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Teufaiva stadium damage no “negative impact” on rugby tournaments 2018, says rugby boss

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga Rugby Union boss Fe’ao Vunipola said Tonga’s national rugby team ‘Ikale Tahi will play in Fiji in June when the Pacific National Champion cup starts.

The tournament includes Fiji, Georgia, Romania, Samoa and Tonga.

Vunipola made his comments after a large section of the roof of the Teufaiva  Stadium  were severely damaged by Tropical Cyclone Gita last week.

“I don’t think it would have a “negative impact” on what we have planned for this year,” Vunipola told Kaniva News.

He said maintenance and upgrades of Teufaiva’s  track events facilities were planned for June this year.

Vunipola said he believed any works to replace and repair the roof could be taken place together at the same time with the track events’ upgrade.

The stadium, with its newly refurbished canopy, was built to withstand Category 4 force winds. Gita’s impact on Tongatapu where Teufaiva is situated did reach that level of intensity.

The damage just came two months after the multi million dollar upgrade funded by New Zealand was celebrated in December.

Murder accused’s family apologize to victim’s family

By
Kalino Latu
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The family of the man who was charged in connection with the death of ‘Ailine Halafo’ou Fīnau had formally apologized to the deceased’s family for their son’s actions.

It is understood the family of the accused arrived at the victim’s family home early this week with a hala which included Tongan handicrafts, a hog and a bull.

It followed with a matāpule, who spoke on behalf of the accused, formally asking the Finaus to forgive their son.

A relative close to the victim’s family said the family felt the apology was an admission by accused’s family that they deeply regretted what their son did.

In a response from the victim’s family, a matāpule said, according to the relative, they appreciated the apology.

Photos uploaded to Facebook yesterday showed ‘Ailine’s father posing for a photo together with the accused’s father.

One photo showed the two families posed for photos together.

Police have charged the 18-year-old suspect with murder.

As Kaniva News reported last week, the accused and the deceased were known to each other and they had a child together.

A murder inquiry was launched after ‘Ailine was fatally injured in an attack police believe involved a machete.

The 18-year-old died at the scene in a road in ‘Umusi, Ma’ufanga on February 13.

Editor’s note: The Kaniva Tonga News  apologises unreservedly to the family and friends of ‘Ailine Halafo’ou Finau following the incorrect use of a featured image in a copy of this story which we published earlier today. The previous photo was published with a caption saying the person in the photo was ‘Ailine. That was not correct.  

Australian woman hospitalised after vicious attack during burglary in Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
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An Australian woman has been taken to hospital after a vicious assault in Fāhefa, Tongatapu yesterday Sunday 18.

The suspects were still at large.

Police said two men entered the house where the woman and her husband lived.

They allegedly hit the woman’s head with a rock. The attack was interrupted by the husband who arrived back home to find his wife had been brutally attacked.

The intruders took off with two liquor bottles, a Police spokesperson told Kaniva News.

Nukunuku Police arrived at the scene and took the woman to hospital, Police said.

Police believed they knew the suspects and they were still searching for them.

Police said claims on Facebook that the woman was a member of the Australian Humanitarian and Relief assistance teams who arrived in Tonga after tropical cyclone Gita, was incorrect.

Petition complaints nothing new say police, as Commissioner works on cyclone recovery

By
Kalino Latu and Philip Cass
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Complaints raised about Commissioner Steve Caldwell in a petition circulated by a group of suspended policemen were not new, Tongan police said yesterday afternoon.

A spokesperson for the Commissioner said  the issues raised had  been re-litigated on previous occasions.

“The suspensions and continuation of suspensions are for very good reasons,” the spokesperson said.

“The Commissioner is confined by what he can say publicly on individual criminal and disciplinary cases currently under investigation,” the spokesperson said.

“The Commissioner does not have time to make fuller comment at this time, as he is helping to lead the disaster operation for Tropical Cyclone Gita.

“All police officers not under suspension have been working hard and tirelessly since before, during and after the cyclone for their King, country and community.”

On Friday Kaniva News asked Commissioner Caldwell to clarify what response he had made to the petition; his specific response to the calls for his resignation and his response to a statement by the Police Minister that appeared to at last partly support the petitioners.

The petitioners have raised  questions regarding a number of officers whose cases are matters of public record.

They claimed their own suspensions were being treated differently and that there were solid grounds for reconsidering their cases.

They also made a number of allegations concerning guns and drugs.

The Police Minister has issued a statement that appeared to at last partly support the petitioners.

The Minister has also been reported as saying that if the Commissioner does nothing then corruption could cause chaos in the police force.

In July 2017 the head of the Tonga Police’s professional standards unit said the tide was turning in the face of police misconduct.

Chief Inspector Meleane Taueli said at the time that in the previous five years, 12 officers have been sacked for misconduct and five convicted of criminal offences.

Tonga’s police force has a troubled history of corruption and abuse.

It also has a history of New Zealand police officers working in Tonga being faced with entrenched opposition from police opposed to attempts to clean up the force.

In 2016 Kaniva News reported Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva as saying Police  Commissioner Caldwell was striving to do his job honestly, but warned that his efforts could be undermined by the actions of some Tongan Police officers.

Former Tongan Police Commissioner Grant O’Fee described the job of reforming the Tongan police as “difficult.”

“There are … some more senior officers who are fairly rooted in the old ways. There’s a lot of corruption.”

The main points

  • Complaints raised about Commissioner Steve Caldwell in a petition circulated by a group of suspended policemen were not new, Tongan police said this afternoon.
  • A spokesperson for the Commissioner said the issues raised had been re-litigated on previous occasions.
  • “The Commissioner does not have time to make fuller comment at this time, as he is helping to lead the Disaster Operation for Tropical Cyclone Gita,” the spokesperson said.

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

By
Kaniva Staff
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Press Release

The U.S. Embassy expresses our sincere condolences to all those impacted by the devastation wrought by Tropical Cyclone Gita in the Kingdom of Tonga on February 12-13.

We are pleased to announce that the United States will provide $100,000 USD in initial assistance toward the relief efforts in Tonga.

This support, provided via the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will help displaced families with water, sanitation and hygiene assistance.

USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance is currently deploying personnel to directly evaluate the damage to Tongan property and infrastructure and assess the immediate needs of the people of Tonga in order to safeguard life and property as they recover from Tropical Cyclone Gita.  In consultation with the government of Tonga and development partners, they will help determine what future assistance is needed.

Early reports in the aftermath of Gita from U.S. Peace Corps personnel who weathered the storm in Tonga emphasize the remarkable resilience and fortitude displayed by Tongans as they work together to clear roads, repair damage, and restore services.  The United States is proud to join the Government of Tonga and other partner governments and organizations in working with the people of Tonga to rebuild.

The U.S. Embassy is also monitoring the impact of Tropical Cyclone Gita on the southern Islands of Fiji, and will remain in close touch with Fiji Government authorities on any possible needs for assistance.

New Zealand stands with a resilient Tonga following Cyclone Gita

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Press Release

The New Zealand Government is supporting Tonga following Cyclone Gita, and sends its
thoughts to all people affected.

“The Kingdom of Tonga is a friend and neighbour to New Zealand, and we are working
closely with Tongan authorities to support their efforts,” says New Zealand High
Commissioner-designate Tiffany Babington.

“Since the cyclone, the resilience of the Tongan people has shone through.”

“New Zealand has so far committed $NZ2.25 million to Cyclone Gita relief. We have also
provided surveillance capability to Tonga to help assess the damage.”

Two New Zealand Defence Force planes have arrived since Tuesday bringing with them
emergency supplies including family hygiene kits, shelter kits, jerry cans, tarpaulins,
generators and agricultural tools from New Zealand.

Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand Defence
Force, New Zealand Fire Service, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Civil Defence
and Emergency Management are also in-country to help the New Zealand High
Commission coordinate its initial response in support of the Government of Tonga.

“While there is still a lot of work ahead to recover from the cyclone, we commend Tonga
for its relief efforts and stand ready to help.”

The New Zealand High Commission Emergency Fund has assisted by committing $14,000
pa’anga to the Tonga Red Cross to enable them to prepare logistics to distribute the
emergency supplies. Pre-positioned supplies with Caritas and the Tonga Youth Congress
have also been distributed.

Parliament meetings move to new venue

By
Kalino Latu
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The Parliament meetings will be held at the Fā’onelua Convention centre after the historic legislative assembly building was destructed during Tropical Cyclone Gita.

Government said around half the houses on Tonga’s main island of Tongatapu have been destroyed or damaged by the cyclone.

The Speaker of the House, Lord Fakafanua, made the announcement yesterday saying in the spirit of resilience, the parliament would temporarily sit at the Nuku’alofa based convention centre.

The now destroyed parliament had been used since 1892 and part of it was in the past used as a judicial court house.

The next session of parliament is set to begin on March 5.

As Kaniva News reported last week, Parliament needed a place to meet so MPs can process bills and laws that were required for the government’s 2018-2019 budget.

Cyclone Gita is expected to plough its way through New Zealand in the coming days.

Sione Lau’i: Tribute to man killed outside nightclub

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tributes have been paid to a man who died after being assaulted outside a nightclub in Ma’ufanga.

Sione Lau’i, known as Feo, was found outside Nauti Ruby by police on Friday night February 9.

He was taken to hospital, but died on Friday 16.

His family, relatives and circle of friends said Mr Lau’i was a “true gentleman in every sense”.

Lau’i, who was believed to be in his 20s,  was a dentist at Vaiola dental care services after returning from the University of the South Pacific in December.

His father and his only sister were government teachers.

One commentator on social media said: “It is with great regret that we have just heard the tragic news that Sione Moala Feo Lau’i has passed away as a result of the injuries received.”

“We offer Feo’s family and friends our sincerest condolences at this most heartbreaking time.”

A male security guard in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of murder and he remains in custody.

Let’s take charge before others help us, king says as he addressed nation

By
Kalino Latu
-

His Majesty King Tupou VI said Tongans should have taken charge of the consequences of tropical cyclone Gita before others helped them.

As Kaniva  News reported yesterday, China has promised  TP$1.3 million in cyclone relief.

The Asian Development Bank has provided $US6 million dollars from its Pacific Disaster Resilience Programme.

RNZAAF and RAAF aircraft have flown emergency supplies into the kingdom,

The king said people had to take the initiative and help save lives and clear up roads.

The king’s comments come after he  visited Vaheloto including Popua and Pātangata , Vahe hahake and Vahe hihifo.

He said he wanted to witness for himself the impact of Gita on Tongatapu.

TVNZ reported yesterday that the king, accompanied by members of his defence force and royal household, delivered water to Tongatapu resident.

It said the king stayed in his vehicle as his motorcade moved slowly through the village of Pātangata where, it said, nearly every home was badly damaged.

His Majesty encouraged his people yesterday in his public statement to the nation after the category four storm ravaged the country.

He urged people to keep working with government related departments so aid relief could reach those who were severely affected.

His Majesty  praised the people’s colloraborative and voluntary efforts to recover after the disaster.

The king said he understood the spirit of working together as one did work among the people during and after the cyclone.

He said the people’s cooperation and following government’s notices and announcements in preparation for the cyclone helped ease the situtation.

“Let’s work together to build the nation. We can achieve huge amount of works when we work together,” the king said in Tongan.

Shelter priority

Radio New Zealand reported this evening that people without rooves or shelter were the highest priority for Tonga’s Emergency Management Office.

Emergency Management director, Lēveni ‘Aho said emergency work had been hampered by the state of roads.

Almost 200 homes were completely destroyed on Tongatapu and ‘Eua when the cyclone hit.

As Kaniva News reported ysterday, a curfew remains in force in central Nuku’alofa.

New Zealand  Met service said this afternoon Cyclone Gita was expected to reach New Zealand early next week.

It is likely there would be severe gales and heavy rain spreading across central and northern New Zealand on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The main points

  • His Majesty King Tupou VI said Tongans should have taken charge of the consequences of tropical cyclone Gita before others helped them.
  • The king said people had to take the initiative and help save lives and clear up roads.
  • The king’s comments come after he visited Vaheloto including Popua and Patanga , Vahe hahake and Vahe hihifo.

For more information

Cyclone Gita: Shelter for people in Tonga the top priority

China offers $1.3 million pa’anga relief fund to help Tonga recover from cyclone Gita

Police arrest two for looting; Nuku’alofa curfew extended

By
Kalino Latu
-

Police have arrested two men for burglary and stealing in Nuku’alofa Central Business District (CBD).

The accused were arrested with boxes of goods stolen on February 14.

The suspects appeared to have taken advantage of a curfew that left homes and businesses in the areas empty as Tropical Cyclone Gita swept through the kingdom on Tuesday night.

As Kaniva News reported, an overnight curfew was in place in Tonga in the eve of the category 4 storm after Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell ordered a restriction that required people in the CBD area to remain indoor on Tuesday 13 February 2018 from 9pm until 7am.

The night curfew has been extended for another week, between the hours of 8pm to 8am.

The boundary of the curfew area includes Tupoulahi Road to the east, Mateialona Road to the south, Vaha’akolo Road to the west and Vuna Road to the North.

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