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NZDF personnel lead outreach activities in Tongan schools

By
Kaniva Staff
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About 40 New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel currently leading a multi-national task group undertaking humanitarian projects in Tonga have led outreach activities at schools in one of the main islands in the Ha’apai island group.

Lieutenant (LT) Aidan Bilbe from the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps said many students in primary and secondary schools in Lifuka expressed a wish to join the military during a recent visit by military personnel taking part in Exercise Tropic Twilight 2016.

“The visits were very well-received by the teachers and the principals. They were very grateful that we would take the time to talk to the children. It was the first time these kids had the opportunity to meet people from other countries, especially foreign military personnel. When prompted, a lot of the children said they wanted to join the armed forces and the teachers were very supportive of their career choice,” LT Bilbe said.

Personnel from the New Zealand Army and the Royal New Zealand Air Force, half of whom are engineers and tradespersons from the Army’s 2nd Engineer Regiment, are working alongside engineers from Tonga, China and the United States to improve water storage and sanitation in two main islands in Ha’apai.

NZ
Members of a multinational task force led by the New Zealand Defence Force recently visited primary and secondary schools in one of the main islands in Tonga’s Ha’apai island group. The multi-national task group has launched construction projects to improve water storage and sanitation in Ha’apai as part of Exercise Tropic Twilight 2016.

Nine 10,000-litre water storage tanks are being installed at churches, the fire station and city hall in Pangai, the administrative capital village of Ha’apai. A toilet block is also being built near the Pangai Ferry Terminal, a high-traffic location.

“We explained to the children that what we are doing in Tonga isn’t just about building projects but also about building friendships and partnerships between all nations involved,” LT Bilbe said.

“We spoke about the value of family and community, education and respecting other people especially elders. We also encouraged them to aspire to do great things and emphasised that the world beyond their island cares about the people of Ha’apai.”

Many students in primary and secondary schools in Lifuka, one of the main islands in Tonga’s Ha’apai island group, expressed a wish to join the military during a recent visit by military personnel taking part in Exercise Tropic Twilight 2016. About 40 personnel from the New Zealand Defence Force are working alongside engineers from Tonga, China and the United States to improve water storage and sanitation in two main islands in Ha’apai.
Many students in primary and secondary schools in Lifuka, one of the main islands in Tonga’s Ha’apai island group, expressed a wish to join the military during a recent visit by military personnel taking part in Exercise Tropic Twilight 2016. About 40 personnel from the New Zealand Defence Force are working alongside engineers from Tonga, China and the United States to improve water storage and sanitation in two main islands in Ha’apai.

LT Diana Denhaan from the Royal New Zealand Nursing Corps said she found the school visits rewarding.

“Engaging with the children is important. Some day, some of them will be holding key appointments. Hopefully, they will remember the Kiwis who helped rebuild their community and spoke with them. I hope I was able to instil motivation and inspiration into the children. Everyone was so warm and welcoming,” she said.

Tropic Twilight is a recurring humanitarian activity focused on disaster relief operations that is being conducted this year in Tonga. New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is funding the projects being delivered as part of the New Zealand Aid Programme.

Tongan patterns and philosophy shape towering sculpture for Waiheke Island

By
Philip Cass
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A massive white sculpture by Tongan architect Semisi Potauaine will feature in next year’s Headland Sculpture collection on Waiheke Island.

The sculpture, whose Tongan name, Manuesina, translates as white bird, will weigh 4.5 tonnes and cost $NZ60,000.

The work, whose colour symbolises purity and the global spirit, was one of the 34 finalists chosen from 250 entries.

According to headland Sculpture on the Gulf director of Cultural Programmes, Zara Stanhope says the successful proposals came from “a broad spectrum of exceptional artist.”

Potauaine, who is associated with Auckland University’s architecture and design programme, is internationally recognised for his work.

His work ranges from sculpture through weaving and tattoo to graphic design.

In 2010 his work was the subject of the book Tatau: Fenapasi ‘oe Fepaki’ (Tatau: Symmetry, Harmony and Beauty) which also examined the philosophy behind his work.

His work is based on the ‘ta-va theory of reality’, which encompasses Tongan concepts of time and space.

In 2010 he was selected as a Commonwealth Connections International Artist in Residence, only the second Tongan to be appointed to the position.

His work was displayed in the Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology in Cambridge where he created works based on the museum’s Tongan collection.

Pola
The image shows what Semisi Potauaine’s sculpture Manuesina will look like when displayed as part of the 2017 Headlands Sculpture on the Gulf.

He told the Western Leader this week that he hoped somebody would buy the sculpture and bring it back to West Auckland.

“It would be best suited for a place like Piha,” he said.

He said the sculpture was based on traditional Tongan geometric shapes.

Headland Sculpture on the Gulf will run from February 3-27 next year.

The biennial exhibition was first held in 2003. It features a display sculptures along a two kilometre coastal walk above Matiatia Bay on Waiheke Island.

More than 55,000 people attended the last event in 2015.

The main points

  • A massive white sculpture by Tongan architect Semisi Potauaine will feature in next year’s Headland Sculpture collection on Waikheke Island.
  • The sculpture, whose Tongan name, Manuesina, translates as white bird, will weigh 4.5 tonnes and cost $NZ60,000.
  • The work was one of the 34 finalists chosen from 250 entries.
  • Headland Sculpture on the Gulf director of Cultural Programmes Zara Stanhope said the successful proposals came from “a broad spectrum of exceptional artist.”

For more information

Artists revealed for 2017 headland Sculpture on the Gulf

Titirangi artist’s concept selected for Waiheke Headland Sculpture on the Island (Western Leader)

MAA hosts Semisi Fetokai Potauaine (Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology Cambridge)

Tongan concepts of time and space (Cook Islands News)

Fundraising to find US Peace Corps’ attacker as fury surges among Tongan community

By
Kalino Latu
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The Tongan community is raising funds to pay for a reward to find the person who brutally attacked the director of the US Peace Corps in the kingdom over the weekend.

It was understood the 56-year-old was taken to Vaiola hospital on Saturday and that she and her husband left Tonga on Monday.

The woman was jogging along a footpath behind one of the residences at the waterfront in Sopu when a man attacked her about 10am, police said.

She received severe injuries to her face.

The Peace Corps Office in Tonga confirmed the victim was the director of the Peace Corps, but would not answer any other questions.

Paul Jurmo at the Peace Corps Office directed Kaniva News to the organisation’s main office in Washington. We had received no response from the office when this story was written.

The attack has infuriated the community after we published a story on the attack on Saturday 16.

Many have described the attack on Facebook as embarrassing and giving a bad images of Tonga.

There have been calls for the assailant to be given the maximum penalty if they are caught.

A commenter on our website said:

“This young lady leave the comfort and safety of her homeland to come all the way to so called “The Friendly Island” voluntary so she can do good to the wider communities and being brutally attacked like this. I am dumbfounded and speechless.”

Fundraising

The US-based Tongan internet radio station Vākē Talifolau started a campaign this afternoon calling on social media users to support a drive to raise $10,000 to help find the attacker of the Peace Corps victim.

The money will be given as a reward for anybody who could help Police identify the attacker.

The radio station’s general manager Sione Tuʻalau Makahili said it had consulted the Peace Corps offices in Tonga and Washington and was awaiting contact from the Tongan Police about the campaign .

The public has been asked to contact the radio at 6502077551 or  radiovtf@radiotongavtfusa.com for details.

In 2014 Kaniva News reported on plans to make a film about the murder of  Peace Corps volunteer Debra Gardner in the village of Ngeleʻia in Tongatapu on October 14, 1976 by Dennis Priven, a US Peace Corps volunteer.

The film’s producers said it would allege that US authorities helped Priven, who was charged with murder, to go free.

The  main points

  • The Tongan community is raising funds to pay for a reward to find the person who brutally attacked the director of the US Peace Corps in the kingdom over the weekend.
  • It was understood the 56-year-old was taken to Vaiola hospital on Saturday and that she and her husband left Tonga on Monday.
  • The woman was jogging along a footpath behind one of the residences at the waterfront in Sopu when a man attacked her about 10am, police said.
  • US-based Tongan internet radio station Vākē Talifolau started a campaign this afternoon calling on social media users to support a drive to raise $10,000 to help find the attacker of the Peace Corps victim.

For more information

Peace Corps Tonga

Film claims US Peace Corps helped accused go free after 1976 Tongan killing

Ministry moves to stop what it says are lies on social media after boy’s MRSA death

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga’s Ministry of Health is working to stop “disrespectful and untruthful comments” made on social media about the Ministry and its staffers, Dr Siale ‘Akauʻola, Tonga’s Ministry of Health CEO said today.

Dr ‘Akauʻola said it was difficult to control the discussion on social media because “negative emotions are high and rational and sensible talking/thinking, very low.”

The Ministry has been subjected to bitter comments on social media since a 12-year-old boy from Vava’u died on June 30.

The comments became more intense after Kaniva News reported that the boy, ʻAtunaisa Wilson Mataongo, died because he was infected by the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA).

Most commentators rejected the MRSA claim and said it was a cover up.

Dr ʻAkauʻola said he was deeply concerned by the allegations.

Some posts by Facebook users who appeared to have supported the family of the boy triggered a series of heated debates on Facebook.

The posts, which were widely shared on Facebook groups and individual Facebook accounts attacked the Ministry and the health officials in Vava’u..

Most commenters claimed the boy’s life might have been saved, that there were cases of the same nature before in which the patients died and that people no longer trusted the Ministry of Health.

Some called on the doctors and the nurses in Vavaʻu who worked on Mataongoʻs case to resign.

Dr ‘Akau’ola denied the comments and said they infuriated the health workers.

He said the comments were disrespectful and caused the public to lose faith in the Ministry.

“A team is working with the ministry to create policies in an attempt to stop this from happening in the future”, Dr ‘Akau’ola said.

Tongan medication

Dr ‘Akau’ola said the boy died after he was infected with MRSA.

He also said the family treated the boy with Tongan medication in the hospital.

He said there was no law to prohibit the use of Tongan medication.

However, when it was used inside the hospital it was entirely up to the doctor in charge to consider whether it was wise to use it or not.

“Tongan medication is useful sometimes and we used to it,” Dr ‘Akau’ola said.

He said it was sometime prohibited when the medication could cause an infection. This could happen when leaves used were chewed and applied to an injury.

He said the Ministry did not believe Mataongo died because of the Tongan medication.

He died because he was infected by MRSA bacteria, he said.

In our story on Mataongo’s death on July 10, we said that MRSA normally occurred among people who had been hospitalised for treatment.

However, we also reported that according to the prestigious Mayo Clinic, MRSA infections can occur in the wider community and are spread by skin to skin contact.  People living in crowded conditions are at risk.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Ministry of Health is working to stop “disrespectful and untruthful comments” made on social media about the Ministry and its staffers, Dr Siale ‘Akauʻola, Tonga’s Ministry of Health CEO said today.
  • Dr ‘Akauʻola said it was difficult to control the discussion on social media because “negative emotions are high and rational and sensible talking/thinking, very low.”
  • The Ministry has been subjected to bitter comments on social media since a 12-year-old boy from Vava’u died on June 30.
  • The comments became more intense after Kaniva News reported that the boy, ʻAtunaisa Wilson Mataongo, died because he was infected by the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA).

For more information

Health authorities concerned after rare MRSA-related pneumonia kills boy (Kaniva News)

MRSA (Mayo Clinic)

Olympic gold medallist Adams scores major win in Budapest ahead of Rio Games

By
Philip Cass
-

With this year’s Olympics less than three weeks away, New Zealand’s Tongan-born shotput queen Valerie Adams has scored a major victory in Budapest.

Adams won in the Hungarian Athletics grand prix meeting in Budapest with a 20.19m throw earlier today.

Afterwards she tweeted: “A win in Budapest with 20.19m and a meet record and seasons best. A great competition indeed. Thank you Hungary.”

Adams has been on the comeback trail after undergoing knee and shoulder surgery and is now well prepared for the Rio Games.

She has already competed in three Olympics, where she has won gold twice. She has also competed four times in the Commonwealth Games, where she has won three gold and one silver.

Her official New Zealand Olympic team profile described her as “the dominant women’s shot putter in the world since 2006.”

According to Radio New Zealand, she is one of only nine athletes – along with Usain Bolt – who has been a world champion at youth, junior, and senior levels of her event.

Born in the Cook Islands and proud of her Tongan heritage, she is an outstanding example of the contribution people from the Pacific have made to New Zealand. In 2014 she carried the New Zealand flag at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Last year Adams was appointed as Lord Vaea’s herald with the name Tongitupe-ʻO e-Funga Taua.

The appointment is the highest honour given to commoners in Tongan culture.

She was appointed to the title while attending a double celebrations in her mother’s village, Houma. Houma is Lord Vaea’s estate.

Earlier this year Kaniva News reported that she had become engaged to fiancé Gabriel Price, who she married in April.

The main points

  • With this year’s Olympics less than three weeks away, New Zealand’s Tongan-born shotput queen Valerie Adams has scored a major victory in Budapest.
  • Adams won in the Hungarian Athletics grand prix meeting in Budapest with a 20.19m throw earlier today.
  • Afterwards she tweeted: “A win in Budapest with 20.19m and a meet record and seasons best. A great competition indeed. Thank you Hungary.”
  • Adams has been on the comeback trail after undergoing knee and shoulder surgery and is now well prepared for the Rio Games.

For more information

Valerie Adams Olympic profile

Adams throws season’s best in Budapest

Field: Valerie Adams and Tom Walsh (Radio New Zealand)

No arrests made after Sopu teenage boy dies

By
Kalino Latu
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Tongan Police reportedly said no arrests have been made after an 18-year-old teenage boy died following a brawl in Nuku’alofa on July 9.

‘Alani Fuapau of Sopu allegedly died of head injury in Vaiola Hospital.

The incident was not reported to Police until July 12, local media reported.

It was believed Fuapau involved in the fight.

Police investigation continues.

Vavaʻu man charged after stabbing wife

By
Kalino Latu
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A 33-year-old man of Kāmeli, Vavaʻu was charged after his 29-year-old wife was reported to Police with multiple stab wounds at family home in Talau.

The incident happened last Friday 15.

The accused is due to appear in court today for one charge of assault causing bodily injury while his wife is still in hospital in a critical but stable condition, Vavaʻu Police Superintendent Netane Falakiseni said.

Falakiseni said the accused was drunk while he allegedly stabbed his wife with a kitchen knife.

Three Kolonga people killed in car accident

By
Kalino Latu
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Three people have died after a car accident on the Talasiu rd this morning.

Deputy Police commissioner Pelenatita Vaisuai has confirmed the accident occurred at about 12 am Monday 18.

“Police have confirmed that alcohol and speeding were contributing factors to the crash”, she said.

She saud Police could not release the identities of the victims as they were trying to contact their next of kins.

She said all victims from Kolonga.

Radio correspondent Faka’osi Maama reported this morning that one of the victims was a Tongan based Auckland resident  from Kolonga who arrived in the kingdom recently.

Police investigation is ongoing.

Tongan Fitfh Harmony star and X Factor singer visits kingdom

By
Kalino Latu
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Famed Tongan singer in the United States Dinah Jane Hansen is in Tonga.

Born as Dinah Jane Milika Ilaisaane Hansen Amasio, the 19-year-old is the youngest  member of the Fifth Harmony music group.

The group has 7.5 million certified records sold and it has emerged as the most successful alumni from the X Factor U.S. franchise.

On Friday Dinah took to Twitter and told her 1.79 million followers about her visit to his parents’ homeland.

“Going back to my root”, she tweeted.

She also posted on twitter and said today Sunday 17: “Good morning from Tonga”.

This morning photos with captions posted on Facebook showed Dinah attending a church service together with some of the royal family.

Another photo showed she was posing for photos with Prince Ata, Prince Taufaʻāhau and Crown Princess Sinaitakala and others.

Born and raised in Santa Ana, California, Dinah has been regarded as similar to Beyoncé because of her powerful voice.

One source of information said Dinah’s musical idols included Beyoncé, Leona Lewis, Mariah Carey, and Etta James.

In the 2012 X Factor in the United States Dinah probably would have been put through as a solo singer but this did not happen after she forgot the lyrics of the song, “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger) by Kelly Clarkson”, she sang with Diamond White.

Her parents are Gordon from Tefisi Vavaʻu and Milika Hansen from Haʻateiho and Foʻui.

Tonga’s Viliami Fihaki sign’s for Edinburgh

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Tonga back-row forward Viliami Fihaki is relishing a “great adventure” after joining Edinburgh on a two-year contract.

The 29-year-old has moved to the Scottish capital from Sale Sharks where he will team up with a number of familiar faces.

The physical number eight, who can also play blindside flanker, formerly played with New Zealand provincial side North Harbour and has scored two tries in eight internationals.

“I’ve played against a few of the squad – Nasi Manu back in New Zealand and Will Helu in the Premiership, though I’ve also played with him in the Tongan team,” he said.

“Of course I’ve played alongside Fowlesy (Nathan Fowles) at Sale and also with Phil Burleigh in a Chiefs development side.

“The move will be a great adventure for me and my family and I’m looking forward to getting involved.”

Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach Alan Solomons said: “We are delighted that Vili has signed for the club. He is a big, powerful ball carrier with international experience.

“I have no doubt that he will add huge value to the team and look forward to working with him.”

–Bt Sport

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