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Tropical Cyclone Sarai to pass over Tonga today

By
Kaniva Staff
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By RNZ. RNZ’s news is shared with Kaniva by arrangement.

The Tonga Meteorological Service is warning people in the kingdom to be vigilant as it forecasts Tropical Cyclone Sarai to reach Tongatapu this afternoon.

Formerly a category two system, the cyclone has now been downgraded to category one, although it is still generating sustained winds of 85km/h with gusts reaching up to 120km/h.

Sarai’s centre is expected to be about 15km west of Nuku’alofa at 1pm local time today.

The storm is moving east southeast at 12km/h.

Authorities in Tonga are urging all islands to be prepared as the cyclone’s track could change at any moment and mariners are strongly advised not to venture out to sea especially in smaller fishing boats.

“They said the track of this tropical cyclone is uncertain so we have prepared the whole of the island groups, get ready and prepared for this cyclone,” Tonga National Emergency Management Committee chief executive Paula Ma’u said.

Meanwhile, flights to Tonga have been disrupted by the approaching cyclone in Nuku’alofa with many returning family members and visitors travelling from the United States and Australia via Fiji stranded in Nadi.

A direct flight from Australia that was supposed to have arrived on Sunday was also suspended with the airline saying it would not be considering rescheduling it for 48 hours.

Authorities estimate about 300 incoming and outgoing travellers have been affected by the cancellations.

‘Tornado’ tears off roofs, causes vehicle crashes as Tonga braces for cyclone Sarai

By
Kalino Latu
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A tornado has torn off roofs and causing vehicle crashes in Ha’ateiho near ‘Atele this morning.

A government spokesperson confirmed homes and a church have been damaged by a tornado. He said the destruction comes after the tornado whipped through Fanga’uta lagoon and rolled across the Ha’ateiho town.

There have been no reports of injuries.

He said two vehicles crashed at two separate spots after they attempted to avoid the tornado.

Tonga is expecting category two tropical cyclone Sarai to start affecting the islands later today and tomorrow.

RNZ has reported that Tongan authorities are on standby as tropical cyclone Sarai heads towards the outer islands.

It said the tropical cyclone has been battering Fiji for more than two days.

Two people have died during Sarai in Fiji, where the body of a man was found after he went missing in a river during the storm, and another drowned while swimming.

A third person has been hospitalised after being hit by a falling tree.

At it’s centre, Sarai’s winds are reaching up to 120 kilometres per hour, with some gusts to 170 kilometres per hour.

The cyclone is predicted to make landfall over the Vava’u island group on Monday or Tuesday, as a category one storm.

The chief executive of Tonga’s National Emergency Management Committee, Paula Ma’u, said the public was bracing for the impact of Sarai.

Mr Ma’u said his agency had been preparing people with information via radio and social media.

“They said the track of this tropical cyclone is uncertain so we have prepared the whole of the island groups, get ready and prepared for this cyclone, and yes, with emphasis on Ha’apai and Vava’u at this stage.”

A Red Cross Disaster Management Coordinator, Anaseini Iotebatu, said evacuation centres were already being set up with emergency supplies.

“We have groups of volunteers in the community where they have been on standby as well,” she said.

“Our relief supplies was replenished in November … relief supplies in Tongatapu are also on standby.”

Iotebatu said the Red Cross was attending regular briefings alongside other agencies including police, and the Fire and National Emergency Management Office.

Live television and radio feeds had also been set up, to keep locals informed about the unfolding situation.

“The evacuation centres have already been opened … and welcome anybody or families who would like to make way to the evacuation centres,” she said.

Two dead, child critically injured after serious incident in Papatoetoe, NZ

By
Kaniva Staff
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Police are currently at the scene of a serious incident on Sunnyside Crescent, Papatoetoe.

Shortly after 9.50am, Police received a report that a body was located inside a property.

Police attended the address and located the body of a woman inside a bedroom.

A child was also located in the room with critical injuries and he has been transported to Starship Hospital.

A further search of the address revealed the body of a man who was located deceased inside the property’s garage.

Police are working to establish the circumstances and piece together what has occurred.

A scene examination is underway and the address has been cordoned.

Police are expected to remain at the scene for the rest of the day.

We are currently speaking with a number of individuals in relation to this tragic event.

Detective Inspector Colin Higson says at this early stage in our enquiries, Police are not seeking anyone else in relation to this incident.

Police are working to confirm the identities of the deceased and begin next of kin notifications, however we believe the two deceased were known to each other.

We are unlikely to have a further update today unless there is a significant development.

Tongan authorities are preparing as tropical cyclone Sarai approaches

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By RNZ. RNZ news is shared with Kaniva by arrangement.

Tongan authorities are on standby as tropical cyclone Sarai heads towards the outer islands.

The category two storm has been battering Fiji for more than two days and is expected to start affecting Tonga later today and tomorrow.

Two people have died during Sarai in Fiji, where the body of a man was found after he went missing in a river during the storm, and another drowned while swimming.

A third person has been hospitalised after being hit by a falling tree.

At it’s centre, Sarai’s winds are reaching up to 120 kilometres per hour, with some gusts to 170 kilometres per hour.

The cyclone is predicted to make landfall over the Vava’u island group on Monday or Tuesday, as a category one storm.

The chief executive of Tonga’s National Emergency Management Committee, Paula Ma’u, said the public was bracing for the impact of Sarai.

Mr Ma’u said his agency had been preparing people with information via radio and social media.

“They said the track of this tropical cyclone is uncertain so we have prepared the whole of the island groups, get ready and prepared for this cyclone, and yes, with emphasis on Ha’apai and Vava’u at this stage.”

A Red Cross Disaster Management Coordinator, Anaseini Iotebatu, said evacuation centres were already being set up with emergency supplies.

“We have groups of volunteers in the community where they have been on standby as well,” she said.

“Our relief supplies was replenished in November … relief supplies in Tongatapu are also on standby.”

Iotebatu said the Red Cross was attending regular briefings alongside other agencies including police, and the Fire and National Emergency Management Office.

Live television and radio feeds had also been set up, to keep locals informed about the unfolding situation.

“The evacuation centres have already been opened … and welcome anybody or families who would like to make way to the evacuation centres,” she said.

Four Tongatapu men convicted over assaulting soldier

By
Kalino Latu
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Four Tongatapu men who charged with assaulting a soldier in September last year have been convicted on charges the Supreme Court found them guilty on.

In his ruling, Justice Laki Niu said Walter Fangatua was guilty of the charge of serious causing bodily harm brought against him and he convicted him of that offence.

The alternative charge of assault against him was dismissed.

Mr Niu said Lisiate Fonua was guilty of the charge of assault against him and he has convicted him of that offence. The alternative charge of serious causing bodily harm brought against him was dismissed.

Siope Niusini was found guilty of the charge of assault brought against him and Mr Niu convicted him of that offence.

The three accused have been tried together in a joint trial after they assaulted Lehopoame Tu’utafaiva.

A fourth accused, Semisi Tu’ineau, has already pleaded guilty to one charge of assault in respect of the same person in the same incident.

Fangatua struck Tu’utafaiva repeatedly with a hoe blade, and alternatively, assaulting him by striking him with a hoe blade.

Fonua struck Tu’utafaiva with a hoe blade and injuring his head, and alternatively assaulting him by punching and kicking him repeatedly.

Niusini was charged with assaulting Tu’ufaiva by punching and kicking him repeatedly.

The court was told Tu’utafaiva was in the Tongan army and he and some of his army friends were having a few drinks at the home of an army couple friend in Havelu.

Late at night, two boys came into their drinking, namely Fonua and Niusini. The court was told that as the two accused were leaving, they threw a piece of brick which hit the bonnet of the vehicle which was parked at the front of the house.

Tu’utafaiva and another soldier chased after them followed by some other five soldiers and three women from their party. The two boys escaped.

As they were walking back, a motor vehicle came up and stopped and boys got out of it and fought with them. Tu’utafaiva told the court he was hit on the head by someone from behind with a pipe and he fell down and he was then kicked and punched whilst he was down.

Tu’utafaiva said he did not know who hit him or who kicked and punched him on the ground (the road) but that he received two cuts to the back of his head, one of which measured 2 centimetres long and 1centimetre deep and it was stitched at the hospital that same night. He said he also had a split lip. The cut to the head bled profusely.

In cross-examination Lawyer Sunia Fili, who acted for Fangatua, said Tu’utafaiva admitted that he had shouted out to the people at the home of Teivi, “We are soldiers, come and fight”, and by Atalasa Pouvalu who acted for Niusini said Tu’utafaiva admitted that both groups of boys had consented to fight each other.

Mr Niu did not accept Fangatua’s self defence claim and that there was consent to be assaulted.

Mr Niu Said: “As I have stated, such fight was unlawful and any punch or kick thrown by any of the fighters was unlawful, and it cannot be justified by the fact that the person complaining had consented to fight in a fight in which the punch or kick was delivered.”

Mr Niu also said that having “considered the law and the evidence as I have stated above, I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that” the trio had committed the offences.

Tonga seasonal worker dies in Australia; agent reports absconders to police

By
Kalino Latu
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A Tongan man has reportedly died on an Australian farm while working in that country’s Seasonal Worker Program.

It is understood the deceased was working in a farm in Mildura, Victoria.

A relative told Kaniva news the man was from Lapaha in Tonga.

According to reports on Facebook the deceased was rushed to hospital over the weekend before he died.

The cause of his death was still unknown.

The country’s hot weather and how hot it was for workers has been a major challenge for Tongan farm workers.

On a separate note, an unconfirmed report on Facebook says seasonal workers in Victoria who have just arrived from Tonga have absconded from a farm, angering Tongan agent who sponsored them to come to Australia.

Melise Haukoloa claimed she has cancelled their contracts and police had been contacted.

The reported death came after Kalolo Kuea passed away at the Driscoll berry production company in Tasmania in October.

Fifteen Pacific islanders have reportedly died in the program since it began 10 years ago.

Brisbane’s Courier-Mail reports extreme neglect was a factor in the earlier deaths.

Flights cancelled as Cyclone Sarai batters Fiji, takes aim at Tonga

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By RNZ

Hundreds of people are taking shelter in evacuation centres in Fiji as cyclone Sarai hammers the country.

The category two event is bringing wind speeds of around 100km/h, gusting up to 140km/h.

The storm is expected to pass close to the Kadavu island group today, and a flood warning has been issued for major rivers and streams in the western and central division.

Metservice Meteorologist Micky Malivuk said New Zealand was unlikely to experience any effect.

Meanwhile, more holiday makers will have their travel plans disrupted today.

Travel agency Flight Centre said hundreds of its customers had been affected by flight cancellations as Fiji braced itself for the storm.

A number of flights between Nadi and New Zealand were cancelled yesterday and more flights have been cancelled again today.

All flights in and out of Nadi have been cancelled, including from Auckland, until at least midnight tonight.

Flight Centre New Zealand general manager of product Victoria Courtney said the agency was working with airlines to re-accommodate passengers within the next week where possible.

Courtney said passengers should check with airlines or travel agents for the latest updates.

The Fiji National Disaster Management Office this morning said 15 evacuation centres were open and 361 people had sought shelter last night.

The body also assisted people living in low-lying areas as strong storm surges started to enter some villages along the coastal areas in the western division.

The cyclone’s forecast track shows it will pass adjacent to the main island Viti Levu and then across Fiji’s southern islands, before heading towards Tonga’s Ha’apai Group.

Tonga’s Fua’amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre has been activated as Tropical Cyclone Sarai is expected to cross into Tonga waters today.

The Cyclone Warning Centre will continue to provide Tropical Cyclone advisories, alerts and warnings for Tonga on the developments of the cyclone every six hours. Advisories will be updated more often prior to its track closing into Tongan waters.

Kaniva Tonga news has a content sharing arrangement with RNZ.

$50,000 not ‘buying out’ of conviction

By
Kalino Latu
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By Rob Kidd, Otago Daily News

A top rugby player who gave his team-mate a vicious beating did not buy his way out of a conviction by paying him $50,000, a judge says.

Japanese international Amanaki Lelei Mafi (29) had his case called yesterday before the Dunedin District Court, where, in his absence, counsel Anne Stevens QC entered a guilty plea to assaulting 29-year-old Lopeti Timani.

Last week, Judge John Macdonald indicated he would discharge Mafi without conviction if the payment was made.

It should not be seen as “an indication he somehow bought his way out of a conviction”, he said.

Timani, who was playing for the Melbourne Rebels alongside Mafi at the time of the incident last year, suffered injuries to his head and neck which took six months to heal, the court heard.

But the defendant provided letters saying his lucrative contract would likely be terminated if he was convicted.

While having “some reservations”, the judge accepted that outcome was out of all proportion to the seriousness of the offending.

Though the value of that contract was not specified, he inferred it was probably “significant if not substantial”.

Crown prosecutor Robin Bates did not oppose the discharge without conviction.

The Rebels were beaten 43-37 by the Highlanders on July 14 last year, effectively ending their chances of a Super Rugby playoff spot.

After the game, Mafi and Timani, who grew up together in Tonga, went to a South Dunedin home, where they drowned their sorrows among Mafi’s family members.

By 4am the next day, the men were intoxicated.

Mafi objected to “coarse language” being used by Timani in front of his female relatives, the court heard.

The pair agreed to fight in the lounge.

Judge Macdonald called it “an extreme overreaction”.

The burly forwards exchanged blows but were eventually separated.

Fearing for his safety, Timani fled the house to nearby Bathgate Park, where he called his brother in France and asked him for help.

Mafi found him and the violence continued.

The defendant punched him repeatedly in the head and Timani believed he was also kicked numerous times.

Mafi later admitted inflicting the blows and explained he had become “enraged” that the victim had insulted his family member.

He said he only stopped punching Timani when he thought he had “had enough”.

In the days after the assault, the victim was pictured with a heavily swollen face and two black eyes.

Timani — who is currently contracted to La Rochelle, in France — told the Sydney Morning Herald he thought he was going to die during the sustained beating.

Both men were fined $A15,000 for breaching team protocol.

In a victim impact statement, Timani said the ordeal had had a profound impact on him, both financially and emotionally, which was ongoing.

He said he believed the assault — and the “concussive symptoms” stemming from it — could have shortened his playing career by a year.

Mafi must pay Timani the $50,000 reparation within a week, Judge Macdonald ordered.

A letter of apology would also be passed on to the victim, the court heard.

rob.kidd@odt.co.nz

Royal audience with PM resolves issues may arise in Privy Council and Cabinet as King agrees to sign PACER Plus

By
Kalino Latu
-

Prime Minster Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa said the king has given him a good reason why he rejected his request to have him become a member of the Privy Council.

His Majesty also declined a proposal by Hon Tu’i’onetoa to increase the power of the Minister of Police over the Police Commissioner. Again the Prime Minister said the king gave him another good reason for it.

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa said King Tupou VI told him that their monthly audiences would help sort out any differences either between the privy council and cabinet or between the king and the Prime Minister.

“That’s an opportunity for us only to meet and no one else, to discuss issues regarding the country as a whole,” Hon Tu’i’onetoa said in Tongan.

As Kaniva news reported last night, the Prime Minister revealed the rejections by the king during a meeting with the Tongan community in Auckland on Monday.

READ MORE:

Ratifying PACER Plus

The Prime Minister said in their recent audience with the king at ‘Atalanga in Auckland  they discussed the regional trade deal known as PACER Plus.

The Prime Minister told Kaniva news this afternoon he was the one who brought the trade treaty to Tonga with the idea that if “we need growth in economy, we need free trade or free from the barriers of Trade.”

Hon Tu’i’onetoa said the king did not agree with Tonga signing the treaty when the government endorsed it in 2015.

During their ‘Atalanga audience the king finally agreed to ratify the PACER Plus after he listened to what Hon Tu’i’onetoa told him about the economic deal.

The Prime Minister said Tonga would sign PACER Plus early next year.

“This has been achieved through a discussion that involved feveitokai’aki spirit and with respect to point of arguments,” he said in Tongan.

Police Commissioner and Minister of Police

The Prime Minister said the king maintained his view that police force should be controlled by the Police Commissioner rather than the minister.

He said the king believed if the force was controlled by the Minister of Police it could open opportunity to politicise certain events or activities.

“I respect his view,” Hon Tu’i’onetoa said.

He said that when he was Police Minister he deeply felt the fact he had no power over the Police Commissioner.

He said times had gone by and he had begun to believe it was better for him as minister to not have control over the police.

“I may use that power to arrest my political rivals if I have issues with them,” Hon Tu’i’onetoa said.

The king and Hon Tu’i’onetoa’s audience came after the king rejected repeated requests by the Late Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva to meet the king after the king dissolved Parliament in 2017.

The constitution stipulates that the prime minister must report to the king to discuss government matters.

King rejects PM’s proposal to become member of Privy Council and to increase powers over Police Commissioner

By
Kalino Latu
-

The king has rejected a proposal to allow Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa to become a member of the Privy Council.

The king has also declined a request by the Prime Minister to give the Minister of Police more power over the Police Commissioner.

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa made the revelation during his meeting with some members of the Tongan community in Auckland on Monday.

He told the meeting King Tupou VI rejected the proposals during their audience this month.

The Prime Minister said that while he was Police Minister he felt disappointed when he saw that the minister did not have much power over the Police Commissioner.

He said he told the king during their audience the Prime Minister should be in the Privy Council so he could thoroughly update him and his councilors of what happened in the cabinet and the executive government.

In his response regarding the proposal to increase the Police Minister’s power the king told him to toe the line (“taki taha tu’u pe i hono laini.”) When he declined the request for the prime minister to be appointed a member of the Privy Council the king told Tu’i’onetoa “you choose your own Cabinet Ministers and I choose my own Councilors.”

READ MORE:

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa was responding after a member of the Tongan community asked him during the meeting in Mangere, South Auckland about the roles of the Police Commissioner and how it worked in relation to the Minister of Police.

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa is the third prime minister since the democratic reform in 2010 . There have been concerns that while the government is democratically elected, some of its key appointments are made by the king and his Privy Council who they are not accountable to the people. These included the appointments of the Police Commissioner and the Attorney General.

Lord Tu’ivakano was the first Prime Minister after the move to democracy in 2010. He quickly realised there were issues with the existing constitution and how it stipulated the appointments of these key positions. Lord Tu’ivakano finally endorsed a report by  Constitutional Law expert from the Commonwealth, Peter Pursglove, who reviewed Tonga’s 2010 constitution.

In his report, which was published in 2014, Pursglove said Tonga’s 2010 constitution was poorly written, promoted secrecy, compromised the role of the judiciary and parts of it may have been  illegal.

Pursglove said the Privy Council lacked any democratic composition or accountability.

Police Acts – Parliament’s report

In 2015 Parliament was told the Police Acts needed to be amended to give more power and authority to the Minister of Police.

Parliament said the call for amendment to the Acts was raised by the former Prison Commissioner Sione Falemanu and senior officers during a parliamentary visit to Hu’atolitoli Prison.

According to the Tonga Police Acts the Police Minister could meet with the Police Commissioner to give him direction of what the Minister  would like the Commissioner to do for the safety of the community.

Former Police Minister Mateni Tapueluelu reportedly said the fact the Police Commissioner was not appointed by the Cabinet according to the constitution while the minister is being appointed by the Cabinet made it difficult for them to work together for the benefit of the community.

Tapueluelu said that in New Zealand the Prime Minister, on the advice of Cabinet, recommended the appointment of the Police Commissioner to the Governor General. 

King’s first response for the country

The revelation by the Prime Minister was the first time the country has received a response from the king after a raft of six bills were tabled by the late ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s government in Parliament earlier this year.

The bills included giving the government, rather than the king, control over key judicial and police appointments.

The bills were first submitted to Parliament by Lord Tu’ivakano in 2014 although the noble and his former government ministers and MPs did not support the bills this year when ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s government submitted them to Parliament after public consultations. 

Previous proposal for Privy Council

Prime Minister Tu’i’onetoa‘s deputy, Sione Vuna Fā’otusia, told a press conference in Nuku’alofa in 2017 that the then government proposed to amend the Constitution so that Cabinet ministers become members of the Privy Council.

Hon. Fa’otusia said this was to allow the ministers to talk and discuss directly with the king any laws or any amendments to the constitution right from the beginning to the end before the king chose to sign them off or not.

He said it was a good idea to get the king involved in the process right from the start so he could really understand why MPs wanted to make or amend those laws.

He also said the judicial committee which advised the king in Privy Council had caused instability in Tonga.

“These committee members were people we did not know,” the Minister told the  press conference.

They were not chosen by the people, he said.

The committee was chaired by Lord Dalgety of Sikotilani Tonga and few other law lords, the Minister said. 

Hon. Fā’otusia said many of the amendments to laws and the Constitution passed by Parliament were vetoed by His Majesty because of this judicial committee.

“If the judicial committee did not agree with laws and  amendments to the constitutions which were already passed by the Parliament that’s the end of it” the Minister said.

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