It’s a sea of red tonight at sold-out Mt Smart Stadium as Mate Ma’a Tonga take on the Kiwis in rugby league action. Here’s the best of some Tongan spirit in the stands.
Fiji athletics star Banuve Tabakaucoro swept to victory in the men’s 100 metres title at the Pacific Mini Games in the Northern Mariana Islands.
The Fiji sprinter took out the flagship athletics race in 10.56 seconds.
It follows the win of the region’s finest sprinter, Toea Wisil of Papua New Guinea, in the women’s 100m, 24 hours earlier.
Tabakaucoro had already secured his spot in the Fiji team for the Commonwealth Games in England that begin in July.
Banuve Tabakaucoro streaks to victory in the men’s 100m Photo: Ken Camacho
Tonga has won one gold medal in the track and field through women’s shot putter ‘Atamaama Tu’utafaiva to follow her recent win in the Oceania athletics championships.
Karo Iga of PNG won gold in the men’s octathlon ahead of Northern Marianas’ Orrin Pharmin.
The octathlon was a gruelling feat of physical and mental endurance, with eight track and field events that included the 100m, long jump, shot put, 400m, 110m hurdles, high jump, javelin, and the 1,000m.
Weightlifting
In weightlifting, Australia won three overall titles.
Darcy Kay won the women’s 71 kilograms competition with Beau Garrett adding to Australia’s haul with men’s 89 kilograms gold.
The women’s 76 kg title went to Australia’s Olivia Kelly.
Elsewhere, the men’s 96 kilograms gold went to Tonga’s Uaealesi Funaki and the women’s 81 kilograms title was claimed by Samoa’s Faustina Opeloge.
Apolonia Vaivai has marked her return to the sport after four years away with Team Fiji’s first gold medal at the Pacific Mini Games in Saipan, Northern Marianas.
Vaivai won gold in the women’s 76kg snatch competition.
She was pushed by Olivia Kelly of Australia but Vaivai came out stronger to win in the end.
Vaivai returned to weightlifting last year after a lapse of four years.
She also won a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in 2018.
CNMI weightlifters Angel San Nicolas and Leonardo Apelo won a total of two gold and four silver medals in their respective weight classes.
Tahiti stuns top seeds to claim badminton gold
In the badminton hall, Tahiti won the mixed team gold medal as they ended the round robin stage with five victories from five.
New Caledonia claimed silver and Wallis and Futuna the bronze.
The Tahitian team comprised Rémi Rossi, May Gaymann, 16-year-old Jenica Lesourd and Carl N’Guela.
Triathlon success
The New Caledonians tasted gold in the triathlon mixed relay as they came home in front of Tahiti and Fiji respectively.
Tahiti’s Benjamin Zorgnotti won the men’s aquathlon, consisting of a run-swim-run, while the women’s event went to Guam’s Manami Iijima-Martin.
While Tonga and New Zealand are in high spirits ahead of tomorrow’s clash at Mt Smart, some people who are regarded as pioneers of rugby league in Tonga have not been forgotten.
‘Aholova Fa’ase’e. Photo/Supplied
When the sport started in Tonga in 1980s and became popular in 1990s there was great concern about spinal cord injuries suffered by many players at the time.
The physical contact and direct clashing of the players and their opponents with what appeared to be a lack of professional training was blamed for these players’ injuries.
Aholova Fa’ase’e from Ha’asini but now residing in New Zealand was injured in Tonga in 1996 while playing rugby league. He is now on wheelchair as a result of his injury, but thankful he is still living.
Fa’ase’e said he had a spinal cord injury mid-way down the cervical spinal cord which was known as c4 and c5.
He told Kaniva News he was not airlifted to New Zealand or Australia for treatment, which was an option for him at the time because of Tonga Rugby League’s links to New Zealand and Australia’s rugby league authorities.
He said he was not airlifted based on the doctors’ advice, implying that he would not live much longer.
He said he remembered Dr Viliami Fukofuka, one of the pioneers who set up Rugby League in Tonga in 1980s. He said Dr Fukofuka and the rugby league committee were helpful and supported him while he was in hospital.
He said if the doctor saw him now he would not believe he was still alive.
“But today I am grateful I have lived for another 26 years since my injury”, Fa’ase’e said.
“I don’t believe everything happens for a reason, but I believe we can give everything a purpose on our own. That’s what I’ve tried to do.“
Viliami Tonga. Photo/Supplied
He also remembered some of the former rugby league players in Tonga who were injured like him, some of whom had died.
This included Viliami Tonga of Tofoa, playing for the Houma Tigers at the time, who later died of his spinal cord injury.
Tonga’s sister Fatai Tonga sent a photo of Viliami to Kaniva News this afternoon. She said every time the people celebrated the Mate Ma’a Tonga’s performance she remembered her brother Viliami.
Fa’ase’e said one of the injured who died of his spinal injuries was ‘Aisea Filiai.
Global problem
Spinal cord injuries continue to be a problem around the world in both rugby codes.
In New South Wales earlier this year former NRL star Nathan became a quadraplegic while playing in a country game.
In 2016 former Ikale Tahi player Taione Vea decided to retire after he was injured during a game for Newcastle. He was briefly paralysed and decided the risk of being permanently disabled was too high to continue playing.
In 2014, Professor Peter Milburn from Griffith University in Brisbane said in any collision sport, injuries were relatively common and an inevitable part of the game. The risk of sustaining an injury in rugby league that required medical treatment was about 40 injuries per 1,000 playing hours.
Head and neck injuries were the most common
Professor Milburn quoted New Zealand Accident Compensation Commission records, which showed 41 moderate to fracture/dislocation injuries to the back and spine injuries in rugby league over a five-year period.
He said there was some evidence that lighter players were more likely to be injured. He suggested the NRL could consider grouping players by weight and size for competition, rather than age.
By Susana Suisuiki of RNZ.co.nz and is republished with permission.
The captain of Mate Ma’a Tonga’s Women’s rugby league team Lavinia Tauhalaliku admits she was left ‘overwhelmed’ when told she would be skipper.
The coach of the Tongan women’s team Milton Dymock told Tauhalaliku the news during the community event for the Kiwis and Mate Ma’a Tonga held on Wednesday in Otahuhu, Auckland.
Lavinia Tauhalaliku Photo: RNZ/Susana Suisuiki
Mate Ma’a Tonga face the Kiwis at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland on Saturday as a curtainraiser for the men’s match between the same sides.
Tauhalaliku said being selected as captain left her ‘speechless’.
“We were up on the stage and having fun and when we came out, the coach pulled me to the side and he was like ‘you’re the captain’,” she said.
“I didn’t know what to say, I was so overwhelmed, because this is my first time being a captain of a team – any team, so I’ve just got to stand up and be a good role model for the girls and for the Tongan people.”
The proud Tongan said she started playing rugby league four years ago for Mangere East Hawkins in Auckand after being encouraged by her best friend’s mother.
“She saw something in me, but I didn’t see it in myself. Once I started playing I just kept playing. I’m so thankful for my best friend’s mum for showing me that pathway.”
Highlights of Tauhalaliku’s rugby league career includes being drafted into a Kiwi Ferns development camp at the start of 2020, before starring for Auckland Vulcans in the NZRL National Women’s Championship.
Mate Ma’a Tonga’s Women’s rugby league team Photo: RNZ/Susana Suisuiki
She made an impressive Test debut at fullback in the Kiwi Ferns’ late-2020 win over Fetu Samoa leaving a slew of defenders in her wake while making a string of powerful kick-returns and hit-ups in the 28-8 win.
However, Tauhalaliku said representing Tonga and seeing the Tongan community demonstrate ‘loto mafana’ or support towards the MMT Men and Womens team is empowering.
“Seeing them just put more power in me,” she said.
“It just encouraged me so when I go out in the weekend, I’m gonna play for them especially the man above – God.”
“When you step out on the field, all the crowds and the red flags, you’re ‘loto mafana’, you’re already strong just from that – you’re ready to go.”
The Mate Ma’a Tonga’s performance during the Rugby League World Cup proved the sport was for Tonga, according to one of the pioneers of the game, Dr. Viliami Fukofuka.
Dr. Viliami Fukofuka. Photo/Kalino Lātū
Dr. Fukofuka, a former Ministry of Education CEO and Member of Parliament, was one of the pioneers who established Rugby League in Tonga in 1986.
He said Tongan authorities should treat the sport as a piece of “gold.”
He said the Tongan players were outstanding in a number of things including the three tries they converted in the last seven minutes of their semi-final match with England.
“I do not believe any team in the world could do that,” Dr Fukofuka said.
The match ended in controversy after Tonga’s forward Andrew Fifita was denied a match- winning try right on ful-ltime despite an England hand appearing to strip the ball from his grasp.
Dr. Fukofuka said a decision by the Rugby League World Cup organisers to deny Tonga’s request for them to reverse the decision by its referee who was in control of Tonga – England semi final match was wrong.
“They tarnished the excellent performance our boys have done,” he said.
“The world has witnessed how marvelous the Mate Ma’a Tonga played during the tournament,” Dr. Fukofuka said.
Establishment
Dr. Fukofuka said George Mann, a former rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand and Tonga, came to Tonga to introduce the sport in 1980s.
They met while Dr. Fukofuka was working with Tonga’s Rugby Union referees and coaches.
Dr. Fukofuka said Mann believed the sport fitted the physique and sportability of Tongan youth.
“There are not many scrums,” he said.
“It’s a sport where the boys need to pick the ball and run. Our Tongan boys can do that really well.”
Dr. Fukofuka was emotional and tearful during an interview with Kaniva News at his residence in Popua yesterday morning.
He said he was overwhelmed when he listened to the radio during the Mate Ma’a Tonga performance.
“God has put Tonga in a position we are so proud of,” a tearful Dr. Fukofuka said.
He said Mann would be very happy about Tonga’s performance.
Pacific Cup
Dr. Fukofuka said the highlight of rugby league in their time was the Pacific Cup 1986 in which Tonga participated.
He said Tongans were extremely supportive and during the Pacific cup the then king attended one of the events in Tonga.
He said the rugby league committee hired a helicopter from which a skydiver parachuted as part of the entertainment.
“It was obvious at the time that this was a sport for Tonga,” Dr. Fukofuka said.
Tonga celebrate MMT
Tongan fans took to the road today (Wednesday 29) and braved a long rainy day to show their appreciation for the Mate Ma’a Tonga team.
Floats had to be repeatedly redirected from central Nuku’aofa to nearby towns such as Ma’ufanga and Kolomotu’a and wait until there were spaces on main roads before they returned to follow the Mate Ma’a Tonga players’ floats.
The player’s vehicles had to be stopped from time to time so that people could be able to take photos with them.
Jubilant supporters danced on rooftops and honked their horns all through Vaha’akolo Road, By Pass and Taufa’ahau Road.
The Ma’a Tonga attended a ceremony at the Nuku’alofa Royal Palace where they were awarded with Royal Orders by the king.
A block party has been arranged for the MMT and their supporters after the royal ceremony in central Nuku’alofa.
New Zealand is celebrating Matariki as Mate Ma’a Tonga prepare to take on the New Zealand Kiwis this Saturday.
Mate Ma’a Tonga’s Mate Ma’a Jason Taumālolo receiving his kava
The two teams will meet at the Mt Smart stadium in Auckland.
The Tongan Rugby Players have been feted all week in the run up to the game
The celebrations, which have drawn Tongans from all over the world, reflect Tonga’s own marking of the season that is called Mataliki in Tongan when the Pleiades stars or Matariki in Māori appeared in the sky , and the ancient ceremony of ‘Inasi (“first fruits”).
Nobles, commoners and officials have come together to support the players in the lead up to the game.
Symbol of kava
The Mate Ma’a Tonga received the highest cultural honour this week in Auckland during the kava ceremony. Each player was called out by the matāpule or heralds before each one of them fū (clapped) their hands to show they wanted to drink their kava. In Tongan culture, after drinking their kava this meant they were ready to go to war or follow any mission they were given.
In Tongan culture kava is the symbol of Mate Ma’a Tonga or the willingness to die for Tonga. According to the Tongan myth Kava was a daughter of Fevanga and Fefafa. One day they found the king was on their island of ‘Eueiki. There was only one kape (a kind of taro plant) on the island, but when they went to uproot it for the king’s meal they found he was leaning on it. So they killed their daughter, who was said to have suffered from leprosy, baked her in an underground oven and presented her body to king to show that was all they had. The Tongan kava ceremony was developed after this.
Some people compare this to the story in the Bible about Jesus teaching that the seed must die before it grows as it appeared in John 12:24-26.
Kava played an important role in the ‘Inasi festival during the Mataliki season, which lasted up to nine days.
‘Inasi
As with Matariki among the Maori, for Tongans the rising of Mataliki (Pleiades) and the Laʻā (Sun) on Tele-ki-Tokelau (Tropic of Cancer) marked the beginning of the ‘Inasi festival.
During the festival tribute was collected and shared, dances were held and vast quantities of food were eaten. As with the run-up Saturday’s game, the ‘Inasi festival was attended by chiefs and people from all over Tonga.
The ceremony was held at the time of yam planting (June–July, inasi ufimui) and the harvesting of the early yams (October–November, inasi ufimotu’a/uluenga). When Captain Cook attended an ‘Inasi in 1777, a procession of 600 carriers brought the yams to the king.
The Tu’i Tonga received tributes of yams and other produce on behalf of the god Hikule’o to obtain a successful harvest and bring good luck in the coming year. Hikule’o was viewed as the representative of the other gods with oversight of the civil and sacred affairs of Tonga.
According to tradition, Heketā, the ancient capital city of Tonga, was the initial venue for the ‘Inasi before the capital moved to Lapaha, where gifts were presented at the royal tombs. Hikule’o was said to have had a house at Niutōua, the village immediately beside Heketā. According to tradition, the decision to move the chiefdom from Heketā to Lapaha was to provide a safe anchorage for the canoes of the 12th Tu’i Tonga, Talatama. The canoes were sacred to Hikule’o and used to bring in tribute from the outer islands.
Poetry and songs
Tongan poets composed songs using the word Mataliki and Peliatisi (Pleiades). These showed how they highly praised the constellation. One poet Sitiveni Fonua who goes by the heraldic name Manu ‘O Kafoa from Vava’u islands, wrote a song which contained this reference to Mataliki:
Pupunga Mataliki oku malama fakatuputupu Langi
Si’oto papai heilala ia he fetaulaki
‘O ka tū’uta pea ngatū leva ‘a Vava’u lahi
In English:
The cluster of Mataliki shines so high in the sky
It is my necklace (poetically) of heilala (sacred scented flower of Tonga) to wear before I meet someone
This is very short, metaphorical and piece, showing how this punake, wanted to poetically exaggerate how well the people of Vava’u had prepared their presentation. The song was composed well after the Tu’i Tonga and the ‘Inasi ceremony were suppressed after King George Taufa’āhau revolted against the Tongan king’s line known as Tu’i Tonga. However, the poet appears to have still admired the way how people performed for the ‘Inasi.
There are other songs including this one below. Apparently this song was composed about the Late King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV or his daughter Princess Pilolevu Tuita.
Although, we no longer celebrate the ancient festival, we are still celebrating and offering tribute to the Mate Ma’a Tonga just as our ancestors did during ‘Inasi.
A vocal crowd of rugby league fans has given the Kiwis and Mate Ma’a Tonga teams a warm welcome at a community event in Otahuhu ahead of their highly anticipated match this weekend.
A vocal crowd of rugby league fans give the Kiwis and Mate Ma’a Tonga teams a warm welcome Photo: RNZ Pacific/Susana Suisuiki
Huge crowds gathered at the community event at the Otahuhu Rovers Rugby League Stadium to watch the Men and Women’s Kiwis and Tonga teams take the stage ahead of their test games on Saturday.
Both the men’s and women’s teams made a joint public appearance before the crowds.
The passionate crowds predominately made up of Tongan fans, sang church hymns and waved flags.
Mate Ma’a Tonga Captain Sio Siua Taukeiaho said the event is a welcome relief for many Tongans traumatised by January’s volcanic eruption that devastated Tonga.
He said the team wants to lift the spirits of the Kingdom.
“The least we could do is come together as a team and play some good footy, show them how important they are to us by playing good footy representing our families, our people back in Tonga.
It means a lot, especially for the people back home in Tonga, they look up to our players…Like I said, hopefully, we get the win because that win would be for them,” he said.
Mate Ma’a Tonga team arrive in Otahuhu Photo: RNZ Pacific/Susana Suisuiki
And assistant coach and former captain Sika Manu said the team has been well received.
“It’s awesome, we always get support from our Tongan people and it’s good to come out here to see the mum and kids here today. We appreciate it.”
Mate Ma’a Tonga centre Moses Pangai thanked the crowds saying “it’s been two years since we’ve seen you all and I know the boys are excited to go out on Saturday and beat these Kiwis…so Malo, ‘Ofa Atu.”
Mate Ma’a Tonga will field nine debutants for this Saturday’s game.
Mate Ma’a Tonga fans
The Tongan community who attended the event for the Kiwis and Mate Ma’a Tonga rugby league team in Otahuhu say their passion and pride are like no other.
Family and friends come out to support Mate Ma’a Tonga in Auckland Photo: RNZ Pacific/Susana Suisuiki
MMT fan Julius Vea said no other country matches Tonga’s passion for their sports teams.
“Just the passion and pride eh, I don’t think any other country matches our pride when it comes to our country – you see every single Tongan out here, that’s just the pride in us, that’s the Tongan in us.”
Saturday’s game will be significant for Mele Havea as her daughter Elenoa Havea will make her debut for Tonga.
Mele’s father, Sione Fakalata explains that he pushed Elenoa to play rugby league when she was 13 and he’s proud of her.
“MTT supporters stand out from other sports fans because they demonstrate ‘loto mafana’,” he said.
Tongan community come out to support Mate Ma’a Tonga in Otahuhu Photo: RNZ Pacific/Susana Suisuiki
Tevita Moeakiola wants to spend his leisure time going out fishing with friends to give him pleasure.
Tevita Moeakiola. Photo/Supplied
This was what his son Salesio Moeakiola had shared with his friends following Tevita’s death on Sunday morning.
Salesio said there was enough food on the table for the Moeakiola family but his father enjoyed fishing as a hobby.
Tevita was out fishing at Bucklands Beach, Auckland with two others when “a big wave hit their boat” before it capsized, reported the NZ Herald.
It appeared that Tevita was struggling after having an injury immediately after the accident.
He “had urged his companions to save themselves while he swam back to their capsized boat”, the Herald reported his son as saying.
The other two men made it to shore and were reportedly treated for hypothermia.
The 51-year-old Tongan father was on his way back in when disaster struck about 8pm Saturday.
“He shouted to the two other guys and said he will swim back to the boat and that’s the last word they heard from my dad,” his son reportedly said.
Tēvita Moeakiola. Photo/Supplied
The tragedy has left Tevita’s wife and her family devastated. His wife Paea’s kāinga said have issued a short tribute to the “devoted and loving father”..
“So that was quite heartbreaking. We pray for you Paea,” A commenter on Facebook wrote.
“Tevita was a selfless individual who always gave up his time for church and kāinga. He was a devoted and loving father and was loved and respected by all who knew him”, one wrote.
Police have arrested a man who was involved in a street racing crash that killed another man on Sunday morning in Tongatapu’s Veitongo town.
Netane Nimo and Telesa Vatikani. Photo/Supplied
As Kaniva News reported yesterday Netane Nimo ,26, died after his car collided with another car.
Police now said two cars had been racing at high-speed heading in an eastward direction along Taufa’āhau Rd.
One of the cars attempted to overtake the other only to ultimately crash into the rival car. Police said the accused’s car was trying to block Nimo’s from overtaking.
There were no passengers in both cars, Police said.
Netane Nimo. Photo/Supplied
“The driver of the overtaking car, who sustained various injuries to his upper body, was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival”, Police said of Nimo, in a statement.
It said the other driver was in police custody facing charge of reckless driving causing death.
“Tonga Police wishes to remind the general public that road safety is everyone’s responsibility”, Police said.
“As a driver, you are responsible for your safety as well as for the safety of other road users”.
Police investigation continues.
Tributes flow for Nimo
His girlfriend Telesa Vatikani was devasted by his death.
Paying tribute to Nimo, she wrote on Facebook: “Hoku mafu. Fiu tali koe ia ki Tisema? I love you Netane Nimo”, in English she was implying that they were expecting some kind of celebration either a wedding ceremony or an engagement in December.
The crash site has become a place for Vatikani and family to gather, to place flowers and write messages to their loved one.
Yesterday Vatikani and her family posed for photos at the scene after placing flowers on a power pole.
Nimo’s family and kāinga have since paid tribute to him, saying they are “deeply heartbroken by the sudden loss”.
They added: “He was the kindest son, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend to all who knew him.
“Taken far too young and he will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him”.
