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Tongan churches not doing enough about climate change, says research

By
Philip Cass
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Tonga’as churches are failing to provide leadership over climate change and it is up to young people to join with church goers to take action, according to research by an Anglican priest.

Speaking at this week’s climate change conference in Wellington, Fr Laiseni Fanon Charisma Liava‘a said that while the Tongan Government was desperately lobbying developed countries about Tonga being on the front-line of climate change, the issue was not a priority for the kingdom’s churches.

The former Tongan navy officer said his research, conducted in Tonga in June last year, showed that climate change was still a relatively new issue at the local church level.

It was still very much managed and communicated as an elite level issue while the majority of the people at the community and grass-roots level were left uninformed.

He said the churches displayed a lack of care and collective responsibility about the seriousness of the issue and its threat to people’s lives.

The churches failed to understand the significance of climate change and did not communicate its importance, especially to young people.

“The majority of church leaders still do not fully believe climate change is a serious issue and that it is not the responsibility of the church to combat its impact,” Fr Liava’a said.

Churches continued to perpetuate behaviour and practices that do not help mitigate its effects.

He said because some church leaders were employed in public and private sector boards or foreign funded projects on climate change, people thought they only pushed climate change agenda because they were paid to do so.

Fr Liava’a worked for the Pacific Community-Focused Disaster Risk Reduction Tonga Project in 2009 and as the National Climate Change Co-ordinator of Tonga’s Third National Communication Project from 2013 to 2014.

He said the main factors holding the churches back were lack of informed understanding, lack of moral leadership and deficiencies in Biblical and theological comprehension of climate change issues.

Fr Liava’a said people he spoke with said the churches were selective when it comes political and public issues.

“The urgency of the need for response and combat climate change demands young people and churchgoers to take action, together,” Fr Liava’a said.

“It has to start with education.”

He said Tonga needed strong leaders to take action on climate change.

“Leaders need to step up and set examples. People can follow.”

The exclusion of spiritual/Christian principles and values from the climate change message was also a problem.

“The people in Tonga cannot be separated from God because that is what they believe,” he said.

“My research findings showed that one of the reasons why churches do not always support the government is because the government does not build on Christian principles to the climate change work.”

Rev’d Liava’a said that when serving as an officer in the Tongan navy from 1999-2002 he had seen a number of areas where people had now retreated from the sea because of climate change.

These included Makaunga to Navutoka on the eastern side, Kanokupolu and south of Ha’atafu on the western side of Tongatapu and Lifuka in the Ha’apai group.

The main points

  • Tonga’as churches are failing to provide leadership over climate change and it is up to young people to join with church goers to take action according to research by an Anglican priest.
  • Fr Laiseni Fanon Charisma Liava‘a said the issue was not a priority for the kingdom’s churches.
  • Speaking at this week’s climate change conference in Wellington, he said churches displayed a lack of care and collective responsibility about the seriousness of the issue and its threat to people’s lives.

For more information

Recovery process begins, but crops devastated and nearly half fishing fleet damaged

Crash victims were “teachers and best friends” while at high school: wife

By
Kalino Latu
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Two teachers who were killed in a two-vehicle crash are being remembered for their friendship since they were at Tonga High School.

As Kaniva News reported this morning, four people were believed to have been in the vehicles at the time of the crash.

The deceased were on their way from Lapaha after a barbecue party.

Fangufangu Mana Jr Lātū and Sōsefo Kalangalupe Lōloa died last night after a car they were passengers in collided with a van on Taufa’āhau main road in ‘Atele.

Sōsefo’s wife Tu’itamala Lōloa confirmed to Kaniva News this evening she was the driver of the car when the accident hit.

She said Fangufangumana and Sōsefo were best friends while they were at high school.

Tu’itamala said Sōsefo was a teacher at Lōtolu Government Middle school for about 10 years before he was moved to teach at Talafo’ou Government Middle School this year.

Kaniva News understands Fangufangumana was a Biology teacher and he held a post of Teaching Assistant at the University of the South Pacific’s Centre of Forensic Science, Tonga campus.

His wife Tupou Lātū told our correspondent in Tonga, the victims had a barbecue in Lapaha and they were on their way to drop off Fangufangumana before the accident occurred.

Two killed in crash on Taufa’āhau highway in ‘Atele

By
Kalino Latu
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Two people were killed in a two-vehicle crash on Taufa’āhau main road last night Saturday 24 in ‘Atele.

Four people were believed to be in the vehicles at the time of the crash.

Kaniva News is contacting Tongan authorities regarding the details of the incident.

Click here for an update of this story

Recovery process begins, but crops devastated and nearly half fishing fleet damaged

By
Philip Cass
-

The Tongan government, NGOS and overseas aid donors are working to clean up and restore services, but 205 families are still in evacuation centres and the country’s agricultural sector has been severely hit.

A 30 day state of emergency is still in place.

Director of the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO), Leveni Aho, said the fisheries sector in Tongatapu and ‘Eua had been hit hard  by Cyclone Gita.

About 40% of fishing boats were damaged and fish fences were damaged by the heavy swells and winds.

Crop damage

Damage to crops has been widespread. Cassava was most affected. The mature tubers were affected by the wind and started rotting even though the rest of the plant was still intact.

Up to 80% of fruit trees were damaged.

Nearly 90% of banana trees were either uprooted or blown down.

The damages to fruit trees ranges from 70 to 80%

Up to 40% of coconuts around Tongatapu and Eua where either uprooted or blown down

The leaves of most taro plants were shredded in the cyclone, but the tubers are still edible.

Yams were the lease affected in all root crops.

NEMO said 85 schools had been affected, 29 of them with major damage.

As part of the recovery process 515 food packs had been distributed with the help of the Seventh Day Adventist church to elderly and vulnerable people.

Teams have sprayed nearly all of Tongatapu since the cyclone.

Water

The Ministry of Land Survey & Natural Resources has taken 120 samples  for testing for e-coli and the overall quality of drinking water, but there is an urgent  need for more water testing materials.

Many water tanks have been damaged and ensuring clean water supplies has been a priority for many agencies involved.

Caritas and the Tonga National Youth Congress had distributed water bottles to 124 households.

In Catholic parishes 20 litre water bottles have been distributed and water tanks installed.

Over the next two weeks 162 water tanks in five communities will be dosed with chlorine. Priority is being given to schools.

International aid

UNFPA and the New Zealand Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have supplied 2000 dignity kits, which will be distributed by the Reproductive Health nurses in health centres to women. A shipment of 80 boxes of dignity kits has been shipped to ‘Eua on the MV late.

The World Health Organisation sent medical and health kits to help eliminate mosquitoes and detect dengue fever.

UNICEF in Fiji is looking at supporting certain medical drugs supplies.

An RNZAF Hercules flew UNICEF supplies for the Ministry of Education to Tonga on Thursday.

The main points

  • The Tongan government, NGOS and overseas aid donors are working to clean up and restore services, but 205 families are still in evacuation centres and the country’s agricultural sector has been severely hit.
  • A 30 day state of emergency is still in place.
  • Damage to crops has been widespread, with cassava the most affected.
  • Many water tanks have been damaged and ensuring clean water supplies has been a priority for many agencies involved.

For more information

US pledges initial $200,000 pa’anga to help displaced families following cyclone Gita

New Zealand stands with a resilient Tonga following Cyclone Gita

Van overturns and crashes into fence at Popua park

By
Kalino Latu
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A Toyota Hiace has crashed into Popua Community park’s stone fence before it overturned its roof this morning Saturday 24.

An eyewitness said a man and a woman received minor injuries.

Ngalo’afē ‘Ulupano of Popua and was one of the first to arrive at the scene witnessed the incident.

He said the driver and the passengers fled the scene.

Tongan authorities have been contacted for comment.

Former boxer could never walk again; his legacy should be rewarded, says Sports Minister

By
Kalino Latu
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Sports Minister Hon. ‘Akosita Lavulavu said the legacy of a former boxing champion who was currently in hospital with a severe leg injury he sustained during Cyclone Gita should be rewarded.

Hon. Lavulavu visited ‘Ōfila Havea in hospital yesterday and said he was recovering but “he may not be able to walk again.”

“Yes he was a boxer,” the minister said.

It is understood Havea became champion of his weight in Tonga before he quitted boxing in early 1990s or late 1980s.

Kaniva News could not be able to confirm the details of his boxing records with Tonga Boxing Association.

Tonga’s National Sports authority TASANOC would not respond to our request for comment.

The Minister said she will look into what her Ministry could do to help Havea.

Havea was injured after falling from a roof during Cyclone Gita which struck Tonga last week.

He was at the top of a church building trying to fix the roof before he fell.

A number of families including his were sheltering in the church from the storm, Pacific Affairs Correspondent for Newshub, Michael Morrah reported.

“I climbed up with a hammer and some nails to nail the roof”, Newshub quoted Havea as saying.

“But it was slippery and I fell four to five metres and hit my back on some bricks.

“I can no longer feel my body from the hips down.”

Havea and his brother Suliasi Havea joined Tonga Boxing Association in 1980s.

Their cousin Fine Sani Vea from Vava’u who is now residing in Australia won gold medals for Tonga in boxing competitions including an event in New Caledonia in 1979, the British Commonwealth Games of 1982 in Brisbane, Australia and during the South Pacific Games in Western Samoa in 1983.

Petitioners lodge affidavit to enforce costs order against Tongasat

By
Kalino Latu and Philip Cass
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A petition has been lodged with the Supreme Court to enforce an order for costs made against Tongasat.

On March 31, 2016, Lord Chief Justice Paulsen ordered Tongasat to pay TP$41,232 costs towards Mele ‘Amanaki and the Public Service Association, Police Minister Māteni Tapueluelu and former Kele’a newspaper staff, including Laucala Pōhiva, Kele’a’s  former deputy editor ‘Ofa Vatikani and the paper’s former manager Paula Mafi.

The payment were supposed to be made by April 30, 2016, but have never been paid.

“Requests for payment of costs and disbursements payable by Tongasat under the costs order have been repeatedly made to Tongasat through its lawyer Mr William Edwards,” ‘Amanaki said.

“These requests have been either rejected or ignored.”

Unsuccessful  attempts have been made to enforce the costs through other proceedings.

“We therefore seek an order appointing a receiver to secure payment in full of the costs,, together with interest owing calculated  at 10% per annum.”

An earlier affidavit was lodged with the court in November last year, asking for a hearing.

It said making the order would be in the interests of justice and necessary  for the  proper enforcement  of the Court’s order.

The application said it was relying on Orders 30, Rule 2 and 33 of the Supreme Court Rules 2007 and Section 5(1) of the Supreme Court Act (as amended by the Supreme Court Amendment) Act 2012.

For more information

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Fōfō’anga celebrates 40th anniversary in Auckland

By
Kaniva Staff
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Fōfō’anga o Aotearoa gather along with the Minister for Pacific Peoples, Hon Aupito Tofae Su’a William Sio following a service to celebrate their anniversary at the United Church of Tonga, Grey Lynn, 18 February 2018

One of the country’s oldest Tongan cultural groups has celebrated its 40th anniversary with a special celebration in Auckland.  The Fōfō’anga ‘o Aotearoa club was established in Auckland from Tonga, in 1978 to give Tongan men an opportunity to gather on a social basis and has since spread around the country and the world.  The club has become a hub for Tongan migrants, who meet once a week to discuss various topics, share their problems and more importantly, help each other out where possible.

Club Secretary Mausa Lavulo says the Club has provided an important place for Tongans to connect, treasure and preserve their culture, traditions, language and music.  Mr Lavulo says the Club even pioneered a new style of more westernised Tongan music which saw members perform on radio and television and record five albums with the legendary steel guitarist Bill Wolfgramm, titled Pōtatala. The group continues to perform and record.

Mr Lavulo says he grew up going to the Club and now a new generation is coming through.  “It’s wonderful to see members’ sons who were born in New Zealand developing within the club and growing up in their culture – it’s a place to go where they can feel like Tongans.”

The club has always had a strong commitment to youth development. From the 1980s onwards, the club focussed heavily on assisting with costs for Tongan tertiary students and their families, as well as church ministers in training.  Auckland Fōfō’anga Club founder, the late Saimone Koloamatangi, believed that a crucial mission of the club was to help other Tongans here in New Zealand.

This mission aligned with the rationale behind many Pasifika peoples’ decision to leave their island homes and migrate to New Zealand – in order to give their children more opportunity for a better education.

In the 1990s, the club also set up a study centre, where members’ children were able to receive assistance with homework and tutorials were held for high school and tertiary students. Currently, three centres are running in south, east and central Auckland, with close to 80 students.  Mr Lavulo says the tutors are tertiary students and graduates from families who have been part of the club since its inception.

The club has also developed a strong relationship with Massey University raising funds for the Pasifika Excellence Awards. Seven awards are given out at the University’s Pasifika Graduation Celebrations on its three campuses in Albany, Manawatū and Wellington to students who have demonstrated commitment to the Pasifika community while maintaining academic excellence. The Club also supported Massey’s Tālanga Fakafonua event in Tonga last year, to encourage dialogue about the country’s political reform process.

Mr Lavulo says the spirit of supporting others is very strong within the club. “Even though some members may be experiencing hardship themselves they still believe that in helping others, they’re helping themselves as well and we have set up a collection of non-perishable food for the Auckland City Mission”.

It is in the same spirit that the Fōfō’anga hopes to continue into the future, by taking advantage of more opportunities to help each other and the wider community out. The club celebrated its 40th anniversary on 18 February 2018.

– Press Release

Man survives electrocution in Tongatapu

By
Kalino Latu
-

A man has survived an electric shock in Tongatapu this afternoon Wednesday 21.

Tongan authorities have confirmed this to Kaniva News.

Vaiola hospital superintendent Dr. Lisiate ‘Ulufonua said a man was in hospital after he was electrocuted but he was still alive.

He said the patient is being attended by medical attendants.

Police Communication Officer Telēsia Adams said she can confirm a man was electrocuted and was rushed to hospital where he received medical treatment.

Adams said in Tongan: “Oku ne sii kei moui pe.” This translate into English as, “He is still alive.”

An update on the details surrounding the incident will be released soon, authorities said.

The authorities’ confirmation came after reports on Facebook that a man died after he was electrocuted in Nuku’alofa this afternoon. Police denied the reports saying the man did not die.

No tax, duty on food and building materials from overseas, says Revenue Minister

By
Kalino Latu
-

Foodstuffs and building materials from overseas for Tropical Cyclone-stricken Tonga are exempt from tax and customs duty, Minister of Customs and Revenue said.

Foodstuffs and clothing are exempted for six months while tax on building materials were removed for two years after Cyclone Gita ravaged the kingdom, Hon Māteni Tapueluelu told Kaniva News.

Relief goods which intended to be sent from overseas countries to help the community should be addressed to Tonga National Emergency Management Office also known as NEMO so they could be exempted from tax and duty charges as well, Hon Tapueluelu said.

Small containers which people sent to their families in Tonga through large shipping containers of goods for the community were also tax and duty exempted.

As Kaniva News reported last year, the government removed taxes from foodstuffs which were identified as providing nutrition, educational equipment and materials, equipment for growing and farming, and also materials imported for local water supplies.

At the time, the Ministry said only three percents of Tonga’s imported goods from overseas countries, including alcohol and tobacco were taxed.

Food shortages looms 

Tonga is facing a “major food crisis” after cyclone Gita.

Tofoa resident Paulo Lātū said not only did the Category 4 hurricane flatten hundreds of homes and injured dozens but the storm wiped out crops.

“Our immediate need at the moment and for the next six months is food,” he said.

Lātū said many people did not expect the scale of destruction Gita has left Tonga with.

Radio New Zealand report said the prospect of food shortages looms on ‘Eua with many hanging fruit crops destroyed, and that which remained only enough to last a month.

‘Eua has a large agricultural sector which exports to the other Tongan islands and beyond.

The government representative for the island, Sunia Havea told the Radio  the cyclone destroyed their entire stock of banana and breadfruit crops, wihle for some farmers lucrative kava trees were devastated.

According to Mr Havea, root crops like yam and taro would not last long.

“As we estimate and look at it, it’s not going to last for a month. It’s important, and we have talked about it with all those aid groups that visited our island.

The government estimates 8,0000 people including 32,0000 need immediate assistance, including more than 6000 people who are living in temporary shelters.

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