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New Zealand lifts its travel warning over Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

The New Zealand government has lifted its travel warning for Tonga.

The warning was issued in August 2013 over concerns about the Chinese-made MA60 aircraft used by local airline Real Tonga.

The New Zealand government told tourists they would be flying on the MA60 at their own risk.

The MA60 has been involved in numerous crashes in different countries.

The travel advisory was issued a month after New Zealand suspended NZ$10 million (TP15.5 million) tourism aid to Tonga in response to the kingdom’s use of the aircraft.

A message from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued to Kaniva News this evening says:

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has reviewed its Tonga travel advisory to take into account the positive steps made by the Tongan Government to improve domestic aviation safety.

“The Government of Tonga has sought support from the New Zealand Government for a major overhaul of aviation safety in concert with the relevant regional and international aviation authorities.

“Progress is now beginning to be made which is already addressing some of our concerns.

“New Zealand travellers should expect changes to services as the authorities address safety issues and take this into consideration when making travel arrangements.”

The decision has been welcomed by the Tongan government, which said it would be good for the economy.

Real Tonga added two Handley Page Jetstream aircraft to its fleet earlier this year in reaction to the problems with the MA60.

The dispute over the MA60 and broader issues with the state of civil aviation in Tonga has already claimed its first political scalp with the removal of the Deputy Prime Minister from the aviation portfolio.

‘Otu Langi World Heritage Site bid to be submitted

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s largest ancient royal tombs, the ‘Otu Langi at Lapaha, have been proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If UNESCO agrees to list the site it will provide funds for restoration, preservation and training.

The proposal was announced at a workshop in Lapaha on October 7.

If the tombs secure World Heritage status, they will join the likes of the Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi in Uganda and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty in South Korea as sites of outstanding value to the world.

UNESCO placed ‘Otu Langi on a World Heritage tentative list on August 9, 2007 after Tonga provided its “authenticity of claims” with evidence about the royal tombs from the Tongan Traditions Committee.

The evidence includes information about the writing of the Kings in the early European contact period, the continuing traditions and care of the tombs and details of who is buried.

Knowledge about the tombs is vested in local families at Lapaha.

According to the evidence submitted to UNESCO, the langis are platforms of earth with a stepped pyramid effect supported by stone slabs as surrounding walls.

“It is said that the construction of these massive tombs was a way to demonstrate the spiritual and political power of the Tu’i Tonga,” the report said.

“These tombs and the rituals that surround the burial of the descendants of the Tu’i Tongas in the same tombs are still a living part of the Tongan culture to this present day.

“It is believed also that Tu’i Tongas constructed these tombs as a symbol of their respect for the Heavenly Fathers that became Kings of Tonga.”

The three-day workshop was run to give stakeholders and the people of Lapaha information about how the World Heritage Site programme works and what would happen if the submission is approved.

Benefits

People attending the workshop were told the kingdom would benefit if UNESCO agreed to list the site.

It would provide funds for restoration, preservation and training and promote awareness about the need to preserve the site.

Listing the site would promote close ties with the United Nations system and the prestige and support this provided.

It would also provide access to global project management resource and help create partnerships between government, the private sector and NGOs working to conserve the site.

If the site is listed it will be protected under the Geneva Convention against destruction or misuse during wartime.

Ha’amonga ‘a Maui Historic Park

Tonga submitted the Ancient Royal Tombs of Lapaha for consideration by UNESCO under the title The Ancient Capitals of the Kingdom of Tonga.

The submission also includes the Ha’amonga ‘a Maui Historic Park.

It claims the Ha’amonga ‘a Maui has “an astronomical or sundial function, marking the point on the horizon where the sun rises at mid-year.”

However, UNESCO remains unconvinced. It said that while the claims were generally held to be true, the source of the story was unclear and might be an idea introduced in the early 20th century.

Tonga signed UNESCO’s 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage on April 30, 2004.

The main points

  • Tonga’s largest ancient royal tombs, the ‘Otu Langi at Lapaha, have been proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • If UNESCO agrees to list the site it will fund restoration, preservation and training.
  • The proposal was announced at a workshop in Nuku‘alofa today.
  • If the tombs secure World Heritage status, they will join the likes of the Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi in Africa and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty in South Korea as sites of outstanding value to the world.

For more information

Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi

Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty

Students find SEE papers easy

By
Kalino Latu
-

Students at Tofoa and Haveluloto Government Primary School said this week’s Secondary Entrance Examination (SEE) papers were easy.

In the two-day school examination, which started on Tuesday, class six students sit four exam papers.

On Tuesday students sat English and Tongan language papers and today they sat Maths and Environmental Science.

“I have asked my students how they feel about the papers and they said they were quite easy and they were topics they were familiar with in class,” Saane Tongotea, a class six teacher at Havelu and Tofoa Government Primary School, said.

Havelu and Tofoa is a combined school that holds the record for having the most students scoring the best marks and gaining the most entries to Tonga High School in the past three years.

GPS Havelu & Tofoa. Class six students on day one of the examination
GPS Havelu & Tofoa. Class six students on day one of the examination

There are 122 primary schools in Tonga.

This year 2909 students sat the SEE.

At primary school level students have to officially enter school at the age of five and that they must study until they are in class six where they will sit the SEE.

Students who get the best marks are given the first opportunity to enter Tongan High School depending on how many students the state-funded school require for its first year.

Tonga’s Ministry of Education rules require students to nominate their schools of choices before they sit the SEE.

Under the rules preference is given to students who select Tonga

GPS Havelu & Tofoa class 6 students ready to sit their English paper
GPS Havelu & Tofoa class six students ready to sit their English paper

High School as their first preference and their names would be made public on the radio when the result is first released together with the rest of students who gain entries to other schools.

If Tonga High School requires 100 students to fill its first year level in 2015 it means the top 100 in the whole of Tonga’s SEE 2014 will have the opportunity to enrol if they choose Tonga High School as their first choice.

Usually many students who went to other schools got best marks in SEE and had the opportunity to go to Tonga High School but preferred their school choice options to the ones belonged to their churches or where their parents went to.

In 2012, 28 students from Tofoa and Havelu enrolled in Tonga High School.

In 2013 they continued to gain the highest number of entries to Tonga High School with 23 students.

ʻĪkale-Tahi november tour 2014

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The 2014 End of Year Tour kicks off in Tbilisi with the Īkale-Tahi going head to head with Georgia at Mikheil Meshki Stadium on November 8 at 17:00.

The Tongan national team will play against US Eagle at Kingsholm Stadium, Glouceter in England on November 15 at 14:45.

Tonga will finally meet Scotland, the world no.8, at the Rugby Park, Kilmarnock in Scotland on November 22 at 14:30.

Foul play suspected in Vava'u death

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

A jury will determine the cause of death of 20-year-old Vaiki Palei of Taʻanea but police now suspect he was met with foul play, Tonga’s Minister of Police, Hon. Siosifa Tu’utafaiva told Kaniva News.

Tuʻutafaiva said Palei had sustained multiple injuries which led Police to investigate the incident as a suspicious death.

Meanwhile Na’asoni Lolohea, a 71-year-old man from Ha‘akio was arrested and charged with reckless driving in relation to Palei’s death.

Police said Lolohea was allegedly on his way to Ngu Hospital at around 4:00am on Saturday October 4 when, as it was claimed, he unknowingly ran over Palei who was lying in the middle of the road.

Tuʻutafaiva said it was expected Police will release the details of their investigation tomorrow.

Media: praise for Malakai Fekitoa despite All Blacks defeat

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The New Zealand Herald Sport has hailed Malakai Fekitoa, 22, as the best player in the All Blacks despite losing to Springboks Sunday 5.

“The big winner in the All Blacks’ overseas stint of the Rugby Championship was Malakai Fekitoa,” writes Gregor Paul, a rugby writer for the Herald on Sunday.

Fekitoa was again exceptional in the No12 shirt against the Boks and continues to surprise, Paul added.

This was not the first time the paper praised Fekitoa for his outstanding performance.

After All Blacks beat England 20-15 at Eden Park in June the Herald Sport said Fekitoa was “among the best” players to “beat a very good England team”.

It described Fekitoa as “a player with immense promise” and he was “the most elegant of solutions for Conrad Smith’s back-up”.

Fekitoa scored the first try for All Blacks on Saturday but how he managed to run down Cornal Hendricks after a kick was put over the top and the Boks winger poked it further ahead,  deserved the most praise.

“I was going back to the fall as fast as I could and then I saw the green jersey go past me and I thought I was never going to get him,” says Fekitoa. “I was lucky and I was able to manage to grab the ball and got over the line. It was lucky,” he told Herald.

“It was tough. The lungs were burning and I thought I wouldn’t make it to halftime. I was struggling a bit but I managed to get through it.”

Jury to decide Vaikī Palei's cause of death

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Police said the death of a 20-year-old man from Ta’anea and Neiafu, Vava’u, Tonga, whose family suspected fould play was involved in his death, was still under investigation.

Inspector Tu ‘uta ‘Eliesa from Vava’u Police told Kaniva News Vaikī Palei died in hospital on Saturday 4 at around 4am.

We are still piecing together the information and a jury of five will decide the cause of his death, Eliesa said in Tongan.

Police were aware of allegations made on Facebook in relation to how the incident happened but ‘Eliesa said they would release the details  as soon as they become available.

He said the jury, which will involve a member from Palei’s family, a doctor, a town officer, a district officer and a police officer  will meet shortly to decide Palei’s cause of death.

The deceased’s father is from Ta’anea and his mother is from Neiafu, he said.

World Teachers' Day commemorated as 250 million children do not learn basic skills

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

If teachers have “appropriate contracts and salaries” as well as proper resources and training they can manage to address problems that millions of children in the world faced in not knowing the basic education skills, according to a statement that read out to hundreds of teachers and students in Nuku’aofa yesterday.

Marking the World Teacher’s Day, Lady Tuna Fielakepa, a government retired Chief Education Officer, read the statement from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) which says that 250 million children, “over half of whom have spent four years in school”, around the world today do not learn  the basic education skills  because of teachers working “without resources or proper training”.

It says that a“high-quality pre-and in-service training for teachers, based on respect for human rights and the principles of inclusive education; and effective management, including teacher recruitment and deployment” are important to maintain teachers’ willingness and aspiration.

The international body says for the teachers to be efficient and effective in their roles they need necessary and essentials tools.

“Equipping teachers to succeed is therefore a priority. This means rigorous training, better conditions for employment, quality-based teacher recruitment, thoughtful deployment and attracting new teachers and talents, especially young people and women from under-represented communities”, it says.

There are increasing problems Tongan communities around the world face today such as school violence, abortions, youth crimes as well as drugs related crimes and Tongan community leaders are struggling to find a solution that can best resolve them.

UNESCO says, “A good education enables [children], as global citizens, to respond to the challenges of a complex world, and contribute to building peaceful and sustainable communities”.

In central Nuku’alofa yesterday teachers, school children and supporters paraded along Taufa’ahau Rd to Teufaiva Outdoor Stadium where students presented a number of entertainment items to celebrate the historical day.

Tonga’s Minister of Education Dr ‘Ana Maui Taufe’ulungaki led the march which was joined by leaders of schools from churches and government.

Tonga commemorated the 20th anniversary of the World Teachers’ Day two days ahead of the actual date which is October 5. This year’s theme is – Invest in the future, invest in teachers.

Princess Fusipala Vaha'i dies

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Princess ‘Elisiva Fusipala Tauki’onetuku Vaha’i, 65, died in the United States a source close to the family said.

It was understood she was admitted to Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, Burlingame in California few weeks ago.

The King of Tonga’s first cousin was the second of six children born to Late Prince Fatafehi Tu’ipelehake and Princess Melenaite Tukuʻaho.

She married to Late Lord Hahano-ki-Mala’e Kula-‘a Sione Ngū Namoa also known as Lord Vaha’i (1936–2005).

Princess Tauki’onetuku is survived by his two sons, Lord Vahaʻi and Siosifa ‘Alematea Vaha’i as well as two  daughters,  ‘Elisiva Tauki’onetuku Vaha’i Vete and Sinaitakala -‘Ofeina-‘E he-Langi Leanahola Vaha’i.

Tonga chamber of commerce has new president

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) has announced the Director of Pacific Retail company, John Paul Chapman, 33,  as its new head during a meeting on September 29.

The organisation aimed at boosting economic growth by linking members with government and private sectors.

Fostering a friendly atmosphere for networking among members, TCCI also creates learning and training opportunities for business people.

Mr Chapman replaces Aloma Johanson who becomes his assistant.

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