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Ben Tameifuna issued an off-field yellow card

By
Kaniva Staff
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By SANZAR Communications

Ben Tameifuna of the Chiefs has been issued with an off-field yellow card for contravening Law 10.4 (m) Acts contrary to good sportsmanship. A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship in the playing enclosure – dangerous grabbing on an opponent without the ball.

Tameifuna put his hand over the face and eye area of Crusaders No.1 (Wyatt Crokett) whilst in a maul. The deliberate and sustained grappling head-lock action had potential to cause injury to Crockett’s facial area and was an act contrary to good sportsmanship.

The incident occurred in the 15th minute of the match between the Crusaders and the Chiefs played at AMI Stadium in Christchurch on 5th July 2013.

An Off-Field Yellow Card may be issued by the SANZAR Citing Commissioner for foul play incidents that are very close to, but in his opinion do not meet the Red Card threshold for Citings.

In this case the incident was not acted on by the referee for the match and on further review of the match footage the Citing Commissioner deemed an Off-Field Yellow Card was appropriate.

Featured image: photosport.com

Tonga Research Association holds conference in Auckland

By
Kalino Latu
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An annual conference with a theme Walking backwards to the future will start tomorrow Sunday 7 at Tuingapapai Church Mangere with a pōlotu or night prayer service and it conitnues on at Auckland University of Technology at Manukau on July 8 – 10.

The phrase, “Walking backward to the future” was coined by Professor ‘Epeli Hau’ofa in his epilogue “Pasts to remember”.

Since the Tonga Research Association (TRA) selected the phrase as its theme for the upcoming conference, it has caused much debate about whether there exist to be something as walking backwards to future or not.

However TRA says skills and knowledge left behind in the traditions and cultures by Tongan ancestors are valuable wealth for Tongans to take advantage of and to make a better future.

The conference aimed to expose the participants to the rich history and culture of Tonga, it said.  

“One of the main things we hope to achieve here is for participants to leave the conference   with the satisfaction of knowing that Tongans have a proud history, have learnt from the lessons of the past and are moving into the future with eyes wide open”,  TRA secretary Manasa Lua told Kaniva News.

It was set to provide an opportunity for  the Tongans from all walks of life to share their experiences as speakers of the conference.

Lua said, “this is not just an academic gathering we have many non-academic speakers” and it was intentionally organised to allow an open forum for discussion that could involve as many community members as possible.

“Some very important issues will also be discussed as you will see including the future of our Children – education and prosperity and general health”, he said.

TRA,  previously known as Tonga History Association was established in 1989 by its first president as Dr Sione Latu Kefu and assisted  by Professor Futa Helu. It was to “preserve, study and discuss Tongan History at a micro-level, from the past right up to the present”.

Click here for the programme in Tongan

Miss Rosemarie Fili crowned winner of Miss Heilala 2013

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Miss Appraxus Immigration New Zealand, Miss Rosemarie Fili has been named as the winner of Tonga's Miss Heilala 2013-2014. The 22-year-old Waikato University graduate of Leimatu'a, Vava'u, Hala'ovave, Tongatapu but now residing in Hamilton, New Zealand  beat 7 competitors to be presented with the crown in Nuku'alofa this evening July 5.

Sione Liavaʻa formally received Queenʻs Service Medal

By
Kaniva Staff
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The retired assistant manager at Radio Tonga- Le'o 'oe 'Otu Motu Anga'ofa, Sione Liavaʻa was awarded with Queen's Service Medal.

The Governor-General, Sir Jerry Mateparae, presented Sione Tupukauvalu Liava'a with the Queen'sHonourary  Service Medal for services to the Tongan Community.

The ceremony was held at Government House Auckland on 5 July 2013.

All six accused against Fungavaka’s death to stand trial, Supreme Court rules

By
Kaniva Staff
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A Supreme Court judge in Nuku’alofa overturned the decision by the magistrate court to release three police officers who had been charged in relation to the death of New Zealand policeman Kali Fungavaka.

The three police constables, Fatai Faletau, Tevita Vakalahi and Manu Tu'ivai, were released in April by Magistrate Salesi Mafi saying he found insufficient evidence against them.

One of the accused charged by the police and upheld by the magistrate court was Police Inspector Hala’ufia. Hala’ufia appealed his prosecution.

Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Cato said, “The respondents are committed for trial and the appeal by Hala’ufia is dismissed,"

All six males, five policemen and a civilian,  were ordered to be bailed out and they will appear in court on August 5 to decide a date for trial.

Mr Fungavaka was in Tonga to attend his grandfather’s funeral. He ended up in one of the restaurant bars in Nuku’alofa where he was arrested and allegedly beaten to death by the six accused.

Tonga High School celebrates two anniversaries

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tonga High School alumni are hosting a formal 65th and 66th celebration in Nuku’alofa this week. The event coincides with the Heilala Week Festival as well as King’s Birthday. The school’s 65th anniversary was postponed since King George V died last year.  The celebration started yesterday 3 with a welcoming reception hosted by 1975 – 1979 ex-students.

Today’s program began with a street parade by all classes behind students carrying signs that designate each class and year. It was followed by a lunch hosted by classes of 1950-1955 and a fundraising for the school cultural events. It continued on to night with a singing competition by all chapters as well as Individual Talent Show.

The event will end on Sunday 7 with a combined Church Services at the Free Wesleyan Church’s Falelotu Senituli  in Nuku’alofa

Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga’s property in Sydney known as Pulela’ā gets new owner

By
Kaniva Staff
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A spokesperson for the Sant Nirankari Mission in Sydney confirmed today Tuesday 2 that they have successfully won the bid to purchase the property at 166 Glendenning Road, Glendenning, New South Wales belonged to the Tongan church of Pulela’a.

The person known only as Mr Ajay told Kaniva News they have bought the multi-million dollar church and renovation started on June 25 after signing up contract documents with the bank.

Mr Ajay could not reveal the amount of the bid when he was asked by Kaniva News saying it was confidential.

Today they have taken down the Free Wesleyan Church’s sign that erected by the road in front of the church and replaced it with their Mission’s sign, he said.

“We are just Mission and we believe that everyone is equal in God and that we have to treat everyone equally,” Mr Ajay said.

“It firmly believes that the realization of God is the real objective of human life and this can be achieved only through the benevolence of the living true master: the Satguru”.

The new deal apparently has brought an end to a confusion among members of the Free Wesleyan Church around the globe over whether the church leaders in the Tongan Sydney-based church communities were reliably giving church members correct financial reports regarding the church’s loans and debts over Pulela’a or not.

The expenses for the building of the church had been made through secured loans but regular missed payments occurred as well as more millions borrowed saw the debts snowballed to a state the church struggled to pay them back.

The loan repayments heavily dependent on only thousands of dollars donated annually by church members.

Reverend Sione Pinomi of the church reportedly told the members in 2011 that a Trust Fund registered in the Cayman Islands has donated $10 million to help with church’s loans. Later on he told the church its debts had been paid off by the Trust.

It was followed by a celebration arranged by church members to rejoice over the paying off their debts. The chairperson of the Trust, Mr Davendor Deo also known by the name David Maharaj and who was first  introduced to the church by Reverend Pinomi was invited and attended the festivity. He confirmed the church members that their loans with Westpac Bank have all been cleared off by his Trust.

Davendor Deo according to document produced by the receivership company was said to have obtained more than $50,000 dollars from the church in what was called as “facilitation fees”. The fees were paid to Mr Deo so he could be able to obtain larger amount of funds for the church, it said.

However in January 2012, the church went into voluntary administration and later on into receivership. A reliable source told Kaniva News that with the church now losing its bid to still retain the church property it also has lost all its 5 other properties around the country that were being held as security for the loan.

Kaniva News contacted Reverend Pinomi but no one answered the phone. We later on received a call from a lady by the name  Vila. She said Reverend Pinomi was at a meeting.  We left a message with her for Rev Pinomi to call us but we have not yet received any call from him.

Tonga's Fisheries Minister says he was not trying to induce voters

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga’s Fisheries Minister said this week he was not trying to buy votes by giving out fish to old people.

The Hon Sangstar Saulala told Parliament last week he was just trying to help people.

He said he helped the needy people in his constituency “to share what he had".

A source told Kaniva News her aunty in the village of Ha’ateiho received a plastic bag of four fish given by a man who arrived by van on June 15 and said they were from Hon Saulala.

Tevita Vaingalo, the town officer of  Ha’ateiho  told Kele’a newspaper the minister asked him for a list of elderly people in the village. There were 60 names on the list.

Ha’ateiho is one of four villages in the constituency of Tongatapu Seven where fish were handed out on June 15 and 22.

The gift to the elderly was seen by many as an attempt to woo voters in the area, especially the families and relatives of the elderly.

However, Tonga’s next parliamentary election will not be held until 2014 and online critics have asked why he would be distributing fish a year before voting took place.

Hon Saulala’s comments made after Democratic Party Leader 'Akilisi Pohiva  told the House last week about a letter he received from a man in Pangaimotu Vava’u complaining  that the last election for town and district officers was won by a candidate who had butchered a hog and distributed the meat among the villagers during the election.  

Hon Saulala was elected to Parliament in 2010 after an aggressive campaign by the Democratic Party.

Voters in  Tongatapu 7 believed he had signed a memorandum with the Party and that he would be a loyal member.

In July 2012 Hon Saulala crossed the floor to rescue the noble’s party and its leader Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano after a No Confidence motion by the Democratic Party.

Kaniva News was unable to obtain a comment from Hon Saulala.

American Samoans considered US nationals, but not US citizens

By
via Scoop Media
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The 56,000 residents of American Samoa can work, travel freely and join the US army, but they are not considered citizens

The federal court in Washington DC has dismissed the citizenship lawsuit filed last July by five American Samoans and a California based organisation, whose suit asked the court to declare that all persons born in American Samoa should become US citizens.

American Samoans are today considered US nationals, but not US citizens. This means they can work, travel freely and join the US military, but they cannot vote in federal elections or attend jury duty.

Defendants in the suit were the federal government, and three US State Department officials who last year asked the court to dismiss the case.

Congressman of American Samoa, Faleomavaega Eni, supported the State Department.

On Tuesday this week, the American Samoa Government filed a motion to intervene but was dismissed yesterday by the federal court saying the issue is now moot due to the ruling in the case. 

“Although we are glad that Judge Leon recognised that ‘none of the Insular Cases directly addressed the Citizenship Clause’, we are disappointed that he was not willing to consider those century-old cases in light of more recent court decisions that explain the need to focus on American Samoa’s unique history and modern circumstances,” said local attorney Charles Alailima, according to Samoa News.

SOURCE: scoop.co.nz

Kele’a Newspaper appeals magistrate ruling of $124,721.80

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Tongan Kele’a Newspaper along with the writer to the editor, Solomone Palu fined on June 12 for defaming seven ministers of the crown including the Prime Minister have filed on June 24 at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court an appeal against the magistrate’s decision.

The newspaper said its lawyer, Sione ‘Etika claimed the total amount of damages ruled against the defendants fell beyond the power given to a magistrate to rule accordingly which is $10,000.

Magistrate Salesi Mafi ruled in favour of the plaintiffs and ordered the Newspaper together with Mr Palu to pay damages totalling  $124,721.80.

The defendants were taken to court by the plaintiffs following a letter to the editor of the newspaper published in October 2012.

The letter referred to claims made in Parliament against the ministers accusing the law could not make it to bring them to justice.

The newspaper said the letter has been allowed for publication as the writer was protected under the rights to fair comment and qualify privilege.  

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