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Trainer says his story twisted; TBA denies politics involved in decision to drop boxing winners for Pacific Games

By
Kalino Latu
-

A New Zealand-based boxing trainer claims a visit to Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva was the reason behind the Tonga Boxing Association not listing champion boxers Sione Mōleni and New Zealand’s Melbourne Expo International gold medalist Magan Maka for the South Pacific Games in Samoa.

A bitter feud between New Zealand-based Tongan trainer Fili Maka and TBA Secretary General Mataele Fūnaki erupted after a national boxing tournament in Tonga in March.

Maka accused TBA of twisting his story and failing to respond to an e-mail he sent in response to allegations he said had been made against him.

He claimed the tournament was illegal because it did not follow the medical procedures for boxers and none of boxers from Australia and US had boxing registration books.

Part of the e-mail by Maka to TBA on May 10 which was seen by Kaniva news quotes Fūnaki as saying in Tongan:

“Ko e ha na’a mou oo ai ‘o sio ki he Palemia.”

This translates into English as: “Why did you go and see the Prime Minister?”

When asked whether this was the reason for dropping Mōleni, Magan and two others from New Zealand from the South Pacific Games 2019 boxing list, Fūnaki did not deny it.

However, he said: “Politics is not Tonga Amateur Boxing Association’s prerogative. We stay away from politics and continue to rely on consistent training, honesty and faith in one another.”

TBA demands apologies

Fūnaki accused Maka of causing chaos, not respecting the TBA and the tournament and walking out during the Tonga National Boxing tournament which ran on March 21 – 23. 

Fūnaki told Kaniva news Maka did not attend any of the weigh-in at TASANOC with the team.

He claimed Maka refused to attend the last day of the tournament.

“Instead he provoked an argument with TBA CEO/ Secretary at ‘Atele Indoor Stadium with abusive behaviour in front of mothers with young children,” Fūnaki claimed.

“Maka walked out with his team and made it very public through the media.

“The team boxing Blue Books were given back at their request.”

He said that by withdrawing without a reasonable excuse the New Zealand-based team did not fulfill its obligation.

Tonga Boxing Association demanded that Maka as representative of Wellsford Boxing, Auckland Boxing and New Zealand Boxing formally write them and Tonga Boxing Association a letter of apology.

It also demanded that confirmation of four qualifiers from Maka’s team to represent Tonga has to be made to TBA by May 20.

The qualifiers were Tu’i Vea 59kgs, Fine Tu’ipulotu 64kgs, Sione Mōleni 69kgs and Magan Maka 75 kgs.

Magan, a six-time New Zealand champion and first female to represent New Zealand at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, has represented Tonga at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Vea was a three-time New Zealand champ and has represented Tonga at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Tu’ipulotu, was a two-time New Zealand champion.

Mōleni represented Tonga at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.  

“These boxers are all top amateur boxers in the country,” Maka said.

Maka said Vea has been picked by New Zealand and Tuipulotu was selected for the New Zealand Camp last weekend. 

Boxers no opponents

In response, Maka said he would not apologise because he and his team did nothing wrong.

He said he was willing to reply if he would receive an inquiry from the New Zealand authorities.

Maka said he did not need to be at the weigh-in.

He said his disappointment came after he found out after arriving in Tonga that some of his boxers had no opponents.

Maka said none of the boxers were checked by doctors prior to competition nor after the weigh-in which was the normal procedure.

“None of the boxers, even from Australia and America had a boxing registration book apart from my boxers from New Zealand,” he claimed.

“Half of my boxers didn’t have opponents on the first day of the tournament, so ended up having exhibitions only which was not the deal before they went there.

“None of my elite boxers had opponents. The tournament was supposed to run over three days and I spoke with Lord Vaea (TBA President) after the first day of tournament that I would let my boxers have a holiday because they had no opponents so there was no competition for them on the last day.”

He said his team paid their own expenses before they left New Zealand.

“I received confirmation that all my boxers were matched for the tournament. They’ve twisted their story because we went to see the PM, so they kicked us out of the competition on the Friday,” Maka said.

“Mataele and I exchanged words because of his decision to kick us out and yes of course I was not happy, just like anyone else who’d be kicked out for no reason.”

Complaint to New Zealand

Fūnaki said that as a result of the incident, TBA had sent a formal letter of complaint to New Zealand Boxing, the Oceania Boxing Federation and the Amateur International Boxing Association.

“There were boxers who come from Alaska, Australia and America who made the effort to participate in the tournament, which was successful,” Fūnaki said.

He said the tournament was operated according to a boxing handbook approved by the TBA committee and complied with the selection policy, dates, times and venue.

He said Maka could have brought his concern to the committee and they could have been sorted out through a formal appeals process.

The main points

  • A New Zealand-based boxing trainer claims a visit to Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva was the reason behind the Tonga Boxing Association not listing champion boxer  Sione Moleni for the South Pacific Games in Samoa.
  • A bitter feud between New Zealand-based Tongan trainer Fili Maka and TBA Secretary General erupted after a national boxing tournament in Tonga in March.

Tsunami alert cancelled after strong earthquake near Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has cancelled a tsunami alert for Tonga after a 7.4 magnitude near the Kermadec Islands.

The cancellation comes after New Zealand Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management has cleared New Zealand of a tsunami threat minutes after issuing a beach warning following the 10.55am quake.

A Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management spokesman said there may be some strong currents but there was nothing to indicate a threat to life and safety in New Zealand.

Tidal gauges at Raoul Island, which lay between the epicentre and New Zealand, had shown good news, he said.

Raoul Island is home to a Department of Conservation (DOC) station.

A DOC spokeswoman confirmed all seven staff based on Raoul Island were safe and accounted for.

“There are no other contractors or visitors on the island,” she said.

At this stage, they were unsure of any damage on the island and staff would be assessing this, she said.

The Kermadec Islands Nature Reserve and Marine Reserve is the most remote area managed by DOC and can only be visited with a special permit.

Haveluloto car crash driver rushed to hospital with ‘serious injuries’

By
Kalino Latu
-

A car driver was taken to hospital with ‘potentially serious injuries’ after this morning’s two-vehicle accident at Tāufa’āhau road in Haveluloto.

The car slammed into the back of a van before it overturned and landed on its roof on a verandah of a nearby retail shop.

Police attended the scene, our correspondent in Tonga said.

No further details were available at this stage.

Passengers will soon exit and board aircraft through jet bridges at Fua‘amotu International Airport

By
Kalino Latu
-

Airline passengers at the Fua’amotu International Airport will no longer have to walk across the tarmac in the rain when new jet bridges come into service.

Jet bridges are being built at Fua’amotu International Airport. Photos/Supplied

It is understood that work on the bridges, which connect the terminal directly with passenger aircraft began on Monday.

Kaniva news has been told a New Zealand team is installing the bridges and work is expected to be finished soon.

Photos obtained by Kaniva news show what appear to be components of the jet bridges being lifted by a forklift at the airport ramp.

One photo shows what appears to be part of a jet bridge being installed next to the terminal.

When operational, these will be the first jet bridge at  any airport in Tonga.

There have been complaint in the past from some passengers, including elderly and parents travelling with children because of the inconvenience they experienced while using stairways.  

Authorities could not be reached for comment.

In December 2017 about 170 unhappy passengers had to walk 100 metres from the airport terminal and wait in the sun before they boarded an Air New Zealand aircraft.

The incident occurred after the terminal staff found out in the middle of seating the boarding passengers that one invalid passenger could not walk.  

The main points

  • Airline passengers at the Fua’amotu International Airport will no longer have to walk across the tarmac in the rain when new jet bridges come into service.
  • It is understood that work on the bridges, which connect the terminal directly with passenger aircraft began on Monday.

For more information

Confusion before passengers boarding Air NZ flight sparks brief chaos at Fua‘amotu airport

Confusion before passengers boarding Air NZ flight sparks brief chaos at Fua‘amotu airport

Lord Tu‘ivakanō denies charges; Supreme Court case adjourned until July 26

By
Philip Cass
-

Former Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakanō has pleaded not guilty to a raft of charges stemming from the Chinese passports scandal.

The charges in the Supreme Court involved money laundering, bribery, perjury and fraud in the Supreme Court.

He had also denied firearms charges.

An audit of Tonga’s immigration divisions, completed in 2013, found a Chinese couple, Sien Lee and his wife, had been issued seven diplomatic passports and 15 ordinary passports since 2003.

A police taskforce was established in 2015 to investigate with help from New Zealand’s Serious Fraud Office.

In 2016 Lord Tu’ivakanō promised to resign from Parliament if he was found to have acted improperly over the issuing of passports.

In March last year Kaniva News reported that Lord Tu’ivakanō had been charged with making a false statement for the purpose of obtaining a passport, perjury, acceptance of bribery and money laundering.

The trial has been delayed by legal challenge. Lord Chief Justice Paulsen ruled in May there was sufficient evidence to try the former Prime Minister on bribery charges.

The former Prime Minister has denied the following charges:

  1. That on July 31, 2013 he knowingly received $26,100.57, which was directly or indirectly obtained from the commissioning of a serious offence and he converted that money with the intention to hide its illegal origin when he caused his wife Robyn Tu’ivakano to deposit the amount in his housing loan account at the bank, BSP Tonga.
  2. That on November 29, 2013 at Nuku’alofa, he received $216,982.90, which was directly or indirectly obtained from the commissioning of a serious offence and he converted that money with the intention to hide its illegal origin, when he caused to deposit that money into his housing loan account at the bank, BSP Tonga.
  3. That on July 17, 2015, at Nuku’alofa with the intention to obtain a passport for Hua Guo and Xing Liu he willfully deceived the Immigration Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, when he wrote a letter to the Immigration Division stating that these two were naturalized as Tongans on October 29, 2014, which he knew or had reasonable cause to believe that this statement was false or misleading.
  4. That on December 21, 2015 in Nuku’alofa, he made a sworn affidavit in which he attested in paragraph 6 that Mr Huo Guo and Ms Xing Liu were naturalized during his tenure as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and he knew that this statement was false.
  5. That on December 21, 2015 he made a sworn affidavit in relation Mr Huo Guo and Ms Xing Liu after naturalization and there were Tongan passports issued to these two and knew that this statement was false.
  6. That on July 31, 2013 at Nuku’alofa, while working as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he did accept $26,100.57 from persons unknown. This money was received through his wife Joyce Robyn Tu’ivakano and it was an inducement for him to approve the issuance of Tongan passports, which were lodged by ‘Isapela Satua Tu’akoi to the Immigration Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  7. That on November 18, 2013 at Nuku’alofa, while working as the Minister of Foreign Affairs he did accept $199,408.94 pa’anga from Sien Lee and Ying Huang Lee and this money was an inducement to approve the issuance of Tongan passports, which were lodged by their agent ‘Isapela Satua Tu’akoi to the Immigration Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  8. That on November 20, 2013 at Nuku’alofa while working as the Minister of Foreign Affairs he did accept $17,573.96 pa’anga from Technic Enterprise Ltd and it was an inducement to approve the issuance of Tongan passports, lodged by ‘Isapela Satua Tu’akoi to the Immigration Division
  9. That on July 23, 2014, while working at the Minister of Foreign Affairs he did accept $9,718.78 pa’anga from Ying Huan Lee. This money was received through his wife Joyce Robyn Tu’ivakano and it was an inducement to approve the issuance of Tongan passports, which were lodged by Ying Huan Lee’s agent ‘Isapela Satua Tu’akoi, to the Immigration Division.
  10. That on November 20, 2014 at Nuku’alofa, while working as the Minister of Foreign Affairs he did accept $3,000 pa’anga from Sien Lee. This money was received through a grandson Jordan Kaho and it was an inducement for him to approve the issuance of Tongan passports, which were lodged by Lee’s agent ‘Isapela Satua Tu’akoi to the Immigration Division.
  11. That on November 28, 2014 while working as Minister of Foreign Affairs he did accept $5,000 pa’anga from Sien Lee, this money was received through his grandson and this was an incumbent for him to approve the issuance of Tongan passports lodge by Lee’s agent ‘Isapela Satua Tu’akoi to the Immigration Division.
  12. That on December 31, 2014 while working as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he did accept $10,000 pa’anga from Sien Lee and this money was received through his wife and was an inducement for him to approve the issuance of Tongan passports, lodged by Lee’s Agent ‘Isapela Satua Tuakoi to the immigration Division.
  13. That the accused on March 1, 2018 at Nuku’alofa for possession of a rifle (Marlin Midel 70HC .22 LR rifle) without a licence and a Bettinsoli X Sport T16 12 gauge shotgun without a licence.
  14. Lord Tu’ivakano is accused of possessing 258 pieces of ammunition without a licence on March 1,

The Prosecution want to hold the noble’s trial together with two other accused, ‘Isabella Satua Tu’akoi and ‘Ileana Suliana Taulua who are also charged with passport offences. The defence opposed the request.

The Chief Justice adjourned the case so both sides could file paper regarding the application for a joint trial.

The case was adjourned to July 26.

The main points

  • Former Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano has pleaded not guilty to a raft of charges stemming from the Chinese passports scandal.
  • The charges in the Supreme Court involved money laundering, bribery, perjury and fraud in the Supreme Court.
  • He had also denied firearm charges.

For more information

Lord Tu’ivakano pleads not guilty to 15 charges

Tongan police charge Lord Tu’ivakanō with bribery in passport saga probe

Tongan police charge Lord Tu’ivakanō with bribery in passport saga probe

Teacher unions to recommend latest pay deal is ratified – Hipkins

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Radio New Zealand

(New Zealand) The government has announced a new deal aimed at breaking the deadlock with teachers, which Education Minister Chris Hipkins says unions will recommend to their members.

Mr Hipkins said a key element of the revised deal was a unified base salary scale for all primary, secondary and area school teachers and will restore parity between primary and secondary school teachers.

“I’m now confident this will draw the matter to a close,” Mr Hipkins said.

Lynda Stewart, president of primary teachers’ union NZEI, said she was pleased with what was being proposed, but it had been a hard fight.

“For our membership, that [pay parity] was absolutely crucial that we saw that happen.”

Ms Stewart said she had faith in the membership to make the right decision on whether to ratify the deal.

“It didn’t give us everything we wanted, but it’s certainly an improvement on the previous offers,” Ms Stewart said.

The offer also includes a lump sum payment of $1500 for union members and a new top step salary rate of $90,000.

“I think it’s a good offer, it’s a good pay deal. It does give teachers a significant pay increase and it commits to us working together to address longer term issues that they’re dealing with,” Mr Hipkins said.

One of those longer term issues, particularly for secondary school teachers, is workload, but Mr Hipkins said the NCEA review will make some changes around secondary school teacher workload that will, in the long term, reduce workload.

“There’s a bit of a hump to get through with teacher workload, but ultimately I think that’s going to reduce their workload.”

Post Primary Teachers Association president Jack Boyle said it was great to see area schools included in the deal and that they had previously been at a disadvantage.

Mr Boyle was pleased to see a new top salary rate of $90,000, which he believed would keep experienced teachers in their jobs.

Mr Hipkins had an all-day meeting with teacher unions last week which was announcedthe day after the government’s Budget, which offered teachers little.

The new offer includes:

  • A lump sum payment of $1500 for union members only. Pro rata for part-time, short term and day relief teachers.
  • A new top step salary rate of $90,000.
  • Salary rises around 3 percent on 1 July this year and each of the next two years with a new top step of $90,000 on 1 July 2021.
  • Units moving to $5000, MMAs and SMAs to $2000 on 28 January 2020.
  • Payment of the Priority Teacher Supply Allowance at $2500 for all eligible teachers.
  • An increase to the Careers Advisor Allowance from $1500 to $2250.
  • Enhanced Maori Immersion Teacher Allowance bringing it into line with the Area School Teachers’ Collective Agreement.
  • 1000 new Units from the start of 2020.
  • A $5 million per year professional development fund for conferences and seminars, to be administered jointly by PPTA and the Ministry of Education.
  • Changes to parental leave provisions so they are gender neutral.
  • No pass-on of the new terms and conditions to non-members for 3 months.

Mr Hipkins had repeatedly stated in the past there was no more money to put on the table for striking primary and secondary teachers.

Christchurch mosque attacks: Brenton Tarrant pleads not guilty to all charges

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Anneke Smith, RNZ court reporter@aneksmithanneke.smith@rnz.co.nz

The man accused of the Christchurch terror attacks has pleaded not guilty to all the 92 charges laid against him and will face trial in May next year.

Brenton Tarrant, the man charged in relation to the mosque shootings in Christchurch, in the dock at Christchurch District Court for his first appearance on 16 March.
Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 28, at his first court appearance in the Christchurch District Court in March. Photo: Supplied / Pool

Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 28, appeared by video link at the High Court in Christchurch this morning, where his not guilty pleas were entered.

The accused, in a white concrete room at Paremoremo prison, was wearing a light grey jumper, and appeared expressionless throughout most of the hearing; looking at the screen and occasionally glancing up at the camera.

He appeared before Justice Mander in the High Court at Christchurch just after 9am.

Justice Mander said mental health reports showed there were no mental health issues.

“The court has received Section 38 reports and mental health assessment of Mr Tarrant have been complete. No issues arise regarding the defendant’s fitness to plea, instruct counsel and stand trial. Therefore a fitness hearing is not required.”

The accused appeared to smile as one of his lawyers entered the not guilty pleas on his behalf.

He has denied 51 charges of murder, 40 charges of attempted murder and one terrorism charge through his lawyers.

The pleas were met with quiet gasps from the victims and their families, who packed the public gallery in the back of the courtroom.

About 80 people, who sat behind senior police officers in court, were still and quiet for the remainder of the hearing.

Crown prosecutor Mark Zarifeh told the court today one attempted murder charge was to be ammended to a murder charge after the victim died in the Christchurch Hospital.

The Crown also added two additional attempted murder charges and one charge under the Terrorism Supppression Act.

The charge – laid after consultation between police, Crown Law and the Christchurch Crown Solicitor’s Office – alleges a terrorist act was carried out on 15 March.

Justice Mander said the suppression of the names of the attempted murder victims had now lapsed.

Justice Mander set a trial date of 4 May next year.

At this stage the Crown estimates it will take six weeks.

The accused will next appear for a case-review hearing in August.

Major New Zealand news organisations, including RNZ, have agreed to protocols for covering the trial of the person charged for the Christchurch mosque attacks.

Today is the first time RNZ has published an unpixelated court photograph of the accused gunman’s face.

Media applications to film and photograph the defendant were granted at his first court appearance on the basis the man’s face was blurred but this suppression order lapsed last week.

New international airline for Tonga through Nauru partnership

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Nauru Airlines and Real Tonga Limited have announced they have entered into an aircraft wet lease arrangement under which Nauru Airlines will provide Real Tonga with crewed aircraft for flights from Tonga to Fiji and New Zealand.

Real Tonga offers domestic flights throughout the Tongan islands, while Nauru Airlines, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in February, currently services seven countries across the Pacific with its fleet of five aircraft.

Managing Director of Real Tonga Tevita Palu said the new arrangement introduces the commencement of international operations which to date have been serviced by foreign carriers.

“This will be the first time in recent years a local carrier will be able to provide these much needed services, and we expect this will provide an enormous benefit to the Tongan community by providing better connectivity and more capacity,” he explained.

“These new services will benefit tourism and create new employment opportunities for the local community.”

The initial flight schedule will include twice weekly return flights from Nukuʻalofa, Tonga to Nadi, Fiji and Auckland, New Zealand, with the intention of increasing services to three times per week as soon as possible.

Subject to obtaining all necessary government and regulatory approvals, the airlines anticipate that services will commence in November 2019.

Chairman of Nauru Airlines Trevor Jensen said the agreement is testimony to the reputation of Nauru Airlines which is now considered one of the leading carriers in the Pacific.

“We are incredibly excited about this new endeavour and the benefits it will bring to the people of Nauru, Tonga and the Pacific.”

He said plans are already underway to develop services for Real Tonga to other locations including Brisbane and other Australian cities.

The airlines are also working collaboratively towards implementing a closer long-term alliance. 

Wife-beater saved from deporting to Tonga for the sake of ‘family’s welfare’

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Brittany Keogh, stuff.co.nz

A violent man has been spared deportation for the sake of his family’s welfare – despite having been convicted of assaulting his wife.

The 40-year-old Tongan citizen and New Zealand resident assaulted his spouse during an argument in September 2012, according to a recently-released Immigration and Protection Tribunal decision. 

He pleaded guilty to male assaults female and using threatening language and was sentenced to nine months’ supervision with special conditions.

The following June, the then-immigration minister sent the man a notice saying he was liable for deportation but the minister suspended his deportation for five years on the condition that he didn’t reoffend. 

But he has now been saved from deportation for a second time after assaulting two men, documents said.

The incident happened in March 2018, just before the five-year suspension finished. 

He had been drinking and caught a taxi to pick up some friends from church but could not find them. When he asked the taxi driver to try somewhere else, the driver demanded he pay in advance.

The man and the driver began arguing and another taxi driver came over. The man was alleged to have assaulted both drivers and that July was convicted of two charges of common assault.

The judge sentenced the man to 100 hours of community work and one year’s supervision and ordered him to pay each of his victims $150 in reparations.

Because the man had reoffended, he faced deportation again. His residency visa was cancelled.

The man appealed the decision to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal.

At a tribunal hearing in Auckland in March, his lawyer argued that there were exceptional humanitarian circumstances in the case. 

The man’s wife, who had been a New Zealand resident since 2006, was deeply connected to her local community, and their New Zealand-citizen children, aged 9, 7, and 3, were well settled in the New Zealand education system.

For that reason, the children’s mother would not move them to Tonga if the man was deported and the couple’s marriage would “inevitably come to an end”, the decision said.

The man had been a good father to his children, whom he was close to and looked after while his wife worked.

The loss of emotional and financial support of their father and husband would cripple the family, the decision said.

The man’s offending had been at the lower end of the scale, his lawyer said, and he had been under the influence of alcohol when he committed all of the offences.

According to evidence submitted from his GP, the man had been sober since the March 2018 and attended a drug and alcohol treatment programme.

“He is also acutely aware that his violence whilst intoxicated has jeopardised his family’s security and does not want to further risk this in the future with continued alcohol use.”

The tribunal adjudicator was satisfied that deporting the man and permanently separating him from his children would severely impact their well-being and development.

“It would also bring to an end a decade-old marriage, causing significant distress and anguish to the appellant’s wife, and to the appellant himself,” the decision said.

The adjudicator found deporting the man would be “unjust or unduly harsh” and reinstated his residency visa.

Man allegedly sells drugs to kids at Tu‘atākilangi, report says

By
Kalino Latu
-

A man reportedly sold what appeared to be illicit drugs to kids at Tu’atākilangi on Tuesday.

The man in a vehicle allegedly approached the kids on Hihifo road.

Tonga Broadcasting news report said concerned residents complaint to Police who arrived at the scene and handled the situation.

The details of how Police dealt with the man was unknown, it said.

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