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Health check calls resurface after successive MP deaths as by-election campaign kicks off

A call for authorities to consider making health checks a requirement for all candidates running for Parliament has cropped up again.

The issue has been increasingly debated recently after four MPs died in two years while or after seeking medical treatments overseas.

Seinimili Fonua (L), Kapeli Lanumata (top middle), Dr Fotu Fisi’iahi (Top right), Matani Nifofā (Bottom middle) Daniel Fale (Bottom right)

The latest call comes a month before Tongatapu 10  voters go to the polls to elect a new MP after former MP Pohiva Tuionetoa died  in March.

Five candidates were officially named after a registration process on Wednesday 7.

The announcement of the candidates yesterday triggered a debate on social media with one PTOA (Democrats Party) group drawing its followers’ attention to the important of MPs being physically fit.

“Maybe the most important thing is their having good health”, a Facebook poster said in Tongan.

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Some commenters said some people in the past knew they were unwell, but insisted on getting to Parliament so they would be entitled to be sent overseas for treatment.

Responding, another commenter said: “Absolutely right”.

“Tongatapu 10 it is about time for you to watch carefully especially those who appeared to be overweight they were people who are at risk of being unwell”.

“People who looked unfit could end up being sent to New Zealand to see a specialist”, one commenter wrote.

Some said it was a good idea to make health checks a law to help reduce the cost to taxpayers of sending MPs and Ministers overseas for medical appointments.

The call came after former Prime Minister and MP Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa died in the United States in March. His family paid for his medical treatment, but he still received his salary from government while he was there.

In 2021 his Deputy Prime Minister, Sione Vuna Fa’otusia, died after spending months in a New Zealand hospital for medical treatment.

In June 2022 the former Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Viliami Manuopangai Hingano, died in Auckland City Hospital while receiving medical treatment.

In November 2022 the former Minister of Fisheries, Semisi Fakahau, died after returning from a medical appointment in New Zealand.

There were also similar cases of former Prime Ministers and MPs passing away while on medical treatment in Auckland.

This is not the first time the public has been concerned about MPs and Cabinet Ministers’ overseas medical treatment entitlements.

Early this year a Parliamentary press release announced that Hon. Tu’i’onetoa’s family had paid for his medical treatment in the US. It prompted a call for the Speaker to confirm whether he was also still receiving his salaries. Parliament later confirmed that Tu’i’onetoa was still being paid while in the US.

At the time a heated debate erupted on social media, with calls for the authorities to review the MPs’ entitlements to reduce unnecessary spending of tax revenue.

This included suggestions that MPs who were unwell should be first tested in Tonga and if their conditions were terminal they should not be sent overseas.

The official candidates for the July 13,  2023 by-election are:

1. Matani Nifofā, Kolonga

2. Senimili Tu’i’onetoa Fonua, Makaunga

3. Daniel Kimball Fale, Lapaha

4. Kapelieli Militoni Lanumata, Lapaha

5. Dr. Fotu Kuohiko Valeli Fisi’iahi, Niutoua

Rangiora homicide victim’s body was dismembered, police say

By rnz.co.nz

Police are yet to locate some of the remains of Richard Leman, who was found deceased in his car in April.

Richard Leman. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police

They suspect there are more arrests to be made, in addition to the 46-year-old man already facing a murder charge.

Leman’s body was found in a vehicle at an abandoned property on Tyler Street, Rangiora, on 17 April. He had been missing for almost a week.

“Some of his remains have not yet been recovered,” Detective Senior Sergeant Tania Jellyman said today.

“We are not in a position to provide any further information in relation to this, however this is understandably very distressing for Leman’s family.

“We would like to be able to recover the missing remains so his family can move forward from this tragedy.”

The New Zealand Herald reported his torso was found in the car’s boot, with “several” parts still missing, after being shot.

Jellyman said police were hoping to provide “some closure” for Leman’s family.

“We believe there are also others involved. We believe the others involved would have discussed what occurred with their friends and associates.”

She said police were confident someone in the Rangiora community knew what happened to Leman.

“We are urging you to do the right thing and come forward to speak to us.”

Anyone with information “no matter how insignificant you may think it is” was urged to call police on 105, quoting file number 230415/8026, or by calling Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Before his body was found, Leman’s sister Nicola called him “a big baby at heart”, with “the kindest heart”.

In a social media post following the arrest, she said her family had “prayed for this day to come… and for justice to prevail”.

“Richard was and always will be a son, a brother and a father who loved his family with all that he had and in return his family loved him unconditionally. The past seven weeks have been the most heart-breaking and stressful of all our lives,

“As Richard’s book of life is written this chapter is now closed, with the remaining chapters yet to be written, undoubtedly, they will be filled with more tears as we navigate the times ahead, watching, waiting and praying for justice to be served.”

Leman thanked police for their commitment and determination to find his alleged murderer.

The man charged with murder was granted name suppression, and is scheduled to appear in court later this month.

Christopher Luxon urges Kiwis to have more babies, saying it ‘would be helpful’

By rnz.co.nz

National’s deputy leader says Christopher Luxon was joking when he encouraged people to “have more babies”.

Christopher Luxon Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Luxon was answering questions about New Zealand’s immigration settings while outlining National’s infrastructure policies in Christchurch yesterday.

“Immigration’s always got to be linked to our economic agenda and our economic agenda says we need people.

“I mean, here’s the deal, essentially New Zealand stopped replacing itself in 2016.

“I encourage all of you to go out there, have more babies if you wish, that would be helpful.”

Speaking to reporters today, the party’s deputy leader Nicola Willis was asked if she believed people needed to have more babies in New Zealand

“No, that is the decision for individuals depending on their desires and their family circumstances. I think what you’re referring to is a joke that Christopher Luxon made.”

Willis said National would never be a party that told people what the right size for their family was.

“The National Party does not have a policy that we want to encourage women to change their decisions about their family size or change guidance to men for that matter either and to suggest otherwise is ridiculous.”

“He made a joke.”

Luxon’s comments follow a spat between both major parties after the Labour’s campaign chair Megan Woods likened National’s prescriptions policy to the dystopian TV show and novel The Handmaid’s Tale.

Primary teachers reach deal with government over pay, conditions

By rnz.co.nz

Primary teachers have voted to accept the latest Ministry of Education collective agreement offer.

Photo: 123RF

In a statement this morning, NZEI Te Riu Roa said the offer was the fourth put to teachers.

It followed a long negotiation campaign which included the largest education strike in this country’s history.

A teachers’ protest march in Auckland on 20 March. Photo: RNZ / Jordan Dunn

The settlement includes a six percent pay increase in July, with two further increases in July and December 2024.

A lump sum payment of $3000 would be made in July, plus an additional $1500 for union members.

Classroom release times will increase from 10 to 25 hours per term and mileage allowances are to go up.

NZEI Te Riu Roa president Mark Potter said the more than doubling of classroom release time was the biggest win and the first increase since 2005.

“The work demands on teachers have skyrocketed in the last couple of decades and this means teachers will have more time to plan, assess and do individual work with students.”

The settlement also includes “significant” increases in Māori Immersion Teacher Allowance, the introduction of the Pasifika Bilingual Immersion Teaching Allowance, a rise in the reliever pay cap, and provisional to full certification costs paid for beginning teachers.

Potter said moving the cap on reliever teacher pay rates was a step toward paying experienced relief teachers fairly, and should make it easier for schools to find relievers.

Paeone Goonan, a resource teacher of learning and behaviour based at Ōpōtiki College and a member of the negotiating team, said the introduction of the cultural leadership allowances and the increase to the Māori Immersion Teaching Allowance were “historic improvements”.

“They acknowledge the skills and expertise of those kaiako and their culture and will compensate those teachers who are doing the mahi anyway, such as assisting with the new Aotearoa histories curriculum or teaching kapa haka.”

Last week, primary teachers called off strike action as they awaited the revised government offer.

Primary teachers have previously told RNZ they were striking for the children.

Newtown Primary School deputy principal Leanne Whitfield said previous offers from the ministry were not good enough.

“The pay jolt we got a few years ago has mostly disappeared through inflation, but actually the impact on teachers through dealing with a very wide range of needs in our classrooms is a much greater problem at the moment.”

She said people would be shocked if they knew how under-resourced schools were.

Teacher Mary Bluck previously said a pay rise was not the most important issue for her.

“It’s about work conditions, smaller class sizes and greater support for our students,” she said.

“I’m striking for our children. Our children at this point in the junior school have not had a normal school or education life due to Covid and so they have greater needs and we don’t have the resources to support them in the way we’d like.”

Principals back clampdown on youth vaping, urge more help for kids to give up

By rnz.co.nz

School principals are backing the government’s crackdown on youth vaping, but say more needs to be done to combat what they are calling a crisis.

Photo: Unsplash

From August, all vapes sold will need removable or replaceable batteries – effectively banning disposable vapes.

New vape shops cannot be set up within 300 metres of schools or marae.

The government is also outlawing flavour names such as “strawberry jelly donut” to make them less attractive to children.

Announcing the changes on Tuesday, Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall said too many teenagers were vaping and the restrictions would have a big impact on the number taking up the habit.

Young people RNZ spoke to in central Christchurch were not so sure.

“I think young people will still be able to get them even with all of those measures … vapes are at every dairy on every corner and you can order them online, it’s all around us,” one teenager said.

“I think teenagers will still find a way to get it, because it’s teenagers and they always do, but hopefully they can stop little kids from getting hold of them,” another said.

The latest figures show youth vaping is increasing.

A recent survey by ASH New Zealand found daily vaping among 13- to 14-year-olds had shot up by 209 percent.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Health statistics showed the number of 15- to 17-year-olds who vaped every day had quadrupled in three years, from two percent in 2018-19 to eight percent in 2021-22.

Principals Federation president Leanne Otene said it was not just a problem for high schools – intermediates across the country, including hers, were dealing with it every day and teachers were feeling powerless.

“It’s definitely hard to police because it doesn’t leave an odour, it can be done in corners and it’s not something like smoking where it was easily detectable. There was some discussion about putting vaping detectors in schools but that’s just not possible, it’s just too expensive to do that.”

Otene said anything to make vaping less attractive to kids was a positive step.

“The mere fact that vaping comes in bubblegum and fruit flavours begs the question of who is this marketed to. The announcement today about flavour names is a real indication that the government realises vaping is directed at our young people in terms of its sale and purchase.

“Vaping was originally a way to help people give up smoking, no one considered that our young people would take it up with such voracity,” she said.

Otene said vaping was particularly a problem for Māori youth.

“Statistics show a high percentage of Māori boys, 28 percent are vaping, and our Māori girls are at 39 percent, so it is a problem for Māori. If we can get it away from our marae, all the better.”

Jacqui Brown, principal of New Plymouth Girls’ High School, said she was glad to see the phasing-out of cheap, disposable vapes.

“Removing access to disposable vapes is probably the strongest step because I think that helps prevent young people starting to vape. Financially they’re more priced in that bracket that teenagers can get hold of that level of money,” she said.

Brown said she wanted to see more help for students who were addicted to vaping.

“One of the things we’re finding are a small but significant number of students saying they’re addicted and can’t get through the day without vaping. Something I’d really like to see is more access to help them stop vaping.”

Cambridge Middle School principal Daryl Gibbs said the regulations were a “good start”, and that a total ban, along the lines of Australia, could be looked at in the future.

“I mean everyone’s pointing towards Australia … and their changes to making it a prescription only. You know there is arguments for that, that will stop those that that need access for smoking cessation, from accessing it,” he said.

He said vaping started as a measure to support those who had an addiction to smoking, but has now become a huge problem among teenagers.

Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall said the restrictions struck a balance between preventing young people from starting to vape, while still helping adults to quit smoking cigarettes.

Plea for ‘harsher controls’

Asthma and Respiratory Foundation chief executive Leticia Harding said the new rules hadn’t gone far enough.

She told Morning Report they would have liked to see a cap on the 1290 specialist vape retailers around the country.

Harding said the government needed to invest in support for those youth who were now already addicted to nicotine because of vaping.

“We talk to Quitline all the time, they don’t have that expertise, the resources to help our rangatahi actually quit vaping and that’s not good enough.

“And the sad thing is that this had been, this was foreseeable. This was talked about in 2017 and here we are. And so the ministry needs to do harsher controls around the space.”

New Zealand COVID-19 death toll surpasses 3000

‘Oku taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala fakaTonga

Three thousands New Zealanders have now died from the Covid-19 virus, the Ministry of Health record shows.

In its latest report this week about the number of new cases it said there have been 12,028 Covid-19 cases reported in New Zealand over the past week.

The numbers cover Monday, May 29 to Sunday, June 4. Case numbers continue to fall, with 2343 fewer cases recorded than the week before.

As at midnight Monday there were 278 people in hospital with the virus.

Nine people were in an intensive care unit as at midnight Monday.

Fifty-nine more people with the virus have died, with the Ministry of Health explaining there was a higher than usual number of deaths reported “due to a backlog of deaths being coded”.

The ministry said two died in June, 13 in May, seven in April, three in March and three in January. The remainder of the deaths occurred in 2022.

The total number of deaths confirmed as attributable to Covid-19, either as the underlying cause of death or as a contributing factor, is 3001.The total number of deaths attributed to Covid-19 since the pandemic began now exceeds 3000 – reaching 3001​.

The most recent genomic surveillance shows XBB.1.6 is now the dominant Covid-19 variant in Aotearoa, representing 24% of cases, with a “strong growth trajectory expected to continue”.

The Institute of Environmental Science and Research said other tracked variants, such as FK.1.1 and XBB.1.5 remain in circulation.

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

A’u e mate’ ‘i Nu’u Sila’ ni ‘i he Koviti 19 ‘o fakalaka he 3000 talu ‘eni e tō ‘a e mahaki faka’auha fakamamani lahi’ ni  ‘i he ta’u ‘e tolu kuo hili’.

I heene lipooti fakamuimui he uike ni ki he lahi ‘o e ngaahi keisi fo’ou ne pehē ai ko e toko 12,028 ‘i he uike kuo ‘osi.

Ko e fika ko ia kau ai ‘a e Monite Me ‘aho 29 ki he Sapate Sune ‘aho 4 ka ne mahino ‘oku ‘alu ke holo ‘a e fika’ ‘aki ‘a e toko 2343 mei he uike ki mu’a ai’.

I he tu’uapo Mōnite’ na’e toko 278 ‘i fale mahaki ma’u ‘e he vailasi’.

Toko hiva ne nau ‘i he ‘initenisivikea he tu’uapō Mōnite’.

Ne mate ha toe kakai ‘e toko 59 pea ‘i he fakamatala mei he Potungāue Mo’ui’ ne ki’i ngali kehe ‘a e ma’olunga ange fika ‘o e kau mate ‘i he angamaheni.

Pehe ‘e he potungaue ko e toko ua ne mate ‘i Sune, 13 ‘i Me, toko fitu ‘i ‘Epeleli, toko tolu ‘i Ma’asi pea toko tolu ‘i Sanuali. Ko e toenga ‘o e ate ne hoko ia ‘i he 2022.

Ko e lahi fakakatoa ‘o e mate kuo fakapapau’i ko e tupu mei he Koviti 19 pe ko ‘ene hoko ‘a e Koviti ko ha fakitoa tānaki a’u hake ‘eni ki he toko 3001.

Ko e genomic surveillance fakamuimui taha ‘oku ha ko e XBB.1.6 ‘a e fotunga kehe lahi taha kuo ne kama ‘a Nu’u Sila ‘o ne fakafofonga ‘a e peseta ‘e 24 ‘o e ngaahi keisi.

Ne pehē ‘e he Institute of Environmental Science and Research oku kei vilovilo holo pe mo e ngaahi fotunga kehe hange ko e FK.1.1 mo e XBB.1.5.

Fifteen Pasifika people on NZ King’s Birthday Honours List

By asiapacificreport.nz

Paediatrician Dr Teuila Percival heads the list of Pacific recipients in the New Zealand King’s Birthday Honours List for 2023.

(L=R) Dr Siale ‘Alo Foliaki, Dr Semisi Taumoepeau and Meleane Pau’uvale

Dr Percival is one of at least 15 Pasifika people in New Zealand who are on the list. She is to be a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to health and the Pacific community.

For the past three decades she has been a strong advocate for Pacific children’s health in New Zealand and the Pacific.

Dr Teuila Percival.
Dr Teuila Percival . . . “It’s important for Pacific people to be recognised in the work they do.” Image: Pasifika Medical Association/RNZ

Dr Percival said she felt honoured to get the award after getting over the initial surprise.

“I think it’s important for Pacific people to be recognised in the work they do, so it’s really nice in that respect,” she said.

“It’s just a great job, I love working with kids. I think children are the most important thing.”

Dr Percival was a founding member of South Seas Healthcare, a community health service for Pacific people in Auckland since 1999.

She has also been deployed to Pacific nations after natural disasters like to Samoa in 2009 after the tsunami and to Vanuatu in 2015 following cyclone Pam.

Education
Sacred Heart school counsellor Nua Silipa is to be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to Pacific education.

Silipa said her experience struggling in the education system after immigrating from Samoa in 1962 had motivated her to help Pacific people in the classroom.

“When I look back now I think my journey was so hard as a minority in Christchurch,” Silipa said.

“It was a struggle because we weren’t in the classroom, the resources at that time were Janet and John . . .  so as a learner I really struggled.”

She said the “whole experience of underachievement” motivated her to help “people who are different in the system”.

“It’s not a one size fits all in education.”

Nua Silipa said she felt humbled to be a recipient on the King’s Birthday Honours List.

She said the award also honoured the people who had been involved in improving education for Pasifika.

“I know there’s so, so many other people who are doing work quietly every day, helping our communities and I’m really in awe of them.

“There are many unsung heroes out in our community doing work for our people.”

Technology
Mary Aue is to be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to education, technology and Pacific and Māori communities.

Mary Aue is to be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to education, technology and Pacific and Māori communities
Coconut Wireless creator Mary Aue . . . “There was no communication back then, so I created an e-newsletter.” Image: RNZ Pacific

Mary Aue is to be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to education, technology and Pacific and Māori communities Photo: Supplied

In 1999, she launched Coconut Wireless as an e-newsletter for Pasifika reaching 10,000 subscribers. It relaunched in 2014 as a social media platform and now has over 300,000 Facebook followers.

“There was a disconnect between community and government agencies and there was a disconnect between our communities,” she said.

“There was no communication back then, so I created an e-newsletter.”

The name Coconut Wireless was based on the island concept as a fast way of communicating through word of mouth.

Aue has also been an advocate for more Pacific and Māori learners in science, engineering, technology and mathematics (STEM).

Aue said she was originally going to decline the award as there were a lot of people in the community who do not get recognised behind the scenes.

“I have to thank my family, my friends and the amazing community that we’re all part of.”

Sport
Teremoana Maua-Hodges said she “just about choked” on her cup of tea when she found out she had received the Queen’s Service Medal.

Maua-Hodges has been given the award for her contribution to sport and culture.

She said the award was the work of many people — including her parents — who travelled to New Zealand from the Cook Islands when she was a child.

“I’m very humbled by the award, but it’s not just me,” Maua-Hodges said.

“I stand on the shoulders of different heroes and heroines of our people in the community.

“It’s not my award, it’s our award.”

Maua-Hodges said the most important thing she had done was connect Cook Islanders.

“Uniting Cook Islanders who have come over from different islands in the Cook Islands and then to come here and be united here within their diversity makes me very proud.

“They’ve taken on the whole culture of Aotearoa but still as Cook Islanders . . .  to show their voice, to show their flag, in the land of milk and honey.”

The Queen’s Service Medal will be renamed the King’s Service Medal once the necessary processes are done, and the updated Royal Warrant is approved by King Charles.

Pasifika recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for 2022:

Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit: Dr Teuila Mary Percival — for services to health and the Pacific community.

Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit: Nua Semuā Silipa — for services to Pacific education.

Honorary Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit: Meleane Pau’uvale — for services to the Tongan community and education.

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:

Mary Puatuki Aue — for services to education, technology and Pacific and Māori communities.

Dr Ofanaite Ana Dewes — for services to health and the Pacific community.

Fa’atili Iosua Esera — for services to Pacific education.

Dr Siale Alokihakau Foliaki — for services to mental health and the Pacific community.

Keni Upokotea Moeroa — for services to the Cook Islands community.

Talalelei Senetenari Taufale — for services to Pacific health.

Dr Semisi Pouvalu Taumoepeau — for services to education and tourism.

Honorary Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit: Fa’amoana Ioane Luafutu — for services to arts and the Pacific community.

Queen’s Service Medal:

Joseph Davis — for services to the Fijian community.

Reverend Alofa Ta’ase Lale — for services to the community.

Teremoana Maua-Hodges — for services to sport and culture.

Putiani Upoko — for services to the Pacific community.

Man charged following death of Kaikohe woman Linda Woods

By rnz.co.nz

Police have arrested and charged a man with manslaughter, burglary and aggravated assault in connection with the death of Linda Woods in Kaikohe last week.

Photo: RNZ / Lucy Xia

Police have arrested and charged a man with manslaughter, burglary and aggravated assault in connection with the death of Linda Woods in Kaikohe last week.

Woods, 71, died Thursday night after being injured during a struggle when a person broke into her Taraire Street property.

The offender fled barefoot without his shorts following what police said earlier this week was probably a sexually motivated burglary.

Police executed a search warrant on the same Kaikohe street where the attack happened earlier on Tuesday, before announcing the arrest of a 52-year-old man.

He went into custody without incident, and will appear in Kaikohe District Court on Wednesday.

Woods’ niece at the weekend told media she was on dialysis, and the intruder ripped out her breathing tubes.

Police on Monday said they had found DNA believed to be linked to the offender.

Cellphone footage of part of the incident showed the back of the alleged offender’s head. Police said he was aged between 40 and 60, “with short, grey-speckled, possibly curly hair, Māori or Polynesian and with a solid build”.

Police on Tuesday thanked the community, particularly those who had supplied information during the investigation.

Lack of fono call-out for nobility during Princess Melesiu‘ilikutapu’s pongipongi tapu sparks debate

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Power cut in Nuku‘alofa after car hits high voltage power pole

The Capital Nuku’alofa and its surrounding towns suffered a huge power cut early on Monday following a car crash damaging a high voltage power line.

Car crashed into a power pole causing major power cut in Nuku’alofa. Photo/ Tonga Power

Tonga Power said a vehicle hit a power pole “near one of our high voltage poles at Ma’ufanga”.

“As a result, the power supply to your respective areas has been temporarily switched off for safety reasons starting from 2:30pm this afternoon”.it said.

Power was out in all major centres, including Ma’ufanga’s Small industries, Ha’amoko, Queen Salote Wharf, Patangata, Popua, Fasi, Downtown Nuku’alofa, Kolomotu’a, Sopu, Kapeta, Hala’ovave, Ísileli, Longolongo, Vaololoa, Havelu and Tofoa

“To rectify the situation and restore normal power services, emergency repair works are currently underway”, the power company said in a statement.

“We estimate that the repairs will take approximately 4 hours to complete, including the replacement of the affected pole and cables. Once the work is finalized, the power supply to your area will be promptly restored without any further notice.

“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by this unforeseen power disruption.

We understand the importance of uninterrupted power supply and are working diligently to minimize the impact on your daily routines.

“For the latest updates on the progress of the repairs, please feel free to contact our dedicated support team at the following numbers: 21344 or 944.

“Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this temporary interruption.

“We greatly appreciate your patience as we work towards resolving the issue and ensuring the safety of our community”.