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Time with internship helped with work at the Reserve Bank

By
Philip Cass
-

Auckland University economics and finance graduate Malia Laumanu Mafi, said her experience with the Pacific Cooperation Foundation have helped in her new job with Tonga’s Retirement Fund Board.

Laumanu, who is from Ma’ufanga, was one of the students involved in the Pacific Cooperation Foundation’s first summer internship programme in 2015-16.

“The RFB looks after Tonga’s civil servants’ retirement money and as investment analysts, our team is responsible for finding viable investment options that maximize long term real returns whilst minimising short term risks,” Laumanu told the PCF Newsletter.

She said the skills she had learned while at PCF have been extremely useful.

“The analytical skills I developed while conducting the business case analysis for the Grow Pacific Project have been extremely useful.

“In my role at RFB I have to do similar tasks and I’m glad I had a little bit of experience in the area.

“I still have more to learn, but the task was not as daunting as it would’ve been if I hadn’t done the internship with PCF.”

Laumanu said that ultimately she would like to work for a policy making institution, such as the Reserve Bank.

During her time in this exciting new role, Laumanu hopes to get more familiar with the Tongan economy.

“Being a part of the investment team is fun,” she said.

“You have to keep up with all the developments in government as well as in the private sector, to keep an eye out for investment opportunities.”

At the beginning of 2016 she also spent five works as an intern with the Bank of New Zealand.

The main points

  • Auckland University economics and finance graduate Malia Laumanu Mafi, said her experience with the Pacific Cooperation Foundation have helped in her new job with Tonga’s Retirement Fund Board.
  • Laumanu, who is from Ma’ufanga, was one of the students involved in the Pacific Cooperation Foundation’s first summer internship programme in 2015-16.
  • At the beginning of 2016 she also spent five works as an intern with the Bank of New Zealand.
  • She said that ultimately she would like to work for a policy making institution, such as the Reserve Bank.

For more information 

Stepping stone to dream career

Tongan father loses copyright battle over  birth video

By
Philip Cass
-

A Tongan father who uploaded live footage of his son being born to Facebook last year has lost a fight to claim copyright on the video.

Kali Kanongataa has tried to stop companies using the video, claiming this infringed on his copyright of the video, but a Manhattan court closed the case closed on Wednesday (February 15).

Kanongataa had filed a series of lawsuits to try to stop other people using the video.

As Kaniva News reported last May, Kanongataa uploaded video of his son’s birth through Facebook Live.

The American television programme Good Morning America showed a brief, 22-second excerpt from the 45-minute video.

A snippet of the video also appeared on a  number of websites and television stations in the United States.

Kanongataa, who is originally from Nuku’alofa, but lives in California, later said he thought his family in Tonga would be able to view the video, but didn’t expect it to be seen by the public at large.

The ABC television network argued before Judge Lewis Kaplan that it had a “fair use” right to show a portion of the clip in conjunction with an item about the growth of live-streaming.

ABC said it had used the clip of the birth to report on a socially significant and newsworthy event.

Kanongataʻa, who goes by the name Fakamalo Ki He ʻEiki on Facebook said he accidentally posted the video to Facebook Live.

He said his intention had been to share with his close family in Tonga.

“I didn’t notice it was on the public feed until someone said ‘Push, Push’ and it was my little cousin,” Kanongataʻa said.

When we ran our story in May last year it had already been seen by more than 300,000 people.

The main points

  • A Tongan father who uploaded live footage of his son being born to Facebook last year has lost a fight to claim copyright on the video.
  • Kali Kanongataa has tried to stop people using the video, claiming those infringed on his copyright of the video, but a federal court in Manhattan closed the case closed on Wednesday (February 15).
  • Kanongataa had filed a series of lawsuits to try to stop other people using the video.
  • As Kaniva News reported last May, Kanongataa uploaded video of his son’s birth through Facebook Live.

For more information

Tongan father live stream of son’s birth on Facebook goes viral

Father Who Live Streamed Son’s Birth Loses Copyright Battle

Multi-million paʻanga claim goes to Land Court in April

By
Philip Cass
-

A claim for millions of pa’anga in compensation over claims of illegal use of tax allotments for commercial purposes will finally go to court on April 10, nearly a year after it was filed with the Land Court.

On March 21 last year, Sione Fonua filed a claim on behalf of Lord Luani  of Malapo demanding millions of pa’anga in compensation from Lord Nuku of Kolonga and a Chinese company.

Kaniva News has tried to obtain comment from Lord Nuku without success.

However, Lord Nuku’s solicitor, Samiu Vaipulu, was quoted by Tongan media this morning as saying his client had tried to settle the issue with Lord Luani out of court, but was unsuccessful.

In his claim, Lord Luani claims that Lord Nuku and the Yan Jian Group Co Ltd had unlawfully interfered with his possession of his Tax Allotments, thereby causing irreparable damage.

He said he was the registered holder  of  a  Tax Allotment described as Block 76/95 Lot 90 at Malapo, referred to in the rest of the claim as Tax Allotment  1.

Lord Nuku asked the late Lord Luani (the father of the present title holder) to  lease Tax Allotment 1 to him trading as Island Quarry.

Lord Luani claimed that Lord Nuku told his father that the purpose of the lease was for a commercial site such  as animal farming or for growing commercial crops.

“He failed to explain to the late Lord Luani that Tax  Allotment   1 would  be used in a way that  would  destroy the environment,” Lord Luani said.

He intended to store rocks of different sizes on Tax Allotment 1.

Lord Luani claimed that Lord Nuku did not tell the  late  Lord Luani that  the  Tax  Allotment   1    would   be  occupied  by   the second     defendant’s      heavy     trucks      and equipment which damaged the land and its landscape.

On  March 22, 2010, or thereabouts an application for lease of the Tax Allotment 1 was completed by Lord Nuku and signed by the late Lord Luani. It was then submitted to Cabinet for its consent.

Lord Luani’s father died on May 12, 2010.

On May 19, 2010, Cabinet, in which Lord Nuku was Deputy Prime Minister, consented to a 10 year lease, with an annual rental of TP500.

Lord Luani claimed that  no deed of lease was created and therefore no lease was ever registered to create a legal interest in Tax Allotment  1 in favour of Lord Nuku.

Cabinet reversed its approval of the lease on August 23, 2013, but Lord Nuku and Yan Jian Group Co Ltd had continued to unlawfully possess and occupy the land until the present day, Lord Luani said.

Lord Luani’s claim alleged that  plaintiff  claims  that  the Yan Jien Group had made $250,000 profit each year they had occupied Tax allotment 1.

He asked for an eviction notice to be served on Lord Nuku and Yan Jien Group and TP$100,000 compensation to be paid by Lord Nuku.

He also asked for TP$1.25 million compensation to be paid for trespass and the profits made by the defendants. Lord Luani also asked for TP$2.25 million from the Yan Jien Group for special damages.

In his claim, Lord Luani said Lord Nuku had illegally taken possession of a block of land, referred to as Tax Allotment 2, after paying its occupant, Paula Kava, TP$30,000.

He said when Kava relinquished the land, the legal procedures that were followed meant that the land actually reverted to him, as hereditary lord. Any agreements between the defendants and Kava were therefore illegal, especially an agreement to permit quarrying on the land, in contravention of the Land Regulations.

He claimed that Lord Nuku made TP$500,000 profits during his possession of the land. He said the Yan Jien Group had made TP$11.96 million by illegally extracting coral rocks from Tax allotment.

Lord Luaini said the Yan Jien Group should pay him at least TP$10 million in exemplary damages and all the profits (TP$11.96 million) it had made from mining.

The main points

  • A claim for millions of pa’anga in compensation over claims of illegal use of tax allotments for commercial purposes will finally go to court on April 10, nearly a year after it was filed with the Land Court.
  • On March 21 last year, Sione Fonua filed a claim on behalf of Lord Luani of Malapo demanding millions of pa’anga in compensation from Lord Nuku of Kolonga and a Chinese company.
  • Lord Nuku’s solicitor, Samiu Vaipulu, was quoted by Tongan media this morning as saying his client had tried to settle the issue with Lord Luani out of court but was unsuccessful.
  • In his claim, Lord Luani claims that Lord Nuku and the Yan Jian Group Co Ltd had unlawfully interfered with his possession of his Tax Allotments, thereby causing irreparable damage.

NZ adviser to meet Fisheries CEO during Business Council visit

By
Philip Cass
-

A fisheries adviser will meet with Tonga’s CEO of the Ministry of Fisheries and the National Fisheries Council during the New Zealand Tonga Business Council’s visit to Tonga this week.

The New Zealand High Commission in Nuku’alofa said Vaughan Wilkinson, a fisheries adviser accompanying Ambassador Shane Jones, would meet with the CEO of the Ministry of Fisheries, Dr Tu’ikolongahau Halafihi, and the National Fisheries Council to discuss areas of interest for the Tonga fisheries sector.

CEO of Ministry of Customs and Revenue Kulu Anisi Bloomfield said this week fishing was the most directly important sector for the kingdom’s economic development.

Bloomfield also has a fishing business on his own in Tonga which sells to the local markets and Hawai’i.

A 30-strong New Zealand Business Council delegation flew to Nuku’aofa on Wednesday (February 15).

The delegation includes people from a wide range of industries, including infrastructure, renewable energy, energy storage, education, health care, the NZ Government, tourism and consumer goods.

The fishing industry in Tonga faces a number of challenges.

Complaints raised in Parliament include high port fees, taxes and competition from Asian heavily-subsided fishing vessels.

According to the Tonga Fisheries Sector Plan 2016-24 fishing is a key element to securing food security for Tonga.

The report said the ocean around Tonga  did not  appear  to  support  a significant fishery.

It said that if viable tuna processing operations could be developed, preferably based on increased catches landed by Tongan ships, the bycatch and non-exported products could expand local market supplies.

Aquaculture involving cockles and clams could provide a much needed increase in supplies.

The main points

  • A fisheries adviser will meet with Tonga’s CEO of the Ministry of Fisheries and the National Fisheries Council during the New Zealand Tonga Business Council’s visit to Tonga this week.
  • The New Zealand High Commission in Nuku’alofa said Vaughan Wilkinson, a fisheries adviser accompanying Ambassador Shane Jones, would meet with the CEO of the Ministry of Fisheries, Dr Tu’ikolongahau Halafihi, and the National Fisheries Council to discuss areas of interest for the Tonga fisheries sector.
  • According to the Tonga Fisheries Sector Plan 2016-24 fishing is a key element to securing food security for Tonga.
  • A 30-strong New Zealand Business Council delegation flew to Nuku’aofa on Wednesday (February 15).

For more information

Tonga’s fishing industry gets a regional profile

Tonga Fisheries Sector Plan 2016–2024

For more information

http://nzkanivapacific.co.nz/2017/02/tonga-untapped-potential-says-business-council-leader/

Tonga has untapped potential, says Business Council leader

Tonga’s fishing industry gets a regional profile

Tonga Fisheries Sector Plan 2016–2024

Three Tongans arrested in Sydney after immigration raid

By
Kalino Latu
-

Three Tongans were arrested this morning in Merrylands, Western Sydney following an immigration enforcement raid.

One of the trio was later released while the other two were still in detention.

They were arrested while sleeping in a garage.

A man at the residence told Kaniva News they were awaken at 5am this morning  by immigration enforcement officers surrounding their house and forcing everyone to show their ID.

He said about 30 officers were at the scene.

He said they hoped the duo could be released on bail.

“I suspect someone or some people probably Tongans have reported to Immigration that people staying here were committing immigration offences”, said the man, who wished not to be identified.

When asked how he came up with that idea, he said: “They (officers) had a warrant to search so obviously someone told on them”.

He said normally in arrests like this the suspects were taken to the city to be processed before  they were taken  to Villa Wood Detention centre.

“A fantastic tale of adventure” available in Tongan for the first time

By
Philip Cass
-

After nearly half a century, the first Tongan translation of a classic 19th century book about the life of an Englsh by who was adopted by a Tongan warlord, has been completed.

The book, Ko Fïnau ‘Ulukälala ‘i Feletoa, ko e Talanoa ‘a Toki Ukamea (The Story of Fïnau ‘Ulukälala: Told by Iron Axe) was presented to Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tuku’aho, High Commissioner of Tonga to Australia at the Tonga High Commission in Canberra last Friday.

The translator, Dr Nigel Stathan, has spent almost 50 years turning the book into Tongan in collaboration with his Tongan wife Melanaite.

The book is a Tongan translation of An Account of the Natives of the Friendly Islands by John Martin and William Mariner.

The book first appeared 200 years ago and has been regarded as a classic of its kind, but this is the first time it has been available in the language of the people among whom the story is set.

Mariner’s story has been called “a fantastic tale of adventure” about an English boy who was marooned in Tonga in 1807 when he was only 15.

Mariner, who quickly became fluent in Tongan, was adopted as the son of a high chiefly contender for the overlordship of Tonga,  Fïnau ‘Ulukälala, and was named by him ‘Iron Axe.’

The book is essentially an account of the life, intrigues and the wars of his adoptive father, in which Mariner played a significant role for the four years he was in Tonga. Hence the Tongan title of the book, Ko Fïnau ‘Ulukälala ‘i Feletoa, ko e Talanoa ‘a Toki Ukamea (The Story of Fïnau ‘Ulukälala: Told by Iron Axe)

The foreword was written by the Princess and the first copy off the press was presented to her in gratitude by Dr Statham.

The book has an introduction and extensive genealogical, sociological and ethnological footnotes by Pacific historian Dorothy Crozier, composed in collaboration with Her Majesty Queen Sälote Tupou III of Tonga.

The original English edition of Mariner’s story was first published in 1817 with the help of Dr John Martin, who was acknowledged to have been dedicated to scrupulously meticulous and sustained research.

A French translation appeared in Paris in the same year as the first English edition. Another French translation was published in 1819, a German translation in Weimar in 1819 and the next year an American edition was published in Boston. In 1818 and 1827 new English editions were published with revisions and in Stockholm in 1828 an abbreviated Swedish version appeared in a published collection of voyages.

Lord Byron based his poem ‘The Island’ on a traditional tale recorded by Mariner about a young Tongan chief who hid his lover, who had been forbidden to him, in an undersea cavern. In 1953 the Australian poet Robert D. Fitzgerald published as a book an extended poetic rendering of Mariner‘s story, Between Two Tides. In 1957 James Michener published a version of Mariner’s story in his book Rogues in Paradise.

While Mariner’s book is an adventure story, it has long been regarded for its scholarly value as well. It was dedicated to Captain Cook’s companion, Sir Joseph Banks “as a small, yet appropriate tribute of respect”’ and it has been used as one of the most reliable primary historical sources for the period by almost every major publication on Tongan history, anthropology and ethnology.

The main points

  • After nearly half a century of work, the first Tongan translation of a classic 19th century book about the life of an English by who was adopted by a Tongan warlord, has been completed.
  • The book, Ko Fïnau ‘Ulukälala ‘i Feletoa, ko e Talanoa ‘a Toki Ukamea (The Story of Fïnau ‘Ulukälala: Told by Iron Axe) was presented to Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tuku’aho, High Commissioner of Tonga to Australia at the Tongan High Commission in Canberra last Friday.
  • The translator, Dr Nigel Stathan, has spent almost 50 years turning the book into Tongan in collaboration with his Tongan wife Melanaite.
  • The book is a Tongan translation of An Account of the Natives of the Friendly Islands by John Martin and William Mariner.

For more information

An Account of the Natives of the Friendly Islands (downloadable pdf in English from the University of Michigan))

https://archive.org/stream/anaccountnative01martgoog#page/n28/mode/2up

Online changes for Kaniva News

By
Philip Cass
-

Kaniva News is moving to a different domain, kanivatonga.co.nz

This will mean that we will no longer be using our existing domain, nzkanivapacific.nz

We are marking the change with a new website theme.

We expect to have completed the move this week.

Kanivatonga.nz was our original name.

We have chosen to go back to it to underline our commitment to being the best online Tongan news service.

We will continue reporting on Tongan news in New Zealand, the kingdom and around the world.

Kaniva is the only Tongan news website that run news seven days a week.

We are the most engaged Tongan news website on social media. Our Facebook page has more likes than any of our competitors.

We pride ourselves on following up every stage of current events in the Tongan community covering stage by stage as the events develop.

We also take pride in providing a Tongan perspective to news

Kaniva News has been serving the Tongan community in Auckland since 2009 and reaching a global audience since we went online in 2010.

We are a respected and trusted source of information, with our stories being picked up by local and international media.

We have considerable reach into the Kingdom of Tonga and Tongan communities in other countries.

After a short break, Kaniva News will resume its Tongan translation service.

This is in response to the high demand from our Tongan readers.

We will translate English news and stories into Tongan on our new website and new domain

Gun, drugs, cash and ammo found in vehicle search in Foʻui

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Tokomololo couple will appear in court this Thursday after Police found in their possession a gun, ammunition,  cash and drugs during the search of their vehicle in Foʻui on February 9.

The couple in their mid-20s were arrested and had been charged with possession of illicit drugs, with additional charges against the husband on possession of firearm and ammunition without a license, Police said.

Two Police Officers got suspicious when a car with a taxi registration plate and tinted windows was speeding on Hihifo Road in Kolovai. The Officers chased and managed to stop the car at Foʻui.

They searched the car and found 26 packets of cannabis (248.57grams), 1 pistol, 2 (.22) bullets and more than $500 cash.

“The swift and timely response by these two Police Officers has helped to ensure public safety, and it`s great that further drugs and illegal firearm have been removed from our community where they may cause harm to others otherwise,” said Deputy Commissioner Vaisuai.

“In order to make our streets and homes safe we need to rid our Communities of illegal firearms and drugs.”

While Police are taking proactive and active measures to address the issues relating to illegal firearms and drugs, members of the public are asked to contact Police if they observe any suspicious or unusual behaviour in their communities.

Both accused are remanded in custody to appear in the Magistrate Court on Thursday 16 February 2017.

PNG commits TP$34 million to help Tonga Host 2019 Pacific Games

By
Kalino Latu
-

Papua New Guinean Sport Minister has confirmed an estimate of TP$34 million ($49 million kina) has been set aside to support Tonga in their preparation to host the 2019 Pacific Games.

In an EM TV report on Friday Hon. Justin Tkatchenko quoted Prime Minister Peter O’Neil as well as the National Executive Council as saying they had been presented with an overall costing of expenses for Tonga’s project.

“With an estimated K49 million set aside for this purpose, the Minister for Sport, Justin Tkatchenko, has said that, with the PNG economy in a downturn, and with the elections on the horizon, the commitment at the moment was domestic, but that they would still offer assistance to the Pacific Island nation”, it said.

As Kaniva reported in early last year Tonga’s former Sports Minister Fe’ao Vakata said PNG has indicated it could donate US$35 million ($82.04 pa’anga)  to assist Tonga’s preparation.

Now the PNG Sports Minister has confirmed it was  TP$34 million Tongan pa’anga not US dollars.

READ MORE

Supreme Court tells Pohiva to leave Sevele in place and pay his wages until judicial review

Thieves caught on camera; Tongan business in south Auckland robbed for second time

By
Kalino Latu
-

Police were on the lookout for two men and a woman in connection with robbery at the Go Pacific cargo and freight services in South Auckland on Sunday 12.

The director of the company Sam Fainga’a Paea said six truck batteries he purchased for $250 each had all gone.

He has been left devastated after his warehouse at 20 Weka Street in Otahuhu was robbed for the second time in three months.

He claimed the thieves also stole batteries from his neighbours’ vehicles.

The incident came  after one of his vans was stolen in December. Police were still investigating that case, he said.

Paea could not confirm whether these suspects caught on camera had any connection with the December robbery.

The video showed a dark green Subaru Legacy Brighton station wagon with registration plate number BLA575  was parking up at the driveway in front of the business while the two men were outside.

The woman also got out and tried to pull a sub woof speaker with the help of one of the men but they later abandoned it.

Paea said the speaker was left outside because it was damaged.

After a while the car pulled up into the warehouse and on its way back it stopped before the thieves got out again by the gate before they left.

Now Paea was hoping the clear pictures will help Police catch the thieves.

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