The General Manager of Tonga Water Board Saimone Helu, has been sent on compulsory leave.
The position is currently taken over by Kolopeaua Tonga.
The Minister of Public Enterprises, Hon Poasi Tei was quoted by local media as saying he was informed about the decision against Helu.
The minister did not give the details of why Helu was ordered to go on leave.
The first national conference to address the concerns of New Zealand’s Pasifika youth population will be held in Auckland next month (April) with around 350 professionals from the youth, health and social sectors in attendance.
GPS 2016 – Growing Pasifika Solutions for our young people will be held on April 20 – 22 at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau City. It aims to address the social sector issues that are relevant for New Zealand’s young Pasifika, such as preventing suicide, violence and addictions, improving mental wellbeing, understanding cultural identity, and public health and education priorities.
The conference has been organised by a committee of 14 young Pasifika people under the guidance of Pasifika non-government organisation Le Va.
Le Va chief executive Dr Monique Faleafa said GPS was not a business as usual conference because it is led by young Pasifika people with Pasifika views but modern approaches. “We’ve taken an authentic youth participation approach, co-designing this conference with young Pasifika people from all around New Zealand. Like so many of us, these urbanesians lead with traditional cultural values and deliver with contemporary execution. This is cutting edge leadership that will further identify solutions that work best for them, in the context of their families and communities.”
“Pasifika people make up 7.4% of the NZ population and is considerably younger than other ethnicities in NZ – the median age for Pasifika is 22 years. More than half the Pasifika people in New Zealand are under 24 years so it’s important we have young people leading GPS.”
Suicide prevention, mental health and addictions will be some of the big issues discussed at the conference. Since 2000, there have been three national surveys of high school students that found Pasifika students are three times more likely to attempt suicide than New Zealand Europeans.
“Suicide is a tapu subject for many Pacific people, but in 2014 Pasifika communities across Aotearoa told us they were ready to talk about suicide, and they were seeking solutions to prevent suicide with a sense of urgency. Le Va has been leading New Zealand’s first Pasifika suicide prevention strategy and responding in many ways, and the talanoa (discussion) and action will continue at GPS 2016,” Dr Faleafa said.
“The community support for this conference has been amazing. Pasifika youth issues clearly strike a chord for many of us. We’ve been inundated with offers of support and contributions from role models our young ones are inspired by – including Krit Schmidt (MTV), Frankie Adams (Shortland Street actress), King Kapisi, Tofiga Fepulea’i from Pacific comedy duo The Laughing Samoans, and Buckwheat (Lealailepule Edward Cowley) a Pasifika rainbow leader; they will be our MCs. We also have our northern region Pasifika Matua Council, consisting of cultural leaders and knowledge holders from each Pacific nation.”
A discussion about what more can be done to ensure the mental wellbeing of high performance Pasifika sports people will open the conference on day two, with a high profile panel of Polynesian athletes leading the discussion including Sonny Bill Williams, Fiao’o Fa’amausili, Nigel Vagana, John Palavi and Jerome Ropati. The panel will be chaired by former All Black and Le Va manager, Savetama Eroni Clarke.
Dr Faleafa said GPS would be identifying solutions that young people say work for them. “Over the last 6 months, our Youth Action Committee have developed three concepts that they say will create change: If we support radical acceptance, absolute inclusion and full participation, we will unleash the full potential of our young people.”
With this in mind, three young Pasifika people will lead keynote presentations.
Student Whitney Pa’u-Tuitasi, Pasifika youth advisor and board member Riki Welsh and Genesis Youth Trust mentoring services manager Flora Apulu will share their unique perspectives on the support that is needed to help young Pasifika reach their potential in New Zealand.
This is the third GPS conference hosted by Le Va. GPS conferences are run every two years, building on knowledge and actions from previous conferences with a particular focus on improving the health and social issues for Pasifika.
Registrations for the conference are now open. For more information and to register online, go to www.leva.co.nz
A 52-year-old ʻEua man died Thursday following a possible electrocution at his Taʻanga residence.
The man returned from sea before the incident happened after 8pm, police said.
He and his family were preparing their evening meal in a kitchen outside their house.
The deceased was working on an extension power cord to connect a 4ft electric fluorescent tube light into the kitchen, Police Communication Officer Telēsia Adams told Kaniva News.
The victim’s daughter told Police the tube light was not working and while his father was trying to fix it she heard something falling. She ran outside to check and she saw her father lying on the floor with the light tube on top of him.
The man died at the scene but he was taken to hospital, Adams said.
This comes after a 42-year-old mother of three, Mele Lausiva Felemi Manu died at Tupou College on Tuesday after she tried to disconnect an electric power cord outide her house.
A pÅhiva kakala performed by the Tonga High School students produced a euphoric mood in the crowd as the school welcomed Tonga’s Olympic Taekwando star Pita Taufatofua.
During the welcoming event a stirring song was performed by the students while Taufatofua and others were sitting at the front facing the singers.
“Do a little danceâ€, Taufatofua was overhead as saying on a video purported to record the event.
He then left his seat and walked towards the students before he started dancing to the song. This was met with a tremendous cheer and laughter from the audience.
He later wrote on Facebook and said: “I gave them a 15 minute speech about relentlessly pursuing your Dreams and they gave me something soo much more memorable!â€
I gave them a 15 minute speech about relentlessly pursuing your Dreams and they gave me something soo much more memorable! #TongaHighSchool-KiheLeleiTaha #SpecialCheer
Posted by Pita Taufatofua on Wednesday, March 16, 2016
The 32-year-old from HaÊ»apai won gold in the over 80kg class at last month’s Oceania Qualifying tournament to seal his place at the Rio Olympics and he is the first Tongan to qualify for the Rio Olympic in August.
The International Rugby Board (IRB) has suspended all direct financial support to the Tonga Rugby Union (TRU) with immediate effect because the union did not adopt administrative demands.
The Tongan authorities held an urgent meeting in an attempt to resolve the problems after it was revealed the union was in deep financial debts, could not pay its staff and its main office in Nukuʻalofa will be closed.
It was also claimed TRU could not provide rugby kits and pay Tonga’s national rugby team players who are currently competing at the Pacific Challenge Cup in Fiji.
IRB could not be contacted.
However the interim chair of TRU, Feʻao Vunipola has confirmed to Kakalu ‘O Tonga Newspaper this week IRB has withhold the funding.
The paper claimed TRU owed TP$700,000 in arrears and will close its office soon.
Talaki newspaper has reported TRU owed TP$300,000 to Carinat Sport Marketing company after a court decision was made against the national body.
Vunipola reportedly said the union owed this money before he took over as chair last year.
Kakalu claimed TRU staff worked without pay for about two weeks.
It also claimed Tonga A players who are now in Fiji representing the country in the Pacific Challenge Cup were not paid. The players were normally paid TP$500 each in the past when they went on overseas tournaments, Kakalu said.
It also claimed Tonga A players asked Ikale Tahi player Hale.T.Pole to help buy them white shorts for the tour.
According to the local media, Vunipola summoned an urgent meeting last week with board members in his attempt to resolve the problems faced with TRU.
In his agendas Vunipola moved to sell some of the union’s assets to Carinat Sport Marketing company, lease out TRU’s property in Fasi or for the union to arrange a match test for the ‘Ikale Tahi in Hong Kong, Talaki reported.
TRU former CEO ‘Epeli Taione told the paper the union owed money when he was in charge of the national body but they still could be able to run it.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We have updated this story and removed what we have written about TRU’s former High Performance Manager. We have learnt his contract was expired and not terminated as we said before.
Tongan Rugby Union has no money to pay its players an allowance, it was claimed this week.
Tongan athletes dumped at the airport Deputy Prime Minister steps in
Princess Angelika Tukuʻaho told an audience in Australia when she grew up she was taught to understand her nation must take priority over any other matter.
She said she was taught to know about her three main fatongia (duties) and their importance. She must put her role for the nation first before her role for her family and her personal life.
The Princess made the statement in Tongan and in English languages while she was presenting a speech at Cowra in NSW, Australia last week.
The Tongan community in NSW actively participated in Cowra’s 2016 Festival of International Understanding day after the kingdom was invited to host this year’s event.
The Master of Ceremony who said he held the position for about the last 15 years told hundreds of guests at the celebration the host country was exceptional.
“So I can tell you I don’t think in that 15 years’ time I have ever seen an enthusiastic group of people representing their guest nation as the people from the kingdom of Tonga,” he said.
The Princess expressed her sincere thanks for the Tongans who attended the events.
“As I have mentioned last night the invitation for us the Tongan community to come to Cowra and showcase what Tonga and Tongan culture is all about”, the Princess said.
“And that’s what exactly what we are here for.
“We have Tongans from Sydney, Canberra, New Castle, Melbourne and various places in Australia and even an artist from Tonga, an entertainer who traveled from the United States to participate in today’s event,” said the Princess.
HRH Princess Angelika Latūfuipeka Halaevalu Mata’aho Napua-Okalani Tuku’aho, 32, is presently the High Commissioner of Tonga in Australia since August 2012.
She is number five in succession to the throne.
Tributes have been pouring in for the mother of three who was electrocuted on March 15Â when she unplugged a power extension cord at Tupou College where she was a teacher.
Mele Lausiva Felemi Manu, 41, and her family lived in a house the power they used came through an extension cord wire from a neighboring residence.
Police said the incident happened at about 7:00am after the deceased allegedly disconnected the cord outside their house.
It has been revealed the victim was a teacher at Lavengamalie College before she moved with his husband and became a teacher at Tupou College.
The students she taught at both colleges, her colleagues, relatives and friends have posted heart-breaking messages on Facebook.
Sifa Tupa said:†Awww…just got word that our Beautiful Aunty Mele Lausiva Felemi Manuhas gone to be with the Lord… Rest in Paradise Aunty ….ofa Atu Grand Uncle Hone Felemi and Family…Heaven has gain another Angel , the question is , Why so soon ? We will never know why, we just gotta keep living Our life until God calls us back homeâ€.
Ê»Eniti Ê»Amelia Latu said: “Still thinking of u my cuz Mele Lausiva Felemi Manu fly high Mele and make the star shiny like ur smile all da time miss ur face mate ofa atu kihe fofonga kii fanau pehe kihe hoa Raymond Manu ofa lahiatu kihe ogomatua Mafi mo Hone R.I.P SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE SIVAâ€.
see you tomorrow sis Mele Lausiva Felemi Manu
Posted by Pou Felemi Tooa on Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Still thinking of u my cuz Mele Lausiva Felemi Manu fly high Mele and make the star shiny like ur smile all da time miss…
Posted by Eniti Amelia Latu on Tuesday, March 15, 2016
A new boat to serve the people of ʻEueiki had been proudly launched in Nukuʻalofa last week.
The boat was funded through the Japanese Project for Improvement of Sea Transportation Infrastructure for ‘Eueiki Island Community.
His Excellency Mr. Yukio Numata, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Tonga said: “By investing in a collective and safer mode of transportation, we invest in not only human resources but also in safeguarding the future.”
A statement from the Tongan government says the launch ceremony included the traditional welcoming ceremony, the “hāʻunga” which was presented to the Ambassador by Makamapu, herald of ‘Eueiki, and Mr. Sinipata Muli, the Town Officer on behalf of the people of ʻEueiki.
The new boat was named “Sea ‘o Nua.”
“This assistance epitomizes Japan’s commitment to support efforts by the People and the Government of Tonga to ensure Human Security and also hope to strengthen the warm and close relations between the people and the Government of Japan and the people of the Kingdom of Tonga”, it said.
The New Zealand Chief of Army, Major General Peter Kelly is in Tonga this week on preparations for an upcoming humanitarian and disaster relief exercise, ‘Tropic Twilight’, in Ha’apai later this year which involves defence forces from Tonga, Australia, the US, China, Britain, and France.
The New Zealand Navy will also be conducting ‘Exercise Calypso’ which will involve coordinated fisheries patrols throughout the Pacific, including Tongan waters.
Major General Kelly will be meeting with Brigadier Fielakepa, Chief of Defence Staff of His Majesty’s Armed Forces, Minister of Defence Lord Ma’afu, and senior officers of His Majesty’s Armed Forces. He will also tour Masefield Navy base and Taliai Army camp.
“Tonga is one of New Zealand’s longest and closest defence relationships, dating back to the First World War, and it is great to be able to visit and discuss the ongoing relationship with the Brigadier and his staff,” Major General Kelly said. “Our Forces have served alongside each other in peace time and at war. In fact, our two Forces are serving alongside each other right now in Fiji helping with the clean-up following Tropical Cyclone Winston.”
New Zealand High Commissioner in Tonga, HE Sarah Walsh, commented; “The defence relationship is one of the strongest strands of the bilateral relationship between Tonga and New Zealand. The New Zealand Defence Force has had a technical adviser based in Tonga for decades, even before the New Zealand High Commission was established in Tonga.”
Tonga’s new $50 paʻanga note is in the running for the International Banknote of the Year award 2016.
The 50 Paʻanga notes with a portrait of King Tupou VI was released last year along with new other pa’anga notes including the $2, $5, $10, $20 and $100 to mark His Majesty’s coronation in 2015.
The new prints came after the $50 pa’anga note along with the $100 paʻanga note were first printed in 1988.
The winner will be announced in April.
The other nominated notes for International Bank Note of the Year include New Zealand’s $5 and Singapore’s $50 note.
“The International Bank Note Society (IBNS) Banknote of the Year award is an initiative of the IBNS to recognize an exceptional banknote issued each year”.
Last year IBNS announced that it has selected the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago to receive it prestigious “Bank Note of the Year Award” for 2014.
