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Grief as Tongan fatal crash victims’ names including father and son emerge

By
Kalino Latu
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A father and his son were two of the five Tongan people killed in a horror crash near Tauranga in New Zealand last night.

Sitiveni Vaipulu and his son Koli Vaipulu of Faleloa, Ha’apai and  ‘Āhau in Tongatapu died when the car they were travelling in with three others collided with a southbound logging truck near Katikati.

The three other victims are Halani Fine, Sione Teulaka and Samuela Taukatelata.

Sitiveni’s first cousin Tanya Akosita Tupou told Kaniva News Sitiveni and his son are survived by his wife and mother to their son, ‘Ana with four children.

She said ‘Ana and the rest of the children were staying in ‘Āhau  while Sitiveni and their son Koli were in New Zealand to work through the RSE programme.

RSE Tongan liaison officer in New Zealand Sefita Haoʻuli said the victims were hired by the Aongatete Coolstores  as an option two.

This means four of the victims came to New Zealand on contracts they directly made with Aongatete and not through the kingdom’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The other victim is a local resident.

“But sad to see this nevertheless”, Haoʻuli said.

He said he will travel from Auckland this morning to Katikati to see the victims.

The victims were all workers at Aongatete Coolstores and had just finished their shift before the tragedy struck.

The truck driver was shaken but uninjured.

Tongan overseas deportees discussed in Auckland; NZ and Aust approached for rehab facility

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has told his New Zealand counterpart John Key that he is concerned about high risk deportees being sent back to the kingdom.

Hon. Pohiva said the Tongan government was not told about the crimes they had committed overseas.

The Tongan Prime Minister told a Tongan audience in Mangere this evening this put Tongan society at risk.

After the deportees arrived in Tonga they were released into the community and there was nothing the government could do to make sure they would do no more harm to the society.

Hon. Pohiva said it was important for the government to be informed so they could alert people if any criminal deportees moved into the community.

Chief Secretary Dr Palenitina Langa’oi, who accompanied Hon. Pohiva to the meeting, told the audience New Zealand had agreed it would send  profiles and background reports of deportees to the Tongan authority.

Dr Langa’oi said they had agreed that the files of the deportees must be sent as soon as New Zealand could possibly can.

 Rehabilitation facility

Tonga’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Vaʻinga Tōnē who was also in the meeting, told the audience there had been discussion with the governments of New Zealand and Australia to help fund a rehabilitation facility in Tonga.

He said this was a big issue for Tonga, especially for deportees who were sent directly from prison to Tonga and did not usually join any rehabilitation programmes after their release.

In November last year 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.

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

The main points

  • Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has told his New Zealand counterpart John Key that he is concerned about high risk deportees being sent back to the kingdom.
  • Pohiva said the Tongan government was not told about the crimes they had committed overseas.
  • The Tongan Prime Minister told a Tongan audience in Mangere this evening this put Tongan society at risk.
  • After the deportees arrived in Tonga they were released into the community and there was nothing the government could do to make sure they would do no more harm to the society.

For more information

Tongan noble concerns over number of criminal deportees

Five believed Tongans killed in horror crash near Tauranga

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Five people believed to be Tongan kiwifruit packhouse workers have died in a horror crash on State Highway 2 near Katikati tonight.

It is understood all of the victims were travelling in the car which had just pulled out of the Aongatete Coolstores on the corner of Dawson Rd.

Police said the car was struck by a southbound truck and trailer.

All five occupants of the car were killed. The truck driver was uninjured, Police said.

Aongatete Coolstores Limited Managing Director Allan Dawson reportedly said he believed the five that died were Tongan packers at his packhouse.

Mr Dawson said a staff member told him those involved in the crash had just finished an 8pm shift and were in a car turning right out of Dawson Rd onto State Highway 2 towards Katikati when they collided with a truck.

“We are certainly shocked and will try to do whatever we can,” he said.

Noble MPs vow to topple government with no confidence motion when Parliament resumes

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s noble MPs have pledged to topple ‘Akilisi Pōhiva’s government with a no-confidence motion, saying the Prime Minister had failed to deliver transparency and accountability he promised voters.

Lord Vaea confirmed the move to Kaniva News on Planet FM 104.6 this morning.

The Tongan language talkback programme was co-hosted by Kalino Lātū of the Kaniva Pacific News and Kite Tuʻakalau of Dateline Tonga.

It was originally planned that Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva would join the discussion over the phone, but we were eventually told he could not be available.

Lord Vaea, the Leader of the Opposition was in Auckland as one of the delegates accompanying Hon. Pōhiva’s state visit.

Lord Vaea said the House would resume on August 15 and the vote of no confidence would be the nobles’ priority.

He said they wanted to oust Hon. Pohiva because in 18 months in office his government had failed in many respects.

This including the controversial change in the Ministry of Education’s examination assessment policy from standardisation to raw marks.

He said the change had badly affected students and parents.

The restoration of the Sunday Trade Ban law has also hugely affected the business community.

He said an inconsistency in how the government handled the CEDAW convention had not reflected well on the Prime Minister after his government went back on its ratification because there were protest marches back in the kingdom.

Lord Vaea said an outgoing  government minister had been declared corrupt by a parliamentary committee, but escaped being expelled from Parliament because Pōhiva and his government won the vote.

However, a Supreme Court decision led to him being ordered to vacate his seat in Parliament.

Independents

Asked whether or not they would trade with the independents and offer them the premiership and deputy positions, Lord Vaea said the posts were “pelepelengesi” (fragile)  and they should not be used to seek personal advantages.

The Opposition Leader said they had nine noble MPs with a few independents on their side, while Hon Pohiva’s side had 14 or 15 which was obviously a large number to deal with.

He said the election of Hon. Pohiva to the premiership was successfully supported by some of the independent MPs.

Lord Vaea said he was also concerned at how the government repeatedly dealt with the government civil servants’ pay and appeared to have no policy in place for the youth and unemployment.

He was asked if the nobles would become the government after the vote of no confidence and what difference they could make in running the government.

Lord Vaea said there were two types of people in Tonga apart from those in the mainland Tongatapu, the youth and those in the outer islands.

He said young people made up almost half the Tongan population.

Lord Vaea said the government should seriously consider the people who lived in the outer islands because they struggled to find education and employment.

Talk back callers

A caller to the programme who identified himself as Heneli asked Lord Vaea how he thought the nine noble MPs could take part in the vote of no confidence when the nobles were not elected by the people.

Lord Vaea said the nobles were responsible to the nation because they held the “tofiʻa” (estates). He said they were in Parliament as representatives of all districts in Tonga.

He said that during the past 200 years it was the “houʻeiki” (nobles) who welcomed Christianity and Education into Tonga.

Another caller by the name of Mōsese said there was nothing new in what Lord Vaea was referring to in their policies if they became the government.

He said those policies had been promoted by Hon. Pōhiva many times before.

However, Lord Vaea said the timing and how these policies were put into action made a big difference.

The  main points

  • Tonga’s noble MPs have pledged to topple ‘Akilisi Pōhiva’s government with a no-confidence motion, saying the Prime Minister had failed to deliver transparency and accountability he promised voters.
  • Lord Vaea confirmed the move to Kaniva News on Planet FM 104.6 this morning.
  • It was originally planned that Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva would join the discussion over the phone, but we were eventually told he could not be available.
  • Lord Vaea, the Leader of the Opposition was in Auckland as one of the delegates accompanying Hon. Pōhiva’s state visit.

Government considers not giving fund to TASANOC after Sevele was re-elected

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva says his government may withdraw all funding to TASANOC for Pacific Games preparations.

The announcement follows TASANOC’s re-election of Lord Sevele as vice president finance.

Pohiva said his government stood by its decision two months ago to terminate Lord Sevele’s office as Chairman and CEO of the Pacific Organising Committee.

He said the decision was made after the Government Facility Committee (GFC) took over the majority of the Pacific Game’s Organising Committee.

A government statement described the role of GFC as having inherited more than 60 percent of the responsibilities of the Organising Committee.

Last month new officials for TASANOC were elected on a four-year term contract. They were:

President: Lord Tupou

Vice President-Finance: Lord Sevele

Members:

1.‘Amanaki Fakakovikaetau

2.Michael Bloomfield

3.Lord Vaea

4.Viola Ulakai

5.Sione Taumoepeau

The election was attended by Vidhya Lakhan, President of the Pacific Games Council (PGC) who was appointed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC) as its representative.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva says his government may withdraw all funding to TASANOC for Pacific Games preparations.
  • The announcement follows TASANOC’s re-election of Lord Sevele as vice president finance.
  • Pohiva said his government stood by its decision to terminate Lord Sevele’s role as Chairman and CEO of the Pacific Organising Committee.

For more information

TASANOC elections face legal challenge as anti-Pohiva candidates elected to committee

Disgruntled lay preachers break away to begin SUTT church in New Zealand

By
Kalino Latu
-

Three lay preachers who claim they were stripped of their roles with the Tuingapapai Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga New Zealand in Otahuhu will officially launch the Siasi Uesiliana Tau’ataina ‘o Tonga (SUTT) in New Zealand tomorrow.

Sione Fono Latu, ‘Isileli Tonga and Siulolo Malamala are reported to have claimed the Church’s board of trustees was dissatisfied when it learned they had obtained the sole official right to make, use or sell the name SUTT.

The acronym is Tongan for FWCTNZ or Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga New Zealand.

Tonga said they were told by the church their roles had been removed pending a decision at the church’s September quarterly meeting.

He said since then nothing had happened and no one from the church had visited them.

Tonga told Kakalu ‘O Tonga newspaper the first service for the SUTT church in New Zealand would be held tomorrow Sunday July 31.

He reportedly said they registered the name SUTT because Tuingapapai superintendent Rev. Lopini Filise and the church’s lawyer had re-registered the church as the FWCTNZ.

When the change was made it left no SUTT churches in New Zealand.

Tonga is reported to have said he and his partners feared someone else might register for the name so they decided to do it first.

He said their intension was to keep the name for the church, but they did not know their action would infuriate the Tuingapapai authority.

Tuingapapai Superintendent Minister Rev. Lopini Filise told the paper the Tuingapapai church was still available and open to the disgruntled lay preachers.

The SUTT church’s general secretary in Tonga, Dr. Tevita Koloaʻia Havea, told Kaniva News if some people from the Tuingapapai church had left and established a new church that was a brilliant idea.

“They will be happy with it and free to do their prayers according to what they want”, Dr. Havea said.

Dr. Havea said he wished the lay preachers well.

Kaniva News was unable to contact Tonga for comment this evening.

The new church came after hundreds of members of the SUTT church in Sydney split last August after three pastors of the Pulela’a SUTT church refused to obey the Tongan conference and return to Tonga to work under the control of the President.

The Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga New Zealand’s official website still uses the abbreviation SUTT.

In 2013 hundreds of the Tokaikolo congregants in Auckland defected and started the Mo‘ui Fo‘ou ‘Ia Kalaisi Fellowship.

The new church now operates in Otahuhu in South Auckland.

The main points

  • Three lay preachers who claim they were stripped of their roles with the Tuingapapai Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga New Zealand in Otahuhu will officially launch the Siasi Uesiliana Tau’ataina ‘o Tonga (SUTT) in New Zealand tomorrow.
  • Sione Fono Latu, ‘Isileli Tonga and Siulolo Malamala are reported to have claimed the Church’s board of trustees was dissatisfied when it learned they hadobtained the sole right to make, use or sell the name SUTT.
  • The acronym is Tongan for FWCTNZ or Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga New Zealand.
  • The new church came after hundreds of members of the SUTT church in Sydney broke away split last August.

For more information

Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga New Zealand 

Scuffle breaks out during ‘fakakuata’ meeting in Australia (Kaniva News)

Correction

In the original version of this story Kaniva News described Latu, Tonga and Malamala as ministers. They are in fact members of the congregation who are authorised to preach from the pulpit. Kaniva News is happy to make this clarification.

Pōhiva sticks to Sunday trade ban as Tonga continues to rely heavily on foreign aid

By
Kalino Latu
-

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva said yesterday his government would not change its stance on restoring the Sunday Trade Ban unless there was a strong reaction from the public.

He told a press conference in Auckland that while the ban had really affected the business community, the decision was made after strong pressure from the public and the church.

“Whether the government likes it or not, you have to listen, especially to churches in Tonga. They are very powerful,” Hon. Pohiva said.

Hon. Pōhiva was responding to a question from Kaniva Pacific News during a news conference at the Government House pavilion.

The Prime Minister was asked: “You have said Tongans should copy Chinese work habits and the kingdom accepts millions of dollars in economic aid money from other countries. How do you think those countries react when they see you restoring the Sunday Trade ban which puts people out of work and takes away from the Tongan economy?”

The Prime Minister, who is currently in New Zealand on his first official visit, did not say how he thought foreign donors would react.

He remained silent and then said: “Tonga will not refuse to accept any assistance from any country.”

Nearly half of Tonga’s $545 million budget for 2016/17, or $266.2 million, comes from overseas grants.

New Zealand has donated $22.1 million in 2015 – 16 to Tonga, mostly spent on energy systems, law and justice, education and tourism.

Critics say the ban does not reflect well on a country that relies heavily on overseas aid money while at the same time it restricts an opportunity for its people to help boost its economy.

The owner of the largest bakery in Tonga, Alfred Cowley, told Kaniva News his bakeries produced most of its bread during the week for people to buy on Sunday evening and Monday morning.

He said the restoration decision was not fair because cigarettes and alcohol were sold to customers at certain restaurants on Sunday.

Meanwhile a petition asking for the Sunday ban to be reversed has been presented to the king.

The petition is strongly supported by the Public Service Association.

The petitioners have told his Majesty the decision to close down the bakeries on Sunday was unfair as some businesses were exempted and allowed to open.

Tonga’s Public Service Association has issued a statement on the Sunday ban, saying: “We all have common Christian Values that Jesus is the Messiah and Lord.

“The one Golden Rule Jesus brought with him was that you love your neighbour as Jesus loved you;

“We feel for the workers whose livelihoods are affected by this unfair decision;

“The Bakeries’ Association stood for us for six and-a-half weeks in Pangai Si’i when we fought the governmnt in 2005 for their unfair decision against us.

“They donated over $20,000 in cash and containers of flour and sugar to feed us.”

The main points

  • Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva said yesterday his government would not change its stance on restoring the Sunday Trade Ban unless there was a strong reaction from the public.
  • He told a press conference in Auckland that while the ban had really affected the business community, the decision was made after strong pressure from the government and the church.
  • “Whether the government likes it or not, you have to listen, especially to churches in Tonga. They are very powerful,” Hon. Pohiva said.
  • Critics say the ban does not reflect well on a country that relies heavily on overseas aid money while at the same time it restricts an opportunity for its people to help boost its economy.

For more information

Government has no record of decision being made to allow bakeries to operate on Sunday

Tongan pastor must pay $500 as emotional harm reparations to the victim of his road rage.

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A Tongan pastor who smashed a truck window with a tyre iron before driving into his helpless victim as he tried to call police has been sentenced to 100 hours’ community work, an emotional harm payment of $500, and reparation for the window of $518.

According to a Fairfax Media report the Christchurch District Court was told it was a case of road rage that went “horribly wrong” when Sione Toutaiolepo was sentenced on charges of assault using a car as a weapon, and wilful damage.

Toutaiolepo, a 46-year-old pastor in the Tongan Church, said he followed a truck that he thought had cut him off in the incident that took place at the Riccarton Rd-Straven Rd intersection on January 14.

He armed himself with a tyre iron and shattered his victim’s driver side window.

The victim got out of the truck and said he was calling the police, so Toutaiolepo drove slowly at him causing him to fall backwards.

When the victim stood up Toutaiolepo drove at him again, and drove forward with the man clinging to the van until he fell off in the middle of the road. He suffered cuts and grazes. Toutaiolepo drove off.

Sam Johnson, the founder of the Student Volunteer Army in Christchurch, came across the altercation and filmed it on his cellphone.

Defence counsel Paul Johnson said Toutaiolepo’s road rage went horribly wrong, but he had no previous convictions. His probation report recommended a fine and reparation.

Judge Paul Kellar said Toutaiolepo told the probation officer that he took the tyre iron with him for his own protection.

He said Toutaiolepo had references that said he was an upstanding mild-mannered man, and was involved in the Tongan community.

Toutaiolepo had pleaded guilty to both charges.

Main points:

  • A Tongan pastor attacked a truck with a tyre iron in New Zealand
  • He then drove his white van over his victim who was calling police
  • A court heard how the attack was a case of ‘road rage gone wrong’
  • The pastor pleaded guilty to two charges related to the attack

Tourism board dismissal justified, new board members elected, Dr Palenitina says

By
Kalino Latu
-

The members of the Tourism Board of Authority were justifiably dismissed and the decision was made according to advice from the Ministry’s legal advisers, Tonga’s Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet Dr Palenitina Langaʻoi said in Auckland.

Dr Langaʻoi, who is currently the Tourism’s acting CEO, said the dismissal was made as stated by the law and the contract signed by the former Minister between the ministry and the former board members.

She said the Ministry has elected new board members.

The new directors are Ken Walker from Air New Zealand, Lovely Maka from the Fiji Airways, Tevita Palu from the Real Tonga Airline, Stafford ‘Aho of the Rising Sun Tour and Saia Moehau, the chairman.

Dr Langaʻoi has confirmed there was an issue with the Ministry’s bank account at BSP bank after a complaint lodged by the former board members.

Tomifa Paea, the former chairman of the Board said in a letter that BSP bank has frozen the Ministry’s bank account.

Dr Langaʻoi said she discussed the matter with the Minister of Finance before she left for Auckland on Friday and they were really concerned at the bank’s action.

She said they have considered moving the Tourism’s bank accounts to ANZ bank.

Dr Langaʻoi was responding after Paea released a letter of complaint to the commissioner of public relation against the Ministry’s Minister Semisi Sika.

Paea claimed the decision by Sika to dismiss them was illegal.

READ MORE

Legal threats after minister sacks tourism board of authority

Tongan pregnant mum killed in car crash, her baby delivered by emergency C-Section

By
Kalino Latu
-

A newborn is fighting to survive after being saved from the lifeless body of her mother, who died after their SUV collided with a FrontRunner train near 600 W. and 900 S. Monday night.

The Tongan mother has been identified as 30-year-old Kaipā ʻOfa KiʻUiha Sateki Kinikini, also known as ʻOfa Kinikini, a Salt Lake City resident.

Her baby was delivered and is in extremely critical condition, said Salt Lake City Police Department spokesman Det.

A auto, driven by a man with the woman in the passenger seat, drove around the crossing arms that were down and the vehicle was hit by the train as they attempted to cross the tracks, according to Utah Transit Authority spokesman Remi Barron.

Kinikini was transported to hospital and later died from injuries sustained in the accident, Californian media reported.

“Today we celebrate pioneer men, women and children who overcame tremendous political persecution, physical challenges and personal adversity to build a new life in the West and make the Utah desert blossom like a rose”. Her infant survived the crash and was hospitalized.

Police didn’t immediately release the identities of those involved.

The train was out of service and headed to Provo to prepare for the morning commute, he said.

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