Green Party won 15 seats and Te Pāti Māori won six.
After the Port Waikato by-election tomorrow, one more seat will be added to Parliament, taking the total to 123.
National, ACT and New Zealand First are expected to move into the Beehive over the weekend, with a swearing-in on Monday.
A Tongan judge has reportedly ordered news media not to report on evidence presented at a retrial connected to charges of former Cabinet Ministers who had obtained money by false pretences.
‘Etuate Lavulavu (L) and Akosita Lavulavu
It is understood the retrial of Mr ‘Etuate Lavulavu and ‘Akosita Lavulavu before Justice ‘Elisapeti Langi had been on its third week last week.
There are no further details available to Kaniva News about the judicial order.
The prohibition came in the wake of a Court of Appeal decision to dismiss an appeal by the Lavulavus to have charges against them dismissed because they constituted an abuse of process.
In summarising the background to the case, the court was told that in 2003 Lavulavu and others founded a private education institute in Tonga.
He was its president and, at all material times, his wife, ‘Akosita, was its director.
From 2013-2015 the Institute obtained grants from the Ministry of Education and Training.
The grants were later audited by the Office of the Auditor-General and irregularities were found.
It was recommended that $553,800 be reimbursed to the Ministry and that the case be referred to the police for possible further investigation.
In March 2018 the Lavulavus were charged with three counts of obtaining money by false pretences contrary to Section 164 of the Criminal Offences Act.
They were convicted after a trial before Judge Cooper.
In July 2021 they were each sentenced to six years imprisonment with the final year of Mrs Lavulavu’s sentence suspended for two years on conditions.
They remained in custody until bail was granted in September 2022.
Mr and Mrs Lavulavu successfully appealed against their convictions. On October 10, 2022 the Court of Appeal quashed their convictions and ordered a retrial.
The Court of Appeal said there was ample evidence to support findings of apparent bias on the part of the Judge, that the trial was unfair and that the verdicts could not stand.
However, the Court was satisfied that there was sufficient evidence to support convictions on a correct application of relevant legal principles.
In November 2022 former Lord Chief Justice Whitten KC set a trial date, for May 8, 2023 if the Department of Public Prosecutions wanted to proceed with the retrial.
Shortly before the trial date the DPP filed an amended indictment which, among other things, invoked Section 8 of the Criminal Offences Act against Mr Lavulavu, alleging that he was guilty as a party rather than as a principal offender.
Mr Lavulavu then applied to have the charges against him dismissed on the grounds of abuse of process. In consequence, the proposed trial date was cancelled.
On May 19, 2023, Lord Chief Justice Whitten dismissed Mr Lavulavu’s application. Etuate Lavulavu was given leave to appeal. His wife did not appeal.
If a new trial is to be held it is scheduled to proceed before a Judge sitting alone commencing next Monday, October 16, 2023.
In their summary of Etuate Lavulavu’s latest appeal, the judges said the appeal centred round two main questions, which were whether amending the indictment amounted to an abuse of process and whether there were any other grounds amounting to an abuse of process.
Mr Lavulavu submitted that the amended form of indictment constituted an abuse of process on several grounds, including that it amounted to a completely different charge.
However, the judges said that Lord Chief Justice Whitten had made it clear that the amendments did nothing more than give effect to the Court of Appeal’s decision, not changing the nature of the offence to be considered. The requisite element of section 164, for both Defendants in each count, of false pretences, remained unchanged.
Mr Lavulavu also raised numerous other grounds in support of his contention that there had been an abuse of process such that a fair trial could not be held.
These included complaints that there had been an unjustified delay since he was first arrested; there had been improper manipulation or misuse of evidence; that evidence had been lost or destroyed and that there had been adverse publicity in the media.
However, the judges ruled that while the delay since the arrest of Mr and Mrs Lavulavu had been significant, none of the matters raised was so significant as to preclude a fair trial or to justify the allegation of abuse of process.
“Finally, we also reject the allegation that the Lord Chief Justice’s ruling was unfair and constituted apparent bias,” the judges said in their report.
“There is nothing in the extensive materials before us to suggest that the Lord Chief Justice was unfair in any way to Mr Lavulavu or exhibited any favouritism to the prosecutors. We have found his careful and thorough ruling to be correct in law in all respects.”
A former Catholic brother and school teacher has denied sexually abusing young boys between 1975 and 1977 in New Zealand.
Charles Robert Afeaki at Auckland District Court. Photo by Lawrence Smith/STUFF
Charles Robert Afeaki, 81, is accused of sexually abusing a boy at Invercargill between 1975 and 1977, and another boy at St Paul’s between 1975 and 1977.
Afeaki’s lawyer Roger Eagles told Judge Kirsten Lummis this week at the Auckland District Court his client denied the offending, and could not remember either of the complainants.
“The defendant says there are numerous aspects of the evidence of the complainants that are wrong, and unbelievable”, Stuff reported.
Charles Afeaki unsuccessfully argued his age previously, declining health and maintaining his reputation in Auckland’s Tongan community meant his name should stay secret until he faces trial.
The charges included 12 which are related to alleged offending by Afeaki against an 11-year-old pupil of his at Marist Brothers primary school in Invercargill in 1975, including sexual assaults in a classroom, behind a scout den, and on a school trip.
The others relate to a boy who was aged 12 when taught by Afeaki at St Paul’s College in central Auckland in 1979.
Afeaki has been imprisoned on two previous occasions for sexual offending. In 1994, he was labelled a hypocrite by the judge who sentenced him to eight years’ jail for offending against four boys in the late 1970s. In 2003, he was sentenced to two years in prison for offences against a fifth boy, but the court heard then that he had turned his life around.
The first complainant in this trial, told the interviewing detective: “This is going [with me] to my grave, I realise that now”.
The complainant believed he had been abused “50 times” during a year in Afeaki’s classroom, usually when he was told to stay behind after school, but also on a school camp and behind a neighbouring scout hut.
Three men have been arrested after a fire at two business buildings at the corner of Nuku’alofa’s Uelingatoni and Lēlue Rds.
Fire damages Teta Tours and Lini Theatres businesses. Photo/Facebook
The accused were Siua Moimoi, 21, from Sia’atoutai, Siupeli Katoa,18, from Ma’ufanga, and Tevita Samita, 21 from Fanga. All three were all remanded in custody.
No one was injured in the blaze on November 12 which destroyed the Teta Tours offices as well as their adjacent property, Loni theatres.
As Kaniva News reported previously a Tonga Police and Fire investigation was underway after Police said the fire was suspicious.
It is understood the police were reviewing CCTV footage before the arrest.
The accused had been variably charged with arson, robbery and wilful damage, reports said.
A medical doctor at Vaiola hospital in Tonga is being remembered by patients, families and loved ones for his thoughtful and warm bedside manner.
Dr Collin Howard Mana Latu (L) and Yumisan. Photo/Facebook
Dr. Colin Howard Manu Latu died on November 5 in what has been alleged by local media as suspected suicide. Kaniva News was unable to confirm his cause of death.
The Ministry of Health’s chief executive officer and Tonga police have been contacted for comment.
The 29-year-old had worked at the Vaiola surgical ward.
He was laid to rest at ‘Ofa ki Lo’āmanu cemetery at Vainī.
Family and friends of Latu paid tributes to a handsome young man.
His girlfriend Yumisan wrote on Facebook on Monday: “For the past 2 weeks, I have been grieving the sudden loss of the person most dear to me”.
Yumisan, whose profile on Facebook said she was engaged to Latu, said he “was laid to rest last week, fully clothed in a black suit meant for a more joyous occasion”.
“As I watched him get lowered into the earth, my heart felt so heavy, for I did not want to say goodbye.
“I felt so much anger, sadness, and confusion. But as I visit his resting place each day and reflect on the times we spent together, my heart is filled with so much gratitude for this person.
“In 2019, Colin became an important figure in my life. He became my best friend, and within 2 years, I gave him the easiest “Yes” when he asked if I could make him the happiest man in the world.
“Colin has taught me so much over the years. I learned to listen better, have more empathy, forgive, trust, and compromise, but most importantly, he taught me how to love. Colin knew how to love, and he loved genuinely.
“Even with his passing, I could feel his love through his family.
“Despite all the plans we have set for ourselves, God’s plans for us are far greater.
“You are missed dearly Colin, and how I wish you could hear me say thank you.
“Thank you for your friendship.
“Thank you for your love.
“Thank you for making me the happiest woman in the world.
“Rest well now till that glorious morning.
‘Ofa lahi atu from Yumisan”.
Latu’s family and friends remembered his kindness, generosity, optimism and caring nature.
““He was kind and generous to every patients he took care of at the hospital”.
A man has been arrested after a kidnapping in a Nuku’alofa hotel.
Nuku’alofa Central Police Station. Photo/Kalino Lātū
Police were alerted to a possible kidnapping on November 16, a statement said this morning.
A 41-year-old man from Fua‘amotu had been arrested for assault and multiple robberies committed at different locations in Nuku‘alofa, Tongatapu, it said.
A 35-year-old Asian woman who was visiting the country was allegedly tied up in her room by the suspect. The victim was occupying a room at one of the hotels in Nuku‘alofa where the suspect was also staying, the statement said.
The suspect, after allegedly tying both the victim’s neck and hands and stuffing some clothing material into her mouth, took off with the victim’s belongings including two iphones, a gold chain and cash.
Police reviewed the CCTV camera at the hotel from which they managed to identify the suspect and immediately initiated the search for him.
While searching for the suspect, Police received another report of robbery on Monday, 20 November 2023, this time from the Small Industries at Ma’ufanga.
The robber threatened the victim, an Asian male, with a knife and took off in the victim’s delivery truck with goods inside.
With the help from the public, Police tracked the stolen delivery truck to a petrol station at Lapaha.
When Police got hold of the truck, it was empty with all the goods missing. After reviewing CCTV footages to identify the truck’s route, Police identified the robber of the truck to be the same suspect from the hotel incident, which took place a few days earlier.
Later, on Monday, 20 November 2023, Police were able to apprehend the suspect from a residence at Halaleva and they found in his possession five packs of methamphetamine and a drug utensil.
Police have managed to recover some of the stolen goods.
The suspect remains remanded until his appearance in court.
Police in Tonga have been searching for a knife after two political activists had been arrested.
Vilisoni Tauelangi (L), ‘Asiata Māsima
‘Asiata Māsima, 54, of Ha’ateiho appeared at the Magistrate Court on Friday charged with attempted murder.
Vilisoni Tauelangi, 48, of Pea was arrested last night from his residence at Hoi for alleged offences of attempted murder and conspiracy, the police said in a statement.
It said Tauelangi is the “co-accused of Mr. ‘Asiata Masima who appeared in his livestreaming footage via social media”.
“Both suspects will be appearing in court today.
“Further charges may be laid as the investigation progresses”.
A streamed video seen by Kaniva News appeared to show police officers entered Tauelangi’s house while he was livestreaming. He told his followers the police were looking for him.
The video showed an ununiformed officer suddenly entered Tauelangi’s house and showed him what appeared to be his police ID. He then handcuffed Tauelangi.
Another officer was overheard as asking about a knife which he claimed was in the possession of Tauelangi and his co-accused Māsima.
“Ko fē hele na’a’ mo ō moia”, the officer asked in Tongan about the knife.
Tauelangi denied it and said there was no knife.
The officer then replied and said they were going to search his property.
Kaniva News understand the arrests came in the midst of a long-standing contentions between two groups of political supporters.
One is the supporters of the PTOA (democratic) Party and the other is an anti-democratic group known as Tū Family.
The rival groups have armed themselves with Facebook and YouTube accounts to incite dares, trade insults and make threats.
Hutt City Council has backed a move to change the name of Petone to Pito-one.
Jackson Street in Petone, or Pito-one. Photo: Nick James / RNZ
The Wellington Tenths Trust and Palmerston North Māori Reserves Trust have worked on an application for the name change throughout this year.
The two trusts contacted Hutt City Council to back the move, which was discussed at the council’s Policy, Finance and Strategy Committee on Tuesday afternoon.
In the meeting agenda it stated the evolution of the name Pito-one into its current form, Petone, followed colonial settlement in the region during the latter half of the 19th century. The document said it represented a misspelling of the area’s traditional name.
For any official name change, an application would have to be made to and considered by the New Zealand Geographic Board.
Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry will now send a letter to the New Zealand Geographic Board, reflecting the council’s backing.
RNZ spoke to locals in the suburb’s Jackson Street about their views on changing the name.
Vishnu had lived in the suburb for the past 11 months and reckoned it would be a good move.
“Everything should be in their original form, they should not be influenced by other culture and perspective.”
Ian, who had worked in Petone for 15 years, told RNZ it would not achieve anything.
“I don’t think it is important really, I think what’s important is here and now and here now everyone knows this district as Petone – I don’t see the point in changing it.”
He said while he did not back it, he would not stop people who thought it was important.
“If they think that’s fine and they get on there and they make it happen that’s good, but I’ve got other work to get on with, to be honest.”
Leanne believed it would make sense to change it, given it was the original name and would also respect tikanga.
“The name’s just got a whole lot of history with it as well, so it is very important.”
Damien said he did not want it to change since he had always known it as Petone, and noted the cost of making a name change.
“[If] the council wants to spend money on that, spend some money on the roads, eh?”
James wanted it to change, and likened it to when the ‘H’ was added to Whanganui in 2015.
“It didn’t change anything, and it was a bit more respectful like, of what the name should be rather than people just being lazy on not pronouncing the H.”
