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Real Tonga boss urges government to let private sector take over air transport

By
Kalino Latu
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Real Tonga Airlines CEO Tevita Palu says the Tongan government should leave the airline services to the private sector.

Palu Aviation and Real Tonga owner Tēvita Palu

As Kaniva News reported earlier, Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku suggested that selling its Lulutai airline to a private company could be a way to resolve the crisis over the outer islands service.

The government-owned SAAB 340 aircraft is undergoing engine repairs and is expected to be grounded for three to four months.

The government’s Lulutai airlines has been mired in controversy ever since it was started by the previous government to replace Palu’s Real Tonga airline.

Palu earlier said Real Tonga Airlines was ready to replace Lulutai airlines.

“Real Tonga can step back in now to offer the domestic air service as they have done in the past for seven years,” Palu said last month.

“Real Tonga operated the domestic services for seven years,” Palu said.

He said the Tongan government had used Covid as an opportunity to forcibly remove the services from Real Tonga.

Palu said he had helped Lulutai with mechanical assistance.

“It has been 30 years since I did this job with my company Palu Aviation for Air New Zealand, Qantas, Virgin and Fiji Airways,” he said.

The government operated its Lulutai airline for two years and has now had to hire Fiji Airways to maintain the service to Vava’u until June 30.

Australia had provided a $500,000 subsidy to pay Fiji Airways.

Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku met with Fiji Airways Chief Executive Officer and senior Staff at the company’s head office in Nadi last month. He and a Tongan delegation toured the Fijian airlines’ facilities.

For more information

Australian financial subsidy will keep Tongatapu-Vava’u service flying until June

Australian financial subsidy will keep Tongatapu-Vava‘u service flying until June

Real Tonga ready to fill gap left by loss of Lulutai services, says former airline’s boss

Real Tonga ready to fill gap left by loss of Lulutai services, says former airline’s boss

Honourable Prime Minister and Lulutai team meet with Fiji Airways management

Honourable Prime Minister and Lulutai team meet with Fiji Airways management

James Helu farewelled with full gang honours in West Auckland.

By
Kaniva Staff
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By George Block, Newstalk ZB

Trinity Elijah Duffy, 39, also known as James Helu, died hours after a standoff with armed police executing a search warrant at his Newington Rd home in Henderson on February 24.

Police retreated and surrounded his property for several hours, attempting to negotiate with Duffy, who was intermittently live streaming on Facebook from inside the house.

Cordons were established and a stand-off ensued. He was found dead inside the home that evening when members of the Armed Offenders Squad ventured inside.

His death has been referred to the Coroner and is not being treated as suspicious.

Duffy was a patched member of the Head Hunters. He has been lying in state at the headquarters of the gang’s West Chapter in View Rd ahead of his burial Waikumete Cemetery.

On Monday, he was taken in a convoy accompanied by a motorcycle procession from the pad around Auckland.

There was a low key police presence around the pad and the cemetery but no checkpoints.

Members of other gangs, including the Hells Angels, Filthy Few and Killer Beez turned out to show their support.

The Eagle Helicopter monitored the procession as it moved around Auckland ahead of arriving at the cemetery.

Police said in a statement they would follow up any breaches of road rules.

“Police will be monitoring gang movements through the western suburbs of Waitematā for a tangi today, however there are no planned checkpoints in place.

”We have clear expectations around how we expect those involved to behave.

”Police will have zero tolerance for driving behaviour that puts other road users at risk.

”Any unlawful behaviour will be investigated and followed up with enforcement action.

A patched member of the Head Hunters at the scene told the Herald he viewed the police actions around the funeral and procession as harassment.

The procession of dozens of bikes with mostly Head Hunters but also groups friendly with the powerful Auckland gang, including the Filthy Few, Hells Angels and Killer Beez, spent about an hour riding around the city, stopping briefly for burnouts outside the home in Henderson where Duffy died.

Waitematā CIB Detective Inspector Kevin McNaughton earlier said the incident stemmed from a pre-planned search warrant for the gang member wanted for serious offending.

”Upon arrival, our staff were met with extreme hostility from the subject of the search warrant,” he said.

“Cordons were immediately put in place as a result, with some residents in the immediate vicinity evacuated as a precaution.

Police tried to speak to Duffy throughout the day, but he “repeatedly refused to engage” with officers, McNaughton said.

“An investigation will now commence into the man’s death on behalf of the Coroner. The Independent Police Conduct Authority will also be advised, as is standard procedure.

“Police would like to acknowledge the Henderson community for their co-operation and understanding, as they were disrupted by the cordons in place throughout the day,” McNaughton said.

A coronial spokeswoman confirmed the case was not active with a coroner but said no further details were available.

Two dead after crash in Auckland’s Westgate

By
Kaniva Staff
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Two people have died after a crash in Auckland’s Westgate this afternoon.

Police responded to the two-vehicle crash near the intersection of Fred Taylor Drive and Dunlop Road at 3.17pm, a spokesperson said.

“Sadly, one person has been located deceased at the scene and a second person has died upon arrival at hospital.

“Diversions remain in place and motorists are asked to delay travelling in the area if possible.”

The Serious Crash Unit attended the scene.

Covid-19: Two people in 30s among 22 deaths, 11,544 cases

By
Kaniva Staff
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Taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala faka-Tonga

Covid-19 cases continue to rise, with 11,544 new infections reported over the past week.

The numbers cover the week from Monday, March 6 to Sunday, March 12.

As at midnight Sunday, there were 190 people in hospital with the virus.

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

Twenty-two more people with the virus have died, including two who were in their 30s.

Of the 22 people who have died, two were in their 60s, five were in their 70s, eight were in their 80s and three were aged over 90.

Fifteen were men and seven were women.

Six were from the Auckland region, five were from Canterbury, two each were from the Lakes and MidCentral districts, and one each were from Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, the Wellington region, South Canterbury and the Southern District.

The number of deaths confirmed as attributable to Covid-19, either as the underlying cause of death or as a contributing factor, is 2560.

Last week’s positive cases, detected through rapid antigen tests (RATs) and PCR tests, are located in Northland (279), Auckland (3216), Waikato (740), Bay of Plenty (386), Lakes District (244), Hawke’s Bay (345), MidCentral District (449), Whanganui (159), Taranaki (220), Tairāwhiti (81), Wairarapa (180), Capital and Coast (822), Hutt Valley (296), Nelson Marlborough (474), Canterbury (2063), West Coast (112), South Canterbury (184) and Southern District (1252).

The location of 42 cases is unknown.

The seven-day rolling average of cases is 1644. The seven-day rolling average of RAT results is 2477.

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

Toe kaka ‘a e lahi ‘o e keisi ‘i he Koviti ‘aki ‘eni ‘a e toko 11,544 ko e keisi fo’ou ia kuo lipooti he uike kuo ‘osi’.

Ko e fika ia mei he Monite ‘aho ono Ma’asi ki he ‘aho 12

I he tu’uapō Sāpate na’e toko 190 ‘a e kakai ‘i fale nahaki ne ma’u ‘e he vailasi’. Toko nima ne ‘i he intensive care pe ‘iuniti high dependency. Na’e toe ‘i ai mo e toko 22 ne nau mate, toko ua ‘i hona ta’u 60 tupu’, nima ‘i honau 70 tupu’, toko valu ‘i honau 80 tupu’ pea tolu ‘ova he 90. Ko e toko 15 ko e kakai tangata pea fitu ko e kakai fefine.

Ko e toko ono mei he vāhenga ‘Aokalani, nima mei Canterbury, taki ua mei he vāhenga Lakes mo MidCentral mo e taki taha mei Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s bay, Uelingatonu mo e the Southern District.

Ko e lahi ‘o e mate’ kuo fakapapau’i ko e tupu mei he Koviti, ka ‘ikai pe ko e mahaki tauhi na’e tupu ai ‘a e mate pe ko ha tokoni ‘a e Koviti ke mate ai ia ‘i honau mahaki tauhi’ ‘a ia ko e toko 2560.

‘I he uike kuo ‘osi ko e ngaahi keisi positive na’e ma’u ia ‘i he tesi rapid antigen RATS moe PCR ‘a ia ko e ko Northland (279), Auckland (3216), Waikato (740), Bay of Plenty (386), Lakes District (244), Hawke’s Bay (345), MidCentral District (449), Whanganui (159), Taranaki (220), Tairāwhiti (81), Wairarapa (180), Capital and Coast (822), Hutt Valley (296), Nelson Marlborough (474), Canterbury (2063), West Coast (112), South Canterbury (184) and Southern District (1252).

Na’e ‘i ai e keisi ‘e 42 ne ‘ikai ‘ilo honau feitu’u. Faka’avalisi ki he toko 1644 e ‘avalisi ‘o e vilo ‘i he ‘aho ‘e fitu.

Jury discharged in trial over Tinder-induced murder

By
Kaniva Staff
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By au.news.yahoo.com

A jury has been discharged in the trial of five co-accused over a stabbing murder in Sydney’s southwest after the victim was seen with “wads of cash” on a Tinder date.

Bilal Rahim, Joseph Nehme, Viliami Taufahema, Sherene Rizk and Lisa Anne Price were facing a NSW Supreme Court trial over the death of Luke Lembryk in the early hours of December 7, 2019, at the unit he shared with his mother in Condell Park.

Jurors were sent home on Friday after a High Court decision on a South Australian case, handed down two days earlier, radically changed national law regarding joint criminal enterprise and constructive murder.

“I think it is very difficult to resist a reading of (the judgment) to the effect that the combination of extended joint criminal enterprise at common law and constructive murder has been abolished, not just in South Australia, but throughout Australia, for all purposes,” Justice Richard Button wrote.

If the trial were to continue, the only basis for which crown prosecutors had run their case against the five co-accused no longer existed in Australia, the judge said.

In its decision, the High Court overturned convictions for Ben Mitchell, Alfred Rigney, Matt Tenhoopen and Aaron Carver.

The four men had previously been found guilty of the bashing murder of Albanian refugee Urim Gjabri while stealing cannabis at his Adelaide premises.

In the NSW Supreme Court case, which began on February 28, Rahim, Nehme, Taufahema and Price pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, while Rizk fought a charge of being an accessory before the fact.

Mr Lembryk was pronounced dead at the scene about 2.45am on December 7, having suffered stab wounds to his heart, arm, leg and finger.

Rahim, Nehme and Taufahema allegedly went to the unit to do the “Condell Park job”, with “specific guidance” to find the residence given via telephone by Price, who had previously been there and saw wads of cash, after initially connecting with Mr Lembryk via Tinder.

Tt 8 residents eager for construction of Fanga’uta Lagoon bridge

By
Kaniva Staff
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Residents living in villages and towns in the Tongatapu 8 district are eagerly awaiting the beginning of the construction of the Fanga’uta Lagoon Bridge.

The government previously said the building of the 720m bridge was set for completion by 2024.

The massive USD$55 million development project was funded by the Asian Development Bank.

The plan was designed by the Japanese company Chodai.

The bridge would connect the eastern side of Tongatapu and capital Nuku’alofa through Folaha village to ‘Umusī at Ma’ufanga.

The Minister for Infrastructure said the construction bid was just completed.

He said the construction was expected to start in July or next year.

The Minister was responding to a question raised in Parliament by the Tt8 MP Sione Taione.

Hon Taione said his residents had been anxious to know when the construction would start.

He said the locals wanted to prepare entertainments for the day as well as some business owners were interested in the area.  

Tonga government removes importation ban on vehicles 15 years and over

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Tongan government has lifted its ban which prohibited bringing of vehicles 15 years and older into the country.

The prohibition was introduced by the former government under the Customs and Excise Management Act Order 2021.

It said: “Lists of Prohibited Imports”

“Vehicles principally designed for transport of persons, under tariff heading 8703 with model year equal to or more than 15 years from the date of import.”

The ban was imposed with a forfeiture and penalties enforcement which took effect on May 3 that year.

The repeal was announced by the Ministry of Revenue and Customs yesterday.

“The Ministry of Revenue and Customs wishes to notify members of the public that after much consideration and consultation with Cabinet, a decision has been made to repeal the import prohibition for vehicles with model year equal to 15 year and more”, the Ministry said in a statement.

Students stranded for months as gov’t could not afford hiring ferries for Niuas

By
Kalino Latu
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Students and teachers from the Niuas have had no means of travelling to Tongatapu to attend schools for months.

The islanders are short of goods in the shops and petrol because there has been no ferry service to the outer islands since December.

MV ‘Otuanga’ofa in Auckland, NZ. Photo/Kaniva Tonga News

The government has been accused of disregarding the welfare of the people of the two Niuas.

The government’s sole interisland ferry, MV ‘Otuanga’ofa, has been in New Zealand for  maintenance for six months. The Niuas’ -owned MV Kelesi is in Fiji for maintenance and is expected to return to Tonga next week.

The Hu’akavameiliku government cannot afford to hire the ‘Eua ferry or the MV Vaomapa to take over the services.

The Niuas’ MP Vatau Hui told Kaniva News the government could only offer TP$30,000 to hire the‘Eua ferry but the shipping service has declined it. Hon. Hui said the shipping service’s fee was TP$60,000.

He said he also approached the MV Vaomapa’s owners, but its fee was more than $300,000. The government refused to pay that amount.

Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku has been contacted for comment.

All schools opened on February 6.  

Former MP for the Niuas, Lepolo Taunisila has criticised the government for their lack of actions.

She questioned whether the government still lived by its campaign slogan “Make sure no one is left behind”.

The Minister of Transport announced the ‘Otuanga’ofa was expected to arrive in Tonga on February 14. Kaniva News understands the ferry is still docked at an Auckland wharf this evening.

Complaints over the loss of the ferry services come as Tonga faces a crisis over aviation links.

There have been many flight cancellations and delays due to lack of pilots and aircraft breakdowns.

The Australian government offered to step in and pay for Fiji Airways to take over services run by the government’s controversial Lulutai airline until June.

The two Niuas referred to the islands of Niuafo’ou and Niuatoputapu.

The Niuas are regarded as one of the most isolated islands in the world.

A vessel from Tongatapu arrives at the islands once a month with passengers, goods for the shops, petrol and mail.

Located in the north of the kingdom, they are the furthest islands from the mainland, Tongatapu, where the capital city Nuku’alofa is located.

The two islands are more than 500 km away from Tongatapu. According to the 2021 census they each has a population of less than 700.



Dame Valerie Adams announces separation from husband Gabriel

By
Kaniva Staff
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Dame Valerie Adams has announced her separation from husband Gabriel Price.

The pair married at Temple View in Hamilton, New Zealand on 2 April 2016.

Valerie and Gabriel, both 37, who have been family friends since childhood through their parents and church, were married in a small Mormon ceremony in Hamilton yesterday. Photo / Woman’s Day

A statement released by the four-time World champion said: “I have something to share and I want you to learn of this from me personally.

“Gabriel and I have separated.

“While we are no longer together, we both remain entirely committed to our beautiful children.

“As with any breakup it can be emotional and difficult so I do ask that you please respect the privacy of my family during this time”.

Adams and Price are both half Tongan and they have two children, a daughter born in 2017 and a son.

Adams and Price are both 37. They have been family friends since childhood through their parents and church.

Adams was previously married to Bertrand Vili, a discuss thrower from New Caledonia. They married in 2004 and divorced in early 2010.

Frank Bainimarama spends night in police cell, due in court today

By
Kaniva Staff
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By RNZ.co.nz

Former Fijian prime minister Frank Bainimarama is due to appear for a special hearing in a Suva court this morning after spending the night in a police cell alongside the suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho.

The pair were charged with one count each of abuse of office following the sanctioning of charges by the Public Prosecutions director (DPP) Christopher Pryde earlier on Thursday.

The two are alleged to have interfered in an active investigation into a financial mismanagement case involving former staff of the University of the South Pacific almost four years ago.

Acting Police Commissioner (ACP) Sakeo Raikaci said they were kept in custody at the Totogo Police Station and will be taken to the Suva Magistrates Court at 8am local time.

“Bainimarama and Qiliho were brought in for further questioning today [Thursday]. Upon the completion of the questioning via video recording interview, the two were formally charged,” ACP Raikaci said.

“As advised by Pryde, the special task force headed by the Director Criminal Investigations will undertake further investigations into other matters arising from this case.”

Police were expected to release more information when there were new developments, Sakeo said.

Sitiveni Qiliho (C), who is currently suspended from his role as police commissioner and is a key ally of Fiji's former prime minister Frank Bainimarama Bainimarama, arrives at the Poice CID headoffice in Suva on March 9, 2023. - Qiliho and Bainimarama are due to appear in court on March 10 to face a charge of abuse of office. (Photo by LEON LORD / AFP)

Sitiveni Qiliho, who is currently suspended from his role as police commissioner, arrives at the Poice CID head office in Suva on March 9, 2023. Photo: AFP / Leon Lord

DPP Pryde said the former PM and suspended police commissioner “are alleged to have arbitrarily and in abuse of the authority of their respective offices, terminated an active police investigation”.

ACP Sakeo told local media the charges laid against them were not bailable.

He also defended the independence of the investigations.

“There is no interference into the handling of these cases by other senior officers, as the investigation team reports directly to me as their line Assistant Commissioner of Police, the Chief of Intelligence, Investigations and Prosecutions,” he said.

“Investigators are given full autonomy to conduct the necessary work of the gathering of statements and evidence and the questioning of persons of interest.”

‘Everything under control’

Following the high profile arrests, police also put out a statement calling for calm.

“There is no reason to be concerned about public safety,” police chief of operations Livai Driu said, adding that the country’s “security landscape remains calm and manageable”.

“No one should be apprehensive about the security of our nation, as Police have everything under control, and we urge everyone to go about their business as usual,” he added.

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