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Tongan broadcaster joins two week programme with New Zealand media

By
Kalino Latu
-

Onesi Saluni from the Tonga Broadcasting Commission was one of four Pacific broadcasters to work in the New Zealand media last month.

Saluni joined  Temo Sukanaivalu from Cook Islands TV, Anthony Roebeck of Samoa Broadcasting Corporation (TV1) and Glenda Gabriel from Papua New Guinea’s EMTV for the two week placement.

The programme was organised by Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Ltd.

A second group of broadcasters, including Fred Osifelo from Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, Faiyaz Khan from Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, Tifaga Tupuiliu from Broadcasting Corporation of Niue and Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation’s Horofino Morin started a fortnight’s training last week.

They worked with media operators and engineers from TVNZ and Mediaworks.

The two week programmes are designed to upgrade their skills in  a number of areas, including presentation suite, video editing, camera work, outside broadcasting, news production, master control room, audio engineering, and vision-switching.

This exchange was a combination of both observation and practical experience.

General Manager for PCBL Natasha Meleisea said apart from the training, the visits allowed the Pacific media workers to make contacts within the New Zealand and Pacific industry.

She said the media workers taking part had found the experience very useful.

PCBL was planning to host more Pacific broadcasters later this year.

PCBL was established by the New Zealand government and is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Pacific Cooperation Foundation.

It provides New Zealand content to island broadcasters and supports local production by supplying equipment and training.

The main points

  • Onesi Saluni from the Tonga Broadcasting Commission was one of four Pacific broadcasters to work in the New Zealand media last month.
  • Saluni joined Temo Sukanaivalu from Cook Islands TV, Anthony Roebeck of Samoa Broadcasting Corporation (TV1) and Glenda Gabriel from Papua New Guinea’s EMTV for the two week placement.
  • The programme was organised by Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Ltd.

For more information

Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Ltd

http://www.pasifikatv.co.nz/

NZ, which funds Tonga sporting facility, says hosting 2022 Commonwealth Games too much

By
Kalino Latu
-

Just a month after Tonga withdrew from hosting the 2019 Pacific Games, New Zealand has said it has no intention of taking on the next Commonwealth Games because of the amount of infrastructure that would need to be built.

New Zealand, which contributed about NZ$2 million of tax payers’ money to Tonga for the renovation of the Teufaiva stadium, was responding to questions from media after Durban in South Africa was stripped of hosting rights over a trail of missed deadlines and financial problems.

“We have no intention of taking over the 2022 Commonwealth Games,” Sports and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman said.

While New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English was in Nuku’alofa last week on a two-day state visit he joined Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to reopen the Teufaiva sports field.

The national stadium was vital for Tonga’s sporting events and the upgrade had been part of a plan for Tonga to host the 2019 Pacific Games and international rugby tests.

Hon. Pohiva said Tonga was not ready to host the Games and the situation was more difficult after PNG confirmed it would not contribute the TP$33 million it had promised to help Tonga hosting the Games.

He said it was not fair for Tonga to host the Games while about 60 percent of its national budget relied heavily on foreign donors like New Zealand.

However, the cancellation of hosting the Pacific Games now hangs in the balance after a petition by people who want Tonga to host the Games was submitted to the king on Friday.

The Pacific Games Council has given Tonga until the end of June to reaffirm its position on the Games.

In a previous interview Hon. Pohiva said he was told by New Zealand former Foreign Minister Murray McCully to be cautious about hosting the Pacific Games 2019.

New Zealand has also helped Tonga fund other projects.

As Kaniva News reported last year, New Zealand and Australia co-funded a multi-million dollar programme for non-government secondary schools in the kingdom.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has contributed TP$30,554,487 (Aus$18.5 million) since 2009 and New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) provided TP$12 million (NZ$9 million) to cover the period 2013 to 2016.

The main points

  • Just a month after Tonga withdrew from hosting the 2019 Pacific Games, New Zealand has said it has no intention of taking on the next Commonwealth Games because of the amount of infrastructure that would need to be built.
  • New Zealand was responding to questions from media after Durban in South Africa was stripped of hosting rights over a failure to deliver on its promises.
  • Tonga’s the cancellation of hosting the Pacific Games now hangs in the balance after a petition by people who want Tonga to host the Games was submitted to the king on Friday.
  • The Pacific Games Council has given Tonga until the end of June to reaffirm its position in on the Games.

For more information 

 Commonwealth Games: Durban stripped of right to hold 2022 Games over financial problems

84 lucky Tongans win New Zealand Pacific Quota ballot 2017

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The New Zealand immigration has released 84 lucky numbers that belonged to Tongan applicants who had registered for 2017 ballot to live in New Zealand.

The successful applicants would be contacted directly by the New Zealand immigration, it said.

“We will be in touch with you shortly with information on how to complete and lodge your residence application”, it said.

“If your registration number is not on these official lists, then unfortunately your number was not drawn and you are therefore not eligible to apply for New Zealand residence under the 2017 Pacific Access Category.

“We will only be contacting registrants who were selected from the ballots”.

Tonga

The following Tongan Pacific Access Category registration numbers have been selected by ballot:

15774312

15814356

15831713

15840734

15774402

15814376

15831742

15840805

15776215

15814587

15831858

15840856

15777618

15814637

15832008

15841010

15780616

15814658

15832018

15842531

15782024

15819542

15832079

15842753

15790274

15819880

15832194

15842810

15791932

15819884

15832365

15843120

15792420

15821068

15832487

15843199

15792492

15822766

15832496

15843249

15794177

15830006

15832563

15843255

15798441

15830146

15832611

15843375

15799395

15831611

15832769

15844335

15799591

15831615

15834128

15844407

15800206

15838908

15834286

15844657

15800975

15838978

15835267

15845130

15804639

15839393

15835635

15846684

15806877

15840555

15836301

15846952

15807253

15807436

15836693

15851533

15807376

15813945

15837031

15853502

15923662

15902601

15838880

15876630

Unacceptable for judges to withhold reasons for judgements Supreme Court told

By
Philip Cass
-

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen has criticised a magistrate for not providing reasons for his decision in a child support case.

“I have previously  commented  on the  Magistrates’  duty  to give reasons for their decisions which is a fundamental requirement of due process,” Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said.

“It is entirely unacceptable that no reasons were given by the Magistrate in this case.

“On rare occasions in contested proceedings the Court may issue orders with reasons to follow, but if this  is  necessary the reasons must be provided at the first  available  opportunity.

“In this case over six months have elapsed and that is unacceptable.”

In the original court case, on  25  November 2016, Magistrate  Tuita  ordered that Mr Wileon Fong of Pili was the father of the child or Ms Pasalona Tui, a single woman residing at Haveluloto in  Tongatapu.

He ordered that Fong pay Tui the sum of $150 per week until May 16, 2019  for maintenance of the child named Joshua Yuen Fong of which the said Wileon Fong was the father.

However, both Fong and Tui were dissatisfied with the judgement because no reasons were given for it.

“The parties could  be  forgiven  for  regarding  with scepticism reasons provided so long after the hearing and in the face of  a challenge to the orders made,” Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said.

“I have thought about requiring  the Magistrate  to  provide  his reasons,  but Counsel are of the view that the better course is that the appeal be allowed and remitted back to be heard again before another Magistrate and I agree.”

He ordered that the orders made by Magistrate Tuita be set  aside.

The case was remitted to the Magistrates’ Court for rehearing before another Magistrate.

The main points

  • Lord Chief Justice Paulsen has criticised a magistrate for not providing reasons for his decision in a child support case.
  • In the original court case, on 25  November 2016, Magistrate  Tuita  ordered that Wileon Fong of Pili was the father of the child or Pasalona Tui, a single woman residing at Haveluloto in
  • However, both Fong and Tui were dissatisfied with the judgement because no reasons were given for it.

Dozens march to the king over Gov’t’s decision against Pacific Games hosting

By
Kalino Latu
-

About 30 people who were supporters of a move to bring back the Pacific Games 2019 to Tonga rallied and marched to the Palace office yesterday with a petition to the King.

The petitioners have asked His Majesty King Tupou VI to revoke the government’s decision last month to withdraw from hosting the Games.

The petition, which has 11,366 signatures, was presented by His Majesty’s brother-in-law Lord Vaea and it was received by the Palace Office’s Senior Assistant Secretary, Suka ‘Otukolo.

Lord Vaea who is also the acting president of TASA introduced the petition and made a speech to support it.

He spoke using the Tongan way of fakamalanga in which the speaker sometime used figurative expressions to describe and explain what they wanted.

Lord Vaea figuratively told Otukolo who holds the herald name Kavafusi, Samoa and Fiji have hosted the Games and they might ask why Tonga could not do it.

He said he and those who were in the march were representing the Tongan sport community and the youth.

While he was speaking some of his supporters who were in the office showed their supports by speaking out and said “mālie” (excellent) or “mo’oni ia” (that’s true).

Lord Sevele, the chairman of the Pacific Games Organizing Committee joined the march as well as some prominent figures in the sport community including former ‘Ikale Tahi players Fakahau Valu and Poutele Tu’ihalamaka.

“Judgement was clean”, says Miss Apraxus organiser as outrage fades

By
Kalino Latu
-

The decision about who won the Miss Apraxus 2017 title on Saturday was “clean,” the competition’s organiser, Salote Heletā Lilo, has insisted.

Lilo was responding after outrage about the results on social media over the weekend, with many people expressing their doubts about the result.

She said she took no part in the judgement and all records of judgements during the competition were kept by the auditor.

Eight competitors who participated in the beauty contest signed contract agreement with Apraxus which laid out the rules and judgment criteria to be followed, Lilo said.

The furore erupted after it was announced the winner of the Miss Apraxus 2017 was Ophelia Kava of Salʻs Creation.

Kava scooped prizes in all sections, including beach wear, intelligent interview, tau’olunga and evening wear.

Some parents and supporters vented their anger to Kaniva News with many claiming the judgement criteria were changed during the five week-end competitions that led to the final award.

A parent alleged that the time frame for the tau’olunga (solo dance) was five minutes, but during the competition they were told to change it and it was open to whatever length of time the tau’olunga could take.

The parent, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the interview was first set for the contestants to draw their questions, but it was later announced they would be interviewed according to the profile of the contestants.

The parent alleged this disadvantaged  many competitors.

Lilo said she had been running the competition for years and expected there would be complaints and criticism.

“Some supporters and parents were unhappy with the outcomes and I was prepared for it,” Lilo said.

“This does not affect me, but I take it.”

She said all eight contestants were happy with what they had achieved and they said they had learnt and obtained great experiences during the competition.

Most of them were New Zealand-born Tongans and what mattered most to them was to participate in a competition that hosted Tongan cultural activities in which they had not previously participated.

Lilo said she understood some people vented their disappointed on Facebook, but after some time they contacted her and apologised. She said some ended up praying with her over the phone after they reconciled.

All the beauty contestants will go to Tonga next week as part of a free ticket sponsored by the Apraxus.

Miss Apraxus 2017 Ophelia Kava will take part in the Miss Heilala competition. Other Miss Apraxus competitors are also free to take part.

The main points

  • The decision on won the Miss Apraxus 2017 title on Saturday was “clean,” the competition’s organiser, Salote Heleta Lilo, has insisted.
  • Eight competitors who participated in the beauty contest signed contract agreement with Apraxus which laid out the rules and judgment criteria to be followed, Lilo said.
  • She said she took no part in the judgement and all records of judgements during the competition were kept by the auditor, it said.
  • Lilo was responding after outrage about the results on social media over the weekend, with many people expressing their doubts about the result.

For more information

Miss Appraxus 2017 contestants wear puletaha

Tongan man dies after industrial accident in Penrose involving forklift

By
Kaniva Staff
-

(Auckland, NZ) A Tongan man has died after a workplace accident involving a forklift in the central Auckland suburb of Penrose.

People who were very close to the family said the deceased is Hamani Topui.

Family, kāinga and friends took to Facebook to mourn the death of their loved one.

Many paid tributes to his wife Tupou Loata Meilini Topui and their children.

Police were notified shortly before 12.30pm to the incident.

Police are working to identify next of kin, a statement said.

WorkSafe has been notified of the incident.

Arrest made after Kelekolio Tapueluelu was assaulted in Nukuʻalofa

By
Kalino Latu
-

A 49-year-old man has been arrested and detained by Police after an assault in Nukuʻalofa yesterday.

Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell has confirmed “Police took necessary precautions to protect the safety of Kelekolio Tapueluelu following a complaint of assault that occurred yesterday Wednesday 15 June 2017”.

Police made the arrest today at 1:00pm and the suspect is remanded in police custody, Caldwell said.

As Kaniva News reported yesterday Tapueluelu was in Tonga last week on a mission to push for the government to bring back the Pacific Games to Tonga.

He told Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva during a press conference on Monday which was open to the public he would continue to “fakahohaʻasi” (disturb) him until his decision to withdraw Tonga from hosting the Games be reverted.

Tapueluelu told the Prime Minister he did not care if his move would cost him his life.

In response Hon. Pohiva said he can go ahead and do what he wanted to do.

Reports said Tapueluelu was allegedly injured during an altercation with another man Onitulei Manu at One Way road in Nukuʻalofa yesterday.

Police inquiries continue.

New Zealand Prime Minister first visit to Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

Prime Minister English arrives in Tonga tonight (Thursday 15 June) as part of the Pacific Mission he is leading.

The Prime Minister is bringing with him New Zealand’s Minister for Pacific Peoples Alfred Ngaro, representatives of parliament, Pasifika community leaders, iwi and business representatives.

The Mission has also visited the Cook Islands and Niue this week.

This is Prime Minister English’s first trip to Tonga and will be an opportunity to strengthen New Zealand and Tonga’s bilateral relationship and reinforce New Zealand’s commitment to the wider Pacific region.

The Prime Minister will meet Prime Minister Pohiva and Cabinet Ministers and lay a wreath at the Cenotaph.

The Prime Minister has also been granted an audience with His Majesty King Tupou VI.

Site visits will include Tonga Police Headquarters, Tonga Village Network upgrade in Tatakamotunga Village and Teufaiva stadium.

Teenagers arrested over Tofoa machete robbery

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Police have arrested four male teenagers aged 17-18  after a shop-keeper was threatened with a machete during an armed robbery at Tofoa on June 10.

Police believed the teenagers took off with around $300 pa’anga after they entered the Chinese shop at around 11:40pm with a machete.

A Police search and investigation team found  the teens on Monday, June 12.

They had been charged with armed robbery.

Police investigation continues.

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