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Queen Mother laid to rest at family tombs

By
Kalino Latu
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Queen Mother Halaevalu Mataʻaho has been buried in Malaʻekula royal tombs, following a memorial service at the Nukuʻalofa royal palace.

Her body was carried by about 100 men followed by the royal family and thousands of people who turned up to show their final respect to the beloved matriarch.

Students from Tonga College, Tupou College, Queen Salote College and ‘Api fo’ou College were assigned to line the route  along Tu’i Road for the burial ceremony.

The funeral cortege drove from the airport, where her body had arrived in an RNZAF Hercules past schoolchildren who lined the road for 20 km  in order to pay their respects.

The matriarch’s body was received at the Fu’amotu International Airport by Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u Tuku’aho and  members of the royalty.

As a mark of deep respect, people from all over the kingdom have worn traditional Tongan tauanga’a.

As Kaniva Tonga reported on Monday, students at Marcellin College requested that they be allowed to attend school in formal attire to show their devotion.

Tauanga’a: Foreigners clothe their respect for Queen Mother in Tongan culture

By
Kalino Latu
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Elsewhere in Tonga, people from other cultures and backgrounds have shown their respect to the Queen Mother’s death by adopting Tongan customs, such as the wearing of tauanga’a.

Wearing the black clothes and ta’ovala tied to the waist with a kafa is one of the highest forms of respect a Tongan can show when attending a funeral.

The wearing of the tauanga’a by non-Tongans at the Queen Mother’s funeral could be interpreted as a show of high respect and esteem.

Almost all Chinese in Tongatapu wore tauanga’a and their stores and homes have been draped and wrapped with black and purple tupenus.

(L-R) One News Correspondence Barbara Dreaver, Raymond Moore and Tangata Pasifika correspondence John Pulu. Photo/John Pulu

Taimi ‘o Tonga reporter Melemanu Bloomfield met some of these Chinese and palangi wearing tauanga’a.

Bloomfield said she was outside at the royal palace when she met two women from Canada.

“They were amazed by our unique tradition”, she told Kaniva News.

Bloomfield said she was emotional when she saw them wearing tauanga’a.

She also met two French people were wearing tauanga’a.

She said one of them had just arrived in the country and had been given a aveave (type of ta’ovala) to wear by her friend who was working in Tonga.

Welcoming of the Matriarch 

Thousands in Tonga today braved heavy rainfall to show their respect for Queen Mother Halaevalu Mata’aho.

School children lined the Taufa’ahau and Tuku’aho roads from Fu’amotu to the Matapā Tapu of the Royal Palace in Nuku’alofa.

The school children bowed their heads in absolute silence during the approach and passing of the funeral cortege.

The matriarch’s body was received at Fu’amotu International Airport by Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u Tuku’aho, along with other members of the royal family.

Also in attendance were diplomats from several other countries including Hon Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, the Deputy Prime Minister of Western Samoa, His Excellency Epeli Nailatikau and Adi Koila of Fiji, along with King Maori and Makau Ariki Atawhai from Aotearoa.

The body of the deceased Queen Mother was welcomed to the palace by His Majesty’s Armed Forces as they performed a military parade in her honour.

Her vigil tonight began with prayer services conducted by several churches from 6pm till 12am.

Tongan student from the Waikato University presents findings on Cyber Security

By
Kaniva Staff
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The University of Waikato has sent a Tongan student to present a cyber security thesis to more than 20 information system personnel from line ministries and agencies in Tonga, in an effort to grow country relationships and highlight the importance of cybersecurity.

Siuta Laulaupea’alu presented his thesis, titled ‘Data Security Assessment for the Government Information Systems in Tonga’, was part of his Masters degree in Cyber Security.

Dr Ryan Ko, the University of Waikato’s head of Cyber Security Lab, says the trip to Tonga was to report the thesis findings on the current cybersecurity awareness and readiness. It also builds a working relationship with the Government of Tonga.

“Last year we came here and we were talking about working together. The University of Waikato Cyber Security Lab and Tongan Government wishes to work together on not just cyber security education but on research together so to start going deeper into research we have to know the current status and the situation so once we know that then we know which areas we can focus on and we can set priorities that will benefit the Tongan people,” Ko says.

Ko says that the Government of Tonga recognises that it has done well in its security efforts, but there’s always more development ahead.

“I think with the leadership of the Deputy Prime Minister Hon Siaosi Sovaleni, Tonga has done very well already in establishing the Tonga CERT, right now we saw that the awareness is the key number one step that we have to educate, not just the government servants but also for example the people on the streets and the public,” he says.

Ko explains that Tongan internet users would be a prime audience for educational messages, campaigns and posters about common threats, such as an ATM scam.

“Through information about new scams or television messages, the government can help to tell people how to look out for it and be aware of the risks. This way, the whole country can be safer in terms of cyber attacks,” he says.

The University of Waikato and the Government of Tonga will be working towards a memorandum of understanding, and will also be conducting research through the Tonga CERT and MEIDECC, as well as providing education and scholarships for IT personnel.

“It is an honour to be back here and present my findings and I am grateful that my lecturer Dr. Ryan is here with me. I am also fortunate to have the opportunity to study in Waikato. My family and I migrated to New Zealand once becoming a New Zealand citizen the tuition is cheaper so that was a great opportunity for me,” adds Laulaupea’alu.

Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho’s funeral cortege leaves ‘Atalanga

By
Kalino Latu
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The cortege bearing the coffin of Queen Mother Halaevalu Mataʻaho began its journey back to  Tonga this morning at 7.30am.

Members of the royalty including Princess Pilolevu and Princess Lātūfuipeka Mataʻaho got into cars at ʻAtalanga royal residence and followed the hearse carrying the Queen Mother’s body which was led by a police car.

The funeral cortege was expected to leave Whenuapai airfield for Tonga at 9.30am.

At the ʻAtalanga gate at St Andrews Street a man wearing tauangaʻa was standing there before the cortege entered the road and turned left heading to the Balmoral Road on its way to Whenuapai.

The Queen Mother died in Auckland on Sunday 19 and will be flown back to Tonga in an RNZAF Hercules.

She will then lie in state at the Royal Palace in Nuku’alofa.

On Wednesday her body will be taken to the Royal Tombs Mala’ekula.

The royal family will observe ten nights of mourning following the burial.

Marcellin College students mark Queen Mother’s death in school ceremony

By
Philip Cass
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Students at Marcellin College remembered Queen Mother Halaevalu Mata’aho today with a prayer service at school.

The students came to school wearing their formal clothes and tauangaʻa.

“I was approached on Friday lunchtime by a year 13 student asking if they could wear their formal clothes and tauangaʻa on Monday,” college principal Jan Waelen told Kaniva News.

“We readily agreed, sent a note around the classes and today I think every Tongan student dressed for the occasion.”

“We celebrated a beautiful prayer liturgy to remember the queen mother.”

Photographs supplied to Kaniva News show the college’s staff and students during the service.

The body of the Queen Mother, who died in Auckland, will be flown back to Tonga tomorrow (Tuesday) in an RNZAF Hercules.

She will then lie in state at the Royal Palace in Nuku’alofa.

On Wednesday her body will be taken to the Royal Tombs Mala’ekkula.

The royal family will observe ten nights of mourning following the burial.

Marcellin College is a Catholic, integrated, co-educational college in Hillsborough, Auckland, New Zealand for students in Year 7 to Year 13.

The  main points

  • Students at Marcellin College remembered Queen Mother Halaevalu Mata’aho today with a prayer service at school.
  • The students came to school wearing their formal clothes and valas.
  • “We celebrated a beautiful prayer liturgy with our students to remember the Queen Mother,” college principal Jan Waelen said.
  • The body of the Queen Mother, who died in Auckland, will be flown back to Tonga tomorrow (Tuesday).

Nobles have put vote behind them, Lord Tu’ilakepa tells Kaniva    

By
Kalino Latu and Philip Cass
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 The vote of no confidence is over and Parliament’s nobles have put it behind them, Lord Tu’ilakepa told Kaniva News this evening.

But if they had won, they would have offered the ministerial and Prime Minister’s posts to the people’s representatives.

He said they had agreed not to accept any posts if they managed to oust Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva

As we reported this afternoon the voting went 14-10 in Hon. Pohiva’s favour.

The nobles who lodged the motion of no confidence were supported by some independents.

Finance Minister Aisake Eke abstained.

Clarifying an earlier report in Kaniva News, Lord Tu’ilakepa said that while Lord Ma’afu had not been at the meeting, the other nobles did not hold a grudge against him.

A Cabinet source told Kaniva News details of the noble’s  agreement had not been distributed to Parliament and Members of the House could not tell what was in it when Lord Tu’ilakepa raised it in Parliament.

Hon. Pohiva, a lifelong campaigner for democratic change in the kingdom, is Tonga’s first commoner Prime Minister

The motion for a vote of no confidence cited a range of issues, including appointing family members, upsetting Indonesia by supporting West Papua and  financial mismanagement.

Hon. Pohiva denied the claims, saying they had already been aired twice in Parliament.

The main points

  • The vote of no confidence is over and Parliament’s nobles have put it behind them, Lord Tu’ilakepa told Kaniva News this evening.
  • But if they had won, they would have offered the ministerial and Prime Minister’s posts to the people’s representatives.
  • He said they had agreed not to accept any posts if they managed to oust Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva
  • Clarifying an earlier report in Kaniva News, Lord Tu’ilakepa said that while Lord Ma’afu had not been at the meeting, the other nobles did not hold a grudge against him.

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva survives no-confidence vote

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva has resoundingly survived a vote of no-confidence in the national parliament.

Hon. Pōhiva won the vote of no confidence moved against him 14 to 10.

Members who vote against the motion were Hon. ‘Akilsi Pōhiva, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni, Hon. Sēmisi Fakahau, Hon. Saia Piukala, Hon. Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa, Hon. Poasi Tei, Hon. Penisimani Fifita, Hon. Vuna Fāʻotusia, Lord Ma’afu, Hon. Tēvita Lavemaau, Hon. Sēmisi Sika, Māteni Tapueluelu, Light of Day Veivosa Taka and ‘Akosita Lavulavu.

For the Motion were, Lord Vaea, Lord Tu’ilakepa, Lord Nuku, Lord Tu’i’āfitu, Lord Tu’iha’ateiho, Lord Tu’iha’angana, Lord Fusitu’a, Fe’ao Vakatā, Sāmiu Vaipulu and Vili Hingano.

Finance Minister ʻAisake Eke abstained from the vote.

The opposition had brought the motion against Hon. Pōhiva, saying he had to be removed over a list of 17 abuses of office as well as mismanagement of the economy.

Pōhiva rejected the claims saying he has nothing to hide and all allegations against him and his government had been dealt with appropriately.

NZ Parliament relays message of love to Queen Mother during tonight’s memorial service

By
Kalino Latu
-

The New Zealand Parliament was represented tonight during the fourth memorial service held in remembrance of the Tongan Queen Mother’s passing.

Labour Party MP Jenny Lātū Salesa was one of the speakers during the service.

She told mourners she wished to represent a symbol of love and sympathy as a Member of New Zealand Parliament.

“I am here this evening to send lots of love from the only Tongan-born and Tongan speaking representative in the New Zealand Parliament, and especially from the Labour Party”, she said.

The Government was represented by the Minister of Pacific Peoples, Hon Alfred Ngaro.

MP Sua William Sio was also in attendance.

Princess Pilolevu Tuita, Princess Lātūfuipeka Mataʻaho Jr and some members of the royalty attended the service.

Salesa was at the memorial service as a member of Lord Veikune’s clan.

She told the thousands who gathered inside the church of the time when the Queen Mother’s sisters took on the role of the fahu during her own grandfather’s funeral.

After the three-hour memorial program in the church, mourners proceeded to the Lesieli Tonga Auditorium for refreshments.

The food was prepared by the families of Lord Veikune, Lord ‘Akau’ola and Faletau as well as by members of the Tuingapapai Free Wesleyan church.

Junior Fā wins debut American fight with third round knockout

By
Philip Cass
-

New Zealand boxer Junior Fa has won his debut fight in the United States.

Fa defeated Keith Barr with a knockout in the third round of a scheduled six round fight.

Fa and Barr fought on the undercard to the Wilder-Washington bout in Birmingham, Alabama.

This makes 10 wins out of 10 fights for Fa.

Seven of those wins were knockout.

Fa fought under his new three year contract with WBC promoter Lou Dibella.

He knocked Barr down three times before the referee declared in his favour.

Fa told Newshub the work with his trainer Mike Schofield had helped his game.

He said he felt in superior physical shape.

“These days I’m switched on as soon as I get into the ring,” he said.

ESPN reported earlier this year that if he won in Alabama, Fa would return for fights in New Zealand in March and May.

The 27 year old boxer turned professional a year ago with a win against Richard Tutaki.

Although New Zealand born and raised, Fa has represented Tonga internationally, winning a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India.

The main points

  • New Zealand boxer Junior Fa has won his debut fight in the United States.
  • Fa defeated Keith Barr with a knockout in the third round of a scheduled six round fight.
  • Fa and Barr fought on the undercard to the Wilder- Washington bout in Alabama.
  • This makes 10 wins out of 10 fights for Fa.

For more information’ 

Junior Fa prepared for biggest fight of young career on Deontay Wilder Undercard

Heavyweight Fa looks forward to fight with undefeated American boxer

 

Flags lowered for 10 days, public holiday in honour of Queen Mother

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongan flags outside government complexes and offices will be flown at half-mast for 10 days in honour of the Queen Mother, Halaevalu Mata’aho, who died Sunday 19.

The government has announced  that Wednesday, March 1 will be a public holiday as part of a show of national respect to a queen who had been a wife of one king, and mother of two monarchs.

This has been confirmed in a cabinet meeting yesterday (February 24) in Nuku’alofa.

Flags will fly at half-mast from Tuesday, February 28, until the 10 takipō taboo is over.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Pasifika Futures has sent a message of condolence over the loss of the Queen Mother.

“On behalf of our Chairman, Board of Directors and Staff, Pasifika Futures would like to express our deepest condolences to His Royal Highness, King Tupou VI, Princess Sālote Mafile’o Pilolevu Tuita, their families and the people of the Kingdom of Tonga,” Pasifika Futures Chief Executive Debbie Sorensen said.

“I have had the privilege of meeting Her Majesty on numerous occasions and was inspired by her leadership and the example she set.

“She has served the Kingdom and the people of Tonga as a mother-head figure distinguished by her genuine compassion, personal humility, warmth and concern for the welfare of all Tongans in Tonga and wherever they are in the world.”

“Her Majesty will always be remembered for her spirited and cultural leadership, humbleness, elegance, generosity and a role model for us Tongan women. She has been an amazing woman.

“During this time of bereavement, our prayers are with the people of Tonga and the Royal family.

“May her legacy live on, and may her soul rest in eternal peace.”

The Queen Mother’s death has been reported around the world.

In the United States, Fox News reported that the Tongan community in Utah was mourning her.

The Queen Mother visited Utah several times. In 2011, she attended the dedication of the Tongan United Methodist Church in West Valley City.

Fox news reported that the Lavulo family, who were descendants of the Queen Mother, were collecting money and gifts to end to the Queen Mother’s family.

The main points

  • Tongan flags outside government complexes and offices will be flown at half-mast for 10 days in honour of the Queen Mother, Halaevalu Mta’aho, who died Sunday 19.
  • The government has that announced Wednesday, March 1 will be a public holiday as part of a show of national respect to a queen who had been a wife of one king, and mother of two monarchs.
  • This was been confirmed in a cabinet meeting yesterday (February 24) in Nuku’alofa.
  • Flags will fly at half-mast from Tuesday, February 28, until the 10 takipo taboo is over.

For more information

Passing of Tonga’s Queen Mother felt among Utah’s Tongan community

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