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Pacific tuna stock depleted as result of illegal fishing, Moala tells Chinese company

By
Kalino Latu
-

Leaders of China’s Guangzhou Pelagic Fishery company have been warned Pacific tuna stocks have been depleted by illegal fishing.

Deputy Chair of the Pacific Media Association and editor of Taimi ‘o Tonga Kalafi Moala said the Pacific’s  Exclusive Economic Zone had been violated by foreign fishing fleets.

Moala told the Chinese during a recent meeting with Pacific journalists in Guangzhou that Pacific countries were trying to develop legislation to stop illegal fishing activities and help make tuna fishing sustainable.

“We are ocean people and all the product we have are ocean goods,” Moala said.

“If it is done wrongly and not sustainably we suffer because we live in that area.”

According to a report by the Pew Charitable Trusts in May this year, the total catch in the Pacific Ocean was worth US$22 billion in 2014.

The report said tuna was a vital source of revenue to fishing communities, particularly in the Pacific Islands.

The report said tuna stocks were severely depleted.

kalafi-moala
Kalafi Moala. Photo/Kalino Lātū

Moala said the information the Chinese provided during the meeting was promising and  favourable to the Pacific countries in their attempts to stop illegal fishing.

Guangzhou Pelagic Fishery

The Guangzhou Pelagic Fishery Company has an annual turnover of RMB10 billion and sells 210,000 tonnes of fish each year.  It is a state-owned enterprise under the Guangzhou Aquatic Group Co. Ltd.

Founded in July 1989 it  is the only major enterprise in Guanzhou to attain the qualification of the Ocean and Pelagic Fishery production approved by the National Ministry of Aquaculture.

It engages in a wide range of business including ocean fishing, aquatic products breeding, processing, acquisition and sale.

Company spokesman Tan Yi Guan said they abided strictly by the local laws and regulation of the local areas and waters.

The company operates 10 long line fishing boats optimised for tuna in Fiji and Kiribati.

They said they monitored their fleet 24 hour a day and required daily reports.

The Chinese said they had fished in Fijian waters for more than 10 years.

“We have a very good relationship with our partner in Fiji,” Tan said.

He said captains of their fishing vessels were expected to follow the company’s strict rules and follow the law.

The company claimed they represented “the spirit of co-operation” in China.

The Company had worked on ocean fishing projects in West Africa, Colombia, Indonesia, the Maldives, Fiji and Kiribati.

The Chinese told the meeting they believed in keeping ocean fishing sustainable. They planned to extend their operation in Fiji to local processing companies and fishing factories.

Apart from the Chinese domestic market, most of the company’s tuna catch is sold in the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the European Union.

About Guangzhou

Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong and is known as the South Gate of China. It is located in the north Pearl River Delta adjacent to Hong Kong  and Macao. It is the communication and transportation hub of South China and has a population of 16 million.

In 2015 the city’s  GDP reached US$291.3 billion. It is twinned with 59 cities in 43 countries and hosts consulates from 53 countries.

Dongguan, the sister city of Ha’apai in the Kingdom of Tonga, is one of the cities of Guangdong province.

The main points

  • Leaders of China’s Guangzhou Pelagic Fishery company have been warned Pacific tuna stocks have been depleted by illegal fishing..
  • Deputy Chair of the Pacific Media Association and editor of Taimi ‘o Tonga Kalafi Moala said the Pacific’s Exclusive Economic Zone had been violated by foreign fishing fleets.
  • Moala told the Chinese during a recent meeting with Pacific journalists in Guangzhou that Pacific countries were trying to develop legislation to stop illegal fishing activities and help make tuna fishing sustainable.
  • According to a report by the Pew Charitable Trusts in May this year, the total catch in the Pacific Ocean was worth US$22 billion in 2014.

For more information

Overfishing puts $42bn tuna industry at risk of collapse

Netting Billions: A Global Valuation of Tuna

Fijian Tuna Processing In China

Earthquake felt in Tonga no tsunami alert

By
Kalino Latu
-

A 5.6 magnitude earthquake 152 km from Pangai, Ha’apai and Tongatapu was felt in capital city Nuku’alofa this afternoon.

It had a depth of 10km and struck at 12.30pm (Tongan time), earthquaketrack said.

There was no tsunami alert released but Facebook users said they felt it.

“Little earthquake”, Mele ‘Amanaki posted on Facebook. Some commenters on her post said they also felt the shocks.

The quake comes while New Zealand where more than 60,000 Tongan residents stay was still in severe shock after a 7.8 earthquake rocked the country claiming two lives and left the city of Kaikoura and its surrounding suburbs in great devastation.




Tēvita Mafi Filo cleared of murder by reason of insanity

By
Kalino Latu
-

Auckland: The Tongan man who killed mother of two at the suburb of Remuera is now a free man after being cleared of murder on the grounds of insanity.

Tevita Mafi Filo, 25, was suffering from a “complex delusional system” when he attacked jogger Joanne Pert on January 7.

Local residents found the body of the 41-year-old on their lawn about 11am.

A suppression order has prevented publication of  how Pert died.

Filo will be detained indefinitely as a special patient at the Mason Clinic, a secure psychiatric unit.

He has schizophrenia and also suffers from end stage renal failure and completes dialysis three times a week.

The court heard on Thurday  Filo didn’t believe he had killed “a real live person”.

He believed he lived in an “alternate world” governed by a controller.

“He didn’t believe the individual was dead.”

READ MORE:

Tevita Filo stopped by police night before killing Remuera mother-of-two Jo Pert

Joanne Pert’s killer Tevita Filo not guilty by reason of insanity

Tongan patient taken by air ambulance as Christchurch welcome visitors after deadly earthquake

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongan patient Heneli Tupou has been transferred to Christchurch hospital this afternoon as authority declared the city a safe haven after the deadly 7.5 earthquake hit its surrounding districts on Monday morning.

Tupou, of Tatakamotonga, was in New Zealand on the Regional Seasonal Employment programme.

He was admitted to Nelson hospital last weekend in a serious health condition.

Kaniva News understands Tupou was expected to arrive at Christchurch Hospital, 2 Riccarton Avenue, Christchurch Central at 5pm this evening.

Specialists at the hospital were expected to make a final decision over an operation required for Tupou.

The epicentre of the historical earthquake was northeast of Christchurch, near  Kaikoura district which has been cut off by landslides.

There are believed to be up to 1,000 tourists stranded in the town.

Military helicopters and a navy ship are being sent to evacuate them and others from Kaikoura.

Heneli Tupou has been transfered to Christchurch Hospital
Heneli Tupou has been transfered to Christchurch Hospital

Newsbub has reported that following the earthquake the main north line between Picton and Christchurch has “significant damage”, particularly around Kaikoura, which aerial footage shot earlier today shows is covered in slips.

Christchurch Hospital’s health board has announced that “All Canterbury District Health Board facilities are fully operational and services are operating as normal”.

“The infrastructure in Christchurch has come through this week’s earthquakes well”, it said.

“There are no issues with drinking water in Christchurch or Banks Peninsula and there is no need to boil water.

“All the city’s pump stations have remained operational, and no water pressure was lost at any stage overnight”.

Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism chief executive Vic Allen said “they are encouraging people to keep their plans to come to Christchurch”.

If you are finding it hard to cope and need support you can ring the Canterbury Support Line on 0800 777 846 24/7.

Latest updates (newshub) 

What we know

  • GeoNet says the initial magnitude 7.5 quake may actually have been two quakes, based on aftershocks being felt in two separate locations.
  • Two deaths have been confirmed – one in Kaikoura and one in Mt Lyford, east of Hanmer Springs.
  • The tsunami warning has now been downgraded to a marine and beach threat, which remains in place from Napier to north of Dunedin and Chatham Island – find your local evacuation zone hereand your local Civil Defence group here.
  • A large 6.3 aftershock hit north of Cheviot this afternoon, and more measuring almost 6 rocked Seddon after 8pm.
  • Some train services in both the North and South Islands have resumed, but there still significant disruptions – particularly around Kaikoura and Wellington.
  • The Education Ministry is advising schools from north Canterbury to Wellington not to open until the buildings can be checked.
  • All airports are open.
  • State Highway 1 from Seddon to Cheviot is currently closed, but it has reopened between Picton and Blenheim/Seddon.
  • The full extent of the damage to transport systems is still unfolding with extensive damage caused to parts of State Highway 1 in the South Island.
  • The first earthquake struck near Hanmer Springs just after midnight.
  • All shops are closed in Kaikoura and there is no water supply or sewerage. Residents are advised to conserve water.

Nelson struck by earthquake as hospitalised Tupou awaits confirmation of diagnosis

Pacific leaders meet in Wellington even as earthquake struck capital begins clean-up

By
Philip Cass
-

Pacific Parliamentarians visiting New Zealand for a political leaders’ forum are still meeting in Wellington despite Monday’s earthquake.

About 40 politicians are in New Zealand to attend the Pacific Parliamentarians’ Forum.

Tongan delegates include Penisimani Fifita, Akosita Lavulavu and Veivosa Taka.

In Wellington the group will visit Parliament and take part in debates on Pacific issues.

Parliament sat at 2pm yesterday and the sitting continued even after a 5.6 magnitude aftershock rattled the chamber.

The leadership group began their visit to New Zealand with two days in Auckland hosted by the Pacific Cooperation Foundation.

They met with Auckland-based Pacific Members of Parliament, including Jenny Salesa (Manukau East), Su’a William Sio (Mangere), Carmel Sepuloni (Kelston) and Alfred Ngaro (Te Atatu).

They also met with Pacific community groups including Healthy Families, Pacific Homecare, Vaka Tautua, Pasifika Futures, Pacific Trade and Invest, VECTOR and Watercare.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has described the Forum as an opportunity for NZ leaders to hear about issues and concerns in the region, and look at ways NZ might be able to assist its Pacific neighbours.

During their initial visit in 2013, the Pacific leaders discussed topics including regional leadership, democracy, climate change, health issues, gender equality, media and the importance of Parliaments to communities, business development and jobs.

They agreed to encourage more women to enter Parliament, to rely more heavily on renewable energy, to foster free media to promote democracy, improve technology, prioritise healthcare and disease prevention and facilitate sustainable trade and investment.

The main points

  • Pacific Parliamentarians visiting New Zealand for a political leaders’ forum are still meeting in Wellington despite Monday’s earthquake.
  • About 40 politicians are in New Zealand to attend the Pacific Parliamentarians’ Forum.
  • Tongan delegates include Penisimani Fefita, Akosita Lavulavu and Veivosa Taka.
  • In Wellington the group will visit Parliament and take part in debates on Pacific issues.
  • Parliament sat at 2pm yesterday and the sitting continued even after a 5.6 magnitude aftershock rattled the chamber.

For  more information

Pacific Parliamentary Forum, November 14-19, 2016

Watch: Earthquake interrupts Parliament

Nelson struck by earthquake as hospitalised Tupou awaits confirmation of diagnosis

By
Philip Cass
-

Nelson, where Tongan fruit picker Heneli Tupou is hospitalised in a serious condition, was hit  by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake this afternoon.

Tupou, of Tatakamotonga, was in New Zealand on the Regional Seasonal Employment programme.

Kaniva News understands that specialists were expected to confirm their diagnosis today (November 14).

As we reported yesterday, his wife ‘Asinate has been sending him messages of encouragement via Facebook.

The Nelson Mail quoted Nelson Marlborough Health acting chief executive Peter Bramley as saying hospital facilities across Nelson and Blenheim were still open.

Bramley said staff had worked through the night to ensure all patients were safe.

Radio New Zealand quoted the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board saying that inspections had shown that hospitals in Nelson and Wairau were safe and services running normally,

The 6.2 earthquake struck 30km north of Cheviot at a depth of 50km, at 1.34pm.

The Mail quoted one residents as saying the quake “seemed to go on forever.”

The Nelson City Council lists the chimney stack, boiler house and coal bunker at Nelson Hospital as earthquake prone.

The main points

  • Nelson, where Tongan fruit picker Heneli Tupou is hospitalised in a serious condition, was hit by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake this afternoon.
  • Kaniva News understands that specialists were expected to confirm their diagnosis today (November 14).
  • As we reported yesterday, his wife ‘Asinate has been sending him messages of encouragement via Facebook.
  • Nelson Marlborough District Health Board says hospitals in Nelson and Wairau are safe and operating normally.

For more information

‘Severe’ 6.2 magnitude aftershock hits Nelson as region counts cost of quake

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/86419252/nelson-tasman-schools-early-learning-centres-closed-for-earthquake-checks

List of Earthquake Prone Buildings

http://nelson.govt.nz/building-and-property/commercial-building-information/earthquake-prone-building-information/list-of-earthquake-prone-buildings/

Earthquake: What you need to know (RNZ)

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/318005/earthquake-what-you-need-to-know

Cold war lingers between Pohiva’s government and Tonga’s national broadcaster

By
Kalino Latu
-

The cold war between Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva and the government-funded Tonga Broadcasting Commission appears to be still in force.

The Prime Minister clashed with Radio and Television Tonga news manager Viola Ulakai at a press conference on Friday, accusing the national broadcaster of having a malicious attitude towards his government.

As Kaniva Pacific reported in April, Hon. Pohiva recommended suspending Ulakai after she had falsely claimed that a request for a press conference was made on behalf of the Tongan Media Council.

At the time we reported that the national broadcaster had a long history of general bias and partiality when reporting on Hon. Pohiva and the democrats.

The planned suspension of Ulakai polarised Pacific news outlets media in the Pacific, including New Zealand and Australia.

Some criticised Hon. Pohiva for failing to live up to the freedom of speech he had promoted for many years in Tonga.

Ulakai escaped the planned suspension and tensions appeared to have eased, after the Prime Minister later appeared on some of Radio and Television Tonga’s programmes.

However during a press conference with the media in Nukuʻalofa on Friday,  Hon. Pohiva blasted the broadcaster for not doing its job fairly.

He said its staffers’ attitudes towards him and his government when reporting were not the same as they had to the previous governments.

Ulakai, who was in the audience, asked the Prime Minister why his government ministers and ministries did not use Radio and Television Tonga, but instead used the Commission’s rival broadcaster, a privately-owned radio.

She said she had invited government ministers to arrange interviews and reports on topics they wanted to discuss, but received no response.

Hon. Pohiva said he felt there was “malice” at the national station towards him and his government.

He said the national broadcaster had once aired a call from a man who threatened to shoot him.

Ulakai  reminded the Prime Minister he had promoted freedom of speech in the past and denied there was any anti-government agenda at the Tonga Broadcasting Commission.

Crimes and health

Hon. Pohiva told the press conference he was concerned at the increasing level of violence and criminal activities in Tonga despite the  many programmes that had been implemented to help criminals change their ways.

With regards to levels of obesity and other non-communicable diseases in Tonga, the prime Minister said his government had policies to educate the people in how to change their eating habits and leisure activities.

Hon. Pohiva said the problem was that his government had been bound by commitments left behind by the former government such as the South Pacific Games in 2019.

Such activities took up much of the government’s time, leaving less time to finding solutions to urgent issues such as health and crime.

The main points

  • The cold war between Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva and the government-funded Tonga Broadcasting Commission appears to be still in force.
  • The Prime Minister clashed with Radio and Television Tonga news manager Viola Ulakai at a press conference on Friday, accusing the national broadcaster of having a malicious attitude towards his government.
  • He said the national broadcaster had once aired a call from a man who threatened to shoot him.
  • Ulakai reminded the Prime Minister he had promoted freedom of speech in the past and denied there was any anti-government agenda at the Tonga Broadcasting Commission.

For more information

TMC denies Ulakai’s claim she requested press conference with PM on behalf of Media Council

Tongan New Zealanders react to deadly earthquake online

By
Kalino Latu
-

UPDATED: 4.54 pm.  The damage in Kaikoura is worse than thought said John Key. “It’s just utter devastation”, he said.

Click here to read more “http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/86416304/live-north-canterbury-quake

UPDATED: Two dead after Kaikoura hit by a 2 metre high tsunami following rolling 7.5 magnitude earthquakes  7.5.

Communities including Kaikoura cut off, a 7 person search and rescue team enroute by helicopter there now to assess.

Wellington in virtual lockdown with mostly superficial damage – trains and ferries cancelled and people told to stay out of CBD.

PREVIOUS REPORT

A 6.6 magnitude earthquake shock the North and South islands of New Zealand and Tongan residents in Auckland took to Facebook to share their reactions to the scary shaking.

The quake had a depth of 16km and it struck 20km southeast of Hanmer Springs.

But the New Zealand Civil Defence has revised the first earthquake to a magnitude 7.5, 15km deep, 15 km north-east of Culverden.

It was strongly felt in Christchurch, Wellington, Taranaki, Hamilton and Auckland.

New Zealand Civil Defence is advising all people in coastal areas of the country to move inland to higher ground after a severe magnitude 7.5 earthquake which struck in the South Island.

Tidal measurements from Geonet now indicate that a tsunami two metres or more has been recorded in Kaikoura, and indications are it will hit other parts of the South Island soon.

Earlier on it said: “Take your getaway kit with you if possible. Do not travel into the areas at risk to get your kit or belongings. Take your pets with you if you can do so safely.

“Move immediately to the nearest higher ground, or as far inland as you can. If evacuation maps are present, follow the routes shown. Walk or bike if possible and drive only if essential. If driving, keep going once you are well outside the evacuation zone to allow room for others behind you.

“If you cannot escape the tsunami, go to an upper storey of a sturdy building or climb onto a roof or up a tree, or grab a floating object and hang on until help arrives. Boats are usually safer in water deeper than 20 metres than if they are on the shore. Move boats out to sea only if there is time and it is safe to do so.

“Never go to the shore to watch for a tsunami. Stay away from at-risk areas until the official all-clear is given. Listen to your local radio stations as emergency management officials will be broadcasting the most appropriate advice for your community and situation.

Social Media

Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni offered condolences to New Zealanders on Facebook.

“Hope everybody fine in Christchurch after that 7+ earthquake. Also hope no tsunami”, he posted.








Wife sends love online after Tongan fruit picker hospitalised

By
Kalino Latu
-

The wife of a Tongan fruit picker who was admitted to a hospital in New Zealand last week had gone online to show her love and concerns for her husband.

Heneli Tupou of Tatakamotonga was in New Zealand as an employee under the Recognised Seasonal Employment programme.

He was admitted to a Nelson hospital, his wife ʻAsinate Tupou has confirmed.

She said Heneli was sick and they were awaiting his medical examination result.

We understand Heneli was in a serious condition.

ʻAsinate, who told Kaniva News she only used Facebook as means of communication, desperately encouraged her husband on Facebook.

“I am dying of love for you Heneli while you are in difficulty. Trust God with all your heart and do not trust your own wisdom. Listen to him in every way you go. I love you so much”, ‘Asinate posted in Tongan.

Some commentators on Facebook prayed for Heneli and wished him luck.

Tonga overwhelm Spain at Madrid

By
Kalino Latu
-

The ʻIkale Tahis were too strong for Spain’s rugby union team this morning, scoring four tries to one in a comprehensive 28-13 win over the Spaniards.

The win was promising for Tonga’s coach Toutai Kefu as some of his most experienced old guards including Vuna Cooper, Nili Latu, and Sona Taumalolo, had been side-lined with injuries.

The game was held at the Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid on Saturday, 12 November.

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