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NZ Ministry of Health abandons Covid infection survey

By
Kaniva Staff
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Oku taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala fakaTonga

A long-awaited survey of Covid-19 infections has been abandoned by the Ministry of Health.

In a statement, a spokesperson said it was no longer needed.

“Aotearoa New Zealand has passed the emergency stage of its Covid-19 response, with the virus endemic in our communities. The results of any Covid-19-focused prevalence survey would be unlikely to meaningfully alter any current public health response as there are only two pandemic-related mandates still in place.”

The remaining mandates were for masks to be worn in healthcare facilities and for positive cases to isolate for seven days.

“The ministry accepts it took longer than expected to reach this conclusion, given the challenges of a multi-stakeholder, complex project developed during the health reforms,” the statement said.

The two surveys were announced by former director-general of public health Ashley Bloomfield. In July 2022, he said an infection survey would test 100 people a week over a six-month period. The second survey, a seroprevalence survey, was a blood test to see if people had previously had Covid-19.

“Both are well developed and nearly ready to start rolling out in the next few weeks,” he said at the time.

In November, deputy director of health Andrew Old told RNZ it had taken longer than expected and would be delayed until July this year, citing Covid-19, winter illness and health reforms as the the reason.

Today’s announcement the surveys had been abandoned was disappointing news to Covid-19 modeller Dion O’Neale.

“It’s good to have it confirmed as cancelled, rather than perpetually being told it’s a month away, or six months away.”

He said the infection survey would have provided information which could help with modelling the impact of changing the current isolation rules.

If the survey showed people only a small portion of people with Covid-19 were isolating, then reducing the isolation period, or removing it completely wouldn’t have a large impact. If most people are still following isolation rules, then removing them “could have a huge impact”, he said.

“Trying to model what the consequences are of changing case isolation, and the absence of knowing that gets trickier.”

He was also concerned at how prepared New Zealand was for another serious disease outbreak, where a prevalence survey could provide valuable information.

“It has taken us three years to not get one going. We don’t want to be in a situation where we have an emergency again, where we need to have a prevalence survey up and running within weeks – and we’re not prepared for one.”

The seroprevalence survey would be useful to see who has had Covid-19 across the country and where the burden of long Covid may lie, he said.

A Ministry of Health spokesperson said prevalence surveys were expected to be a key tool in future public health surveillance, and said will benefit from the work which has been done on the cancelled project.

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

Kuo li’aki ‘e he Potungaue Mo’ui ha ola ‘o ha savea ki he pipihi ‘o e Koviti 19 ne fai ha tatali ki ai.

I ha fakamatala ne pehe ai ‘e he matāpule na’e ‘ikai toe fiema’u ia.

Kuo paasi ‘a Aotearoa Nu’u Sila ia mei he tu’unga fiemau fakavavevave ne ‘i ai ‘ene tali ki he Koviti-19, i he to ‘a e vailasi ‘i he ngaahi komiunitii. ‘Oku ‘ikai ha toe fu’u ‘uinga lelei ia ke liliu ‘a e tu’unga ‘a hono tokangaekina’o e vailasi ‘e ha savea pehe he ko e meniteiti pe ‘e ua oku kei tu’u.

Kuo pehe ‘e he Potungaue na’e fuoloa ange ‘i he faka’amu pea toki iku o tali ‘a e aofangatuku, koeuhi ko e pole ‘o e kau seahoulutaa’ mo kau fa’u poloseki lolotonga ‘a e fakafo’ou.

Ko e ongo savea ko eni ne fanongonongo ia ‘e he talekita seniale ki mu’a ‘o e public health ko Ashley Bloomfield. Na’a ne pehe i Siulai 2022 ‘e fai ‘a e savea ‘o e mahaki pipihi pea e tesi ai ha kakai ‘e toko 100 he uike ‘i ha piliote ko e mahina ‘e ono. Ko e savea hono  ua ko ha savea seroprevalence survey, aia ko ha sivi toto ke sio kapau na’e ma’u ‘e he kakai ‘a e Koviti-19 ki mu’a.  

Ne ne pehe ne ‘osi kamata pea ne ‘osi mateuteu ke kamata leva ‘i he ngaahi uike hono hoko’.

‘I Novema na’e fakaha ai ‘e he Tokoni Talekita o e Mo’ui ko Andrew Old ki he RNZ ‘e toe ki’i loloa atu ia he me’a ne fai ki ai ‘a e ‘amanaki’ pea ‘e toloi kae ‘oualeva ke a’u ki  Siulai ‘o e ta’u ni’, ‘o ne ‘ai hake ‘a e Koviti-19 mo e pule he fa’ahi ta’u Momoko mo hono fakafo’ou ‘o e health ‘a e ngaahi ‘uhinga ki he toloi.

Ka i hono fanongonongo ko ia he ‘aho ni kuo ‘ikai toe fakahoko na’e fakamamahi ia ko e motela o e Koviti-19 ko Dion O’Neale.

Sai ang eke tala mai kuo kaniseli ‘i hono ‘ai ke pehe ‘e toloi ha mahina pe mahina ‘e ono.

Na’a ne pehe ko e ola ‘o e savea ko eni ne mei tokoni lahi ke ma’u ai ha ngaahi fakamatala  e ala tokoni ki hono fa’u o ha ngaahi liliu ki he ngaahi tu’utu’uni o e fakamavahe’i ‘oku lolotonga fakahoko’.

Crew of MV ‘Otuanga‘ofa ask authorities to ‘have some kind of a kind heart’ and reverse charges for cargo carried from New Zealand

By
Kalino Latu
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The crew of the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa, which spent six months in dry dock in Auckland, claim their employers have kept part of their daily allowance to pay for freight, after they were told it would be free.

Captain Vivili Fifita (L)< Chair of the Shared Board Transport Sector Dr SIone Ngongo Kioa. Photo/Patimiosi Ngungutau

The crew said they ran short of food in Auckland and had to gather water from the roof of the ship in an area infested with birds.

They also said it had come as a shock to discover they had no health insurance.

In a letter to the Shared Board Transport Sector’s Chairman Dr Sione Ngongo Kioa, crew members said they were disappointed after the government’s Friendly Islands Shipping Agency (FISA) used part of their travelling allowance to pay for cargo given to them for free while they were in New Zealand. 

A copy of the letter, which was seen by Kaniva News, criticises the government for failing to look after the crew and making sure they were protected and safe.

“I am writing on behalf of the crew members and to express our disappointment against how the Friendly Island Fishing Agency handled the struggles we encountered while in New Zealand”, the letter of complaint by a member of the crew read in Tongan. 

“We left Tonga for New Zealand on September 16. We were told we would be only staying there for 27 days. However, we continued to stay there longer than expected and there was a shortage of food, water and we had to share the only small amount of food and water we had at the time.”

A crew member became ill soon after the inter-island ferry arrived in Auckland and while  processing his medical needs it was discovered that the crew did not have any medical insurance.

The shipping agency later said it paid for the crew’s health checks and medical appointment in New Zealand.

Kaniva News has seen a receipt dated April 5, 2023, for a total of TP$12,880. We understand this was for the freight charged by FISA for the complainant’s cargoes. 

It is understood part of the travelling allowance payments were paid to crew members while they were in New Zealand. There have been complaints that the allowances were  not paid on time. 

FISA board member Tu’imoana Takataka visited New Zealand and it is understood he was asked by Captain Vivili Fifita about the crew members’ cargoes they were expecting to take with them to Tonga when the ferry returned.

The letter claimed Takataka confirmed to Fifita that the crew members’ cargoes would be carried free of charge.

“Our heart were full of happiness and so we accepted all the goods and donations we received from our relatives and friends in New Zealand,” the letter to the Transport Sector’s chairman said.

“Unfortunately, when we arrived in Tonga on April 6 after leaving Tonga for about seven months we were given a different version of the story. The freight charges were devastating. Therefore I am appealing to you to remove the freight charges as our family could not afford them. The duty charges are a must and we have to pay that. But the decision for freight charges is a matter for the board of directors to decide.”

Another letter sent to the board of directors said: “I understand that FISA’s board of directors has passed a decision for Captain Vivili Fifita to charge freight fees to all cargo from New Zealand belonging to the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa crew members.  The freight cannot be paid by instalment. If the crew members would not pay FISA would use their travelling allowance to pay for their cargoes.


“Many of us crew members had to borrow money after the ferry arrived in Tonga to pay for our cargo out as it was Saturday and we were told if our cargo was not cleared immediately there would be wharfage charges.

“Our travelling allowance for crew officers were $100 per day while crew members were $80 daily and the captain was $500 a day. Our lunch money was $10 a day. We struggled while being in New Zealand. There was shortage of food and I helped by providing food, laundry and medical assistance such as health checks costs. 

“We collected rainwaters from the vessel’s rooftop where birds used to live and the location was close to the sewerage outlet. The freight charges for our cargoes as crew members is lacking in common sense. Customs has agreed for us to pay half of the duty charges and will settle them later through an instalment payment arrangement. Meanwhile, FISA, the company which we cherished and where we get paid to buy bread for our family, is making us disappointed.

“I would like to double check with you whether that was the decision which has been just passed on to Captain Vivili Fifita to make us unhappy as I think we are not being treated equally in terms of what types of cargoes we brought from New Zealand. This is only part of the many issues that I have yet to raise.

“I wish that you board members have some kind of a kind heart and return our travelling allowance pay together with giving us some other form of assistance available to help us ease the stress and pain.”

Kaniva News has seen a letter which appears to be from the Transport’s chair of board of directors Dr Sione Ngongo Kioa, saying the crew had to listen to what Captain Fifita told them about the freight charges.

Kaniva News has contacted Dr Kioa and Captain Fifita for a response to the crew’s complaints.

Covid-19: 12,383 new cases to report, 44 deaths

By
Kaniva Staff
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‘Oku taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala fakaTonga

There have been 12,383 new Covid-19 infections reported in New Zealand over the past week.

The numbers cover the week from Monday, April 17 to Sunday, April 23.

As at midnight Sunday there were 292 people in hospital with the virus.

Nine people were in an intensive care or high dependency unit as at midnight Sunday.

Forty-four more people with the virus have died.

Of that number, 11 were from the Auckland region, two were from the Waikato, two were from the Bay of Plenty, two were from Lakes, one was from Tairawhiti, two were from Hawke’s Bay, one was from Taranaki, three were from MidCentral, three were from Wellington region, three were from Nelson Marlborough, nine were from Canterbury, one was from South Canterbury, four were from Southern.

One was in their 20s, two were in their 40s, three were in their 60s, six were in their 70s, 22 were in their 80s and ten were aged over 90. Of these people, 23 were women and 21 were men.

The number of deaths confirmed as attributable to Covid-19, either as the underlying cause of death or as a contributing factor, is 2736.

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

Ko e keisi fakakatoa ‘e 12,383 ‘o e Koviti 19 ne mafola ‘i N’u Sila ‘i he uike kuo ‘osi.

Ko e fika ‘eni mei he Monite ‘Epeleli ‘aho 17 ki he Tokonaki ‘Epeleli ‘aho 23.

I he tu’uapo Sapate ne a’u ki he kakai ‘e toko 292 ne ‘i falemahaki tu’unga he vailasi.

Ne toe mate mo ha kakai ‘e toko 44 he vailasi’.

I he fika ko ia ko e 11 Auckland region, ua ‘i  Waikato, ua mei he Bay of Plenty, ua mei he  Lakes, taha mei  Tairawhiti, ua mei Hawke’s Bay, taha mei  Taranaki, tolu mei he MidCentral, tolu mei  Wellington region, tolu mei  Nelson Marlborough, hiva mei Canterbury, taha mei South Canterbury, fa mei he Southern.

Ko e tokotaha i hono ta’u 20 tupu, ua ‘i he ta’u 40, tolu mei he 6t, ono ‘i honau 70t, 22 ‘i honau 80t pea 10 ‘i honau 90t. Ko e toko 23 kakai fefine pea 21 kakai tangata.

Kuo fakapapau’i ko e mate ‘eni mei he Koviti 19, ‘o ka ‘ikai pe ko ha mahaki tauhi pe ko e tokoni ‘a e Koviti ki he’ene mate. Ko e mate fakakatoa ‘eni ‘e toko 2736 ‘i Nu’u Sila.

PM welcomes ‘daughter of Tonga,’ as Sepuloni leads official NZ visit to kingdom

By
Kalino Latu
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Tongans were pleased to welcome home a daughter of the kingdom, Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku said this morning.

Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku (L) and NZ Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni. Photo/Supplied

The Prime Minister made the statement during a joint press conference with New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Carmel Sepuloni in Nuku’alofa.

Hon. Sepuloni is the first Pacific Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and the third woman to hold the position. 

“Tonga and New Zealand are inextricably linked. We have a shared history, bound by our cultural and ancestral links through our Polynesian heritage and we share common values of mutual respect, friendship, collective ambition and sustainability,” the Prime Minister said.

Tongan connections

During her visit to Tonga, Hon. Sepuloni was honoured by her Tongan relatives and said she was proud of her Tongan roots.

Lepolo Taunisila, a former Tongan MP for the Niuas, talked to Kaniva News about their connections and the hā’unga presentation they performed to welcome Hon. Sepuloni.

She said their great grandparents Mr Punivai and Toakase had five children – Suli, Sēmisi Punivai, daughters ‘Ila and Nenase and the youngest, Mr Paula (male name in Tongan).

Lepolo said that of these five children, Sēmisi Punivai had a son called Sepuloni. He had a son named Kamisi, who was Hon. Carmel Sepuloni’s father. Nenase was Lepolo’s maternal grandmother. Paula had a grandson called Sika Manu, who was the first captain of the Mate Ma’a Tonga rugby league team. This meant that Lepolo, Sika Manu and Carmel’s father were second cousins.

(L-R) Ponapate Taunisila, Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni and Lepolo Taunisila. Photo/Supplied

Lepolo said all the five siblings’ grandchildren came together on Wednesday and welcomed Hon. Sepuloni in a special family ceremony in which they presented a Tongan hā’unga. It is the highest Tongan cultural presentation of food and kava to welcome a visitor. 

They also provided and performed the practice of Tongan  ha’i ta’ovala in which women decorate the person of the day with a special ta’ovala or piece of matting worn around the waist over one’s loin cloth.  Lepolo said they did this because they were delighted to meet her while she was in Tonga in her capacity as New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister.

During the hā’unga presentation one of the Punivai’s grandsons, former government senior officer Sione Polota, delivered a welcoming speech.

“We welcome you to Tonga on your first official visit as New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and head of New Zealand Mission to the Pacific Islands,” Polota said.

“Since you acknowledged your Tongan connection, our heart overflowed with joy and pride. You are one of the Punivai clans from Tonga’s Niuatoputa island.

“We are the grandchildren of Mr Punivai and Mrs Toakase including Sika Manu the first Mate Ma’a Tonga rugby league team captain.”

Proud

During her speech during the hā’unga presentation, Hon. Sepuloni said: “My grandfather married a Samoan woman and raised his family in Samoa. We grew up knowing very little of our Tongan side. I became more curious as time went on as to where we came from. But like many people when you don’t know where you come from, you are shy to talk about it because it is embarrassing that you don’t have that knowledge of your roots.

“I was relieved years later to meet Lepolo and for Lepolo to approach me and to tell me the history of our family and where we came from.

“How special it felt to be from an island which is beautiful and far away  – Niuatoputapu. I want to go there where my great-grandfather was from.”

Hon. Sepuloni said that she could see her great-grandfather’s face when she looked at her relatives in the room.

“After a long break away from each other we are now reconnected,” she said.

“I can say very honestly that I am proud to be connected to you and to be related to you and I look forward to the next generation, having that knowledge and being strong in that connection now that we have found it again.”

Government relations

New Zealand and Tonga have explored ways to enhance the kingdom’s climate change advocacy,  Tongan Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku said this morning.

This would amplify the leadership on the issue Pacific islands have taken.

“I thanked the Hon Deputy Prime Minister for the ongoing bilateral assistance from New Zealand that continue to be a boon to our development, with funding flowing into priority areas of strengthening economic development, law and justice and education.

Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni with her Niuatoputapu kāinga. Photo/Supplied

“Our defence cooperation remains strong. Our bilateral relations are important and I asked the Deputy Prime Minister for her continued assistance towards Tonga’s development priority areas. “

Hon. Sepuloni said the Pacific region remained New Zealand’s foreign policy priority.

Think tank says NZ was ‘woefully underprepared’ for Covid

By
Kaniva Staff
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‘Oku taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala fakaTonga

On the same day the police watchdog’s report into the force’s handling of last year’s protest and three-week occupation of parliament is being released, a think tank’s report into the government’s Covid-19 response has found it overly political, lacking adaptability and agility, and needing more transparency.

The study called Lifting the Lid: A Critical Analysis of the Covid-19 Pandemic Management in New Zealand and it has been published by The New Zealand Initiative, a pro-free-market think tank.

It found Aotearoa was woefully underprepared for a contagious outbreak of this size and failed to capitalise on its geographical location to stem the spread.

It goes as far as saying the initial outbreak could have been avoided entirely, but also offers recommendations on how to improve future responses.

Auckland University emeritus professor of medicine Des Gorman is one of the lead authors, and he spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Professor Des Gorman says it makes no sense to resort to social lockdowns to control an outbreak of COVID-19.

Professor Des Gorman says it makes no sense to resort to social lockdowns to control an outbreak of COVID-19. Photo: supplied

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

‘I he ‘aho tatau pe ne tuku mai ai ‘a e  lipooti kulile’o ki he kau polisi ne  nau  tokanga’i  ‘a e fakafepaki uike ‘e tolu ne fai ‘i tu’a Fale Alea ne pehe ‘e ha lipooti ‘a ha tangike fakakaukau ;o pehe ko e ngāue ‘a e pule’anga ki he Koviti 19 na’e fu’u fakapolitikale, si’i ha’ane malava ke ala liliu pe vave ‘ene nga’unu, pea fiema’u ke lahi ange ‘ene ‘ata ki tu’a.

Ko e sitati ‘eni ne ui ko e Lifting the Lid: A Critical Analysis of the Covid-19 Pandemic Management ‘i Nu’u Sila pea na’e pulusi ia ‘i ha tangike fakakaukau oku ne poupou’i ‘a e maketi tau’ataina ko e The New Zealand Initiative.

Ne ne ‘ilo na’e ‘ a e tu’unga fakamamahi e ta’e mateuteu ‘a Aotearoa ki he to mai ‘a e to’umahaki  pipihi lahi peheni pea ‘ikai lava to’o e faingamalie ‘i hono tu’unga fakasiokalafi ke ta’ofi ‘ene pipihi.

Ne toe hoko atu ‘o pehe ko e ‘uluaki too ne lava ke mai fakangata kakato, ka ne toe tuku mai ai ‘a e fale’i ke fakalelei ki ha ngaue ki ai he kaha’u.

Ne kau ‘a e palofesa malolo he metikolo mei he ‘Univesiti ‘Aokalani ko Des Gorman i he kau fa’u ‘o e lipooti ko eni

National MP slams candidate’s ‘disrespectful’ social media post

By
Kaniva Staff
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National MP Erica Stanford said the party’s resigned Taieri candidate Stephen Jack sharing a poem that compared Jacinda Ardern to Adolf Hitler was unacceptable.

Stephen Jack. (Source: National Party)

Jack resigned last night after Stuff reported he had re-posted a poem on Facebook in 2021, comparing the former prime minister to Hitler.

Stanford told Morning Report the then-prime minister deserved some respect.

“Making disparaging comments about the prime minister like that is not acceptable,” she said.

“It’s disrespectful. No matter what you think of Jacinda Ardern, she was our prime minister and she deserved some respect.”

On Sunday it was reported by Stuff that Jack had also re-posted a sexist joke in 2020.

National’s deputy leader Nicola Willis labelled that joke “disgusting” – and warned a repeat incident may trigger the party’s disciplinary code.

Stanford said she had not met Jack and could not comment on whether the party’s candidate selection panel had seen his comments.

“I don’t know very much about this candidate, I’ve never met him, I only heard the news, as you probably did, break last night.”

She said the party had acknowledged after the last few years that its processes for selecting candidates “weren’t as robust as they could be” and it had been addressing that.

“I know the board have been going through every candidate … even the existing MPs they went through, and made sure that the process was robust.”

A National Party spokesperson told RNZ on Wednesday night via email that the party would open selection for another candidate for the seat in due course.

rnz.co.nz

US Police arrest suspects for alleged back-to-back armed robberies

By
Kaniva Staff
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PALO ALTO, Calif, – Palo Alto police have arrested three men and a teen who allegedly committed two armed robberies Monday night, within 25 minutes of each other and a third in Milpitas.

According to police, the first incident happened around 6:35 p.m. on the 1100 block of Trinity Lane. Authorities said a neighbor may have interrupted an auto burglary and one suspect pointed a handgun before fleeing. The thieves took cell phones, and a female victim’s purse.

“My family still lives here and I never seen any crime. It’s always been a good area,” said long-time resident Max Topete. “Yeah very surprised. I had no idea.”

Palo Alto police detectives said less than 25 minutes later, the same suspects pointed a gun at woman as she arrived home in the 800 block of Marshall Drive. The four, wearing ski masks, took her cell phone, then drove off toward Moreno Avenue.

Shortly after the second Palo Alto robbery, Milpitas investigators reported an armed robbery in that city, which they believed was linked to the Palo Alto case.

“We did have some partial, possible plate information that was very helpful, that was given to us by one of the victims. We were able to share that information very broadly with all of our partners in the Bay Area,” said Palo Alto Police Lieutenant Brian Philip.

Palo Alto police dispatched officers as far south as Morgan Hill, in an attempt to locate the suspects. They received help from San Jose police, which used its helicopter in the search for the suspect’s vehicle: a stolen, white 2020 Kia Sportage. 

No one was injured during the suspects’ alleged crime spree, police said. 

The suspects, all Oakland residents, were arrested and the stolen property was recovered. Eighteen-year-old Siahola J’lan Tupouata, 19-year-old Curtis Eddie Charles Freeman, and 21-year-old Tavita Lauti Fifita are now in the main Santa Clara County jail. The 16-year-old is in the county’s juvenile detention center. All four face charges related to the rash of crimes.

Police believe Freeman was the driver of the Kia and that the 16-year-old had an outstanding probation violation in Alameda County.

Philip said he hadn’t worked a case similar to this in years.

“This was unique last night,” Philip said, “[it] initially came out as an auto burglary.”

Palo Alto detectives said they found other items, possibly related to other crimes, inside the stolen Kia. Police officials want residents, and police departments, to come forward if they think there’s a connection to this case. 

By Jesse Gary, Fox KTVU. Gary is a reporter based in the station’s South Bay bureau. Follow him on Twitter, @JesseKTVU and Instagram, @jessegontv

Unconfirmed report claims water entering hold of inter-island ferry MV Otuanga‘ofa

By
Kalino Latu
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Scroll down to watch the short video clip

Unconfirmed reports claim sea water entered the cargo hold of the MV Otuanga’ofa while she was sailing between Ha’apai and Vava’u this week.

MV ‘Otuanga’ofa. Photo?Kalino Lātū (Kaniva News)

A video clip purportedly showing sea water seeping into the hold of the ferry has been circulating on Facebook.

Kaniva News has been unable to independently verify the contents of the video.

We have contacted the Minister of Transport to confirm the story.

Hon. Toumo’ua was asked to confirm whether it was true the ferry in question was MV Otuanga’ofa.

He was asked to explain what had happened.

He was also asked what work had been done to resolve the alleged leak.

The Tongan weather service has issued weather warnings for Tongatapu, ‘Eua, Vava’u and Ha’apai this week. It warned that strong winds could cause damage, heavy rainfalls and rough seas.

Former chief mate and captain Ngaloafe ‘Ulupano, who shared the video to his Facebook account,  told Kaniva News sea water was obviously entering the ship through the front ramp or the side doors.

He claimed this could be caused by the failure of the watertight doors, which were  designed to prevent the sea water from entering the ship and to withstand water pressure from both sides and the front.

A video clip purportedly showing sea water seeping into the hold of the ferry has been circulating on Facebook

Ulupano, who is currently in Auckland and often visited the Otuanga’ofa crew when the ship was dry docked at Auckland wharf, said he was aware that the Otuangaofa’s watertight doors had been checked in Auckland before the ferry returned to Tonga early this month.

Ulupano said the situation was dangerous if it was not fixed immediately. He said it was hard to believe  a leak could occur only a month after the ferry completed a six month maintenance programme.

Kaniva News makes no imputation or allegation concerning the quality of the work done on the Otuanga’ofa during her stay in Auckland.

The MV Otuanga’ofa was donated to the Friendly Islands Shipping Agency Ltd by the Japanese government in 2010.

She was estimated at the time be worth about TP$40 million. Since then she has provided passenger and cargo services to the Vava’u and Haapai groups.

She was previously dry docked in Suva for maintenance in 2018.

When she arrived in Auckland September she was told to stay out of New Zealand waters  for three weeks while the hull was cleaned because it posed a biosecurity threat.

The Agency had denied allegations reported in March saying that it spent about TP$9 million on the vessel’s maintenance in Auckland, including costs for painting, welding, general maintenance, replacement parts, insurance, crew costs and medical bills. It did not say how much has it cost.

Tonga’s Minister of Transport told a press conference in late January that when the ferry arrived in New Zealand some unforeseen mechanical and electrical issues were identified which were not addressed when the ‘Otuanga’ofa was being repaired in Fiji in 2018.

For more information

https://kanivatonga.co.nz/2023/04/mv-otuangaofa-departs-auckland-after-six-months-maintenance/https://kanivatonga.co.nz/2023/04/mv-otuangaofa-departs-auckland-after-six-months-maintenance/

Tongan ferry told to stay out of New Zealand waters because it posed biosecurity threat

Joe Joyce v Zhilei Zhang: British heavyweight suffers first career loss in shock defeat

By
Kaniva Staff
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British heavyweight Joe Joyce’s world-title ambitions were derailed as he suffered a sixth-round technical knockout loss to China’s Zhilei Zhang at London’s Copper Box Arena.

Zhilei Zhang (photo) and Joyce are Olympic silver medallist

Joyce, 37, was staggered several times and had no answer to Zhang’s power as he suffered his first pro loss.

The ringside doctor twice inspected Joyce’s swollen eye before the referee halted the contest in the sixth.

“I’m just disappointed with my performance,” Joyce told BT Sport.

Joe Joyce says his ‘journey will continue’ after Zhilei Zhang loss

“The right hand he kept hitting me with… I couldn’t get out of the way, so respect to Zhang.

“I expected to win like I normally do. Thanks for all the support and congratulations.”

Joyce, the 2016 Olympic silver medallist, was the mandatory challenger for unified champion Oleksandr Usyk’s WBO title and was on the cusp of a world-title shot.

He added: “I’m disappointed. I’d like to apologise to all my fans and supporters – I’ll be back. My journey’s not over, this is just a hurdle I’ve tripped over. I’ll be back.”

This was not part of the script, with Joyce losing his WBO interim title.

Zhang – a 39-year-old, 6ft 6in southpaw with an accomplished amateur career – was far from a walkover opponent, but was the underdog.

Joyce entered the ring to the theme tune of sci-fi film Terminator, and it was a robotic performance from the Putney fighter.

He has been guilty of starting slow in the past, but even he looked surprised by the tremendous opening round from ‘Big Bang’, who hurt Joyce twice with big lefts.

‘Juggernaut’ Joyce has been commended in the past for having the best, and toughest, chin in the division, but he struggled to shrug off Zhang’s heavy shots.

He became a sitting duck at times and was staggered by a left and then a huge right in the second before wobbling towards his own corner.

Blood began to pour from Joyce’s nose, both eyes marked up and swollen.

Joyce was 1st 9lb lighter than his opponent at Friday’s weigh-in, and Zhang’s power could be heard from the thud of each punch to the Briton’s temple.

Joyce desperately needed a response and started firing back in the fourth, but with his eye starting to close, there were concerns from his team the fight could be halted.

While the ringside doctor inspected Joyce between round five and six, Zhang smiled and acknowledged the crowd.

The fight was allowed to continue, but with Joyce’s eyesight clearly hindered – and being repeatedly peppered by Zhang’s punches – referee Howard Foster recalled the doctor in round six before deciding to save Joyce from any more, potentially long-lasting, damage.

‘I will be back’

Zhang – who won silver at the 2008 Olympics – now boasts 25 wins, with 19 stoppages, one defeat and one draw.

“Today is mine,” he said. “Today belongs to me, belongs to everyone who showed up, belongs to every Chinese fan who showed up.”I’m 39 years old, but I’m disciplined, I train hard and next step I go for the title.”

In fight week, Joyce said was targeting a world-title shot against Usyk, WBC champion Tyson Fury or a lucrative bout against Anthony Joshua.

He insisted he “will be back” and promoter George Warren said they may seek a rematch with Zhang.

Covid-19 update: 14,242 new cases, 21 new deaths

By
Kaniva Staff
-

‘Oku taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala fakaTonga

There were 14,242 new cases of Covid-19 reported in Aotearoa in the week to midnight on Sunday, and a further 21 deaths related to the virus.

The 21 people added to the Covid-19 death tally brings the total number to 2716 people whose deaths are linked to the virus.

Of the new cases last week, 6061 were reinfections, according to the figures from the Ministry of Health today.

There were also 363 people with Covid-19 in hospital as of midnight Sunday, with nine cases in ICU.

The seven-day rolling average of cases is 2029.

Last week 12,129 new cases were reported and eight further deaths were attributed to the coronavirus.

Professor Michael Baker said New Zealand was experiencing its fourth wave of the virus, with numbers doubling in the last seven weeks.

Baker said hospitalisations had increased and watewater testing showed a significant rise in Covid-19 cases in the community.

He encouraged people to get the new Covid booster, isolate if they were infected, and mask up in poorly ventilated environments.

“It’s really important that everyone who has a position in authority thinks about the health of their workforce and their school population and the social venues that they operate in.”

Baker said he agreed with the government’s decision to keep isolation requirements as they are.

He questioned why any employer would want their employees to come to work with Covid-19 and likely infect co-workers and potentially, customers.

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

Ko e keisi fo’ou ‘e 12,242 ‘o e Koviti 19 ‘kuo lipooti ‘i ‘Aotealoa ‘i he uke mei he tu’uapō Sapate pea mo ha toe mate ‘e toko 21 tu’unga he vailasi.

Tanaki e 21 ko eni ki he mate fakakatoa he Koviti fe’unga mo e toko 2716 ‘aia ko e kau mate ia ne kaunga ki ai ‘a e vailasi.

‘I he ngaahi keisi fo’ou ‘o e uike kuo ‘osi ko e 6061 ne toe pihia fakatatau ki he fika ‘a  e Potungaue Mo’ui he ‘aho ni’.

Na’e ‘i ai ‘e kakai ‘e toko 363 ma’u ‘e he Koviti 19 ne ‘i fale mahaki he tu’uapo Sapate pea toko hiva ‘i he ICU.

Ko e ‘avalisi ‘i he ‘aho fitu he uike ko e keisi ‘e 2029.

I he uike kuo osi ne ‘i ai ‘a e keisi fo’ou ‘e 12,129 ne lipooti mo ha toe mate ‘e valu tu’unga he kolonavailasi.

Pehe ‘e Professor Michael Baker kuo a’usia ‘e Nu’u Sila ha kaupeau hono fā ‘o e vailasi ‘o tapolo ‘a e fika ko ia he uike ‘e fitu kuo hili’.

Pehe ‘e Baker ko e tākoto falemahaki kuo lahi ange pea ‘oku ‘asi mei hono tesi ‘o e vai kuo faka’aonga’i ‘a e fakalalahi ‘a e keisi Koviti ‘i he komiunitii’.

Kuo ne fakalotolahi mai ki he kakai ke nau huh puusita, mavahe kapau kuo ke pihia pea tui ‘a e masaki ‘i he ngaahi feitu’u oku ‘ikai sai ‘a e venitileisini ai.

Pehe e Baker ‘oku ne tui tatau mo e pule’anga ke fakamavahe’i ‘a e kakai ‘oku puke.

‘Oku ne fehu’ia ‘a hono kei faka’atā ‘e he ngaahi ngaue’anga ‘a e kau ngaue ke omi ‘o ngaue ‘o kei fakapipihi ‘a e Koviti ki honau kaunga ngaue’.

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