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Princess allows presenters to stick ‘pale’ on her body despite warning to place it on floor

By
Kalino Latu
-

Scroll down to watch the video

A video shows Princess Pilolevu had invited people who turned up to stick dollar notes on her body with her husband Lord Tuita while they were dancing to do so.

This was not in accordance with Tongan protocol as commoners were not allowed to make contact or touch the bodies of the royals and nobility.

The Princess gave the permission after the presenters were warned by someone from the audience to just place the pale (Tongan word for money stuck on dancers’ bodies) on the dance floor in front of the couple.

The presenters apparently hesitated but this had drawn the princess’ attention and told them to just go ahead and stuck the pale on their bodies.

The video showed the presenters eventually handed the money to the Princess and Tuita.

The 1.08 minute video was taken by Nunia Faletau, who told Kaniva News it was a “beautiful occassion”.

Princess Pilolevu was dancing with Lord Tuita to the music, Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers at the Ground Plaza, Foster city, San Francisco in the United States.

They were guests of honour at the bridal shower for their daughter Hon Lupeolo Moheofo Virginia Rose Tuita.

Moheofo was expected to marry Hon Lopeti Fielakepa.

Video: Tongan Police struggle to arrest man

By
Kalino Latu
-

Scroll down to watch the video.
A video uploaded to social media showed the arrest of a man who tried to fight off Police officers.

The encounter ended with one Police officer appeared to be in a bad state of exhaustion and struggling to breathe.

It was not immediately clear when was the incident happened and why.

The 1.29 minutes video was uploaded to Facebook yesterday Saturday 10 by Angelica Fifita.

“I went with my daughter to the ‘Una’eva petrol station in Kolofo’ou to get gas….I was surprised to see the boy appeared. Why was this people were allowed to leave the prison, people are concerned about this kind of people,” it says in the caption accompanying the video (Translated).

A person is overheard in the video saying the man was a prisoner escapee but we could not be able to confirm this.

Another person can be overheard during the encounter calling the man’s name as Maka.

 

Knowing regulations will stop importers breaking the law on fruit and meat: MAFFF

By
Philip Cass
-

Tongans regularly take home or send gifts of meat or fresh fruit from New Zealand to the kingdom.

However, the kingdom’s Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Food and Fisheries (MAFFF) is concerned at the number of cases where goods have to be confiscated and destroyed because their senders have ignored or do not understand the rules on importing meat and fruit.

Confiscations mean people lose the money they spent on buying the goods.

They can also face fines for breaking the law.

A spokesman for MAFFF said he believed many people broke the import regulations simply because they didn’t know what the rules were.

People sending produce to Tonga face two sets of regulations for goods imported from New Zealand.

One if for goods that travel with the passenger as part of their baggage and the other is for goods that travel on their own.

The materials most commonly sent to Tonga are fruit and meat.

Fresh fruit

Passengers travelling to Tonga can take 20kg of fruit with them.

All fruit landed at Fua’amotu Airport will be inspected. If it passes inspection a Plant Import Permit and Quarantine Entry will be issued.

If it does not meet the importation requirements it may be confiscated and destroyed.

The following are the regulations for accompanying fresh fruit from New Zealand:

All fruit must be declared upon arrival and will be inspected at the Quarantine Office at Fua’amotu airport.

The passenger must show evidence that the fruit was purchased in New Zealand by providing an original receipt as proof of purchase.

MAFF has warned that if shipments of accompanied fruits were not purchased in New Zealand they will be destroyed.

Consignment weighing more than 20 kg per adult passenger will be confiscated.

Meat

The situation for meat is more complicated.

Regulations apply only to non-commercial importation; that is, meat brought into the country for private use and not re-sale.

Meat can be brought in from New Zealand, Australia, the United States or Vanuatu.

Meat from Samoa or Fiji is prohibited.

The cost of an import permit at the airport nor other point of entry varies from TP$13.80 to TP$19.55.

Passenger can bring in a maximum of 20kg of meat products per adult.

All meat products  must be in unbroken, sealed, commercial packaging and passengers must be able to produce a receipt showing where the meat was bought. The country of origin must be clearly visible.

According to the Ministry, these regulations apply to any private consignment of New Zealand origin meat, meat products, dairy products, egg products or products with New Zealand origin, meat/dairy/egg ingredients from any country.

For more information

MAFFF quarantine office

List of fruit allowed from New Zealand

Name of Fruit Scientific Name
Apple (fresh fruit) Malus spp.
Avocado (fresh fruit) Persea Americana
Balsam pear Momordica charantia
Blueberry Vaccinium spp.
Cape gooseberry Physalis peruviana
Cardoon Cynara cardunculus
Citrus (fresh fruit) Citrus spp.
Cranberry (fresh fruit) Vaccinium macrocarpon
Currant (fresh fruit) Ribe spp.
Feijoa (fresh fruit) Feijoa  sellowiana
Grabe (fresh fruit) Vitis spp.
Nashi fruit(fresh fruita) Pyrus pyrifolia
Olive Olea europea
Pear (fresh fruit) Pyrus communis
Nectarine  (fresh fruit) Prunus persica
Kiwifruits  (fresh fruit) Actinidia deliciosa
Pepino (pear melon ) Solanum muricatum
Persimmon (fresh fruit) Diospyros virginiana
Apricot (fresh fruit) Prunus armeniaca
Peach (fresh fruit) Prunus  persica
Cherry (fresh fruit) Prunus spp.
Strawberry (fresh fruit) Fragaria ananassa
Cumquat (kumquat )(fresh fruit) Fortunella margarita
Lemon (fresh fruit) Citrus limon
Mandarin (fresh fruit) Citrus reticulata
Orange (fresh fruit) Citrus sinensis
Plum (fresh fruit) Purunus domestica
Satsuma mandarin(fresh fruit) Citrus reticulata
Citrus Seville orange (fresh) Citrus aurantium
Lychee (fresh fruit) Litchi chinensis
Nashi (fresh fruit) Pyrus spp.
Persimmon (fresh fruit) Diospyros kaki

List of meat products permitted into Tonga (with import requirements) by country of origin

Animal product [meat] Requirements Origin
Beef/Venison/Buffalo [sausage, luncheon, saveloys, meat, hot dogs, frankfurters, pies] Cooked, uncooked (frozen, chilled, smoked, salted and dried) Australia, New Zealand, United States of America, Vanuatu
Poultry, including turkey, duck, chicken, ostrich. [carcasses, pieces, sausage, luncheon meat, frankfurters and offal] Cooked, uncooked (including frozen, smoked, dried and chilled) Australia, New Zealand, United States of America
Pig meat [ham, sausage, bacon, saveloys, luncheon meat, hot dogs, pies, salami and frankfurters] Frozen and cooked Australia, New Zealand, United States of America
Chilled only Australia, New Zealand
Sheep and goat meat [mutton and lamb] Cooked, uncooked (frozen, chilled, smoked, salted and dried) Australia, New Zealand
Sheep offal must be frozen and/or cooked Australia, New Zealand, United States of America
Chicken eggs Unfertilised and clean, commercially packaged Australia, New Zealand, United States of America
Milk products [yoghurt, cheese, milk, ice cream, UHT products] Commercially packaged Australia, New Zealand, United States of America

The main points

  • Tonga’s kingdom’s Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Food and Fisheries is concerned at the number of cases where goods have to be confiscated and destroyed because their senders have ignored or do not understand the rules on importing meat and fruit.
  • Confiscations mean people lose the money they spent on buying the goods.
  • They can also face fines for breaking the law.
  • A spokesman for MAFFF said he believed many people broke the import regulations simply because they didn’t know what the rules were.

Suspected drunk driver killed in Huʻatolitoli crash

By
Kalino Latu
-

A suspected drunk driver from Vaini lost his life in a fatal car accident this morning Saturday 10 at about 12.50am.

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

Police Chief Inspector Tupou ʻOtutaha told Kaniva News they have information alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash.

The driver was the only person in the van while the incident occurred.

ʻOtutaha also said Police found a significant increase in motorists driving after consuming alcohol this year and as a result death toll also increasing significantly.

He said Police were doing their best to bring the number down and to stop motorists from driving under the influence of alcohol.

He said a Police campaign has been running for about two months now in an attempt to crackdown on drink driving.

Kaniva understands about 500 people had been arrested and charged with drink driving and other alcohol-related crimes, through the ongoing campaign known as ‘Operation Safe Streets’.

In the last week of August 41 people including motorists were arrested for alleged drunk driving and disorderly conduct in Tongatapu. The arrests were made as the Operation Sate Street reached its fifth week.

READ MORE:

Driver left lying ‘motionless’ after his car crashed

Tonga tops list for reliance on remittances and graduates going abroad for work

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga depends more on money sent home by migrant workers than any other country in the Pacific a new report says.

According to a World Bank report, remittances make up more than a third of the kingdom’s GDP in 2015.

At 33 percent of GDP, that places Tonga fourth in the world in terms of reliance on remittances.

The World Bank also says that Tonga ranks highest in the Pacific and sixth in the world for the percentage of tertiary educated people going overseas to find work.

A leading economist says the limited number public sector jobs drives many well educated Tongans to look for work outside the kingdom.

Christopher Edmonds from the Asian Development Bank told Radio New Zealand earlier this year that migrant workers usually maintained tied with their families and sent money home.

He said this was particularly so after disasters and in the wake of Cyclone Ian there had been a noticeable increase in remittances.

Edmonds said remittances continue to form a major part of the Tongan economy despite their decline following the global financial crisis

Returning migrant workers brought investment capital and skills that could benefit the economy.

Edmonds said Tonga also benefitted from participation in seasonal agricultural worker programmes in New Zealand and Australia.

According to Radio Tonga, about 12,000 Tongans are now working under Australia’s Seasonal Worker Program and New Zealand Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme.

As Kaniva News reported earlier this week, 2179 Tongan workers are in Australia under the Pacific Harvest Scheme’s seasonal worker programme which sends workers to rural areas.

Tongan Minister for Internal Affairs, Sosefo Fe’ao Vakata, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation many Tongan students did not have jobs and looked to Australia for opportunities.

Elsewhere in the Pacific, the World Bank says 18 percent of Samoa’s GDP comes from remittances and 14 percent for the Marshall Islands.

The main points

  • Tonga depends more on money sent home by migrant workers than any other country in the Pacific a new report says.
  • According to a World Bank report, remittances make up more than a third of the kingdom’s GDP in 2015.
  • The World Bank also says that Tonga ranks highest in the Pacific and sixth in the world for the percentage of tertiary educated people going overseas to find work.
  • A leading economist says the limited number public sector jobs drives many well educated Tongans to look for work outside the kingdom.

For more information

Migration and Remittances Handbook 2016 (World Bank)

Tonga most dependent in Pacific on remittances (Radio New Zealand)

Tonga wants more rural work visas in Australia and hopes they will ease youth unemployment (Kaniva News)

Remittances still vital for Tonga (Radio New Zealand)

Driver left lying ‘motionless’ after his car crashed

By
Kalino Latu
-

UPDATED:The driver of the van that crashed on Taufaʻāhau Road this morning left motionless after his body was removed from his vehicle.

A local photographer, Patimiosi Ngūngūtau came across the crash moments after it occurred.

He said the driver lay motionless and unconcious.

Police could not be reached for comment.

mate
The driver lay motionless on the ground. Photo/Patimiosi Ngungutau

King Tupou VI spotted by surprised shopper in Pukekohe

By
Kalino Latu
-

The King of Tonga, His Majesty King Tupou VI, was spotted by a surprised Tongan shopper in Pukekohe, New Zealand last week.

Photos uploaded to Facebook showed the king apparently checking out some goods in a shop.

One of the photos showed he was standing by the counter of a shop and was apparently talking to a shop keeper.

Kaniva News understands the 57 year-old monarch was in Auckland last week on his way to Singapore with his wife, Queen Nanasipau’u.

Reports on social media said a Tongan woman called Loumoli was shopping at one of the stores in the suburb when she was surprised to see the king.

“She nearly had a heart attack when she saw the King of Tonga in the shop, bought some books,” Tnews reported.

“I have never seen our King that close,” she said.

“[She] is sitting on sky nine at the moment and yes, I can feel it when she shared the news with me,” Tnews reported.

It reported  that about 1200 Tongans live in Pukekohe.

It is unusual for the king to do shopping or appear at public for personal purpose as the government pays his servants to do these things for him.

The Tongan government’s budget for 2016/17 has allocated about $TP5 million as budget for the king’s expenses.

This includes paying for his drivers and servants who work for him in the palace and accompany him while he is overseas.

His Majesty met with Singapore authorities on Tuesday in a bid to obtain training assistance for Tongan health staff.

He visited Singapore with the Queen, the Health Minister and Director.

They were expected to return to Tonga through Auckland.

The main points

  • The King of Tonga, His Majesty King Tupou VI, was spotted by a surprised Tongan shopper in Pukekohe, New Zealand last week.
  • Reports on social media said a Tongan woman called Loumoli was shopping at one of the stores in the suburb when she was surprised to see the king.
  • Photos uploaded to Facebook showed the king apparently was checking out goods in a shop.
  • Kaniva News understands the 57 year-old monarch was in Auckland last week on his way to Singapore with his wife Queen Nanasipau’u.

Tongan stores defunct as Chinese businesses increasingly take over, businessman claims

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Tongan businessman claims Chinese have taken over the kingdom’s business sector.

Fakaʻosi Maama posted photos on Facebook showing what he said were local retail stores being closed.

The photos were taken in Tongatapu, Tonga’s mainland, in the Western districts.

There were reports of local retail stores owned by Tongans were also being closed in the eastern and central Tongatapu.

Maama said he believed this was a true image of how the Chinese had taken over and controlled the kingdom’s business sector.

He said that in most of the villages he found all the retail stores were owned by Chinese.

He said the death of the Tongan shops in the villages and towns had badly affected the livelihood of all the locals.

The locals relied on the Tongan owners of these small scale businesses when it came to village fundraising, social and cultural activities even in churches.

The Chinese did not help these villages and towns this way, Maama said.

After Maama posted the photos and made his claims, a debate erupted on social media showed how Chinese retail stores and businesses had dominated and killed Tongan businesses.

Some people called on government to act now and do something to help the scarce Tongan businesses alive.

Others suggested that Tongans should boycott the Chinese businesses and only buy from the Tongan retail shops.

However some said the Tongan businesses could not outdo the Chinese because they were smarter and had more experiences in businesses.

Critics have accused the former Tongan governments of selling Tongan passports to Chinese.

This allowed them to become citizens of Tonga with the right to conduct businesses reserved for Tongans.

Not all businesses allowed for foreigners in Tonga

The Tongan government said it had prohibitions in place forbidding foreigners from operating some of the businesses reserved for its citizens.

The Minister for Labour and Commerce, Dr. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, made the revelation in the House recently saying only Tongans were allowed to operate these businesses.

Tu’i’onetoa said Tongans who were allowed to conduct these businesses included foreigners who had obtained their Tongan citizenship.

Businesses barred to foreigners in Tonga include:

  1. Taxi businesses
  2. Private passenger hire services
  3. Car dealerships
  4. Retails businesses including food and domestic materials
  5. Wholesale
  6. White bread bakeries
  7. Tongan crafting, tales, poetry and myths, indigenous songs and songs accompanied by instruments, art of movements of hands while singing to demonstrate the lyrics of the songs, Tongan faiva, indigenous drawings, painting, carvings, sculpture,
  8. Carving embellishment
  9. Jeweller, clothings, indigenous uniforms and weaving.
  10. Poultry
  11. Exporting coconuts
  12. Wiring of electric wires in buildings worth less than $500,000
  13. Planting crops such as yams, kumara and tapiocas
  14. Planting hiapo, pumpkins, kava and lou’akau.
  15. Fishing using hooks and lines in reefs and coastlines or within 19 kilometres (12 miles) zones from the beach.
  16. Fishing using hooks and lines in seas less than 1000 metres deep.

The main points

  • A Tongan businessman claims Chinese have taken over the kingdom’s business sector.
  • Faka’osi Maama posted photos on Facebook showing what he said were local retail stores being closed.
  • The photos were taken in Tongatapu, Tonga’s mainland, in almost every villages in Eastern district, Central and Western districts.
  • Maama said he believed this was a true image of how the Chinese had taken over controlled the kingdom’s business sector.

For more information

NZ wary of Tongan passports following ongoing scandal   

Local Chinese business growth in Tonga raising concern (Maori TV)

Tongan spirit in New Zealand celebrated in week of special events to promote language

By
Philip Cass
-

Auckland is celebrating Tongan language week with dancing, music, story telling and the launch of a new book, Tongan Heroes.

Tonga Language Week / Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e lea faka-Tonga concludes on September 10.

Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga said Tongan Language Week was focussed on how the loto (spirit) of the Tongan people had contributed to New Zealand.

“It looks at how Tongan culture has played a major role in shaping modern New Zealand’s Pacific identity,” Mr Lotu-Iiga said.

“It is an opportunity to acknowledge, celebrate and promote Tongan language in New Zealand.”

Tongan people are the third largest Pacific group in New Zealand. At the time of the 2013 census, more than  60,000 New Zealanders identified as Tongan.

More Tongan people were born in New Zealand than in Tonga. This gives lea faka-Tonga (the Tonga language) and anga faka-Tonga (Tonga culture) a special place in New Zealand.

“The number of people who speak Tongan has been growing, from just over 23,000 people in 2001 to nearly 32,000 in 2013,” the Minister said.

He told Radio New Zealand it was important to promote the teaching and learning of lea faka-Tonga at home, at work and in everyday situations.

The Tongan language continues to play a vital role in the diasporic Tongan community in Auckland.

Member for Manukau Jenny Salesa told the Manukau Courier  being able to speak Tongan was valuable in her electorate office.

“Speaking Tongan helps me empathize more, understand and to listen well to this large Pacific constituency,” Salesa said.

“As Nelson Mandela famously said, ‘if you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart’.”

Tailulu Lu’isa Fonua-Faeamani, clinical director of Auckland health and social services The Fono West, said being able to speak Tongan helped her deal with many of her patients.

Speaking at the launch of Tongan Language Week in Wellington, she said it was easier to improve the health of communities when people spoke their language.

“They can understand, they can tell you what their needs are, rather than through a translator which is really, really important,” Dr Fonua-Faeamani said.

“We need more people in the health force who can communicate in different languages in order to provide for the Pacific people,” she said.

Events in libraries

Auckland’s libraries are playing a major role in hosting events for the week.

On Monday Botany Library held a Tongan language morning where people could learn basic Tongan words. Yesterday Mangere Town Centre Library hosted a Ma’ulu’ulu tutorial dance session and Manukau Library held a session where people coupled learn to play a Tongan song on a ukelele.

Today people had the chance to learn how to make Tongan dancing accessories like vesa and kahoa.

On Friday morning there is an opportunity to hear a Tongan legend spoken in Tongan, followed by performances by pre-schoolers at Mangere Town Centre Library.

On Friday night Tupu Youth Library will the site for the launch of a new book, Tongan Heroes. The book tells the stories of achievers who have Tongan ancestry, including legends, historical figures such as Queen Salote Tupou III and contemporary heroes like Jonah Lomu.

The main points

  • Auckland is celebrating Tongan language week with dancing, music, story telling and the launch of a new book, Tongan Heroes.
  • Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga said Tongan Language Week was focussed on how the loto (spirit) of the Tongan people had contributed to New Zealand.
  • Tongan people are the third largest Pacific group in New Zealand, with just over 60,000 people identifying as Tongan.
  • This gives lea faka-Tonga (the Tonga language) and anga faka-Tonga (Tonga culture) a special place in New Zealand.

For more information

Tongan language week; It’s about respect (Manukaur Courier)

Tongan Language Week (Ministry for Pacific Peoples)

Tongan Language Week kicks off in NZ (Radio New Zealand)

Tongan Heroes

Attackers of US Peace Corps Director named, denied bail

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The identities of two men accused of involving in the attack of the 56-year-old female Director of the US Peace Corps in Sopu can now be released to the public.

Hemaloto Makafilia, 23,  and Sailosi Lau’i, 21, had been denied bail after they appeared before the Nuku’alofa Magistrate court on Monday.

Makafilia of Sopu is charged with grievous bodily harm while Lau’i of  Hala’ovave is charged with abetment to grievous bodily harm.

The director, who has not been named, was jogging along a footpath behind one of the residences at the waterfront when a man attacked her on Saturday, July 16.

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