Auckland, NZ – Tongan nationals Patrick Sese Takau and his wife, Lolohea Faonelua Takau, have been granted New Zealand residence visas after a gruelling two-and-a-half-year journey marked by medical hardship and an immigration battle.
Koli Vənisi (R), Director of Pacific Immigration & Consultancy Limited, who successfully advocated for the Takau family’s residence visa under humanitarian grounds.
The couple arrived in New Zealand from Tonga on 14 November 2022 to visit their children, grandchildren, and extended family.
However, their plans took a devastating turn just weeks later when Lolohea was rushed to the hospital in December of the same year.
Diagnosed with a severe kidney condition, she was forced to undergo dialysis three times a week, leaving the family in distress.
Facing the prospect of separation or returning to Tonga, where consistent dialysis treatment is difficult to access, the Takau family turned to Koli Vānisi and his Auckland-based Pacific Immigration & Consultancy Limited for help.
The firm lodged a residence visa application on humanitarian grounds, arguing that Lolohea’s survival depended on New Zealand’s healthcare system and that deporting the couple would tear their family apart.
After months of legal efforts, the Immigration Protection Tribunal ruled in their favour, and the Associate Minister of Immigration approved the visas as an exception to standard immigration rules.
In a letter dated 19 May 2025, Immigration New Zealand confirmed:
“I am pleased to advise that the Associate Minister of Immigration has now considered the Tribunal’s decision and on 15 May 2025 granted your client and family member a residence application, resident visas as an exception to residence instructions.”
The visas were finalized on 11 June 2025, allowing the elderly Tongan couple to remain in New Zealand permanently.
Contacting Kaniva News, Vənisi stated: “This decision recognizes our services and our ability to help members of our community who are struggling with immigration needs.”
A Tongan woman has won the right to live in New Zealand after the Refugee Tribunal ruled she faced a well-founded fear of persecution in Tonga due to her sexual orientation as a lesbian.
This is believed to be the first time a Tongan citizen has successfully claimed refugee status in New Zealand due to persecution for being LGBTQ+.
The Tribunal overturned an earlier decision by a refugee and protection officer, who had declined her refugee or protected person status application.
The ruling identified her only as “EU (Tonga)” for privacy reasons.
In its ruling, the Tribunal found that the appellant would be at risk of serious harm if she returned to Tonga because of her identity as a lesbian.
Under Article 1A(2) of the Refugee Convention and section 129(1) of New Zealand’s Immigration Act, the Tribunal recognised her as a refugee, stating she qualified for protection due to the danger she faced in her home country.
While the Tribunal granted her refugee status, it determined she did not meet the criteria for protected person status under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) or the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Tonga sodomy law
In Tonga, gay couples cannot legally formalise their relationships, as civil unions are prohibited.
The Criminal Act section 136 about Sodomy and bestiality says:
“Whoever shall be convicted of the crime of sodomy with another person or bestiality with any animal shall be liable at the discretion of the Court to be imprisoned for any period not exceeding ten years and such animal shall be killed by a public officer. (Substituted by Act 9 of 1987)”.
In 2016, the then-former Chief Justice Charles Cato sentenced and jailed Sione Iketau, with the final 12 months being suspended after the prisoner was convicted of sodomising a child under the age of 12.
Petition in Tonga
The news follows petitions organised in Tonga last year urging the king to revoke his appointment of the new Chief Judge after it was revealed that the judge’s LGBTQ+ lifestyle conflicted with Tonga’s constitution and the country’s conservative Christian values.
Tonga’s Lord Chief Justice has issued a stern warning over the kingdom’s growing epidemic of machete violence while sentencing a former soldier for a drunken blade attack in Lapaha.
Tonga’s Chief Justice Malcolm Bishop. Photo/Australian High Commission Tonga (cropped)
In a landmark ruling that laid bare the court’s hardening stance, Chief Justice Malcolm Bishop declared the weapon’s frequent appearance in alcohol-fueled brawls demanded urgent judicial intervention.
In sentencing 26-year-old Seteone Mu’asika, Mr Bishop said: “What is serious about your case is the use of a machete, which is becoming more frequent in the Kingdom.”
“The Courts must do all they can to stamp out this invidious practice because let the facts be faced, a machete is a lethal weapon.
“It could cause catastrophic and indeed fatal damage, the fact that no such damage was caused here is not determinative of the final outcome of the case because the Courts must do all it can to stamp out the increasing use of machetes during disagreements.”
Chief Justice Bishop then sentenced Mu’asika to six months in prison with a conditional suspension for inflicting serious bodily harm during a machete attack.
The court heard how Mu’asika struck 17-year-old Fe’ofa’aki Pouono in the back during an alcohol-fueled altercation.
Both Mu’asika and co-accused Sōane Tātola pleaded guilty, though the court was informed that Tātola had escaped jurisdiction and remained at large.
According to prosecution evidence, the confrontation followed separate drinking sessions, with an initial fistfight between Tatola and the victim earlier in the evening.
The situation later escalated when Mu’asika, armed with a machete, and Tatola, wielding a broken bottle, approached Pouono near the village bakery.
Justice Bishop detailed how Tātola first stabbed Pouono with the broken bottle before Mu’asika chased the victim and struck him with the machete.
“It was then that you pursued him with a machete and as he was attempting to mount the fence, you struck his back with the machete. He fell to the ground but managed to get up and escape. You then quit.”
Justice Bishop stated that Pouono’s wounds were caused partially by Mu’asika and partially by Tātola. He then said: “So far as you were concerned, I am satisfied that the injury sustained to his back was consistent with the assault by the machete fortunately no serious injuries ensued, and he was treated conservatively.”
While acknowledging the injuries were not life-threatening, Justice Bishop emphasised the attack’s inherent danger.
In his sentencing remarks, Justice Bishop acknowledged mitigating factors in Mu’asika’s background: “I have read quite a lot about you to your credit, and I am told that you have assisted in the suppression of public disorder in your community and you are in a de facto relationship and have two children. I am also told that you partially take care of your mother financially.”
The Chief Justice noted the defendant’s military service and respectable family standing: “You used to be a soldier and were raised in what I am told and accept is a respectable family well known in the community and as I indicated earlier as you have assisted in the maintenance of good order in your community.”
However, Justice Bishop clarified the limitations of such considerations: “I have considered the comparable authorities helpfully submitted by the prosecution and your learned counsel but as I have previously stated and as the Court of Appeal recently confirmed they are to be regarded as yardsticks rather than strict tumplines, as each case must be decided on their own in fact.”
As part of Mu’asika’s sentence, the court imposed a 12-month suspended prison term for two years, conditional upon completing a life skills and anger management course administered by the Salvation Army, or an equivalent program as directed by the Probation Office.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a grave warning to Iran on Saturday, declaring that “Tehran will burn” if the Islamic Republic continues firing missiles at Israel.
The threat came in response to Iran’s overnight ballistic missile barrage on Friday, which killed at least three people and wounded dozens more.
Katz accused Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of holding his own citizens hostage, warning that Tehran’s residents would “pay a heavy price” for attacks on Israeli civilians.
The missile strikes marked Iran’s first direct military assault on Israeli territory, escalating long-simmering tensions between the two nations.
According to military reports, Iran launched a combination of drones and ballistic missiles in retaliation for Israel’s recent attacks on Iranian nuclear and military facilities.
Air-raid sirens sounded across northern Israel and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights during the assault, with authorities urging civilians to take shelter in protected areas.
Iranian missiles have struck Israel’s top military headquarters in central Tel Aviv, according to local and international media.
The Kirya compound — home to the Israeli military’s central command and the Ministry of Defence — is often referred to as Israel’s “Pentagon”
Scientists’ Identities Revealed
In a related development, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) publicly identified nine Iranian nuclear scientists who were assassinated in covert operations targeting Tehran’s atomic program.
The scientists killed had decades of cumulative experience in the development of nuclear weapons. The scientists include Fereydoun Abbasi and Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari Daryani, experts in nuclear engineering; Akbar Motalebi Zadeh, an expert in chemical engineering; Saeed Barji, a materials engineering expert; physics experts Mohammad Mahdi Tehranshi, Mansour Asgari, and Amir Hassan Fakhahi; Abd al-Hamid Minoushehr, a reactor physics expert; and Ali Bakhouei Katirimi, a mechanics expert.
The military stated these scientists had played key roles in advancing Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities. The list includes experts in nuclear engineering, physics, chemical engineering, and reactor physics, among other critical fields.
The IDF says that it has killed nine Iranian nuclear scientists and experts. Previously, the Israeli military said it killed six during the initial wave of strikes it launched against Iran on Thursday night.
Israel now says the nine were killed “at the beginning” of the operation.
Separately, an Israeli military official has said the Esfahan and Natanz nuclear sites have been significantly damaged in strikes, according to reports from the Reuters news agency.
The IDF’s disclosure appears to be a strategic move, underscoring Israel’s determination to cripple Iran’s nuclear ambitions even as direct conflict between the two nations escalates.
The official tells Reuters that over 150 targets in Iran have been attacked. Most drones and missiles that have been launched towards Israel have been intercepted, the official says.
Meanwhile, Iran has warned the United States, United Kingdom and France not to help Israel stop Tehran’s retaliatory strikes, according to Reuters news agency, citing Iranian state media.
Reports say that Tehran would target military bases and ships located in the region if the three countries provide support to Israel.
Nuku’alofa, Tonga—Tonga’s hosting of the Pacific Games hangs in the balance as the government scrambles to secure $26 million for critical facility upgrades.
Prime MInister Eke (L) and Minister of Internal Affairs Sinaitakala Tu’itahi
Officials are considering a new tax levy and reaching out to international donors to bridge the funding gap.
The revelation came as Prime Minister Aisake Eke confirmed in Parliament the government’s commitment to host the Games.
The Prime Minister’s assurance dispelled concerns previously raised by the Opposition about potential withdrawal from hosting duties – a scenario that had occurred with the 2019 Games.
Sinaitakala Tu’itahi, the Minister of Internal Affairs, who oversees Sports, confirmed the financial shortfall recently, revealing that the Ministry is assessing all options to ensure Tonga can meet its hosting commitments.
The Minister acknowledged the difficulties, stating in Tongan: “‘A ia ‘oku ki’i fai pē ki ‘i siosio holo ki he ngaahi donor, na’a nau tokoni mai.” She was saying in English, “We are looking for donors to help.”
She stated that the expenses and costs have been identified, although she stopped short of providing any details. She said the current focus was on securing the necessary funding.
An estimate from the Tonga Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (TASANOC) outlines potential earnings from marketing and athlete housing, Minister Tu’itahi said.
A delegation from Fiji and the Pacific Games Council recently visited Tonga to assess preparations, with officials expecting a formal update on the kingdom’s hosting status and financial plans by October.
The financial challenge is compounded by Tonga’s heavy reliance on foreign aid—a dependency that previously forced the country to withdraw from hosting the 2019 Pacific Games in 2017.
At the time, then-Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva expressed concerns about potential misuse of funds, leading to the revocation of the hosting permit.
Tonga’s successful bid to host the Pacific Games 2031 surprised many, having been secured through the efforts of former Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku without parliamentary approval.
Reports indicate that to appease the Pacific Games Council following Tonga’s withdrawal as the 2019 host, the Hu‘akavameiliku government struck a confidential deal with the Council—a move that angered critics, especially since Tonga was favorably positioned in its legal dispute with the Council at the time.
The Inter-College Rugby Union, traditionally a showcase of Tongan sportsmanship and youth leadership, descended into chaos Friday as violent clashes between school factions erupted.
Viral videos allegedly showed alumni both celebrating and instigating the brawls.
It follows Tonga Police issuing “all students, ex-students, and supporters to uphold peace and show respect during Friday’s Inter-College Rugby Union event.
“This is a time to celebrate school spirit, talent, and sportsmanship. Let’s ensure that our support builds pride,” the statement read.
Authorities announced their presence throughout the tournament, with mounted patrols monitoring crowd behaviour and additional officers stationed at potential hotspots.
The police statement outlined clear expectations: positively supporting schools, respecting officials and opponents, avoiding violence or disorderly conduct, and complying with all security instructions.
According to footage shared on social media and seen by Kaniva News, multiple fights erupted in downtown Nuku’alofa and surrounding areas.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes of physical altercations and thrown objects at Hihifo before onlookers stepped in and restored order.
It is unclear whether any arrests were made.
Police emphasised their zero-tolerance approach, warning that instigators of further disturbances would face immediate consequences.
“We remind everyone that Police operations are in place throughout the event and surrounding areas to ensure safety and public order.
“Any form of violence or disruption will be dealt with appropriately.
“Let’s make this a safe, enjoyable, and memorable occasion for our youth and our nation.”
The IDF confirms carrying out strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, claiming Revolutionary Guard chief Hossein Salami and other commanders were killed in the attack.
Iran reports six scientists among the dead, with state TV alleging civilian casualties—including children—though these claims remain unverified by independent sources.
Israel says Iran has launched 100 drones toward its territory in retaliation for the attack and the killing of military leaders.
In an operation that redefined modern warfare, Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency successfully infiltrated Iran’s most secure military and nuclear facilities years before launching last night’s devastating strikes.
According to senior security officials speaking exclusively to The Times of Israel, the attack—which crippled Iran’s air defenses and missile infrastructure—was made possible by a secret drone base and elite commando teams operating undetected on Iranian soil. The mission, years in the making, involved smuggling precision weapons into the country and positioning operatives near critical military sites.
The operation relied on meticulous, long-term planning between Mossad and the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). Precision weapons systems, including explosive-laden drones and guided missiles, were covertly transported into Iran and hidden near key military installations.
A secret drone base was established inside the country, allowing Israel to launch strikes without detection. Meanwhile, undercover commandos embedded themselves near anti-aircraft sites and missile launchers, ready to activate at a moment’s notice.
The Three-Pronged Attack The strikes unfolded in three synchronised phases, each designed to dismantle Iran’s defences systematically.
Second, pre-positioned drones swarmed a major missile base outside Tehran, destroying launchers that had been poised to strike Israeli targets.
Finally, modified vehicles equipped with electronic warfare tools disrupted remaining air defences, ensuring Israeli jets had complete air supremacy.
This operation’s reliance on subterfuge rather than brute force made it unprecedented. “This wasn’t just an airstrike—it was a surgical occupation,” a security official revealed. Mossad agents, disguised as locals, moved weapons and equipment undetected, while AI-powered drones evaded Iranian surveillance for months.
The success of the mission highlights Israel’s ability to wage war deep inside enemy territory without traditional military engagement.
Iran’s Intelligence Failure Perhaps the most startling aspect of the operation was Iran’s apparent lack of awareness. Despite heightened security, Israeli operatives smuggled weapons, established a drone base, and positioned commandos near critical sites without detection.
The strikes have exposed vulnerabilities in Iran’s counterintelligence capabilities, raising questions about how deeply Mossad has penetrated its security apparatus.
The attack marks a shift in modern conflict, where wars may increasingly be won through covert infiltration rather than overt military campaigns.
If Israel can execute such an operation inside a heavily guarded adversary like Iran, other nations may reassess their own defence strategies. Meanwhile, Tehran faces a dilemma—how to retaliate against an enemy that has already embedded itself within its borders.
The Nuku’alofa Supreme Court has handed down a five-year prison sentence to Movete Mala’efo’ou for drug-related offences and assaulting a police officer during a violent escape attempt.
However, his sentence had the last six months suspended for two years. His co-accused, Sosefo Tukia, received a fully suspended sentence on conditions.
The case stemmed from an incident on October 17, 2024, when police searched for a suspect, Kesomi Taufa, at Tonga Cable Limited.
Authorities received a tip that a green Mazda Demio with a rental license plate was delivering drugs to Taufa. Officers later spotted the vehicle near Vakūho and approached Mala’efo’ou and Tukia.
Tukia immediately fled, discarding 10 packs of white substances and a white bag containing 217 empty packs before being apprehended.
Meanwhile, Mala’efo’ou violently resisted arrest, shoving Police Officer Tafea, jumping into the Mazda, and reversing into the officer—injuring his left arm—before speeding off. During his escape, he discarded a black bag, which police later recovered.
A search of the suspects and their belongings uncovered incriminating evidence. Tukia was found with a violet straw in his pocket and $120 cash in a body-worn bag.
Mala’efo’ou’s black bag contained a weighing scale, a pink straw, empty drug packs, three packs of white substances, dried green leaves, and aluminium foil packets.
The abandoned Mazda was later located in Tofoa, and a search of Tukia’s home revealed more drugs and a silver weighing scale hidden in a wrecked car on the property.
In a separate incident on October 9, 2024, police previously arrested Mala’efo’ou near Kolomotu’a after receiving a tip that he was using a vehicle (C37141) to supply drugs.
A search uncovered drugs, including packs of white substance, cash, an empty pack with a car key, and shredded green leaves near the vehicle. Mala’efo’ou admitted ownership of the items.
The court considered the severity of Mala’efo’ou’s actions—particularly his assault on an officer and prior drug involvement—in imposing the sentence.
Tukia, who showed lesser involvement, received a more lenient punishment.
Both accused did not cooperate with police, the court document said.
Movete had previous convictions.
Both Movete’s and Tukia’s early guilty pleas and status as first-time drug offenders were considered mitigating factors.
Israel has carried out military strikes inside Iran, targeting what it described as the “heart” of Tehran’s nuclear program.
The attack comes just days after Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, defiantly rejected a key U.S. demand to halt uranium enrichment—a major sticking point in stalled nuclear negotiations.
In a televised address, Khamenei warned that Israel would face “severe consequences” for the strikes, which Iranian state media say killed top officials, including Hossein Salami, chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as several nuclear scientists.
A spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces vowed that both Israel and the U.S. would pay a “heavy price.”
Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu called the strikes a “targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival.”
He claimed Iran was “weeks away” from producing a nuclear weapon if left unchecked.
Israel has since declared a state of emergency, anticipating retaliatory attacks “in the immediate future.”
The U.S. proposal for a revived nuclear deal, mediated by Oman, was presented to Iran over the weekend.
However, major disagreements persist, including Iran’s refusal to cease domestic uranium enrichment or export its stockpile of highly enriched uranium—a potential precursor for nuclear arms.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Washington had “no role” in the strikes and provided no assistance.
The attack marks a dangerous escalation in the shadow war between Israel and Iran, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
Analysts warn that Tehran’s promised retaliation could trigger further instability across the Middle East.
Former Minister of Infrastructure Sevenitini Toumo’ua has denied allegations that he entered into a non-compliant arrangement with a company to purchase two new trucks.
The Ministry of MOI’s CEO Lōpeti Heimuli (L) and Former Minister of MOI Sevenitini Toumo’ua
This was Toumo’ua’s second response to Kaniva News’ report that six months had passed since the Ministry’s $140,000 truck payment, with delivery still pending. He had served as Minister when the purchase was made.
It follows an allegation that the vehicle supplier later demanded what was believed to be an additional $100,000 beyond the original $140,000 payment.
As we reported yesterday, an official letter dated 19 March 2025, leaked to Kaniva News, MOI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr Lōpeti Heimuli confirmed the ministry’s TOP$140,000 payment for a Nissan Atlas truck (TOP$50,000) and a Hino Ranger crane truck (TOP$90,000) in December 2024, based on an August 2024 invoice from the Logistics company.
However, the vehicles remain undelivered, prompting the ministry’s formal intervention.
According to the letter, it appeared that New Life Logistics CEO Lesieli Namoa had a “previous arrangement with former Minister” Toumoua to justify the additional payments.
The letter said: “Your previous arrangement with former Minister, was not in order with the Government Procurement Regulation 2015”.
The ministry’s letter specifically refutes allegations that it attempted to illegally transfer vehicle ownership, calling these claims “false accusations.”
Toumo’ua’s Response
When previously contacted for comment, former Minister Toumo’ua said the vehicles are still with CEO Namoa, and the Ministry should talk to her.
He said in Tongan: “Koe ongo loli ena oku ia Lesieli pe I Tonga ke nau talanoa kiai.”
After reporting the story, Toumo’ua contacted Kaniva again.
He wanted to clarify that the purchase and the payment had been approved by MOI and paid by the Treasury according to the government’s procurement regulations.
Toumo’ua stated that the Ministry required the trucks for road maintenance, noting that the purchase prices were competitive.
He noted MOI had dispatched an engineer to evaluate the trucks before CEO Heimuli authorised the purchase – a procedure requiring Treasury approval before payment.
“There was nothing non-compliant and I did not know about that claim by Lopeti that there was an arrangement that was not in accordance with procurement procedures”, Toumo’ua told Kaniva News in Tongan.
Additional Accrued Fees
When asked why the trucks appeard to have been stored at the wharf for an extended period, causing the supplier to demand approximately $100,000 in additional accrued fees, Toumo’ua stated that Heimuli should be the one to answer that question.
The Minister for Infrastructure, Dr Taniela Fusimālohi, and the CEO, Heimuli, have been contacted with a copy of the letter for comment.
We requested confirmation regarding their communication with Namoa, as well as to address claims that Toumo’ua’s arrangement with Namoa did not comply with the government’s procurement regulations.
Namoa could not be reached for comment.
Third-Party Complicates Standoff.
According to Heimuli’s letter, third-party Samuela Mafile’o claimed the vehicles after wharf clearance.
Despite this development, the MOI maintains it would only negotiate directly with New Life Logistics, the original supplier.
The ministry earnestly requested Namoa to provide the vehicles.
The letter read, “Therefore, we kindly seek your assistance to deliver the two vehicles to the Ministry as per full payments made in December 2024.”
A reliable source told Kaniva News that there appears to have been no contractual agreement between the MOI and Namoa at the initial purchase.
The source further alleged that Namoa subsequently demanded an additional $100,000 on top of the $140,000 paid by the MOI in December 2024, purportedly for storage fees.
