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NZ aircraft joins search for ʻEua fishermen

By
Kalino Latu
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The New Zealand Defence Force is helping search for two fishermen who have been missing at sea off the island of Faiʻana in Eua islands on Saturday.

Tonga’s Police Commissioner Steve Caldwell said this afternoon he has requested assistance from the RCCNZ (Rescue Co-Ordination Centre New Zealand) for consideration of an RNZAF (Royal New Zealand Air Force) Orion for an aerial search of the predicted search area.

Tonga Police are searching  for the missing father and son from ‘Eua, who left their home for a fishing trip.

They last made contact by mobile phone on Saturday evening, advising of engine problems.

A Marine Search and Rescue was launched last Saturday with the use of police Rescue boat the MV ‘ALOTOLU and has so far been unsuccessful. Local boats and flights have also been alerted.

Police have now requested assistance from the RCCNZ (Rescue Co-Ordination Centre New Zealand) for consideration of an RNZAF (Royal New Zealand Air Force) Orion for an aerial search of the predicted search area.

The P3K2 Orion left New Zealand at 9:00 this morning and is due over Tonga waters at 1:00 pm today.

The 40-year-old father and his 14-year-old son left ‘Ohonua on Saturday 10 December 2016 at around 5:30 am in a 14ft boat was heading north of ‘Eua to Fai’ana, a shoal use by local fisherman for long line fishing.

His Majesty’s Armed Forces have been requested to assist, in event of the missing boat being located.

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Father and son missing off ʻEua since Saturday

Church leaders call for openess, dialogue, with Tonga’s LGBTI community

By
Philip Cass
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Tongan Christians have been asked to be more open to LGBTI people.

Speaking after a recent national consultation with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex community, the President of the Tonga National Council of Churches said Christians needed to be ready to engage in open discussion.

The initiative for the consultation came from the LGBTI community which want the government to change the law which penalises cross-dressing and sodomy.

Members of the LGBTI community met with church leaders and Parliamentarians

The leader of the Catholic Church in Tonga, Cardinal Soane Patita Mafi said more open discussion would improve understanding.

Radio New Zealand reported the cardinal as saying it was time to “talk these things out with some encouraging words with one another.”

“But the basic essential thing is to make them feel accepted. They’re valued in their dignity. They are persons created by God.”

Tonga’s Leiti Association planned the national consultation to petition for changes to the Criminal Offences Act, which criminalises cross-dressing and sodomy and can be punished with up to ten years in prison.

In 2015, a human rights conference in Tonga organised by the Pacific Sexuality Diversity Network was targeted  by several church groups,

Project officer for the Tongan Leiti association, Henry Aho, said in October that some conservative Christians thought that having reinforced the Sunday trading laws which shut down the kingdom’s bakeries, it was time to strengthen anti-gay legislation.

The LGBTI community in Tonga was given a boost at this year’s Olympics when openly gay athlete Amini Fonua publicly attacked a reporter for what he saw as an anti-gay story.

“We are a very Christian country but we can hold onto that without being intolerant. It’s possible,” Fonua said at the time.

The main points

  • Tongan Christians have been asked to be more open to LGBTI people.
  • Speaking after a recent national consultation with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex community, the President of the Tonga National Council of Churches said Christians needed to be ready to engage in open discussion.
  • The initiative for the consultation came from the LGBTI community which want the government to change the law which penalises cross-dressing and sodomy.
  • Radio New Zealand reported the leader of the Catholic Church in Tonga, Cardinal Soane Patita Mafi, as saying it was time to “talk these things out with some encouraging words with one another.”

For more information

Tonga church to seek dialogue with LGBTI

LGBT community calls for change in conservative Tonga

Tonga’s out gay Olympian hints at which sports have the most queer athletes on Grindr at Rio

Father and son missing off ʻEua since Saturday

By
Kalino Latu
-

Two men who were aboard a fishing boat which went missing in ʻEua islands have been identified as a local 40-year-old father and his 14-year-old son.

It was believed the duo were heading towards Faiʻana island near ʻOhonua when their boat suffered a mechanical failure on Saturday, December 10.

Police said the father contacted his family on his phone saying their boat engine could not be started and called for help.

Police search and rescue boat ʻAlotolu was sent to the area.

The men were not found and according to Police the rough seas hindered the search.

Search operation continued yesterday but still no sight of the missing men.

Bill English New Zealand’s new Prime Minister

By
Kalino Latu
-

Bill English is now New Zealand’s new Prime Minister after John Key formally resigned this morning.

Paula Bennett became his deputy, it has been announced today.

For more information:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/87454136/live-bill-english-to-become-new-pm-today

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11765148

 

Car left wrapped around pole in Vavaʻu crash

By
Kaniva Staff
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A car crashed into a pole after it collided with another car in Vavaʻu.

No injuries reported and the details of the incident were not immediately available.

Early last month a car smashed into a power pole at Tuʻi Road in Neiafu near the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

A photo showed that  car also wrapped around the pole.

Vavaʻu Police have been contacted.

Indonesian body found at Fāua harbour returned home as death is ruled not suspicious

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Police said the body of the Indonesian man which was found dead in late September at the Fāua water has been recently flown home to Indonesia.

His death has been ruled not suspicious.

He has been identified as Roys Gita, 30, an employee of the Chinese’s fishing boat, Yushun.

As Kaniva News reported previously Tongan Police were investigating the death and were awaiting autopsy results to confirm its cause.

His body was recovered by a Police diver on October 1.

Police said the  fisherman was having a party with his co-workers before the incident happened.

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Indonesian man drowns; Tongan Police awaiting autopsy report

Children refuse to bail out father accused of sexually abusing 5 and 10 yo

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The children of an old man from Kolomotuʻa have refused to sign his bail after he appeared in court on charges of sexually abusing a five and a 10-year-old child.

Koniseti ‘Akau’ola who is apparently in his 70s told Magistrate Folau Lokotui on November 21 he could not afford to hire a lawyer to represent him in court.

Lokotui said the offence he committed against the children was extremely bad.

He said ‘Akau’ola should ask his children to hire him a lawyer.

Tonga has no legal aid system  for those who were unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system.

The widower said he has four children and they had visited him regularly while he was in jail.

He said none of them wanted to guarantee and bail him out.

‘Akau’ola was remanded in Police custody until his next trial date will be set.

Tofoa Chinese store blaze not suspicious

By
Kalino Latu
-

Firefight investigators have ruled out foul play as the cause of a fire at a Chinese store in Tofoa, Tonga.

The blaze on 19 November which destroyed a Chinese convenience store at Vahaʻakolo Road costs owner TP$8,000 local reports said.

Tongan Fire Brigade Deputy Commissioner Sinamoni Kauvaka told local media investigators believed the fire started at the kitchen which was at the back of the store.

He said a gas cylinder and a stove were also found.

READ MORE

Huge fire engulfs Chinese convenience store in Tofoa

WATCH: Jnr Fa congratulates former rival Parker for world championship after his own victory

By
Philip Cass
-

Tongan boxer Uaine (Junior) Fa won his WBO heavyweight fight in just three rounds on Saturday night.

Fa, who was taller and heavier than his opponent, gave Argentine boxer Pablo Magrini only the second loss in 20 fights.

Fa had a much longer reach than Magrini and Magrini tried to avoid his punches.

Fa, who returned to the ring this year, had a successful career as an amateur, but has been trying to find a promoter to take him on and give his professional career a boost.

The Tongan’s victory came on an evening of major triumph for Pacific Islands sports at Auckland’s Vector arena.

Joseph Parker, a New Zealand boxer of Samoan heritage, became the WBO heavyweight champion of the world on the same night, defeating Mexican opponent Andy Ruiz.

It was his 22nd victory in the ring.

Fa beat Parker in 2012, in a qualifying amateur boxing competition for the London Olympics.

But last night  he posted a message of congratulations to Parker on his Facebook page, saying: “Congrats to Parker!! I scored it the same. Well done.”

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

Fa’s father is from Ha’alaufuli in Vava’u while his mother is from Matangiake in Tongatapu.

Parker turned professional in 2012. Fa stayed an amateur and then retired to raise a family before making his comeback as a professional.

The main points

  • Tongan boxer Uaine (Junior) Fa won his WBO heavyweight fight in just three rounds on Saturday night.
  • Fa, who was taller and heavier than his opponent, gave opponent Pablo Magrini only the second loss in 20 fights.
  • The Tongan’s victory came on an evening of major triumph for Pacific Islands sports at Auckland’s Vector arena.
  • Joseph Parker, a New Zealand boxer of Samoan heritage, became the WBO heavyweight champion of the world on the same night, defeating Mexican opponent Andy Ruiz.

For more information

Joseph Parker wins WBO world heavyweight title in tight battle over Andy Ruiz

Junior Fa: “I beat Joseph Parker”

Three women appointed government CEOs

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Public Service Commission has announced the appointment of three high qualified and experienced women to the positions of Chief Executive Officers in government.

They were Fekita ‘Utoikamanu Tupou, Polouini Fāʻotusia and Sūsana Faletau.

Three Ministries were benefit from these talented women and they are the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Justice.

The women and their respective ministries are as follows:

Ministry of Tourism – Fekita ‘Utoikamanu Tupou

Polouini Fāʻotusia – Ministry of Finance

Sūsana Faletau – Ministry of Justice.

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