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Skateboarding, Tongan Style

The village of Puke is the home of Tonga’s first purpose-built skateboard ramp, thanks to the efforts of Chris and Ashley Paquette who added it as one of the main features of their non-profit organisation, One Love Inc. The ramp was funded through the help of an online fundraiser, as well as the generosity of several local Tongan business owners who offered discounts on building materials.

Chris and Ashley relocated from the United States to Tonga with their three children in 2012. Chris, a master builder, grew up skateboarding and constructing skateboard parks with his brother in their home state of Massachusetts. Naturally, he brought his skateboards to Tonga, even though he was unsure if he would find any suitable places to go skateboarding. It didn’t take long, however, for Chris to become known for his willingness to share his skateboards with local kids, and neighbours were soon paying him frequent visits to go skateboarding. By appearance, the new skateboard ramp is a fitting addition to the Paquette property, as the colourful family home has become sort of a landmark in the area. Chris designed and constructed the unique dwelling completely out of locally sourced materials that he collected from various locations and stockpiled over a period of time.

Skateboarding originated in the United States in the 1950’s, but over the past two decades the worldwide popularity of the sport has grown exponentially. In recent years, skateboarding facilities have been built in several developing nations such as Afghanistan, Cambodia, Uganda, and Palestine as part of youth sport, education and empowerment programmes. Tonga appears to be one of the first Pacific Island nations to have a programme that utilises skateboarding for the purposes of enhancing the lives of young people.

The writer of this story Todd Henry is a photographer and writer currently based in Auckland, New Zealand.  He is a Pacific Correspondent for Kaniva Pacific, covering stories from around the Pacific.

You can read more stories from him on this link: https://culturesofoblivion.com

Empowering and educating the Tongan youth through skateboarding is exactly what Chris and Ashley plan to do through One Love Inc., and so far the ramp has been very popular with local children who are often initially drawn to the ramp out of pure curiosity. Ashley says “The kids are amazing at skateboarding, both the boys and the girls. I’ve had the privilege of watching the kids progress, they are quick learners”, adding that skateboarding “gives these kids hope that they can do more than they think.” There are already plans in place to expand the existing ramp into a full-fledged skatepark as additional funding for the project becomes available.

As there are no stores in Tonga that stock the professional quality skateboard decks and other goods needed for ramp skating, all of these products must be imported from overseas. Ashley explains “We started out with two skateboards and 15 kids, and now we have 12 skateboards thanks to a few people who donated boards”. More skateboards will be needed as interest in skateboarding grows, and as the existing skateboards are worn down from the heavy use that they are currently receiving.

The ramp is the ideal size for beginners to learn the basics, and the Paquettes are open to helping anyone who is interested to learn how to skate. The ramp is only off limits when nobody is home, or when it is wet because the surface becomes slippery and dangerous. In addition, the parents of children who want to use the ramp must sign waivers to acknowledge that skateboarding is a potentially dangerous activity (Although statistically, skateboarding is safer than many traditional sports). Ashley says there are plans to do more fundraising for helmets and pads in order to reduce the overall risk of injuries, especially with beginners.

It is clear that the Paquettes have big plans for the future of skateboarding in Tonga.  “We have four years to get these Tongan kids ready” says Chris on the topic of the recent decision to include skateboarding in the 2020 Summer Olympics. In addition to the plan to construct a larger skatepark in Tonga, Chris and Ashley also want to conduct skill-based workshops specifically designed for Tongan youth. Once these programmes are up and running in Tonga, the Paquettes plan to spearhead more skateboarding-based educational initiatives in other Pacific Island nations.

For now, the Paquettes will continue to promote skateboarding in Tonga with their new ramp. Ashley explains how they are encouraged by the positive feedback they have received from locals, “They are so happy something is being done for the kids in Tonga. They ask how much we are charging for the kids to skate, and I always reassure them it’s free. It’s something positive for the youth of Tonga, and no one is trying to profit from it.”

PM warns some officers could undermine Police Commissioner as Tonga battles crime

Tongan Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva says Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell is striving to do his job honestly, but warned that his efforts could be undermined by the actions of some Tongan Police officers.

Hon. Pōhiva said there were high profile criminal cases the Force struggled to deal with and the commissioner’s post was of vital importance in handling such investigations.

He said Tonga was facing a major problem with drugs being trafficked through the kingdom to Asia and Australia.

The Prime Minister said allegations had also been made that the previous government had continued selling Tongan Diplomatic passports.

Hon Pōhiva said the government was inclined (“hehema”) to appoint a palagi to head the Tongan Police force because they believed he would be more independent and honest with the job.

“There is a belief the palagi (commissioner) is more honest than a Tongan (commissioner),” Hon. Pōhiva said in Tongan.

“The post is important, fragile and it requires a person who is independent to investigate any crimes, especially in cases where the people at the top level such as the nobility and us (leaders) are investigated,” he said.

But there was a problem because the palagi had to rely on the Tongan Police officers, Hon Pohiva said. He could not do the job by himself.

“If he relies on the Tongan officers and they do not do the work properly and lie to the palagi that would cause some problems”, Hon. Pōhiva said.

Passport and drugs

Hon. Pōhiva said drugs and the sale of the Tongan passport were huge problems for the government.

He said he thought the court case in which he took the government to court 30 years ago for illegally selling Tongan passports to Asians had ended the sale, but it had been alleged that the previous governments continued selling them.

Hon. Pōhiva said he often met with the Police Commissioner about matters related to the status of the current passport investigation.

Hon. Pōhiva said one of the biggest problems his government was facing was drug abuse.

He said people had called on the government to do something as they had found it difficult to deal with problems emanated from drugs abuse.

“Too many incidents occurred,” he said.

He said the current situation was not easy to handle and he believed Tonga was one of the small nations used by drug dealers as a channel for trafficking drugs.

He said the drugs came from South America through Tonga to Asia and Australia.

“What is happening in our small nation is so dangerous”, Hon Pohiva said.

He said he believed a number of recent fatalities in Tonga had involved drugs.

He said he was referring to those incidents to show how his government struggled in searching for ways to reduce the problem.

Hon. Pohiva said it would be worse if some inside the government were involved with drug dealings and abuse.

Support

Stephen Caldwell took up the position of Police Commissioner in 2015 after 17 years as an Area Commander in New Zealand and postings in the Solomon Islands, East Timor and Bougainville.

The level of support expressed for Caldwell by the Prime Minister is in direct contrast with the way Caldwell’s two predecessors, Grant O’Fee and Chris Kelly were treated.

Both were experienced New Zealand policemen and it is believed that both were pushed out of their jobs for trying to reform a police force with a reputation for corruption and brutality.

However, Hon. Pohiva said there was “a problem” with O’Fee, but did not elaborate

Kaniva News reported in 2014 that O’Fee was leaving his post eight months before the end of his contract. It is understood he resigned.

The main points

  • Tongan Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva says Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell is striving to do his job honestly, but warned that his efforts could be undermined by the actions of some Tongan Police officers.
  • Pōhiva said there were high profile criminal cases the Force struggled to deal with and the commissioner’s post was of vital importance in handling such investigations.
  • He said Tonga was facing a major problem with drugs being trafficked through the kingdom to Asia and Australia.
  • The Prime Minister said allegations had also been made that the previous government had continued selling Tongan Diplomatic passports.

For more information

Tonga’s police commissioner reinforces basics

Aongatete final goodbyes, crash victims’ caskets arrive in Auckland

The Aongatete Coolstore staff and workers  said their last goodbyes this morning to their former workmates who were victims of the tragic crash in Katikati.

The tragedy was still so fresh in the hearts and minds of the Aongatete workers as they came and paid their respects before the funeral cortege left Katikati on a two-hour travel for Auckland airport awaiting the final trip home to Tonga tomorrow morning.

The co-workers, who were visibly devastated, followed the funeral cortege along the driveway as it passed slowly through Aongatete workplace into the State High Way 2 where the victims were all killed on Tuesday 2.

The funeral cortege arrived in Auckland at 4pm.

Sitiveni Vaipulu, 44, his son Koli Vaipulu, 21, Sione Teulaka, 21, Halani Fine, 29, and Samuela Taukatelata, 28, all died instantly when the car they were in collided with a logging truck in New Zealand’s third most dangerous highway.

Fine’s body had been laid to his resting place in Northshore, New Zealand today.

The travellers from New Zealand to Tonga will be led by Rev Fono ‘Ahio. The flight will depart Auckland tomorrow morning at 6.45am on Air New Zealand flight NZ0270.

Sefita Haoʻuli who is coordinating the Tongan RSE workers in New Zealand said the Tongan government has organised a memorial service for the deceased at the Fuʻamotu international airport before their various families will accompany them homes.

Canadian wife buried at ‘Ahomatafolau

The body of the 56-year-old Canadian woman who was found dead in a yacht in Vavaʻu in June was buried at ‘Ahomatafolau Cemetery in Neiafu on July 29.

Tongan authority allowed the funeral services to proceed after a post mortem examination was completed in Nuku’alofa.

Two sisters of the deceased and their husbands arrived in Tonga from Canada and attended the services, Vava’u Police Superintendent Netane Falakiseni said.

The deceased’s husband from Florida, United States has been charged with the manslaughter of his wife and remains in Police custody.

Government struggles to deal with overstayers in Tonga

The government of Tonga is struggling to deal with overstayers.

Fijian and Chinese labourers are among the biggest offenders.

Now a Fijian community leader has asked for an amnesty and the Tongan government says it is considering changing the current policy for migrant workers and asking the Fijian authorities to make sure Fijian workers go home when their contracts expire.

The secretary of Tongaʻs Ministry of Foreign Affairs,  Vaʻinga Tōnē, said there were 300 Fijian overstayers in Tonga.

There are also hundreds of  Chinese overstayers in Tonga as well as people from other countries who have remained in the kingdom after their visas ran out.

Vaʻinga said there was a huge problem with Fijians who worked as domestic labourers.

He did not go into details, but said the government was finding the problem hard to deal with.

Some of the Fijians who overstayed their visas did not want to return to Fiji, he said.

Vaʻinga said the problem was that if the government granted an amnesty to the Fijian, other nationalities, including the Chinese, must be given the same opportunity.

Complaints

Kaniva News reported in January this year that the Fijian government was investigating claims by Fijian workers in Tonga who said they were being mistreated, bullied and intimidated.

The Fijians claimed they were falsely promised certain jobs in the kingdom, but that did not happen when they arrived there.

The investigation was launched after Fiji’s minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Semi Koroilavesau told Fiji media he received “an electronic mail on Tuesday night stating the alleged current working conditions that Fijians are facing in the island kingdom.”

Tongan overstayers

But while Fijian and Chinese overstayers are a problem in Tonga, overstayers from the kingdom are a problem in New Zealand.

Last week the Tongan community in Auckland raised the issue of overstayers with Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva during his state visit.

Some concerned Tongan-Aucklanders told the Prime Minister they wanted him to urge the New Zealand government to legalise the Tongan overstayers in New Zealand.

According to estimates published by the New Zealand Government’s Immigration Department, there were 2,381 Tongan overstayers living in New Zealand in January.

Tongan overstayers made up the largest number of overstayers in New Zealand closely followed by Samoans (2,124 overstayers), the Chinese with 1,226 overstayers, and Indians with 763 overstayers.

However, Hon. Pōhiva said it was difficult for the Tongan Government  to ask to New Zealand to legalise the Tongan overstayers.

“If we ask them to legalise the overstayers they would ask us something in return which we would find it more difficult to deal with” Hon Pohiva said.

However he agreed with the suggestion that the Tongan government should talk to New Zealand authorities about including overstayers from the kingdom in the Pacific Quota Category.

A total of 250 Tongan citizens are allowed each year to register for a ballot to come to New Zealand.

If their name is drawn from the ballot, they can apply for a resident’s visa, will allow them to work, live, and study in New Zealand indefinitely.

Hon. Pohiva said his government would talk to the New Zealand authorities to consider those Tongan overstayers who have particular skills and are well settled.

According to Radio New Zealand, the overall number of people who stayed in the country after their visa expired has almost halved in the past 15 years, from an estimated 20,657 in 2000 to 10,848 in January, 2016.

Immigration New Zealand told RNZ it had negotiated the voluntary departure of many overstayers rather than formally deporting them. It said more than over 1200 people left New Zealand voluntarily in the 2014-2015 financial year.

The main points

  • The government of Tonga is struggling to deal with overstayers.
  • Fijian and Chinese labourers are among the biggest offenders.
  • The Tongan government says it is considering changing the current policy for migrant workers.
  • However, while Fijian and Chinese overstayers are a problem in Tonga, overstayers from the kingdom are a problem in New Zealand.

For more information

In Tonga: Fijians ‘Mistreated’ (Fiji Sun)

Show compassion to overstayers, Immigration NZ urged (Radio New Zealand)

Arrest after Tongan shot dead in Sacramento, United States

Shortly after midnight Monday, Chris Moran crawled out of bed to accompany his brother in dealing with a raucous party around the corner from the south Sacramento home they shared.

Within the hour, Moran found himself frantically using blankets and duct tape to try to stop the blood from escaping from the three holes in his brother’s chest.

Tuesday, the Sacramento police arrested his neighbor Mario Junior Garcia, 19, for fatally shooting Talanoa Feinga, 27.

Moran said he watched as Feinga was shot three times in the chest outside of their Valley Hi home on the 8300 block of Anton Way.

“They took such a beautiful person away from us,” said Moran, Feinga’s half brother. Feinga worked with Moran at Feinga’s father’s contracting and roofing business. He was a father of two school-aged kids and recently started his own handyman business.

Moran, who lived at the duplex with his brother and his family, said on several occasions they sought law enforcement help to quell out-of-control parties. On July 16, he said they reported that gunfire stuck their home.

“We were finding shell cases everywhere,” Moran said of the previous incident. “They (the police) showed no interest in caring about the situation.”

Sometime after midnight on Monday, Moran said his sister-in-law woke him and said Feinga went to Garcia’s residence in an attempt to get a vehicle moved from his property. Moran said he joined his brother.

Feinga was successful in getting someone to move the car, but soon Garcia came out of the house with as many as 20 people and confronted Feinga. Over the still blaring music, the two exchanged words, Moran said. But when Feinga moved closer to hear what Garcia said, Moran said the teen pulled a gun and fired three times.

Garcia dropped the gun as Moran and Feinga gave chase, but within a few steps Moran said he noticed his brother was no longer by his side. Bleeding from the chest, Feinga made it back to his yard. Moran turned back, he said, and used a blanket and duct tape to try to stop the bleeding.

“He lost too much blood. He probably didn’t realize he was shot,” Moran said.

Matthew McPhail, a police spokesman, said officers were already en route in response to an anonymous noise complaint when the call was upgraded to shots fired.

McPhail said he didn’t immediately have information about previous calls for service related to the victim or suspect. When police arrived at 12:45 a.m. Monday, they found Feinga suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

In a news release, police called the shooting a “tragic and unnecessary act of violence.”

McPhail said Garcia’s booking photo would not be released.

sacbee

Tongan archers and swimmer take the lead for kingdom in Rio Olympic Games competition

Tonga’s athletes have begun competing at the Rio Olympics in the archery events with archers Arne Jensen and Lusitania Tatafu and swimmer Amini Fonua leading the way.

Arne Jensen ranked 61st out of 64 after the first ranking.

In the subsequent round of 64 he scored three against seven by Sjef Vandenberg of the Netherlands.

Jensen is a student from Nuku’alofa TGA. He is coached  by  Benjamin Ipsen and made his international debut in 2010.

In the  women’s individual archery, Lusitania Tatafu ranked 63rd out of 64 in the ranking round. She will compete against Chang Hye-Jin of South Korea in the round of 64 tomorrow (Wednesday, august 10).

Tatafu has competed at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanking and last year took silver at the New Zealand Nationals.

Amini Fonua competed in the 100 metres breastroke, with a time of 1:06:04, coming fifth in the first heat. He is ranked 45th.

New Zealand-born Fonua competed in the London Olympics and is one of only two openly gay swimmers at the Rio Games.

Irene Prescott is scheduled to compete in the women’s 50 metre freestyle this Saturday, August 13.

Born in Australia, Prescott competed in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Prescott.

Taina Halasima is set to compete in the women’s 100 metres on August 13.

Her appearance in Rio follows her representing Tonga in last year’s South Pacific games in Port Moresby.

Siueni Filimone is expected to run in the men’s 100 metres this Sunday, August 14.

The sprinter scored a personal best in the 60 metres at the World Indoor Games in Portland earlier this year.

Pita Taufatofua is scheduled to compete in the men’s over 80 kg taekwondo on Sunday, August 21.

Taufatofua continues to draw attention from the media, with revelations that he had been training at the South Peace Taekwondo centre in Auckland before the Olympics.

And he has been quoted by the Chicago Tribune as saying that his extremely shiny appearance during the opening ceremony was due to an over-enthusiastic assistant.

“It was being applied to me while I was holding the flag by a lovely lady behind me. She was just lathering it on and I had to ask her to stop because my shoes were starting to slip off and it was dripping down,” Taufatofua said.

Taufatofua has also found himself being asked to pose with a number of female admirers. Including President George Bush Jnr’s daughter.

The main points

  • Tonga’s athletes have begun competing at the Rio Olympics in the archery events with archers Arne Jensen and Lusitania Tatafu and swimmer Amini Fonua leading the way.
  • In the round of 64 Jensen scored three against seven by Sjef Vandenberg of the Netherlands.
  • Tatafu will compete against Chang Hye-Jin of South Korea in the round of 64 tomorrow (Wednesday, August 10).
  • Fonua competed in the 100 metres breastroke, with a time of 1:06:04, coming fifth in the first heat.

For more information

Arne Jensen (World Archery)

Youth Olympian TAFAFU wins silver for Tonga at New Zealand nationals (World Archery)

Olympic swimmer loves wearing ‘gay & lesbian’ on his swimsuit

 

Sombre vigil: Aucklanders text to send their love to victims, Tongan leader Tāmeifuna says

by Kalino Latu & Sefita Haoʻuli

Tongan leader Ika Tāmeifuna told  a sombre vigil at the Katikati War Memorial Hall tonight the Tongans in Auckland texted and ask him to send their loves to four of the Tongans victims who were killed on a crash Tuesday 2.

Tāmeifuna, who headed the NZ Immigration service in Tonga when the RSE programme started in 2007 recalled the efforts both New Zealand and the Tongan governments took to make sure that workers were made aware of the benefits as well as the risks in their new working environment.

“No one envisaged that we would be here in Katikati tonight to farewell four young men under these tragic circumstances”, he told the gathering.

He was part of a delegation of Auckland residents representing the Pacific Leadership Group who came to Katikati to pay their respects and to pass on funds which were raised by a Tongan construction company in Auckland for the victims’ families.

Sitiveni Vaipulu, 44, his son Koli Vaipulu, 21, Sione Teulaka, 21, Halani Fine, 29, and Samuela Taukatelata, 28, all died instantly when the car they were in collided with a logging truck in New Zealand’s 3rd most dangerous highway.

Putu2

Fine’s body had been taken by his family to Northshore, New Zealand where he was expected to be buried on Thursday.

Families and loved ones of the victims will observe the Tongan ‘āpō’ or night vigil until dawn when the cortege will return to Tauranga awaiting transit to Auckland for the final trip home to Tonga on Friday morning.

Earlier tonight more than 50 workers from the Aongatete Coolstores where the deceased worked visited to pay tribute and farewelled their former workmates in a moving ceremony and were led by the RSE Coordinator Mr Clive Exelby.

Church leaders from the Siasi Tonga Hou’eiki, the Latter Day Saints as well as the Siasi Tonga Tau’ataina came to offer prayers as is customary for Tongan funerals.

The venue is on the main street of this small township and although it has a growing Tongan community of around 300 their numbers have swelled to more than a thousand over the last few days.

A Tongan vigil is a night of continuous solemn songs of praise and as Tāmeifuna observed, on this cold winters night in rural Katikati, one could have easily be in Lavengatonga, Ahau or Navutoka where the deceased all hail from.

Suspect intruder carrying knife at NZ HC premise; Tongan Police investigate

Tongan police are investigating following a report of a break in at one of the New Zealand High Commission premises, Monday 8 at 10.30am.

Police said the burglar was described as a young male in his late teens. He was wearing knee length black shorts, black and white t-shirt and his head was covered with a black cloth.

The suspect was also alleged to be carrying a kitchen knife.

Police are making positive inquiries and believe the incident to be part of a number of daylight burglaries that have been occurring in that area for several weeks.

Deputy Commissioner Pelenatita Fe’ao Vaisuai, says there has been a recent increase in burglaries in Fangaloto and neighbouring villages with items targeted including cash, jewelry, mobile phones, laptops, and Tongan mats.

Given this recent activity Police would like to remind property owners to ensure their homes as well as any garages, sheds or out buildings are securely locked up.

Police would like to remind the community should they see suspicious behaviour they need to call 922 or 26494 immediately.

Tongan school dropouts have chance to study at MIT, PM Pōhiva says

Tonga’s Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva said the school dropouts in Tonga can have a chance to study courses provided by the Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT).

Hon Pōhiva made the comment during a visit to the Institute’s Pasifika Community Centre last week as part of his first official visit to New Zealand.

He was welcomed to the centre by Peter Quigg,  Acting CEO, Dr Stuart Middleton, MIT Director of External Affairs, ‘Iani Nemani, Co-Chair Pacific Community Advisory Board, and Senior Lecturers, ‘Ikani Fifita and Anna Cullen. Other faculty members and some of the Pasifika staff and students also joined the celebration.

After the opening prayer and other formalities, the Hon. Prime Minister along with his delegation had a tour of the MIT Pasifika Centre. This was followed by an informal discussion relating to Pasifika and Tongan students at MIT, and MIT’s on-going activity in Tonga.

The Hon. Prime Minister was accompanied by Hon. Tevita Lavemaau, Minister for Revenue and Customs, Hon. Poase Tei, Minister of Public Enterprises, Lord Vaea, Member of Parliament and Nobles Representative, a delegation of Tongan Government officials, and Sarah Walsh, New Zealand  High Commissioner to Tonga.

MIT

“At MIT, we have a strong commitment to Pasifika and to enabling Pasifika to succeed as Pasifika,” says Dr Middleton, “Building the MIT Pasifika Community in Otara is an integral part of this strategy.”

MIT has recently developed a partnership with support from the Tonga Institute of
Science of Technology (TIST), and the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide trades training in Tonga.  Monte Payne, Senior Lecturer and Tongan Technical Advisor is working very close with Dr Middleton and TIST said “The trades training is running very well in Tonga and this is a great opportunity for Tongan students and the Tongan communities, “Parents are showing great interests and understanding of the benefits for their children in joining the programme”.

“Over the past three years, we’ve implemented a programme to train young people in Tonga in vocational and technical trades. It’s been a very effective, for the individuals and for the wider community,” says Dr Middleton.

In 2015, more than 200 fifteen year old students in Tonga graduated through the partnership.