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Woman gets 12 months’ probation for stealing $700 in goods from Digicel Tonga

By
Kaniva Staff
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After stealing a cellphone from Digicel Tonga, a woman must not commit any further offence, punishable by imprisonment for 12 months.

 

Simaima Vaha’i pleaded guilty to her theft charge after police amended the original charge.  

The court was told that from October 2023 to April 2024, at Neiafu, Vaha’i dishonestly took one Samsung Galaxy A34, valued at $715.84, from Digicel Tonga Limited without any right, to deprive them of said property permanently.  

The court heard that the stock room from which these goods were stolen was usually left unlocked, and access was available to all other workers in the company. 

 

The court document shows comment by the Lord Chief Justice, presiding, telling Vaha’i that “the loser was your employer, that is always a serious matter because it is a breach of trust”. 

Vaha’i is married to a teacher, and they have four young children. 

Mr Bishop said Vaha’i admitted to the crime as soon as she was questioned, which was before her arrest and before the Police questioned her. 

Mr Bishop also said: “I hope that was because you realised that what you did, was out of character. Why you behaved as you did, I cannot say, but I hope that this experience has been a lesson for you”. 

She was placed on probation for 12 months to help with her rehabilitation.

During this time, she must not commit any crimes that could lead to imprisonment.

“You also need to report to the probation office in Tonga by this Friday. You can do this by phone.” 

Widow of Pacific advocate MP Efeso Collins pushes for inquest after Auckland fatal event

By
Kaniva Staff
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The widow of late MP Efeso Collins is calling for a full investigation into his death after he died at an Auckland event.  

Vasa Fia Collins is urging a full inquest into the February 2024 death of her husband, Fa’anānā Efeso Collins, after he collapsed at a charity event in Auckland.
Photo File /Diversity Works NZ

The call comes after his wife Vasa Fia Collins attended a case management conference at Auckland’s Coroner’s Court on Wednesday, a Local Democracy Reporting (LDR) report published by PMN says.   

It says Vasa urged Coroner Janet Anderson to consider holding a full inquest. 

Efeso, a respected politician and community leader, tragically passed away during a public event on February 2024, the Auckland Council had approved. He was 49 years old.

 “Our lives have changed forever. I realise that I may never feel full closure over Efeso’s death, but an inquest to address our unanswered questions will move me and my family closer to the closure that we deserve,” PMN report quoted Vasa as saying. 

Vasa has demanded answers, saying she wants the truth—and that their children deserve to know how their father died.   

The event, organised by ChildFund, involved carrying heavy water buckets over a distance of 1 to 1.4 kilometres. 

Dr Max Harris, representing the Collins family, raised concerns about the event’s safety and lack of adequate health measures. 

He questioned whether Auckland Council had ensured proper precautions to protect participants. 

Harris noted that no medical assessments or health checks were conducted before the event. 

“The question here is whether more could have been done to prevent his death and whether more could be done in the future to prevent deaths occurring in similar circumstances. And it’s those inquiries to which those seven outstanding questions and concerns are directed,” Harris says, according to PMN.  

Harris referenced Auckland Council’s event guidelines, which stress the importance of trained staff, tailored safety plans, and professional medical services on-site. 

However, he noted that the event’s health and safety plan was generic rather than specifically tailored to the risks of this event. 

LDR approached Auckland Council for comment on their role in approving the event and whether any health and safety processes had changed since Fa’anānā’s death. 

Glynn Leggat, Auckland Council’s Head of Events, told LDR a health and safety plan was submitted for the charity event as part of the application. 

“As part of Auckland Council’s role in facilitating events in public spaces, we require every permit applicant to provide evidence of adequate health and safety planning.” 

Arrests made as Police issue appeal in aggravated robberies investigation

By
Kaniva Staff
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Police have made arrests as part of an investigation into three aggravated robberies at Auckland jewellery stores this month.

Dillinger Tautari is wanted by police.

The investigation has linked the three offences together.

Those were at Kayson’s Fashion Store in Glen Eden on 16 March, and the Krishna Jewellery Store in Papatoetoe and Michael Hill at Mānawa Bay which both occurred on 23 March.

Additional reassurance patrols are being carried out across the region.

Acting Detective Inspector Simon Harrison says two arrests have been made in recent days, with investigations progressing.

“A number of search warrants have been carried out and further investigative activity like this will continue,” he says.

“Police have also obtained a warrant to arrest for one man, and we are appealing for information on that offender’s whereabouts.

“This is still very much an active investigation, and our teams are progressing well.”

A 13-year-old boy has been charged with the aggravated robbery at Mānawa Bay, while a 24-year-old man has been charged in relation to being a party to the aggravated robbery for the offending at Glen Eden.

Acting Detective Inspector Harrison says: “We are concerned with the violent actions of this group.

“Our teams are still actively searching for the other offenders involved so that they can be held accountable.”

  • Reassurance patrolling being carried out:

In addition to the work being carried out by investigation staff, uniformed Police staff are carrying out reassurance patrolling.

“Our staff will be visible and conduct reassurance patrolling around jewellery stores as part of our  wider response,” acting Detective Inspector Harrison says.

“We know the brazen nature of this offending concerns retail staff and the wider public.”

“Our staff will be engaging with retailers, and as part of this presence will speak with them about how they can keep themselves, their staff and premises safe.”

Police also encourage anyone to report suspicious behaviour around commercial premises that gives them cause for concern, acting Detective Inspector Harrison says.

  • Wanted to arrest: Dillinger Tautari

Police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of Dillinger Tautari.

The 18-year-old has a warrant for his arrest for the aggravated robbery at Michaell Hill at Mānawa Bay.

“Dillinger has links across the Auckland region and is actively avoiding Police,” acting Detective Inspector Harrison says.

“Anyone who sights Dillinger should not approach him and instead contact Police immediately.”

Anyone with general information on his whereabouts can also contact Police on 105 using the reference number 250323/1850.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Woman arrested at Auckland Airport with 15kg of meth in luggage from Canada

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Customs has arrested a 23-year-old woman for smuggling approximately 15.1 kilograms of methamphetamine, on a flight from Canada last night.

During a baggage search at Auckland International Airport, Customs officers found 14 individually vacuum-sealed packages containing a white crystal substance.

Customs Airport Manager, Paul Williams, says that transnational serious and organised crime groups continue to manipulate and exploit individuals to carry out their illicit trade.

“Customs is laser-focused on combatting the harm that illicit drugs wreak across communities”, Williams said.

He also said: “This should send a message to others about the dangers of carrying out the leg work for organised crime.

No amount of money is worth the cost of getting caught and, in this instance, risking life imprisonment.”

Auckland High Court imposes life sentence in Tongan-Language murder case 

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Auckland High Court has sentenced Christopher Salt to life imprisonment for murder, with a minimum non-parole period of 12 years.  

Justice Michael Robinson recently delivered the sentence, aligning with the jury’s November verdict that rejected Salt’s claims of self-defense or manslaughter. 

Court proceedings revealed the alleged motive for the killing had been communicated to Salt in Tongan.  

During his trial, Salt’s defense team had argued alternatively for acquittal based on self-defense or conviction for the lesser charge of manslaughter.  

Both arguments were ultimately dismissed by jurors and now by the sentencing judge. 

The court was told Salt had delivered a punch to Matagi’s head inside a Mt Roskill bar before kicking his face and stomping on his head four times.   

He told a jury his intent that night was initially to serve as a peacemaker.  

Prosecutors called the explanation ridiculous – a clear contradiction, they said, to the high-quality, graphic CCTV footage of the attack that has been played for jurors repeatedly since Salt’s trial began last week, the New Zealand Herald reported.   

The footage showed Matagi never moved again of his own accord after the final head stomp, which was recorded at 10.56pm.   

It said: “While rifling through Matagi’s clothes, Salt removed his wallet, placing it in Matagi’s baseball cap along with his passport and phone before walking out of the room with the items.   

“He returned about four minutes later, going through Matagi’s pockets a second time before picking up the man’s darts scattered on the floor next to him and throwing them at the board one last time”.  

An ambulance wouldn’t be called for almost an hour and 40 minutes, after Matagi’s friends eventually found him and yelled to the barman for help.  

“Everything happened so fast, I just wanted to disarm him,” Salt told jurors, acknowledging that he found no gun.  

“I kicked him and I stomped him because I didn’t want him to shoot me,” Salt repeatedly claimed from the witness box in the High Court at Auckland over the past two days. “I was worried about the gun – nothing else.”  

Salt testified he had actually suggested a game of pool because his cousin, also in the smoking area, had told him in Tongan that he was about to give Matagi a beating. He said he didn’t know what had angered his cousin, who has since died so couldn’t give evidence of his own, but he thought it best to defuse the situation.  

Matangi was new to Auckland, having previously lived in Australia and Niue, when he went to  Richardson’s Bar and Restaurant for the first time with two workmates on the night of August 31 last year.   

He met Salt, a self-described regular at the bar, in the smoking area before footage showed the two going to the otherwise empty game room. 

Minister alleges $14m fishermen loan scheme diverted to elites; Bank calls claim ‘misleading’ 

By
Kalino Latu
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Public Enterprises Minister Piveni Piukala has publicly alleged that a $14 million loan program, designed to empower low-income earners such as fishermen and weavers, failed to achieve its intended purpose.

PE Minister Piveni Piukala

The minister’s disclosure emerges amid a comprehensive government-wide review targeting all ministries, departments, and state boards.

Mr Piukala said in Tongan that the Tonga Development Bank (TDB) funds were allegedly “exhausted early after being mostly borrowed by elites” instead of aiding the poor, leaving many legitimate applicants empty-handed.  

Piukala cited cases where struggling families sought loans for basic needs, such as school fees, only to be told by the TDB that no money was available.  

However, TDB chief executive Emeline Tuita disputed the findings, calling them misleading and untrue. 

They could also “mislead the public and TDB customers”, Tuita told Kaniva News in Tongan.  

We also requested that she provide us with the bank’s loan policy, but she did not respond.  

The allegations come at a challenging time for the state-funded TDB, which was facing a court battle and confronting a wave of misinformation on social media that it claims is damaging its public image.   

Vote of no confidence revelations 

The government findings follow a motion of no confidence last year, which alleged that the TDB had violated the established loan limits for clients. 

The vote of no confidence against former Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku also claimed that the bank’s financial status remains uncertain due to the inability of companies with government-guaranteed loans to fulfil their repayment obligations. 

‘Emeline Tuita, TDB CEO

The former Hu’akavameiliku administration was accused of legal violations due to its failure to present evidence of the loan guarantee to the House. It was also accused of failing to prevent the two banks, TDB and Tonga National Reserve Bank (TNRB), from entering into a legal dispute, which was awaiting a court decision. 

In his response, Hon Hu‘akavameiliku said in Tongan: “It is important to note that the two banks operate as separate legal entities that function independently from government decision-making processes”. 

He further said that the court would issue its final ruling on the matter, noting that this falls entirely within the judiciary’s authority—a realm beyond the government’s control. 

Tonga secures historic AUD$85M Australian Budget support for economic resilience

By
Kaniva Staff
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Press release

Australia and Tonga have agreed to an AUD85 million (TOP125 million) budget support program over the next four years to support a stronger economy and national budget.

This is the largest investment in our partnership’s history. It builds on closer ties developed over recent years and is timely after last week’s National Development Summit. It helps answer the call for accelerated action to support Tonga’s development ambitions.

Prime Minister Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke acknowledged Tonga’s strong and growing bilateralrelationship with Australia.
“This new support is delivering the ambition we have for our relationship in the spirit of kaungame’a falala’anga.

It’s helping us to provide services and more opportunities to all Tongans across all islands, as well as implement reforms that will improve the efficiency of
our public administration.”
“Budget support allows us to be in the driver’s seat and maintain our sovereignty as we
navigate a path towards economic resilience.”

This announcement reflects the strategic trust in the bilateral partnership, including a shared commitment to Pacific-led approaches to regional prosperity and stability.

Australia’s High Commissioner to Tonga, His Excellency Brek Batley said that “Australia recognises that Tonga is on a difficult path to recover fully from the economic shocks of recent disasters while also managing significant debt repayments until 2029.”

“Our assistance will directly support Tonga’s leadership and national priorities. It reflects ourpartnership founded on mutual respect and a shared outlook on our region’s security.”

Funds will be provided on the basis of performance against jointly determined policy reformpriorities, including those identified in the Joint Policy Reform Matrix between the Tongan Government and development partners. It will support and be based on continued prudent
fiscal management by the Government of Tonga.

This funding builds on Australian direct financing to the Government of Tonga of more than AUD142 million since 2020 to stabilise the budget and support the Government to deliver new initiatives such as social infrastructure upgrades and renewable energy access. It is in
addition to Australia’s annual development budget to Tonga.

Police investigate after officer hospitalized in violent clash with driver near Tonga National University

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Tonga Police have launched an investigation after a routine traffic stop near Tonga National University (TNU) turned violent, leaving an officer hospitalized.

As Kaniva News previously reported, the incident occurred last Friday morning when officers stopped an unregistered truck driven by a man allegedly not wearing a seatbelt and operating without a valid license.

Police now says in a statement that a traffc incident occurred while a checkpoint was conducted near TNU in Kolofo’ou involving Tonga Police officers and a member of the public.

It said a police officer stopped a vehicle due to a traffic violation where the driver was seen to have an unbuckled seatbelt.

Upon further inspecton, it was confirmed that the vehicle, a light rigid truck, was unregistered and the driver did not have a valid driver’s license.

When instructed to step out of the vehicle, the driver refused to do so on a number of occasions, and it will be alleged that the driver then initiated a physical altercation with the officer.

This resulted in a struggle taking place on the roadside and the driver was arrested.

The driver and one of the police officers were taken to the hospital for medical attention.

“Regrettably, the police officer has been assaulted in a separate incident, having been targeted by a member of the public following this incident”, it said.

“Tonga Police assure the public that a thorough police investigation is underway. We urge the public to remain calm and allow due process to take its course”.

Auckland Airport drug smuggler gets five year prison term after $5.3M ecstasy haul

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A 29-year-old foreign national has been jailed for five years and nine months for smuggling approximately 25.7 kilograms of MDMA or ecstasy through Auckland International Airport last year.

Arriving in New Zealand on 13 March 2024, he was subject to questioning and a baggage search where Customs officers located 25 black vacuum-sealed packages containing the illicit substance.

As a result, he was charged with importation and possession for supply of a Class B drug.

Customs Auckland Airport Manager Paul Williams said: “With every smuggler Customs catches and prosecutes, we are a sending a message that we will not tolerate unlawful behaviour.

In this instance alone, Customs officers prevented an estimated $5.3 million in social harm and cost to New Zealand.”

If you have suspicions about drug smuggling, call Customs confidentially on 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Tongatapu driver sentenced to four and half years in prison for deadly reckless driving crash 

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A man has been convicted of reckless driving causing death and is sentenced to four years and six months’ imprisonment. 

Petelo Luka Kauvaka, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of reckless driving causing death.  

The court heard that at around 7am on or about 6 June 2024, Kauvaka, the deceased, his wife and his father were travelling to work from Lavengatonga. The intention was to drop off the deceased’s wife at Veitongo before they continued to their workplace. They all worked for South Seas Constructions Ltd, located at the Weslyan Church residence on the Railway Road Kolofoóu. 

Kauvaka, the defendant, was driving, and the deceased was seated directly behind him. The deceased father was seated on the front passenger seat and the deceased’s wife was seated at the back behind her father-in-law. 

Kauvaka was driving at excessive speed. They overtook a vehicle at the intersection of the road from Lavengatonga and the road to the airport. The deceased’s wife whispered to her husband to ask the defendant to slow down. The deceased told her that was the usual speed they travelled at to work. His wife was scared and closed her eyes for most of the way. 

At the bush area between Pelehake and Malapo, they overtook another car and ended up on the grass to the right side of the road. Despite his attempts to get back onto the road, the defendant lost control of the car, swerving to the right side and hitting a coconut tree. The impact flipped the car landing on its left side. 

The defendant crawled out through his window and the deceased father followed after him. The deceased’s wife was stuck as she was seated on the left side of the car. Her husband, the deceased was on top of her. The deceased told her he could not move and his hands and feet were numb. 

Passersby were able to remove the deceased from the vehicle. Then they pushed the vehicle upright before the deceased’s wife could be rescued. The deceased was laid down on the grass. He expressed that his spinal cord may have been damaged and he was numb and could not feel his legs. 

The police arrived shortly after and transported the deceased to the hospital. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries and died on 8 June, 2024. Dr. Ísileli Tuípulotu reported the deceased’s cause of death as respiratory failure secondary to transection of the spinal cord injury where the phrenic nerve is located. 

The defendant was arrested and interviewed on 12 June, 2024. He told the police he was driving over 70kmph when he was overtaking the vehicle and was unable to control and bring the vehicle back onto the road causing the accident. 
He was married but has since separated from her wife. They had no children. He is currently in a de facto relationship and has a son with her. 
He is a member of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga in Lavengatonga and was spoken highly of for his good character and help in the community. He is said not to have ever caused any problem or disturbance at Lavengatonga. 

It was reported that the defendant had apologised to the family of the deceased and was accepted. He was described as remorseful and at low risk of re-offending. The officer made a note that the defendant lied about being married to his de facto and doubted his reliability. 

As a result, the probation officer recommended a partly suspended sentence on conditions. 

Sentencing, Justice Petunia Tupou convicted Kauvaka of reckless driving causing death and is sentenced to 4 years and 6 months imprisonment. 

The final two years of his sentence are suspended for three years from the Defendant’s release from prison on condition that during the said suspension period, he is to: 

Not commit any offence punishable by imprisonment; and 

    Report to the probation office within 48 hours of his release from prison and thereafter as required by his probation officer. 

      He was told that failure to comply with the said conditions may result in the suspension being rescinded, in which case, the Defendant will be required to complete the balance of his prison term. 

      “Subject to compliance with the above conditions and any remissions available under the Prison’s Act, the Defendant will be required to serve 2 years and 6 months in prison. 

      The defendant is disqualified from holding or applying for a driver’s licence for a period of 1 year from the date of his release from prison.”

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