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Children key target in fight against NCDs, Minister tells Shanghai conference

By
Philip Cass
-

Tongan children are a key focus of the government’s fight against obesity and other Non-Communicable Diseases.

The kingdom’s Minister for Health, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, told the 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion in Shanghai recently  that what he called “the obesity epidemic” was affecting young people in the kingdom.

Hon. Piukala cited the example of a primary school in Tonga where a 2011 study found that 30% of the students between five to seven were either overweight or obese.

“Overweight and obesity rates of more than 80% and even 90% of the adult population is common among many Pacific  countries and diabetes prevalence of around 20% and more are not uncommon,” the Minister said.

“The resultant burden of disease is significant especially given services for treatment of complications of NCDs including bypass surgery for heart disease, renal dialysis for kidney failure and proper prostheses for amputees are mostly not available.”

Hon. Piukala said the Tongan government was confident that the likelihood of success and change in behaviour is more likely in children when they are still developing their habits.

Many children were growing up in an environment that encouraged weight gain and obesity.

There was a decline in physical activity with children spending more time on TV and video games and eating junk food.

“This does not mean we are neglecting the adults,” Hon. Piukala said.

“We understand that adults’ behaviour around children is an important determinant of children’s behaviour in the future.”

Ensuring that children grew up in the right environments was critical is addressing NCDs

To make schools more supportive of the fight against NCDs, the government looked closely at what kinds of food were allowed to be sold on school grounds.

One of the school initiatives was the Mai e 5 or Gimme 5 programme, a collaboration between the Ministry of Education and private enterprise involved in vegetable and fruit production to encourage more vegetable and fruit intake among school children.

Another way of fighting obesity was to tax fizzy drinks.

According to Tonga’s Global School-based health survey conducted in 2010, 56.3% of students ages 13-15 years reported drinking carbonated soft drinks one or more times per day during the past 30 days

The government imposed the first tax on soft drinks in 2013. In 2016 the tax was 33 cents per can.

The Minister said the government was optimistic about reaching the NCD targets set by the United Nations under the Sustainable Development Goals.

“With the continued multi-sectoral collaboration both at national and international level, we will continue to have reason to remain optimistic that we will achieve our goal,” he said.

“We need strong political commitment and collaboration to address this global challenge of childhood obesity and NCD.s”

The main points

  • Tongan children are a key focus of the government’s fight against obesity and other non-communicable diseases.
  • The kingdom’s Minister for Health, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, told the 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion in Shanghai recently that what he called “the obesity epidemic” was affecting young people in the kingdom.
  • Piukala cited the example of a primary school in Tonga where a 2011 study found that 30% of the students between five to seven were either overweight or obese.
  • He said the Tongan government was confident that the likelihood of success and change in behaviour is more likely in children when they are still developing their habits.

For more information

National Strategy for Prevention and Control of NCDs

Pacific islanders pay heavy price for abandoning traditional diet

Solar-powered, Wi-Fi-ready digital library devices for Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga will soon welcome the efficiency of digital library devices brought from the Ariszona State University.

The innovative library device is 100 percent self-reliant: generating its own solar power and Wi-Fi hot spot and using its own tiny computer, called a Raspberry Pi, that functions as a server connecting to library content via smartphone, laptop or iPad, a statement from ASU says.

This week, Hosman is traveling to Tonga, where she and her team will deliver 25 portable, solar-powered, Wi-Fi-ready digital library devices called SolarSPELL — the Solar Powered Educational Learning Library — which is helping to expand access to education and technology in remote places around the world that lack electricity and the internet.SolarSPELL training in

Hosman, an assistant professor at ASU with a joint appointment in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, is traveling with five undergraduate students — four engineering students from the Polytechnic School, one of the five Fulton Schools, and one film student from the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts — as well as Lorrie McAllister, an assistant university librarian at ASU Libraries.

“We’ve been preparing for this trip all semester,” said Hosman. “In addition to bringing digital libraries to Tonga, the visit is meant to conduct research, create hands-on lesson plans and take part in workshops that will focus on building libraries specific to the Pacific Island communities.”

Because the SolarSPELL website functions as a local digital library — providing thousands of resources in the form of videos, articles, books, lessons and instructional guides — the selection of educational content and how the technology is introduced to the community is crucial.

Hosman thus relies on the expertise and local knowledge of U.S. Peace Corps volunteers, who are stationed in the remote locations she is trying to reach. Her strong partnership with the Peace Corps has resulted in the delivery of more than 100 SolarSPELL units in Samoa, Vanuatu and Micronesia.

“The Peace Corps has served an essential role in providing access to these digital libraries, as they often understand the needs of the community and local educational environment,” said Hosman.

Peace Corps staff and volunteers in Tonga will be working with Hosman and her students to develop learning objectives around library content as well as sample instructional programming. In addition, Hosman’s partnership with ASU Libraries has also helped to curate SolarSPELL content.

This fall, ASU Libraries hosted its first SolarSPELL Hackathon to support the curation of educational content for schools in Tonga. It was an opportunity for library staff to partner with Hosman and her students to further improve the digital library experience through new content and its improved organization, as well as enhancements to the technology platform. The Hackathon also resulted in discussion of creating lesson plans for teachers to empower students to save and share their cultural and artistic expressions as well as their family heritage.

“It is wonderful to partner with ASU Libraries to help deliver high-quality and specifically curated digital educational resources to teachers and students in areas with severely limited electricity, connectivity and even textbooks,” said Hosman.

McAllister said she is looking forward to engaging with students, educators and librarians in Tonga’s capital city of Nukuʻalofa to help understand their local context and greatest opportunities and challenges.

“This trip will be a valuable lesson in the curation of digital libraries,” McAllister said. “We will be finding out what topics the students of Tonga are interested in discovering and how they see themselves using digital libraries for learning. Dr. Hosman’s work is very exciting in terms of a creative way to expose new audiences to digital library resources and empower people by using libraries as catalysts for learning.”

Hosman, McAllister and the team of ASU students will be traveling Dec. 6-18 with a brief stop in New Zealand at the University of Auckland, where they will take part in a digital storytelling workshop.

The students plan to video-journal their experiences while traveling abroad.

Pita Taufatofua to compete at 2018 Winter Olympics

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s flagbearer at Rio Olympics, Pita Taufatofua said he wanted to compete at the 2018 Winter Olympics in cross-country skiing.

Taufatofua who stole the show after his glistening body attracted millions of viewers on the internet  in Rio recently did it again in China during the 2016 Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo in October.

He led the Tongan delegation to Guangdong where they represented Tonga promoting tourism.

The 33-year-old taekwondo fighter will attempt to qualify for the sport and become the kingdom’s first ever athlete to compete in it.

The tiny south Pacific island nation’s location near the equator means snow does not exist there but that would not stop Taufatofua who grew up in Australia from pursuing his dream.

“We have coconut trees, they keep us warm. We’ve got the island spirit,” Taufatofua said in a video released on the IOC’s Olympic Channel.

“It’s a different sort of workout. It’s a little bit colder, but we’re from the islands. The Polynesian spirit isn’t going anywhere.”

The next Winter Olympics will be held in the South Korean city of Pyeongchang from 9-25 February 2018.

Tongans in Auckland astir as royal wedding day at hand

By
Kalino Latu
-

A wedding for Princess Pilolevu Tuita’s youngest daughter in Auckland next week has set the Tongan community astir in the past weeks.

Hon. Lupeolo Halaevalu Moheofo Virginia RoseTuita and Hon. Lopeti Aleamotuʻa will tie the knot at Tuingapapai church in Mangere next Saturday, December 17.

Hon Lupeolo, 30, is 15th in line to the Tongan throne.

Hon. Aleamotuʻa is the second son of the late Taulupe Aleamotu’a and Mele Simiki Aleamotu’a.

His late father was the older brother of Lord Fielakepa.

The couple’s family backgrounds mean a huge celebration is expected in the Tongan community in New Zealand.

The custom of fatongia (duties) could bring thousands of kāinga (relatives) from the couple’s parental estates and churches to celebrate the royal event in South Auckland.

The bride and her parents, Princess Pilolevu and Lord Tuita, were expected to arrive here in Auckland tomorrow, a reliable source has told Kaniva News.

Customs associated with traditional wedding have been carried out for the couple in Tonga with the fakalēlea being held last night at Tufumāhina royal residence.

The cultural fatongia of the couples’ kāinga and family began last week at Lord Tuita’s residence Māhina Fekite in Fasi when H.R.H. Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukālala arrived with his fakatū’uta as son of the king, Princess Pilolevu’s young brother.

The Prince’s herald Tākapu told Ula Matatoa, Lord Tuita’s herald that he came with a “fekau koula” (golden message) and tokonaki (honorary food such as yams, pig and a slaughtered and dressed bull) as part of the king’s duty as Lupeolo’s maternal uncle.

Tākapu said the king was represented in the presentation by Prince ʻUlukālala

He said they were coming with a farewell presentation because of the plan for Hon. Lupeolo and his family to leave for Auckland for her wedding.

The Prince was also accompanied by his wife Crown Princess Sinaitakala and their two children Princess Mataʻaho and Prince Tāufaʻāhau.

Herald Ula Matatoa thanked Tākapu for the presentation and said he was extremely happy with it.

Hon. Aleamotu’a’s presentation at the fakalēlea, in which the bridegroom visits and performs entertainment at the bride’s house, traditionally a day before the wedding, was accompanied by Hon. Faka’osifono Valevale, Lord Nuku’s son.

Kaniva News understands there were faiva such as solo and group dances being practised in Auckland for the wedding and women met to prepare koloa such as ngatu and significant mats for the day.

The main points

  • A wedding for Princess Pilolevu Tuita’s youngest daughter in Auckland next week has set the Tongan community astir in the past weeks.
  • Lupeolo Halaevalu Moheofo Virginia RoseTuita and Hon. Lopeti Aleamotuʻa will tie the knot at Tuingapapai church in Mangere next Thursday, December 17.
  • The couple’s family backgrounds mean a huge celebration is expected in the Tongan community in New Zealand.
  • The custom of fatongia (duties) could bring thousands of kāinga (relatives) from the couple’s parental estates and churches to celebrate the royal event in South Auckland.

READ MORE:

Two Tongan royal ‘Fuifuilupe’ wed non-chief fiancés

Lord Luani’s wedding to commoner in Alaska provokes fierce online debate

Lord Fakafanua’s wedding goes ahead with profound dignity

Tongan royals steal the show during wedding celebrations at Shangri-La resort in Fiji

Ports Authority ends year with record growth and $TP2.2 million profit

By
Philip Cass
-

The Ports Authority of Tonga has recorded a profit of $TP2.2 million to the end of the 2015/16 year.

Due to an increase in the volume of cargo moving through the port of Nuku’alofa and the number of ships docking, income grew 13% on the previous year to a record $TP10 million.

Total income for the Ports Authority has grown by 44.9% since 2010 to 2016.

The Authority said this was a sign of its economic efficiency.

The authority’s board of directors met earlier this month to present a cheque for $TP1.6 million to the Hon. Poasi Mataele Tei, Minister for Public Enterprises.

The cheque represented the dividend paid to the government as a shareholder in the port.

Growth in the port sector was marked earlier this year when His Majesty King Tupou VI on April 21 officiated at the ground breaking ceremony of the new domestic wharf in Nuku’alofa.

The USD$30.5 million (TP$67 million) project is being financed through a grant through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency.

This project is expected to be completed in 2018.

The board of directors was restructured in May, with the appointment of  Mr  Stephen  Edwards  as chairman) and  Dr.  Cpt.  Sione  Tu’itupou  Fotu, Mrs Helen Po’uliva’ati Toli, Mr Tomifa  Paea  and Mr Viliami  Takau Jr as directors.

The main points

  • The Ports Authority of Tonga has recorded a profit of $TP2.2 million to the end of the 2015/16 financial year.
  • Due to an increase in the volume of cargo moving through the port of Nuku’alofa and the number of ships docking, income grew 13%on the previous year.
  • Total income for the Ports Authority has grown by 44.9% since 2010 to 2016.
  • Growth in the port sector was marked earlier this year when His Majesty King Tupou VI on April 21 officiated at the ground breaking ceremony of the new domestic wharf in Nuku’alofa.

 

Kiwis Farewell Fonua Tāufa as his body is flown home to Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

The body of Fonua ʻĀmanu Tāufa one of the four Tongan victims who were killed in Kaipara tragedy has been flown to Tonga last night Monday 5.

Hundreds turned up at the Auckland airport to farewell the 42-year-old.

His family hold nofoʻakimeʻa for his body  at an Otara mortuary since it was released to them and it was concluded on Sunday night with vote of thanks for his kāinga in New Zealand by the ʻulumotuʻa.

Tāufa’s funeral service was expected to be held in Navutoka in Tongatapu at his father’s family cemetery.

His fishing friends who died with him when the boat they hired capsized were buried on Saturday last week.

Cousins Sūnia ʻUngoʻunga and ʻAlipate Manumuʻa were buried at Manukau Memorial Garden  while Tēvita Tangi was buried at a cemetery in Remuera

Meanwhile the body of the man who was still missing after the boating tragedy has been located.

Eight men were killed in the tragedy including the skipper.

Police have confirmed on Monday that a body has been found  at Muriwai Beach.

“A fisherman made the discovery at around 6am”, Inspector Mark Fergus said.

“Whilst formal identification is yet to take place, it is thought to be that of missing fisherman, Mr Taulagi Afamasaga.

“We have visited the Afamasaga family this morning to convey this news.

“Our thoughts are with them at this sad time”.

READ MORE

Four Tongans die in Kaipara habour tragedy

Distressed family see Tangi’s body first time after death, three bodies to be buried tomorrow

Family reunion colours change to black as plans are made to fly Tāufa’s body home to Tonga

Four Tongans killed in boating tragedy named as ‘tala kāinga’ mounted online

Prime Minister John Key announces resignation

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Prime Minister John Key has advised the Governor-General and his Cabinet and caucus colleagues that will he will resign as Prime Minister on December 12.

Mr Key’s expectation is that the National Party caucus will hold a special meeting on December 12 to select a new leader. After that he will travel to Government House to resign as Prime Minister. Mr Key expects that the Governor-General will appoint the new Prime Minister soon after.

“It has been an enormous privilege to be Prime Minister of New Zealand, and these last eight years have been an incredible experience. Throughout these years I have given everything I could to this job that I cherish, and this country that I love.

“Bronagh has made a significant sacrifice during my time in politics, and now is the right time for me to take a step back in my career and spend more time at home.“

Mr Key said that in making his decision to resign he reflected on the upcoming election campaign and the inevitable question as to whether he would serve a further three-year term as Prime Minister if National was successful at the election.

“I do not believe that if I was asked to commit to serving out a full fourth term I could look the public in the eye and say yes.

“And more than anything else in my time here, I have tried to be straight and true with New Zealanders.

“Making the decision to resign has not been easy, and I have no plans as to what comes next in my professional life.

“But for me this feels the right time to go. It leaves the Cabinet and caucus plenty of time to settle in with a new Prime Minister before heading into election year with a proud record of strong economic management.

“I am hugely confident that National can and will win the next election – just as I as am confident that the caucus has a number of people who would make a fine Prime Minister.

“Whoever the caucus votes for will have my unwavering support, but if Bill English puts his name forward then I will vote for him.

“For 10 years now Bill and I have worked closely as a team. I have witnessed first-hand his leadership style, his capacity for work, his grasp of the economy, his commitment to change and most of all his decency as a husband, as a father, a colleague and as a politician.”

Mr Key said that he wanted to thank the Cabinet and Caucus for their loyalty and energy, and his staff for their hard work over these last eight years.

“I want to acknowledge and thank our support partners ACT, United Future and the Maori Party without whom the strong and stable government we have delivered would not have been possible.

“The Board, office holders and members of the National Party have my grateful thanks for everything they have done during my 10 years as their leader.

“I want to thank the people of the Helensville electorate who have returned me to Parliament every three years since 2002. It has been a great privilege to be their MP.”

Mr Key said that he will remain MP for Helensville before stepping down closer to the next election, therefore avoiding the cost of a by-election.

Search for missing 3yo boy after falling off boat in Ha’afeva, 5yo sister rescued

By
Kalino Latu
-

Police Search and Rescue Boat (SAR) was searching for a 3-year-old boy in Ha’apai after he has gone missing after falling off a boat Saturday 3 around 5.07am.

His 5-year-old sister was rescued after the boat they were passenger in had an accident.

She was recovering well in Niu’ui hospital, Police said.

Police said a “local boat from ‘O’ua went under the loading end of the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa while the ‘Otuanga’ofa was docked in Ha’afeva to pick up people from the nearby Islands to travel to Tongatapu”.

“The missing 3 year-old and his 5 year-old sister were among the passengers on board the boat from ‘O’ua when the incident occurs”, Police said.

“They both fell into the water and the 5 year-old was rescued by those who were at the scene.

However ‘O’ua locals told Kaniva News the passengers  including the victims jumped off the boat  into the sea when they realised the boat was heading  under the ‘Otuanga’ofa’s loading door.

“The Police SAR boat, the ‘Amolua departed Pangai at 6:30 Saturday morning, heading to the scene in Ha’afeva”, Police said.

“They managed to rush the 5 year-old to Pangai and quickly transported her to the hospital for a thorough check.

“She is still at the Niu’ui Hospital recovering well.

“Assisting Police in searching for the 3 year-old are local boats from Ha’afeva. They have been searching nearby islands since the incident took place and continue to do so today.

“Police continue to investigate further details into the circumstances surrounding this incident”.

Squash shipment to China may prompt more local growers to join market

By
Philip Cass
-

The first shipment of locally grown squash under new guidelines agreed with China has left Tonga.

China imposed tough standards after an inspection of the kingdom’s squash exporters last year uncovered problems with quality control, hygiene and pest control. The Chinese also said quarantine officers needed more training.

Matangi Tonga reported that Nishi Trading successfully passed a strict quarantine inspection on November 26 after 18 months of negotiations with Chinese authorities.

Chinese and Tongan officials agreed on the standards and processes that needed to be met for a successful squash export partnership between the two countries in May this year.

Tonga Broadcasting Commission reported that some local farmers had given up on the idea of growing and exporting squash to China because of the long negotiations. However, if this shipment was a success, they might consider growing the crop again.

The broadcaster said Chinese markets required 200 tonnes of squash every season and said exports would generate hundreds of thousands of pa’anga for Tongan growers and exporters.

The export agreement was supported by the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Programme, PHAMA, a joint Australian-New Zealand initiative.

The programme helps Pacific island nations find new markets,

The main Island nations involved are Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

“With the rise in a global economy and challenges such as climate change, an increasing world population and diminishing food security, it is imperative development opportunities a re-improved and the region is economically secure,” a PHAMA spokesman said.

Tongatapu has a distinctly cooler climate than other parts of the Pacific,  making it attractive as a source of fruit and vegetables not able to be grown successfully elsewhere.

Tonga exports squash to Japan and Korea and vanilla to New Zealand and Australia where it is used in specialty food products.

The main points

  • The first shipment of locally grown squash under new guidelines agreed with China has left Tonga.
  • China imposed tough standards after an inspection of the kingdom’s squash exporters last year uncovered problems with quality control, hygiene and pest control.
  • Tonga Broadcasting Commission reported that some local farmers had given up on the idea of growing and exporting squash to China because of the long negotiations.
  • However, if this shipment was a success, they might consider growing the crop again.

For more information

PHAMA

Tonga’s access to new market for squash export awaits Chinese quarantine evaluation

Tonga exports

Tongan female fruit picker shares worst nightmare after being left stranded in Queensland

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Tongan young woman has shared the terrifying moments she experienced when her co-workers left without waking her up on a night on their way to return to Tonga from Australia.

Sofia Filo, 30, of Maʻufanga has revealed how she walked in terror while crying and searching for help in the tiny Central Queensland town of Miriam Vale on the night of November 24.

Sofia was one of a 39 Tongans group working in Queensland on the Australian Seasonal Workers’ Programme.

They were on a bus from Bowen in North Queensland to Brisbane to catch their flight to Sydney and Tonga.

Talking to Kaniva News yesterday by telephone from Tonga, Sofia said they left Bowen on Wednesday 23 at 5am and arrived at Miriam Vale, 464 km north of Brisbane, about 11.30pm.

Their bus broke down and they were told to rest in a park while the bus was fixed.

sofia-filo
Sofia Filo was left stranded in Miriam Vale, Australia. Photo/Supplied

Sofia and two other women took a nap on chairs in the park. When the bus was fixed the women and the rest of the Tongan workers got on board and took off without Sofia.

It appeared the two women did not realise she was still sleeping in the park.

Sofia said she had not met them since the incident.

She said while she was looking for help she managed to get hold of one of her co-workers in the bus on her cellphone.

She was told the bus would not return to pick her up and was told to walk to the Police station which was near to the petrol station where their bus refueled.

However, when she reached the police station there no one was in the office.

Sofia said she had heard about women being abducted in Australia and was scared that if this happened she might be abducted or killed.

“When vehicles came towards me I just pretended that I was walking to the next home and sometimes entered  properties to let them think I was just a local”, Sofia said.

“I was so terrified and crying when I was walking alone thinking of what could happen next, but I just thank God I was saved”, she said.

She claimed the passengers told her they asked the group leader Loka Maile to count the number of passengers to make sure they were all on board, but he did not do it.

Maile could not be reached for comment.

Sofia’s three-hour horror ordeal was ease off when a palangi woman came out of her house to check a mysterious loud sound that echoed in the area, Sofia said.

The woman saw Sofia and she immediately suspected she was lost and struck up a conversation with her.

The woman, Pauline Hill, took her home.

Sofia spent the night with  Hill until the morning when she took her to a railway station.

The woman also helped her how to get into Brisbane airport.

She left Miriam Vale at 9am Thursday 24 and arrived in Brisbane at 3pm.

Sofia said when she arrived in Brisbane some of her co-workers were still waiting for their flights.

She asked them why they did not return to pick her up and was told the group leader feared they might not get their flights to Sydney.

Sofia told Kaniva News she had not reported what had happened to her to the Tongan authorities.

Her brother Robert Filo told Kaniva News he was furious at the group leader for making the decision not to return the bus.

“So so mad at one of the Pacific Regional Program Leader in Australia, that deliberately left my sister stranded in the middle of nowhere after their bus broke down”, Robert said.

“I am trying to get to the bottom of this, when someone treated my own sister like that, not even care or even have the decency to go back and get her, rather he told the driver to keep going as they might miss their connection flight from Brisbane to Sydney.

“Well they all arrived there at Brisbane airport and waited and more waiting while my sister trying her best to hitch the ride.

“So so furiously angry for such ignorance and no concern, a member of his group, and she is a female.

“I cannot comprehend this kind of leader as he should see our mother’s face when she learned that her daughter was left behind in the middle of nowhere.

Robert spoke to Kaniva News on November 25 , the day after the incident.

“We love you Sofia Filo, hope you’ll find your way and we pray to God to guide you safely all the way there in Australia and safely arrives to Tonga”.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs in Tonga had not responded to questions from Kaniva News at the time this story was published.

The main points

  • A Tongan young woman has shared the terrifying moments she experienced when her co-workers left without waking her up on a night on their way to return to Tonga from Australia.
  • Sofia Filo, 31, of Maʻufanga was one of a 39 Tongans group working in Queensland under the Australian Seasonal Workers’ Programme.
  • They were driving to Brisbane when their bus broke down in the tiny Central Queensland town of Miriam Vale.
  • She was left behind when the bus left, but was eventually found by a local woman who put her up over night and then put her on the train to Brisbane.
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