Police are searching for a driver who crashed into two properties in Massey, West Auckland before fleeing on foot this morning.
A vehicle entered a driveway and crashed through a fence and into two houses shortly after 4am. (Source: 1News)
Emergency services were called after a vehicle travelling along Don Buck Rd entered a driveway and crashed through a fence and into two houses shortly after 4am.
“Thankfully no one was injured,” a police spokesperson said
Vehicle crashes into two West Auckland homes
Footage taken by 1News showed debris strewn from homes on Don Buck Rd, in Massey.
https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.686.0_en.html#fid=goog_355718203Play Video
Vehicle crashes into two West Auckland homes0:34
Footage taken by 1News showed debris strewn from homes on Don Buck Rd, in Massey. (Source: 1News)
“The driver has abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot and inquiries are underway to locate them.”
Footage taken by 1News showed debris strewn from both homes into the surrounding yards.
Footage taken by 1News showed debris strewn from a hole in one of the homes. (Source: 1News)
Anyone with information was urged to call 105, or provide information anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Reports said an attempted arson incident took place at Tonga High School buildings on Wednesday 19. Â
Attempted arson at Tonga High School/ Photos/Supplied
Photos posted to Facebook show black discolouration on room doors, resembling damage caused by fire.Â
Former Prime Minister Huâakavameiliku, who was also the Chair of the schoolâs alumni association, said the police had been informed of the matter. Â
âEarly yesterday morning, a fire started at the doors of several classrooms at Tonga High Schoolâ, he said in Tongan.
He expressed relief that the attempted arson was identified and thwarted before significant damage occurred. Â
âThis terrible act nearly disrupted the education of our students, affecting approximately 1,400 students at THS.
âWe hope this was just a reckless act and not something with a deeper motive.
âPlease support the police and firefighters in identifying those responsible. We do not want such destructive incidents to continue happeningâ.
In 2000, the school experienced a huge fire that destroyed classrooms and equipment, with damages estimated at $3 million.
Tonga is currently dealing with an outbreak of dengue fever, with the Minister of Health confirming 10 cases since last Friday.
Health Minister Dr ‘Ana ‘Akau’ola
Most cases are from Tongatapu, and the age group most affected is 12 – 17.
The Ministry of Health said in a statement the number of positive and suspected cases has increased significantly over the past few days in the island groups of Tongatapu, Vava’u, and Eua.
More cases are expected due to the ongoing rain and adverse weather conditions, which favour breeding sites for the mosquitoes responsible for the transmission of the dengue virus, the statement said.
The Officers in Charge of Health in all outer island groups have been alerted to the situation and encourage their respective practitioners to have a high index of suspicion for early detection and treatment of cases.
The Public Health outbreak response teams have been mobilized to conduct positive case investigations, contact management, robust vector control, and preventative measures.
The Ministry reminds the public that dengue fever is contagious.
It spreads from person to person through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
The public is urged not to panic but to educate themselves about dengue fever and to seek medical attention promptly if they experience symptoms.
Dengue Fever symptoms include:
Sudden high fever
Severe headaches
Pain behind the eyes
Joint and muscle pain
Nausea
Vomiting
Swollen glands
Rash that appears 3-4 days after fever begins
Severe symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bleeding gums and vomiting blood, require immediate medical attention.
Consultation and dialogue with World Health Organization and other technical partners continues while mobilizing resources to enhance surveillance, community wide clean-up and prevention measures.
A gale warning has been issued for the Niuas, while the rest of the Tonga group has received a strong wind warning.Â
Heavy rain warnings and flash flood advisory remain in force for the Niua Toputapu and Niua Fo’ou land areas.
Tonga MetService says an active trough of low pressure lies over the Niuas and is associated with cloudy to overcast skies, occasional heavy rain, thunderstorms, and strong gusting to gale-force winds for the rest of this week.
Meanwhile, a fresh to strong easterly wind will continue to prevail over the Vava’u, Ha’apai, Tongatapu, and Eua groups.
For Niua Toputapu, Met said a northwesterly wind of up to 20 – 25 knots, rising up to 30 – 35 knots at times and south to southeast at times tomorrow. Rough to very rough seas (up to four metres). Moderate northwesterly winds (up to three metres). Poor visibility due to heavy rain.
For Niuafo’ou coastal waters, it said northwesterly wind of up to 20 – 25 knots rising to 30 – 35 knots at times and becoming south to southwest tomorrow. Rough to very rough seas (up to four metres). A moderate northwesterly winds (up to three metres). Poor visibility due to heavy rain.
For Vava’u coastal waters, Met said an east-to-south wind of up to 15-20 knots rising up to 25 knots at times. The winds will become 20-25 and gust up to 30-35 knots at times tomorrow night. Moderate seas (up to two and a half metres) will then become rough to very rough seas by tomorrow night (up to four metres). Moderate northwesterly winds (up to three metres) will also be expected. Poor visibility due to heavy rain.
For Ha’apai, Tongatapu, and Eua coastal waters, east-to-southeast winds are 15-20 knots, rising to 25-30 knots at times. There are moderate to rough seas (up to three metres).
For Tele-ki-Tonga and Tele-ki-Tokelau coastal waters, the authority said easterly winds 15-20 knots. Moderate seas (up to two metres).
A man has received a sentence of four-and-a-half years in prison after being apprehended for possession of methamphetamine and $2,800 in cash. Â
Kisina Neiufi, 33, was arrested after Police found in his car 3.51 grams of methamphetamine and five empty dealer packs.
His sentencing means he violated the 12-month suspension imposed for a prior drug conviction, prompting Justice Cooper to activate that suspension.
The court was told that the police, acting on information received, specifically targeted Neiufi’s car.
As he approached an ‘api in Vaotu’u, police in two vehicles boxed in his car, and as they moved in to search him and his wife in the front passenger seat.
He was seen throwing an item from the front passenger window, which the police later identified as methamphetamine.
The police also found TOP$ 2,800 in Neiufi’s possession. Along with the cash, empty ‘dealer’ bags were recovered from his hand.
A pre-sentence report showed Neiufi was a talented rugby player.
He married in 2016, and his wife told the Probation Officer that his constant illicit drug use had deeply affected her, their marriage and attempts at a stable life.
She had tried many times to forgive him, having been assured he had changed, but to no avail.
They have a child together whom she supports through her hard work.
Vaotuâu town officer, Mr. Amipeliasi Tu’akoi, told the court Neiufi is not a bad person and as such is not detrimental to their community.
While Neiufi maintains his innocence, it is noteworthy he never put forward any explanation for the ‘dealer bags’ found in his possession and were photographed by police, wrapped around some of the $50 bank notes that were found in his hand by the officers.
âThat tends to underline how unrealistic his protestations of innocence areâ, Mr Cooper said.
Reports said Police in Sydney allegedly found an arsenal of weapons after searching a car linked to two Tongan suspects. Â
Paea Tuiniua was extradited from Queensland on 13 charges, including possessing a grenade, pistol and semi-assault rifle.
Sydney Police allegedly found a Glock pistol, a grenade and a semi-automatic rifle in a stolen car after police were shot at during a pursuit through Sydneyâs west, with the suspected gunman extradited from Queensland after a week on the run.
A Sydney Morning Herald report said the discovery comes after Paea Tuâiniua, 20, and Faez Finau, 20, had been arrested after a report of an attempted robbery at a home on Calaria Close in Edensor Park around 1.30am on December 31. Â
âWhen officers located the vehicle on Cowpasture Road in Hinchinbrook and the pair refused to pull over, a pursuit began but was soon abandoned due to the driverâs erratic behaviourâ, the report said.
Another chase was initiated shortly after the car was spotted on St James Road in Varroville.
Police alleged during this pursuit, Tuiniua leant out of the window and fired multiple shots at a police car.
One bullet hit the wheel arch and the other hit the car grill. The officers were unharmed.
Police deployed road spikes, running the car off the road.
Finau was arrested at the scene while Tuiniua allegedly escaped into nearby bushland, sparking a major police operation with dozens of officers including heavily armed tactical units combing the area.
Finau was taken to Campbelltown police station and charged with nine offences including possessing or using a military-style weapon without a permit, possessing an unauthorised pistol, possessing a loaded firearm in a public place, and special aggravated break and enter with intent and armed with a dangerous weapon.
He faced Parramatta court on January 1 where he did not apply for bail and was formally refused it.
Tuiniua was arrested at Brisbane Airport last month wearing luxury brand Burberry board shorts and a T-shirt and extradited to NSW after he allegedly fled the state following the New Yearâs Eve pursuit.Â
A photo of what appeared to be New Zealand immigration compliance officers inside a house where a Tongan family lived has ignited heated debates on social media.
Photo/Facebook
Many users are weighing in on the implications of the image, claiming that law enforcement officers were apprehending a family member due to allegations of visa overstay.
Immigration New Zealand could not immediately be reached for comment.
The photo purportedly shows a female officer placing her hand on a man who is hugging a child, believed to be his daughter, with two other officers standing by their side.
While the community agreed that the officers were doing their job, many raised concerns about what they had described as the actions of certain members within the Tongan community, accusing them of allegedly alerting immigration authorities about the address of the person in question. Â
Some community members took their actions a step further by sharing photos of people whom they claimed to have reported the man to immigration on Facebook.
However, supporters of these people have defended them and refuted the allegations of their involvement.
The news comes after Immigration Compliance officers located six unlawful migrants last year following an investigation into their failure to depart New Zealand in accordance with their visa requirements.
Steve Watson, General Manager Immigration Compliance and Investigations, said at the time that the legal obligation to leave New Zealand before a temporary visa expires is clearly communicated on visas.
âTemporary visa holders must ensure that their visa is current. People who overstay their visa are expected to leave New Zealand. Wherever possible, we contact people who overstay their visas through texting, email and â if they fail to depart â Compliance staff may undertake enquiries and if there are no special circumstances to consider, will locate and deport them.
âWhen someone is unlawfully in New Zealand, we know it is harder for them to legally engage in society and this means they can be vulnerable to exploitation. Employers are also committing an offence by employing unlawful migrants.â
Reports said an attempted arson incident took place at Tonga High School buildings on Wednesday 19. Â
Photos of attempted arson at Tonga High School. Photos/Supplied
Photos posted to Facebook show black discolouration on room doors, resembling damage caused by fire.Â
Former Prime Minister Huâakavameiliku, who is also the Chair of the schoolâs alumni association, said the matter has been reported to the police. Â
âEarly yesterday morning, a fire started at the doors of several classrooms at Tonga High Schoolâ, he said in Tongan.
He expressed relief that the attempted arson was identified and thwarted before significant damage occurred. Â
âThis terrible act nearly disrupted the education of our students, affecting approximately 1,400 students at THS.
âWe hope this was just a reckless act and not something with a deeper motive.
âPlease support the police and firefighters in identifying those responsible. We do not want such destructive incidents to continue happeningâ.
In 2000, the school experienced a huge fire that destroyed classrooms and equipment, with damages estimated at $3 million.
EDITORIAL: Professor Siosiua Lafitaniâs ongoing denial that Tonga’s 2010 political reform was not a change into a democratic form of government, despite significant evidence proving it to be the case, is a complete lie.
Kalino Latu (L), Editor of Kaniva Tonga News and Professor Siosiua Lafitani
He has continued to attack Kaniva News, claiming that its comments and reports on the kingdomâs democracy were lying (âloiâ).
He alleged that Kaniva News and other media personnel such as veteran Pacific Journalists Michael Field from New Zealand and Kalafi Moala from Tonga as well as Keleâa newspaper were lying (ânau talanoa ki he fakaâamu / loiâ) when they reported that there were undemocratic activities (âikai fakatemokalatiâ) in Tonga.
He previously made a similar attack against Kaniva, with some Tongan lawyers saying Tonga was not a âPuleâanga Fakatemokalatiâ (democratic form of government). He accused us of allegedly promoting unenlightened thinking (âfakakaukau fakapoâuliâ) which he described as speculative (âfakanÄfalaâ).
Posting on his Loâau UniversityFacebook account recently, Professor Lafitani said in Tongan: â“Ne ‘ikai ke fai ha liliu fakatemokalati pe fakalepapulika he 2010, ko e liliu pe ia ke monomono mo fakamo’uihake ‘a e ngaahi konga fakatemokalati mo fakakonisitutone ne ‘osi ‘i he’etau konisitutone pe”
This translates into English as: âThere was no democratic or republic change in 2010; it was just change made to mend and re-enact democratic and constitutional parts (Konga) which were already in our constitutionâ.
Lafitani also claimed that the term democracy was not written in Tongaâs Constitution, arguing that this was one of the reasons why he asserted that the political reform 2010 was not meant to be a change for democracy.
The Loâau University professor also asserted that he was the first scholar to introduce the term “democracy” in Tonga during a speech delivered in 1988 at the University of âAtenisi. He said he did not mean to change Tonga to a democracy. He argued that there existed no record in newspapers or any public discourse in Tonga prior to that event that references democracy.
Democratic reforms
Tongaâs political reform 2010 was indeed a change to a more democratic system of governance.
The reform involved a significant change delegating the king’s executive powers to nominate ministers and operate the government to a Cabinet elected by the populace under the accountability of the Parliament.
The change serves as a pertinent illustration of governmental operations within a democratic framework, as the majority of Cabinet Ministers were elected to Parliament by their constituents rather than appointed by the monarch, which was the prior norm. This situation underscores the fundamental principle of democracy, which can be succinctly defined as “rule by the people.”
It is important to note that the monarch retains certain powers classified as executive in nature. Critics have viewed this as a significant shortcoming in the development of the constitution that was intended to transfer all of the kingâs executive authorities to the Prime Minister, in accordance with the wishes of the late King George V.
Despite these issues, many proponents of democracy were thankful that the change had finally come into fruition. King George V maintained that he expected his successors to make the necessary changes as the new democratic government continued to evolve.
King George V democracy will
The late King George V clearly articulated, during an interview with Australian broadcaster Bruce Hill in 2010 that the political reform was a shift towards democratic governance.
Part of the king and Hillâs interview is copied verbatim below (click this link for the full interview):
âKing George V: I think it’s a natural development of the original 19th century constitution. It’s an attempt to take the principles of that constitution and apply them in a 21st century idiom, which of course has to be democracy.
Bruce Hill: Is this something that you particularly support?
King George V: Yes! Yes, I ‘ve always wanted to do this for the country and it’s a very practical idea….â
Numerous media analyses and academic studies conducted both prior to and following the 2010 political reforms, including the works of Professor Guy Powels and Dr Christine Bogle confirmed that the 2010 political reform marked a shift from the status quo to a democratic system.Â
Introducing democracy
Professor Lafitani’s claim that he was the one who first introduced the idea of democracy to Tonga is not true. The Late âAkilisi PĆhiva, globally recognised with the Defender of Democracy title, was one of the pioneering advocates for democracy in Tonga. In 1981, he openly shared his views on transitioning the monarchy’s executive powers to a democratic system through his Matalafolaukai radio programme, doing so seven years prior to Lafitaniâs alleged speech.
Additionally, PĆhiva’s Keleâa Newspaper, which he initiated as a newsletter in 1986âjust two years before Lafitaniâs speech claimâfeatured numerous articles highlighting his democratic beliefs.
Other than that, in 1975, Late Huâakavameiliku Snr. the father of the current Huâakavameiliku, appeared to be the first commoner to have submitted to the then King Taufaâahau Tupou IV and his Cabinet a proposal of sweeping democratic changes. Late Prime Minister PĆhiva later said this was the foundation of his fight to bring democracy to Tonga.
Author Kenneth Bain quoted Dr Huâakavameiliku Snrâs proposal in his book The New Friendly Islander: A Voice from Within.
Constitution and democracy
The Professor’s claim that the term democracy was not written in the Tongan constitution is untrue. There are Acts in the Tongan laws that clearly mention the word democracy and its essential mechanisms such as good governance, accountability and transparency.
Page seven of the Cabinet Manualsays: âThe constitutional framework of the Kingdom encompasses the Monarchy, representative democracy and the rule of lawâ.
Lack of academic rigour
Professor Lafitani’s arguments are problematic due to their inherent contradictions and paradoxical nature, as well as their reliance on unfounded claims. He alleged there was no democratic changes yet concludes in the same breath that certain democratic elements within the constitution were re-enacted in 2010.
His analysis lacks specific references to the clauses of the Constitution to clearly substantiate his claims. This makes it difficult to believe his arguments are based on established principles.
Professor Lafitani’s failure to directly quote or reference any of Kaniva’s articles in order to clarify his position while critiquing those works based on their merits reflects a notable deviation from the accepted standards of academic criticism.
Such standards require critics to provide credible evidence, such as facts or relevant examples, that directly support their claim so that we can see whether or not they demonstrate any valid reasoning and make a well-founded and convincing argument.
Instead, the arguments against Tonga being a democracy seem to be based on an unwavering loyalty to the monarchical system and traditional norms.
