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.
Tonga is currently being hit by heavy rain, raising fears of catastrophic floods at housing areas recently built for leaders and guests who are currently attending the Pacific Forum meeting in Nuku’alofa.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres had the honour of meeting with the Honourable Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku during his inaugural visit to Tonga. Photo/PM Office
The meeting was kicked off in Nuku’alofa yesterday with church service.
Leaders from 18 countries including the USA and Taiwan were expected to discuss concerning issues, including unrest in New Caledonia, climate change, and growing geopolitical rivalries in the blue continent. These issues are likely to weigh on leaders across the PIFLM program, which climaxes on Thursday at the leaders’ retreat.
In his opening remark this morning the UN Secretary General António Guterres said he was glad to address the Pacific Islands Forum.
“We meet at a turbulent time for our world”, Mr Guterres said.
“Raging conflicts; an escalating climate crisis; inequalities and injustices everywhere and the 2030 Agenda is faltering.
“But this region is a beacon of solidarity and strength, environmental stewardship and peace.
The world has much to learn from the Pacific and the world must also step up to support your initiatives”.
Potential flooding
Tonga Met Services said flood and flash flood warnings and alerts are also in place, including a warning for all flash flood-prone areas, small streams and low-lying areas for the whole of the Tonga group.
Some schools on Tongatapu were closed this morning due to adverse weather that has affected these areas.
The severe weather continued this morning from last night, creating ongoing difficulties at the summit and raising concerns about potential flooding in the swampy areas at Pātanga and Sopu. These areas at the Nuku’alofa waterfront, designated for the accommodation of 90 newly constructed prefabricated houses for the leaders and their staff, are particularly susceptible to inundation.
Reports on social media since this morning indicated that Tongatapu residents are worried about potential flooding in the two villages.
Tongan Met Services said an active trough of low pressure from the west was approaching Tonga this morning.
Associating clouds with heavy occasional rain, strong gusty winds, and thunderstorms will affect the group until tomorrow noon, it said.
This system is expected to move eastward and away from Tonga by tomorrow.
By Guyon Espiner of rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission
A politically charged document arguing for tobacco tax cuts was sent to health officials by a NZ First minister – even though she says she has no idea who wrote it or how it ended up in her office.
Casey Costello says she does not know who wrote, or how she even got, a politically charged document about tobacco policy which she sent to health officials with instructions. Photo: RNZ
In December 2023, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello gave health officials the document which claimed “nicotine is as harmful as caffeine” and argued Labour’s smokefree generation policy was “nanny state nonsense”.
Earlier this year, Costello denied the document existed. Now, she has released it with parts redacted even though she says she does not know who wrote it.
Costello has consistently said she has had nothing to do with the tobacco industry.
Labour’s health spokeswoman, Ayesha Verrall, said Costello’s actions gave the opposite impression.
“Surely a bit of transparency would help the minister. But instead, she’s hidden documents, claimed not to know where they came from, [and] misrepresented them in Parliament. That’s not the behaviour of a minister who has got nothing to hide.”
In December 2023, RNZ asked the newly appointed minister Costello to release all documents relating to tobacco and vaping policy under the Official Information Act. She refused to hand over any information at all.
RNZ had been leaked a document on tobacco policy that her office had sent to health officials which was highly political in tone and content. It described the previous Labour government’s smokefree policies as “ideological nonsense that no other country had been stupid enough to implement” and said New Zealanders were “guinea pigs in their radical policy experiment”.
In February, Verrall asked in a written parliamentary question who wrote the document, and Costello responded: “There was no specific document written. A range of information was provided to officials, including material like Hansard reports, the Coalition Agreement and previous NZ First policy positions.”
RNZ sought an investigation by the Chief Ombudsman who ruled Costello had acted “contrary to law” in withholding the information and forced her to apologise and release the documents.
Costello now acknowledges the document existed but says she does not know who wrote it – only that the author does not work in her office.
“The document you have referred to was not generated or collated by any members of my office and was only received as a hard copy on December 6,” she wrote in response to RNZ’s OIA request.
She said she still did not know who wrote the document or even who gave it to her.
RNZ also asked Costello whether she could rule out tobacco industry involvement in the mystery document if she did not know its author, and also why she would give a document to officials without knowing its origin.
She did not address specific questions but said she had no links to the tobacco industry and no involvement with it.
Verrall said that given the significance of the document, it was implausible Costello did not know its origin.
“I don’t think it’s the sort of thing that you can credibly say you don’t know where it came from,” she said.
“This lady’s past career was as a detective. I don’t see how the New Zealand public can reasonably be expected to believe something as tenuous as that.”
Photo: RNZ
What Costello hid from the public in the mystery document
While Costello released the document with parts of it hidden, RNZ has the original, unredacted document and so can compare the versions.
The redactions in the documents released under the OIA by Costello included censoring all the material pushing for tobacco tax cuts and the claims that nicotine is no more harmful than caffeine and that the last government’s policy was “nanny state nonsense”.
It argued strongly for tax cuts for Heated Tobacco Products – although this too was redacted.
“Smokeless tobacco is a vaping product, it does not combust and should not be taxed like combustible cigarettes, but instead like other vaping products that are not subject to excise,” the original document said.
“Giving up smoking should also mean giving up paying huge excise taxes. Excise tax is a tool to discourage use, we want to encourage smokers to use these products and one of the best ways to do that is to make it cheaper than cigarettes.”
She did this despite health officials saying there was no strong evidence either that they worked as a smoking cessation tool or that they were significantly safer than cigarettes.
Ministers have to cite specific grounds for withholding information. Costello said redactions were made under a clause of the OIA which protects the “confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the Crown and officials”.
Costello’s office did not address questions from RNZ about how she could use this clause if she did not know who wrote the document.
The government faces criticisms after commemorating the completion of its new housing project for Pacific leaders meeting while survivors of Hungas’ tsunami were still waiting for their new homes.
Several dozen tsunami survivors on Tonga’s outer islands of Nomuka and Fonoifua are still living in temporary shelters almost three years after the devastating January 2022 tsunami washed away their homes.
Unfinished houses and building materials abandoned on the island of Nomuka. Photos/ Samuela ‘Akilisi Pōhiva Jr.
A plan to build nearly 50 permanent houses for the islands has crept behind several deadlines.
The Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano’s catastrophic eruption triggered tsunami waves as high as 15 meters, hitting Tongatapu, Eua, and Ha’apai. Significant damage occurred in Ha’apai’s island of Tungua, and two minor injuries were reported there. Two people died from the tsunami, one on Nomuka Island and the other on Mango.
We have previously reported a number of problems with the recovery housing projects for tsunami survivors on Nomuka Island including ‘Atatā Si’i. In the Nomuka report, we said that unfinished houses and abandoned construction materials were left scattered in open areas on the island, which raised concerns about wasted, costly materials that may never be used for their intended purpose.
Our report came after the Ministry of Infrastructure announced the beginning of the building of houses for the Nomuka tsunami survivors in September 2023.
Housing project for Pacific Leaders
The government swiftly constructed about 150 prefab houses in different locations on Tonga’s Tongatapu main island to accommodate about 1000 guests who joined the meeting in Nuku’alofa this week. The construction began in May of this year and was completed last week, in just three months. The action stands in stark contrast to the delayed housing projects for the tsunami survivors.
In its report on July 26, the Ministry of Infrastructure attributed the success of the housing projects for the Pacific Forum meeting to their ability to swiftly adapt and anticipate challenges, likening it to the Tongan idiom “lele ‘i matangi” (running before the wind).
It said that it was building 16 new prefab houses at Vaha’akolo Road, 40 at Kausela Road, Kolofo’ou, 60 at Pātangata and 30 at Sopu.
The houses at Pātangata were officially launched on Saturday, 17 August by HRH Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala who unveiled a plaque, revealing the name for the project as Niu Lodge.
The swift address of the urgent housing needs for the Pacific Leaders, while some of the housing for tsunami survivors remained unresolved for years, has raised questions about the government’s priorities.
Grassroot levelneeds
Samuela Akilisi Pohiva Jr, the son of former Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva, has publicly criticized the government leaders for what he described as disregard for the diligent citizens who contribute taxes to fund governmental expenses.
He said that the government’s handling of the two housing projects using different care approaches demonstrated how Tongan society is hierarchically classified.
Pōhiva said in Tongan, “The leaders were always slow to address the needs of people at the grassroots level whose duty was to pay the taxes and fund most of the government budgets.
“On the other hand, they were very quick to address any needs of the aristocracy and the rich”.
Completed housing projects
Last month, the government and residents of Tungua island celebrated the handover of keys to 17 new houses under the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai Recovery Project.
60 new prefab houses built for the Pacific Forum Leaders meeting. Photo/Tonga Government
In its update on April 30, 2024, the Ministry of Infrastructure said 17 new houses were being built at Atatā Si‘i for the tsunami survivors.
That comes on top of new houses built for twenty-two displaced families from the same island in December 2023.
A new town Hall for the village was under construction and the survivors were still using tents for their Sunday church services
In its most recent update on July 31, the Ministry reported that the 14 houses currently under construction for the Mango tsunami survivors at Tā’anga, ‘Eua, are still incomplete. Some houses have yet to have walls erected, it said.
Lack of transparency
The government’s handling of the housing project for the tsunami survivors had been marred by politics and lack of transparency.
As Kaniva News reported, the MP for Atatā, Dr ‘Aisake Eke, previously accused the Minister of Infrastructure and his staff of failing to give the public correct information about the tsunami construction works.
Dr Eke’s claim came in the wake of the relocation of the ‘Atatā tsunami victims from a hall at Kolomotu’a to the newly created village of ‘Atatā Si’i towards the end of last year, more than a year after the tsunami struck.
We reported that the survivors were told to move into tents at Atatā Si’i just as the cyclone season began.
They do not have bathrooms and toilets. They were told by the government to share the ‘Atatā Si’i’s residents’ bathrooms and toilets.
Following our report, the Ministry said on its Facebook page this week that it had shown (“fakanofonofo”) the victims who had been living in the hall at Kolomotu’a their new homes at ‘Atatā Si’i. However, it did not say that these people were living in tents, and they were told to share toilets and bathrooms with people who first settled at ‘Atatā Si’i.
It also said the Ministry of Lands and Survey, together with the estate holder’s agent, were still working on land for the recently relocated victims, implying there would be no construction on these lands until the Ministry finalised the question of ownership of the land.
Dr Eke said the tsunami reconstruction was slow because local construction contractors were disappointed with the Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Sevenitiini Toumo’ua.
He said the contractors were unhappy after Hon. Toumo’ua fixed the contract for each new house at what was claimed to be an undervalued price.
He said these contractors submitted a petition to the Parliament before a Parliamentary committee was selected to work on it. The Select Committee members included Dr Eke, Hon. Toumo’ua, MP Tevita Puloka and MP Lord Tu’ivakanō.
Dr Eke said Hon. Toumo’ua was uncooperative and failed to provide important information from his Ministry to the committee.
He said the Minister refused to provide the Ministry’s bill of quantity so that the Committee could compare it with the contractors’ costs and estimate.
Dr Eke said the Ministry should have reimbursed the companies.
“The Ministry, especially the Minister, had been underperforming (“ta’efakafiemālie”) in handling the tsunami construction project”, Dr Eke said.
“The information they released to the public was not reliable.
He said the construction should have been conducted without delays.
“There was enough fund donated by from overseas donors for the construction and there is TP$95 million of government’s cash reserve funds”, he told Kaniva News.
“There are funds for other various projects that could be postponed and redirected them for the housing construction.
“There is enough money, but the construction works are slow for various reasons”.
Kaniva News contacted the Ministry of Infrastructure for comment.
By Lydia Lewis of rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission
Handy craft stall owners in Tonga’s capital Nuku’alofa are hoping that the economic activity generated by delegates attending the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit (PIFLM53) this week will boost their incomes, as ordinary Tongans continue with their daily grind to recover from the impacts of the 2022 earthquake and tsunami.
Tonga handicraft on display. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Lydia Lewis
More than 1000 people are heading to the Kingdom for the annual event, where 18 Pacific leaders come together each year to make big decisions as a Pacific family.
Issues to be talked about a numerous, including the climate crisis, the ongoing crisis in New Caledonia, United States territories America Samoa and Guam’s bids to become associate members, the seasonal worker brain drain, freer travel around the Pacific, making it easier for Pacific island nations to access climate finance to prepare for disaster, human rights issues in Indonesia’s West Papua, deep sea mining, and an update on PIF regional architecture.
But for locals, Tonga hosting the summit means it offers a much-needed cash injection to the nation, which is still recovering from the Hunga-Tonga Hunga Ha’apai eruption and tsunami.
Linda Vahai Alatini, 49, who was taught how to make taʻovala, fine Tongan mat worn around the waste, by her great grandmother, now teaches her children and sells goods at Nuku’alofa’s Talamahu Market.
Alatini, who spoke to RNZ Pacific with Amelia Taufa, 65, said they were looking forward to sharing her art with the PIFM53 guests.
Tonga handicraft on display. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Lydia Lewis
But Alatini said she also wanted to remind Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni – incoming PIF chair – to make decisions in the interests his people.
“We want the government to help us here in the market”, she said, adding “we make our own handicraft here so [the government needs to] pick us to go and sell” the locally made products when they attend overseas expos to promote Tonga.
Another vendor, Betsy Lori – a single mum of eight works six days a week at the market to support her children in higher education.
She sells kiekie, a traditional Tongan garment worn by women made out of plant fibres from pandanus, hibiscus and coconut.
She said the busiest time for her small business to “make a big income” was December during Christmas holidays when Tongans overseas send money back home to their families, and while she did not know the nitty-gritty of what PIFL53 is about, she hopes the influx of guests will boost profits.
Bety Lori at the Talamahu Market. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Lydia Lewis
“It’s so tough to stay here in Tonga. So, we were so happy to see [delegates] here…because when they will spend money, and you know help our economy.”
When asked what changes Pacific leaders could make to support Tongans, Lori said visa free travel would ease the burden greatly.
She said she has spent a lot of money and time applying for visas to Australia, New Zealand, and the US.
Several Pacific leaders are already in Tonga, while other will be arriving tonight in the coming days. Among the high-level attendees are also the United National secretary-general Antonio Guterres and the Commonwealth Secretariat head Patricia Scotland.
New Zealand is sending three delegates to the Pacific Island Forum Leaders’ Week.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti will attend the first half of the week, with prime minister Christopher Luxon attending the second half.
Peters said New Zealand’s high-level participation in Leaders’ Week reflects the importance the government places upon deepening its relationships in the region.
Tonga handicraft on display. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Lydia Lewis
‘Incredibly crowded’ summit
A Pacific politics says regional leaders will have their dance cards full at the Forum.
Massey University security studies associate professor Anna Powles told RNZ Pacific this year will be the first time since the pandemic that dialogue partners, like the US and China, get to meet face to face with PIF leaders.
She said: “It’s going to be incredibly crowded, busy meeting”.
But top of the agenda will be the ongoing unrest in New Caledonia, she said.
“It will certainly be an issue that will be discussed in terms of how to plan forward and the role of the forum moving forward, with respect to New Caledonia,” she said.
“It is also an opportunity for the New Caledonian government delegation to talk about the issues with forum members without France in the room.”
Powles said other big-ticket items for the meeting will be Japan’s Fukushima treated nuclear wastewater release and climate change, with Guterres expected to make an appearance, the review of the regional architecture and the Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s ‘zone of peace’ proposal.
She said the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union treaty was expected to be a talking point, “but that’s likely to be low key at this stage, whilst there’s broader consultation and support being built for it”.
Griffith Asia Institute’s Pacific lead, Tess Newton Cain said it will be interesting to what the leaders decide on the Guam and American Samoa’s associated membership bid.
She said the PIF regional architecture is under review and that includes the its membership structure.
“It would be a very bad look, diplomatically, if they were to allow [Guam and American Samoa] to become associate members and then in a couple of years and say, ‘oh, we’ve changed the rules now and you no longer qualify’,” Tess Newton-Cain told RNZ Pacific.
The Tongan church community of a grandfather shot dead in Auckland’s Pakuranga Heights on Monday morning remembers him for his kindness, love of music, and for his commitment to the church.
Tu’ipulotu Kokohu Vī also known as Saia Kokohu Vi
Tu’ipulotu Vī, 59, also known as Saia Kokohu Vī, a member of Auckland’s Ellerslie Methodist Moia Mei he Eiki Church, died after police found him wounded in a car outside his Pixie Place address. He passed away at the scene shortly after.
Auckland police are still searching for suspects they believe were involved in the tragic shooting that led to his death.
While the fatal shooting remains unsolved, there are growing concerns as to why this tragic crime occurred in the first place.
Vi was a member of the church’s brass band and also participated in the Vahefonua ‘O Aotearoa Methodist band, where he played the euphonium.
“Tangata eni naʻe faʻa tokoni lahi kihe ʻeku ngaue fk-faihiva”, a Tongan Auckland music teacher, Lea’aesola Vuna, described how Vī often assisted his music teaching and performance and gave him constructive advices.
“Iʻm gonna miss your help and support my friend”.
Vi has also been described as churchgoer who often conducted church choir.
“Si’i tangata fofonga fiefia mo lototo angamalu lahi aupito”, another commenter described Vī on social media, saying he had a smiling face and a good heart.
He said Vī became a brass band player while studying at Tupou College in Tonga before relocating to New Zealand.
Vī was a courier driver and dog walker living with his wife, daughter and two grandchildren before his death.
The tragedy occurred after a Tongan mother was fatally shot in her home on Calthorp Close in Mangere, Auckland, in January 2020.
Meliame Fisi’ihoi, 57, was shot dead at point-blank range while answering a knock at her window.
The gunmen’s target was her son, Stephen Fisi’ihoi, who was not home at the time.
There is a growing consensus in the Tongan community in New Zealand, based on similar recent incidents, that such a shooting if proven to have a link to gangs, was apparently targeted for revenge.
His son and daughter are also facing serious money laundering and drug importing charges, the Herald reported.
The 33-year-old son had been on bail, living at the North Shore home at the time, as previously revealed by the Herald.
The Beach Haven property on Rambler Cres was sprayed with bullets at around 6.30am on July 23.
The daughter’s partner also reportedly lives at the home and faces charges. He has also worked as a courier driver.
Vi’s son’s charges were laid as part of Operation Worthington, and allege he was a client of a Chinese money laundering syndicate.
His sister and her partner were also charged with drug importing and money laundering offences as co-offenders.
The couple were living with Vi at Pixie Place, according to court documents and electoral roll records.
Her partner’s occupation is listed as a courier driver.
There is no suggestion Tuipolotu Vi was involved in any crimes.
Asked whether the shootings at Beach Haven and Pakuranga were connected, or if detectives were looking into the possibility that the fatal shooting was a case of mistaken identity, the police media team did not respond to Herald questions.
Instead, they issued a general press release that confirmed the “familial link” between both addresses that were targeted.
Helaman Hansen, a Tongan man who authorities say preyed on the desires of immigrants to become United States citizens in an illegal scheme to get their money, was re-sentenced on Thursday.
helaman hansen sentenced for fraud SOURCE: File/KCRA
Helaman Hansen, also known as Helamani, and his wife, Viola Hansen, also known as Sela Hansen, were the couple at the centre of the FBI investigation, which led to Helaman’s conviction.
Hansen ran the “Americans Helping America Chamber of Commerce” (AHA). The Sacramento organization first came on the radar of KCRA 3 Investigates before Christmas in 2015. In December 2015, a half-dozen migrants met with KCRA to discuss an adult adoption concept that had been spreading through word of mouth at churches and throughout the Latino and Hispanic communities in Northern California.
Those people said Hansen’s system was a scam.
Hansen told people that, under international law, he and his employees could adopt these migrants — as full-grown adults — and that would automatically make them U.S. citizens.
“They would tell my parents, ‘Hey, this is something you can do for your kids. They’ll have a better future,'” said one person in 2015.
Another said they were told, “There is one option you can be legal here.”
Yet an immigration attorney KCRA 3 Investigates spoke with at the time said, “It’s a total scam.”
Hansen spoke with KCRA 3 Investigates, claiming to be “the only agents in the United States of America that are doing something like this because everybody want to make money. We want to change lives.”
When asked point-blank if he was leading a scam, he denied it.
When asked how many people had become U.S. citizens through adult adoption, he said, “Thousands, as far as I’m concerned.”
Immigration experts said that adoption can help the pathway to citizenship for those 16 and younger, but that it’s far more complicated for anyone older than that. And it has absolutely no effect at all for immigration purposes.
Just before our story aired in 2015, the FBI raided Hansen’s offices, taking all his files and computers. At the time, he claimed the feds had no constitutional right to take their equipment.
Hansen asked for a jury trial and was found guilty in 2017 on 18 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to entice illegal immigration for the purposes of enrichment. The judge then sentenced Hansen to 20 years in federal prison.
But the story did not end there.
Hansen appealed his conviction. His appeals documents were sometimes filled with the same claims of knowing United Nations and international law, claiming that his conviction was unconstitutional. Eventually, his attorneys argued that the two immigration enticement charges were problematic.
In 2020, Hansen claimed very poor health. Hansen was let out of prison on supervised release, pending the result of an appeal, amid fears he could die from the COVID-19 outbreak in the Lompoc prison facility in Santa Barbara County.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Hansen, in small part, saying the immigration charges should be modified. But the court upheld the other charges. The case even made its way up to the Supreme Court, which affirmed the Ninth Circuit’s opinion.
Ultimately, the U.S. attorney in Sacramento dropped the two immigration enrichment charges, noting that the sentencing for his original fraud charges was still 20 years in jail.
That led to Aug. 22, 2024, four years after Hansen’s release and seven years after his original conviction, where Hansen, again, faced Judge Morrison England, Jr., for sentencing.
The probation department had sent recommendations, and at the beginning of the hearing, the judge seemed to want to let Hansen out with the 36 months he served in Lompoc as his time served. The prosecution vehemently disagreed, saying that Hansen was running the same health-problem scheme he’d run in the original trial and that then, the jury didn’t buy it.
The debate came down to how much time Hansen should actually spend, then, on home supervision. Hansen’s lawyer said that he has type-2 diabetes, gout, arthritis, hypertension, has been through a heart surgery, has prostate cancer, and may have a form of dementia. That’s in addition to him saying during his trial that he had a mental condition.
Prosecutors pointed out that, although the enrichment charges were dropped, there were hundreds of people whose lives were ruined by Hansen and his scheme. He had also shown no remorse for the crimes and deserved the long sentence to be served out inside a prison. But if the judge wanted to put him in home confinement, he should do it for the same period of time. “Accountability with compassion,” the prosecutor said.
Ultimately, what changed the sentence from “time served” to more were Hansen’s actions. During what is called his “right of allocution,” Hansen began to quote the preamble to the U.S. Constitution. He then began saying he knew the international laws and was a registered justice of the peace. Then Hansen claimed his innocence.
That statement seemed to strike a chord with Judge England. After a long debate where Hansen kept saying, “if I violated the law,” England stated that the case “went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, who affirmed the decision” in all but two of the counts.
Hansen’s attorney intervened to try and deflect Hansen’s statement, pointing out he was a “dreamer” and that his health issues impaired him. More importantly, she claimed Hansen, even if he wanted to, could not perpetrate another scheme because he was too frail and his standing in the community had been ruined.
Hansen, ultimately, in a meandering statement, did admit he violated U.S. law. He still claimed he did nothing in county or city laws that was illegal.
The judge sentenced Hansen to six years in home confinement.
Hansen has 14 days to appeal the sentence. He has been ordered to pay back restitution to the hundreds of people whose money he took selling his adult adoption scheme.
The residents of Veitongo are expected to adorn Taufa’āhau main road with the traditional Tongan red carpet, referred to as fola ngatu or fola fala, in honour of the Pacific leaders.
The fola ngatu roll-out is expected to cover several hundred meters of a section of the main road between Fua’amotu International Airport and Nuku’alofa, at Veitongo village.
The 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Week, taking place in Nuku’alofa from Monday 26 to Friday 30, will bring together leaders from 18 Pacific countries.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is making his first visit to the Pacific in five years. He will be joined by the US Deputy Secretary Kirk Campbell.
While in Tonga, the UN Secretary will visit sites still recovering from the 2022 tsunami, engage in a PIF dialogue with leaders, and host bilateral meetings.
A spokesman for the Secretary-General hoped the visit would “raise awareness of the importance of climate action measures including early warning systems, adaptation and mitigation”.
Some of the leaders are also expected to visit some towns and villages in Tonga.
Villagers from various settlements expressed interest in hosting any of the leaders, yet only a select few were able to secure the opportunity.
This included Tatakamotonga town, where the UN secretary is expected to welcome him as part of his planned visits around the kingdom.
Veitongo herald Fīfī told Kaniva News it was traditional practice for his residents to roll out the ngatu on occasions like this.
“’Io koe fuu mea mahino pe ia ki he kolo he gaahi katoanga peheni osi pau pe fola gatu ia nae ui pe fono tala atu kihe kakai ke teuteu kihe monite kaha’u”, Fīfī said in Tongan, meaning the residents had held a fono recently in which they were told to get prepared for the fola ngatu on Monday for the leaders.
Veitongo’s nextdoor village Vainī is expected to also perform the fola ngatu, something they often did previously.
Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku said this week that he wanted to highlight cultural activities during the leaders’ summit to promote Tongan traditions.
The Pacific Islands Forum brings regional leaders together annually to find solutions to common issues and work toward a secure and prosperous Pacific Region for all its people.
Fola ngatu and fola fala practice
The fola ngatu roll-out is traditionally used to mark the route taken by the monarchs, royals and chiefs on ceremonial and formal occasions. In recent decades, it has been extended to use by VIPs and celebrities at formal events.
Sometimes, the fola fala (mat-rollout) is used instead of ngatu, or a mixture of both is used for certain occasions.
In Tongan, ngatu or tapa cloths and fala hold deep traditional significance as ceremonial gifts. These beautifully crafted items are often given as souvenirs or tokens of appreciation during special occasions and events.
COMMENTARY: Pacific island leaders are starting to arrive in Tonga for the 53rd regional summit, aiming to navigate rapidly rising seas, damaging great power rivalries, and violent unrest in New Caledonia.
Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku
The US Deputy Secretary Kurt Campbell and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres are expected to join the regional meeting.
It is a once-in-a-lifetime meeting, and Tonga has been tirelessly preparing for it.
Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku emphasised that the meeting was pivotal in the kingdom’s history.
He reportedly said Tonga was “fortunate” to host the meeting this year and “trying to actually make it quite an experience”.
“We are looking forward to actually showing people what our culture is all about, what our food is all about, and what Tonga is all about.”
Since last week, drills for civil servants and event hosts have been ongoing, including practice for motorcades and airport welcomes.
However, the crucial question at this juncture is whether Tonga is adequately prepared to host a successful meeting, particularly at the hospitality level.
We are talking about the people who oversee and manage all aspects of the meeting, including transportation, food, security and serving as the event’s representatives. They interact with leaders and their staffs, ensure smooth operations, and create a memorable experience for all attendees.
One does not need to go far to encounter a challenge that could help us assess our level of preparedness and readiness for this meeting.
Handling of Covid-19 pandemic
The government was heavily criticised for handling the kingdom’s inaugural COVID-19 case and the subsequent arrival of Tongans from overseas following the border’s reopening. This was despite extensive training and drills for staff and healthcare workers to ensure successful handling of the returnees.
The Covid-19 encounters and experiences should collectively provide a valuable learning opportunity as an integral part of the preparation to host the leaders’ forum.
As Kaniva News reported at the time, the government’s handling of the Covid case was heavily criticised as too slow and showed its preparations to handle a pandemic appeared insufficient.
At the time, the then Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa urged the public to get vaccinated and not panic, but the public had been waiting for a while before the government addressed their concerns.
Tongan veteran journalist Kalafi Moala said, at the time, the government appeared to have failed in meeting the level of preparedness it had promised the public if Covid had arrived in the kingdom.
“There is no sign of preparedness for this despite the number of previous statements assuring the public there was a plan already in place if the virus will arrive here,” Moala said.
Moala said the government needs to give people more certainty.
One of Tonga’s top journalists, Dr Sione Vikilani, said on Facebook, at the time, that information is essential, especially when there are significant national issues.
“The information needed to be accurate and true, and they have to be released promptly to the public so that the people receive the same information at the same time from the government. The spreading of misinformation is growing because of the slowness in releasing factual information (from authorities). What will happen is that the people could believe in whatever information they can get”, Vikilani wrote in Tongan.
Food and accommodation
Complaints were also raised regarding the accommodation and food provided to returnees residing in MIQ facilities.
A male returnee described a hotel room in which the government had arranged for him to stay while being in a 10-day Covid quarantine period as appalling.
It had been reported that the room and toilet at one hotel were dirty, and the food was bad. The sheets were unwashed or unchanged, and part-used bars of soap were left in the hotel bathrooms for clients to use.
The complainant alleged the hotel had provided expired milk for their daily meals. Other repatriates in the hotel were reported to have taken photos of the expired milk and shared them on Facebook.
There were also complaints about the long wait at the airport after the returnees’ arrival, and people found it difficult to breathe because they were wearing masks in hot weather.
While the leaders’ meeting doesn’t pertain to another Covid-19 pandemic, the government should review the Covid-19 handling procedures to prevent a recurrence. This is essential as in both cases, they equally involve dealing with individuals who require special attention and care.
It is said that the success of any business meeting is determined before it begins. If each participant fails to adequately prepare, there is little chance that the meeting will be a success—and even if it is, it will be suboptimal.
Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell is expected to arrive in Tonga next week to join the Pacific Island Forum leaders’ meeting.
Mr Campbell will join United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is making his first visit to the Pacific in five years, visiting Samoa, New Zealand, Tonga, and East Timor.
Deputy Secretary Campbell will lead the U.S. delegation to the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, which will be chaired by the Prime Minister of Tonga, the Hon. Hu’akavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni.
He will also engage Pacific Island leaders on the margins to promote the goals and achievements of the U.S. Pacific Partnership Strategy.
Mr. Campbell’s visit was part of his tour, which included Vanuatu and New Zealand, from August 28 to 31.
The Deputy Secretary will then visit Vanuatu to dedicate Embassy Port Vila, the United States’ newest overseas mission.
His visit will also highlight a Peace Corps contribution to Port Vila Central Hospital and a repatriation of Vanuatu cultural artifacts made possible by interagency coordination between the State Department, FBI, U.S. Coast Guard and FedEx.
Finally, on August 30 in Auckland, the Deputy Secretary will co-chair the U.S.-New Zealand Strategic Dialogue, meet with senior government officials, and launch the inaugural High-Level Technology Dialogue.
These engagements in Tonga, Vanuatu, and New Zealand represent the latest in a series of high-level visits to the region by senior U.S. officials.
These visits have deepened U.S. engagement with the Pacific Islands, building on the momentum and goodwill established during the September 2023 U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Summit in Washington, D.C, as well as the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture (FestPAC) hosted by Hawai‘i in June 2024.
