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Attorney general files lawsuit to disqualify Tapueluelu’s parliamentary membership

By
Kalino Latu
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In the picture: L-R.  Tonga Acting Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecution and Tongatapu 4 MP Māteni Tapueluelu

Tonga’s Acting Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecution has filed a civil action yesterday at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court seeking an order to disqualify  MP Māteni Tapueluelu’s parliamentary membership.

Āminiasi Kefu claims Tapueluelu had breached the electoral law by not paying the fine he owes to former MP and Minister of Justice, Clive Edwards who successfully sued him for defamation over an article in Keleʻa newspaper.

Kefu seeks an urgent hearing because the constitution has been allegedly breached. He also asks the  court to order the Tongatapu 4 MP to pay back any  salary or remuneration benefits he received to the Court or  the Crown law office until a judicial decision was reached.

In a statement released to media yesterday Kefu claimed that when Tapueluelu submitted his application to become  candidate in the last general election on 23 October 2014 and was later elected to Parliament on 27 November 2014,  he was owing Edwards  a total of TP$14,500.00.

The Supreme Court has yet to decide a date for the hearing.

According to the Tongan constitution, a candidate must not be qualified to run for election if there is a judgment of debt against him or her.

5.3 earthquake felt in Vava’u

By
Kalino Latu
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Vava’uans have reported feeling a magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck the northern island of Tonga this morning but there were no reports of injuries or damage and the meteorological agency did not issue a tsunami warning.

The quake struck at  2:22am August 8  and was centred about 67km (42mi) north north west of Neiafu and 356km (221mi) north north east  of Nukuʻalofa, earthquake.usgs said.

A dozen of people in Vavaʻu reported feeling the earthquake.

Tongan-Australian cameraman Paula Moimoi Latu who is currently in Vavaʻu took to Facebook. He said: “I think I just felt an earthquake in Vavaʻu Lahi just now about 3:22am? A sign of the times (Matthew 24:7) as well as still feeling dizzy from the boat trip from Niuafo’ou!”

Rev Fotofili claims FWC in Australia has split, accuses successor of starting new church

By
Kalino Latu
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In the picture: Rev Dr Havea and members of Free Wesleyan Church in Australia attend luncheon after the Dr Havea’s first religious service on Sunday 2. Photo/Facebook

Disgraced Wesleyan minister Rev Matafonua Fotofili claims the Tongan Free Wesleyan Church in Australia has split and accused his replacement of starting a new church.

Rev Matafonua Fotofili claims the new Superintendant of the church in Australia, the Rev Dr Siotame Havea, and his followers had broken away from the church he was leading.

Dr Havea was appointed by the FWC’s 92nd conference in Tonga to take over from Rev Fotofili after he was found guilty of misconduct for his role in the collapse of the Pulela’a church.

Rev Fotofili and some followers did not attend a prayer service conducted by Dr Havea on Sunday, August 2.

Speaking to the Tongan Radio programme SBS, Rev Fotofili said Dr Havea and his followers had defected from the church he is leading.

READ MORE:

He said the Tongan Free Wesleyan Church in Australia was still operating according to the Australian law.

He claimed Australian law did not allow people from other countries to interfere with church matters in Australia.

He said he and his followers were accountable to the Australian Conference and that they would continue to run the church as normal until a decision was reached on a legal challenge they had launched against the Tongan conference’s declaration.

However, when he was asked on SBS whether he was accountable to the conference in Tonga or Australia, he said he was accountable to the Tongan conference.

He then said the church’s General Trust in Australia had decided to delay responding to the call by the Tongan conference for him and his colleagues to return to Tonga and attend a counselling service as ministers without ministries.

Rev Dr Siotame Havea and two other ministers were called by the Tongan conference last month to replace Rev Fotofili and his colleagues.

Rev Dr Havea’s first religious service in Australia on Sunday 2 attracted an almost full house, with hardly any spare seats.

Prosecution

During the Free Wesleyan Church’s 92nd conference in Tonga last month Rev Fotofili, Rev Sione Mataele Pinomi and Rev Viliami Tu’akoi launched a legal action against a decision not to give them ministries.

They were told to return to Tonga and  they had to work under the scrutiny of the President and attend counselling services.

The decision was made after the conference was told the reverends had mismanaged the church’s properties in New South Wales. They were found guilty of professional misconduct by a team of investigators led by the Church’s Secretary General, Dr Tevita Havea in 2014.

The Australian-based ministers launched the legal action after claiming they were not given a reasonable opportunity to respond to their accusation.

However, Dr Havea reportedly said they were given the opportunity to respond,   but instead hired lawyers in Australia to reply to the charges laid against them.

The FWC conference also announced last month that the church would take legal action with Australian authorities against the lawyers hired by the ministers, saying they misinformed the church’s headquarters in Tonga about what actually happened in Australia after the Pulela’a church was liquidated and sold by Westpac bank.

The main points

  • Disgraced Wesleyan minister Rev Matafonua Fotofili clams the Tongan Free Wesleyan Church in Australia has split and accused his replacement of starting a new church.
  • Speaking to the Tongan Radio programme SBC, Rev Fotofili said the FWC’s appointee, the Rev Dr Siotame Havea, and his followers had broken away from the Australian church.
  • He said the Tongan Free Wesleyan Church in Australia was still operating under his leadership according to the Australian law.
  • Rev Fotofili, Rev Sione Mataele Pinomi and Rev Viliami Tu’akoi were found guilty of professional misconduct by a team of investigators led by the Church’s Secretary General, Dr Tevita Havea in 2014.

Fusimālohi resigns amidst uproar over claims of too much politics and no work at TASANOC

By
Kalino Latu
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‘Ahongalu Fusimālohi claims politics has engulfed TASANOC and members are not doing their jobs. Photo/Kaniva Pacific News

The Tonga Association of Sports and National Olympics Committee’s (TASANOC) Interim General Secretary ‘Ahongalu Fusimālohi has resigned, claiming others were taking credit for his work while he was being left to shoulder the blame.

He claimed there was too much politics in the association and no work being done at all.

Fusimālohi tendered his resignation effective last Tuesday, July 28.

TASA President Robyn Kaho did not immediately respond to our requests for comments.

Former TASA Secretary General Takitoa Taumoepeau, who is still with the national sport authority,  confirmed Fusimālohi’s resignation to Kaniva News, but did not say why he had left.

Taumoepeau said the post was being occupied and temporarily held by Kaho.

Fusimālohi was at the centre of strong public criticism during last month’s Pacific Games in Port Moresby after 59 athletes arrived at the Fua’amotu Airport to find out their names were not on the manifest for the flight to PNG.

Athletic officials accused Fusimālohi of being responsible, something he denied. The government finally stepped in and the athletes were later able to fly to PNG on chartered flights.

Fusimālohi claimed it was his tireless efforts that all Tongan finally made it to Papua New Guinea. Without his efforts Tonga would have had no players at the Games.

In an e-mail to Kaniva News, he said: “The report to Government on the use of funds for the PNG has been audited and forwarded to government.”

He believed some people at TASA were trying to push him aside after the good work he had done for the benefit of TASA during the Games.

“I did the work and had my report to the government duly audited and have now opted to step aside since other people took the credit of my work and I took the blame,” Fusimālohi said.

“Had I not walked in at the last minute, no one would have gone to PNG.”

In 2012 Fusimalohi lost his job as chief executive of Tonga’s soccer’s association  after he and a collegue advised undercover reporters posing as lobbyists how to bribe FIFA officials with $1 million.

TASA has been in hot water since last month and this week Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva said in New Zealand that the organisation was being audited.

Hon. Pohiva said that if it was found that funds had been mishandled, those responsible would be sacked.

The Prime Minister said the TASA saga had gone on for a long time and his government would not tolerate it anymore.

The main points

  • The Tonga Association of Sports and National Olympics Committee’s (TASANOC) Interim General Secretary ‘Ahongalu Fusimālohi has resigned, claiming others were taking credit for his work while he was being left to shoulder the blame.
  • Fusimālohi was at the centre of strong public criticism during last month’s Pacific Games in Port Moresby last month after 59 athletes arrived at the Fua’amotu Airport to find out their names were not on the flight list to PNG.
  • Athletic officials accused Fusimalohi of being responsible, something he denied.
  • Fusimālohi claimed it was thanks to his tireless efforts that all Tongan finally made it to Papua New Guinea.

For more information

Tonga charters flight for 59 stranded Pacific Games athletes (RNZI)

Stranded Tongan athletes hope to make it to the Pacific Games on time (ABC Pacific Beat)

60-Year-Old Tongan woman suspicious death in North Long Beach

By
Kaniva Staff
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Vaiola Taufalele Vaipulu whose death Police believed was a homicide. Photo/Supplied

The body of Vaiola Taufalele Vaipulu, a Long Beach-Tongan resident in USA,  was found dead in her North Long Beach home Sunday and Police are treating it as a homicide after uncovering suspicious evidence, the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) confirmed Monday.

Vaipulu, 60, was found inside a home in the 6700 block of Olive Avenue about 6:50 a.m Sunday, said coroner Assistant Chief Ed Winter.

Her niece ‘Ana Lelea Fili has confirmed Vaipulu’s death to Kaniva News saying, “she’s my aunty…younger than my mum….hooooi…saaaad…[sic]”

Police first believed Vaipulu’s death was natural but were suspicious  after uncovering suspicious evidence at the scene, According to LBPD spokeswoman Marlene Arrona.

The suspicious circumstances were confirmed by a coroner prompting Police to launch an ingvestigation, the Long Beach Post says.

“Coroner Assistant Chief Ed Winter said an autopsy was pending”.

“The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call LBPD Homicide Detail at 562.570.7244”, the Post says.

Sports body being audited over PNG Games spending; PM threatens dismissals

By
Kaniva Staff
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Prime Minister of Tonga ‘Akilisi Pohiva. Photo/Tnews (Youtube)

Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva said Tonga’s Association of Sports and National Olympic Games Committee (TASANOC) spending at last month’s Pacific Games was being audited.

He said if the audit discovered any money had been mishandled and any TASANOC members had failed to perform their duties they would be dismissed.

The Prime Minister said TASA had failed to make a financial report to an overseas donor which led to a loss of about $100,000 that was supposed to help fund Tonga’s participation in the Games.

Speaking to the Tongan Television programme TNEWS, Hon. Pohiva said TASA had caused huge damage before and during the Games and this was not the first time they had created problems.

Hon. Pohiva said it was important that Tonga’s preparations for the Pacific Games were in the hands of a reliable and responsible organising body. He said the government was keeping a close eye on the committees assigned to the tasks.

Tonga Pacific Games 2019 Organising Committee

The Prime Minister said he was also unhappy with the Tonga Pacific Games executive committee because it was behind schedule with preparations for the 2019 games.

He said the construction of the golf course should have already been started, but nothing had happened so far.

He said if government found out  the TPG committee members could not do what was expected of them, they could be replaced.

Other donors

Hon. Pohiva revealed that Papua New Guinea had promised to support Tonga financially and he was expecting millions from them.  He said he would meet with PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill again soon.

He also said it was Papua New Guinea’s head of state’s advice that gave him the confidence that Tonga can host the Games.

He said China was also interested in some of the facilities for the Games, particularly the swimming pool and rugby fields. The communist country had requested plans and financial proposals for these facilities.

He said it was possible China would fund four major facilities for the Games.

He said two sports facilities that required a lot of money were the swimming pool and the golf course, but it now appeared there were donors to fund them.

Benefits

Prime Minister Pohiva said countries like China, Japan and New Zealand would like to see Tonga hosting the Games so that the kingdom’s sporting facilities could be upgraded to a more international level.

Samoa hosted the Pacific Games in 2007 and after Hon. Pohiva  talked to their Prime Minister he found out the neighbouring country had hosted some of the sporting competitions for the recent Commonwealth Games because they still had their sport facilities like swimming pool.

The Prime Minister said the government would upgrade ‘Apifo’ou College, Tonga College and Tupou High School’s sport fields and dormitories to be used by the Pacific Games officials and athletes.

Local sport facilities like the Sia’atoutai cricket ground and Kolomotu’a rugby fields would also be upgraded.

The Prime Minister said Tonga was the smallest country to host the Pacific Games.

He said he feared that if Tonga turned down the opportunity to host the 2019 Games there was no guarantee it would have the opportunity to do it again.

The main points

  • Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva said Tonga’s Association of Sports and National Olympic Games Committee (TASANOC) spending at last month’s Pacific Games was being audited.
  • He said if the audit discovered any money had been mishandled and any TASANOC members had failed to perform their duties they would be dismissed.
  • Pohiva said he was also unhappy with the Tonga Pacific Games executive committee because it was behind schedule with preparations for the 2019 games.
  • He said if government found out if the TPG committee could not do what was expected of them, they could be replaced.

For more information

Tonga Govt says committed to running Games (RNZI)

Tonga overwhelms japan 31-20

By
Publisher (posted)
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Tonga recorded a 31-20 victory over Japan in their fixture at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby to secure third spot in this year’s Pacific Nations Cup.

In an impressive showing, the Tongans scored three tries to Japan’s one as scrum-half Sonatane Takulua stood out alongside number ten Kurt Morath.

Takulua was one of those scorers as he added the late gloss to prop Halani Aulika and Fetu’u Vainikolo’s five-pointers. Morath kicked sixteen points.

In reply back-row Hendrik Tui crossed for Japan, who could not keep the dangerous Tongan runners at bay. They end the tournament in fourth place.

Japan were leading 3-6 thanks to two penalties from full-back Ayumu Goromaru but tighthead prop Aulika crashed over on 30 minutes to push Tonga 10-6 up.

Eddie Jones’ men responded soon after though when back-row Tui ran over from fifteen metres out to cap a passage started by wing Karne Hesketh.

Morath slotted two further penalties before the break though which meant Tonga were 16-11 to the good at the interval and deserving of their advantage.

Japan returned in strong form and when Goromaru struck two early penalties, they were back in front by one point.

However, Morath then sent over wing Vainikolo to make it 21-17 before the two kickers traded a penalty apiece before Japan were reduced to fourteen men when replacement Hayden Hopgood pulled down a Tongan line-out jumper.

That scuppered Japan’s hopes and when Takulua slipped over in the 79th minute, the result was sealed for the Tongans.

The scorers:

For Tonga:
Tries: Aulika, Vainikolo, Takulua
Con: Morath 2
Pen: Morath 4

For Japan:
Try: Tui
Pen: Goromaru 5

Tonga: 15 Vunga Lilo, 14 ‘Otulea Katoa, 13 Sione Puikala, 12 Viliami Tahitu’a, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Hale T-Pole, 7 Nili Latu (c), 6 Jack Ram, 5 Uili Kolo’ofa’i, 4 Lua Lokotui, 3 Halani Aulika, 2 Elvis Taione, 1 Tevita Mailau.
Replacements: 16 Kalafi Pongi, 17 Soane Tonga’uiha, 18 Sila Puafisi, 19 Sosefo Sakalia, 20 Viliami Fihaki, 21 Wayne Ngaluafe, 22 Martin Naufahu, 23 Latiume Fosita.

Japan: 15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Karne Hesketh, 13 Kotaro Matsushima, 12 Harumichi Tatekawa, 11 Yoshikazu Fujita, 10 Kosei Ono, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Ryu Holani, 7 Michael Broadhurst, 6 Michael Leitch (c), 5 Hitoshi Ono, 4 Shoji Ito, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Keita Inagaki.
Replacements: 16 Hisateru Hirashima, 17 Hiroki Yuhara, 18 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 19 Hayden Hopgood, 20 Hendrik Tui, 21 Atsushi Hiwasa, 22 Craig Wing, 23 Tim Bennetts.

Referee: Angus Gardner

– planet rugby

Royal Agricultural, Fisheries and Industrial Show 2015

By
Kaniva Staff
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Press Release: Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u will officially open the Royal Agricultural, Fisheries and Industrial Show 2015 for Tonga on Wednesday 5thAugust 2015 at the Matangimlie Ground in Niuatoputapu.

The theme for this year’s Royal Agricultural, Fisheries and Industrial Show 2015 is “Royal Agriculture, Fisheries and Tonga Made Show of the Coronation 2015”

The schedule for this annual event will be as follows;

Wednesday 5th of August                               –           Niuatoputapu

Thursday 6th August                                         –           Niuafo’ou

Saturday 8th August                                          –           Vava’u

Wednesday 12th August                                   –           Ha’apai

Saturday 15th August                                        –           ‘Eua

Friday 21st – Saturday 22nd August             –           Tongatapu

The Acting Prime Minister; Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni; Hon Minister for Agriculture and Food, Fisheries and Forest, and other Cabinet Ministers will also attend the outer-islands Royal Agricultural Show.

The Chief Executive Officer for MAFFF as well as other government officials have traveled to the outer islands to prepare and organize for this event.

New foreshore project for Lifuka starts next week

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Tongan government has allocated TOP$400,000 paʻanga to fund a foreshore in the western side of Lifuka to prevent further erosion.

Haʻapai Governor Moʻale Fīnau said on Facebook last week the Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva will launch the construction work for the project on August 11 at the western coast of Fanga-ʻI he-Sī.

The governor said the project was one of his dreams while he was young that one day Lifuka would have a foreshore and he invited his people to pray and give thanks to God as his dream has come true.

The project comes while the main island  of Haʻapai group is threatened by the increasing rising sea levels caused by climate change.

Foundations of some of the houses built on the beach at the coastal areas of Pangai, the capital, have been eroded by the water and owners have moved inland for their safety.

Lifuka has a population of about 700 people it is popular with tourists and has 11 hotels.

 

Pacific Games 2019: NZ funds new teufaiva stadium upgrade, talks underway with foreign donors

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Tongan government has confirmed it has received funding from the New Zealand government to upgrade Teufaiva Stadium and it has made contacts with other foriegn donors to seek funding options  in a bid  to host the 2019 Pacific Games.

Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva in a statement released to media today Monday 4 confirmed his government’s position in hosting the  Games and said  Tonga was encouraged and given supports during the 15th Pacific Games in Port Moresby early this month by other Pacific countries in its plan to host the Games.

Tonga will soon start collecting money to help fund its budget for the sport  when the airport departure tax would be increased by TP$100 and  a one seniti charge on every foriegn currency exhanges, a one seniti reduction from the original two seniti charge announced in the begining of July.

Hon. Pohiva has urged all Tongans in Tonga and overseas to support government in its endeavour to bring the Pacific Games to the kingdom for the first time in history.

He said Tonga would benefit greatly from the Games.

The Prime Minister’s statement

“Getting the financial resources to fund the preparation for the Games is the utmost challenge for the Government and the Government is fully aware of this.  As such, the Government is doing its best to seek financial assistance from donor and development partners and raise revenue for the Games,” the Hon Prime Minister has stated.

“ At the same time, the Government is convinced of the benefits of hosting the games, not only in upgrading the level of sports and sporting facilities in Tonga, but also the benefits to the economy that the sport will bring.”

The Government has received funds from the New Zealand Government towards Teufaiva Stadium and discussions are underway with other donor and development partners to fund other sporting complexes, which are anticipated to be finalized and announced in the near future.

The Government is also currently finalizing the legal process for the implementation of the $100 pa’anga increase in Departure Tax and the 1seniti levy that will be imposed as part of the spread of the Pa’anga value on every purchase and sale of foreign currency, which is a reduction by 1 seniti from the two seniti originally proposed in response to raised concerns during the consultation with key stakeholders.  These are the two revenue streams that Government has approved to raise funds for the Games.

The Government is working closely with the Tonga Pacific Games 2019 Organising Committee on the details of the plan for the Games with the constructions and preparation of venues and sporting facilities to start in 2016, as stated by the Hon Minister for Finance and National Planning.

The Government was encouraged to receive the support of other Pacific Island Countries that Tonga can host a successful Pacific Games in 2019, during the 15th Pacific Games 2015 held in Papua New Guinea in July.

The Government is therefore calling on the people of Tonga, here in Tonga and abroad for their support, as Tonga prepares to stage the 16th South Pacific Games 2019.

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