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Solomon Islands: No plans to evacuate its citizens, NZ

By
Kaniva Staff
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New Zealand has no plans to evacuate its citizens from the troubles in the Solomon Islands, Honiara.

A protest on Wednesday calling for the Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare to stand down lapsed into major unrest which local police were unable to contain.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on Friday evening, the High Commission in Honiara is providing Safe Travel advice to New Zealanders in the Solomon Islands.

This includes following the instructions of the local authorities.

The spokesperson said any New Zealanders in the Solomons who have not registered with Safe Travel are advised to do so as soon as possible.

There are 43 New Zealanders registered on SafeTravel, all believed to be in Honiara.

New Zealanders in Solomon Islands are also urged to exercise care and remain where they are if it is safe to do so, a MFAT spokesperson said in a statement.

“Since 19 March 2020 we have advised all New Zealanders do not travel overseas,” the spokesperson said.

No request for help from Solomons govt – NZ

Earlier, New Zealand’s Trade Minister David Parker issued a statement as acting foreign affairs minister, with Nanaia Mahuta overseas on her first official trip.

Parker said New Zealand had not received any requests for assistance from the Solomons government.

“New Zealand is a long-standing partner of Solomon Islands, and there are deep and enduring connections between our two countries,” Parker said.

No caption
Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Georgina Kekea

“Our engagement in Solomon Islands is guided by the principle of tātou tātou, or all of us acting together for the common good.

“We stand with the government and people of Solomon Islands through this difficult time,” Parker said.

Australia has deployed police and defence force personnel following a request from the Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare.

Community step in to help police

RNZ Pacific correspondent in Honiara Georgina Kekea said police had been able to contain the crowd from going into the main CBD area in Honiara.

She said most of the rioting and looting has been taking place in Chinatown and not so much in the West side of Honiara.

Kekea said members of the community in West Honiara came forward to help the police and make sure people do not damage shops or buildings along the CBD.

“Friday afternoon, some of the mothers and people in the Henderson community marched along the main CBD asking those participating in the riots to just stay back.

“It’s the Eastern part of Honiara that is still not under control,” Kekea said.

She also said people were looking for food on Friday and that will be an issue for those in Honiara in the coming days.

Chinatown in Honiara, where some buildings still are burning

Chinatown in Honiara, where some buildings still are burning Photo: Georgina Kekea

Curfew

The overnight curfew declared by the Solomon Islands Governor General in the capital Honiara has ended.

Sir David Vunagi said the 7pm to 6am curfew would be repeated everyday until revoked.

Sir David had said it was a necessary measure for the preservation of public security.

Only authorised officers were allowed to move within the city during the curfew hours and anyone found breaching the restrictions would be prosecuted.

————–FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA NOUNOU  —————-

Ko e fakahā loto ‘i Solomone’ ‘oku hoko ia ‘i he motu lahi taha pea toe tokolahi taha ko Malaita. Ko e tupu’anga ‘o e fakahā loto mo e fakamoveuveu fakalilifu ko ‘eni’ ko e ta’efiemālie ki he palani ngāue ‘a e fonua’ ki muli’ pe foreign policy. Ko Solomone ko e taha pe ia ‘o ha ngaahi fonua si’i ‘i mamani kuo kei ‘i ai ha’anau vā fengāue’aki fakatipilōmetika mo Taiuani kae ‘ikai ko Siaina. Ka ‘i Sepitema 2019 ne hanga ai ‘e he Palēmia lolotonga ia Manasseh Sogavare  ‘o tali ke nau  fetu’utaki fakatipilomētika mo Siaina. ‘I he taimi ko ‘eni na’e lipooti ai ‘o pehē kuo palōmesi ‘e Siaina ki Solomone ha tokoni fakapa’anga fe’unga mo e $500 miliona ‘Amelika kae fakapapau’i ‘ena kāinga fakatipilometika’. Na’e hoko ‘eni ia ke mamahi ai ‘a Taiuani ‘o motuki hona vā kuo ta’u ‘e 36 mo Solomone’. Na’e tu’u mai leva ‘a e taki fakavāhenga ia ‘o Malaita’ ko Daniel Suidani ‘o fakaanga’i lahi ‘a e Palēmia ‘o e fonua’ he fo’i tu’utu’uni ko ia ke nau fetu’utaki fakatipilomētika mo Siaina’. Taimi tatau pe foki ne kei ‘i ai pe fetu’utaki ia ‘a Solomone tautefito ki Malaita mo Taiuani hangē ko ‘ene kei tokoni hake fakame’angāue ki he Koviti’. Na’e toe folau foki ‘a Suidani ia ki Taiuani ‘i Mē, 2021 o fai e kole tokoni ai. Na’e toe kau mai mo e kau politiki kehe ‘o Solomone’ hono fakafepaki’i lahi ‘o e palēmia’ he’ene vilitaki ke nau fetu’utaki mo Siaina’ Ne  nau ‘ohake ‘a e ngaahi palopalema kehe kuo fihia ai ‘a e fonua kehe’ hangē ko ‘enau pehē ‘e uesia lahi ‘enau founga pule fakatemokalati’ he ko Siaina oku ‘ikai ko ha fonua temokalati pea ko Taiuani pe ‘a e fonua temokalati ne hoa mo ‘enau politiki fakafonua’.  Kuo nau siomata he faingata’a’ia ‘a e ngaahi ‘otu motu kehe he tā mo’ua ki Siaina koe’uhi pe ko e tauhele ‘ulu fakapa’anga ‘a Siaina ‘o naut ō ai. ‘Oku nau toe manavasi’i ki he hū mai ‘a e kakai Siaina’ mo ‘enau founga ‘e ala  uesia ai ‘enau lao kelekele, pule ‘a e lao’ mo honau anga fakafonua’. Na’e ‘ikai toe fakavaivai ‘a Suidani ia taki ko ‘eni Malaita ‘i hono fakafepaki’i ‘a e palēmia’ pea ne  iku ai ki ha poupou lahi meiate ia mei hono kakai’ ‘o kamata ha’anau fakahā loto ‘a ha kakai ne toko 1000 pe nai. Kae ‘ikai taimi kuo maliu ia mei he fakahā loto melino ki ha fakamoveuveu kuo iku ‘ikai toe lava’i ‘e he kau polisi’ pea kuo hū atu ai ‘a ‘Aositelēlia ke tokoni ‘i hono feinga’i ke pukepuke melino. Ko e faka’auha lahi ‘eni kuo fai ki he loto kolo’ tautefito ki he ngaahi pisnisi lahi ‘a e kau Siaina’.

Fake tradie who destroyed 68-year-old’s home exposed

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Nat Wallace, https://9now.nine.com.au/

A fake tradie who destroyed a man’s house and drained his life savings in one of the worst cases seen on A Current Affair has been exposed as a father who regularly attends church with his family.

Tevita Ungounga and his wife Siosiana. (A Current Affair)

Tevita Ungounga is well known to Fair Trading and New South Wales Police, but despite multiple public warnings and convictions, the 55-year-old from Moorebank has continued to work and left some homeowners in financial ruin.

One of his victims, Ian O’Connor from Illawong, gave Ungounga $235,000 to build a seawall and renovate his quaint home.

The 68-year-old was left with holes in his walls, unfinished rooms, and two years on still has no running water.

“He’s a pig, a disgusting pig,” Mr O’Connor said.

“He seemed quite nice, very friendly, but I guess you could say most conmen are.”

Mr O’Connor not only lost his life savings but has had to put off retirement, and work to pay for a rebuild of his home.

A Current Affair confronted Ungounga outside a police station, where he was arrested and charged for more building offences.

He’s now accused of fraudulently obtaining more than $220,000 from homeowners for unfinished and defective work to their homes.

Those allegations are currently before the court.

Complaints about Ungounga date back to 1998 when he lived in Hawaii.

The country’s taxation department got involved and estimated his work income at over $1.4 million in four years, and he was jailed for 60 days after failing to declare it.

In a civil case, media reports have quoted the Regulatory Industries Complaints Office as saying: “He’s just very, very good at what he does”.

Ungounga and his wife Siosiana, under the company name T & T Sandstone Construction Pty Ltd, were fined a combined total of $90,000 for engaging in significant residential building work without the required license in Australia in 2015.

He was later sentenced to a 14-month Intensive corrections order this year for what he did to Mr O’Connor.

NSW Police have now charged Ungounga with 36 offences.

Fair Trading has issued three public warnings (on October 24, August 11, 2020, and March 1, 2021) about the unlicensed and uninsured tradie and has urged consumers to do their checks before engaging with Ungounga.

Ungounga, who regularly attends the Church of Latter-Day Saints with his family, told A Current Affair: “I never take the money and go, I do the job”.

Mr O’Connor’s family and friends are trying to raise money so Mr O’Connor can rebuild his home.

Homeowners can safeguard against becoming a victim by following a number of simple tips:

  • Never let anyone inside you house or unit if you don’t know them
  • Always ask for identification — a business card is not enough
  • Never keep large amounts of money around the house
  • If you are uncertain about the credibility of tradespeople, obtain their details and contact the Department of Fair Trading
  • Contact your local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

Covid-19 update: 173 new community cases in New Zealand; 78 people in hospital

By
Kaniva Staff
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By RNZ.co.nz. Republished with permission.

There are 173 new community cases of Covid-19 today; with 78 in hospital including seven in ICU.

A Covid-19 testing centre sign in Whangārei.
File photo. Photo: RNZ / Nita Blake-Persen

Speaking at today’s media update, Director of Public Health Caroline McElnay said there was also one Canterbury case not included in today’s figures.

Of today’s cases, 154 are in Auckland, 15 in Waikato, one in Northland, two in bay of Plenty and one in Lakes DHB, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

There are also four new cases at the border.

There are a total of 7832 community cases in the current outbreak and 81 of today’s new cases are yet to be epidemiologically linked.

The ministry said it was now supporting 4058 people to isolate at home around Auckland, including 1070 active cases. In Waikato there were 129 cases isolating at home.

The ministry said there were also 180 new locations of interest.

On wastewater detections, Covid-19 was detected in a sample collected from Kaiwaka on 18 November.

“Processing of the sample began on 22 November, however, the result was delayed due to a technical issue. Testing is currently in progress for a further sample collected on 22 November,” the ministry said.

It said Covid-19 was also detected in a sample collected from Opononi on 23 November, believed to be linked to active cases in Hokianga.

“Anyone with symptoms – no matter how mild – is encouraged to get a test.”

There were 18,092 first and second vaccine doses administered in the country yesterday – 6319 first doses and 11,773 second doses.

To date, 92 percent of eligible people in New Zealand have had their first dose and 85 percent are fully vaccinated.

McElnay said the surge of Covid cases in Europe, with reports of 2.2m cases in the last week, reinforced the importance of vaccination.

More than half of all vaccinated New Zealanders now have their My Vaccine Pass, with more than 2 million passes issued by the ministry, she said.

Expect demand for the pass to keep increasing, you can now receive pass through the post or request them from specified pharmacies, she said.

Call centre capacity for passes has also been increased to meet demand, she said.

Earlier today it was revealed that there is the option for people to receive their pass through the post or they’ll be able to go to pharmacies to request their pass.

“Almost 400 pharmacies around the country currently providing Covid-19 vaccinations will now also be able to help people get their vaccine pass. Those 400 pharmacies can be found on the Healthpoint website.”

The government’s Covid-19 vaccine mandate has been extended to all sworn members, recruits and authorised officers of the police and Defence Force.

First doses of the vaccine for these workers are required by 17 January and second doses by 1 March.

A newly identified coronavirus variant that has spread in South Africa is causing growing concern in other parts of the world.

Britain is temporarily banning flights from South Africa, and Israel is restricting travel from the region.

And Portugal, which has one of the world’s highest rates of vaccination against Covid-19, announced it would reimpose some restrictions to stop a surge in cases.

‘No need to be alarmed’ about new South African variant – Grant Robertson

By
Kaniva Staff
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By rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission.

While there are no cases in New Zealand of the Covid-19 variant currently causing concern in South Africa, deputy prime minister Grant Robertson says it is a strong reminder that the global pandemic is far from over.

Robertson and Director of Public Health Caroline McElnay have held today’s media briefing.

Speaking about the new variant, Robertson said he had confirmed with ESR that no variant of that nature had come into New Zealand.

“But it’s a good example of why we need to be cautious. There’s no need at this point to be alarmed about it from New Zealand’s perspective, but it does point out that the global pandemic is still ongoing and New Zealand’s response needs to be careful, methodical and cautious.”

He noted that the World Health Organisation was meeting overnight and there was still some debate about transmissibility of this variant.

Dr McElnay said New Zealand was watching the situation closely, and genome sequencing on each case that came in across the border would be picked up.

Robertson said they have not had any advice to consider a travel ban on South Africa, but New Zealand does have a high risk country list and will take advice on it.

Robertson also said the eighth round of wage subsidy opened this morning, including some of the time period for when the country is no longer in the alert level system, but payments will still go out.

By midday today 13 DHBs had hit the 90 percent first dose milestone, he said. New Zealand’s overall first dose rate now sits at 92 percent, he said.

Today bookings open for booster shots of Pfizer for those who completed their courses at least six months ago, he said. From today bookings are also available for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Asked about the health system’s preparedness for Delta, Robertson said it has been continually developing its ability to cope with Delta.

Robertson said it was obvious we were prepared because we have managed to slow and minimise the spread of Delta and no country has managed to eliminate Delta.

“I maintain the health system has done well in managing an outbreak of Delta, I acknowledge things will not be 100 percent perfect.”

Meanwhile, an extended mandate will include all sworn police officers, authorised officers and recruits and all Defence Force staff who will need to receive their first vaccination by 17 January 2022 and their second vaccination by 1 March 2022.

Robertson said he was not expecting push back from the mandatory vaccination from police.

Asked why it’s taken so long to mandate vaccination for police, Robertson said there was a process to work through with the workforce, the end point is if they aren’t vaccinated then they won’t be able to undertake the duties of frontline police officers.

“We do not want to issue mandates where we don’t believe that there is a very pressing need to do so, but we’re simply taking it step by step.”

World Rugby eligibility rule change could spark Folau return

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Tom Decent, https://www.smh.com.au/

World Rugby eligibility rule change could spark World Rugby has announced a game-changing tweak to its eligibility laws which paves the way for Israel Folau to represent Tonga at the 2023 Rugby World Cup if he chooses.

In a huge development for Pacific Island nations, players will now be able to represent more than one country at Test level in a major change to original rules.

Previously, a player could not change allegiances unless they stood down from Test rugby for three years and took part in an Olympic sevens qualifying event.

Now World Rugby has allowed more movement between tier one and tier two nations.

To transfer from one union to another, a player must have stood down from international rugby for three years, as well as being born in the country in question, or have a parent or grandparent born there.

The news will strengthen countries such as Tonga, Fiji and Samoa, who can now call upon players who have already made their Test debuts for tier one nations.

“Approval of this landmark regulatory change is the culmination of detailed and widespread modelling and consultation across the game,” World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said. “We have listened to our membership and players and sought to update the regulation recognising the modern professional rugby environment without compromising the integrity of the international game.

“We believe that this is the fairest way to implement progressive change that puts players first while also having the potential to support a growing, increasingly competitive international men’s and women’s game.”

Foreshadowing a vote by the World Rugby Council, the Herald revealed last month that Folau, the 73-Test Wallabies fullback who was sacked by Rugby Australia, wanted to represent Tonga.

Tonga coach Toutai Kefu said he would have no hesitation picking Folau, who still has ambitions of playing international rugby.

Folau was sacked by Rugby Australia in 2019 before the World Cup later that year following a controversial social media post. He will never play for the Wallabies again.

The 32-year-old could already qualify for Tonga because he has not played international rugby in the last three year.

“We’d definitely be interested,” Kefu said earlier this month. “We’re not in a position to bypass players of Israel’s calibre. We’d welcome him with open arms.

“I’ve had conversations with him already in the last six months. I actually caught up with him just before he left to go to Japan. I explained to him where we were at in terms of what’s happening with this revisiting of this new eligibility rule. He totally understands it. I said, ‘If they overturned this straight away, you could be available for us next year’.

“He said, ‘Yeah, I’m keen to go’.”

Kefu also said the rule change would help Tonga immensely, who could call upon “six or seven” homegrown players from other countries.

“We probably stand to benefit the most out of any country, only because we have a lot of players who have played for New Zealand and Australia who are now plying their trade overseas,” he added.

TBC receives new broadcasting equipment from Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited

By
Kaniva Staff
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Press Release:

New Zealand High Commissioner Tiffany Babington, presented new broadcasting equipment from Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL) to Tonga Broadcasting Commission (TBC) today.

This connectivity initiative reflects Aotearoa New Zealand’s commitment to building strong and more resilient partnerships in the Pacific. Photo/Supplied

PCBL, also known as Pasifika TV, is a New Zealand Government initiative funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It aims to strengthen relationships in the Pacific through building the capacity and capability of Pacific free-to-air broadcasters. It supports the Pacific media sector by delivering New Zealand originated content that can be rebroadcast to local audiences and supports the production of local content via the provision of field equipment and training.

Earlier this year, TBC was successful in receiving funding from the contestable Pasifika on Air Fund to produce a series focussing on COVID resilience in the Kingdom. This programme is currently in production in cooperation with Auckland-based production house Sunpix.

After consultation with Pacific broadcasters, and following on from journalism training, PCBL earlier this year gifted TBC field production equipment, including a camera, lighting and audio kits and editing laptops to support remote reporting.

“The further equipment presented today will enable TBC to share live and local news content across the Pacific via PCBL’s PacHub network.  PacHub is built on the LiveU infrastructure, which is used widely internationally, and is an industry standard for live transmission and news gathering” Natasha Meleisea, CEO of PCBL said.

“We will soon see eight Pacific countries contributing news content on a daily basis to the Pasifika TV service for rebroadcast across the region. I am pleased Tonga is part of this huge milestone for broadcasting in the Pacific of connecting newsrooms across the Pacific. Sharing news and information will enable Pacific countries to learn more about what is happening in each other’s territories” Her Excellency Tiffany Babington, New Zealand High Commissioner said.

“We are indeed grateful as PCBL has been helping the [Tonga Broadcasting] Commission financially and technically for several years including the hand-over of this equipment under Content Sharing Program of PCBL with TBC and other free-to-air Pacific Broadcasters today. We are pleased that we can continue to provide support to PCBL during this time to best meet the needs of this project, that is to share content LIVE within the Pacific Region.” Mrs Petunia Tupou, Chair of Board of Directors for Tonga Broadcasting Commission said.

This connectivity initiative reflects Aotearoa New Zealand’s commitment to building strong and more resilient partnerships in the Pacific.

Pacific boost after rugby’s eligibility rules changed

By
Kaniva Staff
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By rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission.

Pacific nations are set to benefit after World Rugby decided that players will be allowed to switch national teams from next year subject to certain criteria.

The revised regulation will apply from January 1 and a player must either be born in the country to which they wish to transfer or have a parent or grandparent born in that nation.

The player must also stand down from international rugby for a period of 36 months and may change unions only once, subject to approval by World Rugby’s regulations committee.

Charles Piutau played the last of his 17 tests for the All Blacks in 2015.
Charles Piutau played the last of his 17 tests for the All Blacks in 2015. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

While the move will help the likes of Tonga and Samoa, with former All Black Charles Piutau among those who will switch nationality, there will be strong opposition from other emerging nations who prioritise the selection of home-grown players and will not benefit from the ruling.

Piutau played the last of his 17 tests for the All Blacks six years ago and has stated that he wants to represent Tonga.

The former Blues and Samoa halfback Tino Poluleuligaga says the changes will be hugely beneficial for the likes of Samoa, Fiji and Tonga.

“It just didn’t feel right that we are at the World Cup every four years but we didn’t have the best players there. So for this rule change to happen it’s absolutely phenomenal. We can’t wait for the 2023 World Cup which is going to feature all our superstars,” he said.

“We have listened to our membership and players and sought to update the regulation recognising the modern professional rugby environment without compromising the integrity of the international game,” said World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont.

“We believe this is the fairest way to implement progressive change that puts players first while also having the potential to support a growing, increasingly competitive international men’s and women’s game.”

International transfers are currently permitted in rugby sevens to allow players to participate in the Olympics.

COMMENTARY: Official excuses are pathetic: It’s time Tongan authorities brought RSE workers back home

By
Kaniva Staff
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COMMENTARY Tongan authorities’ excuses for their lack of flights taking RSE workers home because there were other passengers stuck in New Zealand and Australia and they were all urgent cases are pathetic.

Air New Zealand

This evening’s news that RSE workers might not get home until next year makes it even worse.

Ministry of Internal Affairs chief executive Dr Fotu Fisi’iahi told Radio New Zealand the government was committed to bringing home the RSE workers, but only when it was safe.

Dr Fisi’iahi  said there were more Tongan citizens stranded in New Zealand and Australia than RSE workers and both groups were urgent.

RSE scheme liaison Sēfita Hao’uli has asked Tonga’s newly elected MPs to charter an aeroplane for the RSE workers.

Dr Fisi’iahi  said workers could  negotiate their own repatriation flight, but the government would have nothing to do with it.

Government mission

The authorities should not compare the RSE workers with other Tonga citizens stranded  in New Zealand and Australia. Most of these non-RSE workers did not arrive in these countries on government employment missions. These people mostly came on visitors’ visas and have families and relatives they can stay with during the lockdown.

The RSE workers came through a government mission in late 2019 and have been stuck here ever since. The government should give them special treatment in terms of repatriation. There should have been chartered flights for RSE workers only a long time ago. They were in New Zealand and Australia for long contracts and Covids-19 has left them stranded here for far too long. The RSE workers should have been able to expect that the Tongan government would get them home, but it failed to do this.

Challenging social circumstances

The RSE workers in New Zealand and Australia are now in very challenging social circumstances which have included serious offences such as rape and alleged extra-marital affairs which have led to many family separations. A Tongan RSE employee Hiko Lynch was murdered in New Zealand in June this year in a knifing incident after he hadn’t been able to return home between seasons because of Tonga’s lack of repatriation flights.

Of all these nightmares, the government has these RSE workers’ blood on its hands.

It is important for the government to note that the Tongans who became stuck in New Zealand and Australia other than the RSE workers were fine. There appear to be no reports of serious offending from them.

There have been claims that concerns over Tonga’s handling of Covid 19 MIQs and processing of repatriates are exaggerated. There is now a vaccination for the virus plus the 21-day quarantining in MIQs and these should help ease the restriction so that the RSE workers can be returned to Tonga as soon as possible.

Hypocritical 

Tonga’s position in handling the repatriation flights also appeared to be hypocritical when compared with other countries’ actions.

In May this year Air Vanuatu described the Tonga government’s late cancellation of a group of stranded Tongans to fly from Port Vila to Tonga as “cruel.”

The complaints came after the Tongan authorities confirmed to Air Vanuatu that the passengers could travel to Tonga on a chartered flight. The passengers processed their flight tickets and all necessary costs only to be informed a day before their departure that the Tongan government had changed their mind and did not want them to join the special flight.

Chinese repatriates 

However, in August an Air Vanuatu flight arrived in Tonga with 14 Chinese workers after a request from the Chinese embassy to bring them to the kingdom. The government said the passengers came to Tonga to work on His Majesty’s Armed Forces’ projects.

It justified the flight by saying Vanuatu was safe and there were no reports of Covid cases there. But why it did not allow the Tongan stranded passengers who wanted to return to the kingdom in May as at the time Vanuatu was Covid free?

This also occurred in the same period that New Zealand reported no Covid cases and lifted its first lockdown on June 8. When New Zealand was declared safe the Tongan government should have organised special repatriation flights just for the RSE workers.

Samoa sets an example

They should certainly have done this after the New Zealand government pushed for it to return its RSE employees. If Tonga’s main concern was because of the limited MIQs, Samoa and some other Pacific countries repatriated their RSE workers and quarantined them just in community halls and no Covid cases were found. Tonga should have learned a lesson from this and followed their example.

This situation has been going on for far too long. Last year the CEO of Tonga’s Ministry of Health, Dr Siale Akauola expressed frustration at the lack of assistance in repatriating citizens stranded abroad.

At the time he made the comments there were more than 2800 people registered with the Tongan government for repatriation, with 1500 in New Zealand, 500 in Australia and the remainder in other countries, including India.

RSE workers provide much needed income for their families and contribute to the Tongan economy. They also bring back much needed skills they can apply at home.

However, they have been let down by the government.  It is time the Tongan authorities acted decisively and found a way to bring them home.

————–FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA NOUNOU —————-

Ne lahi pe taimi ke fai mo fakafoki ai ‘a e kau ngāue toli faka’angataha ‘i ha ngaahi puna makehe pe ma’a kinautolu ‘oua toe kau ai ha pāsese kehe he kei hao ‘a Nu’u Sila ni ‘osi ‘ene ‘uluaki loka fakafeituu’ ka na’e ‘ikai sio pehē ‘a e pule’anga Tonga’. Ko e pehē ko ē ‘e ‘ikai lava ke nau fakafoki pe ‘a e kau toli’ ta’e’oange mo e kakai tukuvakā kehe ‘i muli ni’ ko e fo’i ‘uhinga ia’ oku vaivai. He ko e kakai ‘ikai toli ne ‘ikai ‘omi kinautolu ia ‘e he pule’anga’ pea ko ‘enau tu’uvakaa’ ‘oku ala faingamālie pe honau ngaahi fāmili ne nau omi ki ai’ ke nau pine ai. Ko e kau toli’ ne tonu ke tokanga’i makehe he ne fuoloa ‘enau mavahe mei honau ngaahi fāmili ‘o ‘omi ‘e he pule’anga’ pea ko e ngafa ia ‘o e pule’anga ke fakafoki fakavave’i kinautolu he ngaahi tu’unga peheni’. Kuo fakamo’oni’i ‘a e hoko ‘a e ngaahi palopalema lahi fakasōsiale kia kinautolu ‘o kau ai ‘a e faihia ‘oku lolotonga ngāue pōpula ai ha ni’ihi tu’unga he hia hangē tohotoho pea a’u ki he māvae ‘o takitahi ma’ana ‘a e ngaahi fāmili lahi pea fakapoongi foki he ta’u ni ‘a e tokotaha ‘i Nu’u Sila’ ni ne fihia heni ‘ikai ha vaka ke fai mo foki ai. ‘Oku ‘ikai tonu ke fanofano e pule’anga’ ia mei he ngaahi faingata’a ko eni’ he ko ia ne ne ‘omi kinautolu’. ‘Oku hā mai foki hangē ‘oku ‘ikai ma’a ‘a e founga ‘a Tonga’. Ne ta’ofi fakafokifā e kau pāsese mei Vanuatu ‘i Me ke ‘oua na’a nau folau ki Tonga hili ia ‘enau mole hono totongi ‘enau tikite’ ko hono ‘uluaki tala mei Tonga ke nau folau ange. Kae ‘i ‘Aokosi pe kuo tu’uta ‘i Tonga ia ha vakapuna mo e kau Siaina ko e ‘oatu mei Vanuatu ke ō fai e ngāue ‘a e Kau Tau Malu’i ‘a ‘Ene ‘Afio’. Pea ko e fakatonuhia ne ‘omi mei he pule’anga’ ko e pehē ne nau ‘osi sivi kolonitini pea ne kei hao pe ‘a Vanuatu he taimi ko ia’ ‘ikai ha Koviti ai. Ka na’e kei hao pe ‘a Vanuatu ‘i Mē te’eki ai ha Koviti ai kae ta’ofi e folau atu ia ‘a e kau Tonga ko ia’. Pea ko e vaha’a taimi tatau ne kei hao pe mo Nu’u Sila ‘ikai ha Koviti ai. Ko ‘eni kuo ma’u ‘a e faito’o ki he Koviti pea kuo lahi e huhu malu’i ‘a Tonga’. Ne toe mahino ‘i he keisi ko ‘eni ne ma’u ‘i Tonga fakamuimui’ ‘oku lava pe ‘o fakamavahe’i ‘a e keisi ko ia kei taimi ‘o ‘ikai ha uesia ki he komiunitii’. Kuo taimi ke ngāue fakamaatoato ki heni ‘a Tonga ke fakafoki atu ‘a e kau ngāue toli’ he ‘oku fakautututu ‘enau palopalema’ heni’ taimi tatau ko e pa’anga lahi ‘oku hu atu ki Tonga he’enau ngāue’ ‘o tokoni ki he ‘ekonōmia fakalukufua ‘a e fonua’.

Covid-19: 15 people have died in current Delta outbreak, Ministry of Health confirms

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission.

The Ministry of Health has clarified the current death toll in the current Covid-19 outbreak.

Inside Hospital generic
Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook

Fifteen people have died in the current outbreak.

Of the 15 deaths recorded by the ministry in the current outbreak to date, 10 were unvaccinated, two had one dose less than 14 days before they contracted Covid-19 and three were fully vaccinated (at least 14 days prior to contracting Covid-19).

The ministry said they’ll now be reporting on the vaccination status of those who have died with Covid-19 in the current outbreak.

“These numbers will be published on the Ministry of Health website and updated as privacy considerations allow. There is sometimes a lag between the deaths being reported publicly and their inclusion in the Ministry of Health’s official numbers.”

There is clear evidence that Covid-19 vaccination greatly reduces the likelihood people will end up in hospital or die from Covid-19, the ministry said.

“A British Medical Journal study reported last month, based on research carried out in Scotland, that Pfizer vaccine was 90 percent effective in preventing death from Covid-19 – where most infections were caused by the Delta variant.”

Covid-19 update: 215 community cases in New Zealand today

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission.

There have been 215 new community cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand today, including 181 in Auckland, 18 in Waikato, three in Northland and 12 in the Bay of Plenty

Covid-19 corona virus macro 3d illustration
Photo: 123rf.com

At today’s media conference, where major changes to the country’s MIQ system were revealed, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said there are 87 people in hospital, with eight people in intensive care.

The Ministry of Health said 118 of today’s 215 new cases are yet to be linked.

The 12 new cases today in the Bay of Plenty bring the region’s total number associated with this outbreak to 53. Six of the cases are known close contacts and were already in isolation.

The three new Northland today cases include two in Kaitaia and one in Whangārei. The Whangārei case and one of the Kaitaia cases are close contacts of existing cases and were already isolating.

There was also one new historical case in Christchurch today. They are no longer considered infectious and are a close contact of a previously reported case.

There are no additional cases to report today in Lakes, MidCentral, Wairarapa or Wellington.

Yesterday 215 new community cases and one death were reported. Of those, 196 were in Auckland, 11 in Waikato, four in Northland, one in Bay of Plenty, two in Lakes and one in MidCentral that was announced the previous day.

There was also one new case reported in managed isolation.

There have now been 7484 cases in the current community outbreak and 10,241 since the pandemic began.

There were 18,880 vaccine doses given yesterday – 6496 first doses and 12,384 second doses. The Ministry of Health said 92 percent of eligible people in New Zealand have had their first dose and 84 percent are fully vaccinated.

More than 1,664,000 million requests for a My Vaccine Pass have been processed.

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