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New Zealand provides NZ$11 million for the Nuku’alofa Network Upgrade Project

By
Kaniva Staff
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New Zealand High Commissioner Tiffany Babington signed a NZ$11 million grant funding arrangement for the upgrade of Nuku’alofa’s electricity network today with the Acting Minister of Finance and National Planning, Hon Mateni Tapueluelu.

New Zealand’s grant contribution will directly benefit over 2,000 households and businesses in 12 villages in Kolomotu’a and Kolofo’ou, the first stage of the five-year Nuku’alofa Network Upgrade Project.

The project will deliver economic and social benefits to these villages through a more stable source of electricity, safer connections, reduced diesel costs, and a more resilient network in times of extreme weather conditions.

The project will be implemented in partnership with Tonga Power Limited over the next two years.

“New Zealand has been a long-term partner in efforts to improve Tonga’s electricity supply, and access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all is one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” announced New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Winston Peters, during his visit to Tonga in March 2018.

The Nuku’alofa Network Upgrade Project follows on from the successful upgrade of 55 rural villages in Tongatapu. New Zealand has provided grant funding of NZ$27.7 million which will enable 11,188 households to be connected to a network built to New Zealand’s standards by December 2018.

HE Tiffany Babington also presented Hon Mateni Tapueluelu with New Zealand’s NZ$3 million contribution to replenish the Tongatapu Village Network Upgrade supplies that were used to restore the electricity network on Tongatapu following the damage caused by TC Gita.

The Government of Tonga estimated the energy sector reconstruction costs at US$46 million and requested assistance from New Zealand, Australia and the Asian Development Bank to support the energy sector recovery following Tropical Cyclone Gita.

”New Zealand hopes this NZ$14 million investment will assist the Government of Tonga to meets its energy targets,” New Zealand’s High Commissioner Tiffany Babington said.

Auckland v Tonga NZ Residents tickets on sale now May 10, 2018

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tickets are now on sale for the Queen’s Birthday Weekend representative showdown between Auckland and the Tonga New Zealand Residents at Mount Smart Stadium.

In addition to the feature match, which will see the two teams play for the Mann Cup, the Auckland Maori U20 will take on the Toa Samoa Invitational U20 in a curtain-raiser to the game on Saturday, June 2.

Tickets are just $10 for adults, $6 for under-18s and seniors over-65, with children under five free. Family passes (two adults + three juniors) can be purchased for $24. All prices include booking fee.

Auckland Rugby League clubs will benefit directly from the proceeds of ticket sales, with every purchaser able to nominate a local club of their choice, or the Auckland, Samoa and Tonga Rugby League bodies, for a cash rebate.

The Mann Cup will be the first time a Tongan side has played in Auckland since Mate Ma’a Tonga’s stunning charge at the Rugby League World Cup last year, which saw a capacity crowd flock to Mount Smart Stadium for the semi-final against England.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Outgoing minister Lord Ma’afu is reinstated after reconciliation, PM office says

By
Kalino Latu
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The king’s noble who stepped down from Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva’s cabinet in early March has been reinstated.

Lord Ma’afu resigned as Tonga’s Minister of Lands and Survey as well as Minister of His Majesty’s Armed Forces, two days after the Minister of Police Hon. Māteni Tapueluelu resigned on February 28. Hon. Pōhiva rejected Hon. Tapueluelu’s resignation.

The reinstatement of Lord Ma’afu came after what the Prime Minister’s office has described as a reconciliation meeting this morning.

The  meeting was attended by Tapueluelu,  Lord Ma’afu and the Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva, the Prime Minister’s media advisor Lōpeti Senituli told Kaniva News this afternoon.

Senituli said Hon. Pōhiva was seeking a reconciliation between Lord Ma’afu and Hon. Tapueluelu after what appears to be a clash erupted in cabinet in February which had led to the two ministers tendering their resignation.

Senituli said the two ministers had reconciled and Lord Ma’afu accepted an invitation by the Prime Minister to return to cabinet.

Hon. Tapueluelu said the Prime Minister has written to the king withdrawing his letter of revocation of Lord Ma’afu’s ministerial post appointment.

Young boy, girl killed by vehicles in Tongatapu in separate incidents  

By
Kalino Latu
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Police have charged a 60-year-old man after a 4-year-old boy died after he was run over by a vehicle in Vainī yesterday May 15.

The accused was the driver and he had been charged with reckless driving causing death.

On a separate incident, a 3-year-old girl was killed after she was struck by a van in a cemetery in ‘Utulau on May 12.

She was hit by a family reversing vehicle.

The vehicle was being driven by her 26-year-old father, a Police spokesperson said.

No one has been charged in relation to the incident.

Police investigation continues.

Fight breaks outside Tongan church out in US

By
Kaniva Staff
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Footage has emerged of a brutal brawl outside a Tongan church in East Palo Alto in the United states.

The video, uploaded to Facebook by Tita Nutt’s this morning, shows women wearing Tongan church attires fighting on a veranda in front of a crowd of more than a dozen.

A child can be heard crying while some women can be heard yelling abuse and swearing.

The women were seen punching, wrestling, grabbing each other and hair-pulling in a fist fight that eventually spilled out into a car park.

One woman was seen pelting a stone and another object at some of the women involved in the brawl.

The 2.10-minute video has attracted more than 40,000 viewers, 1275 shares and more than 500 reactions on Nutt’s Facebook account within three hours since it was uploaded.

“Lookz (sic) like the East Palo Alto Siasi Tonga Church had a wonderful Motherz (sic) Day yesterday,’ a caption posted with the video read.

Eventually some men and women intervened and split up the church brawl.

It was not clear what caused the stoush.

Alcohol and speed believed to be factors in crash that killed 38-year-old

By
Kaniva Staff
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Speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in a fatal crash in Kolonga, that killed a 38-year-old man from Afā, police said.

The man died instantly when the vehicle he was travelling in hit a coconut tree on Saturday night, Police said.

The crash happened on the main road at around 11.30pm.

It was unclear whether or not there was no one else in the car when it crashed.

Tongans could play alongside rivals if combined Pacific rugby team goes ahead

By
Philip Cass
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Tongan rugby players could be playing alongside traditional rivals Samoa and Fiji if a proposal for a combined Pacific Islands team goes ahead.

The proposed team would compete in the  Super Rugby competition.

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign affairs and Trade paid $80,000 for a feasibility study into the proposal.

The plan has gone to Fiji, Samoa and Tonga for consideration.

Chair of the Pacific Players Association chair Tevita Hale Nai Tu’uhoko welcomed the move.

“For so long now that we’ve been in the back seat with Super Rugby, and now it’s about time that we were in charge,” the former Tongan and Ninternational player said.

“Sport is an integral part of the cultures of many Pacific Islands countries and the New Zealand aid programme recognises it can be an effective vehicle for development in the region,” an MFAT spokesperson said.

The spokesperson says MFAT has not committed to supporting start-up costs or operating capital for any possible future team.

Sceptics have argued that the Pacific could not support a combined team in a Super Rugby Franchise.

However, more than a million people live in Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, more than New Zealand’s South Island, which supports two Super Rugby franchises.

It is also four times the population of the Australian Capital Territory, home to the Brumbies.

There are also 300,000 New Zealanders and 170,000 Australians of Pacific Island heritage.

Supporters of the idea of a combined Pacific team have suggested that the number of supporters could reach  many millions if Papua New Guinea was included.

The main points

  • Tongan rugby players could be playing alongside traditional rivals Samoa and Fiji if a proposal for a combined Pacific Islands team goes ahead.
  • The proposed team would would compete in the Super Rugby competition.
  • The plan has gone to Fiji, Samoa and Tonga for consideration.

For more information 

Revealed: NZ Govt’s secret plan to set up Pacific Islands Super Rugby team

Why Nemani Nadolo’s plea for a Pacific Islands team would give Super Rugby a real boost

Police seek witnesses to two serious crashes in Counties Manukau

By
Kaniva Staff
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Police are seeking witnesses to two crashes, one fatal and one serious, that occurred in Counties Manukau on 12 and 13 May, 2018.

The first crash occurred on Saturday 12 May at approximately 11:00pm on Te Irirangi Road, Flat Bush between Smales Road and Accent Drive.

The crash involved a white Mazda Familia driving on the wrong side of the road and colliding head on with another vehicle.

Police would like to speak to anyone who may have seen the Mazda being driven around this time.

In particular there are a number of reports of near misses with other vehicles.

If you have any information which may assist our enquiries, please contact Constable Gabrielle Griffiths, Counties Manukau Serious Crash Unit on 021 192 1542 and reference file number 180513/1846.

The second crash occurred on Sunday 13 May at approximately 9:25am on Ti Rakau Drive, Flat Bush at the intersection with Edgewater Drive.

The crash involved a black BMW 745I and a black Honda Civic.  Police would like to speak to anyone who may have seen these two vehicles being driven around this time.

If you have any information which may assist this enquiry, please contact Constable Griffiths, Counties Manukau Serious Crash Unit on the number above and quote event number P033481261.

Alternatively, information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Two Aucklanders arrested with half a kilogram meth after traffic stop in Tasman

By
Kaniva Staff
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Two men from Auckland were charged with possession for supply of methamphetamine after 500 grams of the drug was found in their car during a traffic stop in Murchison.

The two men, aged 26 and 27, were stopped in Murchison after they were reported for an earlier driving offence in St Anaud.

Nelson Police have arrested the duo after a substantial quantity of methamphetamine was located in their vehicle in Murchison on Friday morning.

Police subsequently searched their vehicle and located a quantity of methamphetamine weighing approximately 500 grams.

They appeared in the Nelson District Court later the same day.

Legality of PM Pōhiva’s media advisor’s job in question; no contract, works unpaid

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Prime Minister’s media advisor Lōpeti Senituli works without pay and has not signed an employment contract with the government.

Senituli told Kaniva News he had not been given any work equipment, despite being in the job for about two months.

He worked in a similar capacity for Lord Sevele’s government.  Lord Sevele was Prime Minister from March 30, 2006 to December 22, 2010.

However, the lack of an employment contract did not stop the government from paying Senituli to accompany the Prime Minister to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London last month.

The government has also given him a vehicle to use.

According to unconfirmed reports the Public Service Commission and the Prime Minister’s office have asked why the post was given to Senituli without being publicly advertised.

There was also a question regarding his academic qualification for the job and whether he was qualified to be given the same salary scale and entitlements to which government Chief Executive Officers are entitled.

Senituli said Hon Pōhiva wanted him to start immediately.

“Whether it is legal or illegal is not for me to say,” Senituli said.

“I started as soon as possible. But I made clear before starting that I would work on the same terms and conditions that I was employed under when working for Dr. Sevele’s government.

“When I worked under Dr. Sevele I had access to a vehicle and a laptop and mobile phone the same week that I started work even before my contract was signed.”

Senituli said he thanked the Prime Minister for his decision to give him a government vehicle to be used.

As Kaniva News reported in March, Hon Pōhiva has appointed Senituli as his media advisor.

Senituli, a law degree student at USP’s Tonga campus was a former political ally of Hon. Pōhiva who once turned against the Prime Minister. They repeatedly clashed in public when Senituli was press secretary to Lord Sevele.

Senituli said he saw no problem in working with Hon. Pōhiva again.

The Prime Minister’s office had been contacted for comment.

For more information

Pohiva: I won because people helped make it happen

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