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Haʻapai commuters face “disaster” as electric poles erected in middle of roads

By
Kaniva Pacific
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PHOTO: Electric poles in Haʻapai erected almost at the centre of the roads have caused inconvenience to the public and road users. Photo/Supplied

Utility poles, carrying electricity and telephone wires erected almost at the centre of roads in Lifuka, Haʻapai have been described as a “disaster” and works “designed with no proper surveying”.

Haʻapai Governor Moʻale Fīnau has told Kaniva News this afternoon the positioning of the poles was made after it was found out the road cut through several tax allotments.

He said it was a “disaster” and that it appeared it would cost government a lot of money to resolve the problems.

Finau said he has contacted Tonga Power’s manager in Haʻapai and asked him to hold the work before he returned to the islands on Wednesday.

He said it appeared most roads in Haʻapai were constructed without conducting land surveying to determine boundaries and spaces required by law for the roadways.

“I think that the best way to solve this problem is to move the poles to the road side and compensate the land holders if they ask for compensation as according to the Constitution of Tonga”.

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Utility poles erected almost in the middle of the roads in Haʻapai. Photo/Supplied

The governor said it was “sad” and that he was in Nukuʻalofa before he was made aware of the incident.

“I am told that the part of the road where these power poles are positioned close to the middle cuts through the adjacent land holder’s tax allotment and that’s why these poles as appeared in the photos are positioned further out from the road side,” Finau said.

“I have asked the Manager of Tonga Power  based in Ha’apai to temporarily stop the wiring while I work out a way to have this problem solved as it would be very costly and unreal to shift the road”, he said.

Finau believed the “roads were designed without proper surveying so this is the  consequence of not doing these jobs in the right way”.

Tongan taboo for touching king’s head brings foreign church minister to perform coronation

By
Kalino Latu
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PHOTO: D’Arcy Wood will coronate the incoming Tongan king King Tupou VI in July. Photo/Dennis Manktelow (Herald Sun). 

A foreign church minister who has Tongan connection will perform the coronation of Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u Tuku’aho following  an official request made because of the taboo for Tongan subjects to touch the king’s head.

The king’s body is regarded as sacred and that Tongan  citizens are not allowed to touch him or even stay very close to where he was when talking to him.

The retired Methodist minister, Rev D’Arcy Wood who lives in Gisborne, Melbourne, was formally invited to perform the coronation ceremony of Their Majesties this Saturday.

He told the Australian’s Herald Sun that he has been given the royal task because “no Tongan citizen can do it as it is forbidden for a Tongan to touch the King’s head”.

Rev Mr Wood was born in Tonga when his father A. Harold Wood was principal at the Free Wesleyan Church’s college in 1924.

He told the paper that “I know the King from his time when he was the High Commissioner for Tonga in Canberra in the 1990s — he and his wife were among many Tongans who came to the church I was the Minister at.”

Mr Wood will fly to Tonga tomorrow and he reportedly said he will be “talking to the King and Queen a lot as it gets closer and there will be a lot of rehearsals.”

“The day itself will be very exciting for Tongans and there are enormous celebrations planned across the country from school kids getting involved, traditional dancing and feasting,” Herald Sun reported.

 

He said: “My father was principal of the main boys school in Tonga, he conducted services and led Hymns in Tongan and established choirs in the country when he discovered what great singers the Tongans were”.

One of Mr Wood’s sisters, Elizabeth Wood-Ellem, returned to live in Tonga as an adult and wrote a book on Tongan Queen S’lote Tupou III, who became world famous when at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation she refused to ride in a hooded carriage during a rain marred procession.

Their Majesties’ coronation celebration will formally start this Friday 27 to July 7.

Thousand of ‘Otule fish are shared by residents at Ha’apai’s beaches

By
Kaniva Pacific
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PHOTO: Thousand of ʻOtule fish arrived at Faleloa beach. Photo/Lovely Tuʻivailala

Thousands of ‘Otule fish (also known as Bigeye Scad fish) were spotted at a beach in Faleloa, Ha’apai this week.

The fish have been sighted at the Faleola beach since April.

Locals believe that the arrival of the ‘Otule signifies that it is the beginning of their breeding season.

To catch the fish, residents have been arriving at the beach with fishing nets.

The catch was then disseminated into small piles on the sand before the locals divided the catch amongst themselves.

Some locals were spotted carrying their share in sacks to their vehicles.

Photos of the villagers’ celebration of the ‘Otule’s arrival have been showcased on social media.

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Thousand of ʻOtule fish arrive at Faleloa beach. Photo/Lovely Tuʻivailala
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Residents use sack to carry their share home. Photo/Lovely Tuivailala
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Residents arrive at the beach with fishing nets. Photo/Lovely Tuʻivailala

 

All Blacks name squad for Samoa

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The All Blacks squad for the Samoa Test has been announced today by selectors Steve Hansen, Ian Foster and Grant Fox today.

Malakai Fekitoa and Charles Piutau were selected while Augustine Pulu was not picked due to injury.

All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said: “The selectors would like to congratulate those new All Blacks we have named today. It is always a proud moment when a player is named in the All Blacks for the first time and they have all worked incredibly hard to get here.

“As is always the case with squad selections, we also had to leave out some players who are unlucky not to be selected. They will get further opportunities to stake their claims in the NZ Maori and Barbarians sides which play next month.

“We have selected a large squad of 41 players, partly through necessity, with two New Zealand teams still involved in the Super Rugby competition. But, more importantly, it also gives us the chance to work with some athletes we haven’t worked with before and see how they cope at Test level. This will allow us to make better decisions when it comes to selecting our Rugby World Cup team in August. I would like to thank New Zealand Rugby and the Board for allowing us to pick a squad of this size.”

The full squad is as follows: (with Investec Super Rugby and provincial teams and Test caps. * indicates a new All Black).

Forwards:

Hookers

Dane Coles – Hurricanes / Wellington (27)

Hikawera Elliot – Chiefs / Poverty Bay (3)

Keven Mealamu – Blues / Auckland (123)

Codie Taylor – Crusaders / Canterbury *

 

Props

Wyatt Crockett – Crusaders / Canterbury (27)

Charlie Faumuina – Blues / Auckland (20)

Ben Franks – Hurricanes / Hawke’s Bay (31)

Owen Franks – Crusaders / Canterbury (57)

Joe Moody – Crusaders / Canterbury (8)

Tony Woodcock – Blues /North Harbour (110)

 

Locks

James Broadhurst – Hurricanes / Taranaki *

Brodie Retallick – Chiefs / Bay of Plenty (36)

Luke Romano – Crusaders / Canterbury (17)

Jeremy Thrush – Hurricanes / Wellington (11)

Samuel Whitelock – Crusaders / Canterbury (62)

 

Loose forwards

Sam Cane – Chiefs / Bay of Plenty (22)

Jerome Kaino – Blues /Auckland (56)

Richie McCaw (captain) – Crusaders / Canterbury (137)

Liam Messam – Chiefs / Waikato (40)

Kieran Read – Crusaders / Canterbury (72)

Matt Todd – Crusaders / Canterbury (2)

Victor Vito – Hurricanes / Wellington (26)

 

Backs:

Halfbacks

Tawera Kerr-Barlow – Chiefs / Waikato (15)

TJ Perenara – Hurricanes / Wellington (11)

Aaron Smith – Highlanders / Manawatu (38)

 

First five-eighths

Beauden Barrett – Hurricanes / Taranaki (28)

Daniel Carter – Crusaders / Canterbury (102)

Colin Slade – Crusaders /Canterbury (17)

Lima Sopoaga – Highlanders / Southland *

 

Midfielders

Ryan Crotty – Crusaders / Canterbury (13)

Malakai Fekitoa – Highlanders / Auckland (8)

Ma’a Nonu – Hurricanes / Wellington (94)

Conrad Smith – Hurricanes / Wellington (85)

Sonny Bill Williams – Chiefs / Counties Manukau (23)

 

Outside backs

Israel Dagg – Crusaders /Hawke’s Bay (46)

Cory Jane – Hurricanes / Wellington (48)

Nehe Milner-Skudder – Hurricanes / Manawatu *

Waisake Naholo – Highlanders / Taranaki *

Charles Piutau – Blues /Auckland (14)

Julian Savea – Hurricanes / Wellington (33)

Ben Smith – Highlanders / Otago (38)

The All Blacks squad will assemble on Auckland’s North Shore on Wednesday this week for a three-day camp minus the 18 players in the Hurricanes and Highlanders, who will be preparing for this weekend’s Super Rugby semifinal matches. Following the camp this week, the All Blacks will re-assemble in Auckland on Wednesday 1 July to prepare for the Test against Samoa.

Image of sexual assault suspect released following attack at Mt Wellington

By
Kaniva Pacific
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PHOTO: Police investigating a serious sexual attack in Auckland are seeking to identify a man from CCTV footage. Photo/Supplied

A CCTV footage of a man wanted over the sexual assault of a woman in Auckland’s Mt Wellington suburb on Waitangi Day has been released by New Zealand Police.

Police believed the man was Tongan between 18 – 25 years of age with a short black hair.

He was wearing a yellow v-neck shirt and brown camouflage shorts with a distinctive faded tattoo on his upper left thigh

On the day of the incident he forced his way into a house and sexually attacked a woman.

Detective Braden Harris says the attack occurred at approximately midday on Waitangi Day at a house on Mt Wellington Highway.

“He subjected the lone female in the house to a serious and nasty sexual attack,” Harris says.

“This was a prolonged attack which has left the victim exceptionally traumatised, which she will be for a very long time.”

The CCTV footage captured that day shows a man cutting across the Countdown Mt Wellington carpark and running behind the supermarket alongside Hamlin Park.

Anyone with information can call Detective Braden Harris 213 8205 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to give information anonymously.

House on fire in Lapaha

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Fire fighters were called to a property at Lapaha this morning and they were currently battling a house fire in the area at the time of this report.

Fulila Tangata’iloa was at the scene and she said she could see smoke coming from the house.

She said the property belonged to Petelo and Lupe Tauvaka.

“Nothing remained” of the cement block house, she said.

It was claimed the home owners were not at the property when the blaze started.

There were no reports of injury or people trapped inside the house.

Tonga Fire Services could not be reached for comments.

 

Grave at a Popua cemetery vandalized

By
Kaniva Pacific
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A concrete slab that covered a grave at the village of Popua was partly vandalized leaving the grave opened with what appeared to be mats, clothes and ngatu buried with the deceased scattered around the cemetery.

It was alleged the destruction was an act of revenge, which was usually occurred when a Tongan was believed to be possessed by an evil demon.

A local, Ngaloʻafē ʻUlupano said he went to the cemetery today to clean up his parents’ grave and he was surprised when he saw what appeared to be a result of a vandalism.

He took photos of the incident which show the grave was opened and what appeared to be Tongan koloa (goods) buried with the dead person scattered around the grave.

‘Ulupano could not identify the grave.

He said a grave at the same cemetery was vandalized previously and it was allegedly caused by people who believed that spirits of the dead harmed members of their family.

 

MV Niuvākai out of service, 'Otu Angaʻofa captain sacked after leaks found on ferries

By
Kalino Latu
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The MV Niuvākai has been taken out of service and the captain of the MV ʻOtu Angaʻofa has been sacked after the two government ferries were found to be leaking.

The  ʻOtu Angaʻofa is being closely monitored and is carrying restricted loads.

Finance Minister Dr ‘Aisake Eke announced the news in Parliament, but did not give any further details.

The Minister of Infrastructure, ʻEtuate Lavulavu  said the Niuvākai would only be allowed to travel to Fiji, implying that this would be for maintenance purpose.

He said it was safe to travel on the ‘Otuanga’ofa.

Lord Tu’iha’ateiho told the House he understood that while they were discussing the issue, the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa was due to sail from Ha’apai to Nuku’alofa at 6pm that evening.

He said he was surprised when he heard the vessel had a leak but was allowed to travel.

The government was responding to concerns raised by Lord Tu’ilakepa about the safety of the inter-island sea transportation.

Hon. Tu’ilakepa reminded the House that Tonga had suffered severely in the past because of the way how government handled sea inter-ferry transports.

He said a memorial stone had been erected at Ma’ofanga to remember the 74 people who died after the government ferry Princess Ashika went aground in 2008.

He said government should make sure it did not have to face the kind of public outcry that occurred over the sinking of the Princess Ashika.

MV Niuvakai

The government’s Friendly Island Shipping Agency (FISA) bought the Niuvākai from the Ramanlal brothers last year for about TP$1.5 million.

The 36-year-old vessel, previously known as the  MV Theresa, has an in-built chill/freezer in addition to a cargo capacity of 660 cubic meters and 274.4 cubic meters (274,440 litres) for bulk cargo fuel (diesel fuel). It can also accommodate 10 livestock.

It can also be used to transport bulk cargo like agricultural produce on inter-island and outer island services.

MV ‘Otuanga’ofa

The ‘Otuanga’ofa was a new vessel when it was brought to Tonga from Japan on October, 2010 to replace the Princess Ashika.

In May 2014 the ferry was reported to have run aground while trying to leave the Pasivulangi harbour in Niuafo’ou.

Close inspection ferry found cracks in the vessel and it was dry docked in Fiji for maintenance.

It was reported at the time that the cracks were due to “localised stress.”

It said the bow and the stern were the most highly-stressed areas of the vessel; with the bow stress caused by ramming, pounding and racking; while the stern stress was caused by pounding, propeller pressure and vibrations.

The 53m x 13.5 m vessel has a total loading capacity of 520 tons. It can accommodate up to 400 passengers, and a cargo hold of 251 m2 area x 4.55 m headroom. The ferry has 2 main engines each of 1,000 horsepower to run at 11.5 knots.

The main points

  • The MV Niuvākai has been taken out of service and the captain of the MV ʻOtu Angaʻofa has been sacked after the two government ferries were found to be leaking.
  • The ʻOtu Angaʻofa is being closely monitored and is carrying restricted loads.
  • The Minister of Infrastructure said the Niuvākai would only be allowed to travel to Fiji, implying that it this would be for maintenance purpose.
  • He said it was safe to travel on the ‘Otuanga’ofa.

For more information

Ministry of Infrastructure

Friendly Islands Shipping Agency

Princess Ashika disaster (Tagata Pasifika)

Royal Commission report

Minister claims sports brings more money to kingdom than agriculture and fisheries

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga’s Minister for Sport Feʻao Vakatā said Tonga’s sport players overseas brought about TP$14 million into Tonga every year.

Hon. Vakatā said the money was more than what the government collected from sales of crops and seafood overseas.

He was responding to a call from Democratic Party MP Veivosa Taka for the government to cancel Tonga’s hosting of the 2019 South Pacific Games.

Hon. Taka said the money earmarked for the games should be spent on the needy.

The Minister said hosting the South Pacific Games would boost income from sport, which was already one of the kingdom’s most significant financial resources.

Until now fisheries and agriculture have been regarded as two of Tonga’s major sources of income.

Hon. Vakatā said Tonga had more than just one hundred of sports players overseas but they brought a great deal of money to the nation.

Critics have said the Games are too costly for Tonga and there have been protests against the government’s plans to raise money for the games in the new budget.

Plans include a TP$100 hike in the airport departure tax, which is expected to bring in TP$5 million  a year for the next five years leading up to the Games, after which it will be removed.

The hike provoked a stir on social media with many accusing the government of penalising Tongans living overseas by making them pay higher fees every time they travel to and from Tonga.

The government has justified the hike by saying Tonga had one of the lowest airport departure taxes in the South Pacific.

Critics

Last week Tonga’s former Finance Minister Lisiate ‘Akolo, met with Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva  and asked the government to withdraw its hosting of the South Pacific Games.

Hon. ‘Ākolo said the Games were very expensive for Tonga.

Tonga plans to spend about TP$138 million on building facilities and hosting the Pacific Games in four years’ time.

Hon. ‘Ākolo said the money should be given to education and health sectors as Tonga’s economic viability was weak.

Tonga’s share

Meanwhile, the government has confirmed that most of the money needed to fund the Games will come from overseas donors.

The former government when it bid to win hosting of the Games told SPG committee it would donate TP$70 million for the sport.

Taka asked how the country could afford to maintain the facilities after the Games.

The Minister of Finance said the facilities would be used to host the Games for 10 days, but after that they would become national facilities to cater for local players.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Minister for Sport Feʻao Vakatā said Tonga’s sport players overseas brought about TP$14 million into Tonga every year.
  • Vakatā said the money was more than the government collected from sales of crops and seafood overseas.
  • He was responding to a call from Democratic Party MP Veivosa Taka for the government to cancel Tonga’s hosting of the 2019 South Pacific Games.
  • Vakatā told Parliament the government had estimated that for every pa’anga it spent spend on the Games, it would collect TP15 in return.

For more information

South Pacific Games Port Moresby 2015

Tonga wins bid for 2019 Games  (ABC)

Japan Royals attend King Tupou VI coronation

By
Alpha Latu
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Princess Masako of Japan and his husband Crown Prince Naruhito will attend the coronation of King Tupou VI on July 4.

While Princess Masako has health condition with adjustment disorder for 11 years, her trip was uncertain to proceed.

However, some decisions were made and she was given permission from her doctor to travel.

The royal couple would join 1,000 special guests Tonga government has invited for the Their Majesties’ King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u’s coronation.

The celebration would begin on June 27 – July 7.

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