Tongan Police have said they seized a “large amounts of alcohol” in Lapaha on Friday 23.

Police confiscated a total of 2,794 cans and bottles of different types of alcohol which were stocked and sold without a liqour license.

A 45-year-old man was arrested and charged with the illegal selling of the alcohol.

Deputy Commissioner Pelenatita Vaisuai, said the seizure came as part of Police Christmas and holiday operation, dubbed Operation Vï.

“This is among the largest raids by police relating to alcohol being sold unlawfully, without licence,” Vaisiuai said.

The raid followed a similar police raid that took place the day before, Thursday, 22 December where considerable amounts of homebrew, illicit drugs and a firearm were seized by police from a bush allotment in Niutoua.

“The series of raids is part of Police proactive strategy to ensure that access to alcohol is controlled and alcohol related crimes are reduced,” says Vaisuai.

“During this festive season, a number of people will celebrate with alcohol and it is advised that they do this in moderation for their safety and the safety of their loved ones and others.”

Operation Vï which commenced on Wednesday, 21 December continues.

Incorrect use of flares

Public are asked to refrain from using flares for any other purpose except in a distress situation. Police search and rescue resources are scarce and must only be utilised or reserved to be utilised in a real distress situation where lives are at risk.

A large fire on Tapuhia landfill erupted fiercely and the fire fighters were fighting what they believed the largest fire they have ever encountered.

The National Emergency Management Office (NEMO), His Majesty’s Armed Forces, Tonga Police, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and Private Sectors were called in to help fight the blaze, a government  statement said.

The blaze reportedly broke out early Christmas morning at around 5:00-6:00am and the fire services responded at around 10:00am.

The fire as it was in this afternoon Monday 26 was still “uncontrolled”, according to Deputy Fire Commissioner, Mr Sinamoni Kauvaka.

An investigation was underway  to determine the cause of the fire.

No report of injuries.

Tapuhia Solid Waste Management Facility was officially opened in 2006 and was designed to protect the groundwater resource.

The facility has a public area for recycling and dropping off general waste, cells to treat general waste, and septage beds for waste from the septic trucks.

For more information, please contact the Tonga Fire and Emergency Services or the Police Station or National Emergency Management Office at 7863534 or Environment Department at 7717182.

Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni, is in Gisborne to meet the survivors of last week’s bus crash, in which two people died.

The dead were 11-year-old Sione Taumālolo and 33-year-old woman, Talita Fifita.

They were travelling with a Tongan school brass band on a fund raising tour of New Zealand.

Police said this morning 10 people remained in hospital. There were 53 people on the bus when it crashed.

Police said this morning they could not speculate on the cause of the crash while the Serious Crash Unit was investigating the incident.

A number of reports have appeared in the media suggesting that the bus’s brakes failed before it went off the road.

Police are speaking with a number of those who were on the bus, including the driver. Interviews are expected to take two days.

The investigation will include a full mechanical inspection of the bus once it is recovered, along with an assessment of road conditions and any other possible contributing factors to the crash.

“This crash is a tragedy for all those involved and we are offering all the support we can to the passengers as they grieve and mourn the loss of their friends and loved ones,” Tairawhiti Area Commander, Inspector Sam Aberahama said.

Police said State Highway Two between Wairoa and Gisborne, where the crash occurred, was open today, but was likely to remain down to one lane until 3pm.

Tomorrow the highway between Nuhaka and Gisborne will be fully closed for up to eight hours from 6am while the wreckage of the bus is recovered.

While the road is closed there will be a signposted diversions via Tiniroto Road.

Travellers are asked to drive with caution in the area as the road is not a main highway.

New Zealand Minister for Pacific Peoples, Hon. Alfred Ngaro visited the survivors in Gisborne last night.

“There were people on crutches, with bandages and plaster casts,” he told Radio New Zealand.

“At that stage no-one was really wanting to talk about anything, everyone was still in shock

“There was quite a bit of emotion, very sombre.”

The Minister and Inspector Aberahama were due to hold a press conference at 11.30am this morning (December 26).

The main points

• Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni, is in Gisborne to meet the survivors of last week’s bus crash, in which two people died.
• Police said this morning they could not speculate on the cause of the crash while the Serious Crash Unit was investigating the incident.
• Police are speaking with a number of those who were on the bus, including the driver.
• Tomorrow the highway between Nuhaka and Gisborne will be fully closed for up to eight hours from 6am while the wreckage of the bus is recovered.

UPDATED:The father of  the 11-year-old boy killed when a bus carrying a Tongan school band crashed in south Gisborne has posted a heartbreaking tribute to him.

Sione Taumālolo was one of two passengers killed in the incident.

The other fatality was Talita Moimoi Fifita, 33, a mother and wife who was looking after the group during their New Zealand tour.

The brass band had performed throughout New Zealand since they arrived in Auckland at the  beginning of December to raise funds for the Mailefihi Siuʻilikutapu college’s 70^th anniversary in 2017.

A total of 44 people were injured in the crash. The latest reports on Christmas Day said a 19-year-old boy and 65-year-old man had been discharged, while six others remained in a stable condition at Gisborne hospital.

The Tongan driver  of the bus, Māsila, said the brakes failed. The group was travelling from Auckland to Gisborne to perform there.

He told Mediaworks the brakes suddenly gave way and the bus picked up speed. He tried to stop the vehicle, but it went off the road.

Fine’eva Taumālolo is understood to have been in Vavaʻu in Tonga when he received the devastating news of his son’s death.

“Uisa ko e pongipongi ne taʻeʻamanekina hanga ʻa e loto ke talitali ʻa e Pilinisi ʻo e Melino ka kuo ne polopolo ʻi hoku loto fale i he aho hono fakahifo…”, Sione’s father Fine’eva Taumalolo wrote in Tongan.

(Translated: Dreadful! This morning was unexpected, my heart was ready to welcome the Prince of Peace but He has taken the first fruit of the harvest inside my house in the day in which He was born.”)

“…pea heʻikai teu hanu pe launga he ko ia ʻoku pule aoniu ki heʻetau moʻui. Fakafetaʻi ki he ʻOtua ki he ui tangata oku ne fai pea tuku pe ʻene ʻofa ke ʻiate kitautolu he taimi kotoa. Sione kuo ke hola kae liʻaki mai au pea tuku pe ke u tangi he ko hoʻo ʻalu ʻikai toe foki mai. Ofa atu Sione”.

(Translated: I am not moaning or complaining as He is the Supreme Ruler over our lives. Thanks be to God for the call he has made. May His love be upon us from time to time. Sione you have run away leaving me behind and let me cry as you have gone and never come back. Love you Sione”.

Fine’eva’s cousin Mapa Taumalolo responded to the post, saying: “May God console you in this time of difficulty.:

The incident has hit Vavaʻu and Free Wesleyan Church communities around the world hard.

Mailefihi Siu’ilikutapu college belongs to the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga.

Many on social media have called on the College’s alumni in Auckland to help facilitate the works already in place to bring the victims back to Auckland quickly.

They said most of the alumni were in Auckland.

ʻApakasi Mele Taufa, who identified himself on Facebook as a person who studied at Tupou College, a brother college of Mailefihi Siuʻilikutapu, called on all Vavaʻuans to pray to God for the victims.

He said the Auckland alumni should ask if the victims could be transferred to Auckland hospitals.

Fifita was described as “taʻahine angalelei” (Translation: A girl of good character).

A Tongan who goes by the name Litia Felemi Fifita on Facebook sent her love and sympathy for Talita’s husband and their only daughter.

“while everyone is enjoying this christmas [sic] and festive season … we lost a loved one in a tragic accident …with a heavy heart and no proper word to comford [sic] the widow and their only child all we can do now is praying for the lords comfort and strength for my brother inlaw the husband (Suliasi Talia’uli Fifita) of our beloved sister in law Talita Kiumi Moimoi Fifita … may you rest in peace dear sister …. gone but never forgotten … “ Litia wrote.

The main points

• The father of the 12-year-old boy killed when a bus carrying a Tongan school band crashed in south Gisborne has posted a heartbreaking tribute to him.
• Sione Taumālolo’s was one of two passengers killed in the incident.
• Sione’s father, Fine’eva, wrote on Facebook: “Uisa ko e pongipongi ne taʻeʻamanekina hanga ʻa e loto ke talitali ʻa e Pilinisi ʻo e Melino ka kuo ne polopolo ʻi hoku loto fale”.
• (Translated: Dreadful! This morning was unexpected, my heart was ready to welcome the Prince of Peace but He has taken the first fruit of the harvest inside my house in the day in which He was born.”)

READ MORE

Vavaʻu band group in fatal crash in NZ to raise $200,000 for College’s 70th anniversary

A school brass band group from Mailefihi Siuʻilikutapu College in Vavaʻu involved in a fatal crash near Gisborne Saturday 24 was in New Zealand with a mission to fundraise $200,000 for the college’s 70th anniversary next year.

A bus from Auckland carrying over 45 members of the brass band group, crashed down a bank near Gisborne around 9:30pm on the road between Wairoa and Gisborne, Police said.

Talita Moimoi and a male student Sione Taumalolo died in the crash.

It has been reported a 19-year-old boy and 65-year-old man have been discharged while six others remain in a stable condition at Gisborne hospital.

The passengers were travelling to Gisborne where they were due to perform on Christmas Day as part of their fundraising programmes.

Kaniva has learned the bus driver was Tongan and he is known by the heraldic title Māsila from Auckland and he was unfamiliar with the road in the area.

Hifo Tolu, the secretary of the College’s alumni in Gisborne, told Kaniva News they organised a welcoming ceremony for the group and expected them to arrive at 3pm.

She said  after waiting for more than two hours they received reports the bus became lost and went to Napier instead of Gisborne.

The Gisborne Tongan community then sent a man to look for the bus and he finally met them. ʻ

Tolu said the man in his vehicle guided the bus and while they were on their way to Gisborne the bus crashed.

A number of passengers were airlifted or transported to Gisborne and Hastings Hospitals last night and were receiving medical attention, Police said.

Other passengers were transported from the crash scene in a second bus which was brought in to assist, they were triaged and assessed at the St Johns Ambulance base in Gisborne.

Members from the group not requiring hospitalisation or further medical treatment are now being accommodated by the local Tongan community, Methodist Church, and Victim Support who are caring for and comforting these people.

Police said the extraction of the bus will be challenging as it’s 100m down a steep bank, and it likely to take a number of days to complete.

The group

According to a statement released by the chair of the College’s alumni in Auckland Rev. Mele Suipi Lātū on December 13, the Tamaki College teacher pleaded with the ex-students in New Zealand to help and donate for the fundraising.

She said the brass band group came to New Zealand to fundraise and collected New Zealand alumni’s share of $200,000 paʻanga for the celebration of the 70^th anniversary of Mailefihi Siuʻilikutapu college in 2017.

Lātū said the group was divided into two when they arrived in Auckland from Tonga to facilitate the fundraising.

She said one group went to Wellington on December 8 and returned to Auckland on Monday 12.

The other group went to Christchurch on December 13 and was expected to return to Auckland tomorrow Monday 26.

She did not mention the travel to Gisborne in her release.

She said the group was expected to return to Tonga on January 10.

One woman and a male student of Mailefihi Siuʻilikutapu college had been killed after a bus they were passengers in crashed down a bank near Gisborne on Saturday 24.

Sione Taumalolo and Talita Moimoi died in the accident.

Hifo Tolu, the secretary of the College’s alumni in Gisborne, told Kaniva News seven members of the group were still in hospital.

Earlier reports said 27 people were taken to Gisborne Hospital, where eight were admitted.

Tolu, who was at the hospital where the victims were hospitalised when we talked to her over the phone, said the bus was expected to arrive in Gisborne as part of the group’s fund raising programme in New Zealand at about 3pm on Saturday 24.

She said a welcoming event was organised for the arrival of the group and after about two hours of waiting a Tongan man from the community was sent to look for the bus.

Tolu said the man met the bus  and guided it back to Gisborne when the accident occurred.

She said the man reported the incident to them.

Police said emergency services were responding to a bus crash near Wharerata, on State Highway 2 around 30 km south of Gisborne.

Police said 46 people were on the bus.

They said the bus had plunged about 100 metres down a steep bank and would be difficult to extract.

UPDATED:

Vavaʻu band group in fatal crash in NZ to raise $200,000 for College’s 70th anniversary

Real Tonga airline’s CEO Tēvita Palu has accused Tonga Airways of committing fraud after his airline had to carry dozens of passengers left stranded on their way to Vavaʻu.

As Kaniva News reported yesterday, the government refused Tonga Airways’ request for an operating license. However, the airline had already sold tickets.

Palu said selling tickets without an airline license was dishonest.

And he slammed the government for causing “big damage” by allowing Tonga Airways to operate without any aircraft.

Tonga Airways had planned to operate with aircraft leased from Fiji Airways.

“Real Tonga has struggled to fix the problem caused by Tonga Airways and the government,” Palu said.

One News New Zealand reported that some members of a group of 64 people had been on standby at Fua’amotu Airport since Wednesday in the hope of catching a flight to Vava’u, for their high school jubilee celebration.

A statement from Real Tonga’s commercial operations said the passengers had missed their connection from an international flight.

“The group were transferred from Tonga Airways and we put on extra flights for them,” the statement said.

“We managed to fly more than 40 of them to Vava’u on Wednesday.

“The other 20 passengers were flown to Vava’u on Thursday and Friday.”

The main points

• Real Tonga airline’s CEO Tevita Palu has accused Tonga Airways of committing fraud after his airline had to carry dozens of passengers left stranded on their way to Vava’u.
• As Kaniva News reported yesterday, the government refused Tonga Airways’ request for an operating license.
• However, the airline had already sold tickets.
• This week real Tonga flew dozens of passengers who had bought tickets with Tonga Airways to Vava’u.

For more information

Police called in after aviation Minister claims MP Vaipulu attacked him and swore at him

A 42-year-old Tongatapu father has been handed 11 year prison sentences for sexually abusing and raping his two daughters for more than three years.

The ruling by Justice Charles Cato was made on December 13, local newspapers reported.

The older daughter was sexually abused and raped since she was 12-year-old.

The father also committed the same offences against his young daughter while she was 14.

At one stage his older daughter moved out with a friend but in February 2016 she returned home and his father continued abusing her.

The papers said the father told Chief Justice Charles Cato at Supreme Court he committed the crimes against his older daughter to teach and prepare her  for the day when she get married.

He also said in a report read out in court that he committed the crime after he was angry with his wife claiming she had an affair with another man.

The father was convicted of nine offences against his older daughter and 23 offences against his young daughter, the papers reported.

The father admitted the crimes and pleaded guilty to all 32 charges against him.

The court was told Police questioned and arrested the father after a complaint from a family member who knew about the abuse.

According to media reports the father will spend only six years in prison after Justice Cato suspended five and half years of his sentences.

The Public Service Tribunal has declared that the Secretary of Foreign Affairs Mr. Va’inga Tone, was acting illegally when he tried to redeploy four members of his department.

The tribunal ordered that the redeployment be cancelled.

The staff affected were Hon. Fanetupouvava’u Tu’ivakano, Deputy Secretary (Chief of Protocol), HSH Princess Marcella Kalaniuvalu Fotofili,  Senior Assistant Secretary,  Ms ‘Ilaisipa ‘Alipate ,Principal Assistant Secretary and Ms Elsie Fukofuka, Senior Assistant Secretary (Trade Desk Officer).

They appealed their transfer and the Tribunal ordered in September that the Public Services Commission put their transfer on hold pending a full appeal.

On July 26, Mr. Tone verbally informed the four public servants they would be permanently redeployed at the direction of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samiuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva,  to various Ministries, effective from July 28.

Hon. Tu’ivakano was to be sent to the Ministry of Tourism.

HSH Princess Fotofili was to be redeployed to the Ministry of Public Enterprises.

Ms. ‘Alipate was to be assigned to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

Ms. Fukofuka was to be sent to the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Innovation and Labour.

On July 2016 26 the Acting Attorney General, Mr. ‘Aminiasi Kefu, e-mailed the  Secretary for Foreign Affairs, strongly advising him to refrain from implementing this decision until the PSC or Cabinet approved it, as per Public Service policy.

‘Akanesi Taufa, Acting Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, sent a message to the Acting Secretary for Foreign Affairs telling him of a direction from Lord Ma’afu, Minister in Charge and Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, to put the redeployment on hold until the Prime Minister returned from New Zealand.

However, in August, Tone told each of the affected public servants that they would be deployed temporarily from August 22. At this point they lodged a grievance procedure against the Secretary.

In September the Secretary of Foreign affairs wrote to them, ordering them to report to their new positions on September 15.

“Obey my instructions and avoid disobedience,” the Secretary wrote.

“Should you disobey, I will be forced to consider your disobedience a serious breach of discipline.”

On September 14, the Tribunal ordered that they should stay where they were until the appeal was heard.

The Tribunal said that despite having received advice from the Acting Attorney General about the illegality of the proposed redeployment, Tone persisted in trying to effect it.

The Tribunal heard that he then justified the transfer on the grounds that he did not have to seek permission from the Public service Commission and that it was justified on the grounds that it was part of a restructuring process.

However, the appellants argued that there was no such restructuring programming in place and that claims that they were being redeployed to strengthen other departments were not valid because all of their training and skills were dedicated to foreign affairs and diplomacy.

The Tribunal said any redeployment must be in one with overall ministerial goals and development.

“It was noted that the conduct of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs did not reflect prior planning, no specific time was allocated,  nor cost implications for the Ministry,” the Tribunal said.

“There being no legal basis for the proposed redeployment of the appellants, the logical and natural action is to cancel it” the Tribunal said.

“The proposed redeployment is cancelled.”

The main points

• The Public Service Tribunal has declared that the Secretary of Foreign Affairs Mr. Va’inga Tone, was acting illegally when he tried to redeploy four members of his department.
• On July 26, Secretary for Foreign Affairs Mr. Va’inga Tone verbally informed four public servants that they would be permanently redeployed at the direction of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samiuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva.
• They appealed their transfer and the Tribunal ordered in September that the Public Services Commission out their transfer on hold pending a full appeal.
• The Tribunal has now ordered that the redeployment be cancelled.