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Miss Appraxus beauty pageant contestants appear at fundraiser

By
Kalino Latu
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Miss Appraxus New Zealand beauty pageant contestants appeared at a fundraiser in Manukau last night.

Eight Tongan beauty contestants were contesting to represent New Zealand in the 2017 Miss Heilala Festival in July.

The winner will go on to the Miss Heilala Festival in Tonga.

The festival will be part of many festivities organised to mark His Majesty King Tupou VI’s 56 birthday in June.

The aspiring beauty queens were presented to the public last night at Vavaʻu Lahi nightclub in Manukau.

Last year Miss Appraxus New Zealand sent a contestant to Tonga to participate in the Miss Heilala 2016. She was Miss Ana Falala

The contestants are:

Miss Tuitui Fashion 2017
Ms Titania Monica Matekuolava
Lotofoa/Tokomololo/Haavakatolo n Uiha

Miss North Memorial Onehunga
Ms Maikale Vea Latu
Toa ko Maafu/Kolokakala/Uiha/Lotofoa/Haatoukai/Hapai

Miss Brilliant Star NZ

Maryanne Fifita
Haateiho  Tongatapu
Haano Haapai Veu

Miss KlickEx NZ
Ms Lilipeti Kathy Manu
Nukunuku/Loutokaiano/Folaha
Sia ko Veiongo / Kolomotu’a Taaki moe Aka/ Niua fo’ou

Miss Maa’imoa Catering NZ
Stephanie Malia Tukuafu
Uasi La’aa/ Niutoua Halatukutonga/Taulanga Faua/Ma’ufanga Tongatapu

Miss Sal’s Creation NZ
Ms Ophelia Kikikiti Kava
Moungaone/Nginingini ofolanga/Taaki moe aka/Niua/Tapulululu/Seti Vaolongolongo
Faa’imata/Painitu’u2 Havelu

Miss Vava’u lahi NZ
Ms Luseane Kauvaka
Kilikilitefua/Makave
Fungaonetale/Longomapu
Tavake Fai’ana/Tu’anuku
Mahina Fekite / Tongoleleka
Fungapulupulu/Ha’utu
Toahola / Fahefa Tongatapu.

Miss Bou Fashion NZ
Ms Melesiu Jasmine Fale-Ula
Niutu’utolu/ Fola’osi/Funga Matatoa/Api ko Havelu lahi/Tafengaloko/Vai ko Lofia /Kotu
Vaonukonuka/ Taulanga ko Fangalei/Hunga Vava’u lahi

Tonga increasing transparency, says ADB expert

By
Philip Cass
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The Asian Development Bank says Tonga is leading the way in the Pacific in increasing transparency in government.

Christopher Russell, an expert in reform, made the comments after the launch of a website  that provides information about state-owned enterprises.

“Tonga is the first to have their website up and running,” Russell said.

“So they really are ranking very high within the Pacific realm and also internationally.

“There are not many countries around the world that will have the amount of information.”

Russell said Tonga was one of the first countries to require a publication summarising financial information on public enterprises in 2010.

A 2014 report on Tonga by Transparency International said the government had taken significant steps in recent years to improve the country’s governance.

The report said Tonga was now ranked around the global average in terms of its performance on governance indicators.

However, it said political corruption and nepotism were still a problem.

It said these issues were rooted in the kingdom’s political  and demographic structure, strong sense of kinship, and late democratic awakening.

For more information

Tonga becomes first Pacific nation to publish SOE information online

Transparency International Tonga report

Hawaii reminds Jeff Sessions its actually a state

By
Kaniva Staff
-

HONOLULU — Hawaii’s Democratic lawmakers on Thursday criticized Attorney General Jeff Sessions after he expressed amazement on a radio show that a “judge sitting on an island in the Pacific” could stop the president’s travel ban.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono responded by trying to give Sessions a civics lesson on Twitter, saying Hawaii has been a U.S. state for 58 years.

The senator said later in a telephone interview the remarks showed a lack of awareness about the separation of powers between the judiciary and executive branches.

U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson last month blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order prohibiting new visas for people from six Muslim-majority countries and temporarily halting the U.S. refugee program. The Trump Administration appealed the ruling.

Sessions told the “Mark Levin Show” he’s confident the president will prevail with his administration’s appeal of Watson’s travel ban ruling.

“I really am amazed that a judge sitting on an island in the Pacific can issue an order that stops the president of the United States from what appears to be clearly his statutory and constitutional power,” Sessions said.

Hirono also said Sessions’ remarks suggested he is prejudiced against Hawaii.

“Why isn’t a federal judge from Hawaii as able as any other judge from anywhere to issue rulings?” Hirono asked.

She told Session on Twitter “we won’t succumb to your dog whistle politics.”

Both Hirono and Sen. Brian Schatz emphasized that Sessions voted as a senator to confirm Watson as a judge.

Schatz chided Sessions more on Twitter by telling him the island where Watson made the ruling is named Oahu.

“It’s my home. Have some respect,” he said.

U.S. Justice Department spokesman Ian Prior said in an email that Sessions was questioning one judge’s ability to block the president’s executive order for the travel ban.

“Hawaii is, in fact, an island in the Pacific — a beautiful one where the Attorney General’s granddaughter was born,” Prior said. “The point, however, is that there is a problem when a flawed opinion by a single judge can block the President’s lawful exercise of authority to keep the entire country safe.”

Douglas Chin, Hawaii’s attorney general, said in a statement it was disappointing Sessions doesn’t acknowledge that the federal courts are “co-equal partners with Congress and the president.”

A clerk for the U.S. District Court in Hawaii said Watson declined to comment.

Tonga will host signing of regional trade deal

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga will host the signing of the PACER Plus agreement in June.

Radio New Zealand reported that the deal included a $US38 million development package for Pacific island countries to increase their export capacity.

Negotiations have been going on for eight years. The two largest Island economies, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, pulled out of the trade deal.

The 14 countries participating will sign the agreement in Tonga in June.

PACER Plus is meant to enhance the economic development of Pacific island countries through greater regional trade and economic integration with Australia and New Zealand.

However, critics have said that it will still leave Australia and New Zealand dominating the regional economy and that very few benefits will flow through to ordinary Pacific islanders.

They have also said that Island nations will lose income from tariffs on imported goods as part of the free trade deal.

Radio New Zealand reported that the trade deal would include a $US38 million development package for Pacific island countries to increase their export capacity.

The 12 island nations which will sign the deal in June already have duty free access to Australian and New Zealand markets.

However, New Zealand Trade Minister, Todd McClay  said PACER Plus allowed Pacific island countries to gradually phase out tariffs on imports.

“This is a development and trade agreement and we recognise whilst trade will provide much more for Pacific island economies, at the same time we have to help them get ready for some of the opportunities and benefits the agreement will deliver,” McClay said.

The 12 Island nations expected to sign the PACER Plus agreement are the Cook Islands,the  Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Kiribati, Niue, Palau, the Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

The main points

  • Tonga will host the signing of the PACER Plus agreement in June.
  • Negotiations have been going on for eight years. The two largest Island economies, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, pulled out of the trade deal.
  • PACER Plus is meant to enhance the economic development of Pacific island countries through greater regional trade and economic integration with Australia and New Zealand.
  • However, critics have said that it will still leave Australia and New Zealand dominating the regional economy.

For more information

PACER Plus negotiations concluded

ITU Secretary keeps his promise to donate laptops to Tongan schools

By
Kalino Latu
-

ITU Secretary General of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) kept his words and gifted two schools in Tonga with laptops.

Tonga High School and Tupou College had received 10 laptops respectively from the United Nations’ organisation this week.

ITU Secretary General Houlin Zhao made his “promise” last year while visiting Tonga.

Zhao had the opportunity to meet with the principals of the two schools.

“The discussions made with the two principals highlighted the need for more laptops and he offered to donate 10 laptops to each high school,” MEIDECC CEO Paula Ma’u was quoted as saying.

Ma’u said: “the laptops aimed to enhance students learning and for them to utilize it for academic purposes such as project research and sharing information”.

ITU main task is to coordinate telecommunication operations and services throughout the world.

New boat monitors Tonga’s marine projects

By
Kalino Latu
-

A new marine monitoring boat launched in Nuku’alofa this week was a boon to the government’s marine projects.

The boat, which was assembled in Tonga late last year, is part of the Tonga Ridge to Reef Project.

The project aimed at maintaining and enhancing “the ecosystem goods and services on Tonga’s main lagoon catchment and marine reserve areas through an integrated approach to land, water, forest, biodiversity and coastal resource management”.

Deputy Prime Minister Hon Siaosi Sovaleni, who had launched the boat,  told guests at the Ngutulei Restaurant,  Faua Wharf the boat was an “additional new achievement this year”.

He said the Ridge to Reef Program, under the Department of Environment continued to be successful after it was launched in 2015.

“First is the establishment of the Environment website in January, and secondly the recent approval of the revised Management Plan for Fanga’uta Lagoon Catchment called Fanga’uta Stewardship Plan by the Steering Committee in March,” he said.

Hon Sovaleni was grateful to UNDP for supporting the project.

Police arrest 176 people in capital during Easter crackdown

By
Philip Cass
-

Drugs, alcohol and robberies kept Nuku’alofa police busy over Easter.

Police launched a special operation on Maundy Thursday (April 13) to control crime during the Easter break.

In Nuku’alofa police said assaults and robbery were on the rise.

Other offences included crimes related to drugs and alcohol.

Controlling drunkenness has been an ongoing concern for the police.

Three people were arrested for possession of marijuana.

A total of 176 people were arrested in the capital.

Acting Chief Superintendent of the Nuku’alofa Police station, Tevita Vailea, told the Tongan Broadcasting Corporation most offences were traffic related.

Radio New Zealand reported that most arrests were mostly for drunk driving and drinking in public.

A number of minor road accidents were reported.

Most of the people arrested were men.

Police conducted a similar operation over Christmas. making 159 arrests.

The main points

  • Drugs, alcohol and robberies kept Nuku’alofa police busy over Easter.
  • A total of 176 people were arrested in the capital.
  • Radio New Zealand reported that most arrests were mostly for drunk driving and drinking in public.

For more information

More than 100 people arrested last week for various offenses

Dozens arrested in Tonga’s capital

Support in Tonga for tough police stance on booze

Changes to better manage immigration

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse today announced a package of changes designed to better manage immigration and improve the long-term labour market contribution of temporary and permanent migration.

“The Government is committed to ensuring inward migration best supports the economy and the labour market,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“It’s important that our immigration settings are attracting the right people, with the right skills, to help fill genuine skill shortages and contribute to our growing economy.

“That is why we are making a number of changes to our permanent and temporary immigration settings aimed at managing the number and improving the quality of migrants coming to New Zealand.”

Changes to permanent immigration settings include introducing two remuneration thresholds for applicants applying for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC), which will complement the current qualifications and occupation framework.

“One remuneration threshold will be set at the New Zealand median income of $48,859 a year for jobs that are currently considered skilled. The other threshold will be set at 1.5 times the New Zealand median income of $73,299 a year for jobs that are not currently considered skilled but are well paid,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“The SMC points table, under which individuals claim points towards their residence application, will also be realigned to put more emphasis on characteristics associated with better outcomes for migrants.

“Collectively these changes will improve the skill composition of the SMC and ensure we are attracting migrants who bring the most economic benefits to New Zealand.”

The Government is also proposing a number of changes to temporary migration settings to manage the number and settlement expectations of new migrants coming to New Zealand on Essential Skills work visas.

The changes include:

The introduction of remuneration bands to determine the skill level of an Essential Skills visa holder, which would align with the remuneration thresholds being introduced for Skilled Migrant Category applicants
The introduction of a maximum duration of three years for lower-skilled and lower-paid Essential Skills visa holders, after which a minimum stand down period will apply before they are eligible for another lower-skilled temporary work visa.
Aligning the ability of Essential Skills visa holders to bring their children and partners to New Zealand with the new skill levels.
Exploring which occupations have a seasonal nature and ensuring that the length of the visa aligns with peak labour demand.
“I want to make it clear that where there are genuine labour or skills shortages, employers will be able to continue to use migrant labour to fill those jobs,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“However, the Government has a Kiwis first approach to immigration and these changes are designed to strike the right balance between reinforcing the temporary nature of Essential Skills work visas and encouraging employers to take on more Kiwis and invest in the training to upskill them.

“We have always said that we constantly review our immigration policies to ensure they are fit for purpose and today’s announcement is another example of this Government’s responsible, pragmatic approach to managing immigration.”

Public consultation on the changes to temporary migration settings closes on 21 May, with implementation planned for later this year.

For more information visit:

www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications/skilled-migrant-category-changes

www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications/review-temporary-migrant-work-settings

65-year-old man arrested following fatal Mailefihi Siuʻilikutapu college bus crash in Gisborne

By
Kalino Latu
-

Police have arrested a 65-year-old man in relation to the bus crash that happened on Christmas Eve 2016, on State Highway 2, south of Gisborne.

He was arrested in Auckland on Wednesday night and has been charged with three counts of careless driving causing death and 27 counts of careless driving causing injury.

He will appear in Manukau District Court on Wednesday 26 April 2017.

Fifty-three students and teachers from the Mailefihi Siuilikutapu College Brass Band, who were visiting New Zealand to fundraise for their school, were on board the bus when it went down 100m a bank.

11-year-old Sione Taumalolo, 33-year-old Talita Moimoi Fifita and 55-year-old Leotisia Malakai  had been killed after the bus slid down south of Gisborne.

Several others were hospitalised including one student who had a leg amputated and is now using an artificial limb.

“The crash was an absolute tragedy for everyone involved and we hope that holding somebody accountable may begin to bring some closure to those affected,” says Inspector Sam Aberahama, Tairawhiti Area Commander.

“I would like to acknowledge the investigation team who have worked on this over the past four months and the agencies who provided support to Police and the victims at the time and throughout the inquiry.

“Our thoughts continue to be with the families of those involved.”

As the matter is now before the Court Police is unable to comment further.

First Tongan in American big league glad to be playing at home first time against defending champs

By
Kalino Latu
-

Sam Tu’ivailala, the first Tongan to be promoted to American baseball big league was proud of their first game at home earlier this month against defending champions, the Chicago cubs, he said.

The game was celebrated with festivities which included “Hall of Fame Players who played for the organisation” lining up to welcome the competitors.

“They were there for everyone of our players to meet when we got introduced on opening day”, Tu’ivailala told Kaniva News.

He said this was the first game at home in St. Louis against the defending champions, the Chicago cubs.

He said they were at the “same division (with) us which makes our games even more important.”

The 25-year-old pitcher from San Mateo played at Class A Palm Beach before joining AA Springfield and then moving to AAA Memphis in 2014.

As we reported at the time, it was followed by a call up by front rankers the Cardinals.

Tu’ivailala took to twitter after he received the great news.

“Greatest feeling in the world telling my mom “I did it, I’m going to the big leagues!” Thank you everyone for all the love & support!” he tweeted.

“It was just a crazy feeling as soon as I heard it,” Tuivailala told the American Daily Journal.

“I knew in the back of my head … maybe there’s a chance, but obviously I didn’t want to look into the future and get my expectations up there. I knew if I just competed one day at a time, maybe I’d get my chance.”

Tuivailala only began pitching professionally in 2012.

He was originally an infielder.

The Journal has described him as having “an electric right arm” and he has been recorded at pitching up to 160kmh.

His mother Julie is Hispanic and his father Sione Latu Tu’ivailala comes from Houma, Tongatapu and Matamaka through his father, Samiu Tu’ivailala.

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