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Business Council signs memorandum with Tongan government

By
Philip Cass
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The New Zealand Tonga Business Council Trade Mission has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tongan government.

NZTBC Chairman Sione Taufa signd the MOU with Hon. Tevita Tui Uata, Minister of Commerce, Consumer, Trade Innovation and Labour.

The signing took place at the New Zealand High Commission residence in Nuku’alofa.

“We the NZ Tonga Business Council believe that using trade as a vehicle will improve the lives of people of NZ and Tonga,” Taufa said.

“We truly believe that co-operating with our partners is the only way to move forward.

“The need for an MOU started a few years ago, because while everyone had a relationship with some of the ministers and CEOs we felt the need to formalize the relationship bring everyone to the table, have a document that is transparent to move forward with trade.”

Pacific Cooperation Foundation CEO Craig Strong said he looked forward to the projects that are set to emerge from this relationship.

NZTBC Chair Sione Taufa told Kaniva earlier this year more help from New Zealand businesses was needed after the devastation caused by Cyclone Gita in February.

He said a number of successful Tongan business people in New Zealand were beginning to identify Tonga in the wake of the Pacer Plus agreement.

For more information

Tonga and New Zealand Tonga Business Council signed an MOU last night

Graduates from Australian-funded training programme take their wares to market

By
Philip Cass
-

A group of 15 men and women who took part in an Australian funded training programme have put their wares on the market.

They attended a workshop run by the Women’s Economic Empowerment Foundation on running a small businesses with new skills learned like tapa and textile printing.

The workshop was held in Kolonga and was intended to help people on the eastern district develop skills to earn a living.

It was funded by Tonga Skills, an Australian programme aimed at developing inclusive business opportunities.

Last week participants from the workshop sold their products at a Women in Sustainable Enterprises market in Nuku’alofa.

Participants sold t-shirts, tupenu, shirts, curtains, pillow cases and tapa cloth they had printed.

The workshop was run by Tevita Pola’apau.

Earlier this year Tonga Skills was involved in the development of a new plumbing training program at the Tonga Institute of Science and Technology.

For more information

High Commissioner Launches New Training Program

Body found after huge explosion shakes Henderson, West Auckland

By
Kaniva Staff
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A body has been located following an explosion at a Henderson address near Swanson Road this evening.

Police are carrying out a scene examination and are working to understand the circumstances of the incident.

Police ask that the public avoid the area if possible while inquiries are underway at a Henderson address near Swanson Road.

Fairfax media report said a shed has blown up in a huge explosion in West Auckland.

It quoted a Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman saying at 4.55pm, three crews were called to a shed on fire in Don Buck Rd in Henderson, West Auckland.

When Fire and Emergency NZ arrived, the shed was “well alight”, the spokesman said.

Police said a report came in just prior to 5pm this evening and Fire and Emergency NZ is at the scene.

There is no more information until Police staff reach the scene to investigate.

Members of the public are requested to avoid the scene if possible as traffic diversions will be put in place shortly.

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
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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
-

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

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