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Complaint: Immigration says Finefeuiaki is not an employee

By
Kalino Latu
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An alleged immigration fraud was believed to have wrought havoc the Tongan communities in Auckland for years, a complaint lodged with Immigration Advisors Authority has claimed.

The woman who is in the middle of the complaint is Halaevalu Faleafā Finefeuiaki. She claimed she worked for the Immigration New Zealand.

Finefeuiakiʻs Linkedin profile matched her employment claim. It says, Finefeuiaki was a student at the University of Auckland and she works for the Immigration New Zealand. Kaniva however checked her Linkedin account this evening and it has been taken down.

Immigration New Zealand denied that it employed Finefeuiaki.

The alleged fraud surfaced after one of the Tongan immigration consultants in New Zealand, Tufui Fonua Kama complaint to IAA and INZ.

Kama’s complaint says she obtained information that Finefeuiaki advertised through words of mouth in her church community that she was “one of my staff”.

Kama denied to Kaniva News Finefeuiaki’s claim that she worked for her and she did not know her by any means.

Finefeuiaki did not return Kaniva's message.

A female victim, Kalesita To’a has come forward and declared she was defrauded by Finefeuiaki.

Toʻa told Kaniva News she met Finefeuiaki at her Epsom church community in Auckland. Finefeuiaki told her that she worked for Immigration New Zealand.

At one point, Finefeuiaki told To’a, who has just visited New Zealand from Tonga that she can apply to obtain her a permanent resident permit.

To’a paid her about $400 and gave Finefeuiaki her passport.

To’a found out later from her church community that Finefeuiaki was not working for Immigration New Zealand. She managed to claim her passport but could not retrieve all her money.

Kama told Kaniva News that according to information she gathered from her clients who were victims of Finefeuiaki, the immigration swindle has been around the Tongan community for years but was never reported.

She said there were also Tongans in Tonga who fell victims to Finefeuiaki’s unscrupulous activity.

These people had been duped into giving Finefeuiaki money and koloa faka-Tonga after she promised she would secure them New Zealand immigration visas and permits, Kama said.

Kaniva News contacted IAA regarding Finefuiaki but Maheesha Kottegoda said, “We do not provide information on investigations”.

Face of Beauty International -Tonga: Vote for Diamond Langi

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A campaign has been launched on social media inviting people to vote and support  Miss Diamond Langi’s quest to win the  Face of Beauty International 2013 World Final.

Diamond Langi comes from Vaini, Tongatapu and is a Sydney based Model. Modelling experience of 7 years in, Editorial, Commercial, Beauty, and Runway. She joined last year’s Tonga Miss Heilala Beauty Pageant.

People can vote online via http://www.faceofbeautyinternational.com/vote-online/

“Face of Beauty International 2013 World Final will be held in Bangkok and Pattaya City, Thailand, 3 to 13 November 2013. Grand Final will be held at Pattaya Colosseum Show on the 12 November 2013.

“This year Miss Teen Face of Beauty International extended its age and has now branched to become Face of Beauty International. With its second year running over 40 young women will join together at Face of Beauty International 2013.

“Face of Beauty International aims to empower our contestants to find beauty and to become that beauty by gaining greater confidence in themselves through sharing their knowledge, experience, and developed skills with many young women who struggle to find their beauty and potential within themselves around the world. We believe that such positive encouragement and support from our peers and family is needed in our society.

“We will find out what beauty means to our Face of Beauty contestants through their journey in Thailand, and particularly in the I AM ME Workshop. With no height or weight restrictions to Face of Beauty International competition, we believe all young women are perfect and beautifully unique in their own way.

Our contestants and winners will continue to be Faces of Beauty worldwide and encourage young women to find their own beauty/confidence to help them strive for the best in their lives. Heads up beauty is around us, we just need to open our eyes to see it”.

Tongan artists arrive in New Zealand

By
Kalino Latu
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Six Tongan artists have visited New Zealand this week as part of a cultural exchange to share their knowledge of heritage arts and celebrate the close ties between the people of Tonga and New Zealand.

The artists will participate in a free public programme of workshops, demonstrations and talks at Mangere Arts Centre – Ngā Tohu o Uenuku and the Auckland War Memorial Museum. They will also take a tour of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and meet with local Māori and Pacific artists to exchange cultural knowledge.

The week-long programme begins on Saturday 19 October at Mangere Arts Centre with a ‘Tongan heritage arts and community day’, celebrating with local community groups and artists.

“We have a large Tongan community in Aotearoa, and this exchange recognises and celebrates the special relationship between Tonga and New Zealand,” says Cath Cardiff, Creative New Zealand’s Senior Manager Arts Policy, Capability and International.

“Creative New Zealand aims to support the preservation of Pacific heritage arts in New Zealand and we are grateful for the support of the three leading venues that are helping to facilitate this programme.”

The visiting artists represent the three genres of Tongan arts – tufunga (material), faiva (performance) and nimamea’a (fine) arts.

The artists include Tamale (Tonga Mohenoa) who comes from a long line of master artists who specialise in the material art of tufunga lalava (kafa sennit-lashing); Metuliki Fakatava who is an established punake – a master artist who specialises in all three performance arts of faiva ta’anga (poetry), faiva hiva (music) and faiva haka (dance); and three women who specialise in nimamea’a lālānga, the Tongan fine art of weaving: Ane ‘Ata Tupou Pongi, Paea he Lotu Mailau and Teilaiti Fungatau’akipulu Lasa.

The group will be led by Lady Tunakaimanu Fielakepa, who is an expert on Tongan cultural protocols relating to women’s fine arts of material wealth. She will act as spokesperson for the group of artists.

Creative New Zealand would also like to acknowledge Tonga’s Handicrafts and Cultural Tourism Support Programme, which has been instrumental in making this exchange happen.

The visit is funded through Creative New Zealand’s Pacific cultural exchange programme. Last year’s exchange saw Samoan heritage artists visit New Zealand.

Sex scandal: Tonga’s Democratic Party found no evidence

By
Kalino Latu
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The Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands said it will take no further action follwoing an allegation that two of its party members involved in a sex scandal. The annoucement came after an internal inquiry has found no concrete evidence against the accused.  

The duo allegedly fathered children with two women respectively, an action the party says it against its memorandum of understanding signed by all party members.

The news was first revealed by the local newspaper Kele’a saying it got it from its weekly evangelical columnist, Dr Ma‘afu Palu.

MP Sione Havea Taione, the secretary for the party told Kaniva News he talked to the person who brought the accussation against the two members and he found out it was based on “hearsay”.

Taione said,  the party has made a decision that the accusation was invalid.

Human skeletal remains identified as Malapo man

By
Kalino Latu
-

Authorities in Tonga say the human remains found on June 25 have been identified as those of  Niumataevalu Talanoa Lelei (47), from the village of Malapo.

Tonga police said a group of local fishermen  found the decomposed human remains near a sea cliff at the village of Veitongo.

The remains were sent to New Zealand and a report received last week confirmed the outcome after the forensic pathologists matched DNA of the deceased with a relative, Tonga police said.

There was no evidence of foul play over the death of Lelei, and the information submitted to an inquest confirmed that it was a suicide.

Police report says at the time they found a briefcase and Tongan passports at the scene. A rope was also found hanging from a nearby tree.

Lelei was not reported missing, acccording to Police.

Mate Ma‘a Tonga Fundraising dinner draws full house

By
Kalino Latu
-

Organisers say last night’s fundraising dinner  for the Mate Ma’a Tonga team was a brilliant success but apologised for any inconvenience.

The dinner was arranged as part of the New Zealand Tongan Rugby League  Committee’s endeavour to fund the hosting of the Mate Ma’a Tonga team.

A squad of 24 heroes are currently here in Auckland on a three days stopover en route to England for the Rugby League World Cup 2013.

The results of two fundraising events by the committee are yet to be announced but they said the remaining funds after paying all expenses will go to the players.  

The committee's Chairperson Sione Kivalu told Kaniva News, “It was a great event. We couldn’t have asked for a better night.

We had a great turnout, the dinner was fun for everyone, thanks a million to the sponsors and those who offered to contribute by providing items for the entertainment.”

The president of the Tonga Rugby League Association, Semisi Sika reminded Captain Brent Kite and the team they have “a big support” referring to thousands of supporters who have turned out since the world cup sessions started.

As it is always vital to encourage and raise the morale of a competing team, Sika touched on the financial support given by New Zealand Tongans to the kingdom.

“Tonga’s economy is supported by a large flow of remittances from Tongans living overseas. 

That is how Tongan people love our poor nation”, Sika who spoke in Tongan said referring to an estimated $200 million remittances being sent to Tonga every year.

He told the team, “we have nothing to give these Tongans in exchange for their great love for our nation.

He then emotionally delivered his message of encouragement. He told the Mate Ma‘a Tonga players –  “an excellent performance in the Rugby League World Cup in England will surely pay our Tongan supporters overseas a compliment”.

He reemphasised his words to an appreciative audience of more than 500 diners in the Otahuhu Rugby League Club last night.  

The Tongan way of fakaanga or judging how well other people do celebration and organised activities was the toughest moment the organisers had to face up to.

Chairperson Kivalu told Kaniva News he was sorry for any shortfalls in the program that some guests may have experienced.

His apology came as some guests expressed their concerns to Kaniva News at the number of guests attending, as it appeared to be higher than the number of tickets sold.  

Ane Kivalu, a member of NZTRL said the committee did not expect people would just turn up to the door and earnestly beg to show their support for the team.  

“We have repeatedly announced that to get an entry to the dinner they have to prepurchase their tickets. When the tickets were sold out we also let them know”, Mrs Kivalu added.

“It is difficult, however to deny them entry at the door when you see them face to face pleading to come in”, Mrs Kivalu said adding that "we were there to show our support".

Mrs Kivalu also apologised for any inconvenience.

The committee said they also received a lot of support saying many people were thankful about the outcome of the event.

The Mate Ma’a Tonga team will leave for England this afternoon. They will play their opening game against Scotland  at the Derwent Park, Workington, England on October 29.

New management for the Indian-Kolomotuʻa based solar light project

By
Kalino Latu
-

A solar engineering programme that has been brought to Tonga in May 2012 from India to provide energy source for lighting has been thoroughly assessed recently.

This resulted in a replacement of the former project's community facilitator, Mr. Sione Tupouniua.

Meagan Carnahan Fallone from the Barefoot College in India was cautious and denied claim that the restructure of the group reportedly stemmed from an investigation into mismanagement and malpractices.

Instead she told Kaniva News the change in the management followed procedures as the Tonga project must be assessed to make sure it operates effectively.

“For this project to succeed, it must be understood by all of the project beneficiaries that the equipment belongs to Barefoot College and the community. The individual families with solar systems have not "bought" the equipment.

The project now is being handled by a group known as GERM – Grassroots Energy Road Map led by Sione Halauafu.

Through the project, two Tongan grandmothers Siutiti Halatoa (51) and Siale Leohau (47) attended India's Barefoot College in 2011, to be trained in how to install the new solar panels.

They returned in 2012 and began implementing their new skills after Barefoot College launched the project on May 2012.

The two women installed solar light panels in up to 80 homes that dependent on candles for lighting and without electricity in Sopu, Hala 'o Vave and 'Isileli areas.

Fallone said, “Halauafu’s team are currently taking steps to institutionalize the project within the Kolomotu'a community and to create an operational committee that will oversee and guide this project over the coming years.

Most of the equipment has already been installed throughout the Tongatapu island group. Some of the systems are in need of repairs, and all of the systems will need maintenance, she said. 

Fallone added that the programme was not intended to make profit out of the materials and equipment for the projects.

She said,  “Each customer will need to sign an updated contract expressing their willingness to pay a very manageable monthly fee (probably in the area of $8 to $10 USD, to be determined by the committee) in exchange for the solar energy.

“This monthly fee will be collected and deposited in a secure, communal bank account that was recently created by Sione Halauafu and the transition committee.

“These funds will pay a small salary for the people doing frequent maintenance of the panels and will eventually help pay for the replacement battery.

“Without these monthly payments and the corresponding maintenance, the equipment will fail after just 5-6 years of use.

With these payments and with community ownership, this project (and the equipment) can last for decades,” she said.

Kaniva News could not be able to obtain comments from Sione Tupouniua.

Featured image: Taimi Online

Auckland Mayor Len Brown has another woman

By
Kalino Latu
-

Mayor Len Brown of the Auckland City has swayed from marital bliss and had an affair on the side. His mistress is Hong Kong-born Bevan Chuang (32).

She was an unsuccessful local board candidate for the conservative C&R at the recent election, and until recently a member of Auckland Council's Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel.

A statement from  Brown’s office says:

 “I don’t intend to comment on the highly personalised allegations made on a blog site this afternoon.

“But I do confirm that I had a relationship with a woman that lasted around two years.

“I told my wife previously, and she and I are working through the issues privately. We are looking to protect our children as best we can.

“These are matters of an entirely personal nature and I ask that the media respect my family’s privacy.”

Brown confirmed the woman was not a council employee but served on a council advisory board and stood in this year’s election for a local board.

Historic win for Pacific candidates in Auckland local elections

By
Kalino Latu
-

The huge number of Pacific candidates who were elected in the weekend’s local government elections, especially in Auckland is a huge boost for the Labour Party and a good sign of things to come in the future says Labour’s Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson, Su’a William Sio.

“It didn’t hit me until this morning when I reported to Caucus that out of the 17 Pacific candidates that Labour stood in the Auckland local government elections, 14 were elected, with 8 winning for the first time who either stood for council, local board, licensing trust and for the district health boards.  I realised this is a historic first as it is the most Pacific candidates Labour has stood and won.

“It’s an excellent result for Labour and is credit to all our supporters, friends and family members of the candidates who believe that Labour candidates are committed to local democracy, building strong resilient communities and aspire for quality of life for all and not just for the few.

“I’m really excited by these results because it’s a sign that the Pacific are ready to vote Labour into government next year”, said Su’a William Sio.

The Labour Pacific Candidates that won are:

Alf Filipaina – re-elected onto Auckland Council;

Lydia Sosene – re-elected onto Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board;

Walter Togiamua – re-elected onto Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board;

Tafafunai Tasi Lauese – re-elected onto Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board;

Leau Peter Skelton – re-elected onto Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board;

Josephine Bartley – Tamaki-Maugakiekie Local Board

Nick Bakulich – newly elected onto Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board;

Efeso Collins – newly elected onto Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board;

Fuli Lotu – newly elected onto Otara Papatoetoe Local Board;

Ruby Manukia-Schaumkel – newly elected onto Whau Local Board;

Simon Matafai – newly elected onto Whau Local Board;

Obed Unasa – newly elected onto Tamaki-Maugakiekie Local Board;

Jenny Salesa – newly elected on the Mt Wellington Licensing Trust;

Apulu Reece Autagavaia – newly elected on the Counties Manukau District Health Board

Anger at Tonga High School students’ suspension

By
Kalino Latu
-

A decision by the Tonga High School authorities to send home a number of students who wore “indecent” clothes on their school mufti day sparked fury from parents.

The school held a mufti day on October 2 and it was announced that all students have to wear proper Tongan formal attire.

Students who refused to comply were told to go home upon arrival and come back with the proper clothing.

The decision turned sour as it prompted parents to contact the school and media. 

An anonymous source told Kaniva News the decision by the principal, ‘Amelia Folaumahina to send home her children without contacting her first was disappointing.

“See, just last year the ministry and our PTA committee met to address concerns that female students were found to be lured away from school and involved in inappropriate behaviour during school hours.

“As a result we hired a security guard company to monitor the school entrance everyday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

“What happened here was the opposite of what we decided should happen. Our children dispersed in the town down Nuku’alofa during morning hours up to midday while I was at work. They ended up at the waterfront swimming.

“Who is going to be blamed if my children drowned at sea? And to tell them to go home because of their clothing, it is appalling to see decision makers come to such a terrible decision without considering the safety of my children first,” the source said.

Kaniva News could not make contact with the Tonga High School’s principal but was able to talk to one of its staff, Lu’isa Fainga Mahe.

Mahe said the students who wore “indecent” clothes were only asked to go home and come back in Tongan Formal Attire. That  is for the girls to wear tupenu, ta’ovala as well as the boys.

She was told the parents were concerned at the principal’s decision to send home their children without the school contacting them first.  Mahe said that was the only problem but that has been dealt with now.

Asked whether the claim by the parents that the school collected the mufti money before sending  their children home was true, Mahe disagreed.

She said the clothing these students wore was inappropriate and against one of the causes of the mufti day which was to promote the faka’apa’apa faka-Tonga (Tongan culture of respect) in which clothing is of vital importance.

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