A new scam masquerading as the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is making the rounds in Tauranga, asking people to pay late road toll fees.
A copy of the scam NZTA text message making its way across the city, asking people to make bogus road toll payments.
It contains an ominous message from the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi asking people to pay unknown late fees and a link to where to pay a bogus outstanding road toll.
The text message was received by a SunLive reader, who wished to stay anonymous, on Tuesday.
“It was weird that I got the message not long after using the toll road on January 4,” she said.
Bad grammar and the message coming from an overseas phone number tipped her off that it was not a genuine request from NZTA, she said.
“But not everyone pays attention to bad grammar.”
NZTA understands how frustrating and unsettling these scams can be, a spokesperson said.
“We encourage anyone who receives suspicious text messages, emails, or other communications to report them to us straight away.”
NZTA said official text messages would only come from a 3651 number and never include a link for online transactions.
Alternatively, NZTA had launched an app for New Zealanders to securely access their driver’s licence and vehicle information.
“We are also working with Police, Cert NZ, and Netsafe to combat the scammers.”
“However, they are relentless and persistent, with new fraudulent websites appearing as soon as one is taken down or blocked.”
The scam itself is a variation of the other scam pretending to be the NZTA, where it will ask for registration or driver’s license renewal.
Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has terminated Laauli Leuatea Schmidt as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Laauli Leuatea Schmidt and Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa Photo: RNZ Pacific / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
Laauli, Chairman of the country’s ruling FAST party, also faces several criminal charges.
A government statement said this matter arose following the formal announcement of allegations implicating the minister.
It cited an incident in 2017, in which Schmidt faced criminal charges relating to obtaining money via deception, and had to resign as minister of agriculture but remained as an MP.
In the current circumstances, Schmidt has not resigned.
The government has stated that this made his termination “inevitable.”
The government said it was justifying this decision, based on recent statements it had made about being committed to upholding the rule of law and providing opportunities for individuals to seek justice.
The government is relying upon Article 33 of the Samoan Constitution, which provides for making the office of a minister vacant.
Speculation and rumour has been raging in Samoa and on social media about the case, leading to police commissioner Auapa’au Logoitino clarifying the charges against Laauli.
These include:
Three counts of conspiracy or attempt to defeat or pervert the course of justice
Conspiracy to commit an offence (fabricate evidence)
Harassment utilizing means of electronic communication
Three counts of false statement causing harm to a person’s reputation
Two counts of using insulting words with intent to provoke a breach of the peace
Laauli posted on social media after charges were laid against him that he was innocent of the accusations.
New Zealand police are continuing their search for a suspect in connection with the deadly shooting of a Tongan father six months ago.
Siosaia Kokohu Vi
Saia Kokohu Vi, a Tongan grandfather, was located in a vehicle at the intersection of Marvon Downs Ave and Pixie Place on the morning of August 19 after a series of shots were reported in Pakuranga Heights.
Emergency services treated him, but he died at the scene.
Police later said last year the homicide investigation “remains ongoing” and “there are no further updates at this stage”.
Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers said police were making steady progress in their investigation.
“As part of our enquiries, we are investigating how this homicide may be linked to another incident where a firearm was discharged towards a house in Beach Haven on the morning of 23 July,” he said in a statement.
“At the moment we can confirm there is a familial link between people who live at both addresses, but we are working hard to understand the motivation behind both shootings,” Vickers previously said.
He said police were working to confirm if the shootings were gang related.
“It is still very early in our investigation, and we have a lot of ground to cover as we piece this together.”
Police said last month the homicide might be linked to the shooting in Beach Haven on the North Shore in July when a home and vehicle were shot at on Rambler Crescent.
Vi’s 33-year old son was on bail at the Rambler Crescent address that was targeted, the NZ Herald reported.
Court documents seen by Stuff show that Vi’s son and daughter had lived with him at the Pakuranga Heights address where he was killed.
The pair were arrested in 2022 as part of Operation Worthington, an investigation into an organised crime group in Auckland. They are facing charges including importing drugs and money laundering
A father who was selling drugs to provide for his family of seven has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison.
Palatoni Laimani, 37, pleaded guilty to all three charges and was sentenced after Police raided his residence based on a tip-off.
Several people and Laimani were in his house when the Police entered.
Justice Nicholas Cooper described the crime as “very serious offending” in his view.
Items seized included 155.90 grams of methamphetamine, a 12 gauge shotgun, a set of scales and 1699 empty ‘dealer packs’.
Laimani was charged for all these items recovered from a large plastic bin.
Most of the methamphetamine comes in the form of five bags weighing 27.95 grams.
There were a further 47 bags.
The Police also recovered cash of TOP$2,500, NZ$20 and US$3.
A number of notebooks have also been recovered. The judge believed these were dealer lists.
“Given Mr Lautaimi’s admission at the scene that he was in the business of selling methamphetamine for profits, that would accord with what he said.
Mr Cooper sentenced Laimani to seven and half years‟ imprisonment, the last 1 year suspended for 2 years, back dated to his first remand on 28 May 2024”.
Mr Laimani assisted the police at the scene in the sense he was candid about his possessing the illicit drugs.
The judge also said: “It was large scale commercial supply and the presence of a firearm in the context of this drug dealing I consider a serious aggravating feature. I note that no ammunition was recovered, but in my view, that is merely the absence of a further aggravating factor”.
Mr. Laimani is not to leave the Kingdom of Tonga until his suspended sentence is completed, both the conditions and the two-year term. This is to ensure he does not escape that part of his sentence and also to ensure the rehabilitative portion of the sentence can be properly completed”.
Laimani’s suspension conditions are as follows:
. Report to probation within 24 hours of release
. Complete drug rehabilitation course
. Complete a life skills course
. Live where directed by probation
. He must not commit any offence punishable by imprisonment further that time
A tropical cyclone warning is now inforce for the Niuas, Vava’u and Ha’apai land areas, Tonga MetService said this morning.
A gale warning still remains in force for the Niuas, Vava’u and Ha’apai Land areas.
A heavy rain warning and flash flood advisory still remain in force for the Niuas, Vava’u and Ha’apai land areas.”
It said the tropical disturbance Tropical Disturbance 04F was located near latitude 17.0 south and longitude 177.2 west or about 230km southwest of ‘Ēsia (Niuafo’ou) or 380km west – southwest of Hihifo (Niuatoputapu), or 385km west- northwest of Neiafu (Vava’u), or 420km northwest of Ha’afeva (Ha’apai), or 430km northwest of Pangai (Ha’apai) at 10am this morning.
The system is currently slowly moving southeast at a speed of 12knots (24km/hr).
The weather forecast for midnight tonight for Tonga indicates associated clouds, heavy rain, and strong to gale-force winds with thunderstorms affecting the Niua Islands, Vava’u, and the Ha’apai groups.
The forecast for the Niuas indicates west to northwest winds of 25-30 knots (30-40 km/hr), with occasional gusts reaching gale force winds of 35-45 knots (70-90 km/hr).
Conditions will be overcast with occasional rain, which could be heavy at times, alongside isolated thunderstorms.
Flooding in low-lying areas is risky due to the expected heavy rainfall.
For Vava’u and Ha’apai, it is expected east to southeast winds 15-20knots (30-40km/hr), then rising up to 25knot at times this morning, and gusting up to gale force winds of 35-45knots (70-90km/hr) at times.
Overcast with occasional rain, heavy at times with isolated thunderstorms.
Flooding in low-lying areas due to heavy rain is expected.
Tongatapu and ‘eua forecast an east-to-southeast wind 10-15knots (20-30km/hr), rising up to 20knots (40km/hr) at times.
Police are appealing for anyone who might have seen any suspicious activity the night after a man was discovered with critical injuries on Hihifo Road to come forward.
Viliami Taulaki
As Kaniva News reported yesterday, Viliami Taulaki died in hospital of his injuries after he was discovered on Wednesday morning at about 5.30am.
“His family has been notified of his condition”, the Police said.
They said they have yet to establish Taulaki’s cause of death.
Taulaki was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit before his death few hours later.
He was last seen at 11pm on Wednesday, and his family confirmed he had not returned by 3am.
The Police said occupants of a Black Toyota Bb discovered Taulaki on their way to a morning service.
“Tonga Police are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the nature of this incident”, the Police said.
Police urged the public to report any crimes they witnessed, emphasizing that community vigilance is crucial for maintaining safety and security.
Police said people could call on 924 or 7401614 if they have any information to help their investigation.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said Russia is closely monitoring the situation, after US President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out military action to take Greenland from Denmark.
Peskov said the Arctic was in Russia’s “sphere of national and strategic interests and it is interested in peace and stability there”.
Trump’s remarks on Greenland – a largely autonomous Danish territory – have drawn a warning from European leaders.
EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas has stressed that “we have to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greenland”, and Germany’s Olaf Scholz has made clear that “borders must not be moved by force”.
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Trump said earlier this week that the US needed both Greenland and the Panama Canal “for economic security”, and refused to rule out using either economic or military force in taking them over.
He also referred to the border with Canada as an “artificially drawn line”. Denmark and Canada are both close Nato allies of the US.
Dmitry Peskov said Trump’s claims were a matter for the US, Denmark and other nations, but Russia was watching the “rather dramatic” situation surrounding his remarks. “We are present in the Arctic zone, and we will continue to be present there,” he said.
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Outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sought to dampen concern about the president-elect’s remarks during a visit to Paris: “The idea is… obviously not a good one, but maybe more important, it’s obviously one that’s not going to happen.”
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy also played down Trump’s comments, but he acknowledged the “intensity of his rhetoric and the unpredictability sometimes of what he said can be destabilising”.
About 56,000 people live in Greenland, and it is home to US as well as Danish military bases. It also has considerable untapped mineral and oil wealth.
Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede has been pushing for independence, although the territory’s economy relies heavily on Danish subsidies.
Both he and the Danish leader have emphasised that it is “not for sale” and that its future is in the hands of Greenlanders themselves.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said Copenhagen has a clear interest in ensuring that the US – “absolutely its closest ally” – plays a key role at a time of rising tensions in the North Atlantic, particularly involving Russia.
Facing a major foreign policy crisis, she has called a meeting of other political parties at her office on Thursday evening.
The European Commission said Trump’s threat to Greenland was “extremely theoretical” and “wildly hypothetical”, considering he was not yet in office.
However, it has confirmed that Greenland, as an overseas territory, does come under a mutual assistance clause requiring all EU states to come to its aid in case of attack.
The Kremlin ridiculed the European response, suggesting it was reacting “very timidly… almost in a whisper”.
Last week, Greenland’s leader said the territory should free itself from “the shackles of colonialism”, although he made no mention of the US.
A former Greenland foreign minister, Pele Broberg, who now heads the biggest opposition party, told the BBC that most Greenlanders he talked to believed the US was vital for their defence and safety.
“We are part of the North American continent, that’s why the defence of the US is in such a great place with regards to Greenland, because we create a buffer zone that doesn’t need to be militarised.”
He has called for a “free association agreement” with the US covering trade and defence which would give Greenland independence but hand the US responsibility for security.
Trump’s allies have reinforced his views on Greenland.
Keith Kellogg, chosen by Trump to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, said a lot of the president-elect’s remarks on Greenland made sense, “putting the United States in a position of global leadership”.
Republican congressman Mike Walz told Fox News that the issue was “not just about Greenland, this is about the Arctic”, because Russia was trying to take control of the polar region, with its mineral and natural resources.
“Denmark can be a great ally, but you can’t treat Greenland, which they have operational control over, as some kind of backwater – it’s in the Western hemisphere.”
The US is Denmark’s biggest export market and sales increased in the first 11 months of 2024 to 326bn kroner (£36bn; $45bn) – a 17.3% share of the country’s total exports.
Earlier this week, Trump said he would impose tariffs on Denmark if it rejected his offer to buy Greenland.
A man who left with a machete after a failed attack attempt and returned with a sharp object and stabbed his victim has been sent to jail.
David Kent Jr Tau’alupe, 39, wounded ‘Alo’i Kei in his left upper abdomen during a drink-up altercation at the Laione Club in Vava’u.
He was jailed for one year for causing grievous bodily harm.
The court was told that on the evening of 8 December 2023, Tau’alupe, Kesitoni and Kei were drinking alcohol before heading to Laione Kava Club.
At one point, Kei and another left to get more alcohol in Kesitoni’s vehicle, apparently without his permission.
Upon their return, there was bantering between Tau’alupe and Kei about the taking of the vehicle, which escalated into an argument that led to Tau’alupe punching Kei.
Tau’alupe left and returned with a machete to attack Kei, but Kesitoni was able to stop him and reconcile them.
Tau’alupe left the club with the machete without incident.
He later returned and punched the victim, challenging him to a fight. He was seen holding what looked like a small knife in his trouser pocket.
The victim took the challenge and got up to fight the defendant. He did not know about the sharp object in the defendant’s possession.
It was not until while engaged in the fight with the defendant and others were urging the victim to retreat as he was bleeding, that he realised he was hurt.
He moved back and saw blood on his clothes and backed off, resting his back against the wall and sliding down to a seated position.
He was immediately rushed to the hospital by a neighbour.
Tau’alupe was initially sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment.
However, the judge suspended one and a half years on conditions.
A woman who violated her suspended jail sentence by committing another robbery has been instructed to activate her suspension, which will be added to her new jail term.
An AI impression of Kalolaine Fainga’a
Kalolaine Fainga’a, 32, is serving three years and four months in prison for serious housebreaking and theft of goods worth $13,830, including Tongan handicrafts and jewellery from a residence in Tofoa.
It is understood that the theft occurred at a local lawyer’s residence. Fainga’a is married and has four children.
Justice Petunia Tupou said the goods involved included jewellery that had irreplaceable value.
She also noted that Fainga’a initially denied involvement and only pleaded guilty after being told her fingerprint was found at the scene.
Justice Tupou also mentioned her previous convictions.
The new sentence imposed was a two-and-a-half-year imprisonment.
The suspension for a previous crime she committed was 22 months.
Justice Tupou said that the activation of the suspension “in full resulting in a total term of 52 months’ imprisonment”.
The Supreme Court judge suspended the last 12 months for two years on the following conditions:
a. She must not commit any offence punishable by imprisonment.
b. She must report to the probation office within 48 hours of your release from custody.
c. She must complete a life skills awareness course at the direction of the Probation Officer.
This sentence is to be backdated to 15 October 2024, when the Fainga’a was first remanded for this matter.
