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First Tongan, Samoan in PGA Sony Open, Hawaiʻi

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tony Fīnau who is of Samoan and Tongan decent was the first Tongan  to be invited to the Sony Open 2016 in Hawaiʻi on January 15.

This is Finau’s second tour with the official organizer, PGA Tour,  in its first full-field event for 2016.

When interviewed about the event Finau said: “It definitely feels like a new season because of the new year and having played a lot competitively for over a month, but I kind of like the way they have it set up with the wrap-around season because if you get deep into the playoffs, you’re still pretty fresh and you have a couple of weeks off and then you restart the season. So I do enjoy that, instead of having a couple of months off before we start a new season. That’s the way I look at it. And I hope they keep it that way”.

Being Polynesian,  Finau believed it was different coming to Hawaii to play there  as opposed to going to the John Deere Classic or elsewhere.

“Yeah, for sure. I feel like — I have a lot of roots here. My mom is from the North Shore and my wife is from the North Shore. So I definitely have roots planned here in Hawaii. It’s the feeling I get, being Polynesian, there’s a lot of Polynesian people here. And I have a lot of support. It’s one of the reasons why I do like coming back.

“Like you mentioned before, I haven’t had the success that I would have liked, but I do like to play in front of Polynesian people, and I have a great support system here with a lot of relatives and a lot of Polynesian people, so to be able to play in front of them at the Sony Open is really nice”.

Tributes flow for Fuʻamotu father killed by teen

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tributes continued to build up and flow on social media for the father who was killed in a tragic incident in Fuʻamotu on Sunday.

The 36-year-old Lipine Fakatene was allegedly stabbed to death at the scene before he was taken to hospital.

A teen age boy, 19, has been charged with murder in connection to Fakatene’s death.

Police told Kaniva News the incident was linked to “youth fight” that has been in the village for some time.

A relative told us Fakatene was married and have two children.

The Fu’amotu community in Tonga and overseas were united by the incident and shared tributes for the victims on social media.

Some shared their concerns about the ongoing fights among the village youth.

A photo, purported to show Fakatene and his two children was posted to Facebook this morning by a friend, Visone Fehoko.

Fehoko made an emotional tribute in Tongan for Fakatene and shared how he remembered him in the past.

“R.I.P brother. Mingling with him is unforgettable and sad that he is parting with us. His loss devastated us”.

In response Seti Anne Niuafe wrote, “ Feel sorry for the kids…..with their innocent look without knowing they have lost their father,” referring to the photo of Fakatene with his kids.

 

R.I.P Toko fkgalogata’a koe feohi moe tokoua pea fkmamahi koe teu mavae mo koe, koe mole aee taha ku ogo ia kihe…

Posted by Visone Fehoko on Monday, January 18, 2016

Supreme Court rules Tapueluelu’s dismissal unlawful, orders compensation by government

By
Kalino Latu
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The Tongan government has admitted that the dismissal of its former Prison Superintendent Semisi Palu ʻIfoni Tapueluelu 17 years ago was “wrong” and “unlawful.”

Lord Chief Justice Owen Paulsen ruled on November 24, 2015 that the government must compensate Mr Tapueluelu (who is referred to in the court documents as Palu) for damages caused by his wrongful dismissal and loss of salary from October 11, 2001 to December 8, 2002.

According to the ruling, the government accepts liability for both the wrongful suspension and wrongful dismissal. It also accepts that Tapueluelu is entitled to compensation, but disputes how much this should be.

Mr Paulsen held that damages for wrongful dismissal should be assessed on the basis that his employment could not have been terminated until December 18, 2002.

Mr Paulsen ruled that Tapueluelu’s leave benefits under the Retirement Fund Act and Retirement Fund (Administration) Regulations must be assessed on the same basis.

Mr Tapueluelu was deprived of his entitlements “for such an extremely long period of time” and the government had to pay him interest that “should accrue at the flat rate of 10 percent per annum,” the judgement said.

The ruling stemmed from conflict between Tapueluelu and former Prisons Minister, William Clive Edwards in September 1997.

According to the judgment “Mr Edwards made serious allegations against Mr Palu” and accused him of leaking information from the Prisons Department to the press.

He was also accused of disobeying the then minister’s instruction and having a “seditious intent.”

The strife escalated to a point when the Minister terminated Tapueluelu’s role as controller of the kingdom’s prisons on September 28, 1998 and gave the role to the Deputy Superintendent, Mr Sione Falemanu.

Mr Edwards also ordered that Tapueluelu and his family vacate their living quarters at Hu’atolitoli Prison.

On October 22, 1998, Mr Edwards suspended Tapueluelu from his duties without pay with immediate effect, based on 14 diverse allegations.

Mr Tapueluelu had been paid his salary up to October 15, 1998 before it was stopped.

An additional 11 charges were laid against Tapueluelu and a court of inquiry was set up to investigate the matter. However, before the inquiry delivered its findings Tapueluelu  received a letter from Edwards on January 17, 2000.

The minister told Tapueluelu he was still subject to his ruling until he was dismissed.

He told Tapueluelu he had to seek his approval if he intended to leave the country.

“You may choose to ignore that approval and leave as you wish which may have different consequences arising from it,” Edwards said in the letter.

The court of inquiry delivered its decision on May 13, 2000 and acquitted Tapueluelu on 10 of the 11 charges.

The inquiry did not recommend dismissing Tapueluelu, but ruled that he had to pay a fine of TP$25 for one charge.

Edwards applied to the Supreme Court to review the decision of the court of inquiry.

But before the Supreme Court reviewed the decision, Tapueluelu was dismissed by the cabinet on the recommendation of the Minister on October 11, 2001.

“The dismissal was backdated to be effective as from 11 November 1998. Mr Palu had spent almost three years (22 October 1998 to 11 October 2001) on suspension without pay,” the judgement said.

The Supreme Court delivered its decision on April 2, 2002.

According to Mr Justice Paulsen’s ruling: “Seven challenges to the findings of the court of inquiry were dismissed. Three challenges were upheld on the grounds of error of law. Rather than return those three questions to the court of inquiry for further consideration the Supreme Court simply declared that the acquittals relating to those questions were unlawful.”

The judgement said Mr Tapueluelu began taking action on his dismissal on December 7, 2004 after he submitted a petition to His Majesty and wrote a number of times to the Prime Minister seeking their intervention. He received no responses at all.

Mr Justice Paulsen said he believed Mr Tapueluelu should also be compensated for his legal costs and left it for the parties to discuss the matter. If the parties could not agree on the matter they could apply for a ruling within 21 days.

Tapueluelu was represented by Counsel Siosifa Tu’utafaiva while the government was represented by the Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu.

The main points

  • The Tongan government has admitted that the dismissal of its former Prison Superintend Semisi Palu ʻIfoni Tapueluelu 17 years ago was “wrong” and “unlawful.”
  • Lord Chief Justice Owen Paulsen ruled on November 24, 2015 that the government must compense Mr Tapueluelu (who is referred to in the court documents as Palu) for damages caused by his wrongful dismissal and loss of salary from October 11, 2001 to December 8, 2002.
  • According to the ruling, the government accepts liability for both the wrongful suspension and wrongful dismissal.
  • The ruling stems from a conflict between Tapueluelu and former Prisons Minister, William Clive Edwards that dates back to 1997.

Teen arrested after man stabbed to death in Fu’amotu

By
Kaniva Staff
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A 36-year-old man was stabbed to death in Fu’amotua yesterday Sunday 17 and Police have arrested a 19-year-old teenage boy for the incident.

Police said the victim was Lipine Fakatene and he was attacked and stabbed in Fu’amotu in what was described as a result of “youth fights”.

“Yes that’s true a  36-year-old died last night and his body  is still in hospital,” Tupou ‘Otutaha, Mu’a Police Superindent told Kaniva News this morning when he was asked to confirm the incident.

Otutaha said he could not release any further details of the accused rather than his age as the case was before a judge  and it was expected the accused would appear in court this morning.

Prominent Tongan pastor dies in Auckland

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Tongan community in Auckland is mourning the death of Rev Sione Tavake Tupou.

Details surrounding the death of the 67-year-old were not immediately available to Kaniva News.

However a relative who did not want to be identified has confirmed that Rev Tupou passed on Saturday 16.

Rev Tupou was prominent in the Tongan Christian community in many respects but what was significantly stood out was when he strongly spoke out and opposed the appointment of a practicing homosexual into the Methodist leadership in New Zealand in 2012.

This was led to a breakaway of hundreds of Tongans from the mainstream Methodism and established a Methodist parish in Otahuhu known as Upper Room church under his leadership.

Rev Tupou also publicly spoke out on mainstream media against issues that linked to financial problems Pacific Island Christians had faced in what he described as it was because church leaders put their emphasis  on raising money from them to build large churches.

Sēfita Haoʻuli, a Tongan broadcaster and journalist in New Zealand has shared with us a tribute for the death of his former Tonga High School classmate.

“Sad to note the passing of colleague and former Tonga High School classmate, the Rev Sione Tavake Tupou here in Auckland. Born in 1948, the son of Ane and Tevita Etueni Tupou of Pangai, Lifuka Haapai.

“Got to know him when I boarded with an aunt as a 5 year old to go to Pangai Primary and we were neighbours. His mother Ane was a soft-spoken woman who was considered unusual in that she never hit her children. She offered sanctuary to many of us when things got too hot at home or at school. Tavake and I entered THS in 1959 as the only two 10 year olds from our school who “made it”.

“His elder brothers, ‘Etueni and Paula were also at THS at the time. We both came to Auckland as scholarship students and spent the late 60s and early 70s here in New Zealand where he took up an apprenticeship and became an electrician.

“He learned his craft when the government of the time were building the state houses of Otara and Mangere. He had his father’s musical talents and was the most accomplished guitar player at Atalanga hostel at the time. He also took money off most of us at poker only to give it all back as he was earning while learning his craft.

“Latterly, he led a breakaway ministry from mainstream Methodism and established a parish in Otahuhu and is survived by his widow Heu. Fellow 1959ers who will mark his passing will include lawyer Laki Niu, broadcaster Kalafi Moala, theologian Viliami Fukofuka in Tonga.

“In Auckland are retired sea captain Kepueli Funaki, travel agent, Totoa Laume and mechanical enginner, Sione Fakalata. Looking at a 1963 class photo and sadly more than half of the 1959ers are no longer with us”.

Warning: Graphic Video, Kid hit by van in Tokomololo

By
Kaniva Staff
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The horrifying moment an unconscious boy was carried by a woman and put him in  a blue van  was captured on video.

In the  video – shot by a passenger in another vehicle which appeared to have arrived at the scene just as the incident happened – voices full of pity can be heard saying “Auee…faka’ofa…ki’i leka ‘ahai” (Oh…it’s a pity…whose kid is he).

Police said they received information that a child was hit by a vehicle yesterday at Tokomololo and was transported to Vaiola Hospital.

Nuku’alofa Police Superintendent Tevita Fifita told Kaniva News he was informed about the incident.

Fifita said no arrest has been made. He could not identify the victim or the driver of the vehicle that hit him. He also could not be able to confirm the condition of the boy saying police were still working on it.

Taake Fallday uploaded the video to Facebook and said this was a pitiful day for the family of the victim after he was struck by the vehicle right on the road at Tokomololo Government Primary School.

Crash blocks lanes on Tauʻafaʻāhau road, Police at the scene

By
Kaniva Staff
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Traffic has been in a standstill at Tāufaʻāhau road in Poutaha after a crash this morning.

Apparently two cars  appear to have been involved in the accident, near the Poutasi store.

One car has lost its front wheel and they both remain blocking Nukuʻaofa bound lane as police examine the scene.

Tokolahi Hūhane one of the motorists who came by the incident said the collision has caused delays and long queues of traffic northbound on Tāufaʻāhau road.

Hilamani threatens to release names of overstayers as FBI investigating his company

By
Kalino Latu
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Dr Hilamani Hansen, whose company is being investigated by FBI for an alleged immigration scam, has threatened church leaders and overstayers in the United States he will release their names to US Homeland Security.

The Tongan owner of the controversial organization Americans Helping America made the threat, which he called a “Raid announcement” on his PNT television programme yesterday (January 13).

He said his office would hold a meeting on January 31 for its clients in California and demanded they all attend it.

“If you do not do that. We will gonna go down and gonna list all the pastors and ministers that are not in this meeting or come to this meeting and also their congregation and those that are not legal in this country then we have to hand over this list to the homeland security”, Hansen told viewers.

Hansen, who claims to have more than five million clients from Sacramento to Marin County in California, as well as Tonga and Fiji, claimed his company could get illegal immigrants their US citizenship if they paid him $5000 to $10,000 each.

He claimed he could do this under a programme he called Americans Helping America (AHA), under which it has claimed that illegal adult immigrants could get US citizenship if they were adopted by US citizens.

A US immigration attorney told Sacramento-based KCRA television news it was a “scam” as no one in the United State could get US citizenship through adult adoption law.

A number of Tongans in the United States told Kaniva News they paid thousands of dollar to Hansen’s company, but later withdrew because they kept being asked for more money, but did not get their citizenship.

FBI under search warrant entered Hansen’s Office in Sacramento and seized computers and office documents.

It has been revealed that the FBI has been investigating the company since February 2015 after they received complaints from clients of Hansen. They were looking for evidence of possible mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud undocumented immigrants.

Yesterday, in an occasionally incoherent speech, which Kaniva News has transcribed verbatim, Hansen told people watching his PNT Television programme he and his company had not done anything illegal.

“As you know the Americans Helping America Chamber of Commerce has been attacked by a false complaint that put the American Helping America that battle there for a while,” Dr Hansen told viewers.

“I need you to understand this. We are not doing anything against the law. We are not doing anything against the people,” Hansen said.

“But if you are not coming in and come clean so we can help you then we have no choice but to give your name and your list thing, hand over to the Homeland Security so they can be able to look out  and can be able to check you out yourself”, Hansen warned viewers in the 12 minute programme which was later uploaded to Youtube.

“This meeting is to try to help everybody and also try to locate people who come from different churches so we know who you are and what church you come from and who supporting this programme,” he said.

Hansen claimed his company was associated with 5.5 million people whose immigration status in the United States was “illegal” or “undocumented.”

“We have opened our doors now for four years for everybody from adoption to immigration to all kind of things gonna help everybody, but it’s entirely up to you

“So I am asking you very kindly please come in on that day we gonna prepare whole different assistance and help to make sure you are protected and safe.  I guarantee that to you. I will make sure that you are protected and safe with all the legal paper works and documents that can help you and  assist you and identify you.

“If you don’t want to come and say for example you do not believe in what I am saying that is fine with me.

“But this is first, number one I will tell you this. If you do not come to this meeting then we know you do not want to stay here in America. This is basically what you are saying. If you don’t come to this meeting meaning you don’t want to stay here in America.

“You don’t want to follow the rules you do not want to follow anything.

“It gives us the chamber of commerce the right that we can be able to start sending list of people who do not want to be in America to the Homeland Security because we have been ordered by the Homeland Security to release all list of people that are around in our chamber of commerce.

“Secondly I am talking to the pastors, ministers, chief of tribes whatever in the Pacific Islands or any other countries that they have other people that are controlling a group of people and organisation leaders.

“I want you guys to listen very carefully. The leaders please encourage your people to come to this meeting and make sure your people come to this meeting. So they can get the help they can get”.

“We are not breaking the law. We are not doing anything wrong, we just want to obey the law of this country as we a chamber of commerce.

“So I am warning you ministers and pastors and all these people. If you are holding these people undocumented illegal people for any other purpose of making money out of that than it gonna be worse for yourself and also what you are doing than it become a scamming problem for you because that is not how it supposed to be.

“I am warning you because we trying to help the people but the people are holding back because some of you don’t believe and do not want to be part of it,”

Dr Hansen has promoted adult adoption for non-US citizens to several ethnic communities. A number of his videos have been uploaded to Youtube.

The main points

  • Dr Hilamani Hansen, whose company is being investigated by FBI for an alleged immigration scam, has threatened church leaders and overstayers in the United States he will release their names to US Homeland Security.
  • The Tongan owner of the controversial organization America Help Americans made the threat, which he called a “Raid announcement” on his PNT television programme yesterday (January 13.
  • Hansenclaimed his company could get illegal adult immigrants their US citizenship if they were adopted by US citizens.
  • A US immigration attorney told Sacramento-based KCRA television news it was a “scam” as no one in the United State could get US citizenship through adult adoption law.

For more information

FBI probes US-Tongan company involving alleged immigration scam, Tongan victims speak out

Americans Helping America home page

Manase arrested after alleged assaults of Auckland women

By
Kaniva Staff
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‘Anitoni Manase Kalekele was alleged by police to have assaulted women in Auckland before he was arrested this afternoon.

Police discovered him sleeping under a bed in a Blockhouse Bay property.

He has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, injuring with intent and male assaults female.

Police said he will appear in the Auckland District Court tomorrow.

“The first assault occurred in Northcote on Sunday night, the victim suffered a stab wound to the back,” the spokeswoman told the NZHerald.

She was taken to hospital with minor injuries but was later released.

“The victim was assaulted around the head. She received medical treatment and was later discharged from hospital with facial swelling.”

According to the Herald Kalekale once made headlines as a boy for throwing an egg at John Key.

In early 2007, Kalekale, then aged 12, was caught throwing an egg at Mr Key’s car, the Herald reported.

Mr Key was visiting McGehan Close at the time, a street he had previously said epitomised “dead-end” New Zealand where an underclass had allowed hopelessness to “become ingrained”.

“Mr Key revisited the area in February 2007, and came face-to-face with Kalekale at Wesley Intermediate School during a visit to the I Have a Dream programme”.

“At the time, Mr Key asked him if he had since been well behaved. “Na,” came the reply”.

Solar electricity brings refrigerator and electrical appliances to Niua

By
Kaniva Staff
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Niuatoputapu Island in the furthest north of Tonga will have a new solar electricity installation which will enable consumers to use refrigerators and normal household electrical appliances starting this year.

The solar power device is expected to have an inverter that could convert the DC electricity into 240 Volt AC power,  the Minister for Internal Affairs and MP for the Niuas, Hon Fe’ao Vakatā told Kaniva News.

At the same time a solar light system will be installed in Niuafo’ou, the Minister said.

The project was funded by ADB bank which would include funding allocated for street lights for both the islands.

This is the first solar electricity project to be established at Tonga’s outer islands except  Vava’u.

“Same project is expected for Nomuka, Ha’afeva, ‘Uiha, Felemea and Kauvai,” the Minister said.

The minister said most of the solar projects installed in the outer islands were primarily for solar lights only and they were not powerful enough to produce electricity for electrical home appliances.

He said they will travel to the Niuas next month as part of the ongoing works for the project.

Niuafo’ou is 591 km away from Tongatapu and according to the 2006 census has a population of 934.

Regarded as one of the most remote islands in the world, a vessel with passengers, goods for the shops, petrol and mail from Tongatapu arrives at Niuatoputapu once a month

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