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Ikale Tahi coach apologizes for comments – three suspended

By
Kaniva Staff
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Mana ‘Otai, Tonga National Rugby Union team’s coach has apologized for his “stereotype” comment saying “it was certainly not my intention to offend anyone and I offer my sincere regret if any offence was taken. It was certainly not my intention to upset or harm any individuals involved in the game."

The apology was made following a misconduct investigation conducted by the International Rugby Board for 'Otai's racial-based comments.

Canadian Press interviewed Otai after the ‘Ikale Tahi lost to Canada 37-26 on June 8 and in his response he said, “I had a look at both. I couldn't really see why (the yellow cards were issued). It's almost like, these days you know, when a black man is tackling harder than the other, it seems to be the way.

And I think some of the foreigners that are involved in our team now are starting to see that. It's just hard to battle or fight that stereotype, I guess. But I'm not taking away the fact that at times we do, I guess, make mistakes in terms of tackling — if I'm talking in general. But in today's game, I couldn't justify the two yellow cards”.

‘Epeli Taione, Tonga Rugby Union chairperson was happy with ‘Otai’s apology and commended the way how he handled the situation saying 'Otai is “the ultimate professional”.

In the mean time three Tongan rugby  players David Halaifonua,  Siale Piutau and prop Edmund ‘Aholelei will miss the rest of the Pacific Nations Cup after being suspended for foul play in the loss to Canada last weekend.

The International Rugby Board judiciary has suspended the trio after finding them to have breached IRB  foul play  laws.

"Halaifonua, who contested his charge, was banned for six weeks until July 21 for a high shoulder charge on winger Matt Evans that caused Evans to be taken off on a stretcher. Halaifonua will also be unavailable for the Sevens World Cup in Moscow this month.

"‘Aholelei pleaded guilty to punching flanker Jebb Sinclair, for which he was sent off in the first half. ‘Aholelei was suspended to July 12, including a Melbourne Rebels’ Super Rugby game that day.

Piutau was banned for three weeks to June 30 after pleading guilty to punching hooker Ray Barkwill."

Tongan magistrate rules seven were defamed by Kele‘a Tonga Newspaper

By
Kaniva Staff
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A Magistrate Court judge ruled in Nuku’alofa on June 12 that Kele’a Tonga Newspaper had defamed the Prime Minister  Lord Tu’ivakano and six of his cabinet ministers,  Dr. Viliami Latū, William Clive Edwards, Samiu Vaipulu, Fe’ao Vakatā, Dr. ‘Ana Taufe’ulungaki, and Sangster Saulala.

It is yet to be confirmed but the newspaper normally appealed  any magistrate ruling against it.

Magistrate Paula Tatafu ordered the defendants, Publisher Lautala Pohiva Tapueluelu, Editor Mateni Tapueluelu, Kele’a Tonga Newspaper and Solomone Palu — a regular writer of letters to the editor  to pay damages totalling to $124,721.80 effective today June 13 and within 150 days.

The decision was made after the plaintiffs filed on October 29, 2012 a civil lawsuit against the newspaper based on a letter to the editor by Solomone Palu of Houma, Tongtapu titled – The law is paralysed and it never goes forth to bring leaders to justice.

It accused the leaders of the government for misuse of public fund and corruption but the magistrate ruled the claims had no basis and were intended to make defamation against the leaders.

He then ruled that Mr Palu has to pay $62,000 in damages of which $35,000 to be paid to the seven plaintiffs and $25,000 for his legal costs.

The Tapueluelus have to pay $62,000 in damages in which $27,000 to be paid to the plaintiffs and the remaining for their legal costs.

Hon William Clive Edwards, Tonga’s Minister of Justice represented the plaintiffs while MP ‘Akilisi Pohiva and Lawyer Sione ‘Etikā acted for Solomone Palu, Laucala Tapueluelu, Mateni Tapueluelu and the Kele’a Newspaper.

 In an editorial of Kele‘a newspaper last year, the editor said they stood by their article and that the court case is an opportunity for the Prime Minister and his cabinet ministers to appear in court and make responses to what they have been accused of in Palu’s letter  – implying that it is something of public interests and may have not been made public had the letter not been allowed to publish.

Kele’a newspaper was founded in 1986 as a quarterly newsletter by Democratic Party Leader MP ‘Akilisi Pohiva. It is now a weekly newspaper since 2005 and distributed over Tonga and Tongans abroad.

Correction: We corrected this article as the word "award" was confusingly used.

US Tongans continue to shower ‘Ikale Tahi with donations

By
Kaniva Staff
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The ‘Ikale Tahi fans and kāinga in US continue to show their great support for the players by donating more money after the team arrived in Los Angeles  from Canada on Monday.

Tongan communities and members of  the First Methodist Church in Lenox led by Rev Loni Veikoso donated US$7003.00 for the team yesterday.  

The Tongan communities in San Francisco donated foods, clothing and US$23,000 for the team members before they left for Canada on June 8.

Many families and individuals presented their donations direct to their family members and friends in the team.

The Queen Mother of Tonga, Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho kindly  served the team with foods as well.

The  Tonga National Team won their first PNC match with Japan on May 25 but were defeated by Canada last Sunday, June 8.

Ikale Tahi team are in Los Angeles to take on US Men’s Eagle on June 14 at Home Depot Center, Carson, California.

Tongan linesmen to work for New Zealand Northpower company

By
Kaniva Staff
-

An opportunity for employment in  the Northpower company  New Zealand was given to ten Tonga Power linesmen. There is  a significant skill shortage in New Zealand and Tonga Power agreed for  Northpower to recruit its linesmen as the overseas utility companies are bracing for staff shortage and devising strategies to recruit more workers, Tonga Power company said.

This is not the first time for Northpower to recruit Tongans linesmen as in 2006 it "employed 25 linesmen from offshore, primarily from Tonga, and has continued to maintain a strong relationship with Tonga since. This opened up employment and career development opportunities for the Tongan trades people".

Rod Lowe, Distribution Manager for Tonga Power Limited said “this career opportunity was advertised internally and is a structured process to help those who want to move overseas and apply their skills, the move will be fully supported to help our staff and their families settle into their new homes. The successful applicants are expected to leave Tonga in late June depending on the completion of Stage 1 of the Tonga Village Network Upgrade”.

He said, “The expression of interest was sent out to all Tonga Power linesmen and 24 applied for this career opportunity with Northpower. These applicants have been shortlisted to 10”.

John van Brink, Chief Executive for Tonga Power Limited said, “This is a great opportunity for our staff.  We have been able to train our linemen to New Zealand qualification standard and their skills are widely sought after.  It is extremely satisfying for our Board to see how Tonga Power can support our staff and give them an opportunity to take their skills to a new level, the Northpower arrangement means that the shift to a new job and family home is trouble free and more importantly the staff and their families have an on-going support structure to help them settle into a new country.

For Tonga Power it means we can manage how we replace skilled staff with new trainees and bring employment opportunities to the community.”

“As part of their initial training with Northpower, the ten linesmen will work to gain qualifications of an international standard, recognised by the New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA) in New Zealand.

Northpower have offices throughout the North Island, in Whangarei, Auckland, Tauranga, Waikato, Rotorua, Hawkes Bay and are active in Perth, Australia”

Sorcery: Families of lost fishermen in Vava'u turn to "Uiui Tēvolo"

By
Kalino Latu
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Families of three fishermen who went missing in Vava'u on May 29,  approached a sorcerer, 'Ana Malia,  in Leimatu'a last week asking to help locate the whereabout of their lost ones.

Six fishermen went fishing in Hakaufasi Reef in Vava'u Island but only three escaped the strong wind and swells in the area and returned safely ashore.

Police and families scoured the area for the missing three, Fangupo Fifita (43) 'Ahio Fe'iloaki (45) from Mataika, as well as Pauli Malimali (32) from Talihau, but failed to find them and the search was called off  days later.

After the official search was called off, the families went to a sorcery practice known as "uiui tevolo" or calling up the devil where the sorcerer could strike up a conversation with the dead spirits of tānekinanga (grave) asking for advice. 

'Ana Malia  confirmed on Monday 10 that the  families of Fangupo Fifita  and Fe'iloaki 'Ahio of Mataika had come to her for help.

 'Ana Malia told Kaniva News she had struck up a conversation with a dead lady from Mataika, Vava'u who died in the MV Princess Ashika that sank in 2009, killing 74 passengers.

The dead lady told the sorcerer 'Ana Malia that Fangupo was still alive but that 'Ahio had died on Sunday 9.and Pauli Malimali died days earlier.

Kaniva News understands that the families of Fe'iloaki 'Ahio conducted a funeral ceremony on June 11.   

 The sorcerer said the families could not communicate directly with the dead spirits but an empty glass was said to  move around a sheet of glass that had letters of the alphabet around the edge. The glass is said to have been moved by the dead spirits to certain  letters which only the sorcerer could interpret what message it spelled out. 

The families could join this conversation but only with the guidance of the sorcerer.

Police Inspector Falakiseni from Vava'u Police Station confirmed to Kaniva News that a boat had been dispatched to the area last week at the request of the family and after the "Uiui Tēvolo" ceremony but could not get into the area due to bad weather.

Tonga to introduce bill to combat internet abuse

By
Kalino Latu
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UPDATE: The Prime Minister of Tonga, Lord Tu’ivakano warmly welcomed the landing of the fibre optic cable today at the newly built Tonga Cable Ltd (TCL) Headquarter in Sopu.

He said the cable project will be officially made available to the public on August 5 at the same time the government is well aware of negative effects high speed broadband will bring to Tonga and is now working on a bill to prevent and bring those responsible to justice.   

Tonga currently has the only“Tongan Internet Corporation Register Act of 2000 (the Internet Act)” which gives the “Minister responsible for Telecommunications” authority to control internet registration of “domestic and foreign persons or corporations”.

The Prime Minister did not give details of the bill but improper use of the internet in criminal activities including cyber-bullying, electronic spam and malware are common misuses of internet many countries have to deal with from time to time.

 “The high speed internet services the cable will bring will effectively change the economic landscape of the Pacific, improve the delivery of health and education services and help businesses expand-creating jobs,” said Adrian Ruthenberg, Regional Director of ADB’s South Pacific Subregional Office.

“This is an exciting time for Tonga and for the Pacific,” said Franz Drees-Gross, World Bank Country Director for Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Pacific Islands. “The new cable will make communications faster and cheaper, with huge gains for families and businesses in Tonga.”

The cable’s arrival is the latest milestone of the project which will boost Tonga’s international connectivity, providing widespread social and economic benefits to the people of Tonga.

The high speed internet services will be officially launched by the Government in early July 2013.

Tonga is the first Pacific Island Country to connect to the cable under the program, which is being funded through grants of $17.2 million from the World Bank, $9.7 million from ADB and a $6.6 million investment from TCL.

Tonga cerebrates arrival of Fibre-optic connection

By
Kaniva Staff
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A formal ceremony was this morning held at Sopu-‘o-Taufa’ahau village to mark the arrival of the fibre-optic cable that connects Tonga to Fiji providing the Friendly Islanders with high speed broadband services.

The  soft launch was attended by the Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano and his cabinet as well as some 200 guests.  

The 20Gbs connection is provided by the Fiji International Telecommunications Limited (FINTEL) and its communications manager Laisiasa Nakacea reportedly said, “FINTEL will be the gateway for communication between the two countries. For Tonga they will witness the introduction of high speed broadband … and a lot of other new services that will be introduced to Tonga on the high speed cable that we will be putting in today”.

Featured image by Friends Cafe and Friends Tourist Center

Miss Murphy says her "Tonga's only wealth" saying

By
Kaniva Staff
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“Tonga’s only wealth is a word of thank-you” (Ko e koloa ‘a Tonga ko e fakamālō) a Tongan saying given to express importance of supporters to competitors and for competitors to specially say it as a way of giving them their deepest gratitude.

Miss Murphy, the Tongan performer who became top in one of the Australian biggest entertainment show, The Voice 2013,  thanked her fans for their on-going supports and encouragement despite being out of the competition to night.

“I would like to thank everyone for the love and support you have given me. This has been a life changing time for me and your love and support has given me so much. Thankyou for sharing with me and letting me sing to you. Thankyou to the voice and to Ricky. I am so fortunate to be a part of this show! XOXOX,” she posted on twitter.

Miss Murphy (31)  lastly took to the stage for Team Ricky with the song 'You've Really Got A Hold On me' by Smokey Robinson.

Her real name is Karen Andrews and her mother is Tongan. Ms Andrews drew her inspiration from her “big Polynesian family where music was everywhere and I've just always loved to sing,” she told Illawarra Mercury website

"My parents worked hard to provide for me and my three brothers, and they saw singing was important to me and made sure they gave me every chance to pursue it," she said.

"From the age of 14 to 16 I had the opportunity to be part of the Wollongong Conservatorium's youth choir and I learnt a lot there and it was great to be among other students who loved to sing too," she told the website.

Ms Andrews followed 16-year-old Tongan Fatai Veamatahau, known as Fatai V who contested The Voice 2012.

Poems reveal Tongan king’s struggle

By
Kalino Latu
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Poems by King Tupou II reflect his struggle to prevent Tonga being annexed, according to a Tongan scholar.

King Tupou II ruled Tonga from 1893-1918.

University of Canterbury doctoral candidate Paula Onoafe Latu is studying two of the king’s anthems, ‘Sikaiona’ and ‘‘Alamoti,’ as part of his thesis.

Sikaiona is a Tongan translation of “scion” – a piece of a plant, cut to make a new plant and ‘alamoti is a translation of “alamoth” – meaning a maiden.

King Tupou II, an 18 year old single ‘eiki lahi or high chief  became king of Tonga in 1893 after the death of his great grandfather King Siaosi I died.

The early years of the young king’s reign was marked by upheavals. After the death of his first wife, his decision to marry Queen Lavinia rather than Lady Ofa-ki-Vava’u, the choice of the majority of chiefs, nearly led to civil war.

Tonga was proclaimed a British protectorate in 1900. This followed attempts by his chiefly rivals and European settlers to overthrow him because of alleged mismanagement and corruption.

Mr Latu said it was worth exploring an inside experience of the situation in Tonga during this period.

“These difficulties almost led to the political demise of the Tu’i-dom during his reign,”  he said.

“I am particularly interested in studying how life experiences are reflected in poetic forms from an appreciative but alternative researcher’s viewpoint.”

Mr Latu said his majesty’s two compositions reflected his “personal and spiritual life experiences and difficulties faced in His attempt to safeguard Tonga from the threat of annexation.”

He told Kaniva News some metaphorical terms used in the poem ‘Scion’  like ‘levaiatani’ (leviathan) and “talakoni” (dragon) were references to tragedies the king experienced during his ruling. 

Correction: We have removed from this article what we reported as Paula Latu saying that the anthem "‘Alamoti was composed by the king after the daughter of the first principal of Tonga College, John Hardley Robert’s daughter was drowned off the island of ‘Eua. That was not correct and Mr Latu did not say that.   

Featured image by wikipedia.com

Ikale Tahi fans' spirits high, despite loss

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Tonga National Rugby team are to return to United States and get ready to take on US Eagles Rugby team on Friday, June 14 at Rio Tinto Stadium, Salt Lake City, after being defeated by Canada 36-27.

The spirit of supports by the Tongan fans in US around the social media and abroad is still high and strong despite the loss as many call on the team to leave the game with Canada behind and get prepared for the next game.

The courage of the ‘Ikale Tahi 14 team members and only 12 in the second half  who temporarily struggled in the field to face 15 Canadians after Eddie Aholelei was red-carded and two others later on  sent to the sin-bin was enough to make supporters still proud of the team.

Nili Latu, the captain appreciated the supporters and the community spirit they have for the 'Ikale Tahi but "apologised for the result" and said they "did their best".

“Oku atu ae kole faka mole mole meia teau moe Timi he mau to nounou he vainga oe ahoni ,koe mau Osi Taha e pea nae ikai toe Tuku ha mau ivi,” he said.

Tonga coach Mana ‘Otai believes ‘Ikale Tahi as well as other Pacific Teams are singled out because of their “physical play”

Otai made his comments after reviewing the video tape and said “I had a look at both. I couldn’t really see why (the yellow cards were issued),”

 “It’s almost like, these days you know, when a black man is tackling harder than the other, it seems to be the way.”

 “And I think some of the foreigners that are involved in our team now are starting to see that. It’s just hard to battle or fight that stereotype, I guess. But I’m not taking away the fact that at times we do, I guess, make mistakes in terms of tackling – if I’m talking in general. But in today’s game, I couldn’t justify the two yellow cards,” he told Canadians newspapers.

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