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Tonga qualify for World Rugby U20 Trophy

By
Kaniva Staff
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WORLD RUGGBY – Tonga have qualified for the World Rugby U20 Trophy 2019 after confirming their place with a 27-20 defeat of Samoa in Apia on Saturday to win the Oceania Rugby U20 Trophy title.

Tonga last played in the World Rugby U20 Trophy in 2015, a year after recording their best result as runners-up to Canada, and join host nation Brazil and Japan, the side relegated from the World Rugby U20 Championship 2018, as the three confirmed teams.

The remaining five players will come from regional qualifying tournaments with Asia next to confirm their representative later this month.

Tonga had beaten their hosts Samoa 16-12 in an equally tight match on Tuesday and came out on top in another physical encounter at the Marist St Joseph Park in Apia.

Lisiate Folau scored two of Tonga’s three tries in the win with Hateni Tafolo converting them all and adding a penalty and drop goal in the victory.

“I am so proud of the boys’ performance andI also want to thank the Samoan team for giving us a good game,” Tonga captain Pita Halaifonu said.

His Samoan counterpart Simon Peter Toleafoa added: “There were errors and just little things went against us. We did try and work on things from the first game but I guess it was not a complete performance. The Tongans were content and we didn’t apply the pressure. They were playing on the right ends.”

Aurora Childcare unites different cultures during South Auckland Christmas party

By
Kalino Latu
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  • Aurora  Childcare Services Director Hulita Heitonga (R) with some of the school children. Kaufo’ou Puloka (L). Photo/Kaniva Tonga (Kalino Lātū)

The Tongan-owned Aurora Home based Childcare Services in Otara, South Auckland celebrated Christmas last week with multi-cultural entertaining activities.

The celebration at the Wiri Community Hall attracted parents and most of the 90 young children enrolled at the Services.

The celebration was carried out to acknowledge and respect the different cultures at the school.

Educator Kaufo’ou Puloka said the Childcare services valued the importance of the children’s identity and for them to be “proud of who we are.”

Opened in 2016, most of the children were Tongans with a number of children with Maori and other ethnic backgrounds.

Parents and children of Aurora Childcare Services. Photo/Kalino Lātū

“The philosophy of Aurora Home based Childcare Services emphasises the importance of nurturing children’s individual strengths through a journey of guided discoveries, social interactions and co-operative learnings,” director Siale Heitonga told Kaniva News.

“Values of excellence, kindness, action and trust are promoted.

“Children’s own cultures are valued and celebrated.”

Aurora Childcare Services Director Siale Heitonga (R) with Educator Vilina Tongamana. Photo/Kaniva Tonga (Kalino Lātū)

Siale and his wife Hulita Kaati Tangitau Heitonga are directors and co-ordinators of the school.

“Co-ordinators work together with educators to support the wellbeing of many children with diverse and complex needs. Inclusive, trusting relationships underpin the organisation’s approach to children’s learning,” Siale said.

The main points

  • The Tongan-owned Aurora Homebased Childcare Services in Otara, South Auckland celebrated Christmas last week with multi-cultural entertaining activities.
  • The celebration at the Wiri Community Hall attracted parents and most of the 90 young children enrolled at the Services.

Princess Angelika guest of honour at Tevita Pangai’s brother’s wedding

By
Kalino Latu
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Princess Angelika Tuku’aho was guest of honour at the wedding of ‘Uluaki Taha Kilu and Christina Tupou Pangai in Australia.

‘Uluaki is a young brother of  Mate Ma’a Tonga rugby league star Tevita Pangai Jnr.

The Princess attended the wedding service ceremony as well as the couple’s first Sunday celebration, a spokesperson said.

The celebration early this month at the Free Church of Tonga in Canterbury, New South Wales brought together the newly married couple’s family members from overseas, including Tonga.

Pangai Jnr made his international debut in Tonga’s shock 28-22 win over New Zealand at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

Last month he chose to play for New South Wales in 2019.

The 22-year-old was named in Blues’ coach Brad Fittler’s 32-man State of Origin training squad that will be held in Sydney this month.

The Brisbane Broncos prop is eligible to play for both New South Wales and Tonga because the Kingdom is still classified as a second-tier nation.

But he will be unable to play in Mate Ma’a Tonga’s scheduled rematch against the Kiwis next June because it clashes with Game Two of next year’s State of Origin series.

The main points

  • Princess Angelika Tuku’aho was guest of honour at the wedding of Uluaki Taha Kilu and Christina Tupou Pangai in Australia.
  • ‘Uluaki is a young brother of  Mate Ma’a Tonga rugby league star Tevita Pangai Jnr.

Grace Millane’s body discovered in West Auckland

By
Kaniva Staff
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The body of missing British backpacker Grace Millane has been found by police in the Waitakere Ranges today. 

Police made the discovery following a scene examination of a bush area on Scenic Dr, in Auckland’s Waitakere Ranges, on Sunday afternoon.

Formal identification had not yet taken place but police said they believed the body was Millane’s and the search for her had come to an end.

On Saturday evening, police announced they would charge a 26-year-old man with her murder.

Miss Millane, 22, from Essex – described by her father as “lovely” and”family-orientated” – was last seen in New Zealand a week ago.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard of Auckland City Police said police had gathered evidence on Saturday that had “established this is a homicide”.

He said Millane’s family had been told and they were “devastated”.

“We know that he [the 26-year-old man] was with her on the Saturday evening and went to a number of places before going to the City Life Hotel.” 

 He will remain in police custody until Monday morning when he will appear in the Auckland District Court.

A full scene examination is underway in a bush area on Scenic Drive.

Police said this was a methodical and slow process and is expected to take all day.

Police continue to search the CityLife apartment where Millane was last seen at 9.41pm on December 1, and are sifting through hundreds of hours of CCTV footage.

They are also examining a “vehicle of interest”, which was seized on Saturday, and are trying to find out where it had recently travelled.

Beard said he had no evidence to suggest Millane knew the man before Saturday night but detectives knew they were together from the time she was captured on CCTV footage at SkyCity to the time she was seen at the CityLife Hotel.

Asked if the pair met on dating app Tinder, Beard said he would not speculate.

The police priority would be tracking the vehicle’s movements with GPS or using cellphone towers – which was possible even if the mobile phones of those in it were switched off, he revealed.

Police said they were determined to return Millane to her family, who had earlier spread word across the world of the talented artist and university graduate’s disappearance when her daily social media contact stopped the night before her 22nd birthday last Sunday.

Millane’s father David, a millionaire property developer, then flew to New Zealand early on Friday.

The much-loved daughter and sister arrived in New Zealand on November 20, as part of a year-long, worldwide overseas experience that began earlier this year in South America, he told journalists.

A full road closure of Scenic Drive, between the intersection of Mountain Road/Scenic Drive and the Waitakere Reservoir Carpark, will be in place from 3pm until 7pm tonight.

Residents will be given access during this time.

Mt Roskill stabbing victim identified by police

By
Kaniva Staff
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A 21-year-old man who died after being stabbed has been named.

Rima Fernando Sikei died at the scene at William Blofield Avenue, Mt Roskill shortly after 11pm on Friday night, Auckland Police said.

Sikei was found with critical injuries and ambulance staff were unable to revive him.

A second person found seriously injured at the scene was in a stable condition at Auckland City Hospital on Saturday afternoon. 

One woman told Stuff she heard fighting in the street before a car arrived and two women tried to get two men inside the vehicle.

She said she heard the men mention weapons and talk of a clean fight before more fighting. 

She called police and ran outside to see one man on the ground being attacked by another. She said she saw a metal object. 

The party was in a residential street, in a state housing subdivision between Wesley Intermediate School and the south-western motorway.

A tribute to Sikei in Tongan was shared on Facebook.

“’Ofa atu to my C.A brother,” the tribute said.

Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Sikei’s death. 

Detective Senior Sergeant Glenn Baldwin urged anyone with information about the incident to call (09) 3026 557 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Auckland party stabbing leaves one dead, one injured

By
Kaniva Staff
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By  JONATHAN MILNE, Sunday Star Times

Police have cordoned off two streets in Auckland’s Mt Roskill, after one person died and another was seriously injured in a stabbing at a party.

A manhunt is underway and police are appealing to the public for information.

At the homicide scene on William Blofield Ave, Inspector Kerry Watson confirmed the stabbings had occurred at a gathering late on Friday night.

A witness said what appeared to be a body could be seen lying on the road in front of a police car.

The party was in a residential street, in an aging state housing subdivision between Wesley Intermediate School and the south-western motorway.

Officers at the scene had arrested and cuffed a man, a bystander said, though the arrest was not thought to be directly related to the stabbing.

Around the corner on Denny Ave, paramedics assisted a person with serious stab wounds. Inspector Watson said the person was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

Police communications staff confirmed criminal investigations detectives were investigating the incident in Mt Roskill. Watson described it as “a large scene”.

Police said there were people helping with inquiries, but they appealed for help from any other members of the public who had information or had seen anything.

Detective Senior Sergeant Glenn Baldwin is expected to lead the investigation and further updates are expected in the morning.

Sunday Star Times

Fiji PM pays respects to the 36 Fijian soldiers who died at Qana

By
Kaniva Staff
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FIJI TIMES – Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has paid his respects to 36 men who passed away on Fiji’s UNIFIL mission in Lebanon.

Bainimarama who was accompanied by Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr Satyendra Prasad and Commander of RFMF Commodore Viliame Naupoto at the Qana  Memorial in Lebanon said this was a high price to pay for our country.

“But Fiji will remember these brave men always,” he said

“Their sacrifice inspires our men and women in uniform today.

“Their sacrifice speaks to our rock solid commitment to UN efforts to support peace across conflict zones in the world.”

The Qana memorial was constructed by the RFMF and stands as both a tribute and a symbol of Fiji’s long history of participation in UNIFIL.

Bainimarama will leave Lebanon today aftera two day visit. MeanwhileFiji’s troops will return from Lebanon on December 24

This story appears on PACNEWS

Air New Zealand engineers to strike over Christmas

By
Kalino Latu
-

Air New Zealand flight passengers are to be hit by delays and cancellations over Christmas as the AMEA and E tū unions have given notice of a strike in the heart of the festive period.

The unions have also advised to expect further industrial action.

The airline accused the unions of “using Kiwi families’ much anticipated Christmas holidays as a bargaining chip.”

Air New Zealand General Manager Aircraft Maintenance Viv de Beus said “the news is extremely disappointing.”

The airline said close to 42,000 customers booked to travel domestically and internationally on the day of the planned industrial action alone now face potential flight cancellations.”

The action on 21 December comes as part of a dispute between the unions and the airline  over plans by the airline including an immediate two percent pay increase followed by a further three percent increase after 12 months, with a further pay review in mid-2021.

The unions could not be reached for comment.

The airline said: “Staff have also declined a proposal to standardise overtime pay to 150% of regular pay rate (currently overtime is paid at a mix of double time and time and a half), and a corresponding $6400 one off payment to address the change in rate. Only some of this workgroup does regular overtime but the payment would be made to everyone employed under this collective agreement.”

The average income of the maintenance engineers, logistics and other staff to strike is $115,000 – more than double the average wage in New Zealand – and around 170 of them earn more than $150,000. Work undertaken by this employee group includes carrying out scheduled aircraft maintenance, unscheduled repair work and signing off aircraft prior to departure, as well as managing the availability of aircraft parts and related activities.

While the group has received pay increases annually for the past 12 years, it has so far rejected recent proposals by the airline including an immediate two percent pay increase followed by a further three percent increase after 12 months, with a further pay review in mid-2021.

Along with pay, claims on the aircraft maintenance engineers’ side have included an extra week of annual leave for employees with five years’ service (taking shift workers to six weeks a year), free reserved car parking spaces within 500 metres of their workplace, and the right to renegotiate terms just prior to the busy Christmas season again next year.

Viv de Beus said: “We know how important summer holidays are for our customers who look forward to being able to gather with friends and family at this important time of year.  It would be devastating to see the holiday plans of more than 40,000 hardworking Kiwis and international visitors ruined.

“We have only been in negotiations with this group for six weeks so industrial action is entirely premature.  We remain committed to working closely with the engineers’ unions to reach a reasonable agreement and avoid strike action if at all possible.”

Air New Zealand will communicate with customers booked to travel on 21 December closer to the travel date if these workers go ahead with their strike action.  Customers are asked to avoid calling the airline’s customer contact centre in the meantime as no further information is available at this stage. Customers booked to travel on Air New Zealand’s regional turbo-prop aircraft fleet will not be affected as this fleet is maintained by a separate work group.

Tonga U20 beat Samoa

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Thomas Airey, Samoa Observer

The Samoa U20s rugby team lost a mistake-filled game against Tonga 16-12 at ACP Marist St Joseph Stadium yesterday afternoon.

They will need to win the second game of the Oceania Rugby U20s Trophy on Saturday by more than four points to book a place in the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Trophy to be held in Brazil.

Samoa were keen to shift the ball wide at every opportunity right from kickoff.

This was coach Mailo Potu Leavasa’s plan; to run around the physical Tongans using the speed and stamina of Samoa’s outside backs.

Tongan prop Sosaia Fale received a yellow card for a high tackle early, and Samoa were able to put the squeeze on.

But for the first time of many, a Samoan mistake relieved the pressure for Tonga.

After hooker Tim Lilomaiava threw not straight at an attacking lineout, Tonga would score against the run of play.

Winger Lotu Inisi seized on a stabbed kick through, and showed good pace to outrun the out-of-position defenders to score the game’s first try.

Samoa’s basic errors would spread to the kicking tee as well.

After another high tackle gave them a penalty out in front of the posts, second-five Mo’o Mo’o Falaniko missed the first of several chances to score.

Samoa had what little momentum there was in the game, but basic handling and discipline errors meant neither side could put many phases together.

Finally, a lineout for Samoa seven metres out allowed the home team to maul close to the line.

Halfback Pupi Ah See snuck over and scored, then Falaniko gave Samoa a 7-5 lead with his only successful kick for goal on the day.

As the half dragged on, Tonga were able to build some pressure of their own by getting the ball into Samoa territory.

Tongan number eight Pita Halaifonua had a strong carry off the back of the scrum, and Samoa were penalised for offside 25 metres out from their line.

Fullback Lisiate Folau kicked the goal, and Tonga had retaken the lead close to halftime.

Samoa had two presentable chances to peg them back from penalties before the break, but Falaniko and then first-five Simon-Peter Toleafoa could not convert.

He had perhaps the worst miss of the day early into the second half, sending the ball wide from 20 metres out right in front.

Tonga’s consistent infringing gave Samoa plenty of attacking ball, but they could not take advantage.

Eventually, Samoa forced an attacking lineout five metres out.

However they lost the ball after a good maul, and Tonga were able to send the ball back into Samoan territory.

A poor clearing kick from Brian Telefoni Lima then lead to Tonga’s second try.

They chased well and forced Lima to put it on the boot, and had good numbers to pounce on the mistake, with second-five Malakai Uasi scoring out wide to make it 13-7.

Samoa forced a series of penalties to get good field position, but again coughed up possession before they could make it count.

Samoan centre Pio Paulo Fuiono ran it back strong from Tonga’s clearing kick, and Samoa were awarded a penalty for the tackler not rolling away.

Substitute Fomai Fomai took it quickly, and busted through the Tonga defence to score in the corner.

At 13-12 with a few minutes to play, Samoa still had life in the game.

But from the kickoff, replacement hooker Albert Onelei got himself isolated and was penalised for holding on 25 metres from goal directly in front.

Substitute Hateni Tafolo made no mistake, and the referee blew time on a 16-12 win to Tonga.

Tongan man crushed by large machine in work accident granted residency for surgeries

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Tongan worker who was in a critical condition after a three-tonne girder fell and pinned him to a concrete wall at work has been granted New Zealand residency so he can get the surgery he needs.

He was referred to as ‘BQ’ by the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, and he had only lived in New Zealand for nine months when the accident happened in August 2012.

BQ sustained significant injuries to the right side of his body and nerves which have necessitated at least five orthopaedic procedures to date.

His general practitioner has confirmed that, BQ’s hip replacement had become infected and he had to undergo further surgery. As a result he had been left “remarkably disabled”, the tribunal in Auckland heard.

His orthopaedic surgeon concurred has described BQ’s condition as “significantly incapacitated”.

The orthopaedic surgeon indicated that the decision to undergo another surgery has not been made lightly, because of the associated risks with this type of surgery, increased in his case by his diabetes, prior infection and his greater risk of dislocation and aggravation of his existing nerve injury, the tribunal heard.

By June 2018 the man and his family’s visas had expired and he faced deportation to Tonga.

Tribunal member Annabel Clayton said the tribunal had to consider the impact the accident had on the man’s “poor immigration history”, against the hardship he would face if deported to Tonga.

“The tribunal accepts that the orthopaedic surgery required by the husband can be undertaken only in New Zealand, not in Tonga.”

ACC payment

A weekly ACC payment of $630.24 would continue to be paid to him if he went back to Tonga but no medical treatment there would be funded by ACC.

A panel physician for Immigration New Zealand in Tonga confirmed that further hip surgery was not available in Tonga.

“It is also accepted that, notwithstanding the risks presented by further surgery, the chronic nature of the husband’s injuries and the complexity of his treatment means that returning to Tonga would mean he would have to cope with ongoing and significant levels of pain and disability,” the tribunal was told.

“The Tribunal accepts on this evidence that the cost of any required post-surgery treatment and rehabilitation, even if they were available in Tonga, will not be covered by ACC.”

“It is clearly in the husband’s best interests that he remain here in New Zealand where he can access first the surgery and then the follow-up treatment and long-term rehabilitation facilities available in this country.”

“BQ has been living in New Zealand for seven years and now that he is incapacitated he finds the prospect of a return to Tonga deeply distressing.

Major burden

“He fears that he would be regarded as a major burden by his family members who are themselves struggling to live in overcrowded and challenging conditions.

“He would be unable to provide any physical help in, for instance, the family plantation, as is his familial and cultural expectation.”

BQ and his wife married in 2006 and have two children.

Their eldest daughter is 11 and still lives in Tonga, while their son, 9, has lived in New Zealand since he was 2.

His wife had experienced steadily deteriorating health of her own in the years after her husband’s accident, some of it “due to the stress to which she has been subjected”, the tribunal heard.

Tribunal decision

“The Tribunal found that, cumulatively, the husband’s ongoing medical issues, namely his need for further surgery and ongoing treatment and rehabilitation or his otherwise high levels of disability, pain and consequent dependence, the wife’s health needs and her family nexus to New Zealand, the family’s absence from Tonga for seven years, the best interests of their son (and daughter) and the hardships for the appellants if they have to return to live in Tonga, amount to exceptional humanitarian circumstances.

“For the reasons given, the Tribunal finds that the appellants have exceptional circumstances of a humanitarian nature which would make it unjust or unduly harsh for them to be deported from New Zealand.”

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