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Hon Lupepau’u Taione takes care of the abandoned baby

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The newborn baby found abandoned on a roadside in Fasimoeafi Sunday 9  has been given a name and  is now being taken care of by Hon. Lupepau’u and her husband ‘Epeli Taione, Police have confirmed this to Kaniva News this morning.

The baby boy has been named as Reggie Kite-ʻI- Māhina.

Police have yet to find the mother of the baby but they agreed to allow the Taione to look after the boy after they received a request from them.

Deputy Police Commissioner Satote Tonga said the Taiones are processing their request through the Supreme Court in Nukuʻalofa before they would be given the legal right to adopt the child.

The baby was found abandoned by Māhina Fekite in Fasimoeafi, a residence belonged to Hon. Lupepauʻu’s father, Lord Tuita.

Hon. Lupepauʻu is King Tupou VI’s niece, and the eldest daughter of Princess Pilolevu Tuita.

Over 60 Tupou college students sickened after eating food at funeral

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Sixty two students from Tupou College needed medical assistance with some of them were hospitalised and put on IV drips after they forced themselves to eat stale food after attending a funeral service in Tongatapu Thursday 6.

The details of the food eaten were not available but it was alleged it included hot-dogs that were cooked without removing their plastic bags.

Dr Seventeen Toumoʻua from Vaiola hospital, however, said they interviewed the victims, who were all members of the school’s brass band, and found out the students knew the food was stale but they forced themselves to eat it because they were hungry, Radio & Television Tonga reported.

Dr Toumoʻua said 15 of the students admitted to hospital were in critical but stable condition and health officials continued to monitor them. They were taken blood test and received intravenous fluid, he said.

Dr.  Toumoʻua said symptoms included vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and weakness.

We emailed the principal of the school but have not received any response.

One Man died, two horses missing in Haʻapai sea accident  

By
Kaniva Pacific
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A rescue boat brought to shore the survivor and the body of the man who died after the horses they were riding on fell into a hole under the sea.

Kisione Sika, 36, died while ‘Asipeli Mafi, 33, survived the tragedy after they attempted to cross the causeway from Uoleva to Tongoleleka while it was believed the sea was at high tide, correspondent Moimoi Fakahua reported from Haʻapai.

The two horses were drowned and still missing.

The two men from Tongoleleka struggled against the strong current, the report  says.

Sika got into difficulties and allegedly died while they were struggling but Mafi managed to grab him before the rescue boat arrived.

The funeral of Sika was held last week.

Newborn baby abandoned on roadside in Fasimoeafi

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Tongan Police have launched an investigation after a newborn baby boy was found abandoned on a roadside in Fasi-mo e-Afi, Nuku’alofa,  Sunday 9.

Sia Adams, Police Media & Communication Officer at the Office of the Police Commissioner in Nukuʻalofa has confirmed the news this morning saying the baby was taken to hospital and he is in good condition.

She provided no other details.

Princess Halaevalu Mata'aho christened at centenary chapel

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The christening of Princess Halaevalu Mata’aho has taken place in the Free Wesleyan Church’s (FWC)  Centenary chapel in Kolomotu’a today November 9.

Princess Mataʻaho, third in line to the throne,  is Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa and Crown Princess Sinaitakala’s second child. She is four months old.

The royal service was conducted by the Reverend Dr ʻAhio, the FWCʻs president, assisted by his Secretary General, the Reverend Dr Tēvita Havea.

Members of the kāinga, nobility and the royal family were there along with Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipauʻu.

The christening was followed by a royal luncheon at the King’s  palace in Nukuʻalofa.

A great teacher who taught Tongan language dies

By
Kaniva Pacific
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ʻEtimani Tāufa, a former high school  teacher , a civil servant and was known for his work in revising the Tongan grammar while the Tongan version of Tonga’s law book was rewritten and published recently, died Saturday, November 8, his eldest son ʻIsileli Tāufa has confirmed this to Kaniva News.

ʻIsileli said ʻEtimani, 78,  was sick before he died.

ʻEtimani, an ex-student of Tupou College, worked as a clerk at Tonga’s Printing Department, later known as Ōfisi e Kalonikali (Government’s Chronicle newspaper’s office) from 1958 – 1959.

He then taught at the Free Wesleyan Church  Middle School in Haʻafeva known as Kāleli where he became headteacher from 1969 to 1970.

ʻEtimani  was employed by the Marconi Communication station in Fongoloa, Fasimoeafi in 1971 – 73.

He taught at the FWC Middle School in Pea, known as Pēteli where he also became the headteacher in 1973 – 74.

The highlight of his teaching career at church schools was in 1977 – 1982 when the Nomuka Middle School in Haʻapai was upgraded to become Tupoutoʻa college in 1980 . It followed with the ministry of education approval of the Tonga Higher Leaving School Certificate (THLSC), the highest certificate a student can obtain locally at the time, to be sat by the Tupoutoʻa students at its school.

Normally when students from the school reached the level where they have to sit the THLSC  they have to travel by boat to Tongatapu and continued studying there to get the certificate.

ʻEtimani returned to government and  taught Tongan language  at Tonga High School (THS) from 1984 until 1995.  He then worked in the Parliament of Tonga in 1996.

ʻEtimani was also known in the local media for his knowledge on Tongan cultures and traditions.

News of his death was quickly met with tributes and condolences on Facebook from his kāinga (relatives) and  ex-students who he taught at schools.

“He was a great and humble teacher,” one commentator says.

“Rest in Peace my great teacher at THS”, another commentator says.

ʻEtimani is survived by his beloved wife, Palu, their three children and one adopted child.

His burial service will take place at Pulupulu cemetery in Tofoa this Wednesday 12.

Queen Elizabeth murder plot foiled

By
Kaniva Pacific
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An alleged plot by four Islamic terrorists to kill Queen Elizabeth has been uncovered days before the Remembrance Day on November 11.

British Metropolitan Police have arrested four Islamic terror suspects in relation to a plan to stab the 88-year-old monarch to death at the Royal Albert Hall, The Sun reported.

The Queen had been due to attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Hall today and both she and UK Prime Minister David Cameron had been informed of the threat, the paper said.

The assassination plot was foiled during routine surveillance by secret intelligent agency MI5.

Four men aged 19 to 27 years of age were arrested during raids across west London and High Wycombe in the Thames Valley by Heavily-armed counter terrorist police.

Tonga wins over Georgia 23 – 9

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The ‘Ikale-Tahi began its End of Year tour to Europe with a victory at the Mikheil Meshki Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia this morning.

‘Ikale-Tahi scored 23 against Georgia which they only scored 9.

Tonga’s 23 points came from two tries by Taniela Moa and one by  Vungakoto Lilo, one conversion by  Latiume Fositā and two penalty kicks by Kurt Morath.

Georgia’s scores were made up with three penalty kicks by their fullback, Merab Kvirikashvili.

The teams,

Tonga: 15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 David Halaifonua, 13 Siale Piutau, 12 Hemani Paea, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Viliami Ma’afu, 7 Nili Latu, 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Joe Tu’ineau, 4 Tukulua Lokotui, 3 Sila Puafisi, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Tevita Mailau.

Replacements: 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Siua Halanukonuka, 18 Paea Fa’anunu, 19 Lisiate Fa’aoso, 20 Hale T Pole, 21 Taniela Moa, 22 Latiume Fosita, 23 Otulea Katoa.

Georgia: 15 Merab Kvirikashvili, 14 Irakli Machkhaneli, 13 David Kacharava, 12 Merab Sharikadze, 11 Tamaz Mchedlidze, 10 Lasha Khmaladze, 9 Giorgi Begadze, 8 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 7 Viktor Kolelishvili, 6 Giga Tkhilaishvili, 5 Levan Datunashvili, 4 Konstantin Mikautadze, 3 Davit Kubriashvili, 2 Shalva Mamukashvili, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili.

Replacements: 16 Simon Maisuradze, 17 Zurabi Zhvania, 18 Levan Chilachava, 19 Giorgi Nemsadze, 20 Lasha Lomidze, 21 Vazha Khutsishvili, 22 Lasha Malaguradze, 23 Sandro Todua.

Maumau dies suddenly at Baker University

By
Kaniva Pacific
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A Tongan man who was at his second year at Baker University, Baldwin City, Kansas in the United States died suddenly on October 29.

Sione Viliami Maumau was found dead in the Irwin Hall dormitory building.

The University says the investigation is ongoing and officials are waiting for autopsy results to determine the cause of death. No foul play is suspected, it says.

Maumau is the son of Viliami and Michele Maumau. He has three siblings, Siaosi (20), Marakai (17), and Tabitha (15).

He played football at Valor Christian High School, where he helped the Eagles win 4 state championships.

17 million funded-project underway to rebuild Haʻapai

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The electricity network and school facilities damaged by Cyclone Ian in Ha’apai early this year are currently rebuilt through a TP$17 million funded-project that majorly contributed by Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the New Zealand government.

The fund came from a TP$9 million granted by ADB, TP$6.5 million funded by the New Zealand government and TP$1.67 million contributed by Tonga Power Ltd.

The Tongan government contributed to the project with what it described as “in-kind” contribution.

TP$5,326,020.00  of the grant would go to the restoration of the electricity network.

The project began on Friday, October 31 in the village of Koulo and it would include “removal of materials containing asbestos from damaged buildings”, Tonga Power says.

A crew of nine Tonga Power staff including linesmen and mechanics were sent from Tongatapu to Ha’apai to work on the project.

It was expected to take  around twelve months before completion and would involve a significant number of lines and Project Management staff, said John van Brink, CEO of Tonga Power Limited.

The equipment and materials for the construction arrived in Ha’apai on Wednesday, 29 October 2014. Some of the equipment were:

– One bucket truck to be used by the linesmen

– One crane truck to be used for drilling

– One Ute to transport the materials for the project to the construction areas

– ABC drums to renew the power lines at Ha’apai

– Meter boxes for the project

The power poles for the project were shipped to Pangai, Ha’apai in March 2014 as part of the New Zealand Government’s contribution.

“Earlier this year, Tropical Cyclone Ian destroyed 90% of the power lines and power poles on Ha‟apai leaving more than 900 customers without power and over 75% of homes severely destroyed in the powerful storm”.

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