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Tongan QS in New Zealand offers to help the Pacific Games construction

By
Kalino Latu
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A Tongan quantity surveyor (QS)  in New Zealand has offered to help the government with the preparation to host  the South Pacific Games 2019.

Siosiua ʻUmulovo Toki said he saw this as an opportunity to offer his skills as an independent QS in New Zealand and helps Tonga while it is struggling to find about TP$100 million to build the Games.

He was in Tonga recently after the Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva agreed with his offer.

Toki said the government paid for his accommodation, food and transport while he was in Tonga for about a month.

However, he returned to New Zealand while the government was working to process his appointment and contract agreement.

He said they made contact after his return and the government required further documents including his CV.

The government has announced in Parliament early this week Tonga will still hold the Games.

The announcement came after the government of ʻAkilisi Pohiva told the Pacific Games Council last month  it would welcome losing the Games if the council continued it intervention after the government sacked  the head of the Games Orgnising Committee, Lord Sevele ʻO Vailahi.

While waiting for his appointment Toki sent a report to the Tongan government raising his concern about the situation of the Games preparation.

In his report Toki was concerned about the timing of the construction.

“As we all aware that the most issue now is the time and I think there is no room for error and talking too much, we need to act as fast as we can to move on and with my experience in construction industry in NZ for years we have to get all these tools that I referred to above to help the implementation of the project together with the team effort”, Toki said in his report.

Toki, a qualified quantity surveyor from Unitec, has about 30 years of experience in the construction industry in New Zealand.

“About the conversation in Auckland with PM that I come to Tonga and assist with the project because of my skills and experience in the construction industry in New Zealand and I’m proud to share that with the Tongan team to deliver the project for Tonga.

“It is vital to have such an experienced QS like me from overseas to help set out a starting point for this project because we run out of time.

“I got no doubt that I’m the right person to help with this project and with my experience as a quantity surveyor and project manager in NZ I can deliver this project to its budget, time and quality.

Toki said the work he did as a quantity surveyor would help reduce any possible mismanagement and overspending of the public funding allocated for the construction.

He said it looked like there was no qualified quantity surveyor in Tonga and the job was conducted by the Tongan architects and civil engineers.

“I understand that I will save millions for Tonga in this project that is why I want to help. I’m not new to this kind of work for the Tongan community in NZ and here in Tonga.

“ I have been self employed for almost 30 years in NZ and I want to share that experience with the local people”, he said.

LIVE: Tonga intercollegiate rugby tournament, Tupou College vs Tonga College

By
Kalino Latu
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Tongan noble concerns over number of criminal deportees

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Noble MP Lord Tuʻilakepa said the increasing number of Tongan criminal deportees from overseas has become a matter of concern for him.

Tuʻilakepa has disclosed in Parliament on Tuesday that the deportees have caused a lot of problems in Tonga.

He claimed the Tongan criminals overseas were sent to Tonga because the foreign countries got the permission to do so from Tongan consuls in Australia, the United States, Hawaiʻi and in New Zealand.

His claim was instantly rejected by the Minister of Revenues Tēvita Lavemaau who said Tongan consuls overseas have nothing to do with the Tongan criminal deportees.

If they breached those nations’ laws and their crimes entitled them to a deportation it is entirely up to those countries to deport them and there was nothing to do with the Tongan offices overseas, Lavemaau said.

Tuʻikaepa said he got his information from retired and former Tongan consuls.

Analysts argued that the criminal deportees were contributing to an escalation of crime and high levels of violence in Tonga.

This including kidnapping, armed robbery and killing during robbery something the kingdom did not experience before the last two decades.

Last year in November it was reported that Patrick ʻUnga, who had received a life sentence for murdering his fiancé in New Zealand in 2003, killed again in Tonga only a few months after his deportation to Tonga two years ago.

He was sentenced to more than 12 years in jail for manslaughter after the death of Sitanilei Sime in Nuku’alofa in April 2014.

Last month two brothers Motekiai and John Taufahema were deported to Tonga from Australia after a court convicted and sent them to jail for the death of Glenn McEnallay, a Police constable in Sydney.

The Taufahemas served 11 years in prison.

McEnallay was shot three times in the head and the chest and he later died in hospital.

ʻĪkaletahi squad for Georgia

By
Kalino Latu
-

The ‘Ikaletahi Head Coach has named the starting lineup to take on Georgia this Saturday.

The two teams will meet for the first time since the World Cup 2015 loss in England in which Georgia defeated Tonga by 17-10.

The bench consists of two debutants Mikaele Mafi older brother of Japan Number 8 Amanaki Mafi and Wayne Ngaluafe.

The game will kick off at 12:45pm Fiji time at ANZ Stadium Suva, Fiji 18th June 2016.

The team:

1. Loosehead prop Eddie ‘Aholelei
2. Hooker Elvis Taione
3. Tightheadprop Sione Faletau
4. Leftlock Uili Kolo’ofai
5.Rightlock Dan Faleafa
6. Left flanker Nili Latu (c)
7. Right flanker Jack Ram
8.Numbereight Sione Tau
9. Scrum half Tane Takulua
10. Flyhalf Kali Hala
11. Leftwing Pila ʻIongi
12. Leftcentre Latiume Fosita
13. Rightcentre Apakuki Ma’afu
14. Rightwing Otulea Katoa
15.Fullback  Tevita Halaifonua
16. Front row Kama Sakalia
17. Front row Sione Anga’aelangi
18. Front row Sila Puafisi
19. Opeti Fonua
20. Mikaele Mafi
21. Wayne Ngaluafe
22. Viliami Hakalo
23. Taniela Kilioni

Health Promotion Forum Wins Bid to Host World Conference in New Zealand

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The Health Promotion Forum of New Zealand Runanga Whakapiki Ake I Te Hauora o Aotearoa (HPF) has won the bid to host a world health promotion conference in New Zealand in 2019.

The win was announced on May 27 (NZ time) at the closing ceremony of the 22nd world health promotion conference of the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) that was held on May 22-27 in Curitiba, Brazil.

“We won because of the guidance and support of our nation’s leaders. IUHPE also saw that New Zealand is willing and able to contribute in leading ways to the major global challenges that the world community faces such as the health of the planet and its peoples,” says HPF Executive Director Sione Tu‘itahi.

IUHPE is an international organisation that leads the on-going advancement of health promotion in the world. HPF is the umbrella body for health promotion organisations in New Zealand. HPF is a member of IUHPE.

For further information, contact Sione Tu’itahi at sione@hauora.co.nz: mobile 0276659939

MV ʻOtu Angaʻofa services suspended after mechanical fault

By
Kalino Latu
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The Friendly Island Shipping Agency (FISA) has suspended its MV ʻOtu Angaʻofa ferry inter-island services after it found the rudder needed replacement.

This means the company’s services to the outer islands face difficulties in the next three months before the problem can only be fixed in Fiji in September, FISA said.

The shipping company has arranged for the MV Niuvakai to take over the services but FISA said the vessel has only 12 seats and it does not have a license to carry passengers.

It said the seats in the commercial vessel were only for those who wanted to travel with their cargoes and shipments to the outer islands.

FISA said the MV ‘Otu Anga’ofa can still operate on its current condition but its insurance company did not allow any further operation until the new rudder arrives  from Japan.

READ MORE:

Tupou College Toloa Sesquicentenary – Day 2

By
Kalino Latu
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Tupou College is celebrating its 150th Anniversary beginning yesterday with a singing competition for all alumni chapters.

To night June 16 is the second day of the competition.

An official registration will start tomorrow for the thousands of visitors and ex-students from overseas and in Tonga who are attending the historical event.

Kaniva Pacific News would like to express its sincere thanks and appreciation to Paula Moimoi Latu for allowing us to link his live stream of the 7-day celebration to Kaniva Pacific News Website.

Tongan church battles to save historical building

By
Kaniva Staff
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The future of a deteriorating heritage building remains on shaky ground

ANDREW HALLBERG

A Tongan church in Grey Lynn is hoping to have a decision by July on the future of one of Auckland’s highest priority heritage buildings.

Carlile House on Richmond Rd, owned by the United Church of Tonga, has sat empty for 20 years and is now “falling to the ground” due to a lack of maintenance, according to the chair of the church’s board.

Board chair Malakai Koloamatangi said the church had been consulting with its congregation over what to do with the building.

“There are three options: fix it ourselves, sell up and move away, or sit around and let it fall to the ground,” Mr Koloamatangi said.

A fourth option of collaborating with a development company to refurbish the building had been floated by the church and Auckland Council.

Mr Koloamatangi said the consultation between the church and the council had been positive, but a lot of the church’s members did not want to move away from the current site.

“Ninety per cent want to stay, a minority want to move, but they don’t want to move too far,” he said.

Church members do not want to lose their heritage as the church attached to Carlile House was the first place of worship built by Tongans outside Tonga, according to Mr Koloamatangi.

Built in 1886, Carlile House is one of Auckland’s oldest historic buildings and the council is keen to see it restored.

The former orphanage has been at the centre of failed negotiations between Auckland Council and the church in the past, but Te Waha Nui understands deals between the church and third parties have also fallen over.

Chair of the Tongan Advisory Council Melino Maka said an offer from an American-based property development company was “genuine”.

Managing partner of Third Leaf Partners, Aaron Faust, viewed the property in 2014, and confirmed via email to Te Waha Nui that, at the time, he had a “general willingness to consider refurbishing and leasing the building”.

Mr Faust confirmed that his company had made no formal approaches to the church regarding a deal, but Te Waha Nui understands a broker entered into discussions with the church on the company’s behalf. The early conversation involved the idea of the church leasing the building to the broker’s client on a 60-year lease and in return the client would fully refurbish the building.

Mr Maka spent 18 months brokering the deal before discussions fell through late last year. He estimated that the cost of restoration was $7 million and said it would take two years to return the building to its former glory.

Mr Koloamatangi said he was unaware of this deal, but said there had previously been interest from other companies.

Mr Maka confirmed he did not speak directly with Mr Koloamatangi, but dealt with other church leaders.

Auckland Council heritage manager Noel Reardon was unaware of the discussions with the broker when approached for comment, but described it as a good deal.

“That sounds like it would’ve been an ideal outcome,” he said.

Mr Reardon said the council had been working with the church to look at the possibility of the church restoring the building themselves. The church and the council are aiming to reach a decision by mid-July.

Mr Reardon said the building was a top priority, “second only to the St James Theatre”.

The council has installed a fence around the building after physical damage and graffiti accelerated deterioration.

Mr Koloamatangi said the building had suffered damage from “street kids, squatters and arson”.

–tewahanui

Tupou College 150th anniversary singing competition

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongan MP needs pay rise to align salaries with Fiji and Samoa

By
Kalino Latu
-

A motion discussed in Parliament yesterday has proposed linking the Tongan MPs’ salaries to that of those in the other Pacific island Parliaments with strong economies like Fiji and Samoa.

Haʻapai 12 constituency MP Vili Hingano claimed the Samoan MPs gets $90,000 Tala (TP$80,000) and the Tongan MPs’ salaries should be aligned with them to reflect their work performance and match their huge workload.

The MP said the two countries considered the hard works and commitments the position required and awarded high salaries the Tongan parliamentary pay could not compare.

He said the high salaries could help reduce possible corruption.

Hingano also claimed the MPs’ constitutents benefit from the MPs’ salaries.

He said the MPs used part of their salaries to help their constituents when they asked for helps.

Lord Tuʻihaʻangana advised Hingano to submit his motion to the Finance and Public Account Committee for further review but MP Samiu Vaipulu reminded the House the constitution stipulates the Legislative Assembly has the right to decide the MPs salaries.

Some of the MPs raised their concerns about the motion saying the issue was sensitive and it should be handled with care to avoid criticism from the public.

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