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Man and woman sentenced to life imprisonment in Tonga for drug trafficking  

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga’s Supreme Court has handed down life sentences to two individuals convicted of attempting to smuggle a substantial quantity of methamphetamine into the country.  

Mr Fine Tevita Fifita, 31, and Miss Vaivevea Mafi, 45, had been found guilty of importing 1,157.4 grams of the illicit drug concealed within a shipping container from the United States.  

The prosecution’s case focused on a shipping crate belonging to Lolani Finau in the US, which was transported by the MV Mount Cameron from the US to Tonga in April 2023. While originally consigned to another party, the court document shows that the receiver’s name had been suspiciously modified to designate Mafi as the recipient.  

Authorities discovered the methamphetamine hidden inside laundry powder buckets, despite the cargo being declared as containing innocent items like clothes, shoes, and candy.  

Under Tonga’s strict Illicit Drugs Control Act, anyone found in possession of 28 grams or more of an illicit drug faces mandatory life imprisonment.

Fifita was also convicted of two counts of bribing law enforcement officers. 

Evidence revealed he had referred to the packages as “ice” and attempted to pay off officials when the drugs were discovered.  

Mafi was found complicit in facilitating the shipment by changing the consignee details.  

Overwhelming Evidence Presented

Justice Petunia Tupou delivered a scathing assessment of the defendants’ actions.  

She noted that Fifita and Mafi admitted to being at Ma’ufanga on 27 April 2024 to clear the consignment.

Justice Tupou said the duo claimed it was intended to cover petrol and worker expenses for exporting agricultural produce to the United States, where Lolani Finau would market the goods.

The court was told that Lolani Finau was also known by the Facebook name “Lion Finau”.

The defendants further acknowledged that two packages discovered inside the laundry buckets within the consignment were tested and confirmed to contain 1,157.4 grams of methamphetamine. 

Justice Tupou also found that the pair had no legal justification for facilitating the import of these prohibited substances into Tonga. 

The Judge then dismissed the pair’s denial of “any knowledge of the packages”, pointing to a trail of incriminating evidence. This included suspicious Facebook communications, falsified import documents, and Fifita’s attempts to obstruct the investigation.  

Justice Tupou emphasised that their coordinated efforts demonstrated clear knowledge of and participation in the drug operation.  

The Judge said: “For those reasons, I am satisfied that the Prosecution has proven beyond any reasonable doubt so that I am sure that Fifita on 27 April, 2023 at Ma’ufanga, did knowingly, without lawful excuse imported 1157.4 grams of methamphetamine, a class A illicit drug. 

As for Mafi, she was a willing party in all of this and knew that the crate contained illicit drugs. She agreed to be the consignee and I am not persuaded of the reason for using her name.” 

Judge Tupou sentenced both Fifita and Mafi to life imprisonment for knowingly importing the methamphetamine – a Class A illicit drug – without lawful excuse.

Gov’t declares October 26 public holiday commemorating 50th anniversary of Haʻapai’s miracle Cross

By
Kalino Latu
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The Tongan government has declared October 26 of this year a public holiday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the appearance of a cross believed to represent Jesus Christ at the Free Wesleyan Church compound in Pangai, Ha’apai, in 1975. 

The cemented outline of the miraculous cross that appeared at the Free Wesleyan Church of Pangai, Haʻapai, in 1975—now a sacred site commemorated with a national holiday.

As Kaniva News reported previously, Late Rev Mohenoa Puloka said that, on the day the cross appeared, the Minister in Charge of Young People and Evangelism Ministries, Rev Kalavite ‘Uhila, was on his way to the church for a preaching service at about 5am when he saw a bright light in the church grounds.  

Rev ‘Uhila braved himself by walking straight toward the light, which he discerned as a cross lying on the ground to the east of the church.  

After the early service, Rev ‘Uhila revealed the existence of the mysterious cross to the senior pastor, Rev. Vili Fatai Koli, Rev. Haitini Fīnau, the Principal of Taufaʻāhau and Pilolevu College, and the congregation.  

“They all went outside and confirmed the presence of the mystery cross,” Rev Puloka told Kaniva News.

“By then the light had gone out, but the outline of this mystery cross was permanently embedded on the ground and the grass turned deep yellowish green.”  

The cross was 30 feet and eight inches (10 metres and 20 cm) long and 23 feet four inches (seven metres and 10 cm) along the crossbar. The long part of the cross was three feet and four inches (one metre) wide. It is understood that the outline of the mysterious cross was later cemented to maintain its original shape.  

Rev Dr Puloka said he believed: “The mystery cross is the only known and confirmed imprimatur cross delivered by angelic hosts from heaven.”  

“The instance was quickly relayed to the President of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, the Rev. Dr. Sione ‘Amanaki Havea, at Nukuʻalofa. “After confirming the existence of the cross, Rev. Dr. Havea duly informed his Majesty, King Taufaʻāhau Tupou IV.  

About a week later, His Majesty paid a visit to the mystery cross at Pangai, Haʻapai.” After the king confirmed for himself the presence of the cross, he held a brief press conference and said the mystery cross found its home at the hereditary home of King Taufaʻāhau Tupou I.  

His Majesty said the magical cross appeared on the same ground where Taufaʻāhau knelt for baptism by the Rev. John Thomas on August 7, 1831.  

”This cross is God’s confirmation of that 1839 covenant in which King Taufaʻāhau Tupou I offered the people and the land of Tonga to God: God and Tonga are my heritage,” Rev Dr Puloka said. 

COMMENTARY Tonga seeking AG advice outside Parliament exposes lawmakers’ gaps, reigniting controversy over Privy Council role 

By
Kalino Latu
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Commentary—This week, Tonga’s lawmakers urged the Speaker of Parliament to consult the Attorney General (AG) on legal impasses, reviving a legal expert’s warning that failing to address these issues will continue to harm the nation’s democracy.

Attorney General Linda Folaumoetu’i. Photo/TBC

The latest stalemate, prompting calls for the AG’s advice, stems from a debate between the Opposition and the government over whether the law on revolving funds permits transferring money to the recurrent budget. This was a clear example of lawmakers regularly engaging in lengthy debates on legal issues—issues that could have been resolved in minutes if the AG had been present.

The absence of the nation’s top legal advisor in the legislative chamber not only highlights a structural deficiency but also underscores the troubling lack of legal expertise among many lawmakers. 

The root of this issue traces back to Tonga’s contentious 2010 constitutional reforms, which removed the AG from government and placed them in the Privy Council.

This decision has long been debated, as it effectively silos legal counsel away from the very institution that needs it most.

The consequences are palpable: Time and again, we’ve witnessed the Legislative Assembly deadlocked, urgently demanding advice from the Attorney General, particularly during critical debates like Votes of No Confidence or annual budget deliberations.

Embedding the AG within Parliament would provide real-time clarity, ensuring decisions are grounded rather than political manoeuvring. 

This isn’t just about procedural reform—it’s about restoring competence to Tonga’s democracy.

If the AG’s role is to advise the government, then they should be alongside those crafting the laws. Anything less is a disservice to the nation. 

While Samoa and New Zealand seat their Attorney General in Parliament, and Fiji restricts theirs to Cabinet, Tonga persists with an indefensible paradox: a Parliament that routinely demands AG guidance during critical debates, yet systematically excludes its chief legal advisor from the legislative chamber.

Tonga can no longer ignore its broken political system, which the constitutional expert in the 2010 review condemned as the Commonwealth’s poorest constitution.

AG Post-Reform Critique 

In his 2010 review of Tonga’s Constitution, Peter Pursglove critically examined the role of the Attorney General as stipulated by the new framework.

Hired by the nobility-backed government of Lord Tu’ivakanō—the first administration to test the post-reform democracy—Pursglove argued that placing the Attorney General within the “justice sector” alongside the Ministry of Justice and Lord Chancellor “is proving unworkable.”

“It is inefficient, ineffective, and unaffordable,” Pursglove stated, noting that maintaining separate administrative structures for the Lord Chancellor and Attorney General duplicated functions already adequately performed by the Ministry of Justice.

The report further warned that “the financial costs of the new judicial structure cannot be sustained from public funds” and that the reorganisation had eroded institutional accountability: while the Ministry of Justice answers to Parliament, the Lord Chancellor and Attorney General report only to the King in Privy Council. Pursglove concluded this structure “contradicts the democratic principles upon which the new Constitution was founded.”

Power Struggle Delays

Unfortunately, the Pursglove report was submitted to the King and tabled in Parliament for the next elected government to address—a decision timed just before the 2014 elections.

When Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva’s government took office in 2015, it pursued the report’s recommendations, including six reform bills. However, lawmakers from the previous Tuʻivakanō administration—the very ones who had commissioned the Pursglove report—mounted fierce opposition.

They misleadingly claimed the reforms had been a conspiracy to strip the King’s powers.

In 2019, the Nobility finally conceded their earlier political manoeuvre in the House and urged ʻAkilisi Pōhiva to reintroduce the six bills for debate. However, Pōhiva’s death late that year halted progress.

His successor, Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa, shelved the bills indefinitely, prioritising policies he deemed more urgent for the people.

EDITORIAL Time to rethink Tonga’s pig-shooting policy; balancing law, livelihood, and culture 

By
Kalino Latu
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Editorial – Tonga’s relationship with pigs is deeply rooted in tradition, economy, and daily life. These animals are not merely livestock—they are a cultural cornerstone, a source of income for families, and an essential part of celebrations, funerals, and rituals. Yet, the recent police campaign to shoot roaming pigs under the Animal Pound Act has sparked outrage and grief among Tongans who rely on these animals for survival.

All Eyes on the Minister of Police for Pig Policy Reform

In Tonga, pigs’ presence in feasts and fakapangai (formal events) is not just customary but often mandatory. No Tongan feast is considered complete without pigs on the table.

A viral video this week showing a dead pig on the roadside, with a police van driving away in the background, overlays a distraught woman’s voice asking a man moving the pig, “When did they shoot it?” This single frame captures both the devastation and the injustice of the policy. This harsh enforcement raises a critical question: Is it time to revise this outdated and indiscriminate law?  

Stray vs Roaming Animals

It is important at this stage to clarify the difference between pigs roaming in Tonga and what is understood in the palangi (Western) context as stray animals, where shooting may be justified if they pose a threat or cause damage. In Tonga, pigs and dogs that roam are customarily part of the practice known as fakataka (intentionally letting them out to forage, often because owners cannot provide enough food). True stray animals, by contrast, are those without owners. Therefore, the police shooting campaign primarily targets roaming, not genuinely stray, animals, raising concerns about cultural and economic impacts.  

Some nobility estates and villages have long practised controlled roaming, with fencing of boundaries set to protect crops. This system These communities recognized the balance between earnings and animal safety. However, the current law disregards this cultural context, enforcing a blanket policy that harms those it should protect.  

When Policy Punishes Poverty

It is understood that before shooting roaming pigs and dogs, except collared dogs, the police issued prior warnings for owners to secure their animals. While this may seem reasonable, consider the case of a widow who relies on her pigs as the sole source of income to support her five school-aged children, in a country with virtually no social welfare system. Shouldn’t the government provide alternatives before authorising lethal enforcement if she cannot afford to build a pig pen? 

Section 18 of the Animal Pound Act permits police to kill any pig found roaming on roads or public property. While the intent may have been to control nuisance animals, the law makes no distinction between truly stray pigs and those intentionally let loose under the traditional practice of fakataka puaka, where pigs are allowed to roam but are still owned and cared for. Many families raise pigs this way, selling piglets to pay for school fees or keeping them for ceremonial purposes. Shooting these pigs doesn’t just destroy livestock, it destroys livelihoods. 

In the past, when police shot pigs and dogs, communities responded with anger and frustration, often silently condemning the authorities. If it were a kāinga or community member who committed these acts, it would trigger the practice of fakamotumotu, severing familial and social ties.

Livelihoods Over Lethal Measures

This is a wake-up call for the government. The former two governments recently poured over $20 million into Lulutai Airlines’ failed venture, including a $2 million grant from Australia. Why isn’t the government investing in this instead?

This week, the Prime Minister announced a $30 million budget policy to launch a bond marketing program to support the private sector, specifically fisheries, including importing fish from Fiji. The goal is to provide locals with cheaper, healthier food alternatives to expensive, unhealthy red meats. While this sounds promising, its success remains uncertain, as such an approach has never been tried before. 

Meanwhile, locally raised pigs have long been proven productive and effective in every respect—providing families with income and enabling them to fulfil their kavenga (cultural obligations). So why doesn’t the government invest in small-scale pig keeping? Financial support for feed and pigsties would be far more constructive than shooting these vital animals. 

While public safety and property protection are important, the current enforcement is too extreme, indiscriminate, and destructive. The government must revisit this law, engage with communities, and find a solution that respects tradition and modern governance.

Shooting pigs should never be the first—or only—option. It’s time for a policy that reflects Tongan values, not undermines them. 

Urgent community appeal to help locate missing 73-year-old Samiu in Auckland

By
Kaniva Staff
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Auckland, New Zealand – Authorities and family members are urgently seeking public assistance to locate Samiu, a 73-year-old man who went missing in Māngere at 10:30 this morning.

The Tongan elderly gentleman, who speaks only Tongan, was last seen wearing a maroon Adidas jersey, black pants, and black Crocs.

His family has notified police, and a search operation is currently underway.

Samiu’s limited English proficiency raises significant concerns about his ability to seek help or communicate with strangers.

The Māngere community, particularly members of Auckland’s Tongan population, are being asked to remain vigilant.

Police advise anyone who spots him to approach calmly and contact authorities immediately, as he may be confused or disoriented.

Family spokesperson Losaline Mahe expressed deep concern: “We’re extremely worried—he has never gone missing before.

If anyone has seen him, please call the police right away.” 

Neighbors and local volunteers have begun checking nearby parks, shopping centers, and bus stops, while police continue their ground and CCTV search efforts.

How to Assist:
✔ Check surveillance cameras (homes/businesses near Māngere town center)
✔ Share this alert widely, especially among Tongan-speaking networks
✔ Call 111 or Crime Stoppers (0800 555 111) with any sightings

As night falls, urgency grows—anyone with information is urged to act immediately. Updates will be provided as the search progresses.

Miss Heilala champions environment day in traditional attire, joins global fight to beat plastic pollution

By
Kaniva Staff
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Nuku’alofa, Tonga –  Miss Heilala Racheal Guttenbeil was spotted tending to her vegetable garden dressed in elegant Tongan formal attire to mark World Environment Day.

Miss Heilala Racheal Guttenbeil tends to an onion plant in her garden, dressed in elegant Tongan attire—blending culture with sustainability 🌱👑. This #WorldEnvironmentDay, she reminds us that every small action—whether planting, reducing plastic, or protecting water—helps build a healthier, greener future. Photo/Miss Heilala Pageant (Facebook)

This year’s global campaign, “Beat Plastic Pollution,” highlights the urgent need to combat the devastating effects of plastic waste on ecosystems, wildlife, and human health.

The Miss Heilala Pageant shared a photo of Miss Guttenbeil crouching beside a vegetable planter box, gently touching the leaves of an onion plant.

The caption calls on the public to support environmental conservation and urges everyone to join their plant-growing initiatives, reduce plastic use, and preserve water sources.

It also states:
“Remember: Every small action counts toward a healthier, cleaner, and greener future.”

The beauty queen’s symbolic gesture not only honoured Tonga’s rich traditions but also reinforced the importance of sustainable living.

By merging cultural heritage with environmental activism, Miss Heilala sent a powerful message about preserving natural and cultural treasures for future generations.

Her initiative follows Tonga’s recent Emancipation Day celebrations, where the reigning Beauty Queen paid tribute to the national holiday by donning the country’s colours—red and white—while holding a kele’a, a cultural symbol of something of great importance.

As nations worldwide unite to reduce plastic waste, Tonga’s beauty ambassadors are leading by example, proving that tradition and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.

Catholic & Methodist: The Lasike dynasty’s fall and redemption; barred from Parliament despite appeal, motives questioned

By
Kalino Latu
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The death of Lord Lasike has revived interest in his ancestors’ ties to Christianity and royalty, their quest for status and the title’s controversial history.

Lord Lasike

Lasike, 67, died from an illness on May 28.  

The government has declared that all national flags will be flown at half-mast to honour the former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. 

In a statement issued this afternoon, the Honourable Prime Minister, Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke, declared that all flags across the kingdom would be lowered on Thursday, June 5, 2025, as a mark of respect during Lord Lasike’s funeral. 

The death of the late noble, whose estates included Ha‘afeva Island and the village of Lakepa in Tongatapu, was honoured by his heralds (matāpule) and others through the art of lau kakala and lau mātanga—traditional Tongan persuasive oratory that celebrates the life and legacy of the deceased.

The government’s statement read: “The Public is hereby notified that the Honourable Prime Minister has decreed that all national flags in the Kingdom of Tonga are to be flown at half-mast on Thursday, 5th June 2025, in respect of the funeral of the Noble of the Realm, Lord Lasike.” 

The Hereditary Title Lasike and Its Fijian Roots 

Research suggests the name Lasike originated in Fiji as a Tongan adaptation of Radike Baleisāsā, later becoming Lasike Paleisāsā in Tongan.

According to studies by Melenaite ‘Alakihihifo Heni Stathan and Nigel Stathan, this name was given to the son of Radike Baleisāsā and Toāfilimoe’unga, a daughter of Mataele Havea.

It says both Fijian and Tongan traditions state that Radike was a brother of Fiji’s Tu’i Nayau, the chief of the island of Nayau and Lakeba in the Lau group, Fiji. 

The Stathans’ research reveals that while many aspects of the title’s history remain unclear, it confirms Lasike had become an established title by 1861.

The earliest known bearer of the title was Lasike Kalolo Palei (Palei is a Tongan shortening of Baleisāsā), often abbreviated as Lasike Kalolo or Kalolo, who was present when King Tāufa‘āhau Tupou I granted emancipation from serfdom at Pouono, Vava‘u, in 1862.   

The Lasike Family’s Catholic Connection 

Lasike Kalolo lived during the arrival of the first Catholic Marist Brothers in Tonga and became a devoted Catholic.

According to the Stathans’ and other sources, the name Kalolo was first adapted by Catholics for the Marist fathers and brothers who bore the names Charles and Carlo. 

The Stanthans quoted the Marist missionary Fr Pierre Castagnier, Pātele Petelō in Tongan, who documented Kalolo’s influence in his 1866 journal, noting that Kalolo was expected to be appointed chief judge. In a 1879 letter, Castagnier described him as “our very great Catholic chief in his parish of Ma‘ofanga, Tongatapu.” 

It says Kalolo occasionally performed baptisms, particularly in emergencies when a priest was unavailable. Fr Castagnier frequently visited him between 1865 and 1881, administered his last rites on June 9, 1881, and officiated his burial in Pea village on June 16. 

Succession and the Shift to Methodism 

Lasike Kalolo was succeeded by his son, Tāniela (later known as Lasike Taniela), in 1881. However, Fr Castagnier noted that Tāniela was illegitimate and thus constitutionally ineligible for the title, as the Tongan constitution required succession to pass only to legitimate sons.

Lasike Kalolo did have a legitimate heir—his son Kamilo—but Kamilo declined the title. Even Kamilo’s younger brother refused the name, leaving the succession open despite legal restrictions.  

According to the research, it appears that to secure his position in Tupou I’s court, Tāniela made the strategic decision to convert from Catholicism to Methodism. 

Thirteen years after inheriting the title, Tāniela was ennobled by King George Tupou II.   

He was succeeded by his son, Lasike Tēvita Tu‘amoheloa, whose mother, Mele Vaevau Tatu, was a granddaughter of Niupalavu, a brother of Tu‘i Kanokupolu Tuku‘aho. 

The title later passed to Lasike Tēvita’s son, ‘Enelē Anga‘aetau, in 1934. With no legal heir, it eventually went to his nephew, Saletili Manu‘ofahiki Tu‘uhetoka, in 1970. Saletili died in 2001, and his son Havea Hikule‘o assumed the title in 2002, holding it until his own passing last month. 

The loss and restoration of the title

As Kaniva News reported previously, on July 9, 2012, Lord Lasike was convicted in the Supreme Court of possessing ammunition without a license.

Lord Lasike lost his hereditary title and estates of Lasike, his seat in the Legislative Assembly and his position as Speaker.

All payments of remuneration, allowances and other entitlements to the plaintiff ceased from July 9, 2012.

Following his conviction, the Attorney General (AG), Mr. Adsett,  insisted that he would advise the king to revoke Lord Lasike’s appointment as  Speaker and the  Legislative  Assembly to call a by-election.

Lord Lasike then told Kaniva News that he questioned the Attorney General’s decision, as he was actively appealing his conviction.

Lord Lasike successfully appealed his conviction in the Supreme Court in October 2012 and regained his title and estates, but not his seat in Parliament or position as Speaker.

On February 7, 2013, His Majesty in Council restored the plaintiff to his hereditary title and estate of Lasike.

Tongan beauty queen draped in national colours honours emancipation day—red for sacrifice, white for freedom

By
Kaniva Staff
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Winner of Miss Heilala Racheal Guttenbeil has reignited pride in Tonga’s emancipation legacy, posing in a striking red-and-white sarong, the nation’s colours, on Emancipation Day on Monday, June 2.

Miss Heilala 2024-2025 Rachael Guttenbeil wears Tonga’s national colours – red symbolising the blood of Christ and white for peace – in a powerful Emancipation Day tribute. The colours trace back to King George Tupou I’s 1862 abolition of serfdom. Photo/Rachael Guttenbeil

The colours, significant in Tonga’s history of liberation, symbolise the blood of Jesus, represented by red, and peace, represented by white, embodying faith and freedom.

“Emancipation Day in Tonga is celebrated on June 4th each year,” Guttenbeil wrote on Facebook alongside the photos, showcasing the colours first enshrined by King George Tupou I during his groundbreaking 19th-century reforms.

The monarch, known as the Founder of Modern Tonga, abolished the feudal system that bound commoners as virtual slaves to chiefs, cementing the colours as emblems of unity and independence.

King George Tupou I enshrined the abolition in his 1862 Code of Laws and formally declared it a public holiday.

Miss Guttenbeil said: “It is a significant event that commemorates the freedom and rights of the Tongan people.”

“Happy Holidays everyone. What a great day to be celebrating it at one of the beautiful islands in Tonga.”

In one of her photos, Guttenbeil poses with a keleʻa, a conch shell traditionally blown to herald significant events.

Miss Guttenbeil was crowned Miss Heilala 2024-2025 and secured second place in the prestigious Miss Pacific Islands 2024-2025 pageant.

Tonga Tourism describes the Miss Heilala title as far more than a beauty crown—it represents “a role model, an ambassador, and a symbol of the strength and grace of Tongan women.”

Tonga police arrest over 50, question if parents knew about children’s involvement in offences

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Tonga Police carried out a series of safety operations over the weekend, leading to the arrest of 51 individuals for various offences, including drunk driving, public intoxication, and drug-related crimes.

The operations, which involved roadblocks and targeted patrols across Tongatapu, were part of ongoing efforts to maintain public safety and curb alcohol-fueled disturbances.

Among those arrested, 16 drivers were charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, while three others faced charges for refusing to undergo mandatory alcohol testing.

Additionally, 29 individuals were detained for public drunkenness, and three were arrested for drug-related offences. The arrested individuals ranged in age from 16 to 61, with 45 males and six females taken into custody.

Concerns Regarding the Well-Being of Youth

Authorities expressed concern over young people’s involvement in these offences and urged parents and guardians to monitor their children’s activities, particularly on weekends.

Tonga Police reiterated their zero-tolerance policy toward drugs, emphasising their commitment to removing illegal substances from communities and protecting residents from their harmful effects.

The police also reminded the public that refusing to participate in alcohol testing is a criminal offence, and those who do so will be held accountable.

They thanked community volunteers for their support in promoting a safer environment.

Residents are encouraged to report any illegal or suspicious activities to their nearest police station or by calling the emergency line at 922. For further media inquiries, contact the Tonga Police Media & Public Relations Office at 740-1614.

Royal attendance marks 47 years of whale protection as Princess Lātūfuipeka joins Monaco’s World Oceans Day

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tonga’s pioneering legacy in marine conservation will take centre stage at this Sunday’s World Oceans Day Pelagos Sanctuary Voyage at Monaco’s Port Hercules.

His Majesty King Tupou VI’s daughter, Princess Lātūfuipeka Tuku’aho, will represent the kingdom, marking 47 years since its historic whale hunting ban.

The move preserved Tonga’s waters as a critical breeding ground for humpback whales and set a precedent for Pacific marine protection.

The Pelagos Sanctuary Voyage for World Oceans Day is an initiative that uses new technologies to raise awareness and educate the public, particularly younger generations, about the importance of conserving the Pelagos Sanctuary.

Whale Hunting Ban

In 1978, King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV made global headlines by issuing a Royal Decree prohibiting all whaling in Tongan waters.

This established one of the world’s first whale sanctuaries years before the International Whaling Commission’s 1986 commercial whaling moratorium.

A report said that “Since the Royal decree, which banned the hunting of whales in Tongan waters, the Tongan breeding populations have recovered from less than 50 to more than 2000 whales”.

The government of Tonga reaffirmed its commitment to the Royal Proclamation of His Majesty King Tupou IV from 1978 by declaring that all Tongan waters would be designated a Sanctuary for Whales in 2017.

As Kaniva News reported in 2021, following a whale stranding in Ha’apai where locals enthusiastically harvested the meat, social media has seen renewed calls to legalise whale hunting, considered a delicacy by some.

These recurring demands, which resurface periodically, are supported by critics who believe whale meat could help address Tonga’s obesity crisis, as the country currently ranks among the world’s most obese populations.

The Pelagos Sanctuary Voyage in Monaco provides a fitting platform to celebrate Tonga’s achievements while addressing current ocean threats. The Pelagos Sanctuary—a protected marine area spanning the waters of France, Italy, and Monaco—serves as a Mediterranean counterpart to Tonga’s conservation model.

During the event, experts will discuss critical issues including the expansion of global marine protections, with a focus on achieving the ambitious “30 by 30” goal to safeguard 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.

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