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King and queen celebrate reopening of new Tongan  village in Hawaiʻi

By
Kaniva Staff
-

His Majesty King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u Tuku’aho of Tonga were welcomed at the opening of the Tonga Village at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii last week.

The village has been reopened after a 16-month restoration works.

In a ceremony steeped in culture and celebration, Their Majesty “made a special trip to participate in the blessing ceremony as a tribute to the people of Tonga and the spirit of the Tongan culture being perpetuated at the Polynesian Cultural Center”.

King Tupou VI addressed the audience, praising the Polynesian Cultural Center for its dedication to showcase culture. “The Polynesian Cultural Center is a window the world can look through to understand lesser-known islands and their people,” said King Tupou VI. “The Tonga Village fosters pride in the cultural identity of our people and allows them to preserve and pass on that love to our younger generations.”

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Performers representing the Polynesian Cultural Center’s Tahiti Village honor the Royal Family of Tonga. Photo/Supplied

Alfred Grace, president of the Polynesian Cultural Center, told the gathering, “We are grateful to have His Majesty King Tupou VI and Her Majesty Queen Nanasipauu join us to celebrate this beautiful village and the proud and noble people it represents. Here in the Tonga village, we encapsulate all that is significant, worthy and meaningful to the Polynesian Cultural Center. It is a showplace for a magnificent culture.”

It was the first appearance at the Polynesian Cultural Center by the Royal Family of Tonga since 1993 and the first for King Tupou VI since assuming the throne. Known as the “Friendly Islands,” Tonga is the last remaining monarchy in Polynesia ruled by a king.

The ceremony’s festivities were focused on welcoming King Tupou VI to the new Tonga Village. The Royal Family arrived by canoe and was greeted with a song by the Kahuku Tongan Choir. Following the address by King Tupou VI, the Royal Family was honored with gifts and cultural performances from performers representing the Polynesian Cultural Center’s six island villages, Hawai‘i, Tahiti, Aotearoa, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.

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People of Tongan ancestry proudly sing the Tongan National Anthem. Photo/Supplied

Tonga, the host village for today’s celebration, concluded the ceremony with more than 100 people of Tongan ancestry performing traditional cultural songs and dances.

Originally built in 1963 when the Polynesian Cultural Center opened, the Tonga Village was completely restored over the past 16 months, a process that was undertaken to present a more complete and authentic showcase of the Tongan culture. All of the structures have been built using traditional Tongan materials and lashes.

Highlights of the new Tonga Village include:

  • New, large town hall for cultural
  • Restored family house and queen’s summer
  • New kitchen and underground oven to display Tongan cooking methods, supported by a garden growing taro, papaya, tapioca, pineapple, sweet potato and
  • New women’s workshop for weaving and cultural
  • Restored drum presentation stage for cultural
  • Renovated the central lawn area to make it ideal for cultural demonstrations, ceremonies and
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The Fiji Village performance featured a 4-year-old in a traditional warrior outfit. Photo/Supplied

President Grace added, “The Polynesian Cultural Center takes great pride in sharing the culture, activities and traditions of Tonga with guests from around the world. The Tonga Village is always a favorite experience for our guests, leaving them with fond memories, knowledge and a greater appreciation for the friendly people and fascinating culture of Tonga.”

Located on O‘ahu’s beautiful North Shore, the Polynesian Cultural Center is the only cultural tourist attraction of its kind in the world and a favorite of all visitors to Hawai‘i. An engaging, interactive celebration showcasing the people, culture, arts and crafts of Polynesia, the Polynesian Cultural Center has entertained millions of visitors from around the world since opening in 1963. A nonprofit organization, 100% of the revenue goes to daily operations and to support the education of its student-employees from neighboring Brigham Young University-Hawai‘i.

For more information about the Polynesian Cultural Center, visit www.polynesia.com or call (800) 367-7060.

 

Preparations for 150th anniversary “brings the curtain down” on church and school rivalries

By
Kalino Latu
-

Preparations for Tupou College’s 150th anniversary, which begins in Nuku’alofa on June 17 has united ex-students from various schools and members of different churches.

The Secretary of the Tupou College Alumni in New Zealand, Moi Kaufononga, told Kaniva News it was a blessing for them to see the celebration will be celebrated not just by the Tupou College alumni and the Free Wesleyans.

Kaufononga described the unification as “warming” and “congenial.”

There has been a history of violence between Tupou College and Tonga College since Tupou College was established.

But after nearly a century of rivalry, pupils from the two schools have been  regularly seen mixing harmoniously out of school.

Historians believe that chaos that erupted among members of the Fakaongo church was caused by rivalry between the founder of Tupou College Dr James Eagan Moulton and the former Prime Minister of Tonga, Mr Shirley Baker.

This led to the persecutions of those who did not want to follow the king’s order to break away from the Methodist church in Australia and establish a Tongan church.

Former students from Tonga High School, Tonga College, ʻApifoʻou College and St Andrews High School in New Zealand have joined in preparations for the week-long centenary celebrations.

Parishioners of the Free Church of Tonga, Church of Tonga, Catholic and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have participated in the choir practice and entertainment.

They will wear the formal Tongan attire which has been designed for Tupou College alumni to wear during the celebrations.

A 100 member choir and entertainers from New Zealand will perform during the anniversary celebration.

The preparations began about three months ago.

A fundraising dinner will be held tomorrow (Saturday, June 11) at the Greyhound Conference and Function Centre in Manukau.

The money collected during the fundraising will be used to buy an ambulance for the college.

The New Zealand alumni association has funded a NZ$10,000 groundwater pumping system to be used for the College’s farms and plantation.

Kaufononga said since the school was established in 1866 water had to be transported to the farm and plantation.

“We have to start a new era and provide the new pumping system,” he said.

They also offered 100 dining tables and 1000 chairs for use in the college’s dining room.

“Our oldies in the alumni are glad to see how we get along well with alumni from other schools”, Kaufononga said.

“We do everything to encourage oneness and togetherness.”

The Tupou College alumni have arranged ties to worn by all members who will register on the first day of the celebration.

The preparations for 150th anniversary “brings the curtain down” on church and school rivalries, Kaufononga said.

The main points

  • Preparations for Tupou College’s 150th anniversary, which begins in Nuku’alofa on June 17 has united ex-students from various schools and members of different churches.
  • The Secretary of the Tupou College Alumni in New Zealand, Moi Kaufononga, told Kaniva News it was a blessing for them to see the celebration will be celebrated not just by the Tupou College alumni and the Free Wesleyans.
  • A fundraising dinner will be held tomorrow (Saturday, June 11) at the Greyhound Conference and Function Centre in Manukau.
  • The money collected during the fundraising will be used to buy an ambulance for the college.

Chinese tourists join countries exempt from need to obtain visa for ordinary holiday visits

By
Philip Cass
-

Chinese tourists will no longer need a visa to visit Tonga.

China joins a long list of countries whose citizens do not require a visa to visit the island kingdom if they are staying for less than 30 days.

A visa is not required for most bona-fide visitors to enter Tonga for stays of one month or less, providing that the visitor holds a valid passport and an onward air or sea ticket and the immigration authorities are satisfied that the visitor has adequate funds for the visit.

On 9 June 2016, China and Tonga signed a mutual visa exemption agreement for ordinary passport holders yesterday.

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva, Prime Minister and Chinese ambassador H.E. Mr. Huang Huaguang, signed the agreement.

Hon. Pohiva said the agreement would boost tourism and contribute to the growth of the economy.

H.E. Mr. Huang said China was now the largest tourism market in the world and the agreement would promote tourism between two countries.

The agreement means Chinese or Tonga citizens will not have to obtain visas to enter or transit through the territory of the other for a period of not more than 30 days. Citizens wanting to stay for longer than 30 days, study, work, or take up residence, will need to apply for visas in advance.

In 2012, China and Tonga signed an agreement covering visa exemptions for Diplomatic, Official or Service Passports and Passports for Public Affairs.

At the moment you do not need a visa to visit Tonga if are a citizen of one of the following countries: Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cook Islands, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kirabati, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niue, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Russia, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Spain, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, The Bahamas, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States of America or Vanuatu.

Chinese and Tongan citizens still require a visa to enter New Zealand for a holiday.

The main points

  • Chinese tourists will no longer need a visa to visit Tonga.
  • China joins a long list of countries whose citizens do not require a visa to visit the island kingdom if they are staying for less than 30 days.
  • A visa is not required for most bona-fide visitors to enter Tonga for stays of one month or less, providing that the visitor holds a valid passport and an onward air or sea ticket and the immigration authorities are satisfied that the visitor has adequate funds for the visit.
  • In 2012, China and Tonga signed an agreement covering visa exemptions for Diplomatic, Official or Service Passports and Passports for Public Affairs.

For more information

Entry requirements

Hong Kong market explodes for Tongan exporters as NZ trade percentage shrinks 

By
Philip Cass
-

Tongan exporters have faced a mixed result in recent years, with some markets disappearing and others growing spectacularly.

New Zealand remains Tonga’s main market and there has been explosive growth in Hong Kong, but Singapore and Fiji barely register on the trade index.

According to figures released by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning in its 2016-17 Budget Statement, exports to New Zealand fell from 31.4% of the kingdom’s exports in 2007-8 to just 25.1% in 2014-15.

However, in the same period, the value of exports to New Zealand rose from T$5,278,000 to TS7,049,000.

Exports to Australia rose from 4.9 percent of exports to 11.4 percent between the 2007/8 financial year and the 2014-15 financial year. The value of exports to Australia rose from T$817,000 to T$3,200,000 in the same period.

But the explosive growth has come in Hong Kong, which was worth just T$171,000 in 2007-8 and made up just one percent of Tonga’s exports. In the 2014-15 financial year, however, exports to Hong Kong were worth T$5,368,000 and counted for 19.1 percent of the export trade.

Singapore, on the other hand, has vanished as a market. Worth just T$104,000 in 2007-8 and comprising 0.6% of the market, was worth only T$4000 in 2014-15, too low to register as a percentage in the Ministry figures.

Trade with Fiji was down to 0.7% of the export market in 2014-15 from a high of 2.7% in 2011-12. In 2014-15 trade was worth T$186,000.

Elsewhere, trade with the US mainland in 2014-15 was worth 19.6% of Tonga’s export market after falling to a low of 10.5% in 2011-12. US mainland trade was worth T$5,514,000 in the 2014-15 financial year, almost triple what is was in 2007-8 and TS$2 million more than it was in the 2013-14 financial year.

Exports to Japan were worth more in the 2014-15 financial year – T$3.361,000 compared to $2,244,000 in 2007-8 and T$2,710,000 in 2013-14. However, they had dropped to 11.9% of the value of overall exports from 12.5% in 2013-14.

Tonga’s four main markets in terms of percentage are New Zealand (25.1%), mainland United States (19.6%), Hong Kong (19.1%), Japan (11.9%) and Australia (11.4%).

Tonga’s chief exports are in live animals and animal products and vegetables. Live animals and animal products were worth 46.2% of export trade in 2014-15. This was a strong recovery from the 2012-13 financial year when they comprised just over 35% percent of exports, but still a long way from the high of 2009-10, when they comprised 64.3% of exports.

The main points

  • Tongan exporters have faced a mixed result in recent years, with some markets disappearing and others growing spectacularly.
  • According to figures released by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning in its 2016-17 Budget Statement, exports to New Zealand fell from 31.4% of the kingdom’s exports in 2007-8 to just 25.1% in 2014-15.
  • But there has been explosive growth in the Hong Kong market, which was worth just T$171,000 in 2007-8 and made up just one percent of Tonga’s exports.
  • In the 2014-15 financial year, however, exports to Hong Kong were worth T$5,368,000 and counted for 19.1 percent of the export trade.

TASANOC proposes compromise to end deadlock over removal of Lord Sevele

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga’s national sporting body, TASANOC, has proposed a compromise to end the standoff between the government and Pacific Games Council.

The two bodies have been at loggerheads over the government’s decision to remove Lord Sevele of Vailahi as Chief Executive Officer of Tonga’s Games Organising Committee.

Tonga is due to host the Pacific Games in 2019.

Lord Sevele’s removal was approved by a majority of members of the government’s Audit and Governance Authority.

In a statement released yesterday, TASANOC said Lord Sevele’s removal was not done for personal reasons.

The national sporting body said it wanted to settle any doubts about the games so that it could get on with preparing Tonga’s athletes and building the Games facilities.

TASANOC has proposed a 45 day performance review of the Tongan Games organising committee as a way of ensuring the committee met the requirements of the 2012 Host Contract and the Pacific Games Organisation Act 2013.

It said this would ensure the committee was fully accountable and transparent.

A statement from TASANOC, attributed to Acting President/Senior Vice President ‘Ahongalu Fusimalohi and Interim Chief Executive Officer/Executive Member Emeline Tuita, said it was necessary to bring the focus back to Tonga’s national sports interests.

The statement said the Games facilities would be completed in time regardless of whether the Games were hosted in the Kingdom or not.

“TASANOC fully supports the Authority’s position that it is intolerable for them to accept that their attempts to ensure good governance, accountability and transparency of the  Organising Committee, a role that is legislated to the Authority, is being perceived by the Pacific Games Council as political interference and implied to be a material breach of the Host Contract,” the statement said.

It said that while the Pacific Games Council retained overall control of the Games, the host country and its organising committee were responsible for staging the Games.

“It is our fervent hope that the Pacific Games Council will view our joint efforts as being the optimal solution to protect the integrity of organization and staging of the Games,” the TASANOC statement said.

“The status of the Organising Committee as an independent statutory body is not and has never been in question, but its decisions and activities must stand on the principles of good governance, accountability and transparency and this must be demonstrated to the Authority as the legal overseer of the Organising Committee.”

The main points

  • Tonga’s national sporting body, TASANOC, has proposed a compromise to end the standoff between the government and Pacific Games Council.
  • The two bodies have been at loggerheads over the government’s decision to remove Lord Sevele of Vailahi as Chief Executive Officer of Tonga’s Games Organising Committee.
  • In a statement released yesterday, TASANOC said Lord Sevele’s removal was not done for personal reasons.
  • The national sporting body said it wanted to settle any doubts about the games so that it could get on with preparing Tonga’s athletes and building the Games facilities.

For more information

Sports Minister breaks silence over Games row, tells RNZI loss “would be a blow” (Kaniva News)

Government would welcome losing 2019 Games if PGC supports Lord Sevele (Kaniva News)

Ministry predicts three percent growth in kingdom’s economy, but challenges remain

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga can look forward to economic growth of three percent a year for the next three years, according to the kingdom’s 2016-17 budget.

The Ministry believes that preparations for the 2019 Pacific Games, along with number of other large projects, will support further growth.

According to the Budget Statement 2016-17, growth will be supported in the short term by a number of major events and building projects, including the Tupou College 150th anniversary and the Mormon church’s centenary.

However, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning has warned that a range of external factors could affect the kingdom’s economy and growth is expected to slow this financial year.

The kingdom remains deeply in debt to the Chinese EXIM Bank.

The cost of commodities like oil have fallen, with inflation falling as a result. In recent years the kingdom has faced high domestic inflation driven by difficulties in the agriculture sector resulting from the El Nino drought.

Remittances continue to be a critical source of income, contributing some 28 percent to disposable income, linked to the expansion of the overseas worker programs.

The Ministry of Finance has warned that growth in Tonga is highly dependent on the conditions of its main trading partner economies, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

The Ministry also warned that while activity in the construction sector will help drive the economy, the timing of these construction projects is uncertain, and delays are possible.

Global commodity prices, including food and oil, are expected to remain relatively stable, but if they increase, this will increase costs of production, raise inflation, and could  reduce household disposable income

Tonga remains highly vulnerable to extreme natural events and climatic change.

The Total Cash Appropriation in the budget is $327.7 million. When in-kind support is included, the total budget covering recurrent and development is $545.1 million.

Total revenue estimated for 2016/17 is $500.2 million. This is made up of  $234.0 million from tax and non-tax revenue and $266.2 million from grants. Total expense, for 2016/17, is estimated at $346.1 million. The single largest item remains government wages at $139.2 million. The gross operating balance is a surplus of $154.0 million.

Following the change in Tonga’s debt status, the government has started to borrow on concessional terms for budget support and a few critical infrastructure projects. Domestic borrowing (through bonds) has also recommenced to provide funding for private sector initiatives of providing low cost loans.

The government expects that high priority projects will help stimulate economic development. The Ministry said the Government recognised the importance of ensuring that these projects are implemented successfully.

The construction of the facilities for the Pacific Games would be among the high impact projects. The Ministry said tank Farm project would increase the national capacity for storage of fuel, realizing economy of scale and cost saving for the economy.

Other projects focusing on improved transport and energy infrastructure include:

  • New Ministry of Fisheries to drive growth of this key sector
  • Nuku’alofa Beautification and National Park Projects
  • New Faua Extension and Domestic Terminal Wharf
  • Teufaiva Stadium Reconstruction
  • Fua’amotu and Lupepau’u Airport Upgrade and Renovations
  • St George Building and Tonga High School Phase II Reconstructions
  • Renewable Energy Investments

Total public debt June 30 2016 is projected to be $454 million. This is 55 percent of GDP, with external debt making up 90% of the total debt.

Nearly two thirds of this is owed to the Chinese EXIM Bank. The debt service is estimated at 2.6 percent of GDP for both domestic and foreign loan for 2015/16.

The main points

  • Tonga can look forward to economic growth of three percent a year for the next three years, according to the kingdom’s 2016-17 budget.
  • According to the Budget Statement 2016-17 preparations for the 2019 Pacific Games, along with number of other large projects, will support further growth.
  • However, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning has warned that a range of external factors could affect the kingdom’s economy and growth is expected to slow this financial year.
  • The kingdom also remains deeply in debt to the Chinese EXIM Bank.

Samoa’s Talofa Airways eyes Tonga as potential destination

By
Kalino Latu
-

A new locally-owned Samoa airline, Talofa Airways has been assessing the kingdom as potential destination.

The Airline Advisor, Toleafoa Jeffrey Hunter told the Samoa Observer yesterday the Tongan authority has “endorsed it and they want the service”.

Tonga Civil Aviation could not be immediately reached for comments.

However, Hunter said they were in Tonga during the Independence holidays to negotiate with the Tongan Department of Transport.

“We are waiting for the permit and for them to go through their system before we set the starting date to fly.”

Degree courses to be offered at Tonga’s Institute of Nursing

By
Kalino Latu
-

Work is now underway to upgrade the nursing courses at the Queen Salote Institute of Nursing and Allied Health so that nursing students could study for a degree in nursing.

The highest qualification the institute has currently offered is a diploma in nursing and it has been taught since the last eight years.

The diploma programme was academically supported and assisted by the Auckland University of Technology.

The Minister of Health Saia Piukala said they are planning to start the degree programme in the next three years.

Piukala said the move is one of the Ministry’s attempts for local nurses to meet the latest international standards in nursing.

The Minister said the degree programme means a great benefit not only for the nurses and the Ministry but for the public as well.

Last week 51 diplomats from the nursing institute were graduated with various qualifications at the Queen Sālote Memorial Hall in Nuku’alofa.

Thirty-four nurses were graduated with Diplomas of Nursing (Level 5), six graduates were awarded with Certificates in Environmental Health and 11 graduates received their Diplomas of Pharmacy (Level 5).

World Rugby releases funds to Tonga Rugby

By
Kalino Latu
-

The World Rugby has released TP$532,890.00 (£165,000) to help fund the Tongan rugby union.

The money was part of the TP$1.25 million (£390,000.00) the World Rugby has promised to give Tonga for the current fiscal year.

This would be split into TP$968, 891 (£300,000) for High Performance programme and TP$290, 667 (£90,000.00) for the development programme.

Feʻao Vunipola, the TRU interim CEO said: “Around 60-70% of High Performance funds are for the Ikaletahi with the rest for the other teams and HP posts”.

The funds for the development programme will cover local games including “Get Into Rugby programmes, TAG Rugby and  Coach Education”

“TRU is grateful to our Government for their timely help that funds are now being released by World Rugby and although it was cut due to poor governance in previous years, take the view that it could have been worse”. Vunipola said.

Meanwhile the ʻIkaletahi team is in Fiji for the Pacific Nations Cup and they will face Fiji at 3pm Saturday at the ANZ Stadium.

Supreme Court frees American man waiting for extradition on fraud scheme charges

By
Philip Cass
-

An American man wanted for fraud in the United States has been freed by the Supreme Court in Tonga.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen set aside a magistrate’s court ruling that Antone Thomas Pedras be held  in custody until he was extradited to the US.

Pedras, also known as Chris Pedras and Christopher A.T. Pedras, was wanted on charges of defrauding investors  of  more than  USS$5 million.

The United States has sought his extradition from Tonga under the  Extradition Act  so he could stand trial on 11 counts of wire  fraud,   which  is  an offence against Title  18,  United States Code, section   1343.

On 19 April 2016 the Magistrates’ Court made  an  order  that  Pedras be committed to await his return to the United States  of America to stand trial on April 19.

Pedras sought to have the decision overturned by application for habeus corpus under section 10  of the Act.

In essence, extradition is allowed if the crime of which the person is accused in one country can be shown to be also a crime in another. This is termed a relevant offence.

The Crown claimed that  wire  fraud  was  a  relevant  offence  because  it was “the same  or  similar  to  the  offence  of  obtaining  by false  pretences under section  164 of the  Criminal  Offences Act.”

Section 164 says that “Every person who by any false pretence obtains for himself or for any other person any money, valuable  security  or other  thing whatever  shall be liable to the same punishment as if he had committed    theft.”

Lord Chief justice Paulsen rejected this argument.

“The  requirements   in  section   1343  that  the  accused   devised   or  is intending  to  devise  any  scheme  or  artifice  to  defraud  and  makes  a transmission  by  wire  (which  I shall  use  as  shorthand  for  wire,  radio or    television    communication)     are    absent    from    section     164,” the judge said.

“The   requirement   in   section   164   that   the   accused obtains  for  himself  or  another  any  money,  valuable  security  or  other thing  is  not  present  in section  1343,  where  the  offence  is completed upon  the  making  of  the  transmission  by  wire  regardless  of  whether the fraudulent  scheme  or artifice  profits the accused.

“The  offence of obtaining by false pretences under section 164 requires that it be proved that the accused has by making the false pretence obtained some money, valuable security or other thing.”

This  was  not a requirement of the offence of wire fraud under section 1343.

The judge therefore set aside  the  order  committing  Mr.  Pedras  to  custody  for  return  to the   United   States   of   America   to   stand   trial and he was immediately released.

The main points

  • An American man wanted for fraud in the United States has been freed by the Supreme Court in Tonga.
  • Lord Chief Justice Paulsen set aside a magistrate’s court ruling that Antone Thomas Pedras be held in custody until he was extradited to the US.
  • Pedras, also known as Chris Pedras and Christopher A.T. Pedras, was wanted on charges of defrauding investors of  more than  USS$5 million.
  • The United States has sought his extradition from Tonga under the Extradition Act  so he could stand trial on 11 counts of wire  fraud,   which  is  an offence against Title  18,  United States Code, section
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