Sinaitakala, the Crown Princess of Tonga gave birth today July 12 to her first daughter, who became third in line for the Tongan crown after her father and her 1-year-old brother, Prince Taufa’ahau Manumataongo.
Source said the new born princess was named Halaevalu Mata’aho.
Manukau, NZ – The members of the Mo'ui Fo'ou 'ia Kalaisi Fellowship Of New Zealand have appointed Rev Metuisela Ngata Puku Fangaloka as general secretary this week during their first annual conference in Manurewa.
It was the first time the fellowship appointed someone to the post since its followers broke away from the Tokaikolo Church in 2013 under the leadership of President Rev Sione Havili Maile.
The appointment of Fangaloka was a result of a secret ballot by fellowship members during the conference.
Read more: Tokaikolo Church members defect to new evangelical fellowship
Thousand assemble to mark the begining of the new Mo‘ui Fo‘ou ‘Ia Kalaisi Fellowship
L-R: Secretary General Metuisela Ngata Puku Fangaloka and President Sione Havili Maile
Miss Bou’s Fashion, Cassandra Ngaluafe has been announced winner of the Miss Heilala 2014 at Joe’s Kahana Lagoon tonight.
She was also awarded with $5,000 cash and return tickets for two to Los Angeles.
The first runner up was Miss Friendly Is Shipping & MV ‘Otuanga’ofa – Sakae Tamo’ua. She received $2,000 with two return tickets to Honolulu.
The second runner up was Miss Universal Pharmacy Seini Vefa Fakatava and the third runner up was Miss Super Cheap Tonga – Irene Hurrell.
The top four contestants with the most outstanding outfits were:
Miss ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga, Mamana Fine
Miss Lady Maria Australia, Nicole Naufahu;
Miss FISA/MV ‘Otuanga’ofa, Sakae Tamo’ua
Miss Bou’s Fashion, Cassandra Ngaluafe.
Kiliki heni: Lau 'a e ongoongo ni 'i he lea faka-Tonga
Tongatapu 8 MP Sione Havea Taione says he is struggling to comprehend why Democratic Party Leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva continues to support a candidates’ list that excludes him.
Taione says he has been loyal and dedicated to the party right from the beginning.
Taione said he refused to accept an offer from Lord Tu’ivakano’s government in 2012 to become Police Minister because he wanted to keep to the Democratic Party’s memorandum of understanding that party members would stand together to fight government corruption.
Taione, who is the Party's Secretary, said Pohiva, Isileli Pulu and Uliti Uata left the party in 2010 and became ministers in the current government, implying they were the first to breach the unity the party members’ vow.
Read more: Taione denies he conspired to make Halapua Prime Minister
Party Deputy Chair 'Isileli Pulu clarifies on candidate list
Tonga’s Minister of Justice, Hon. Clive Edwards, said he contacted Taione when the Police Ministry became vacant after the then Police Minister, Hon Sunia Fili, resigned ahead of the vote of no confidence in 2012.
Edwards told Kaniva News: "I spoke with Sione Taione and asked him whether he wanted to become Tonga’s police minister because the ministerial post was vacant at the time and if he wanted it I would propose him to the Prime Minister as the suitable person for the post.
“Sione thanked me and said he wanted to stand together with ‘Akilisi as they had an MOU.”
“I respected Sione’s response as I understood he put his loyalty to ‘Akilisi before the opportunity I offered him.
Edwards said Taione was one of the key figures in the Democratic Party when it came to debate and discussion in the House.
Taione said he also met with Prime Minister Lord Tuivakano and Tu'ivakano invited him to become his Police minister but he still refused it saying he would still stay with the Party because they have an MOU.
Taione also revealed he refunded to government TP$7151 (NZ$4409) after his travel ticket to Israel on a parliamentary visit was downgraded from business class to economy.
The money was given to MPs to pay for their tickets. Normally MPs or ministers do not return the balance because they feel they are entitled to it.
Pohiva always maintained MPs and ministers should refund public fund they were given but they thought it was morally wrong for them to take it.
The select committee which drew up the Democratic Party’s list in early June said they dropped Taione because he supported Dr Sitiveni Halapua’s push for a coalition government.
Other sitting MPs dropped from the list include Sunia Fili, Dr Halapua and Semisi Tapueluelu.
Kafataha or Cabinet of National Unity
After the 2010 general election and while parliamentarians waited to elect the Prime Minister, Dr Halapua launched a campaign in support of what he called Pule’anga Kafataha or "Cabinet of National Unity" or “Coalition Government”.
There are three kinds of seats in the Tongan parliament, one representing the nobility and two others for the government and commoners.
In the 26 seat parliament nine seats are reserved for nobles and the remaining 17 seats are for the people’s representatives.
Under Halapua’s proposal all parliamentarians would work together as a coalition.
According to Halapua, members would have a conscience vote and could vote against their caucus.
The gist of the idea was that there would be no need for an opposition party because, in Dr Halapua’s words, all parliamentarians would work according to principles of love, honesty and peace.
Halapua wanted the Democratic Party to endorse the idea, but Pohiva said he thought the Coalition Government ideas needed close public scrutiny and discussion.
He later said Dr Halapua should promote his Kafataha ideal by himself and leave the party alone as it has a mission to fulfil by pushing to have the majority of representatives elected by the people to choose the Prime Minister.
Select committee report
The argument over Halapua’s proposal intensified in 2013 through local media, with Talaki newspaper running an article in which he discussed why he still thought his Kafataha system of ruling best suited Tonga.
It was followed by an interview with Pohiva in Kele’a newspaper in which the Democratic Party leader likened Halapua’s idea of Kafataha to a theory that says the north and the south poles can be put together.
After the interview Pohiva’s supporters blasted Halapua, saying he was no longer loyal to the party.
Taione said Halapua had surrendered his Kafataha proposal for the moment.
He had written a booklet about the idea which was now on sale in bookshops. Halapua said he wanted people to read about the idea and if the party thought they could use the proposal it was there in booklet.
Taione said he was concerned that Pohiva was sticking to his newspaper’s claim that he, Halapua and Tapueluelu had plotted to overturn the party’s decision to campaign for Pohiva to become the Prime Minister.
Halapua said the claim was false.
The committee said Tapueluelu and Taione had been dropped for supporting the Kafataha proposal because it constituted a breach of the party’s MOU.
The committee said Sunia Fili was dropped because he defected and became a minister in 2010 in the current government.
Pohiva has announced that he is sticking by the select committees’ list and that they are the candidates he endorses for the November election.
Democratic Party Deputy Leader ‘Isileli Pulu said he had regularly met with Pohiva recently to try to change his mind.
Pulu said that for the select committee to base its decision on support for the Kafataha idea was weak and pathetic.
The main points
For more information
‘Tonga's democratic challenges in 2014: Speaking with the MPs' (The Economist)
Tongan police on July 8 arrested five suspects who had been wanted since the gang robbery and an alleged rape in a house in Sopu on June 11.
Police charged the male accused who are in their mid-twenties with conspiracy to commit robbery.
No one has been charged in connection to the rape as Police investigation continues.
The accused are remanded in Police custody. They will appear at the Magistrate Court on Tuesday 15 July, 2014.
Police detectives were also able to seize part of the stolen goods taken from the house.
“I would like to thank the Public for all the help during this Investigation,” says Commissioner of Police Grant O’Fee.
Two Tongan cops have been respectively jailed for 10 and eight years this morning at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court for killing New Zealand police officer Kali Fungavaka in 2012.
Inspector Kelepi Hala’ufia was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment while Constable Salesi Maile was sentenced for eight years.
Last month civilian Semisi Kalisitiane Manu was convicted by jurors of grievous bodily harm in relation to Fungavaka's death. In his ruling, Justice Cato handed down a suspended sentence of 18 months to Manu.
Justice Cato also found Constable Fatai Faletau guilty of assault, after acquitting him of manslaughter and the alternative charge of grievous bodily harm last month. He will be sentenced on July 29.
The judge acquitted Constables Tevita Vakalahi and Manu Tu'ivai on charges of manslaughter and grievous bodily harm
Kali Fungavaka died almost two years ago after suffering severe head injuries while in police custody. Six people, including five police officers, were accused of carrying out the attack.
Fungavaka was a Counties Manukau constable and has five young children. He was in Tonga in August 2012 for a family funeral.
It was after the funeral when he was arrested for a minor disorder incident. He was taken to the Tongan police station in the capital Nuku'alofa where it's alleged he was beaten to death.
Two contestants lead the field after last night’s first event of the 2014 Miss Heilala pageant.
Miss FISA/MV ‘Otuanga’ofa Sakae Tamo’ua and Miss Bou’s Fashion from New Zealand Cassandra Ngaluafe, both won places in the sarong exhibition and talent and interview sections.
Hundreds of people were at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall to watch the seven Miss Heilala contestants show off their sarongs and individual talents.
Also on hand for the evening was guest MC Mary Haddock-Staniland from New Zealand.
The highlight of the evening was a showcase for distinctive sarong costume. Each contestant had to present a performance which included singing, dancing and hula.
The four leading contestants in the Sarong Category were Miss FISA/MV ‘Otumotuanga’ofa (Sakae Tamo’ua), Miss Lady Maria Australia (Nicole Naufahu), Miss Bou’s Fashion (Cassandra Ngaluafe) and Miss Super Cheap Tonga (Irene Hurrell).
The four leaders in the talent category were Miss ‘Unuaki o Tonga (Mamana Fine), Miss Universal Pharmacy (Seini Fakatava), Miss MISA/MV ‘Otumotuanga’ofa (Sakae Tamo’ua) and Miss Bou’s Fashion (Cassandra Ngaluafe).
In the interview category the finalists were Miss Melie Mei Langi Australia (Kesaia Tuiono), Miss Super Cheap Tonga (Irene Hurrell), Miss Bou’s Fashion (Cassandra Ngaluafe) and Miss FISA/MV ‘Otuanga’ofa (Sakae Tamo’ua).
The Miss Heilala competition, which is named after Tonga’s national flower, was started by the Tongan Visitors’ Bureau and the Tongan Tourist Association in 1980 to celebrate the birthday of his late Majesty’s King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV.
The final event, the Tau’olunga competition, will be held tonight (July 9).
The Tau’olunga is a solo dance, traditionally performed by the daughters of the Tongan Royal Family and nobility.
The winner will be announced during a ball night this Friday evening (July 11) at Joe’s Kahana Lagoon.
The main points
For more information
‘Miss Heilala Pageant 2014, Guest MC Confirmed’
http://www.mic.gov.to/news-today/press-releases/4930-miss-heilala-pageant-2014-guest-mc-confirmed
Lord Kalaniuvalu and the newly appointed Tu’ipelehake have each been respectively styled His Serene Prince Tu’ipelehake and His Serene Prince Kalaniuvalu Fotofili yesterday.
The hereditary title of Tu’ipelehake, Tonga’s second Royal House was bestowed upon Hon. Viliami Sione Ngu Takeivulai Tuku’aho at the Fotu ‘a e ‘Eiki church in Pelehake.
The two princes are first cousins. Prince Kalaniuvalu's mother Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu is Prince Tu'ipelehake's late father's sister.
Prince Tu'ipelehake succeeded to the 8th Tu’ipelehake title after his late father HSH Prince Tu’ipelehake died on June 15.
He is married to Cassandra Tukuia-A-Purea Vaea
Tu’ipelehake’s estates are Pelehake and ‘Alakifonua in Tongatapu, Lotofoa and Fotua in Ha’apai and Vaihoi in Vava’u.
Kalaniuvalu’s estates include Lapaha, Hoi, Nukuleka and Makaunga.
He is married to Hon. Marcella Taumoepeau-Tupou.
The first Tongan student to study in Beijing in 2002 on a China Scholarship Council’s scholarship has been awarded with doctorate in Human Geography from the Anhui Normal University last week.
In a speech during the graduation ceremony by the Tongan Ambassador to China, Siamelie Latu he said: "I am proud to stand before you today on behalf of the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga and her parents, who have travelled many miles to witness Kililisitina's great achievement today. Kilisitina's achievement is definitely an excellent role model, in her family and in her village, to the Tongan communities in foreign countries, and at Anhui Normal University and to all the Tongan students who are studying here in the People's Republic of China, under scholarships offered by the China Scholarship Council".
Dr. Kilisitina Angahikifo'ou Puleiku is the eldest daughter of Mr. Tokaukamea Puleiku of Vaotu’u and ‘Olivia Hui Puleiku from Falehau Niuatoputapu. Tokaukamea is currently working as Chief Education Officer at the Quality Assurance Division of the Ministry of Education.
Among other Tongan students who graduated this year is Mr. Curtis Leonard Tu’ihalangingie of Kolomotu’a. Curtis graduated with BA in Diplomacy from the School of International Studies at Peking University. Curtis is the youngest son of Mr. Tevita Lenipo Tu’ihalangingie and Losaline Valamotu Tu’ihalangingie of Kolomotu’a.
Dr Puleiku (Left) with her parents
The hereditary title of Tu’ipelehake, Tonga’s second Royal House was today bestowed upon Hon. Viliami Sione Ngu Takeivulai Tuku’aho at the Fotu ‘a e ‘Eiki church in Pelehake.
He was also titled His Serene Highness Prince Tuipelehake.
Tuku’aho succeeded to the 8th Tu’ipelehake title after his late father HSH Prince Tu’ipelehake died on June 15.
He is married to Cassandra Tukuia-A-Purea Vaea
Tu’ipelehake’s estates are Pelehake and ‘Alakifonua in Tongatapu, Lotofoa and Fotua in Ha’apai and Vaihoi in Vava’u.
The ceremony was attended by His Royal Highness Grown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala and nobles of the realm.
Tu'ipelehake and his sister Deborah Lavinia Mata-'o-Taone after his investiture / Photo by Paula Moimoi Latu
