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Princess Mata‘aho first royal member to pursue doctoral research, exploring Tonga’s cultural diplomacy through monarchy and fish legends 

By
Kalino Latu
-

Princess Halaevalu Mata‘aho Tuku‘aho is pursuing doctoral research at the Australian National University, concentrating on the significant role of the Tongan monarchy in shaping the nation’s cultural diplomacy and the origins of fish legends.

 

Her Royal Highness Angelika Lātūfuipeka Halaevalu Mataʻaho Napua ‘Okalani Tukuʻaho. Photo/Victoria Museum

King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau‘u Tuku‘aho’s eldest daughter was the royal family’s first member to pursue a doctoral degree.  

Her study delves into historical landmarks associated with King George Tupou I and the rich narratives surrounding Tongan fish legends.  

The Princess aims to promote and preserve Tongan cultural values globally, engaging knowledge holders and utilizing digital media, a statement said.  

Princess Mata‘aho is currently conducting her doctoral research at the Department of Pacific Affairs (DPA) at the Australian National University (ANU).  

“Her research focuses on the role of the monarchy in shaping Tonga’s cultural diplomacy, particularly through historical landmarks associated with King George Tupou I and the origins of fish legends”, it said.   

Knowledge holders of specific landmarks and fish legends are expected to participate in the Princess’s research.  

“Her project underscores her deep-rooted sense of cultural heritage and commitment to preserving Tongan traditions”, it said. 

King Tupou I 

King George Tupou I was one of Princess Mata’aho’s great-great-great-grandfathers. He is revered as the founder of modern Tonga. He unified the kingdom under one formal government, championed Christianity, and introduced Western reforms.  

Most significantly, he liberated commoners from the oppressive control of feudal chiefs by abolishing serfdom and establishing Tonga’s first constitution in 1875, which guaranteed their freedoms.  

His legacy has been celebrated as the foundation of modern Tonga.

Fish legends 

Fishes hold considerable significance within Tongan culture and traditions, where they serve as mythological symbols.  

Several species, including tuna (ʻatu), sharks (‘anga), and eels (tuna), are imbued with mythological importance and are associated with various traditional fishing practices.  

While some customs may no longer be practiced today, the communal fishing technique known as ‘uloa’ remains significant in contemporary studies.

This method has been utilized as a research framework, especially in the health sector, effectively capturing Tongan interpretations and understandings of mental distress.

Man jailed for filming multiple women and girls in bathrooms

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Yvonne Tahana, 1News Reporter

An Auckland man who used hidden cameras to secretly film his female friends, colleagues, children and teenagers in vulnerable positions has been sentenced to four years in prison.

Micah Te Ahu Fala.
Micah Te Ahu Fala. (Source: Supplied)

Micah Te Ahu Fala, who had never previously appeared in court, now has an extensive rap sheet.

The agreed court Statement of Facts makes for unsettling reading and reveals the extensive scale of the offending.

Police found 236 videos and 1119 screenshots or images and there were known to be 22 victims of his crimes.

The 41-year-old pled guilty earlier this year to 42 charges, including possessing objectionable material, making objectionable publications, making an intimate visual recording and possession of intimate visual recordings.

1News understands Crown lawyers have struggled to find anything comparable to the scale of Fala’s offending, which happened over a period of nine-and-a-half years.

“The defendant operated small spy cameras, concealed in bathrooms to capture intimate visual recordings of his victims, entering the bathrooms, removing their clothing, showering, drying and dressing themselves and on occasions using the toilet,” the statement of facts said.

“Police investigations subsequently found evidence of the purchase of four spy cameras from Trade Me and eBay.”

It said the recordings and images were predominantly captured in bathrooms at nine different locations, including “a property where Mr Fala filmed through the window”.

He also faced three charges of sexual conduct with a child under 12, related to him stroking a child victim’s foot.

“The police also located hundreds of recordings of female feet amongst the defendant’s seized digital files. The feet belonged to at least three of the victims and were recorded without their knowledge or consent.

One recording shows the defendant stroking the feet of a 10-year-old victim as she slept. This child has been the victim of multiple intimate visual recordings.”

Fala organised the recordings into folders under each of the respective victim’s names.

And he knew how to use technology to surreptitiously watch victims.

“On some occasions he accessed the devices under the pretence of improving security on the device. On other occasions he would access the devices when they were left unattended,” the court document said.

Operation Frost

The offending was uncovered by police’s Operation Frost, led by Auckland City’s Child Exploitation Team, which started investigating in September 2023.

In July this year, Detective Sergeant Rick Veacock said: “These are serious allegations, involving covertly made intimate visual recordings and objectionable publications.”

He said at the time that search warrants had been carried out at addresses at locations across the North Island in June, leading to the arrest of the man.

When Fala plead guilty in February, Judge Kevin Glubb entered convictions on each charge and remanded him in custody. His name suppression continued until today’s sentencing but has now been lifted.

US Embassy issues ‘no excuses’ warning to Tongans on visa violations, lifetime ban possible

By
Kalino Latu
-

The US Embassy in Fiji has issued a clear and alarming message regarding visa violations to residents in the Pacific, including Tongans.  

Individuals who overstay their U.S. visas could face a permanent ban on re-entering the United States, the Embassy said in a statement.  

This strongly worded warning appears to be the first direct message from the US Embassy targeting Tongans and other Pacific islanders since the Trump administration’s deportation crackdown policy began earlier this year.

The warning underscores the seriousness of visa compliance and the potential consequences of violations.  

It said the consular officers have full access to immigration histories and will be able to identify any past violations.  

The embassy stressed that there is no such thing as an “honest mistake” when it comes to visa regulations.  

Travelers are reminded that it is their responsibility to adhere to the terms of their visas, or they could be subject to criminal prosecution in addition to the risk of a lifetime ban.  

The warning follows Tonga’s Prime Minister Aisake Eke’s opposition to Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Eke stated that the influx of deported migrants will only exacerbate the kingdom’s existing challenges.

Dr. Eke expressed concerns that Mr. Trump’s plans to expel migrants might bring more deportees with criminal records to Tonga’s shores. 

The latest update from US media regarding the deportation crackdown reports that the government relies on tattoos and social media posts as sufficient grounds for deportation to a third country.

They also said that as many as four in five immigrants at risk of deportation from the United States are Christian, according to a new report that calls on their fellow believers to consider the impact of the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation policies. 

The report says about 10 million Christians are vulnerable to deportation, and 7 million U.S. citizens who are Christian live in households where someone is at risk of deportation. 

The report, under the auspices of major Catholic and evangelical organizations, draws on a range of data, including percentages of religious affiliation in various migrant and national populations and on an advocacy group’s analysis of U.S. census data on migrants. 

Tonga’s youngest Chief Magistrate replaces one of the longest-serving predecessors 

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Tonga has appointed its youngest female judge as the new chief magistrate.

Chief Magistrate Loupua Kuli

Loupua Kiola Kulī, 50, has been promoted to the new position after four years of service as a senior magistrate since 2020. 

Effective March 28, she has replaced former Chief Magistrate Sione Folau Lokotui, who retired last month.

Lokotui retired on March 27 after 15 years of service, having served approximately 55 years as a civil servant, mainly at the Ministry of Justice.

Kulī was presented with a gold medal during the USP 2010 graduation as part of her LLB qualification awards.  

In 2016, she graduated with a Master of Laws. 

She is the daughter of Mafi Kiola of Houma, Tongatapu, and Sūlia Kiola of Ha’afeva, Ha’apai. 

Kulī is married to Ma‘afu Kulī of Lapaha and they have children. 

Suspect in Tonga bank 15 kg drug case does not flee country; trial expected this month: Police Minister 

By
Kalino Latu
-

The court hearing for the suspect in the 15 kg meth haul seized by police from his office at the National Reserve Bank of Tonga and his home is anticipated this month.  

Tevita, 39, was arrested along with his sister, Ana Seini Kolokihakaufisi, 37.  

However, as reported by Kaniva News last year, ‘Ana has been discharged on apparent mental health grounds. 

They were arrested by Police with 5.73kg of the illicit drug at their family residence at Kolofo’ou, while a further 9.927kg was seized from Tēvita’s office at the NRBT. 

The Minister of Police recently confirmed Tevita’s whereabouts after he was questioned during a press conference.  

He said that Tevita was on curfew while awaiting his trial.

The February 2024 arrest has recently sparked widespread curiosity among the online community, as reports emerged that government officials, who were allegedly being investigated for involvement in inappropriate activities and drug dealings, were fleeing the country.

As Kaniva News previously reported, a suspended senior police officer who was under investigation had fled to the United States.

Senior Police Officer Pita Tahitu‘a was suspended after complaints following alleged inappropriate workplace behaviours. 

Last year, a Tongan government authority stated it would inform its international counterparts after a prison officer involved in drug-related activities fled the country.

The revelation came amid an investigation into the Prison authorities’ alleged involvement in “accepting bribery and aiding and abetting trafficking of illicit drugs into prisons”.  

“This is a grave violation of the good order and security of the prison”, His Majesty’s Prisons at Hu‘atolitoli said last year. 

1962 report reveals NZ Catholic Bishop’s restrictions on English drama over Tongan faiva as Polyfest celebrates 50 yrs in Auckland 

By
Kalino Latu
-

A recently unearthed 1962 article from Tonga’s Taumu‘a Lelei newspaper reveals how a New Zealand priest actively discouraged English theatrical performances, urging Tongans to preserve their faiva fakafonua (traditional performances) instead.  

Polyfest 2012. Photo/Kaniva Tonga News

This discovery comes as Auckland’s Polyfest marks its 50th anniversary, a vibrant celebration where Tongans, Māori, and Pacific Islanders in New Zealand perform their indigenous cultural haka and singing entertainment.  

Dr Felise Tāvō, currently translating the church’s history in Tonga from French into Tongan and English, shared a copy of the Catholic newspaper’s article on Facebook this week.  

The article reported that the Catholic bishop at the time, understood to be John Hubert Macey Rodgers from New Zealand, stated his desire to change the usual entertainment performed at the Catholic schools’ prize-giving night.  

According to the article, it was customary for the schools to present English dramas and entertainment during the event. Still, the bishop wanted the students to be taught about their indigenous faiva or faiva fakaTonga.  

The article noted that the bishop aimed to instill in the students a sense of value for their faiva fakaTonga and help them understand the importance of their culture. 

It said that as a result, various schools were told to each practice various faiva groups, including me’etu’upaki, lakalaka, mā‘ulu‘ulu, and tafi.  

Ban on faiva  

The revelation revives efforts in Tonga to ban faiva fakaTonga, which were considered heathen.

These efforts resulted in a law enacted during the reign of King Tupou I, known as the 1850 Code, which stated, “Dancing and heathen customs are strictly forbidden.”

Tongan scholars, such as Professors Futa Helu and Sione Latukefu, argued that the law was enacted under the influence of Wesleyan missionaries, who prohibited dancing according to their doctrines.

However, the legislation was subsequently rescinded, and many faiva practices originally classified as heathen were either banned or reformed to align more closely with Christian principles.

The Catholic priests were recognized for preserving the faiva fakaTonga, especially among the people of Lapaha in Tongatapu, where the first French missionaries were stationed.

The esteemed chief Tuku‘aho, who was not a Catholic, is credited with creating the lakalaka performance.

Since Tuku‘aho’s death in 1897, the residents of Tatakamotonga have consistently worn black clothing as their performance attire to honour his memory and that of his son, Tungi Mailefihi.   

Polyfest festival  

Polyfest is an annual festival in Auckland, New Zealand, showcasing the performing arts of Polynesian culture.  

Established in Ōtara in 1975, it has grown to become one of the largest Polynesian festivals globally.  

The event celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.  

The official programme for Polyfest started with a flag-raising ceremony in South Auckland today. 

After the flags were aloft, a powhiri welcomed the participants to the Manukau Sports Bowl. 

Over four days, more than 60 schools and thousands of performers will take to the stages to celebrate an array of cultures. 

Schapelle Corby’s memoir revisits prison torment and Tongan family bonds

By
Kalino Latu
-

Nearly two decades after the high-profile Bali drug bust that attracted global attention, Schapelle Corby has reemerged to discuss a new edition of her book detailing her 13-year incarceration in Indonesia’s infamous Kerobokan Prison.

Schapelle Corby’s relative caught up in the biggest ever drug bust

The 47-year-old was convicted on May 27, 2005 for bringing 4.2 kg (9.3 lb) of cannabis into Bali. 

The Denpasar District Court sentenced her to 20 years in prison; however, she received a pardon and subsequently returned to Australia in 2017.

Indonesian customs discovered the marijuana hidden in her boogie board bag upon arrival at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport.

Tongan connection

Born in Australia but with Tongan family ties through her half-brother James Kisina, who accompanied her on the ill-fated 2004 trip, Corby’s case drew international attention and diplomatic tensions. 

 
Now living a low-profile life, her recent comments on social media mark one of the few times she has publicly reflected on the prison experience that defined a decade of her life. 

Corby reposted a photo on Instagram Stories on Tuesday comparing the national and international versions of her 2006 autobiography, which tells of her world-famous ordeal, according to Sky News.  

Entitled My Story in Australia and No More Tomorrows internationally, Corby’s book recounts her survival in Bali’s notorious Kerobokan prison. 

The national cover of her book shows her dressed in a floral shirt and standing before the barbed wire walls of Kerobokan. 

The international version has a photo taken during her arrest in which then-27-year-old Corby looks alone and terrified behind the bars of her prison cell as she awaits trial. 

She maintained the drugs were planted in her body board bag and that she did not know about them. 

Fifty years of Polyfest marked by Ngā Puna o Waiōrea

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Te Karere Reporters

!news.co.nz

Ngā Puna o Waiōrea students
Ngā Puna o Waiōrea students (Source: Te Karere)

Auckland’s Polyfest, the world’s largest secondary school Polynesian festival, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this week.

This year’s event host, Western Springs College – Ngā Puna o Waiōrea, has a proud history of representing at the festival. It has been the defending champion of the Māori stage for the last six years running.

Tiakina Te Kare tutors Ngā Puna o Rehu, one of four Ngā Puna o Waiōrea kapa haka that compete across four divisions. She said it was a challenging job when she first started 10 years ago, but it was beautiful to see how much tauira have grown over the years and now thriving.

“It makes me feel grateful that I was part of the journey of theirs to be able to get to perform across all three rōpū, especially getting into [senior group] Ngā Puna o Waiōrea.”

She was one of a number of the school’s former students returning to tutor the next generation of haka performers. The school’s reputation in kapa haka has flourished over the past decade and Polyfest played a big part in providing a platform for development.

The event involved more than 70 schools represented across six stages – Māori, Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Cook Islands and Diversity – over four days.

It’s a far cry from its humble beginnings in 1976 where there were only four schools – Māngere College, Aorere College, Hillary College (now Sir Edmund Hillary College) and Seddon College (now Western Springs College – Ngā Puna o Waiōrea).

Ngā Puna o Rehu would use its performance to mark the 50th anniversary of Polyfest and the school’s participation in the event.

“The main kaupapa of our bracket is about Ngā Puna o Waiōrea, so our whakapapa, our hitori; and then our whakawātea is about celebrating the 50 years.”

Kianu Enoka-Rupapera tutored another of the school’s groups, Ngā Oho o Waiōrea and, like Te Kare, was once a student who performed at Polyfest.

“Polyfest, for me, definitely helped me grow as a performer, grow as a person, specially being here at Ngā Puna o Waiōrea.”

He said he owed a lot of what he learned from the experience to his own tutors. Now he was teaching a new wave of kapa haka performers and encouraged young people to “just jump in and have a jam”.

This year’s theme for Polyfest would pay tribute to the past five decades: He oha nō tua, he taonga tuku iho! It is Legacy – a treasure handed down.

The event would be launched on Tuesday with a flag-raising at dawn and pōwhiri later in the morning. Performances would begin the following day.

Glossary

tauira – students

kaupapa – theme, topic, subject, cause

whakapapa – genealogy

hitori – history

whakawātea – exit item (in kapa haka context)

$7m cost blowout at Poutaha HQ sparks corruption allegations; Tonga Power clarifies $28m upgrade concerns 

By
Kalino Latu
-

Public Enterprises Minister Piveni Piukala has publicly revealed that an alleged $7 million cost overrun was discovered after completing Tonga Power Limited’s (TPL) newly constructed headquarters.  

In a startling allegation, the minister claimed the discrepancy pointed to potential corruption, though he did not name specific individuals involved.  

He claimed the building estimate was $4.8 million, but it ballooned to $11 million after the work was completed.

Piukala is currently reviewing the government’s public services as part of the Eke government’s commitment to assess all government sectors. 

The headquarters in Poutaha is now at the centre of a growing financial scandal. 

Kaniva News contacted TPL for comment.

Piukala also claimed that Tonga Power had undergone upgrades costing around $28 million.  

He said he was concerned that “many aspects of the expenditure were neither useful nor beneficial to the people.”   

Long overdue upgrades

Tapu Panuve, the Chairman of TPL’s Board of Directors, has addressed concerns regarding the $28 million upgrades. He confirmed he was not with TPL when the headquarters were constructed.

For the $28 million upgrade, Panuve said: “The reason for this huge amount of capital expenditure is that TPL had not invested in past years into generation (fale misini) or distribution (network).” 

He said this had led to many outages and failures when he joined the board in March 2022. 

“This was further negatively impacted by the Tsunami and volcanic explosion of HTHH in January 2022 which resulted in ash fall build up in transformers and the generation building resulting in blown transformers and damaged generators”, Panuve told Kaniva News. 

Several generators in the company’s generation building were from the 90’s (shoreline days) and were long overdue for replacement, according to Panuve.  

“Instead of investing in upgrading generators and strengthening the distribution lines (transformers, reclosers, high voltage lines etc.) TPL embarked on spending money on office buildings and other areas. This was before our time”, Panuve said. 

“When we started in March 2022 we were faced with aging infrastructure and volcanic ash that had severely impacted TPL’s ability to provide ongoing stable power.  

“We were essentially ‘fighting fires’ on all fronts – generators struggling and distribution lines failing and transformers blowing.  

“At the same time we were stuck with repaying past loans for TPL (over $30M). We started planning to ‘fix’ the generation and distribution arms of the business.  

“This plan is represented in the Capex spend of around $50M – it is a ‘catch up’ to bring TPL back to where it should be to provide a sustainable, affordable and stable power supply for the Kingdom”.

He also said: “I should also note that about half of the $50M is funded by the Australian High Commission after we presented our plans to them on how to fix TPL’s power problems they came up with about half of the funds required. They have been TPL’s true partner in our plans.” 

Police Minister defends Sunday emergency flight as Hu‘akavameiliku revives past air travel controversy 

By
Kalino Latu
-

Former Minister of Police Siaosi Sovaleni Hu‘akavameiliku and current Minister of Police Piveni Piukala clashed in Parliament this morning over an aircraft flight that occurred on Sunday. 

The questions follow footage of the Lulutai aircraft leaving the Fua‘amotu domestic airport yesterday, Sunday, 30 which triggered debates on Facebook.   

The Parliament of Tonga reconvened this morning.

Piukala confirmed in the House that the flight was emergency-related, heading to one of the Niuas to medevac a patient who was in emergency.  

Piukala recently denied authorization for a foreign air ambulance to evacuate two patients from Tonga.   

Following the flight’s cancellation, Piukala said that his investigation of the application allegedly revealed no tourists requiring medical evacuation, contrary to the original claim.

Hu‘akavameiliku’s questioning revived controversy surrounding his 2024 decision to authorize Lulutai Airlines flights on Christmas Day. 

READ MORE:

Businesses and trading services are illegal in the kingdom on Sunday, Christmas Day and Good Friday.

As Kaniva News reported at the time, the national airline was accused of breaching the Christmas Day trading ban after reports that it conducted passenger flights on Christmas Day.   

At the time, we said that Neiafu town officer had protested at the Vava’u police station after the police arrested his son for illegally swimming in the sea on that Christmas Day. 

Lapota told Kaniva News that the Lulutai aircraft flew back and forth from Vava’u and questioned why they were allegedly allowed to conduct business on Christmas Day, at the same time the police arrested his son for swimming in the sea the same day.  

We contacted Hu’akavameiliku at the time for comment.  

During a press conference, at the time, where he was asked to address the legality of the government airline’s Christmas Day passenger flights, Hu’akavameiliku declined to provide a clear justification for the operations.

While confirming that a ‘provisional permit’ had been issued, he did not explain how passenger services qualified under Tongan law, which only permits Christmas flights for emergencies.

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