By Lydia Lewis, in Vava’u, Tonga. This article is republished with permission
The Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Retreat is starting in Vava’u,Tonga today.
Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ in Vava’u. 29 August 2024 Photo: RNZ Pacific / Lydia Lewis
Eighteen Pacific leaders and representatives will meet on Vava’u to sign off what they have been discussing throughout the year.
The local people have been up until the early hours of the morning brushing and sweeping the streets and painting fences ahead of the leaders’ arrivals.
They told RNZ Pacific last night on Wednesday night that this is a big day for Vava’u to showcase the rich culture they have on offer to the world.
The Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Retreat is starting in Vava’u, Tonga today. The leaders have landed there this morning. The local people have been up until the early hours of the morning brushing and sweeping the streets and painting fences ahead of the leaders’ arrivals. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Lydia Lewis
Mele Vaipulu, the wife of the Tongan deputy prime minister, Samiuela, said this visit is very special.
“It’s very important that they’re here to recognise some of our weaknesses and some sides of Tonga that we need help at,” she said.
“I believe that this Forum is a blessing.
The local people have been up until the early hours of the morning brushing and sweeping the streets and painting fences ahead of the leaders’ arrivals. Photo: Lydia Lewis
“I think the Forum will be a very helpful and very pleasing to the Kingdom of Tonga – not only to Tonga, but to the other islands.”
She said Vava’u “is the island paradise”.
“Today we will get to visit the place that that our first King, Tupou I, dedicated Tonga to God. And of course, we were known as the people of God and and the friendly island.”
Mele Vaipulu, the wife of the Tongan deputy prime minister, left. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Lydia Lewis
Police have found a body in the search for the Tongan man after the vessel he was on sank in the Manukau Harbour on Tuesday afternoon.
Police at Puketutu Island. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
It was spotted by the police Eagle helicopter on Thursday afternoon near Puketutu Island, where he was last seen, and recovered by the Police National Dive Squad, with help from the Police Maritime Unit.
A formal identification was yet to be carried out.
However, Kaniva News understands that relatives and family members of the Siua family from Pea, Tongatapu in Auckland were asking for prayers since their son Masila Siua went missing at Manukau Harbour on Tuesday afternoon.
The body was recovered by the Police National Dive Squad, with assistance from the Police Maritime Unit.
Enquiries will continue into the matter, with the formal identification process to be carried out, Manukau Police said.
“Police would like to thank Coastguard, the Royal New Zealand Navy, and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter for their assistance during this search, which has covered a wide area of Manukau Harbour”.
A former Tongan Methodist lay minister and Sunday school teacher has been jailed for four years and 10 months for sexually assaulting a vulnerable young boy.
Hapa ‘Ofanoa. Photo/Supplied
Hapa ‘Ofanoa, 47, has also been put on the child sex offender register.
He pleaded guilty early this year to three charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and five charges of doing an indecent act on a young person.
The victim, who had “significant behavioural and physical difficulties”, was repeatedly abused by ‘Ofanoa between July 2014 and September 2017 while he was in his care.
The presiding judge, Patel, said ‘Ofanoa’s offending was “serious, repetitive and premeditated”.
“The offending also sits rather uncomfortably with your position in the church”, the Judge said.
The court was told that the victim’s parents trusted ‘Ofanoa and placed their son in his care as a healthcare assistant.
The judge said there was a significant breach of trust in ‘Ofanoa’s offending.
The court was also told that much of the offending occurred in the victim’s home.
A reference letter showed ‘Ofanoa expressed remorse, but the judge said there was no indication as to whether the report’s writer was aware of the nature or the extent of the offence to which he pleaded guilty.
“The reference letter portrays you in good terms, but again, there is no indication that the writer was aware of your offending”.
The judge ordered that ‘Ofanoa must be placed on the Child Sex Offender Register.
His registration followed that of Tongan pastor Siosateki Tonga Faletau, who was registered as a Child Sex Offender in 2022. Faletau was sentenced to two years and three months for indecently assaulting seven young girls from 2001 to 2020.
Background
‘Ofanoa was brought up in Tonga, and he graduated with a Certificate in Theology.
He was a lay preacher at a Methodist church before emigrating to New Zealand with his family in 2005.
He contributed to the Methodist church by being a choir conductor and a Sunday School teacher.
He had been employed since then. He has five children aged between 14 and 27.
Child sex offender register
In New Zealand, the register is a record of a range of up-to-date personal information about registered child sex offenders living in the community. It is a tool to help Police and Corrections staff with the monitoring of people who have offended in the past, to prevent re-offending and keep children safe.
Almost every person sent to prison will one day leave. Before a child sex offender is released from prison, careful planning is undertaken to reduce the likelihood of reoffending. Many offenders are released with special conditions or on extended supervision orders, which provide varying levels of protection to the community.
When a registered offender leaves prison, they are required to start reporting their personal information to the register and continue to do so until the end of their registration period. This applies to people who are subject to conditions or extended supervision orders, as well as those who are living freely in the community without conditions.
Corrections probation officers and Police case managers work with these people to develop a plan for their full reintegration back into the community. The aim is to support them in maintaining a low-risk lifestyle and protect the community where appropriate.
Speculation is circulating that nobility ministers were told to resign after the Pacific Leaders meeting currently taking place in Nuku’alofa.
(L-R) Lord Tu’i’afitu, Lord Vaea and Lord Fohe
It has been claimed that this was a royal order, which the Minister of Internal Affairs, Lord Vaea, then conveyed to the nobles.
We have contacted the Prime Minister and Lord Vaea for comment.
The king does not have the authority to dismiss a Cabinet Minister, as that power is granted to the Prime Minister at his discretion under Clause 51(3)(a) of the Constitution.
However, since the king can appoint or revoke his 33 nobility members, he can use this power to influence decisions regarding their ministerial positions.
Three noble MPs are serving as ministers in PM Hu’akavameiliku’s Cabinet, including Lord Fohe, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forest; Lord Vaea, Minister for Internal Affairs; and Lord Tu‘i‘āfitu, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
MP Māteni Tapueluelu told Kaniva News that reliable sources within the government told him about the king’s alleged decision and that Lord Vaea was assigned to communicate it to the nobles.
MP Tapueluelu said he firmly believed the allegation was also linked to a court case currently at the Court of Appeal, but he did not provide further details.
In that Appeal case, the King’s Secretary, Viliami Malolo, sued the government after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Public Service Commission (PSC) re-established the MFA’s chief executive position following a recommendation by the former chief judge.
It has been claimed that the post-restoration automatically invalidated Malolo’s roles in the MFA.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) believed the King’s Secretary taking over the role of CEO constituted a lack of legal capacity.
That court case is currently at the Court of Appeal after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Malolo.
MP Tapueluelu said he recently met the government’s lawyer, Dr Rodney Harrison from New Zealand, in Tonga. Mr Harrison was in the kingdom for the Appeal Court hearing, which was postponed.
The allegations of the forced resignation of the King’s noble ministers came to light after His Majesty withdrew his confidence in the Prime Minister’s role as Minister of His Majesty’s Armed Forces and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
That incident resulted in the Prime Minister’s resignation as Minister of His Majesty’s Armed Forces and Fekita Utoikamanu’s resignation as Foreign Affairs Minister. Utoikamanu was later appointed as Minister for the Ministry of Tourism. The Prime Minister recently announced that he is acting Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The new episode comes after concerns about the efficacy of Tonga’s political system and the extent of the Monarchy’s authority. Critics regarded it, and as previously reported by Kaniva News, as an attempt by His Majesty to regain his executive power, which was relinquished by his late brother, King George V, to the people in 2010.
Forum leaders meeting
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has signed a new partnership agreement with Tonga’s Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku as the Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ meeting in Nuku’alofa entered its third day.
The agreement between New Zealand and Tonga pledges to strengthen cooperation between their military and police forces. It also commits to supporting efforts to work and limit global warming to 1.5°C, enhance climate resilience and adaptation work, and improve Tonga’s telecommunications resilience and cybersecurity.
The leaders will hold a retreat on Thursday, at which they are expected to issue a statement about issues including the political crisis in New Caledonia. The prospect of a vote in Paris that would dilute the political representation of the indigenous Kanak sparked rioting in May.
More than 1,500 delegates from more than 40 countries at this year’s meeting of Pacific member states, all hoping to further their agendas in a region where oceans, resources and strategic power have grown increasingly contested.
The one-week meeting features the forum’s largest-ever delegation from China and a sizeable deputation from the United States, led by Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell.
Both countries are among 21 “dialogue partners” — a group of nations interested in the region—in the forum.
A petition is currently being organised to urge the king to revoke his appointment of the new Chief Judge after it was revealed that his LGBTQ lifestyle might violate Tonga’s law, which prohibits sodomy.
Anthony Vander Woerd (L) and Chief Justice of Tonga Malcolm Bishop
Malcolm Lesley Bishop, 79, KC of Wales, UK, has been appointed as Tonga’s new Chief Justice.
He is expected to start his new role on September 1, this coming Sunday.
The petition stems from the revelation that Mr Bishop and his late partner, Anthony Vander Woerd, another man, lived together as a gay couple for 51 years.
Woerd, 71, a businessman, was shot and killed in front of Mr Bishop on a Caribbean island in 2019 during a robbery, according to Gloucestershire Live.
Following the homicide, Mr Bishop sustained injuries to his forehead and nose. He and his partner were rushed to a nearby medical facility for medical attention.
The Legal Futures website reported earlier this month that Mr Bishop is an LGBTQ barrister, and he is open about his sexual orientation and gender identity.
The online legal news source also reported Barrister and TV personality Rob Rinder as saying that he had previously named Mr Bishop as his LGBTQ hero.
Rinder also reportedly said that in 2021, Mr Bishop “was an out gay barrister when I arrived in chambers over 20 years ago” and described him as “somebody that I looked up to, who was quite literally modelling a life that I aspired to”.
Same-sex marriages have been legal in England and Wales since March 29, 2014.
Churches and legal stakeholders in the kingdom were planning petitions and marches to the king, urging His Majesty to rescind Mr Bishop’s appointment.
Tongan sodomy law
Lawyer Clive Edwards said Mr Bishop’s gay lifestyle, in the eyes of the law of Tonga, was regarded as committing sodomy.
Tonga’s Criminal Act section136 about Sodomy and bestiality says:
“Whoever shall be convicted of the crime of sodomy with another person or bestiality with any animal shall be liable at the discretion of the Court to be imprisoned for any period not exceeding ten years and such animal shall be killed by a public officer. (Substituted by Act 9 of 1987)”.
In 2016, the then-former Chief Justice Charles Cato sentenced and jailed Sione Iketau with the final 12 months being suspended after the prisoner was convicted of sodomising a child under the age of 12.
“That’s man and man living as a married couple”, Mr Edwards said of Mr Bishop in Tongan.
According to Mr Edwards, Mr Bishop, as Chief Justice, is considered a public figure, which means that he can be criticised by the public.
“He is the head of the third branch of government in Tonga,” Mr Edwards told an interview with FM87.5 Broadcom.
“He is breaching the law of Tonga”.
Mr Edwards was uncertain whether Mr Bishop could be impartial when presiding over cases involving sodomy in his capacity as a judge.
Auckland-based Tongan lawyer Nalesoni Tupou said Mr Bishop’s appointment heralded what appeared to be a transformative period for Tonga.
“Oku fakaofo e moui Foou oku oatu ehe Eiki Fakamaau Lahi he oku moui fakasotoma”, Tupou wrote in Tongan on Facebook against Mr Bishop’s LGBTQ lifestyle.
Mr Bishop could not be reached for comment.
He has 56 years of experience as a barrister, but he reportedly did not apply for the job. He said he was approached earlier this year.
According to the protocol, the king’s Judicial Panel, led by Lord Ramsay Dalgety of Scotland, selects the Chief Justice before seeking the king’s approval for the appointment.
Kaniva News was unable to reach Lord Dalgety for comment.
Mr Bishop’s appointment as LCJ is for a fixed term of four years, and although he would not reveal the salary, it was “reasonable”.
He added that he was “well outside” the statutory retirement age of 75 for judges in England and Wales (he is 80 this year), but Tonga “was not ageist”.
Christian life
After attending Ruabon Grammar School near Wrexham in Wales, he pursued theology studies at Oxford University.
More recently, he started translating the New Testament into modern English, much of which was done during Covid, and had recently published The Gospels – a lawyer’s translation from the original Greek. He said his translation of the whole of the New Testament would be published by the end of the year.
A truck blew a tyre, crashed through a barrier and hit a van carrying six people – along with two other cars – in collision that killed three people, police say.
The three who died in the crash on State Highway 1 in Auckland on Monday were killed on impact, Counties Manukau road policing manager, inspector Tony Wakelin, told media at a press conference on Tuesday.
They were aged 45, 37 and 32-years-old, he said.
The other three occupants in the van were taken to hospital, where a 21-year-old male remained in a critical condition and two other men aged 42 and 39-years-old had moderate injuries.
Wakelin said formal identification was continuing but those in the van were seasonal workers due to return home to Samoa later this week.
“The truck driver was treated for minor injuries and has since been discharged from hospital,” he said.
“This was a horrific crash and we’re continuing to provide support for everyone affected, including our staff who attended the scene.”
Emergency services at the scene of the crash on Auckland’s State Highway 1 near Ramarama on 26 August, 2024. Photo: SUPPLIED
“It’s indescribable … Our staff are sadly, used to attending these sorts of incidents but when it gets to this sort of magnitude and this number of people involved, the number of fatalities, and the extent of the injuries, it’s a really horrible for them to attend.”
Anyone who witnessed the crash or had videos of it on dashcams was being encouraged to get in touch with police.
“Every single element, including road factors, driver’s factor, vehicles, everything that forms the final outcome of the crash will be investigated to the nth degree and if there’s any learnings from that, or any culpability, then that’s something we’ll be bringing to our investigators,” Wakelin said.
He applauded members of the public who jumped in to help, but he was highly critical of people who had filmed the aftermath of the crash.
“I thought that was disgusting. It really was. I saw some of the footage. It was filmed before emergency services arrived,” he said.
“I say to the people who were doing that: ‘How would you feel if that was your family?”
Samoa Global News said two of the deceased had been identified by their families in Samoa and were due to return home in two days time.
Another passenger, also a seasonal worker, was among the injured. Lying in a hospital bed he was seen on a Facebook live in tears, describing the accident to his colleagues, the report said.
The stretch of SH1 where the crash happened has reopened. Lanes were closed between Bombay and Ramarama following the collision of a truck and three other vehicles shortly before 2pm on Monday.
Tamati Cassin, a motorist who arrived at the scene about 30 seconds after the crash, said he saw three bodies in a van as well as three other people with injuries.
As he approached the scene in his car, Cassin said he saw a “big dust cloud” across the motorway and the wire from a metal barrier was strewn across the lanes.
“I had to pull over and I got out of my car – I wish I didn’t now, I wish I didn’t see the bodies.
“There were several cars involved but the van was the worst and even the truck was pretty smashed up on the cab it’s a tragic, tragic accident.”
Cassin said everyone got out of their cars to try and help the injured and dead but it was “chaos” and no one was sure what to do.
“I just really feel for the driver of the truck and the people who have passed, I get to go home to my partner and kid but they won’t get to.”
Counties Manukau road policing manager Inspector Tony Wakelin confirmed all three people who died were travelling in the same vehicle.
A huge number of emergency service staff attended the crash scene. Photo: SUPPLIED
“This many fatalities at once is shocking and our thoughts go out to all those affected.
“Incidents like this are hard on everyone involved and we are making sure there is support in place for those involved, their families, and our staff who have attended the scene,” he said on Monday.
Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact police, especially if they have dashcam footage.
Overnight, road crews put in a temporary steel barrier on the median strip, replacing the damaged wire rope barrier.
Waka Kotahi Auckland systems manager Paul Geck told Morning Report the barrier destroyed in the crash was an older type.
“There are different types of barriers. The newer ones are definitely better at stopping trucks and vehicles and this one was more of an older type.”
Geck said he had no concerns about the integrity of the wire rope barrier.
An eye witness to a multi-vehicle crash on Auckland’s State Highway 1 claims three people have died at the scene.
Police earlier said there were “multiple people” with critical injuries in the crash near Ramarama that was reported at 1.47pm on Monday and which has closed the highway in both directions.
No further information has been released by police.
Asked at today’s post-Cabinet media briefing about the accident, Tranport Minister Simeon Brown said “Obviously it’s a very tragic incident, there’s been a number of fatalities but obviously there’s an investigation and closure in place.”
Were you a witness? Email RNZ at iwitness@rnz.co.nz.
Tamati Cassin, a motorist who arrived at the scene about 30 seconds after the crash, said he saw three bodies in a van as well as three other people with injuries.
As he approached the scene in his car, Cassin said he saw a “big dust cloud” across the motorway and the wire from a metal barrier was strewn across the lanes.
A crash involving multiple cars and a truck has closed SH1. Photo: SUPPLIED
“I had to pull over and I got out of my car – I wish I didn’t now, I wish I didn’t see the bodies.
“There were several cars involved but the van was the worst and even the truck was pretty smashed up on the cab it’s a tragic, tragic accident.”
Cassin said everyone got out of their cars to try and help the injured and dead but it was “chaos” and no one was sure what to do.
“I just really feel for the driver of the truck and the people who have passed, I get to go home to my partner and kid but they won’t get to.”
He said over an hour later, he was still in traffic trying to get home to Papakura.
St John said it sent 10 vehicles to the scene, including a helicopter, at 1.45pm and treated eight patients in varying conditions.
Six patients were transferred to “various destinations” including Auckland City Hospital and Middlemore Hospital.
A crash involving multiple cars and a truck has closed SH1. Photo: SUPPLIED
Of the eight patients treated, St John said one was critical, three were moderate and four had minor injuries.
NZTA said all lanes on SH1 between Bombay and Ramarama are closed due to the significant crash.
Speaking to Checkpoint, NZTA Auckland systems manager Paul Geck said the worst case scenario would be the road remaining closed until 5am on Tuesday.
At this stage, Geck said the closure will “go into tonight” but he could not give an exact time.
Geck said there were “reasonable queues” on the motorway and traffic was slow on the detour route through Great South Road.
He said parents should still be able to get to local schools but there would be “significant delays”.
Geck said people should check NZTA’s social media updates and travel times before they travelled – and plan to delay travelling both north and south in the area if possible.
A livestream video from the scene of the crash showed a van and a car which appeared to be badly damaged, along with a truck which was off the side of the motorway.
A crowd of people could be seen helping those involved in the crash, and giving first aid to a person lying on the ground.
There was debris strewn across all four lanes.
Those travelling south will be diverted at Ararimu Road, Ramarama and northbound motorists will be diverted at Mill Road, Bombay.
Ellis Park has a fearsome reputation as a hostile environment and intimidating stadium. And that’s just for the spectators, given that the 94-year-old venue sits in the middle of a city synonymous with crime. The Doornfontein suburb where Ellis Park sits is no exception to the challenges the city faces.
It’s why games there kick off in the afternoon, rather than at night, so fans don’t have to leave the area once it’s dark.
However, things are changing in Johannesburg. A new rail link connects Ellis Park (known officially as Emirates Airlines Stadium for sponsorship purposes) with the rest of the city, with two local train services joining forces to ensure fans can go to and from the game safely. On Sunday those services organised a trip for media on the link, which ended with a walk on the famous stadium’s pristine playing surface.
“The city of Johannesburg has grappled with the issues of safety for the longest of times,” former mayor and local government representative Kabelo Gwamanda said.
“Safety is our main concern, so that our patrons can enjoy the game without having any other worries. We have ensured with local law enforcement that we will mitigate any form of threats that will be associated with the game.
“Having a game of this magnitude, we can expect it will attract the wrong kinds of element. So in our state of readiness those are some of the critical issues we needed to address…so that our patrons can enjoy the game without the worry of being mugged.”
It is strangely refreshing to hear a politician be so upfront about crime, but really Gwamanda can’t downplay the 2500 homicides that happen in Johannesburg every year. For context: that’s double the entire homicide total of New Zealand this century.
Sam Cane lifting the Freedom Cup after beating the Springboks at Ellis Park, 2022. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Still, the rail link is a positive step for the area. Hishaam Emeran, chief executive of the Passenger Rail Agency South Africa, proudly boasted that train wi-fi networks were on the cards as people didn’t feel as worried about being on the phones or tablets while commuting.
Many on the government-organised trip on the link said it was quite incredible that this level of cooperation had been achieved, and it gave hope for future infrastructure projects in Johannesburg.
“It is always an opportunity for the city to showcase our improvement. For a long time we’ve had challenges, but as we improve it’s important to demonstrate that we have world class events,” Gwamada said.
Ellis Park chief executive George Stainton, who first took over the job from the colourful and controversial Louis Luyt, said the stadium was a special place.
“Ellis Park has a reputation for not being the safest and Kiwis have concerns about that – which is totally understandable,” said Stainton, after pointing out the spot where Joel Stransky kicked his famous winning drop goal in the 1995 World Cup final.
“We’ve worked on the transport side…it’s seamless so in any of the areas you can come to within 100 metres of the stadium entrance.”
There are around 100 All Black fans who have travelled over for the test match this weekend, all staying in the relatively safe Sandton area to the north of the city. Many of them are finding out the hard way that paying for goods in cash is a quick way to annoy a bartender or shopkeeper, who simply don’t want to carry rand notes around with them for fear of being robbed.
Stainton hopes that the 62,000 fans who will descend on Ellis Park for the test will get there early, especially the All Black fans who will experience Ellis Park for the first time.
“In South Africa braais are a must. Out on the Ellis Park outer fields there’s food, music, stuff for the kids, everything has been sorted out for the entertainment experience. It’s amazing, I was very fortunate to be here for the World Cup final in 1995. It’s electric, when you hear the South African national anthem, it really lifts everything up.”
As for the game itself? Unsurprisingly both the stadium chief executive and former mayor of the city are picking a Springbok victory.
UPDATED: A 6.9-magnitude earthquake rattled Tonga, with residents on Tongatapu, where the Pacific Forum leaders’ meeting is taking place, reporting that they felt it.
There is no tsunami threat after the quake struck at around 12.40pm Tongan time.
Tonga Met Services said the earthquake struck at 20km south of Tonga’s ‘Uiha, Ha’apai at depth of 124km.
There have been no reports of damage or injuries.
Reports on social media said it was “quite a sharp jolt” and long.
There was concern about the tsunami siren not being activated. This concern stemmed from a comparison between today’s 6.9 magnitude earthquake and the 6.7 magnitude earthquake in May, which resulted in a tsunami alert being triggered after the tsunami sirens sounded throughout Tongatapu.
“The above magnitude is provisional and may be increased or decreased as more seismic data becomes available”, Met said.
The news comes after a 4.8 magnitude earthquake rattles large parts of NSW, Australia.
Thousands of people have reported feeling an earthquake over an area spanning hundreds of kilometres from south of Sydney to the NSW mid-north coast.
The 4.8 magnitude quake hit Denman, around three hours north of Sydney in the upper Hunter region, at 12.02pm on Friday (local time).
More than 2000 people had reported feeling tremors in the following hour, including many residents more than 200km away in Sydney.
