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NZ gives Tonga $1.4 mllion for cyclone recovery

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Press Release:

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced New Zealand is providing a further $1.4 million to help Tonga recover from Tropical Cyclone Ian.“Following a request from the Tongan Government, New Zealand will provide equipment and materials to help restore the electricity network on the affected islands of Ha’apai. We have also made an offer to provide New Zealand-based technicians, if needed,” Mr McCully says.

“The cyclone has caused significant damage to electricity infrastructure, including power lines and transformers. Our contribution will cover resources needed to reconnect villages including those on small outer islands.

“Reliable access to electricity helps communities recover quickly after a disaster as it supports the operation of critical infrastructure such as schools, medical centres and businesses.

“New Zealand is committed to supporting the Tongan Government as the relief and reconstruction effort continues.”

Today’s announcement brings New Zealand’s support for the cyclone response to $1.9 million.

'Ahopanilolo Tech Institute and MIT sign partnership

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Press Release:

MoC signing secures MIT’s partnership with ATI and the Tongan Community

Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) has signed a Memorandum of Co-operation (MoC) with ‘Ahopanilolo Technical Institute, Tonga (ATI) to encourage pathways for Tongan students to continue their studies at MIT’s Faculty of Consumer Services.

This will be the first time MIT has had the opportunity to create a mutually benefitting relationship with a Tongan institution.

The relationship aims to promote and enhance educational opportunities for Tongan communities in Counties Manukau, New Zealand and in the Pacific nation of Tonga.

MIT’s Faculty of Consumer Services Dean, Cherie Freeman, visited Tonga earlier this year to be a panellist for a review of the hospitality sector. It was during this time that she visited ATI.

The MoC, signed by MIT’s Director of External Relations, Dr Stuart Middleton, and Sister Kieoma Finau, will allow both parties to explore the opportunities afforded to them through collaboration and the development of joint initiatives.

Potential initiatives may include programme articulation between MIT and ATI, sharing of teaching materials, staff development and general advice and assistance to support advancement in culinary, hospitality and hairdressing sectors.

Cherie Freeman says, “We will look at the key skills that are needed in the Tongan community and then work with ATI to develop suitable programmes of study”.

“Currently the programmes at MIT are tailored to New Zealand industry needs. In order to improve industry standards in Tonga we will have to develop customised qualifications for ATI that pathway onto MIT qualifications,” she says.

Dr Stuart Middleton says, “MIT is enriched by this relationship and we are looking forward to growing and flourishing with great mutual benefit.”

“We don’t see this as a one-way partnership and both parties stand to gain knowledge and development,” he says.

“We hope to be considered the New Zealand base for ATI and this relationship will prove to be an important partner in our Tongan relationships.”

Sister Kieoma Finau says, “We are so grateful for the chance to have a working relationship with MIT.”

“This partnership will open the door for us to develop our programmes and give opportunities for our students to gain higher qualifications and hopefully experience greener pastures in New Zealand,” she says.

“We did not think our little school would come this far so we are grateful to MIT for seeing promise in us and we feel so blessed.”

Toleafoa Sina Aiolupotea, Manager Pasifika Development, is excited and looking forward for the advancement of the education of our Tongan communities, both here in Manukau and in Tonga.

Tongan Senior advisors for MIT, Ikani Fifita, Anna Tolia Ulakai-Cullen Senior Lectures Faculty of Education and Social Sciences  and Monte Payne, Senior Lecturer Faculty of Engineering are working closely with Sina and are supportive of the relationships MIT has with our local Tongan communities in the region and look forward to stronger relationships so as to fulfil the educational aspirations of our local communities

Real Tonga denies fluid leak claim

By
Kalino Latu
-

Real Tonga has denied claims that its controversial MA60 aircraft leaked hydraulic fluid during a flight from Tongatapu to Vava’u last Friday.

Real Tonga director Tevita Palu told a local newspaper hydraulic fluid was spilled on the aircraft during regular maintenance the day before.

He said engineers were unable to clean it all off.

He said the fluid got into the body of the aircraft and the wind forced it out when the aeroplane was in the air.

This made it look like the aircraft was leaking hydraulic fluid.

The leak was spotted when the MA60 arrived in Vava’u.

The aircraft was checked and returned to Tongatapu on its normal schedule.

The New Zealand government withdrew support for the Tongan tourism industry last year over the introduction of the MA60.

New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully, told TVNZ that the Chinese-built MA60 was not certified to fly in New Zealand and was not certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency, the US Federal Aviation Administration or the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister, Samiu Vaipulu, defended the MA60, telling the Islands Business last year the aircraft was “safe and reliable.”

He said he was negotiating with China for two more aircraft. These appear to be Harbin Y12s, the same kind of aircraft used by Air Fiji, in which the China National Aero Technology Corporation has held shares.

The MA60 is a new version of the Xian Y7-200A, which is itself based on an old Soviet-era Russian design.

It is made to operate in rugged conditions with limited ground support and has short take-off and landing capability.

MA60s have been involved in a number of incidents in recent years, including a crash in which all passengers and crew died.

However, there is debate about whether these incidents occurred because of problems with the aircraft or poor crew procedures.

In May last year an MA60 flew from Heho Airport to Monghsat Airport in Burma.  It over-ran the runway on landing, resulting in two serious injuries and substantial damage to the aircraft because of a brakes failure.

In May 2011 an MA60 went into sea only 500 metres from the runway in Kaimana Airport in Indonesia. All passengers and crew were killed.

According to the authoritative flightglobal website, the latest airlines to be interested in the MA60 are Nepal and the Ukraine.

For more information:

Stop interfering: Tonga Tells NZ

NZ issues travel advisory as new plane cleared to fly

http://www.flightglobal.com

Kaniva Pacific is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Hon ‘Ana Taufe’ulungaki receives Distinguished Alumni Award

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The Honourable Dr ‘Ana Maui Taufe’ulungaki, a BA graduate of the University of Auckland, will receive one of six Distinguished Alumni Awards to be awarded by the Auckland University at a ceremony on Thursday 13, March 2014.

Dr Taufe’ulungaki, Tonga’s current minister of education, will be showcased in a candid, entertaining discussion led by alumnus and Qantas award winner Finlay Macdonald at the Maidment Theatre, a statement from the university says.

"Each award winner will talk about their work and lives in their own words at a glittering black-tie dinner in the Alumni marquee".

The Award this year will be presented to:

  • Bruce Aitken – former president and CEO of Vancouver-based Methanex Corporation
  • Gareth Farr ONZM – a leading composer and well-known performance artist
  • Dr Julie Maxton – Executive Director of the Royal Society, former Registrar at the University of Oxford
  • Dr William Tan PBM, BBM – neuroscientist, medical doctor, Paralympian and international speaker
  • Hon Dr 'Ana Maui Taufe'ulungaki – Minister for Education and Training in the Kingdom of Tonga
  • Roseanne Liang, Young Alumna of the Year – filmmaker, writer and director of the feature film My Wedding and Other Secrets.

Kāinga gather to pay respects to crash victim

By
Kaniva Pacific
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AUCK, NZ – Hundreds of mourners gathered tonight at Howick to pay their respects to Tevita Vailala Pasikala, 24,  who died in a car crash near Whakatane on January 5.

The crash happened on Thornton Road outside Whakatane after 6am, when a car ploughed into a tree.

The driver was already dead, and the car was on fire when emergency services arrived.

Police did not release the identity of the deceased immediately as the body had to be taken to a Hamilton hospital for an autopsy.

More than 10 days later and on last Thursday 17, police formally identified the deceased as Tongan Tevita Vailala Pasikala, aged 24.

Tonight his kāinga, family and friends gathered hugging and consoling each other as Pasikala’s coffin laid in his house.

Spokeswoman for the family, Sisifa Tangi said the farewell service will be held tomorrow at Tuingapapai church in Mangere before he will be laid to rest at the Manukau Memorial Garden, Papatoetoe.

Pasikala is survived by his wife and two children.

Tonga recognises Kosovo state, authorities claim

By
Kalino Latu
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Kosovo's authorities said last week the Tongan government has recognised and established diplomatic relation with their government.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci has confirmed the recognision by the government of Tonga on Friday 17 reported balkaneu.com

“I just learned that Tonga, a state in the Ocean Pacific has recognized the Independence of the Republic of Kosovo. This is the 105th recognition of the state of Kosovo”, the website quoted Thaci as saying

 “The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo, Enver Hoxhaj, has received a verbal note for recognizing Kosovo sent by the Kingdom of Tonga," reported Kosova Press.

"I am honoured to announce you that the government of his Majesty on 15 January 2014, has decided to formally recognise Kosovo as an independent country and the government of Tonga to establish relations with Kosovo states the letter sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the website says.

The claim by the Kosovo's authorities has yet to be confirmed by the Tongan government.

Tonga's Prime Minister's office could not be reached for comment.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008 but the reaction by the international authorities has been mixed and UN member countries continue to be divided on the issue.

Tonga was said to be the first country to recognise Kosovo in 2014 bringing the number of its diplomatic recognisions to 105. 

The government of Serbia still refuses to recognise Kosovo as a sovereign state.

Diarrhea hits Ha'apai but 'under-controlled'

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

[lastupdated]

Health experts are battling to prevent widespread illness after reports this week that diarrhea and skin diseases surfaced in areas of Ha’apai which were hardest hit by the Cyclone Ian.

So far hospital record shows 40-50 cases reported and the health officer -in-charge of Ha'apai's Niu'ui Hospital said they need more medical supplies.

Ha'apai is now facing water scarcity and some areas severely affected by the cyclone are looking at restoring old wells that have been left  unused for years, a source who asked to remain anonymous told Kaniva News.

Dr Tevita Vakasiuola said, the islands of Foa and the village of Fakakakai in Kauvai have no running water since the cyclone hit but NEMO is working to restore and install water supplies to those areas.

Dr Vakasiuola said it is common that unclean and contaminated water are major contributors to the cause of diarrhea and skin disease.

“The condition at the moment is not serious. I just checked our record we just have three patients admitted this morning [Mon 20],” he said.

It is understood most of the cases were not admitted to the hospital but medically treated by health offficers at the patients' homes

“The number of cases we were able to record was based on reports by our health officers who are working in the areas as well as people who were admitted to hospital within just one week,” the doctor said.

The category five cyclone struck the islands of Ha'apai causing catastrophic destruction to about 100 percent of the housing, UN report says.

Water

“Eighty percent of the water tanks in Ha'apai have been medicated,” Dr Vakasiola said.

But he advised that people boil the water before drinking.

On a separate case, Dr Vakasiuola said there were “more than hundred cases now admitted to hospital of people having injuries because of stepping on nails”.

“We received quite a number of cases on that. People stepping on nails but again no serious cases.  We just treated them and let them go home,

“But we expect more on this as it happens while people now clearing up their homes," the doctor said.

Medical supplies

“We need more medical supplies for the diarrhea we still have some medication here but not much left,” Dr. Vakasiuola said.

Kaniva understands a team of  French specialists conducted an overall tactical assessment report in the affected areas in the weekend.

A source said the need for medical supplies and treatments for diarrhea was highlighted  in the French report.

Comment: Stop grovelling to the Chinese government

By
Kalino Latu
-

Comment:

The Tongan government must stop grovelling to the Chinese government.

Last week the Tongan government made a big fuss about China’s donation to Tonga in the wake of Cyclone Ian. The Chinese government donated TP$10,000, the equivalent of $NZ6522.

The New Zealand government gave Tonga $NZ500,000, but did not rate the extravagant praise heaped on the Chinese by Tongan authorities.

Neither was there any special thanks for Australia, which donated Aus$200,000. France also  gave relief aid for the cyclone.

The actions of the Tongan government were immature, undiplomatic and unwise.

Further reading: Government of the People’s Republic of China donates emergency supplies for Ha’apai

The reasons for the government’s behaviour are quite clear, however. It is massively in debt to China, and cannot repay its loans.

It has asked China to be lenient and it seems it will do anything to be nice to the Chinese government, even if it means insulting its traditional Pacific partners, New Zealand and Australia.

The Tongan government website reported that a ceremony had been held to acknowledge the Chinese donation.

It described China’s $NZ6522 donation as “a significant contribution to providing shelters for tens of thousands of people who have been displaced by the cyclone.”

Further reading: Tonga snubs New Zealand, Australia

The website also praised the Chinese communities of Tonga who have continued “to show their support towards the people of Ha’apai in providing food supplies and water.”

The Tongan government’s behaviour has unnecessarily politicised the issue of aid.

Tonga’s Islands of Ha’apai are struggling to cope with the devastation wrought by the category five cyclone.

Almost all houses on the islands have been damaged, with some villages completely destroyed.

However, the Tongan government has been slow to ask for help.

The New Zealand media blasted the kingdom’s government for not quickly asking for help from New Zealand so money would be available immediately after the cyclone.

The Tongan government said it wanted to assess the extent of the damage before applying for assistance and has only just officially asked for help.

Further reading: Relief effort underway in Tonga (Australian Network News)

Last week New Zealand’s Scoop news site quoted Auckland Tongan Advisory Council community head Melino Maka as saying: “The Tongan Government should be looking at the people who have suffered in Cyclone Ian, they need to get on with it.”

The row over New Zealand aid to Tonga widened over the weekend.

Many  asked why the New Zealand government wanted Tonga to ask for help first and slammed the delay.

And yet one has to ask how hard it was for the Tongan government to e-mail Wellington and ask for help?

It is normal practice for governments to make formal requests for assistance. In this case the Tongan government seems to have been very slow in acting, even though an RNZAF Orion which flew over the islands in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone reported extensive damage.

Further reading: Tonga won’t ask for help

Tongan community leaders told Kaniva Pacific they were embarrassed by Tonga’s treatment of New Zealand over this and other issues in recent months.

There are 50,000 Tongans in New Zealand, most of them in Auckland and the Tongan economy relies heavily on their remittances.

New Zealand and Australia have always been ready to help the kingdom with development and during natural disasters like Cyclone Ian.

Tonga’s relationship with New Zealand has already been strained in the past two years.

The New Zealand government holds a NZ$8 million grant to support Tongan tourism after the kingdom’s government imported a Chinese airliner that has a questionable safety record. The Tongan government refused to let New Zealanders civil aviation officials  into Tonga to inspect the aircraft.

Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga Hon Vaipulu, who was instrumental on bringing the controversial aircraft to Tonga, told the Tongan media: “We don’t want New Zealand telling us what to do and interfering with our internal matters.”

Further reading: New Zealand accused of bullying

However,  the Tongan Advisory Council in Auckland in September last year said Tongan community in Auckland supported the New Zealand government’s decision to withhold the money.

In 2012 the New Zealand government asked Tonga to return about NZ$300,000 of aid money that had been reported missing.

New Zealand’s behaviour in these cases has been based on the principle of accountability.

Any form of assistance that come from New Zealand to Tonga must be strictly monitored by the New Zealand authorities to make sure they are used according to the purpose of the grant.

Can the same be said about the massive China grant given to Tonga? The Chinese Embassy in Tonga told Radio Australia the money was supposed to help the development of the society and the people of Tonga.

The Tongan Supreme Court has quashed a case brought by opposition leader Akilisi Pohiva in which he alleged that TP$32 million (NZ$ 21 million) of Chinese aid to Tonga was illegally transferred to Princess Pilolevu  and her satellite company, Tongasat. However, Pohiva said late last year that he would file a civil case against the defendants if he lost in the Supreme Court.

Further reading: Tonga says NZ has asked for aid money back

The Chinese aid money has raised many uncomfortable questions.

The Tongan government must deal with these in a rational, mature and logical way. It cannot solve them by fawning on the Chinese government in the vain hope that it will be nice and write off the debt.

It certainly cannot solve them by belittling its major aid donors and traditional partners in the wake of a natural disaster. New Zealand and Australia have responded generously in the aftermath of Cyclone Ian.

As a small nation with a fragile economy, Tonga needs to maintain good relations with countries which have supported the kingdom in the past and will remain its partners in the future.

There is an old saying about not biting the hand that feeds you.Unfortunately, right now it will look to many people as if the Tongan government’s behaviour is a sign that it is quite willing to bite the hands of New Zealand and Australia rather than dealing with the crisis brought on by the Chinese loan.

French CASA helps take 9-year-old patient

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

A boy who suffered severe stomach pain since Thursday and was treated by the local nurses at Ha’afeva was today flown to Tongatapu by the French military aircraft CASA.

Lemoto Latu, 9,  of Fotuha’a Island was accompanied by his mother and another woman on the aircraft, on their way to Vaiola Hospital.

Dr Tevita Vakasiuola from Niu'ui Hospital told Kaniva News they sent the patient to Tongatapu because of the condition of the Ha’apai hospital after the Cyclone Ian hit on Saturday 11.

The Honorary French Consul to Tonga, Tupou Pasikala who travelled on the plane to Ha’apai as part of the French government’s aid to Tonga on the cylone said today was the second day of the CASA’s mission for Ha’apai.

“We took more aids today and they are now awaiting the NZ aid arriving this morning at 1 am. We also took personnel from different companies like Tonga Power limited, hospital and Police,” Pasikala said.

The French aircraft which can carry about four tons of loads, best suited to short runways and highly versatile is operating under a joint effort by the armed forces of Tonga, New Zealand and France. 

CASA continued its rotational flights between Tongatapu and Lifuka today and tomorrow will be the last day before it returns to New Caledonia.

Featured image: Mona Palu

Man, aged 58 dies in Ha’apai

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

A man died in Niu’ui Hospital yesterday afternoon and it has been confirmed today he was Pauliasi Kulitapa of Holopeka.

Tevita Vakasiuola, Health Officer -In-Charge of Ha’apai Hospital said the man died from natural cause and it has nothing linked to the Cyclone Ian that severely struck the islands last weekend.

The funeral service was held today and the deceased family and kainga were flown from Tongatapu to Ha’apai by the French military aircraft, CASA.

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