Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Newsletter
Support Kaniva
Home Blog Page 862

Six month-old baby death, parents charged

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

A couple arrested over the death of their six-month-old baby son who died from dehydration and malnutrition, were released on bail on February 24.

The baby's mother, Siulolo Mafi, 28, and her husband, ‘Iteni Latu, 32, were arrested on February 18 and were eventually charged with child neglect and manslaughter.

Magistrate Salesi Mafi ruled that the couple have to be bailed out $1000 each and have to re-appear at the Nuku’alofa Magistrate Court on March 31.

Mafi also ordered that 'Iteni Latu had to surrender his passport.

On February 18 police received complaint from hospital authority saying the baby died as a result of his parents allegedly failed to seek medical assistance while he was sick on January 30.

The baby suffered from diarrhea and was vomiting police said.

Queen Mother reaches out to the Ha’apai victims

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

HRH Queen Mother Halaevalu Mata’aho has paid tribute to the courage and determination of the Ha’apai people to help them recover from their own horrible year.

Hundreds greeted the Queen and Hon.Lupeolo Halaevalu Moheofo Virginia Rose Tuita last week as they saw and heard for themselves how far the islands have come since its severe cyclone in the new year.

Her Majesty arrived in Ha'apai to meet and  distribute relief packages to victims of cyclone Ian.

The Islands were struck by a devastating Cyclone Ian on January 11 leaving one dead and about 5,000 homeless.

The Queen who is now 87 years old, appeared exhausted but looked tender and deeply moved.

The royal cruise visited the outer islands of Lifuka in Ha’apai including Mo’unga’one, Ha’ano and ‘Uiha where Her Majesty  and her entourage were surprised by dinghies of entertainers who arrived  by sea for the fakame’ite (entertainment) – a Tongan custom of welcoming royals.

 Five primary school girls performed a tau’olunga (group dance) in the dinghy accompanied by a local band of three players while the Queen watched from the VOEA Savea naval ship.

According to sources the Queen Mother explained how she was greatly saddened as she heard about the Cyclone Ian which wrought havoc on the six main islands of Ha’apai –  Lifuka, Foa, Ha'ano, Mo'unga'one, Lofanga and 'Uiha. 

Tongan-Utah football player critically injured in accident

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

ALT LAKE CITY — Utah defensive lineman Moana Ofahengaue suffered a serious head injury in a motorized bike accident Sunday night.

University of Utah Hospital spokeswoman Kathy Wilets confirmed in a media release that the former Westlake High School star, a redshirt freshman, was in critical condition.

Wilets said that family members are “extremely optimistic about his recovery” and wanted to “express their gratitude for all the support that have received.”

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham released a statement as well.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Moana and his family during this very difficult time,” Whittingham said. “He is a beloved member of our team and we will support him in his recovery in any way we can.”

Ofahengaue’s father Tevita played for BYU from 1997-2000 and his uncle is Utah defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake.

deseretnews.com/home

 

 

Two arrests made in Kolofo’ou 2012 murder case

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Police have arrested and charged two male suspects with murder in connection with the death of a 44 year-old Chinese male in Kolofo’ou on Friday 15 June 2012.

The deceased was found dead in his electronic workshop next to the South Pac Builders Supply at the One Way Road.

Police arrested a 28-year-old Tongan male this week  Monday 24 followed by the arrest of a 33-year-old Chinese man this morning. They both remanded in custody until March 11 according Deputy Police Commander ‘Unga Fa’ao.

In June 15, 2012 police called to the scene and found the man died in a bedroom at the back of his shop.

There were no major injuries found on his body at the time but an initial examination led police to suspect it was a homicide, a report said.

The Chinese man arrived in Nuku'alofa in 2009 and he has a wife and a 12 year old daughter in China, police said.

Appeal to minister over ill Tongan woman deportation case

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Immigration Associate Minister Kate Wilkinson is being asked to use her special powers to override her department’s order to deport an ill Tongan woman from New Zealand.

The woman was reported by Radio New Zealand International to be suffering from diseases that are difficult to be treated in her home island in Tonga if she is returned.

A political leader in Auckland has called on the government to be compassionate and avoid deporting the woman.

The woman comes from Ha’apai where one person died in Lifuka island as tropical Cyclone Ian ripped through  on January 11 causing extensive destruction that saw about 100 percent of the houses being either damaged or destroyed.

There have been calls on New Zealand government earlier last week to reprieve Tongan over-stayers who are about to be deported to Ha’apai Islands.

“It is inhumane for immigration authorities to deport a Tongan woman with a heart and thyroid condition whose doctor has said she is unfit to fly,” Labour’s Pacific Islands Affairs spokesperson Su’a William Sio says.

“The woman, who doesn’t want to be named, has told media the nearest hospital to her Ha’apai home doesn’t have the facilities to treat people with heart problems. Immigration New Zealand is putting her life at risk”.

Immigration New Zealand told Kaniva News the case is left to the discretion of the associate minister.

As the woman's representative "has appealed to the Associate Minister of Immigration to intervene in the case no deportation action will take place until the Minister has made her decision," NZ Compliance Operations Manager Natalie Gardiner said.

She added that, “a common-sense, case by case approach is being taken with regard to Tongan nationals who are liable for deportation. A standard part of INZ's interview process before deportation is to assess any humanitarian considerations or international obligations that need to be taken into consideration”.

In December 2012 a Tongan tetraplegic man, Semisi Ma'afu Samiu, 61 was deported to Tonga despite appeals and pleas from the community leaders to the Immigration Minister to have mercy and let him stay in New Zealand with his family.

Victim of suspected homicide named

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Police have named a 31year-old Chinese man who died in a suspected homicide in Halaleva last weekend after they contacted his next of kin.

Dao Jin He was found unconscious by a friend in his shop at the By-pass road in Halaleva at 11:30pm Thursday 20.

He was rushed to hospital but died the next morning Friday 21 at 7:30am.

An initial examination showed Jin He had suffered head injuries, according to Police.

Homicide investigation contues into the death but no arrest had been made.

Police appealed for anyone who was near the By-pass shop where the incident happened in the evening of Thursday 20 to come forward.

Heilala Vanilla Foundation’s first donation arrives in Tonga

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

The first shipment of equipment from the Heilala Vanilla Foundation has arrived at Vava’u High School, in the Kingdom of Tonga.

The foundation has donated over 100 kitchen items to the school’s Home Economics Department including an oven, toasters, frying pans, blenders and cake mixers along with cutlery and utensils.

Award-winning Heilala Vanilla launched the Heilala Vanilla Foundation last year to build on its already strong ties with the island community of Vava’u.

The partnership between Heilala Vanilla and the people of Vava’u began as an aid project 10 years ago, helping to rebuild after a cyclone. This initial act of kindness by Heilala Vanilla founder, John Ross, led to the founding of Heilala Vanilla.

Jennifer Boggiss, Heilala Vanilla co-founder and director, says due to the remoteness of the Vava’u Islands, access to educational resources and equipment can be limited.

“One of the foundation’s aims is to give students the opportunity to learn more about food preparation and nutrition,” she says. “We have worked closely with principal Sela Tapaatoutai-Teisina for several months to identify and compile a list of equipment needed for Home Economics Department which included cookware and kitchen appliances.”

The current acting principal 'Utulamataki Paongo Tonga and her team were excited and overwhelmed with the supplies that arrived.

“We are very passionate about food and nutrition and look forward to seeing the students flourish,” she says. “Food is a central part of our community and our new resources will enable us to expand the students’ knowledge which they can share with their families. It will bring a new lease of life to the department which up until now has consisted of a broken oven and a limited number of utensils.”

Jennifer says establishing the foundation demonstrates Heilala Vanilla’s commitment to the people of Vava’u and says this shipment is the first of many.

“We are very happy to have completed our first project with Vava’u High School. Home Economics has a great synergy with Heilala Vanilla and we see the incredible importance of working with young people in Tonga.”

The foundation’s next project will be equipment and teaching materials for the school’s science department.

Heilala Vanilla will contribute a percentage of sales of vanilla beans grown and exported from Vava’u, and some funds from other sources, to the foundation, which is registered with the NZ Charities Commission.

Fisheries Minister says his letter was misinterpreted

By
Kalino Latu
-

Minister for Fisheries Sangstar  Saulala said today he had been misinterpreted after he was criticised for writing to a restaurant owner telling him to buy sea cucumbers from local fishermen.

Saulala said he wrote three letters in November in response to restaurant owners who asked him to clarify the Fisheries Act’s prohibition on harvesting of sea cucumbers.

However, the Minister’s  letter ended up at the front page of the local newspaper Kele’a  under the headline ( in Tongan)  ‘Fisheries Minister letter secretly permits buying sea cucumbers'.

Saulala denied his letter was confidential or that he had authorised restaurant owners to buy sea cucumber secretly.

He said locals were allowed to fish and sell three types of sea cucumbers: Sea slugs, snake fish  (also known as trepang) and the brown spotted sandfish.

A prohibition is in place until April on harvesting and processing of sea cucumbers for commercial and export purposes.

The Minister told Kaniva News that the Fisheries Management Act prohibited the exportation of certain types of sea cucumbers, including white teat fish.

Extinction

He said the law was made to protect the sea cucumber from being fished to the point of extinction and not to quash the right of local people to fish and consume sea cucumbers.

He said he had spoken by telephone with other restaurant owners who had asked him for an interpretation of the Act as it related to sea cucumbers.

In a letter to Chinese-Tongan businessman Zhou De written on November 25 last year, Saulala said De was allowed “to buy sea cucumbers from the fishermen for consumption only and for your restaurant but not for export purpose which is closed down now.”

The Minister also said in his letter that “ women and fishermen are allowed”  to harvest the sea cucumbers.

Saulala said he discouraged De from encouraging the public to harvest the sea cucumbers.

In his letter the Minister said:  “It is important for you to refrain from sending notices through the media which will encourage more people to get involved in harvesting.”

“In the meantime you can buy from the fish market areas or fishermen can come to the restaurant where you can buy from them what you need to use for your restaurant.”

Kaniva News comment

A lot of confusion could have been avoided if the Minister’s letter had been clearer.

The Minister’s letter said De was allowed to buy sea cucumbers, but did not say he could only buy sea slugs, snake fish and the brown spotted sandfish.

Nor did the letter mention the types of sea cucumbers that are not allowed to be harvested.

The main points

  • A letter from Minister for Fisheries Sangstar  Saulala to a Tongan-Chinese businessman about harvesting sea cucumbers has caused a commotion in the local press.
  • Kele’a newspaper accused the minister of authorising restaurant owners to buy sea cucumbers secretly.
  • However, Saulala has denied the accusation, saying he told restaurant owners they could buy sea cucumbers only for local use and not for export.
  • He said local people were still allowed to harvest three types of sea cucumber for local sale and consumption.

For more information

The Fisheries Management Act 2002

The status of Tonga’s sea cucumber fishery

Tourism Tonga appoints new general manager

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Tourism Tonga has announced a new leadership appointment with the key position of general manager now filled.

The ministry has appointed New Zealander Stuart Perry as the general manager.

Perry’s extensive experience over 30 years in general management, tourism management, marketing and brand management as well as in media and publishing will help boost the six-year Tonga Tourism Sector‘s Road Map currently in the pipeline.

 Perry was the CEO of the Regional Tourism Organization for the East Coast of Tasmania.

“His experiences included close collaborations with both the private sector and local Governments in Australia and New Zealand, Tonga's primary markets in Tourism”.

The Tonga Tourism Authority Board says it “is pleased with the recruitment of the General Manager position, to commence day to day operation of the Authority to ensure delivery of outputs as mandated in the Tonga Tourism Authority Act 2013”.

Jenny Latu Salesa selected as Labour Party's candidate for Manukau East

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Auckland, NZ – UPDATED: Labour Party has this afternoon named Tongan Jenny Latu Salesa as its candidate for Manukau East.

Salesa, who holds a law degree from the University of Auckland was endorsed after a tough competition among eight prospective candidates who vied for the parliamentary seat.

Salesa worked for many years in the United States, Tonga and in New Zealand.

Labour Party President Moira Coatsworth said today:

“Labour ran a robust democratic selection process in Manukau East attracting hundreds of local people to two public question and answer meetings and today’s selection meeting, in a packed sports hall in the heart of the electorate.

"Local members have told us that the Manukau East electorate needs an MP who understands the reality of people’s lives. Our process has given us a very talented and impressive candidate. Jenny has an outstanding record of working with people and communities. She will advocate strongly for the people of Manukau East dealing with housing, unemployment and state services, and a range of other issues. Ross has left big shoes to fill; Jenny is up to that challenge."

Manukau East is one of the Labour Party’s strongholds where supports for the current opposition party gathered momentum in the last three general elections.

In 2008 Labour's Ross Robertson, who has announced that he was to step down at this year's election after 27 years as the local MP,  won the seat by 17, 254 votes compared to National  MP BAKSHI, Kanwaljit Singh who became second with 4809 votes only. Labour Party also  won the people’s party vote by 16,137 votes compared to National’s 6579 votes only.

In 2011 general election Labour continued to win both people’s party vote as well as the electoral vote in the area.

If the Manukau East eletorate's votings will follow the same pattern as they had  in the last three general elections, Salesa who is married to Samoan Professor Damon Salesa,  could become the first Tongan ever to enter the New Zealand parliament as an MP in the upcoming general election.

1...861862863...904Page 862 of 904
© Copyright 2025 Kaniva Tonga News & Entertainment