Police investigation is underway into the disappearance of Tongan mother Losaline Malaloi and three young children in Australia.
Police are seeking public assistance to locate the 27-year-old Logan Central woman, and three young children who was last in contact with family on December 27.
Family reported her missing two days ago and police commenced inquiries to locate her and the three young children.
Losaline was last seen driving a white Nissan 2002 Pathfinder similar to the one pictured.
Losaline (pictured) is described as 165cm tall with black hair and brown eyes.
Police urge Losaline, or anyone with information regarding her movements or whereabouts to contact police.
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukālala has officially opened the kingdom’s new national university today.
The name is Tonga National University with its motto: Truth, Justice, Freedom.
Crown Prince Tupouto’a
“His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala this afternoon was the Royal Guest of Honour in a milestone achievement for Education in Tonga as the new Tonga National University was launched in Pahu, here on Tongatapu”, a statement said.
Prince Tupouto’a unveiled the university’s plaque, billboard and launched the university’s website.
The Honourable Prime Minister, Hu’akavameiliku, thanked HRH Crown Prince Tupouto’a for gracing the historic event and announced that His Majesty King Tupou VI has also agreed to be the university’s Chancellor.
“As the Interim Pro-Chancellor of the Tonga National University (TNU), it is indeed my pleasure to welcome you to the inaugural assembly of the TNU. Today we are gathered to witness the coming to fruition of a national dream that was envisaged for many decades,” the Hon Prime Minister and TNU Interim Pro-Chancllor said .
“His Majesty the King of Tonga, Tupou VI, has honoured the TNU with his sanction and dedication, by graciously acting as the Chancellor of the University and has envisioned the University with the tripartite motto of: Truth, Justice, Freedom – Ko e Mo’oni, Ko e Totonu mo e Tau’ataina.
“Established by legal mandate of the The Tonga National University Act, Government is obliged by law to ensure the establishment and prudent management and administration of the TNU. As such, 6 government-owned higher education institutions have merged to form the TNU – a hybrid university – offering both academic and vocational study programs. As we address the financial challenges of the post-covid period, a cost-effective option for tertiary studies is a significant commitment by the Government to support the upskilling and professional development of our young generation.”
The TNU comprises of 5 Faculties, delivering more than 50 programs ranging from Certificates to Diplomas and to Degrees. The programs cater for skills and knowledge-based demands of not only the Tongan employment market, but to also harness the opportunities from overseas skills demands.
Hon Hu’akavameiliku said the TNU is Tonga’s national university, a place to study while staying close to family and social networks and support, whilst contributing to the community and sustaining our local economy and workforce.
“I extend my best wishes to you as ‘pioneer’ students of the Tonga National University and strongly encourage you to maximize your potential while you study at TNU. I do hope your journey in learning will be guided by Truth, in the pursuit of Justice, and in the spirit of Freedom.”
The President of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, Rev Dr Tevita Koloa’ia Havea dedicated the university and its staff during the program.
In attendance were Cabinet Ministers, senior staff of other local based universities, members of the Diplomatic Corps, senior civil servants, staff of the TNU and the Ministry of Education and Training, senior management of the Tonga Police Force and other invited guests.
Senior TNU staff revealed today were Dr Tangikina Moimoi Stein (Interim Vice Chancellor), Dr Raelyn ‘Esau (Dean of Faculty of Business and Public Administration) and Dr Sela Teisina (Dean of Facullty of Education, Arts and Humanities).
Two people have been seriously injured after a shooting at a house in Māngere East, in Auckland.
Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
Two people have been taken to hospital in serious conditions after a shooting in a house in Auckland last night.
Just after 7pm, police received reports of shots being fired at an address on Robertson Road, Māngere East.
“Two people later presented at hospital with gunshot wounds, both in a serious condition.
“Armed police staff responded to the incident as is standard for any report involving a possible firearm.”
Police were investigating, the spokesperson said.
“We recognise that this incident may have caused distress for those involved and for the wider community.
“Police have a responsibility to keep our communities safe. We must treat any report involving firearms seriously until we can attend and evaluate the situation first-hand.
“We would like to reassure the public that this matter is being taken extremely seriously and the protection of community is of the upmost importance.”
Provisional results from vote counting in Tongatapu 8’s by-election this evening indicate Johnny Grattan Taione was the winner.
The first runner up was Viliami Sisifā while the third was the PTOA (Democrats) candidate Sosefo Ngavisi Hēhea. Candidate Sipaisi Kutu became fourth.
Only four candidates competed against each other for the chance to represent the constituency.
Johnny Gratan Taione
Tongatapu 8 voters went to the polls since this morning to elect a candidate to replace their former PTOA MP, the late Sēmisi Fakahau.
Tongatapu 8 is regarded as a PTOA stronghold.
The election of Taione appeared to show a political shift which could be interpreted as the constituents’ supporting candidates who had created projects to help locals such as operating night study programmes to assist local students.
Taione told his followers before the official launching of the election campaign period that he was putting a hold to his toilet construction project which was currently underway at his village of Vaini.
He said although there was no law to stop him from continuing to do it at the time, he decided to temporarily stop it to be fair to his rival candidates.
Jonny is a younger brother of former MP Sione Havea Taione. He is a New Zealand resident.
Tu’imala Moala’s death in Tonga’s Vava’u island last year was by accident and there was no evidence of foul play, says Police Commissioner Shane McLennan.
Tuu’imala Moala (nee Fulivai) died in a house fire in Vava’u, Tonga, on November 8. Photo / Supplied
The 46-year-old Kiwi-Tongan born died in a fire at her home in Neiafu, in the early hours of November 8, 2022.
Emergency services and firefighters responded to the scene about 5am local time.
Tongan Police later said that based on a doctor’s report and evidence from witnesses, the victim died from smoke inhalation and “very severe burning”.
It said that investigation had concluded with a formal inquest at 10am the day after the fatal fire. It was chaired by the district officer of Neiafu and attended by a family member of the deceased, as well as members of the community, police said.
Moala was laid to rest that day, before the Police said they were aware of talk on social media around the incident.
After about more than a week of Moala’s burial, the Police said it had reopened the case after Moala’s family said livestreamed videos taken at the scene of the house fire appeared to have hold some important clues about her cause of death.
Further investigation results
This afternoon, Thursday, January 19, Police Commissioner McLennan said : “Tonga Police’s further investigations into the tragic death of Tu’imala Moala at the Vava’u house fire on 8 November 2022 to ensure that all avenues have been properly explored have concluded it to be an accident and there was no foul play”.
“Tonga Police gathered 34 witness statements from a range of people including those who worked ith Tu’imala as well as her husband. There were also eyewitnesses who observed the fire whilst it was happening, and though they had observed it from various distances and angles, the one thing that was apparent was that the husband and a witness were calling out to Tu’imala to jump.
“They also observed Tu’imala climbing down the roof to the patio on the second level where they noticed she was walking back and forth along the patio, in an attempt to climb over the railings.
“Unfortunately, she was not successful in getting over the rails. The initial fire investigation by Tonga Fire and Emergency Services (TFES) was unable to be thorough due to bad weather at the time.
“Tonga Police acknowledge that there have been various allegations appearing on social media, predominantly on Facebook which were all been considered and subsequently have been disproven.
“We have exhausted all means at our disposal in investigating what occurred on the morning of 8 November 2022. After reviewing the file by the investigators, as well as the Police Legal Unit oversight, there is nothing that would lead Tonga Police to believe there has been any foul play.
“Before the investigation is finalized, we await the final investigation report from TFES, however, we don’t believe there is anything suspicious that is known at this stage”.
Airline services in Tonga are worse than when the kingdom was served by Real Tonga, it was claimed this week.
Frustrated passengers have been venting their feelings about Lulutai Airlines since Tuesday’s announcement that it was withdrawing its 34 seat Saab 340 aircraft for urgent repairs.
The airline said its 17 seater Harbin Y12 was still flying.
Passengers had already been upset by unexpected delays and cancellations.
Critics said the previous Tu’i’onetoa government had promised better and cheaper services when it took away the license to operate from Real Tonga.
They said these promises were not fulfilled and that services were worse than when Real Tonga was flying.
On January 17 Lulutai sent out this urgent public notice:
“We regret to inform the public that our Saab aircraft must undertake urgent maintenance work, and will therefore be unable to conduct flights beginning Tuesday 17 January, 2023,” the airline said.
“We cannot at this stage estimate how long the maintenance work will take, but we will provide further public notices as more information comes to hand. We are also trying to charter an aircraft from overseas to assist.
“We ask all Vava’u and Ha’apai passengers booked to fly on the Saab to contact the nearest Lulutai Office to arrange a refund for your tickets, or for travel at another date.
“Although our other aircraft, the Y12 is still flying, we kindly ask for your understanding and cooperation as we prioritise passengers travelling for medical reasons, and passengers travelling to connect to international flights. Once again, we apologise for the inconvenience caused, but safety of air travel is our most important consideration.”
While news of the withdrawal of the Saab 340 was not a cause for celebration, the fact that the airline had issued a statement was greeted as a rare attempt by Lulutai Airlines to improve its communication with the public.
Here is how the statement was welcome by a popular group on Facebook known as Tonga Expats and Locals:
“Nice to see communication with the public to stop rumours, a huge blow to outer islands, let’s hope maintenance is swift and ferries can pickup the slack, communication of sched is prompt, book early… Students returning to school etç Clearly an unfolding issue.”
Cancellations
Passengers travelling from the outer islands have faced delays and cancellations in the past.
In December last year Kaniva News reported that flights from Vava’u had been cancelled and that Lulutai airlines had been accused of failing to refund or reapprove passengers whose flights had been cancelled.
Former MP Sunia Manu Fili said at the time that Lulutai airlines was the poorest service ever in the kingdom.
“Ko e maulalo taha eni he fakahoko fatongia ki he fepunaaki ko e kautaha lulutai, ikai ha poto pe taukei”, he said in Tongan.
He accused the national airline of lacking experience and skills.
In November 2021 we reported that the then government had reached an in-principle agreement to sell the national airlines to the privately-owned Flyniu airlines.
For more information
Lulutai Airlines accused of ‘poor services’, failure to refund cancelled flight passengers
The use of a circular by the Speaker of Parliament to canvas votes on whether to extend an MP’s sick leave has sparked calls for reform.
As Kaniva News reported yesterday there is speculation that Tongatapu 10 constituency may face a by-election if its current MP Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, is unseated.
Speaker Lord Fakafanua. Photo/Fale Alea ‘O Tonga
The former Prime Minister has been absent from the House on medical leave for nearly three months.
MPs are allowed to be absent from the Legislative Assembly for no more than three consecutive months if they have permission from the Speaker.
After the three months, they can apply for another three consecutive months, but that application must be approved by a majority of the MPs with the advice of the Speaker.
A Parliamentary circular was sent to MPs last week to canvass a majority vote to allow another three-month extension of Tu’i’onetoa’s leave on medical grounds.
If the House declines the extension, there may have to be a by-election to replace Hon. Tu’i’onetoa.
Tongatapu 8 will go to the polls on Thursday in another by-election to elect an MP to replace late MP and Cabinet Minister Semisi Fakahau.
Now there have been calls for the use of circulars to be reviewed and for the approval of MPs’ sick leave entitlements to be reconsidered.
Normal Practice
Newly elected Tongatapu 7 MP Piveni Piukala said he was concerned after he found out last week that there was no law to allow the Speaker to use a parliamentary circular.
Hon. Piukala said he questioned the Chief Clerk about the legality of the circular and was told there was no law to allow it. Rather, it had previously been used as a means of communication to a point where it was accepted as a normal practice for speakers to distribute such documents.
“There was no reasonable ground”, Hon Piukala said in Tongan.
He said he was concerned about why the Speaker had used the circular to seek MPs’ ballots while the House was still open, and the king has yet to formally close it.
The Tongatapu 7 MP’s comment was made during a live streamed election campaign address last week. Afterwards, critics called on the Speaker to refrain from using it as there was no law to justify it.
They called on the Speaker to review the circulatory system and said that when there were important issues such as the request to extend medical leave, the Speaker should summon a session. “This type of non-transparent communication system is unacceptable”, a PTOA critic said.
Last year the Legislative Assembly’s Deputy Clerk, Dr Sione Vikilani, said the use of circulars was a means of communication used by the House and any information sent through it was legal.
In Tongan he said: “Ko e tohi ‘avetakai ko e founga ngāue pe ‘oku ‘ataa ke ngaue’aki pea ‘oku ‘ikai ke ta’efakalao ha tu’utu’uni ‘i hono fakahoko ‘i he founga koia.”
MP Paula Piveni Piukala
Critics also said the parliamentary medical leave law should be reviewed. They said there should be a clause to allow medical leave based on the doctor’s advice. If the MP’s sickness was incurable, Parliament should refrain from funding the costs of the MPs medical expenses if they are sent to overseas hospitals.
Sickness debate
This is not the first time sickness benefits for MPs have triggered a debate.
In 2019 Parliament met the costs of former MP and Cabinet Minister Viliami Hingano, who was sent to New Zealand for treatment. After six months’ medical leave he died and his body was returned to Tonga. This caused a fierce public debate.
Democrat supporters insisted the cost of the air ambulance was too much to be spent on Lord Fusitu’a alone while the government budget relied heavily on overseas donors to buy medication for the country.
Royal supporters insisted Lord Fusitu’a was entitled to have his full costs paid because it had been done for government officials in the past, including the Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva.
By Ethan Griffiths, Open Justice reporter of NZherald.co.nz
Police have arrested another five people in relation to the death of a Tauranga man, bringing the total number of defendants charged with murder to eight.
(file picture) Photo: 123rf.com
In May last year, police were initially called to a disorder incident involving a group of people at a residential address on Maungatapu Road, but officers arrived to find 51-year-old Mitchell Te Kani dead.
Five men, aged between 24 and 30, were arrested and charged with murder today, and will all appear in either the Tauranga or Hamilton District Courts early this week.
They were also charged with assaulting other people at the scene of Te Kani’s death.
A man and a woman were previously arrested shortly after the alleged killing in May last year. The pair was originally charged with aggravated burglary, which was upgraded to murder about a month later.
A third person was arrested just last week and also charged with murder.
Also today, police arrested two further people who were charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.
It is understood police investigated upwards of 20 suspects, with a large group of people believed to have been near the property at the time of Te Kani’s death.
Crown prosecutor Sonny Teki-Clark told the court in a previous hearing that the trial should be set down for the Hamilton High Court, with there being too many defendants to fit in the Tauranga courthouse.
While Te Kani had no kids of his own, an uncle of his said he adored his nieces and nephews.
“He was a very active and well-loved member of all of the communities that he associated himself with.”
The murder investigation remains ongoing, police say, with a trial tentatively set for 2024.
A child under the age of 10 has died with Covid-19and a further 19,215 new cases have been reported across Aotearoa over the past week.
The numbers cover the week from Monday, January 9 to Sunday, January 15.
As at midnight on Sunday, there were 333 people in hospital with the virus.
Eight people were in an intensive care or high dependency unit.
Fifty-seven more people with the virus have died, including a child under 10. Another was aged between 10 and 19.
Of the 55 other deaths, two were in their 30s, three were in their 40s, seven were in their 50s, six were in their 60s, 14 were in their 70s, 16 were in their 80s and seven were aged over 90.
Thirty were men and 27 were women.
Nineteen were from the Auckland region, seven each were from Waikato and Canterbury, six were from Bay of Plenty, three each were from Northland, Hawke’s Bay, MidCentral District and the Wellington region, two were from Lakes District, and one each were from Taranaki, Whanganui, Nelson Marlborough and Southern.
The number of deaths confirmed as attributable to Covid-19, either as the underlying cause of death or as a contributing factor, is 2437.
Last week’s positive cases, detected through rapid antigen tests (RATs) and PCR tests, are located in Northland (786), Auckland (6037), Waikato (1553), Bay of Plenty (1096), Lakes District (435), Hawke’s Bay (761), MidCentral District (776), Whanganui (269), Taranaki (546), Tairāwhiti (426), Wairarapa (202), Capital and Coast (1221), Hutt Valley (532), Nelson Marlborough (835), Canterbury (2325), West Coast (107), South Canterbury (149) and Southern District (1122).
The location of 37 cases is unknown.
The seven-day rolling average of cases is 2738. The seven-day rolling average of RAT results is 4440.
FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA
Mate ha leka ‘i lalo he ta’u 10 tupu mei he Koviti mo ha toe toko 19,215 ko e keisi fo’ou kuo lipooti ‘i Aotealoa ‘i he uike kuo sītu’a’.
Ko e fika ko ‘eni mei he uike kamata ‘i he Monite ‘aho 9 Sanuali ki he ‘aho 15.
‘I he tu’uapō Sapate na’e toko 333 ‘a e kakai ne nau ‘i fale mahaki ma’u ‘e he vailasi’.
Toko valu a e kakai ne ‘i he loki ‘initenisivi kea’ pe ‘iuniti hai’initipenitenisii’.
Na’e toe mate ha kakai foki ‘e toko 57 he vailasi’ kau ai ‘a e pepee’.
‘I he toko 55 kehe ne mate’ ko e toko ua ne ta’u 30, toko tolu ‘i he ta’u 40 tupu, fitu ‘i he ta’u 50 tupu , ono ‘i he ta’u 60 tupu’, 14 ‘i he ta’u 70 tupu’, 16 ‘i honau 80 tupu’ pea fitu ‘ova he 90.
Toko 30 ‘a e kau tangata’ kae toko 27 fefine.
Toko 90 mei he feitu’u ‘Okalani, tautau toko fitu ‘a Waikato mo Canterbury, ono mei BOP, tolu mei Northland, Hawke’s Bay, MidCentral District, feitu’u Uelingatonu, ua mei Lakes District pea taha mei Talanaki, Whanganui, Nelson Marlborough mo e Southern.
Na’e fakapapau’i ko e fika ‘o e ngaahi mate ne tupu ia mei he Koviti 19, ka ‘ikai pe ko ha mate tupu he Koviti pe ne kaunga ‘a e Koviti’ ki he tupu’anga ‘ene mate’.
Ko e ngaahi positive keisi ‘o e uike kuo ‘osi ne ‘ilo ia mei he ngaahi tesi (RATs) mo e PCR tests, ‘i Northland (786), Auckland (6037), Waikato (1553), Bay of Plenty (1096), Lakes District (435), Hawke’s Bay (761), MidCentral District (776), Whanganui (269), Taranaki (546), Tairāwhiti (426), Wairarapa (202), Capital and Coast (1221), Hutt Valley (532), Nelson Marlborough (835), Canterbury (2325), West Coast (107), South Canterbury (149) mo Southern District (1122).
Na’e ‘ikai ‘ilo ‘a e ngaahi feituu ‘o e keisi ‘e 37 ne ma’u.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has been sacked with immediate effect and former England boss Eddie Jones is set to lead the side at this year’s World Cup in France.
New Zealander Rennie, former coach of Super Rugby side the Chiefs, was contracted until the end of this year’s World Cup in France but has a winning record of only 38 percent since taking over after the last edition.
Jones, who led the Wallabies to the 2003 World Cup final in his previous stint as Australia coach, was sacked by England in December.
He will be head coach of the Wallabies, as well as overseeing the Wallaroos, on a long-term deal until 2027.
Jones previously coached the Wallabies from 2001 to 2005, including taking the team to the Rugby World Cup Final in Sydney in 2003.
As the head coach of England, he had the highest winning ratio of any coach to lead that nation at 73 percent.
In addition to his role with the Wallabies, and in a world-first, Jones will also oversee the Wallaroos programme as Rugby Australia pushes forward towards a professional future for the Women’s XVs game.
Eddie Jones. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Jones will start with Rugby Australia on 29 January.
Rennie has coached Australia since 2020, and has achieved some notable victories with the Wallabies, including series victories against France and South Africa in 2021.
Rugby Australia (RA) chairman Hamish McLennan said he was thrilled with Jones’s appointment.
“It is a major coup for Australian rugby to have the best coach in the world return home to coach the iconic Wallabies and to oversee the Wallaroos program,” McLennan said.
“Eddie’s deep understanding of our rugby system and knowledge of our player group and pathways will lift the team to the next level,” he said.
“Eddie instinctively understands the Australian way of playing rugby – this represents an opportunity to secure a coach of immense expertise and experience at the biggest competitions, and we did not want to miss it.”
RA chief executive Andy Marinos said he wished Rennie all the best for the future.
“I would like to thank Dave for his hard work and effort with the Wallabies – we are grateful for all that he has done for Australian Rugby,” Marinos said.
“Dave has been instrumental in developing much of the depth that we see in and around the current Wallabies squad; there are a number of players that are genuine World Cup possibilities because of opportunities that Dave has provided,” he said.
“The work ethic, the spirit within the group, and the way the team carries itself are all a direct result of Dave’s input – he has made a real mark on this group of players.”
Jones said he was delighted by the chance to coach his country once again.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for me to be able to come home to Australia and lead my nation to a Rugby World Cup,” Jones said.
“It is going to be an immense period for Australian rugby – as a proud Australian, it is a great honour to be able to come home and lead the national team during these years,” he said.
“The Wallabies squad is a really talented group of players with good depth – if we can have everyone fit and healthy going into the World Cup this year, I am confident that we can go to France and break the 24-year drought of winning the Rugby World Cup.
“I saw how gutsy the Wallaroos were in the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand last year – it looks like there is a real spirit in that group that will drive the women’s programme forward ahead of their next World Cup in 2025.
“I am really looking forward to getting back home and getting stuck in.”
