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Tongan child drowns in hotel swimming pool in Utah

By
Kalino Latu
-

A six-year-old boy has drowned at a swimming pool inside a West Valley hotel, Utah despite being rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

According to local media Police arrived shortly and pulled out a six year old male from the water.

Police believed Jordan Kalapa was under water for at least five minutes.

 A doctor staying at the hotel attempted to give Jordan CPR.  He was rushed to the hospital where he died.

His mother was not there but a family member was in charge, Good4Utah reported.

“I don’t know the circumstances as of yet,” she said. “But i do know who was there.”

Police are still investigating Jordan’s death and will review surveillance footage of the hotel.  For now are calling it an accident.

In July, Kalapa’s sister, Ofa Kinikini was killed when a Frontrunner train hit her SUV.

Her sister said she was pregnant and in her third trimester.
“Her baby lived and we were so happy,” said Kalapa. “We call her our miracle baby. We named her Ofa and that means love in Tongan.”

Ofa Kinikini’s child was adopted by Kalapa’s younger sister, but she said the entire family shares in her life.
Kalapa now believes Jordan is with his aunt taking care of him in heaven.

“I would like to believe my sister has taken my son and we have taken her daughter. and we are going to take care of her and she is going to take care of my son until we meet in the end,” she said. “I’m grateful for that, that comforts me.”

Kaniva founder marks seven years’ service and  celebrates daughter’s graduation

By
Philip Cass
-

Seven years after it began serving readers in New Zealand and around the world, Kaniva Pacific News was officially launched on Saturday night.

Kaniva News founder Kalino Latu launched Kaniva Pacific News and the Ta’angafonua Trust  in front of an invited audience during a function held to celebrate his daughter’s graduation.

The star of the evening was Malia Lesina Kelela Latu Jr, who graduated from Unitec with a Bachelor of Communication degree in a ceremony at Auckland town hall on Wednesday afternoon.

In his welcoming speech Latu praised his daughter and her achievements and said that he had created Kaniva Pacific News for her and her brothers and sisters.

“We are here tonight just because of one thing,” Latu said.

“My daughter Malia Lesina Kelela Latu Jr has been successful in obtaining a BA in communication studies based on Public Relations from Unitec.“

He said Lela had been a gift to her parents from God.

“Kelela was given to us with a responsibility to take care of, protect her life and to pave her a way for a prosperous future,” he said.

“I would like to thank you, Kelela, for your obedience and for patience and hard work that has been shown in your success. Our whole family is very proud of you.

“Tonight we talk about Kaniva Pacific News and Ta’angafonua Charitable Trust.

“They are here to serve you with news, education and entertainment. Even though Kaniva has been serving the community since 2009 I have never ever officially announced it.

“I was waiting for this day. I wanted you Kelela to come straight home into a business in journalism your dad and mum have created for you, your sister and four brothers.“

Dozens of guests from Auckland’s Tongan community attended the evening and Latu family members travelled  from Tonga and the United States for the occasion.

Music for the evening was performed by the Kaniva Band, with vocals by Maria Angelica ‘Elisiva Jr Latu. Malia joined her on several songs.

During the evening Malia performed a tau’olunga, with members of her family joining her while the fakapale was brought to her.

Guests on Saturday night included  Former Deputy Leader of the Tongan Democratic Party, Dr Sitiveni Halapua,  Member for Manukau East Jenny Salesa, journalist Tapu Misa and Dr Philip Cass.

Misa, who has had a long career with the New Zealand Herald and other media outlets, spoke about the importance of Pasifika and Maori journalists having a say and represent in their communities in the mainstream media.

She said even though there were now more Pasifika and Maori journalists than when she began working in the media, they were still in a minority.

She welcomed Latu, who studied communication and news writing at Unitec, into the community of journalists and media workers in New Zealand.

Cass said Kaniva News played an extremely important role in the New Zealand Tongan community, by providing news in Tongan and English. This made news about the community and what was happening in Tonga available to the widest possible market.

He said Kaniva stories were carried by local, national and international media, who regarded it is an important and reliable source.

The main points

  • Seven years after it began serving readers in New Zealand and around the world, Kaniva Pacific News was officially launched on Saturday night.
  • Kaniva News founder Kalino Latu launched Kaniva Pacific News and the Ta’angafonua Trust in front of an invited audience during a function held to celebrate his daughter’s graduation.
  • The star of the evening was Malia Lesina Kelela Latu Jr, who graduated from Unitec with a Bachelor of Communication degree in a ceremony at Auckland town hall on Wednesday afternoon.
  • In his welcoming speech Latu praised his daughter and her achievements and said that he had created Kaniva Pacific News for her and her brothers and sisters.

Crisis in Vavaʻu as fuel runs out; six weeks before new fuel ship arrives says Ministry

By
Philip Cass
-

A petrol shortage in Vava’u could cost the region millions of dollars as businesses close down.

And the head of the Ministry of Tourism’s Vava’u office, Pulono Toke, told Radio Australia this evening that it could be six weeks before the crisis was resolved.

Toke said the government had hired a ship in Singapore to run the fuel service, but it would take a month-and-a-half for the vessel to reach Tonga.

Toke said some petrol and diesel was reaching the island, but not enough to keep the tourism industry going.

President of the Vava’u Tourism Association Calvin Schumaker told Kaniva News tonight the region faced a potential economic shutdown within the next two to three weeks if the situation was not resolved.

“We are in crisis mode here in Vava’u,” Schumaker said.

“Our whale watching industry is pulling boats out of the water and finishing the whale watching industry a full month and a half early.

“This is going to put us at a significant loss, potentially TP$10 million or more.

“The outer island resorts are being forced to possibly close their doors as well. This also is going to lead to a substantial loss in money for this country. Possible losses are upwards of $TP2 million.

“Restaurants are being affected because tourists cannot make it to the restaurants due to taxis not running, food not being brought to the market, and shopping not being available.”

He claimed there were near riots in the street when petrol does leak into the community, with people waiting up to eight hours for $20TOP worth of petrol.

Shumaker blamed the fuel shortage on the loss of the fuel barge that used to bring in fuel from Nuku’alofa. He said the barge had been sold and not replaced.

In an interview with Radio New Zealand,  Schumaker said Pacific Energy has told locals it would have a vessel in Vava’u waters within two weeks.

Other shipping services to the outer islands have been disrupted this year with the government ferry M.V. ‘Otuanga’ofa out of action for five months.

The Tongan government has hired an Australian catamaran to fill in for the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa while it is undergoing service and repair in Fiji.

The main points

  • A petrol shortage in Vava’u could cost the region millions of dollars as businesses close down.
  • And the head of the Ministry of Tourism’s Vava’u office, Pulono Toke, told Radio Australia this evening that it could be six weeks before the crisis was resolved.
  • Toke said the government had hired a ship in Singapore to run the fuel service, but it would take a month-and-a-half for the vessel to reach Tonga.
  • President of the Vava’u Tourism Association Calvin Schumaker told Kaniva News tonight the region faced a potential economic shutdown within the next two to three weeks if the situation was not resolved.

For more information

Tonga’s Vava’u running on empty (Radio New Zealand)

No regular fuel service to Vava’u for at least six weeks (Radio Australia)

Anna Jane Vea meets Prince of Wales in France

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, met Anna Jane Vea of Tonga while New Zealand commemorated the Battle of the Somme in Longueval, France, last week.

Vea was among the young people from New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, who were in France to learn more about their countries’ participation in the Battle of the Somme during World War I.

Prince Charles attended the wreath-laying at the New Zealand Battlefield Memorial at the Caterpillar Valley War Cemetery on Thursday last week.

“The Battle of the Somme was New Zealand’s first major engagement on the Western Front.

“Of the 15,000 members of the New Zealand Division, 8000 were wounded and 2111 soldiers were killed.

“The New Zealand Memorial to the Missing in Caterpillar Valley cemetery lists 1205 names of New Zealanders without marked graves.

“New Zealand’s Unknown Warrior was exhumed from this cemetery and reinterred at the National War Memorial in 2004”.

One person dead after accident in Pahu

By
Kalino Latu
-

One person died in a car crash this morning Sunday 18 at about 4am after his car rammed into a container on the roadside.

The road had been closed and a diversion was in place at By-Pass Rd.

According to local reports alcohol was believed to be a factor in the crash.

The road has since reopened, it said.

The fatal crash came after a  suspected drunk driver from Vaini lost his life in a fatal car accident on Saturday 10 near Malapo.

Police said a 24-year-old was driving when his 1500 kg pick up van veered off the road and hit a Pulukamu tree.

Police officer suspended over misconduct allegations

By
Kalino Latu
-

A 39-year-old Senior Police Constable in Tonga has been suspended from duty on Monday 12 September 2016 while allegations of serious misconduct against him were investigated.

A statement from Tongan Police described the case as “serious breach of the Tonga Police Code of
Conduct”.

“An Investigation is underway into the incident surrounding the Officer’s alleged breach of conduct, which involves a complaint from an 18 year old school girl.

“This is a serious allegation and bad conduct will not be accepted,” says Commissioner of Police Stephen Caldwell.

He is suspended without pay until further notice.

King dismisses Tonga’s Minister of Internal Affairs

By
Kalino Latu
-

The king of Tonga has dismissed the kingdom’s Minister for Internal Affairs, Hon Sosefo Fe’ao Vakata effective yesterday, 14 September 2016.

The dismissal came after the Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva wrote to the king and recommended that he revoked the minister from his ministerial post.

Kaniva understands the Ministry’s Director of Women Affairs Tupou ‘Ahau Fakakovikaetau has lodged a complaint with the Prime Minister’s Office against Vakata.

She claimed the Minister was involved in an incident in Vava’u last month  in which a wine glass was thrown at her.

It was also alleged the Minister was drunk.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office received by Kaniva News this morning read:

On 10 September, 2016, the Prime Minister, Hon. Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva wrote to the Minister for Internal Affairs Hon Sosefo Fe’aomoeata Vakata and requested that he voluntarily resigns from his position as Cabinet Minister, by 12 noon on Monday 12 September, 2016.

The Hon Prime Minister did not receive any response from the Minister for Internal Affairs after the deadline. As such, the Hon Prime Minister submitted his recommendation to the King on the evening of 12 September 2016, pursuant to clause 51 (3) (a) of the Constitution, whereby the Hon Prime Minister recommended to His Majesty The King, to revoke the appointment of the Minister of Internal Affairs with effect from 13 September, 2016.

On 14 September, 2016, a letter from the Lord Chamberlain conveyed that His Majesty The King has been pleased to assent to the Hon Prime Minister’s recommendation to revoke the Ministerial appointment of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon Sosefo Fe’aomoeata Vakata and to be effective from 13 September 2016.

On the same day, 14 September 2016, the Hon Prime Minister received the Hon Sosefo Fe’aomoeata Vakata’s letter of resignation, as Minister of Internal Affairs.  Nevertheless, as per the legal advice received by the Hon Prime Minister, the revocation of the appointment of the Minister for Internal Affairs was duly made by His Majesty The King on 14 September 2016 and to be effective from 13 September 2016, by virtue of Clause 51(3)(a) of the Constitution. This is regardless of the fact that the Minister of Internal Affairs later submitted his resignation.

Accordingly, the Honourable Prime Minister Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva hereby informs the public that the appointment of the Minister for Internal Affairs Hon Sosefo Fe’aomoeata Vakata is deemed to have been revoked on 14 September, 2016, with effect from 13 September 2016.

The Hon Prime Minister Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva wishes the former Minister of Internal Affairs the very best with his future endeavours.

No medal, But Tongan athlete Taufatofua sees brighter prospects after Olympic Games

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga’s Olympic flag bearer, 32-year-old Pita Taufatofua may not have won a medal at the Rio Olympics, but he is now fielding offers from modelling agencies, magazines, talk shows, commercials, and media interviews.

Next week he is flying to Los Angeles to talk to managers and agents.

Taufatofua said he spent all his time in Rio doing interviews after his spectacular appearance in the Olympic opening ceremony, but that he sued the opportunity to promote Tonga.

“Each of those interviews was me getting Tonga out to the world,” he told  Matangi Tonga.

Taufatofua, who represented the kingdom in Taekwondo at the Rio Games, is meeting with officials and visiting friends and family on Tongatapu as well as Ha’apai.

A parade is being planned for Saturday to mark the return of the Tongan Olympic team.

As Kaniva News reported last month, Taufatofua went down 16-1 to Iranian medal favourite Sajjad Mardani , but still managed to catch the attention of the world’s press because of his attitude.

In an interview with leading American sporting magazine Sports Illustrated, he made it clear he thought winning or losing was less important than making people aware of Tonga.

“To me, that’s what the Olympics is about, Taufatofua said.

“It’s about bringing people who don’t know each other and have different cultural and religious beliefs or views together as one. We’re all human beings.”

“For me the important thing is getting Tonga out to the world.”

In the wake of Taufatofua’s well-oiled appearance in the opening ceremony, Britain’s Independent newspaper reported that the Tongan government was hoping for a tourism boom.

The paper quoted Tourism Tonga spokeswoman Seini Taumoepeau as saying there had been increased online interest in the kingdom, with thousands of people looking at a holiday website and visiting Tonga’s Facebook page.

Thousands more had clicked on a website promoting Tongan holidays and hundreds more had visited the nation’s Facebook page.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Olympic flag bearer, 32-year-old Pita Taufatofua may not have won a medal at the Rio Olympics, but he is now fielding offers from modelling agencies, magazines, talk shows, commercials, and media interviews.
  • As Kaniva News reported last month, although Taufatofua went down 16-1 to Iranian medal favourite Sajjad Mardani, but he managed to catch the attention of the world’s press.
  • “For me the important thing is getting Tonga out to the world,” he told American magazine Sports Illustrated.
  • Matangi Tonga has reported that a parade is being planned for Saturday to mark the return of the Tongan Olympic team.

For more information         

Taufatofua goes down 16-1 against medal favourite, but the fans kept chanting “Tonga!”

Rio roundup: Tonga’s athletes give their best while Fonua kicks up an internet storm

Pacific leaders support climate change action, but back off mission to investigate West Papua

By
Philip Cass
-

The 47th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ meeting in Pohnpei has agreed to push for radical climate change action.

John Silk, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, said the Forum’s commitment would ensure there would still be 16 seats at the Pacific Islands Forum in another 100 years.

“We will push for ambitious climate action across all sectors,” Hon. Silk said.

“This must include reducing aviation and maritime emissions in line with the 1.5°C temperature target we all agreed in Paris.”

“If we succeed it will be one of the best examples of island leadership that we have ever seen and help us avoid up to half a degree of warming.”

The 47th Pacific Islands Forum summit began on September 7 in Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia.

The Pacific Islands Forum includes Australia, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama boycotted the event and Palau’s President Tommy Remengesau Jr. is in the middle of an election campaign.

Tonga’s delegation was led by Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva and included the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr. ‘Aisake Valu Eke and the Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, Dr. Palenitina Langa’oi.

While the Forum was prepared to make a statement on climate change, it backed off from taking promised action on West Papua, where local people have been fighting the Indonesian occupation for 50 years.

Radio New Zealand reported that at last year’s Forum in Port Moresby a decision was reached to have the chair, PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, propose a fact finding mission to Indonesia.

However, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Dame Meg Taylor, said the Indonesian government indicated it would not welcome a Forum delegation and did  not like the term “fact-finding.”

Nauru and Tuvalu have joined the Pacific Coalition on West Papua, voicing their concerns over human rights abuses in Papua, and teaming up with Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia’s FLNKS, the United Liberation Movement of West Papua and the Pacific Islands Alliance of Non-Governmental Organisations, or PANGO.

Elsewhere at the forum, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced NZ$12.5 million to fund sustainable development in Pacific Island fisheries.

The money will support sustainable coastal fisheries and aquaculture in the region through two projects,  improving fisheries food security and sustainable livelihoods for Pacific Island communities’ and Sustainable Pacific Aquaculture Development.

Meanwhile, the Forum’s final communique leaders called for action to ending Illegal fishing and associated activities, including high seas bunkering, human trafficking, and illicit trade.

The Forum agreed to grant New Caledonia and French Polynesia full membership.

The French territories have been vying for years for full membership of the regional body, which is meant to be for independent countries only.

The main points

  • The 47th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ meeting in Pohnpei has agreed to push for radical climate change action.
  • John Silk, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, said the Forum would push for ambitious climate action across all sectors.
  • Elsewhere at the Forum, Pacific leaders backed away from a planned investigation of human rights abuses in Indonesian-occupoied West Papua.
  • The Forum agreed to grant New Caledonia and French Polynesia full membership.

For more information

Pacific Island nations lead in ratification of Paris Agreement on climate change

Forum summit underway in FSM

‘Small and Far’: Pacific Island States Gather at Annual Forum

Pacific welcomes NZ’s Future of Fisheries funding

READ MORE

Rev Socratez Yoman: ‘Akilisi Pohiva is the only Polynesian leader who has publicly shown support for West Papua

Rumours say PM Pōhiva orders IA minister Hon Vakatā to resign

By
Kalino Latu
-

Rumours ran rife that Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva has ordered his Minister of Internal Affairs Hon Sōsefo Feʻao Vakatā to resign effective today at 12 pm.

The revelation had been reported on local news this morning.

However, most of Tonga’s cabinet ministers were shocked at the reports saying they have not received any official statement about Vakatā’s resignation.

Kaniva understands a complaint was lodged recently with the Prime Minister’s Office regarding Hon Vakatā.

It has claimed the minister involved in an incident in Vavaʻu last month in which a wine glass was allegedly thrown at one of his female directors.

It has also claimed the minister was allegedly drunk.

The Prime Minister is currently out of the kingdom attending the Pacific Islands Forum in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. He was expected to return to Tonga tomorrow.

In an attempt to confirm the rumours we contacted some of the cabinet ministers including the Minister of Health Hon Saia Piukala.

After asking around other ministers Hon Piukala said none of them knew about the resignation.

Tonga’s Minister of Police Hon Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa told Kaniva News he has just heard about it on the news this morning.

He said he has yet to receive any official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

It was understood the issue was raised with Hon Pohiva in Micronesia last week while he was interviewed by the manager of the Radio and Television Tonga programmes, Viola Koloamatangi Ulakai who was also at the forum.

Hon Vakatā, who has just left New Zealand for Tonga this morning after visiting Tongan fruit pickers in Australia, and Tonga’s Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet did not respond to our emails at the time this story was published.

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