Home Blog Page 203

Tongan  commander congratulated after assuming leading role at Australian navy

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Family members and kāinga of Commander Rosemarie ‘Apikotoa have recenlty welcomed her successful career at the  Royal Australian Navy (RAN).  

Commander Rosemarie Apikotoa

It has been reported that Apikotoa is taking up a new commanding role at the Brisbane’s HAMAS Moreton warships.

The base is responsible for providing administrative support to RAN personnel and visiting warships.

‘Apikotoa began her career as a Maritime Warfare Officer, joining the Royal Australian Navy on the 20 Jan 1997 via Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) where she conducted Undergraduate and military studies.

She was graduated at the end of 1999 with a UNSW Bachelor of Arts Degree with a double Major in History and Geography and minor in Information Systems.

Since then, CMDR Apikotoa has served in various Warships (HMA Ships Anzac, Bunbury, Gladstone, Norman, Gascoyne, Sydney, Newcastle, Parramatta) being the first Officer of Polynesian descent to gain an Ocean Navigation Certificate and Bridge Warfare Certificate to drive Australian Warships at sea.

Highlights within her career include successfully circumnavigating Australia, patrolling Australian fisheries, mentoring female rugby players through Navy and ADF Rugby as well as deploying to the Middle East in Operation Catalyst Rotation 18 as the Deputy Operations Officer on-board ANZAC class frigate, HMAS Parramatta in 2008.

CMDR Apikotoa has been employed in the ADF’s Intelligence and Cyber Warfare domain for over a decade, the first position of which was Deputy Director Navy Intelligence Capability in 2011.

It was here that CMDR Apikotoa commenced part time study and graduated with a Master’s degree in Business from UNSW at the end of 2013. CMDR Apikotoa has played a significant role in building Navy’s Intelligence and Cyber Warfare Personnel capability.

For dedication shown in these duties, as well as long term (15 years) dedication to Navy rugby, CMDR Apikotoa was awarded a Gold Level Chief of Navy commendation. CMDR Apikotoa graduated from the Australian Command and Staff Course in December 2020 with a Masters in Defence Studies and Strategy from ANU.

Her kāinga and friends have welcome her achievements on Facebook.

“She is such a phenomenal spirit – I interviewed once a long while ago when she was given her first ship to command which required an overhaul”, wrote Tongan host of ABC’s  Pacific Mornings.

“She had to wait for ships to be manufactured which allowed for women sailors and officers to have utilities.

“We discussed her role as a Tongan woman and being an older sister with brothers and how that impacted her method of commanding and her specific leadership in commanding her own ship.

“It was such a fascinating discussion and also so stimulating. She grew up as a friend of my then producer.

“Some stories stay with you a very very long time. Such an insightful and brilliant heart full woman!

 I’m excited to see her celebrated here!”

“Wow. congratulations on your achievements and best wishes for your future” another wrote.

“Congratulations! We are all so proud”.

Person dead after medical event at beach

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By rnz.co.nz and republished with permission

A person has died in a water-related incident at Narrow Neck Beach on Auckland’s North Shore.

Police and ambulance were called to the beach near Devonport around 5.50pm Sunday.

A police spokesperson said the person appears to have suffered a medical event in the water.

They said the person had either gotten out or been taken out of the water and received medical attention on the shore, but did not survive.

The death will likely be referred to the Coroner who would ultimately rule on cause of death.

No more NZ citizens or residents trying to leave Gaza – MFAT

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says it is not aware of any remaining New Zealand citizens or permanent residents still seeking to leave Gaza.

Foreign affairs minister Winston Peters said on social media that one citizen left overnight via the Rafah crossing into Egypt, accompanied by a family member.

They are currently being offered support by the New Zealand embassy in Cairo.

Last month, the ministry said there were 20 New Zealanders trying to leave Gaza.

A steady stream of New Zealanders have left the region since the conflict broke out in early October.

Police investigate child’s death in Auckland

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The police are making enquiries after the death of child in south Auckland’s Papakura last night.

Police were called to an address on Cargill Street shortly after 9.30pm, where a child was found dead.

The death is being treated as unexplained.

A post-mortem is due to be completed tomorrow.

Tongatapu man jailed for one year after supplying illicit drugs to a child

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A Ha’asini man had been sentenced to one year and sixth months after providing illicit drugs to a child, 14, at Veitongo.

The last six months of his imprisonment term was suspended for 12 months on conditions.

Acting on a tip-off, the Police located Fili Napa’a, 31, in the driver seat of his vehicle with two passengers, one on the front  passenger seat and one at the back seat.

They found and confiscated part of a plastic bag on a compartment of the driver’s door.

They also discovered a plastic bag containing suspected cannabis branches and leaves on the driver’s seat floor, a .22 rifle beside the driver’s seat and an empty pocket on top of the speedo meter.

The Police also found $20 on a compartment underneath the radio-set.

A test tube containing a suspected methamphetamine inside the sun visor of the driver’s seat was also found as well as three packets of suspected cannabis on the back seat.

A yellow bowl containing cannabis leaves and cannabis leaves were found on the floor of the back seat.

The Police also searched Napa’a’s house at Ha’asini where they discovered more cannabis leaves and branches as well as drugs paraphernalia which they later tested and confirmed as illicit drugs.

The prisoner had previous convictions in which he received a suspended sentence for theft count in 2011.

In 2012 he was fined for drunkenness and escaping custody.

In 2014 he was fined for drunkenness and assault.

In 2019 he was fined for possession of illicit drugs.

Justice Cooper reduced Napa’a’s sentence for his guilty plea based on the following conditions:

  • He must report to probation within 24 hours of his release
  • He must be put on probation
  • He must complete a drug awareness course, and
  • He must not commit any offence punishable by imprisonment

“18 months imprisonment, the final 6 months suspended for 12 months on the above conditions”.

Massive losses in Australian crypto-currency schemes a warning to would-be investors

By
Philip Cass
-

Australians who have invested in crypto-currency schemes have lost hundreds of millions of dollars according to a new report in the Guardian.

Tongan promoter of Hyperfund scam in the USA Setaita Folau Tanaki recently warned that Tongan investors who had invested $100,000 and more in the scam had been unable to withdraw their money

Reported losses to these schemes total more than Aus$350 million since 2020. The actual amount lost is likely far higher, with research suggesting just 13% of losses are reported.

The most prominent schemes named in Australia have been HyperFund, HyperVerse and Blockchain Global.

Unfortunately, the Tongan community is highly likely to have its own victims.

Kaniva News has reported several stories in recent years about Tongans in different parts of the world who have been lured into investing their money in these schemes which promise huge rewards, only to see their money disappear.

READ MORE:

The latest losses in Australia should act as a warning to would-be investors.

Sometimes the money is the victim’s life savings, such as the $5300 lost by a mother who was conned into investing in a crypto-currency scheme

Tragically, even when the evidence is put in front of them, some Tongans have denied that there is a problem and continued to persuade friends, relatives and into throwing their money away.

Unlike New Zealand, Australia’s financial authorities appear to have been completely lax in trying to regulate these schemes and have not taken any meaningful legal action against them.

In September 2021 New Zealand’s Financial Market Authority warned: “The FMA are concerned HyperFund may be operating a scam.  HyperFund operates on a Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) model and claims to offer passive investment opportunities. We have received reports of them recruiting affiliate investors in New Zealand. It is not registered or licensed to provide financial services/products in New Zealand.”

Sam Lee, the founder of the failed Blockchain Global cryptocurrency exchange. Photograph: Blockchain Global/Facebook

Illegal

In New Zealand pyramid schemes are illegal under the Fair Trading Act. They usually offer a financial return based on payments made by new recruits. Returns depend on the recruitment of new members, not sales of a product or service. Only the tiny number of people  at the top of the pyramid would likely make money, since the number of possible new recruits in any community would be limited.

Earlier this year In February, the New Zealand Financial Markets Authority issued an interim stop order against Validus Oceania and associated members, which effectively banned it from operating.

In California the state’s Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation has issued a ease and desist order against Sam Lee, operator of a failed financial scheme.

International law enforcement agencies have identified crypto-currencies at the centre of  global money laundering operations  by drug and human trafficking cartels.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime warned that crypto-currencies like Bitcoin were being used to launder criminal proceeds and began training law enforcement officials across the Pacific.

The people who benefit most from crypto-currencies are not those who lose all their moneys, but international criminal gangs.

Kaniva News says:

Do not invest in crypto-currencies such as Bitcoin or any kind of pyramid scheme. They are a fraud, offering unrealistic returns that cannot be sustained. You may get some return, but ultimately your money will disappear. Any profits you make will come from other people being defrauded. Any investment you make may well benefit criminal gangs. Investing in crypto-currencies and pyramids is not only foolish, it is also unethical and immoral.

For more information

Investors lose millions as crypto schemes operate unchecked in Australia

As El Salvador counts costs of adopting Bitcoin and UN warns of crypto-currency crimewave, will Tonga heed warning signs?

As El Salvador counts costs of adopting Bitcoin and UN warns of crypto-currency crimewave, will Tonga heed warning signs?

Lions Share cryptocurrency operation a suspected pyramid scheme – Commerce Commission

Lions Share cryptocurrency operation a suspected pyramid scheme – Commerce Commission

Validus claims it will ‘stick around for a long time,’ but withholds full details on withdrawals

Validus claims it will ‘stick around for a long time,’ but withholds full details on withdrawals

Police believe they may have uncovered human trafficking, migrant exploitation in Hawke’s Bay

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Lauren Crimp of rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission

Police say it is possible they have uncovered a human trafficking and migrant exploitation ring in Hawke’s Bay, sparked by a “distraught” victim raising the alarm.

A 44-year-old man facing three charges of rape, and one of unlawful sexual connection, was remanded in custody and granted interim name suppression at Hastings District Court on Thursday.

He was arrested following a joint operation between Hawke’s Bay police and Immigration New Zealand, called Operation Wentworth.

The operation began when a victim contacted police “after fleeing and asking for help”, Detective Senior Sergeant Sally Patrick told RNZ.

“She was distraught,” Patrick said.

“She went to a person that she trusted, and then they phoned police and we attended straight away.”

The woman accused the man of rape, and Patrick said the other information she gave led police to believe migrant exploitation and human trafficking were also at play.

Human trafficking charges would likely be laid in the new year – but police first had to follow due process and seek the solicitor-general’s consent to lay those charges, which took some time, Patrick said.

Police “highly suspect” there were other victims – and other potential perpetrators, too, she said.

They had so far carried out three search warrants in Hawke’s Bay, and two migrants were served Deportation Liability Notices as a result.

The investigation might go outside the region, and police were “potentially” looking at a human trafficking and migrant exploitation ring, Patrick said.

“That’s why we are reaching out to any victims to get in contact, and that’s not always easy,” she said.

“The type of exploitation that they’re subjected to makes them also scared to come forward.”

That could be for a number of reasons, she said – including fears they might be deported, not having financial support, and if English was not their first language.

“We want people to know that they can come forward and police will absolutely speak to them and try and support them where we can.”

The man is due to appear in Hastings District Court again next week.

Anyone with information can contact police on 111 and quote file number 231129/1010 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, police said.

Immigration New Zealand declined to comment further, as the investigation is ongoing.

Authority warns after expiry dates illegally removed from ‘Tiger’ beer in Tonga

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Tongan Consumer Affairs has warned the public about buying bottles of Tiger lager beer in the kingdom claiming the product’s expiry dates had been intentionally removed.

Tiger Lager Beers purchased in Tonga without expiry date labels

The authority also warned that the public be curious about buying the beer at bars and liquors and make sure they have their expiry dates on the bottles before any purchase was made.

Photos of the product shared on Consumer Affairs’ Facebook page showed labels which said the “Crystal World Acclaimed Asian Lager” was made in Singapore.

Date marks indicate how long products such as alcohol can be kept before they start to deteriorate or becomes unsafe to drink.

The warning came after the authority said yesterday an enquiry with its office led to an investigation about noodle products which a consumer wanted to know about its place of manufacture and processing.

The authority confirmed the noodle was being processed in Tonga and its packing boxes were imported from Samoa.

The Consumer Affairs also warned buyers it is their responsibilities to make sure any products they were going to purchase were still fresh and safe to consume.

Car pulled from water at Popua Park

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A vehicle was pulled from the water at Popua Community Park on Tonga’s main island of Tongatapu.

Car being pulled from the water at Popua park. Photo/Screenshot

The white hatchback car was showed on a streamed video with registration plate number TTP2-7.

It was unclear when did the incident happen.

There were no reports of injuries.

Onlookers can be overheard saying no one was inside the car when it was pulled out of the water.

A car seat with yellow and black colours, spotted on the foreshore close to the where the car was removed, was said to be from the car in question.

The person who streamed the incident provided no further details.

The incident came after a car was pulled from the Tu’imatamoana wharf early this year following police desperate search for a missing man. Police later said at the time the body of the missing man Talanoa Leakona Lemoto was found inside the car.

Quake felt in Tonga

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake was felt in Tonga’s main island Tongtapu on Monday evening.

The quake hit at latitude -18.85 degrees south and longitude -175.62 degrees west at a depth of 250km, and struck at 7.34pm.

Tonga Met said it is not a tsunami threat to the country.

Reports from Tongatapu residents on social media described the tremor as a moderate quake.

1...202203204...967Page 203 of 967