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Police investigating sexual assault in Hamilton

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Police are investigating a sexual assault in Hamilton in which the offender has entered a private address in the early hours of the morning.

A male unknown to the victim entered a house on a street south of the Dinsdale shopping centre about 1.45am on Saturday 1 September.

He has then sexually assaulted the female victim as she was asleep in her bed.

The male has then run from the address.

Attending Police, with the assistance of a Police dog unit, were unable to locate the male.

The male is described as wearing a white or tan-coloured t-shirt, about 6 foot tall, with wide shoulders, and wearing a beanie.

It’s possible he may have had a bicycle.

This was a frightening experience for the victim, who is being supported by Police.

Anyone who may have seen anything or anyone unusual in the Dinsdale area in the early hours of Saturday, or has information which may help us, is asked to contact Hamilton Police on (07) 858 6200

Prayer service brings Tongans in UK together

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Tongan families in England gathered yesterday in a prayer service at the High Wycombe Methodist church.

It was attended by the Tongan High Commissioner to UK Hon Fane Tupou Vava’u and her husband Hon Kiu Tu’ivakanō.

The service included the annual ‘Faka-Sepitema’ roll call which was led by the High Commissioner.

A spokesperson said this was the 10th anniversary of the Tongan church community at the Rutland Avenue which was led by Rev Singa Vunipola.

The service was described as warm and emotional.

About 60 Tongan families joined the community.

Three new buses donated by Japanese government  

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Three buses worth TOP$350,000 have been donated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs by the Japanese government.

The buses would help transport athletes and sport competitors in their preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, the Paralympics and the Rugby Union World Cup 2019.

The Japanese Ambassador to Tonga HE Tetsuya Ishii in a statement said he hoped the kingdom would use these buses in accordance with the purpose of the project, arrange regular maintenance to keep it in good conditions for as long as possible, and drive carefully and safely.”

The Minster of Internal Affairs Hon Losaline Ma’asi welcomed the donation and thanked the people and the Government of Japan for their assistance.

The Hon Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva attended the handover ceremony on Thursday.

“HE Tetsuya Ishii enjoyed a round bus ride from Vuna Wharf to the Popua Park on one of the new buses, with guests accompanying them on the second and third bus.”

League financial report in question, no formal statement yet, says president

By
Kalino Latu
-

A financial report on the money used by the Tonga National Rugby League during the 2013 World Cup  has been questioned by league clubs, it has been revealed.

The president of the Mate Ma’a Tonga, Hon Sēmisi Sika, said he has repeatedly requested a formal report but the league board has done nothing about it.

He said it had been for a long time since the chair of the board e-mailed the committee concerning the financial report, but the board has yet to respond.

He said this did not look good for the national rugby league.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the Chair of the Board, Stan Moheloa and former secretary Lōpeti ‘Uhatafe, went with the team to UK during the World Cup.

Responsibilities 

Hon Sika has clarified his role as president and the responsibility of the board which operated the national league.

He said his responsibility was just like an honorary position (“fakalangilangi pe”) and he had the duty of presiding over the league’s Annual General Meeting.

During this year’s AGM Hon Sika postponed the meeting after he found out the financial report had not been audited.

He said it was illegal to report an unaudited financial report in the AGM.

Allegations 

Hon Sika, who has revealed recently that he would not stand for a re-election of the presidency, said his role with the league had been tarnished by a number of allegations and court cases against the league.

In Tongan he said:  “ʻA ia ko e ngāue eni ia ʻa e poaté pea nau toki tukuakiʻi ai e ngaahi meʻa kotoa kiate au koeʻuhí ko ʻeku sea he fakatahá.”

This translates into English as: “So these allegations were caused by the board and they accused me of all these things because I was the chair of the meeting.”

As Kaniva reported in 2016, the Solicitor General sent Moheloa a letter demanding that the TNRL comply with its obligation to tell the government how it had spent the funds given to it for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

Legal battles in the supreme Court over the management of the TNRL revealed that hundreds of thousands of pa’anga were unaccounted for, accounts had remained unaudited for years, the constitution had been violated, fraudulent elections held and court orders ignored.

The Solicitor General said the TNRL had failed to meet its commitments despite repeated requests by the Government.

Eventually an audit of the way the government grant had been spent showed that less than half had been spent properly by the TNRL.

For more information

Tonga National Rugby League “dysfunctional for years” says Supreme Court judge

Good Samaritan pays tribute to NZ visitor who died in Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

A good Samaritan who helped rushed a New Zealand woman who died in Nuku’alofa to hospital has paid a tribute to her death online.

Monique Suzanne Laurenson, 53, also known as Dunnett of Wellington passed away suddenly in Tonga on Monday 27 August 2018, according to a death notice published in the Dominion Post on Thursday.

Tonga Police reportedly said her death was of natural causes.

Sulia Perkins wrote on Facebook that she and her husband walked into Vuna bar on Monday when a husband was holding his wife. She said the husband asked them to call an ambulance.

“We called the ambulance and continued to help the husband the best we can as we tried to guide him in performing CPR along with the helpful staff of Vuna Bar,” Perkins wrote.

“Called the ambulance again and they suggested that we drive her to the hospital.

“We met the ambulance on the road and they took her, her husband and one of the staff from Vuna.

Perkins said she found out after about 30 minutes from the incident that Laurenson has died in hospital.

“My condolences to the husband of the deceased.”

“I drove to the hospital to offer my condolences to the husband and offered help with anything since they are non Tongans and only visiting here.

“It was sad but I was relieved to see her at peace.

“May you rest in God’s love Monique!” Perkins wrote.

The Dominion Post’s death notice said:

“Amazing mother of Ekaterina and Alex. Wonderful daughter of Marcia and Dave. Loving sister of Justine and Rachele. A service to celebrate Monique’s life will be held in St Theresa’s Catholic Church, 210 St Andrews Rd, Plimmerton, on Tuesday, 4th September at 11.00am, followed by burial.”

Man charged in machete attack that injured police officer in Hōfoa

By
Kalino Latu
-

A 28-year-old man faces two charges after a Nuku’alofa police officer was attacked with a machete in Hōfoa.

The man has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm and obstruction of justice.

The man allegedly hit  the Senior Police Constable on his head with a machete.

He remains in custody to appear at the Fasi Magistrate’s Court on Monday, September 3.

The attack occurred after Police received a report from a resident in Hofoa concerning the suspect who was trying to enter their house.

When police arrived the suspect was inside one of the houses within the premises.

When the officer opened the door, the suspect allegedly hit him on the right side of the head with the machete.

The 36-year-old police officer is in a stable condition at Vaiola Hospital.

Australian players mull pay cut to guarantee Tongan game as king asks NRL for help

By
Philip Cass
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The much touted Tonga-Australia match could be on after all, following reports that Australian players are prepared to take a massive pay cut to make sure the game goes ahead.

There are reports that the Australian team members have agreed to take Aus$5000 instead of their usual $20,000 for the match.

Mate Ma’a players would be paid the same.

The news comes just days after reports that King Tupou VI contacted Australia rugby league’s governing body, the NRL, to ask their help in staging the game.

It’s also an indication of how much money Australia and New Zealand-based Tongan players sacrificed when they opted to play for the kingdom in the Rugby League World Cup.

The official Australian Rugby League site, NRL.com, quoted Rugby League Players’ Association boss Ian Prendergast as saying the players had agreed in principle to the match.

“We’re still working through those details but it may be that the Australians receive a very smaller match payment, the same as the Tongan boys and that’s something that they’re willing to accept on a one-off basis to get this game across the line,” Prendegast said.

It has been suggested that Auckland’s 30,000 seat Mt Eden stadium would be the likely venue if the Australian league can persuade the NZRL to reverse its opposition to the game.

October 20 has been suggested as a date for the much anticipated match.

As Kaniva News reported recently, Mate Ma’a coach Kristian Woolf believes a decision on the proposed game needs to be made sooner rather than later.

In May NRL.com said details of the clash needed to be finalised by the end of August.

For more information

Australia players agree to take pay cut for Tonga Test

Tongan King appeals to NRL for help

Students charged after bus station brawl to appear in court

By
Kalino Latu
-

Police have charged five male students following a brawl at the Nuku’alofa bus station on Wednesday.

A Police spokesperson said today the accused included three students from Tonga College and two from Liahona High School.

They have been charged with disorderly behaviour and causing disturbance in a public area.

They have been released on bail yesterday from Police custody and were expected to appear in court next week.

Photos taken at the scene and uploaded to Facebook this week met with disapproval.

Most commenters criticised the brawl and said this was nothing but too much “nonsense” and “show off”.

Tongan patients want Chinese medical ship ‘to stay longer’, more than 5000 treated

By
Kalino Latu
-

Thousands of patients in Tonga wished the Chinese medical ship Ark Peace had stayed longer than scheduled, according to the Chinese Embassy in Nuku‘alofa.

While the Chinese medical experts were in Nuku’alofa on August 13 for a week they treated 5,532 patients.

The number included 2,598 persons who received auxiliary examinations, 28 inpatients who were hospitalized,while 34 surgeries were performed.

The Chinese mission to the kingdom was a success.

“With the strong support of the Tongan government and concerted efforts of both sides, the visit was a complete success and was applauded by the people of all walks of life of Tonga,” a spokesperson told Kaniva News.

“We heard many local people comment that the duration for the medical service was a bit short and they expected it to stay longer.

“This is the second time that Ark Peace visits Tonga after its first visit to the Kingdom in August 2014, and it is anticipated that it will visit Tonga again in the future though the specific time is yet to be discussed and decided by China and Tonga.”

Asked if they could give us an estimate of how much the ship spent to conduct its mission in Tonga, the spokesperson said:

“We do not have information on how much the Ship spent to complete the mission in Tonga.”

Termination reveals alleged misconduct, strife, following League World Cup

By
Kalino Latu
-

The termination of CEO ‘Emeline Tuita’s contract has revealed allegations of misconduct, abuse of power and disobedience in the Ministry of Tourism.

Strife between the Minister and Tuita has also been revealed following the hosting of the Mate Ma’a Tonga team while they visited Tonga after the 2017 World Cup.

Tuita, whose contract with the Ministry of Tourism was terminated on July 31, was accused of using her ministerial position to benefit her own private business.

She was also accused of disobeying Tourism Minister Hon Sēmisi Sika after she refused to cancel an unofficial prayer service she organised as part of the welcoming events for the Mate Ma’a Tonga team in November 2017 without the Minister’s consent.

Tuita has been contacted for comment.

The Minster, who is the president of the Mate Ma’a Tonga rugby league, has described the allegations against Tuita’s conducts and actions as huge (“fu’u lahi”).

Hon Sika told Kaniva News Tuita allegedly employed some new workers at her Tourism office at the Fā’onelua Convention Centre without him being aware of it.

The Minister claimed these employees had been recruited to work for Tuita’s owned company.

Hon Sika claimed Tuita used her position with the Ministry to establish a link between her business and overseas business partners.

Mate Ma’a Tonga welcoming event

The Deputy Prime Minster said he was only made aware of the prayer service organised by Tuita at the FWC Centenary Church to welcome the Mate Ma’a Tonga, the night before the event.

The service sparked a controversy the next morning after Mate Ma’a Tonga fans arriving in Nuku’alofa learned that the prayer service clashed with a parade in the centre of the capital.

As Kaniva reported at the time, some fans accused church leaders of not working together with the Minister and his rugby league committee to avoid the clash.

Others accused the government of stopping the players from attending the prayer service.

The only team member to attend the prayer service was Tu’imoala Lolohea. All the other players joined the parade.

Hon Sika ordered the unofficial prayer service to be cancelled, but Tuita refused to cooperate, he said.

“She disobeyed my order plus she misused her position at the Ministry,” the Minister said in Tongan.

Report to PSC

The Minister said after the welcoming of the Mate Ma’a Tonga he thought it was about time for him to report Tuita to the Public Service Commission.

The PSC worked on the Minster’s report for three months before terminating Tuita. She had been in the job just under a year.

Hon Sika said the Mate Ma’a Tonga players asked him they wanted to come to Tonga after the World Cup to meet their fans and families. The Prime Minister endorsed the request and the government helped brought the team to Tonga.

The players indicated that they would appreciate it if there was a chance for them to parade on the road while they were in Tonga so they could have more space and meet as many people as they could.

Tuita was the first ever female CEO to be elected by Tonga Rugby Union in 2013.

For more information

Rugby League Pres responds after MMT missed church leaders’ prayer services

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