Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Newsletter
Support Kaniva
Home Blog Page 868

Hakaoro jailed after Tongan overstayers speak out

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

An immigration advisor who bilked Tongan immigrants out of thousands of dollars has been jailed for a year and eight months.

Hakaoro Hakaoro was found quilty of providing immigration advice without a licence at Manukau District Court on 22 January 2014.

The 54-year-old pleaded guilty to six counts of providing immigration advice without a licence and one count of holding himself out as an immigration adviser at an earlier hearing in October 2013.

The Immigration Advisers Authority found Mr Hakaoro had received more than $13,000 from six Tongan nationals who were trying to obtain lawful immigration status for themselves or relatives.

The migrants eventually spoke out after they discovered Mr Hakaoro had carried out little or no immigration work on their applications.

The court heard Mr Hakaoro, a Cook Island national with New Zealand citizenship, had talked three families into paying increasing amounts of money by making several false claims.

Mr Hakaoro offered to help one couple become permanent residents around November 2009. He told them he could assist them even though they were ‘overstayers’ as he knew all the right people.

Mr Hakaoro asked for $3,000 to assist them with their application and $3,000 to provide job offers. Later he also asked to borrow a further$2,000 to pay for his immigration adviser licence.

Anyone giving New Zealand immigration advice, whether onshore or offshore, must be licensed by the Authority, unless exempt. Exempt people include New Zealand lawyers.

Less than six months later, the couple were contacted by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and informed they had to leave New Zealand. No visa applications had been submitted.

In 2010, Mr Hakaoro offered to help a woman, her mother and her husband. The three paid $3,750 and were asked for an additional $3,000 for Mr Hakaoro to travel to Tonga to obtain police records and check their status with INZ.

When the woman became unhappy with Mr Hakaoro and her son tried to intervene, Mr Hakaoro threatened to call INZ and expose the family’s unlawful status.

Mr Hakaoro told another couple that he had worked for INZ and could get visas for them and members of their family.

The couple’s daughter took out a loan to pay Mr Hakaoro’s fees only to find out from INZ that no visa applications had been submitted for their family.

Judge Eddie Paul said: "Your victims were vulnerable people, anxious to secure their status in this country. One can hardly think of a more vulnerable person than one in a foreign land being offered an opportunity to remain in that foreign land when the reality was that offer was unlawful and delivered in a deceitful way."

“Home detention is not appropriate. It would send the wrong message to the South Auckland community that persons like you can offend and return to the community.”

Mr Hakaoro was ordered to repay $5,000 to his victims at the rate of $20 per week upon release.

TRU CEO to be picked ‘on merit alone’

By
Kalino Latu
-

Members of the Tongan Rugby Union want their new CEO to be Tongan.  

The TRU is currently shortlisting candidates for the role after applications closed in November 2013.

Kaniva News has been reliably informed some applicants are concerned after hearing members of the TRU met in December and pushed to assign the CEO position to Tongan applicants only.

‘Epeli Taione, Chairperson of the TRU believes those fears are unfounded.                                           

“With regards to the CEO being non-Tongan or Tongan, yes it was mentioned and deliberated in the 6th December meeting,” said Taione.

“I think it will be very naive and unprofessional on behalf of TRU to recruit the CEO with a premeditated view on the sex, age and ethnicity of the candidates.

We will pick the best we can for the role based on merit alone,” he told Kaniva news.

However Taione said it was his long–term goal for Tonga rugby to be administered only by Tongans.

“With due respect to Peter Harding who is by far the most credible import for TRU in the last decade, in the future, it is my dream to have everything Tongan; from top of administrations, to coaches and the technical support staff of the Union.

“It is always a major problem for smaller rugby nations in the Pacific – foreigners in key roles in administrations and coaching use the 2nd Tier nations as a 'step up' for bigger and greater jobs elsewhere.  

“When they come and leave on that basis, whole operations collapse and everything starts from scratch again and again; this uncertainty and inefficient cycle needs to stop. 

“We need continuity and consistency in Tongan rugby; we cannot rely anymore on anyone other than that of our own.

“I have seen it all both as a player and a sports administrator, we are more than capable of being the best in rugby in both codes in the world.

“We need to believe in our own abilities both on and off it, Argentina is closing in on rugby world power houses doing it the Argentinian way.

Let’s do it in the Tongan way, wholeheartedly but professionally,” Taione said.

The CEO position for the rugby union in Tonga was advertised in October last year after TRU terminated CEO ‘Emeline Tuita’s period of probation. 

The list of shortlisted applicants is to be announced next week.

They will be questioned before a panel of four interviewers including ‘Epeli Taione, Deputy Prime Minister Hon Samiu Vaipulu, Tonga’s Solicitor General Aminiasi Kefu and Graham Mourie, Taione said.

Body of 6 year-old girl found near 'Ananā

By
Kalino Latu
-

A 6 year-old girl from Folaha drowned on January 23 while swimming with other children at Moli beach in Nukuhetulu.

They were floating on a broken refrigerator door near the beach looking for seaweed.

Two of the children got into the water to gather the seaweed while the deceased and another child were paddling the broken door.

Police said the surviving paddler lost the paddle and while trying to retrieve it, realised they were floating towards deeper water.

The paddler managed to get to shore and call for help.

When helpers arrived they found the broken door but the girl was not there.

They searched and found her body close to ‘Ananā beach.

CPR was performed, but to no avail.

She was subsequently taken to Vaiola hospital where she was pronounced dead.   

The police also reported a 19 year-old woman from Lapaha died on the 25th after she fell from a pickup.

Police said she fell after the driver tried to evade piglets crossing the road.

Police arrested the driver of the van, a 53 year-old man from Lapaha, and he remains in  custody.

On the same day,  a 46 year-old man died on the Ha’apai’s island of Fonoi after he collapsed while diving for fish.

The victim went diving with two other fishermen.

According to police, the diver came up with his catch and got into the boat.

The unidentified man, who had been diving using a gas cylinder, then told the two fishermen they should return to shore.

While sitting in the boat he died. The doctor in Nomuka confirmed the victim died from decompression.

Tongan flag at half-mast ‘might be a mistake’

By
Kalino Latu
-

Concerned Tongans lashed out at an image of the national flag being flown inverted and at half-mast on Facebook over the weekend.  

The footage was said to be taken at the Nuku'alofa waterfront.

The half-mast flag, an international sign of distress or a sign of respect for a person who has just died, was photographed and uploaded  to Facebook on Friday 24.

Tonga Deputy Commissioner of Police ‘Unga Fa’aoa said Police were unaware of the incident.

"I haven't received any reports from the public about this, but if it was the case,  it just might be a mistake", said Fa’aoa.

The footage was put on Facebook with the caption:

“I was driving down the waterfront and I saw this and I said to myself it must be a distress call since it's upside down and it's at half-mast. So I called the Central Police station that looks after this particular flag pole and reported it. Well to my surprise I was told off by the copper and asked for my name as if she was going to charge me. She told me it’s the responsibility of the Ports Authority and not theirs (Police). I think she's missing the point. Very sad,” wrote Sam Vea.

‘Ahongalu Fusimalohi, a communication Advisor at the Prime Minister’s office, also commented on Facebook.

“What a shame, my son Fonua pointed it out to me while driving pass this evening.”

The footage of the Tongan flag flown at half mast at it's upside down. Source: Retrieved from Sam Vea's Facebook page

The Tongan national flag flown at half-mast. Source: Retrieved from Sam Vea's Facebook page.

Ha’apai relief efforts could be split

By
Kalino Latu
-

[lastupdated]

Efforts to bring relief to victims of Cyclone Ian in Tonga could be split over membership of the Ha’apai Relief Committee.

With 10 containers of goods collected by the HRC ready to be shipped to the kingdom, the committee’s assistant chair, ‘Amelia Schaaf, has announced that she will organise another committee made up only of people from Ha’apai.

Schaaf said a meeting with the people of Ha’apai would be held in Lotofale’ia in Mangere tomorrow, Tuesday, January 28 to set up a new committee. 

Kaniva News has been told that a number of Auckland-based Tongans who are from Ha’apai were unhappy that people not from the island group were on the committee.

Schaaf said the Ha’apai Relief Committee only had a mandate to collect donated goods from Aucklanders and ship them to Ha’apai.

The people of Ha’apai wanted to work on “a long term plan” to rebuild their community after the cyclone, Schaaf said.

She said her committee would help the whole of Ha’apai, including those islands unaffected by the cyclone.

Schaaf said her proposed committee would work with the HRC if it wanted to come under the umbrella of her organisation.

She claimed she was still a member of that committee.

However, HRC said Schaaf had often missed the cyclone relief committee meetings that ran almost every day last week.

Speaking at a press conference last week, Latu Salesa denied there was any tension over selection of the committee members.

“We just want to concentrate on our work and to make sure these donated goods are shipped to Ha’apai as schedule,” Latu Salesa said.

“This committee is still operating according to the purpose it was set up with and we are still here at Lotofale’ia.

“We are afraid people might be confused when they hear there is more than one committee.

“If they will still want to work together with us they are welcome, but things will depend on people and what they want us to do.

“The most important thing for me and our committee now is to make sure these 10 containers of donated goods go to Ha’apai as scheduled.

“Rebuilding of Ha’apai is a huge task to do and it will take months even years, but we have to do what is urgent now.

Leave the rest. We will take them as the next steps.”

About the relief committee

Cyclone Ian caused massive destruction to six islands of the Ha’apai group when it struck on January 11.

 At least 1,000 people are homeless and almost all housing was either destroyed or damaged.   

According to Tonga’s national emergency management organisation, Ha’apai’s immediate need is food and water.

After the cyclone Labour Party Parliamentary Services Staff member Makalita Kolo and lawyer ‘Amelia Schaaf called a meeting to organise relief.

Hundreds of Tongans attended the meeting at the Methodist Church of Lotofale’ia.  

The meeting formally elected the Ha’apai Relief Committee to organise relief for the islands.

The meeting chose Jennifer Latu Salesa, the only Tongan member in the Auckland Mayor Len Brown’s Disaster Fund Advisory Committee, to head the committee.

The main points

  • The assistant chair of the Ha’apai Relief Committee, ‘Amelia Schaaf, says she is going to form a separate relief committee.
  • Schaaf says the HRC is only dealing with those islands affected by Cyclone Ian. She says the relief committee should also contribute to those islands that were not affected.
  • Schaaf said a meeting with the people of Ha’apai would be held in Lotofale’ia in Mangare on Tuesday, January 28 at 7pm to set up a new committee. 
  • The motive behind the breakaway group seems to be the presence of non-Ha’apai people on the committee.
  • HRC chairwoman Jenifer Latu Salesa said her committee wanted to concentrate on its work and make sure the 10 containers of donated goods were shipped on schedule.
  • “This committee is still operating according to the purpose it was set up with and we are still here at Lotofale’ia,” Latu Salesa said.
  • “We are afraid people might be confused when they hear there is more than one committee.”

Cruising into heavy rain

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Mother Nature stepped in during the weekend to disturb the arrival of Tonga's first cruise ship for 2014.

The 28,258-tonne MS Silver Whisper with 500 passengers aboard docked at Vuna Wharf  on Friday morning 24, accompanied by rain although the sun emerged by late afternoon.

This has forced passengers to stay on board and not many could make it to visit the capital Nuku’alofa.

The liner left at  about 3pm in the afternoon.

Tonga’s Port of Authority announced fourteen  cruise ships would  visit the Kingdom of the Friendly Islands this year.

These liners will visit the islands of Tongatapu, Ha'apai, Tofua and Vava'u and for the first time in Tonga's cruise ship history, a cruise ship will spend overnight in the Ha'apai Islands later this year.

The MS Columbus and Crystal Symphony will arrive this morning  Monday 27.

The MS Columbus will be berthed at the Queen Salote Wharf whilst the Crystal Symphony is expected to dock  at the Vuna Wharf.

Tonga High School awarded Zayed Future Energy Prize

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

[lastupdated]

Tonga High School received the High School Category, Zayed Future Energy Prize, at a ceremony at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi last week.

The global high school award entitled Tonga High School to a $100,000.00 grant but that would base on financial information submitted with its project.

The High School Category aimed at encouraging future generations across the globe to appreciate and value issues related to energy and its sustainability.

To be qualified for  the High School category award each school has to submit a detailed proposal for a project that promotes energy and sustainability measures.

"The Tonga High School was selected for its project to install solar panels and energy-efficiency measures that will power up to 100 per cent of the school’s electricity requirements".

Tonga High School won the Global High School Category after competing with a an Adeliade high school in Australia.

The annual US$4 million prize is awarded in five distinct categories: Large Corporation, Lifetime Achievement, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and the Global High Schools Prize.

Tonga’s Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lord Tu’ivakano attended the ceremony.

“This is a proud moment for the Kingdom of Tonga, Tonga High School, and the Pacific as a whole,” said the Prime Minister.

Tonga High School's prize was received at the ceremony by one of its female students ‘Ailine Teumohenga from Ha’ateiho and Kolomotu’a, a daughter of Neomai and ‘Eti Teumohenga.

Teumohenga                        'Ailine Teumohenga receiving the prize.                 Image Credit: WAM/Ryan Carter

NZ pledges extra $370,000 for Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced an additional $370,000 for cyclone recovery efforts in Tonga, including the provision of six technicians to help repair the electricity network. New Zealand will provide a frontend loader and tractors to clear debris-covered land on the islands of Ha’apai, hand tools for the less assessable islands, and assist with the rebuild of the Tongan Government nursery.

“Crops were severely damaged in the cyclone and quick replanting is essential to prevent food shortages and promote trade,” Mr McCully says.

“In addition, we are supplementing our $1.4 million support package to repair the electricity network by sending six New Zealand-based technicians. The technicians are Tongan speakers familiar with the local environment and will speed the reconnection process by several weeks.

“Our priority is to assist the Tongan Government’s recovery efforts so life in Ha’apai gets back to normal as quickly as possible.”

Today’s announcement brings New Zealand’s support for the cyclone response to $2.27 million.

Line Mechanics to help in Tonga

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Electricity lines companies Northpower and Vector have answered a call to help with power restoration in Tonga.

The companies have responded quickly to a New Zealand Government request to send Line Mechanics to the cyclone battered country which has suffered major damage to its electricity network following Cyclone Ian.

The request for assistance has come from The New Zealand Aid Programme, the New Zealand Government's international aid and development programme managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

It is believed Cyclone Ian has destroyed 90% of the electricity network on the Ha’apai Group of Islands in Tonga.

Six Line Mechanics will fly to Tonga on Monday says Northpower Chief Executive Mark Gatland.

“Northpower and Vector have helped out in the Pacific Islands previously after cyclone events and we are more than happy to provide staff to help Tonga get back on its feet,” says Mr Gatland.

“We have a long-term relationship with Tonga and have a large Tongan contingent amongst our staff and they are extremely valuable to our company so it is only right that we help out.”

The Northpower workers will be in Tonga for up to six weeks.

World Bank gives Tonga US$1.27 million over cyclone

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Tonga will receive US$1.27 million or TP$2,362,351.27 from the World Bank to help its recovery after Cyclone Ian.

The World Bank says Tonga will be the first country to benefit from a payout under its Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Pilot.

Tonga is one of 6 Pacific island countries – together with Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu – currently participating in the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Pilot, a statement from World Bank says.

Launched in January 2013, the pilot tests a risk transfer arrangement modelled on an insurance plan, and uses ‘parametric triggers’, such as cyclone intensity or earthquake magnitude to determine payouts, which allows for quick disbursements.

Franz Drees-Gross, World Bank Country Director for the Pacific Islands said, “Cyclone Ian has affected hundreds of families in several communities, destroying people’s homes and critical infrastructure such as health centres and schools,”

Funds received under the scheme will allow the government to meet some of those urgent needs as they look to repair and rebuild in the days and weeks ahead,” Drees-Gross said.

Tonga’s Minister for Finance and National Planning, Hon. Dr. ‘Aisake Valu Eke said, "The cash received from the catastrophe risk insurance pilot makes an important financial contribution for carrying out the government strategy for mitigating natural disasters, to ensure that response efforts to help the people of Ha'apai recover and return to their normal everyday lives can continue without interruption or delay,"

1...867868869...904Page 868 of 904
© Copyright 2025 Kaniva Tonga News & Entertainment