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Rough weather forces Tonga’s new catamaran Maggi Cat to return to port

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s new inter-island ferry , the MV Maggie Cat has been forced to head back to Neiafu port this morning because of bad weather, the Friendly Islands Shipping Agency CEO Mosese Fakatou has confirmed this to Kaniva News this afternoon.

He said  the ship is currently docking at  Puatalefusi and was expected to leave for Ha’apai and Tongatapu on Monday.

As we reported previously, the Friendly Islands Shipping Agency (FISA) has introduced a catamaran to run passenger-only services to the kingdom’s outer islands.

The new ferry is expected to cut the travel time to Vava’u and the outer islands from 24 hours to nine hours. It will begin operations this week.

The new ferry was commissioned in a ceremony at the Queen Salote Wharf No. 3 yesterday by Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister-in-Charge, Lord Ma’afu, Cabinet Ministers and Government officials including the shared Board of Directors for Transport Sector, FISA and Ports Authority Tonga.

In his speech, the Crown Prince  said the safety and security of people had to take precedence before any other economic considerations.

His Royal Highness thanked the Government of Tonga, for ensuring that the transportation needs for the people has been made a priority.

He also welcomed the vessel’s Australian owner, Captain Cook Cruises for sharing their expertise with the people of Tonga.

The government is paying TP$10,000 a day to hire the Australian catamaran.

The shipping agency’s CEO, Mr Mosese Fakatou said the MV Magggie Cat would provide a temporary service to fill in for the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa which is undergoing service and repair in Fiji.

M.V. ‘Otuanga’ofa has been out of action for four months.

Fiji authorities prepare to remove stranded Tongan cargo ship

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Fijian authorities were concerned that a cargo ship from Tonga which ran aground near one of its islands last week still poses a threat to the archipelago’s ecosystem.

They said the ship is currently holding 20,000 litres of fuel after it was left stranded in Kadavu near Kabariki village.

“We are patrolling this area to make sure there are no oil spills or anything of that sort,” Fiji Times reported.

The MV Sitka was sold to a Solomon Islands company but it suffered a mechanical failure while its six Tongan crewmen including the captain were on their way to the islands to hand over the ship.

The Tongan men have returned to Tonga, it has been reported.

The 200 tonnes inter-island cargo vessel was initially brought to Tonga from Australia by a local company South Seas Shipping.

Following its arrival in Nuku’alofa in March 2010 and it transported cargo between Nuku’alofa, Ha’afeva, Pangai and Neiafu.

Real Tonga’s MA60 remains grounded; government fails to respond to request for help

By
Philip Cass
-

Real Tonga Domestic airlines CEO Tevita Palu said today his company had received no help from the government to get its MA60 aircraft back into the air.

Palu told Kaniva News he had asked the government for help, but nothing had happened.

He said it cost the airline $TP400,000 to prepare the aircraft.

The MA60 was meant to resume services this month, but remains grounded.

The aircraft was supposed to be properly certified to meet the requirements of New Zealand and international air safety regulations.

The MA60 had been grounded after pressure from the New Zealand government after concerns over its safety record.

It is understood Real Tonga had signed a four-year contract with the Tongan government to operate the 56-seater MA60 aircraft.

The Civil Aviation Division of Tonga’s Ministry of Infrastructure issued an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) for the Chinese-built MA60.

According to a recent report in the American newspaper, the Wall Street Journal, there has been a pattern of safety problems with the MA60 involving landing-gear malfunctions, braking failures and steering loss.

One accident involving the aircraft killed 25 people.

The newspaper said less than half of the 57 MA60s exported from China in the past 11 years were still flying.

According to the Journal, at least 26 of the aircraft were in storage because of safety concerns, maintenance problems or other performance issues.

A total of six others had been damaged beyond repair

Palu told the Journal Chinese Civil aviation authorities had told him the plane was safe.

He said officials told him accidents involving the MA60 were “only caused by pilot error.”

The main points

  • Real Tonga Domestic airlines CEO Tevita Palu said today his company had received no help from the government to get its MA60 aircraft back into the air.
  • Palu told Kaniva News he had asked the government for help, but nothing had happened.
  • He said it cost the airline $TP400,000 to prepare the aircraft.
  • The MA60 had been grounded after pressure from the New Zealand government.

For more information

A Tarnished Turboprop Clouds China’s Aviation Dream (Wall Street Journal)

Tonga set to resume flying Chinese aircraft grounded over safety concerns 

Bread prices go up in Tonga, first time since 2006

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The prices of bread in Tonga will be increased by 25 seniti the Bakery Association has announced.

The hike has been made due to change in prices followed the increase in the price of baker’s flour, it said.

Effective from September 5, the new prices mean a classic white loaf will now cost TP$1.75.

The wholesale price goes up from TP$1.20 to $1.50.

The prices of bread were up to the Bakery Association to decide and they were not under the control of the Competent Authority.

The hike was made 10 years after the last increase.

Investigation report on Tongan passport scandal to “be completed soon”

By
Kalino Latu
-

An investigation in Tonga on alleged illegal activities over Tongan passport will be completed and soon released to the public, the kingdom’s Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet Dr Palenitina Langa’oi said.

Dr Langa’oi was responding to a question from Kaniva News asking for when precisely the date the report on the investigation be released after she said in a meeting in Auckland last month that it would be released soon.

“The Ministry of Police is still working on the case.  It is hoped that the investigation will be completed soon”, she said.

Dr Langa’oi has asked the Police Commissioner which was cc’d in her email of response to Kaniva to clarify the situation but we have not received any response from Steve Caldwell at the time of this report.

“I am copying this email to the Police Commissioner for his assistance and further clarifications please”, Dr Langoʻi’s email read.

Meanwhile trials over Tongan passport forgery were set to start on September 12.

Sione ‘Ahohako, Sioeli Heleta, Ola Feauna Tameifuna and ‘Isikeli Kaumavae will appear at the Supreme Court facing with forgery, receiving bribery and other related charges regarding an application for Tongan passport.

The accused worked at the Ministry of Justice when they allegedly committed these offences.

There were other pending cases over the passport scandal which were expected to be dealt with court soon.

Investigation

The issue of the Tongan passport had been raised during Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva state visit to New Zealand last month.

New Zealand Prime Minister said New Zealand has real concerns about what effectively in one sense are legitimate passports but they’re being used illegitimately.

“We’ve had assurances from Tonga that they’re dealing with the issue, he says some of it obviously predates his government and he’s addressing it,” John Key said of Tonga’s Prime Minister.

The Tongan government set up a Police task force to investigate Tonga’s passport scandal after it considered that a Royal Commission to investigate the scandal was costly.

The taskforce investigation had so far made more than 10 arrests including confiscating a laptop of Tonga’s former Prime Minister and current Speaker of the House Lord Tu’ivakano.

READ MORE:

Auditor general: Passport scandals involved PM’s office

Former police officer, 63, arrested over Tongan passport forgery

Auditor general: Passport scandals involved PM’s office

Tonga and Poland sign diplomatic ties

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The kingdom of Tonga and the Republic of Poland have signed an agreement of diplomatic relation in New York.

Mr. Mahe’uli’uli Sandhurst Tupouniua represented the Kingdom of Tonga while the government of the Republic of Poland was represented by Ambassador Bogusław Winid in signing the agreement.

“In the last two years, Poland established diplomatic relations with Nauru, Kiribati, Micronesia and Tuvalu.

“These Pacific island states are particularly exposed to negative effects of climate change.

“Poland looks forward to ever closer cooperation with the Kingdom of Tonga, also within the UN, among other things on the implementation of the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” a statement by the Polish foreign ministry said.

In 1939, after the German invasion of Poland, the Kingdom of Tonga was among the first to declare war against Germany. Subsequently, in a public fundraiser the society of Tonga funded two Spitfire fighter aircraft. The kingdom was ruled at that time by queen Sālote Tupou III. (rg)

Tongan printer wins Pacific leader award

By
Philip Cass
-

Print Apprentice of the Year Sione Tonga won the Pacific Leader award at The Edge Got a Trade? Got it Made! Future Business Leader’s Awards this month.

Tonga completed his print apprenticeship at the end of last year and is now a senior printer at Stratex NZ.

The awards event celebrates the achievements of young New Zealanders working in trades and services.

“I didn’t expect to win, but I was really happy and honoured to be chosen,” Tonga said.

“It means a lot to my family

“My goal is to one day become a manager running a department.

“It is every Pacific teenager’s dream to become a boss in a company, starting with nothing to become something.”

The judges said Tonga had “an amazing work ethic” and had made a number of positive changes in his life through his personal and professional development.

Stratex NZ Print Manager Ross Halliday said Tonga was a hard worker who deserved everything he had achieved.

Tonga finished his print apprenticeship last year, and has just started a Diploma in Print Industry Management (Level 5).

When not working, the 33 years-old father of three is passionate about music.

“Before becoming a printer, the only thing I knew I was good at was singing,” he told the industry web site gotatrade.co.nz.

“I took opera singing lessons while in high school back in Tonga so that I could be the lead singer when I was just 13-years-old. Now I am the lead tenor in a choir of around 200 members.”

The awards were held as part of a forum bringing together New Zealand’s future business leaders for Got a Trade Week, the national campaign to raise awareness of the careers that exist in 140 trades and services in New Zealand.

The main points

  • Print Apprentice of the Year Sione Tonga won the Pacific Leader award at The Edge Got a Trade? Got it Made! Future Business Leader’s Awards this month.
  • Tonga completed his print apprenticeship at the end of last year and is now a senior printer at Stratex NZ.
  • “I didn’t expect to win, but I was really happy and honoured to be chosen,” Tonga said.
  • “It means a lot to my family.”

For more information

Print Apprentice of the Year wins Pacific award

Sione Tonga

Tongans named over drug bust face charges of possession and importing meth

By
Philip Cass
-

Three Tongans have been charged in New Zealand’s biggest drug bust.

They are  Ulakai Fakaosilea , Amoki Matoto Fonua  and Malachi Damien Tuilotolava.

Fakaosilea and Fonua have been charged with importing/exporting and possession for supply.

Tuilotolava has been charged with importing/exporting, possession for supply, participating in an organised criminal group and money laundering.

Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva  told Parliament when he returned to Tonga after his state visit to New Zealand that he had been told a number of Tongans were involved in the drug deal.

The three Tongans were among six men arrested on Ninety Mile Beach and at Totara North in June. They have been remanded, without plea, to November 9.

Northland Police seized 494kg of methamphetamine, estimated to be worth half a billion dollars.

They were led to the haul after a boat was abandoned on the beach.

It appears the men had been trying to re-launch the boat, offering large sums of money to locals for their help.

It is believed they had recovered the drugs from the sea.

Police later found another boat and a stash of drugs buried in the sand.

ABC news in Australia described the arrests as the result of “bungling boating by a group of landlubber drug smugglers.”

The main points

  • Three Tongans have been charged in New Zealand’s biggest drug bust.
  • They are Ulakai Fakaosilea, Amoki Matoto Fonua  and Malachi Damien Tuilotolava.
  • Fakaosilea and Fonua have been charged with importing/exporting and possession for supply.
  • Tuilotolava has been charged with importing/exporting, possession for supply, participating in an organised criminal group and money laundering.

For more information

Men connected with Northland meth bust named

New Zealand police make record drug bust after alleged smugglers bungle boat launch

More meth found in record drug bust

New Australian catamaran ferry will cut travel time to outer islands to nine hours

By
Philip Cass
-

The Friendly Islands Shipping Agency (FISA) has introduced a catamaran to run passenger-only services to the kingdom’s outer islands.

The new ferry is expected to cut the travel time to Vava’u and the outer islands from 24 hours to nine hours. It will begin operations this week.

The new ferry was commissioned in a ceremony at the Queen Salote Wharf No. 3 yesterday by Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister-in-Charge, Lord Ma’afu, Cabinet Ministers and Government officials including the shared Board of Directors for Transport Sector, FISA and Ports Authority Tonga.

In his speech, the Crown Prince  said the safety and security of people had to take precedence before any other economic considerations.

His Royal Highness thanked the Government of Tonga, for ensuring that the transportation needs for the people has been made a priority.

He also welcomed the vessel’s Australian owner, Captain Cook Cruises for sharing their expertise with the people of Tonga.

The government is paying TP$10,000 a day to hire the Australian catamaran.

The shipping agency’s CEO, Mr Mosese Fakatouhe, said the MV Magggie Cat would provide a temporary service to fill in for the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa which is undergoing service and repair in Fiji.

M.V. ‘Otuanga’ofa has been out of action for four months.

The main points

  • The Friendly Islands Shipping Agency (FISA) has introduced a catamaran to run passenger-only services to the kingdom’s outer islands.
  • The new ferry is expected to cut the travel time to Vava’u and the outer islands from 24 hours to nine hours.
  • It will begin operations this week.

For more information 

Australian ferry to temporarily replace M.V. ‘Otuanga’ofa

Crown Prince Commission new inter-island ferry transport

Search called off, no trace of missing man

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The search for the missing 20-year-old man from Houma who went missing at the village’s blowholes, has now been called off.

Police and locals were searching after Melekisēteki Fīnau fell into the sea at Houma Sunday 21.

A Police patrol boat was at the scene shortly after the incident but despite searching over nine days no sign has been found of the missing man.

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