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‘I will hold you in my heart’ — Tongan mother’s heartbreak after only son found dead in Samoa

By
Kalino Latu
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The devastated mother of 41-year-old David Golk has shared a touching tribute after his body was discovered in Samoa, vowing to hold him in her heart “until I can hold you in heaven.”

David Golk

According to Talanei News, six men have been charged in connection with David’s death and appeared in an American Samoa District Court last week.

The accused are Faleulu Faleulu, Togafau Ieremia, El‑Shaniah Segi, Waldie Allen III (also known as Aleki), Wayne Leti, and Cowley Tui Tafea. Two of those arrested in relation to the case are juveniles.

According to Talanei, several of the defendants were allegedly drinking beer at a location in Vaitogi when the victim walked past.

It is alleged that El‑Shaniah Segi approached the victim, lifted him, and slammed him to the ground, with one defendant claiming he saw the victim’s head strike the edge of the sidewalk.

Prosecutors also allege that Togafau Ieremia used a bat to strike the victim, while Faleulu Faleulu is accused of kicking him and stealing personal items, including a chain, rings, a bracelet, Nike sandals, and a JBL speaker.

Police further allege that when Faleulu was located, he was wearing some of the victim’s belongings.

All six defendants are being held without bail, Talanei reported.

The deceased’s mother, Vea Golk, who is of Tongan origin from Matamaka, Vavaʻu, told Kaniva News that David was her only son.

Describing herself as a “heartbroken mother,” she said she will carry her son in her heart until the day she can “hold [him] in heaven.” She added that she loves and misses him dearly and looks forward to seeing him again.

As previously reported, Vea said she was deeply distressed and has struggled to sleep as she reflects on the alleged cruelty her son suffered.

She said the last time she saw him was on Friday afternoon, before police arrived at her home early Saturday morning and asked her to accompany them to the hospital to identify a body found behind a store in Vaitogi.

She said she could hardly recognise her son when she saw him, describing his face as severely swollen and discoloured.

Mrs Golk added that while her son would sometimes leave home for one or two days, he would always return.

One in Four: UNICEF report reveals alarming child poverty in Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
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Nuku’alofa – A new report released by the Government of Tonga in collaboration with UNICEF reveals that 25.3 percent of children in Tonga are living in multidimensional poverty.

Illustrative image generated using artificial intelligence (AI). The image is for illustrative purposes only and does not depict any actual children, families, locations, or circumstances described in this article.

The report, Multidimensional Child Poverty in Tonga, shows that poverty among children goes beyond income, encompassing lack of access to essential needs such as nutrition, healthcare, education, clean water, and safe housing.

When these needs are unmet at the same time, children face severe and overlapping disadvantages.

The findings are based on data from the 2019 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, highlighting areas where children are being left behind.

Prime Minister Lord Fakafānua said the report underscores Tonga’s commitment to protecting its people and the importance of putting safeguards in place before families reach crisis point.

Minister for Internal Affairs, Fane Fotu Fituafe, described the findings as a significant step forward in efforts to address child poverty and promote inclusion.

Rural Children Most Affected

The report shows that the youngest children are most vulnerable, with 58.7 percent of infants aged 0–23 months and 35.9 percent of children aged 24–59 months deprived of three or more essential needs.

Children in rural areas are also disproportionately affected, with 28.3 percent experiencing multidimensional poverty, compared to 14.8 percent in urban areas.

Geographic disparities are stark, with the highest rates recorded in ʻEua (48.9 percent), followed by Haʻapai (40.8 percent) and Ongo Niua (35 percent). Tongatapu recorded the lowest rate at 21.6 percent.

Deprivation Key Concerns

The report identifies housing as the most widespread form of deprivation, affecting more than half of children across all age groups.

In early childhood, critical gaps were found in health and nutrition, with 76.9 percent of infants facing health-related deprivation and 68.3 percent lacking adequate nutrition.

Children living in poverty often face multiple challenges at once, experiencing an average of 3.4 deprivations simultaneously.

UNICEF Pacific Representative Hamish Young said the data reflects the everyday reality for many children.

“Behind every number in this report is a child whose struggle is not just one challenge, but many, experienced all at once, every day,” he said.

Call for Coordinated Action

The report highlights the urgent need for coordinated, cross-sector action to address overlapping challenges facing children.

Improving access to healthcare, nutrition, housing, clean water, and child protection, alongside supporting vulnerable families, is seen as key to reducing child poverty.

Officials say early intervention and integrated solutions will be critical to ensuring every child in Tonga has the opportunity to survive, thrive, and reach their full potential.

Tonga Police arrest 27 in DUI crackdown as hundreds test positive in May

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tonga Police arrested 27 people during a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) enforcement operation conducted last Friday, as authorities continue efforts to curb alcohol-related offending on the kingdom’s roads.

Tonga Police officers conduct a nighttime DUI checkpoint on Tongatapu, stopping vehicles as part of ongoing efforts to reduce alcohol-related road offences and improve public safety. Photo/Tonga Police

The arrests included 20 males and seven females, reflecting ongoing concerns about impaired driving across both genders.

Police say the latest operation forms part of a broader campaign aimed at improving road safety and reducing alcohol-related incidents throughout Tonga.

Hundreds Fail Alcohol Tests in May

Figures released by Tonga Police show that during May 2026, officers stopped and tested 3,147 drivers across the country.

Of those tested, 2,899 drivers (92.1 percent) recorded no alcohol in their system, while 248 drivers (7.9 percent) returned positive alcohol readings.

Among those who tested positive:

  • 129 drivers were below the legal alcohol limit
  • 37 drivers were issued Traffic Infringement Notices
  • 82 drivers were arrested for exceeding the legal limit

In total, 119 drivers were charged with alcohol-related offences during the month, including 84 males and 35 females.

Police Urge Responsible Driving

Tonga Police commended the majority of drivers who complied with the law but warned that impaired driving remains a serious risk to public safety.

“Police continue to urge drivers to never drive after consuming alcohol,” authorities said.

Officers confirmed that DUI operations will continue across Tongatapu as part of ongoing efforts to reduce preventable road accidents and ensure the safety of all road users.

The enforcement campaign is expected to remain a key focus as police work to change driver behaviour and strengthen road safety across the kingdom.

Five dead in overnight crashes, including three on Desert Road

By
Kaniva Staff
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By RNZ and is republished with permission

Police are calling it “absolutely gutting” after five people have been killed in accidents overnight.

File photo. Photo: RNZ/ Calvin Samuel

Three people died after a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 1, Waiouru, overnight, while one person remains missing.

Emergency services were called to the scene about 2.55am.

Three people were found dead at the scene, police said. Two further occupants sustained serious injuries.

Another person, who police believe was also in one of the vehicles, has not been accounted for. A search and rescue operation is underway to locate them.

Poice Superintendent Steve Greally, director of road policing, said a total of five people have died in crashes overnight.

One person has died following a crash in Wairakei, north of Taupō.

Another person died in a single-vehicle crash in Waiheke Island overnight. Emergency services were called to Onetangi Road around 1.30am.

“That is absolutely gutting,” Greally said of the road toll .

“We are thinking of their families today, while they deal with the awful reality that their lives will never be the same.”

There were two earlier deaths over King’s Birthday weekend, bringing the provisional number of deaths to seven.

“We say it all the time but we’re going to say it again – there are four main things that contribute to death or serious injury on the roads,” Greally said.

“Those are speeding, not using your seatbelt, driving distracted, or driving impaired, including by tiredness.

“If you’re getting on the road today, please – buckle up, put your phone away, watch your speed, and if you are at all impaired by alcohol, drugs or tiredness, stop – don’t get behind the wheel.

“These things might be the difference between you getting home safely or not.”

The Desert Road has reopened, but police are still working in the area and ask drivers to be cautious.

Deputy Prime Minister Viliami Lātū acquitted by Supreme Court in election bribery case

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister Viliami Latu has been acquitted by the Supreme Court following allegations of electoral bribery brought by his political rival, ʻEtuate Lavulavu.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Viliami Lātū and ‘Etuate Lavulavu

No detailed reasons for the acquittal were immediately released, but the ruling clears Latu of the case brought against him.

This is a developing story. More details will follow as they become available.

As Kaniva News reported previously, the case included claims that town officer Uele Moala received a substantial sum of money from Latu during the November 2025 election campaign period.

A writ filed in Tongan alleged the payment was made at Moala’s home on 18 November 2025, and was intended for a Free Wesleyan Church minister in Hōleva.

Moala was summoned to appear before the court to give evidence regarding the allegation. However, he had earlier publicly denied any wrongdoing, stating in a Facebook post that the claims were false and that he would contest them in court.

“I have not yet seen how lies are being fabricated to appear as truth, but I am glad we have reached court so the truth can be revealed,” Moala said, adding that the allegations had also affected the reputation of church leaders.

The case marks the latest chapter in a long-running political rivalry between Latu and Lavulavu. In 2016, Lavulavu was convicted of electoral bribery and overspending during his 2014 campaign, in a case initiated by Latu.

Following that conviction, a by-election was held in which Lavulavu’s wife, ʻAkosita Lavulavu, defeated Latu to win the vacant parliamentary seat.

The latest ruling brings a close—for now—to another legal clash between the two figures.

Court rejects mother’s bid to halt autopsy of Sydney shooting victim Alai Ahio

By
Kalino Latu
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A New South Wales court has rejected an urgent application by the mother of slain Tongan man Alai ‘Ahio, ruling that authorities can proceed with a post-mortem examination following his death in a violent Sydney shooting.

‘Ahio’s mother embraced by a relative as part of visiting the family after his death. Photo/Malia Palu

Alai ‘Ahio, 28, died after being shot during what police have described as a “targeted” and “brazen” attack at a home in Canley Heights on the evening of May 19, 2026.

Authorities say at least two armed men stormed the property and opened fire on a group gathered in a garage area, leaving five men injured.

‘Ahio, an associate of the OneFour rap group, was rushed to Liverpool Hospital with gunshot wounds but died shortly after arrival, while four others survived with serious injuries.

Police believe the attack was targeted, though the exact motive remains unclear, with investigators examining potential links to organised crime networks in western Sydney.

Mother’s court challenge

In the days following his death, ‘Ahio’s mother Savelina Fisiipeau Ahio lodged an urgent legal challenge seeking to prevent an autopsy being carried out on her son’s body.

The application was reportedly based on deeply held cultural and religious beliefs, reflecting traditional Tongan values that emphasise respect for the body after death and the importance of keeping it intact for burial.

However, the court ultimately ruled against the mother’s application, allowing the coroner to proceed with the post-mortem.

Under Australian law, an autopsy can be ordered in cases of sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths, particularly where a homicide investigation is underway. Such examinations are considered critical to determining:

  • The precise cause of death
  • The nature and trajectory of injuries
  • Evidence that may assist police investigations and prosecutions

In homicide cases, courts typically give significant weight to the public interest in establishing the full circumstances of a death, even when objections are raised on personal, cultural, or religious grounds.

Two Tongans honoured for language and community leadership in King’s birthday honours 2026

By
Kalino Latu
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Car crashes into power pole, causing damage in Tonga

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A car crashed into a roadside power pole in Tonga, leaving significant damage to electrical infrastructure and raising concerns about public safety.

The crash, believed to have occurred along a residential roadside lined with dense vegetation and palm trees, left at least one wooden power pole severely damaged.

The pole appears to have snapped and is now leaning precariously against another, with overhead power lines visibly strained and displaced.

The black vehicle involved in the incident sustained visible front-end damage and came to a stop partially off the road near a corrugated metal fence and thick roadside foliage.

The impact appears to have been strong enough to compromise the structural integrity of the power poles, suggesting a high-force collision.

No official information has yet been released regarding injuries, the condition of the driver or passengers, or the exact cause of the crash.

It remains unclear whether speed, road conditions, or other factors contributed to the incident.

The damage to the power lines could potentially disrupt electricity supply in the surrounding area, with repairs likely required to restore full service. Fallen or unstable power poles also present a safety hazard to nearby residents and motorists.

Court rules MEIDECC acted unlawfully in multi-million paʻanga water tank contracts

By
Kaniva Staff
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Nukuʻalofa, Tonga — Tonga’s Supreme Court has ruled that the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) acted unlawfully in awarding multi-million paʻanga contracts under the government’s National Water Tank Project, in a decision expected to have wide implications for public procurement practices.

In a landmark judgment delivered on 11 May 2026, Lord Chief Justice Malcolm Bishop KC found that the Ministry breached procurement laws and a binding agreement when it awarded contracts for water tanks and septic systems without fair competition.

The Court determined that in August 2022 the Ministry used a limited bidding process to procure 1,500 water tanks valued at more than TOP$3.2 million, but unlawfully invited only one supplier, MJ Watertanks, despite identifying other capable local companies.

It ruled that procurement law required MEIDECC to invite more than one bidder where possible and that its failure to do so denied other suppliers a fair opportunity to compete.

The judgment also found that the Ministry’s procurement process was flawed because it effectively pre-selected the winning supplier before any bids were invited, creating bias and undermining fairness.

The Court further criticised MEIDECC for failing to publish the contract award as required by regulations, describing this omission as a breach of transparency obligations.

In addition, the Court ruled that a series of contracts awarded in October 2023 and April 2024, worth more than TOP$7 million, were unlawfully disguised as “grant agreements” in order to bypass procurement rules.

These agreements covered the supply and installation of 1,200 water tanks and gutters, 500 additional tanks for Vavaʻu, and 400 septic tanks, all awarded directly to MJ Watertanks.

Court Rejects Grant Defence

MEIDECC had argued that the use of grant agreements was justified by urgency and donor funding requirements, particularly support from New Zealand.

However, the Court rejected this argument, finding that the transactions were procurements in substance and could not lawfully avoid the requirements of Tonga’s procurement laws simply by being labelled differently.

The Court also found that the Ministry’s actions breached a Deed of Release and Indemnity Agreement signed in November 2022 following earlier litigation.

That agreement required MEIDECC to either share work fairly among local suppliers under limited bidding or conduct publicly advertised tenders. Instead, the Ministry bypassed both options by directly awarding contracts, depriving Rotomould of a reasonable chance to secure a share of the work.

Lord Chief Justice Bishop concluded that these actions amounted to a failure to ensure a “fair and equitable” distribution of contracts and violated both procedural and substantive expectations created by the government’s agreement with the company. The Court noted that Rotomould suffered financial loss through being excluded from the process, describing it as the loss of a real and measurable opportunity to compete.

The ruling further found that the Ministry continued to breach the agreement even in 2025 allocations, where contract shares were not distributed evenly among suppliers as required.

As a result, the Court declared the procurement decisions unlawful, ordered that damages be assessed, and directed that future contracts under the National Water Tank Project must strictly comply with the Public Procurement Regulations.

It also referred the ongoing project to the Minister of Finance and the Government Procurement Committee to ensure proper oversight.

The decision is seen as a significant ruling on government accountability, reinforcing the requirement for transparency, fair competition, and adherence to the law in the use of public and donor funds in Tonga.

Hungas’ deadly eruption may hold clues to reducing global warming

By
Kalino Latu
-

A new scientific discovery stemming from Tonga’s massive and deadly volcanic eruption may have revealed a way to help reduce the effects of climate change.

The underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai erupts in the southern Pacific Ocean, on January 15 2022. NASA

Scientists have confirmed that the eruption of Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai in January 2022 was the largest volcanic eruption ever recorded by modern instruments.

Now, researchers say the eruption may have revealed an unexpected clue in the fight against methane. This potent greenhouse gas contributes significantly to global warming, according to a new study.

Using advanced satellite data collected during and after the eruption, scientists detected a huge cloud of formaldehyde high in the atmosphere.

“We found a huge cloud of formaldehyde that should normally not be there,” said Maarten van Herpen, a study author, physicist, and executive director of Acacia Impact Innovation, a Dutch consultancy.

Formaldehyde is commonly produced when methane—a potent greenhouse gas—is destroyed in the atmosphere. The discovery suggests that natural atmospheric processes triggered by the eruption may have accelerated methane removal on an unprecedented scale.

Methane is approximately 80 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Although it remains in the atmosphere for a much shorter time than carbon dioxide, it is responsible for roughly one-third of current global warming. Atmospheric methane concentrations have more than doubled since pre-industrial times.

Scientists say reducing carbon dioxide emissions remains essential because the gas can persist in the atmosphere for centuries. However, cutting methane emissions has increasingly been viewed as one of the fastest ways to slow global warming in the near term due to its relatively short atmospheric lifetime.

The researchers believe they may have observed a chemical process previously identified over the Atlantic Ocean, but on a far larger scale.

The extraordinary conditions created by the Tongan eruption appear to have provided a rare natural laboratory for studying how methane can be broken down in the atmosphere.

While the findings do not suggest volcanic eruptions themselves are a solution to climate change, scientists say understanding the chemical reactions behind the formaldehyde plume could help develop new methods to accelerate methane removal.

If confirmed through further research, the discovery could provide policymakers and climate scientists with a valuable new tool in efforts to curb global warming and limit the impacts of climate change.

This version is written in a newspaper style, with a stronger lead, clearer transitions, and a focus on the significance of the scientific discovery.

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