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COMMENTARY: Prime Minister Pōhiva warned about use of circulars, said they muzzled Opposition MPs

By
Kalino Latu
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EDITOR’S NOTE: This commentary was edited to reflect the fact that the response from the Deputy Clerk was meant to say that the Parliament using the circular was a normal means of communication.

COMMENTARY: It is time for the practice of using circulars to make decisions in Parliament was reviewed.

Circulars should only be used on agendas that are urgent.

They should not be used on important issues such as pay rises for Parliamentarians.

Such issues should be properly debated in the House so that they can be recorded in the minutes for the public to read and also broadcast for people to listen.

As Kaniva News reported yesterday, the government’s use of a circular to canvas MPs’ views on a pay rise has been called into question.

However, the Legislative Assembly’s Deputy Clerk, Dr Sione Vikilani, said the circular was a normal means of communication approved by the House and any information sent through it was legal.

In Tongan he said: “Ko e tohi ‘avetakai ko e founga ngāue pe ‘oku ‘ataa ke ngaue’aki pea ‘oku ‘ikai ke ta’efakalao ha tu’utu’uni ‘i hono fakahoko ‘i he founga koia”.

Dr Vikilani did not respond to a question asking why a circular was used to ballot the pay hike and not a face-to-face voting in the House.

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In 2018 Tonga’s former Prime Minister, the late ‘Akilisi Pōhiva, warned that using circulars in Parliament was open to abuse.

Speaking to Kaniva News, Pōhiva said the use of circulars was normal but did not allow for discussion.

MPs, especially the Opposition, could not debate whatever agenda was being circulated.

He said that traditionally Speakers and the Noble’s representatives, who were mostly the majority  in the House, used it to ballot issues they wanted to be decided in their favour.

The late Prime Minister’s comments were made during an interview in 2018 about the decision to approve an invitation from the Tonga Rugby League for a Parliament delegation to attend a match.

The decision was adopted through a circular, by collective resolution of Parliament.

Prime Minister Pōhiva’s concerns are just as relevant today as they were four years ago.

Debates and voting in the House must be open so that all citizens can see how their MPs voted and debate can be held in public.

This was illustrated in our story yesterday when Dr Vikilani would not say how MPs voted on the circular. 

A Parliament with secrets is not truly democratic.

Tribunal rules Immigration NZ misjudged Tongan woman’s partnership visa case

By
Kaniva Staff
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Immigration New Zealand has been ordered to reconsider a Tongan woman’s residence application after the Immigration and Protection Tribunal found the agency made a flawed assessment of her partnership status.

The woman, 25, who arrived in New Zealand in November 2023 on a visitor visa with her two eldest children, had applied for residence in September 2024 based on her partnership with her Tongan‑born husband.

The couple, who began a relationship in 2016 and have three children together, married in Tonga in 2023.

Immigration New Zealand declined the woman’s residence application on the grounds that she should have been included in her partner’s earlier immigration steps under the Pacific Access Category.

Immigration officials said she was eligible to be declared in her partner’s 2018 registration for the PAC ballot but was not included, and again eligible to be listed in his subsequent 2019 resident‑visa application but was omitted.

Those omissions triggered mandatory decline rules under the Family (Partnership) category.

The central question before the Immigration and Protection Tribunal was whether Immigration New Zealand had correctly determined that the woman and her partner were already in a partnership at the time he lodged both applications.

The Tribunal was tasked with deciding whether the partner was required to declare her as a partner in 2018 when registering for the PAC ballot, and again in 2019 when he applied for his resident visa.

However, the Tribunal ruled INZ was incorrect to find that the couple were in a de facto partnership at the time of the 2018 PAC registration.

While the pair were in a relationship and had a child together by then, the Tribunal noted they were not living together, their relationship was not publicly recognised, and they lacked the level of interdependence required to meet the definition of a de facto partnership under immigration instructions.

The Tribunal found the couple’s relationship, at that stage, did not amount to “a relationship in the nature of marriage,” meaning the woman did not have to be included in the PAC registration.

The Tribunal agreed that by March 2019—when the partner applied for his resident visa—the couple were living together and met the definition of a de facto partnership. As a result, the woman should have been eligible to be included in that 2019 visa application.

However, it found INZ failed to complete its assessment by not considering whether the partner’s non‑declaration of his partner in 2019 was done without an intention to mislead, and whether including her would or would not have changed the outcome of his visa application—both required under immigration instructions.

Because INZ had already declined the application on the earlier incorrect ground, it did not properly consider this second stage of the test.

The Tribunal cancelled INZ’s decision and directed the agency to reassess the woman’s application by an officer who has not previously been involved.

INZ must now complete its evaluation under the correct instructions, including determining whether the earlier non‑declaration was misleading and whether it would have affected the original visa outcome.

The Tribunal emphasised that while the appeal succeeded, this did not guarantee approval of the woman’s residence application. Her case will now return to Immigration New Zealand for full reassessment under the proper process.

As matai title rumours swirl, is it Tonga’s turn to offer the NZ PM a hingoa matāpule or nōpele?

By
Kalino Latu
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Commentary – As Christopher Luxon sets off for Samoa ahead of his visit to Tonga this week, his office is dismissing reports that he sought the Samoan matai title, despite the Samoan Prime Minister publicly suggesting he had.

According to a 1News report, the New Zealand Prime Minister is scheduled to receive the title Tui‑Sinave‑ma‑Ulumotootua on Monday morning during a ceremony outside Samoa’s main Government building in Apia.

The Prime Minister’s office has firmly denied claims that Luxon requested a Samoan matai title, calling the reports “incorrect.”

Meanwhile, Samoa’s Prime Minister reportedly joked that if Luxon became a matai, he would be obliged to support visa‑free entry for Pacific peoples—a sensitive issue as a 48,000‑signature petition for visa‑on‑arrival was recently presented to the New Zealand Parliament.

Laaulialemalietoa emphasised that “one’s duty as a matai is to serve Samoa,” and the visa debate is expected to feature in upcoming bilateral talks, though wider Government support remains lukewarm due to concerns about overstayers.

Mr Luxon is travelling with a delegation that includes business leaders and community representatives and is expected to meet with the newly appointed leaders of both countries.

It is understood the delegation included the Police Minister, the Minister for Pacific Peoples, and opposition MPs, led by Savae Sir Michael Jones and Rachel Afeaki.

Luxon says the trip is intended to reinforce New Zealand’s close ties with two key Pacific partners and to meet the new leaders and their cabinets.

A Well‑Established Tradition

Honouring a New Zealand Prime Minister with a matai title is nothing new.

Sir John Key was given the matai title To‘osavili during a 2009 visit to tsunami‑hit Poutasi; later, RNZ noted other PMs, including Robert Muldoon, David Lange, Jim Bolger, Sir Bill English, and Foreign Minister Winston Peters, have been honoured with Samoan titles.

That precedent helps explain why the current rumour resonated so quickly.

A Samoan matai title is a lifetime chiefly honour conferred by one’s ‘aiga to lead and serve within the fa‘amatai system.

In Tonga, Mr Luxon could be granted either a matāpule title or, alternatively, elevated to the status of a nōpele (noble).

A hingoa nōpele (noble title) is reserved solely for conferment by the King, whereas a hingoa matāpule (talking‑chief title) may be bestowed by the King, chiefs, or community leaders to designate an honorary figure connected to a chiefly household or a ceremonial herald responsible for formal speeches and fakapangai protocols.

In that case, if Tonga wanted to bestow a hingoa matāpule on Luxon, it could be done by Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua, since he is a noble of the realm or the Crown Prince, who is also a Cabinet Minister.

Honours Beyond Tonga’s Shores

Historically, the King of Tonga has had the authority to confer noble titles on distinguished individuals, including foreign figures, as honorary holders.

The late King George Tupou V exercised this prerogative by bestowing life peerages on several prominent individuals, such as former Fijian Vice President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi and former Scottish Chief Justice Ramsay Dalgety, as Lord Dalgety of Sikotilani, appointing them as Law Lords of Tonga.

Their responsibilities included advising the monarch on legal matters, a role carried out through periodic visits to Tonga as well as ongoing digital consultations.

Similarly, the hingoa matāpule has long been bestowed on notable foreigners as well as Tongans recognised for outstanding achievements abroad.

US Citizen Eric B. Shumway, former BYU–Hawaii president and long‑time LDS leader in Tonga, was made a matāpule with the title Faivaola in the early 1960s, recognising his fluency in chiefly language and service.

In sport, Dame Valerie Adams—New Zealand–Tongan Olympic great—was appointed Tongitupe‑ʻO e‑Funga Taua as a herald (matāpule) to Lord Vaea in 2015, a rare honour for a woman and an acknowledgement of her achievements and Tongan roots.

Examples like these highlight a Tongan–foreign cross‑cultural practice that honours individuals from any background, recognising their contributions and drawing on their status and expertise in meaningful ways.

Ties Spanning Two Homelands

According to the 2018 census, New Zealand’s Tongan community has grown to nearly 100,000—making it the largest Tongan diaspora globally and almost equal in size to Tonga’s own population of approximately 103,000 (2026).

The near‑equal population sizes show that New Zealand has become a major centre of Tongan life, with almost as many Tongans living in Aotearoa as in Tonga itself.

This reflects long‑term migration trends and highlights the growing cultural, social, and political influence of the Tongan diaspora, whose size now plays a significant role in shaping New Zealand–Tonga relations.

While a hingoa matāpule or nōpele carries their own cultural authorities and obligations, any appointment—whether for a foreigner or a Tongan—must rest on one crucial foundation: a relationship of exceptional closeness and trust.

Addressing Diaspora Hardship

When such a bond is genuine and upheld over time, it can be respectfully leveraged to support the well-being of Tongans in Aotearoa, including the more than 2,000 who remain in New Zealand as overstayers and face ongoing hardship.

As of 1 July 2025, Immigration New Zealand estimated that 2,599 Tongan nationals were overstayers, the highest number of any nationality and topping the agency’s latest list of overstayers.

Many of these individuals left Tonga in search of better opportunities, as the country’s economy struggles to support its population, with about a quarter of Tongans (25%) living below the poverty line.

Because immigration settings can ultimately be changed only by lawmakers—most notably the Prime Minister and the governing party—any cultural honour extended to them carries symbolic weight.

While Prime Minister Luxon and the National Party have consistently prioritised tougher action on overstayers in the name of border security, rule of law, and protecting public resources, granting a hingoa matāpule or nōpele could serve as a gentle reminder of the human realities behind these policies and the need to consider their impact on the Tongan community in Aotearoa.

Can a multivitamin slow the ageing process? Not really

By
Kaniva Staff
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By rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission

A daily multivitamin can help slow markers of biological ageing, a new study claims, but its senior author doesn’t recommend doing that.

Experts say most people who eat a healthy, balanced diet shouldn’t need to take vitamin supplements.Photo credit:Polina Tankilevitch / Unsplash

The idea of slowing down the ageing process is an alluring prospect.

A new study published in the journal Nature Medicine — and gaining traction online — claims taking a daily multivitamin can help slow markers of biological ageing.

But don’t rush to fill your shopping trolley with supplements just yet. Based on his own study, not even the senior author recommends taking a daily multivitamin.

pills and multivitamins on a black background
“For some vitamins, excess doses are harmful,” – Jenny Gunton, director of the centre for diabetes, obesity and endocrinology at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research.123RF

Howard Sesso, an epidemiologist at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said that although his team’s findings were “incredibly encouraging”, more research is needed.

“We are not yet in a position to recommend a daily multivitamin for all older adults.”

The other catch is that the study only looked at people about 70 years old. So, what can — and can’t — its results tell us? And what’s the general advice around multivitamins?

The study’s authors are unsure why daily consumption of multivitamins may have impacted health markers.

What did the study tell us?

The 958 healthy participants in the study were assigned to take either a multivitamin supplement; a cocoa-extract supplement; both supplements; or neither supplements, for two years.

Researchers analysed five epigenetic clocks — tools which measure tiny changes in DNA — to calculate how the study participants’ biological age changed over time.

What is epigenetic ageing?

And can we slow or reverse the process?

The study found that participants who took the multivitamins had slightly slower biological ageing for two out of the five markers, both of which were biomarkers for disease and mortality.

The changes equated to about four months less biological ageing over the course of two years.

Sesso said his team is not sure why the daily multivitamin may have had an impact across the two measures it did.

“We do not have a specific reason why the multivitamin — a common, safe, broad-based collection of essential vitamins and minerals, plus selected bioactives, at usual levels — was so effective.”

As participants in the trial were aged about 70 and mostly white, the researchers said the results could not be generalised to other populations.

The research also excluded any participants with major chronic illnesses, cancer or cardiovascular conditions.

“We really need more randomised clinical trials like [this trial] across the entire age spectrum, and not just among older adults,” Sesso said.

The current trial, called the COSMOS trial, was funded by Mars and the US National Institutes of Health, with Pfizer providing support via donating supplements.

Experts urge ‘caution’ about results

Luigi Fontana, professor of medicine and nutrition at the University of Sydney and not part of the research team, urges people to be “cautious” in interpreting the study’s findings.

“The change was very, very small.”

In addition, he said, the science behind epigenetic clocks was still young.

“The study is interesting, very, very experimental; we don’t know what these biological clocks are measuring.”

While the study showed that multivitamins could modify epigenetic clock measurements, whether they could increase life span “remained an open question,” epidemiologist Daniel Belsky and evolutionary biologist Calen Ryan of Columbia University wrote in an analysis of the study in Nature Medicine.

“There is no gold standard measurement of ageing,” they write.

And even if multivitamins did change people’s epigenetic clocks, there still was no evidence that they would reduce disease risk or increase survival.

“An observed effect on a clock cannot be interpreted as evidence that the intervention [taking the multivitamin] has modified healthspan.”

Should you ever take multivitamins?

People eating a healthy diet do not need supplements, Fontana says.

He recommends anyone who suspects they have a vitamin deficiency to see their doctor, who may be able to recommend whether supplements are right for them.

Jenny Gunton — director of the centre for diabetes, obesity and endocrinology at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research, who did not contribute to the study — agrees people eating a healthy diet do not need multivitamins.

But she also points out that many people did not have a healthy diet.

“If you manage the recommended five serves of veggies, two serves of fruit, some dairy, some low-glycaemic-index carbs and some low-fat protein each day, congratulations, you are doing a fabulous job and probably don’t need supplements.”

“But if your diet isn’t as good as it should be, then taking one multivitamin per day is very reasonable.”

However, Gunton warns, too much of some vitamins is not a good thing.

“It is important to note that more is probably not better; for some vitamins, excess doses are harmful.”

“An example of this is vitamin B6, which at high doses causes nerve damage.”

For people who want to care for their bodies as they age, Fontana’s advice is simple: eat a balanced diet, remain active, get enough sleep, try to look after your emotional health and limit alcohol intake.

After years of abuse, Tongan mother and daughters granted refuge in New Zealand

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Auckland, NZ— A Tongan woman and her four daughters have been granted refugee status in New Zealand after the Immigration and Protection Tribunal (IPT) ruled that the family would face serious psychological, physical, and socio‑economic harm if forced to return to Tonga.

The recently released decision follows a two‑day hearing in October where extensive evidence was presented about the mother’s history of severe trauma, intimate partner violence, sexual abuse, family rejection, and the vulnerability of her young children.

The Tribunal found that the mother—identified only as FI—suffers from chronic, untreated post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rooted in repeated childhood rape and later intimate partner violence in Tonga.

Her four daughters, all born in New Zealand except the eldest, were also recognised as refugees due to the cumulative risks they would face in Tonga, including stigma, poverty, racial discrimination, and the intergenerational impact of their mother’s untreated trauma.

Severe Trauma and “Hyper‑Isolation”

The Tribunal accepted expert evidence from clinical psychologist Dr McFadden, who described the mother as experiencing severe, long‑term PTSD with dissociation, suicidal ideation, and “a high vulnerability to re‑victimisation.”

The Tribunal found that the woman’s abuse began in childhood, when she was repeatedly raped by a cousin at the age of eight.

As an adult, she later entered an 18‑month relationship in which she was subjected to coercive control, physical violence, strangulation, rape, and threats to kill her.

When she attempted to report the abuse, Tongan police dismissed her complaint, telling her it was a “private family matter.”

The Tribunal also noted that her own family blamed her for “bringing shame” on them because she had children out of wedlock and because she left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Tribunal described her current state as one of “hyper‑isolation” — abandoned by family, unsupported by institutions in Tonga, and extremely vulnerable.

Fears of Harm in Tonga

The mother told the Tribunal she feared being killed by her violent former partner if she returned to Tonga. While the Tribunal considered that the immediate risk of an attack was low given the passage of time, it ruled that the psychological harm arising from past threats—combined with her trauma condition—meant she would still face “serious harm” under refugee law.

Country information presented to the Tribunal showed that domestic violence remains widespread in Tonga. Police responses were described as often inadequate, under‑resourced, or dismissive.

The Tribunal also heard that Tonga has not ratified the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and that women continue to face restricted property rights, economic inequality, and discrimination—pressures that are even greater for single mothers.

The Tribunal concluded that the mother, as a Tongan woman with no family support and a significant trauma history, would face ongoing breaches of her rights to safety, housing, equality, and mental health care.

Children at Elevated Risk

The Tribunal also examined the risks facing the woman’s daughters, aged 5, 6, 9 and 12. It found that the girls would likely face social stigma in Tonga for being born “illegitimate” under the country’s existing legitimacy laws.

The Tribunal noted that the children could also encounter difficulties obtaining Tongan birth certificates or passports. It further heard that the daughters had previously experienced bullying in New Zealand because of their mixed heritage and darker complexion.

In addition, the Tribunal found that the girls would be exposed to poverty and limited access to safe housing if returned to Tonga. It also accepted that they faced the likelihood of inheriting trauma from their mother’s severe PTSD.

The Tribunal accepted expert evidence that the children were at “elevated psychological vulnerability” and that returning with their mother to Tonga would expose them to harmful conditions without adequate support.

While the Tribunal did not make a new legal finding on intergenerational trauma in refugee law, it stated that the children would suffer compounding harms rising to the level of persecution.

The mother had argued that Tongan authorities were withholding birth certificates and passports for her children due to prejudice and her refugee claim. While the Tribunal gave her the benefit of the doubt regarding unprofessional behaviour by a Tongan lawyer and consular staff, it found insufficient evidence that the Tongan government had officially discriminated against her children.

Instead, it ruled on broader grounds: even if documentation could eventually be obtained, the daughters would still face serious harm in Tonga due to stigma, poverty, and their mother’s fragile mental health.

The Tribunal determined that no safer region within Tonga could protect the family. Their vulnerabilities—psychological, social, and economic—would exist nationwide.

Refugee Status Granted

The Tribunal ultimately granted refugee status to all four appellants (the mother and her three youngest daughters) and noted that the eldest daughter is already a New Zealand resident.

They do not require additional protection under the Convention Against Torture or the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights because, as recognised refugees, they cannot be deported from New Zealand.

Carry less weight and check tyre pressure: AA’s advice to save fuel

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Automobile Association is advising people to take steps that could help save fuel as the Middle East conflict bumps up prices.

Saving fuel could mean taking simple steps like carrying less weight, driving safely and checking tire pressure. Photo: RNZ / Dan

Principal advisor Terry Collins said people can use less fuel by driving safely, checking tire pressure and taking fewer trips.

“Getting the car up to operating temperature … doing all those trips in one go coming back you’re saving fuel.”

Prices have been going up because of the volatility on the wholesale market caused by the conflict in the Middle East following the US-Israel strikes on Iran.

Collins said saving on the cost of fuel can come down to taking simple steps like carrying less weight in the car.

“Don’t drive all week with extra weight unnecessary like golf clubs or other things in your car that aren’t doing anything other than sitting in there. Weight will always make you use more fuel.”

Collins advised people to take a roof rack off their car, as it will make the aerodynamics of the vehicle better.

Checking tyre pressure was also on the list to save fuel, as he said it can decrease in colder weather.

He is also urging people to use an app, like Gaspy, to find the cheapest petrol station near them.

“It’s a homogeneous product which means basically its the same where ever you get it and so buying it by the cheapest price is the best smartest thing to do.”

Since the start of the conflict the price of oil has almost doubled from where it was at the start of the year.

The ripple effects of the price increase has also been the potential for inflation across a wide range of goods and services.

This week demand on Gull’s discount day left some of its petrol stations running low on fuel.

Gull stations in Auckland have run out of petrol at some locations, including this one in Sel Peacock Drive in Henderson. 12 March 2026.

Gull stations in Auckland have run out of petrol at some locations, including this one in Sel Peacock Drive in Henderson. 12 March 2026. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel

Gull said 3 percent of its sites had not been able to meet the extra demand from customers when it cut prices on its regular Thursday promotion.

Emeritus Professor in Climate Mitigation and Sustainable Energy at Massey University, Ralph Sims, had previously given similar advice to drivers on saving fuel as prices spiked.

“Most people don’t understand how to drive a car efficiently. I see people accelerate to a red light and then brake heavily, and if you’re running on low tyre pressures, it consumes much more fuel,” Sims said.

He also suggested the government do a national education campaign on fuel-saving tips like avoiding heavy braking, checking tyre pressure, and taking things that add weight, like a roof rack, off their vehicle when they are not needed.

New Zealand to expand work rights for international students

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By RNZ.vo.nz and is republished with permission

New Zealand will introduce a new work visa for international graduates and expand post-study work rights for some diploma holders later this year.

Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin

The new visa is part of an effort to attract and retain international graduates with valuable skills.

The changes, announced by Immigration New Zealand on Thursday, include a Short Term Graduate Work Visa that will give eligible graduates up to six months of open work rights to find a job after finishing their studies.

Those who move into suitable employment may then be able to transition to an Accredited Employer Work Visa.

The visa will apply to students who complete qualifications at NZQCF Levels 5 to 7 after at least 24 weeks of full-time study in New Zealand. It will not cover English language, foundation or bridging qualifications.

Immigration New Zealand said holders of the visa must work for an employer under an employment agreement or a contract for services, and would not be allowed to operate a business.

They would also be barred from supporting a partner for a work visa or children for a Dependent Child Student Visa, the agency said.

Alongside the new visa, the government is widening eligibility for the Post Study Work Visa.

From late this year, students who complete a full-time graduate diploma at NZQCF Level 7 in New Zealand will be eligible for the visa, provided they also held a bachelor’s degree earned in New Zealand or overseas.

The Post Study Work Visa may be granted for up to one year, depending on how long the student spent studying for the graduate diploma in New Zealand.

The visa also carries broader family sponsorship rights, allowing holders to support partners and dependent children for visitor, work or dependent child student visas, provided relevant conditions are met.

NRL: NZ Warriors powerhouse Leka Halasima stars in big win over Canberra Raiders

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Grant Chapman of rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission

Analysis: Exactly seven days earlier, NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster sat in exactly this same seat and more or less predicted what would happen.

He was defending his decision to delay the introduction of young powerhouse Leka Halasima off the bench until after halftime of the season-opening win over Sydney Roosters.

“The day will come when Leka will play 80 minutes and I’m looking forward to that day, because it will be awesome, but he doesn’t need to do it right now,” Webster said. “He just needs to own his little time and have that impact.”

A week late, his team needed that performance from ‘Leka the Wrecker’.

Halasima had scored a try with his first touch against Sydney, but a week later, as the Warriors overwhelmed defending minor premiers Canberra Raiders 40-6, he fully lived up to Webster’s faith. Thrust into the starting line-up before kickoff through injury, he went the full distance, producing a try double and making his impact felt all around the park.

“Honestly, we were all just talking in the sheds about how proud we were of Leka,” Webster said. “He got a minute’s notice, knuckled down, scored two tries, but his tackling, his defence, his effort areas were the best parts of his game – and he did it for 80 minutes.

“Happy, super happy.”

To open their 2026 campaign, the Warriors have now put 40 points on two highly rated opponents and, while Webster insisted the Roosters scoreline was flattering, he was comfortable his team had earned every bit of their advantage over these opponents, who had a winning head-to-head historical record against them and had won their last three meetings.

This is just the fourth time the Auckland NRL club has begun a season with back-to-back wins – they have only once strung three together. In 2018, they rattled off five.

“Wins like tonight aren’t a surprise to us, but at the same time, we’ve got to get better,” Webster insisted.

Here’s what else we learned from the win over Canberra:

Best player

Halasima was originally selected to come off the interchange, probably in a very similar role to last week, but all that changed when veteran second-rower Kurt Capewell pulled up lame with a calf strain in warm-ups.

His first try came in the 49th minute, when he chased a kick into goal from halfback Tanah Boyd and dived unopposed for the touchdown.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, he propped off his left foot inside one sprawling defender, brushed off counterpart Noah Martin metres from the line and then tumbled over in the tackle of Kiwis centre Matt Timoko for his second try.

His 35 tackles were only a couple less than team-leading Jackson Ford (37) and he ran for 114 metres. After pacing the Warriors in tries last season with 13, he is already among the competition’s leaders with three in two games.

Supposedly filling in for Luke Metcalf, halfback Tanah Boyd continued to stake his claim for a fulltime role with another outstanding performance, scoring a try, kicking five conversions and a penalty, while providing two try assists.

Webster rated his showing against the Roosters as his best in a Warriors jersey – this was his second best.

Front-rower Ford put in another massive effort – he was finally subbed off with five minutes remaining and was his team’s top fantasy scorer with 75 points. He led the Warriors in tackles and run metres last week, and ran for 154 metres this time.

Centre Ali Leiataua showed why he was missed last season, amid the Warriors’ midfield injuries, and may now take some unseating, when Rocco Berry returns from shoulder surgery.

After entering the game early, fullback Taine Tuaupiki was a constant threat on attack, running more than 200 metres and reminding everyone why he was so valued as Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad’s back-up – for now.

Key moment

Leiataua had already delivered a solid first-half performance, highlighted by six tacklebreaks and an assist on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak’s first try.

With the halftime score level at 6-6, he broke the contest open for the Warriors soon after the break, lurking in midfield to pick off hooker Tom Starling’s pass and gallop 50 metres for the go-ahead try.

The Warriors piled on 34 unanswered second-half points to have the Raiders totally demoralised by the closing minutes.

“That was a bonus,” Webster said of the intercept try. “We spoke about how well they offload the ball and just to stay up.

“Ali was up and made his own luck there. Awesome.”

Try of the game

So many to chose from, but how were the delightful soccer skills of lock Erin Clark in the build-up to Boyd’s try near the end?

Already up 30-6, Boyd created the opportunity with a well-taken 40-20 and then, at the end of the next set, put a kick along the ground towards the goal area.

Clark overran his chase, but flicked the ball up with his heels, and Boyd was following to gather and score.

By then, everything the Warriors attempted turned up diamonds and more than a few Raiders heads went down after this audacious blow.

Injuries

Webster will be holding breath this week over an injury toll that disrupted this line-up against Canberra and may impact future selections.

Capewell’s departure was followed by five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita in the ninth minute, after he knocked himself out in a tackle. Fullback Nicoll-Klokstad moved to the halves and Tuaupiki came off the bench to replace him.

Captain James Fisher-Harris was also pulled from the field before halftime for a concussion check, but passed and returned to play an inspirational role in the result.

Ten minutes from the end, Nicoll-Klokstad also left the field for a test. By then, victory was safe and Webster simply slotted hooker Wayde Egan into the vacancy to close it out.

“We have something organised for every situation,” he assured. “Capey went down in warm-up with calf, so straight away, we knew that Leka was going to start.

“We knew, if we got an outside back or half injury, we would activate Taine, and Charnze would move to the halves or centre or wing.

“We had the plan and then Chanel went down, so we activated Taine, and then ‘Nuck’ went down, so we put Wayde Egan at half.”

The substitutions perfectly illustrated how administrators probably envisaged their new six-man interchange working, with teams now able to utilise specialist replacements, like Tuaupiki, off the bench, rather than playing forwards out of position among the backs.

Previously, Harris-Tavita’s injury may have caused an entire re-alignment of the backline, with Nicoll-Klokstad to five-eighth, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to fullback, Adam Pompey to wing and Halasima to centre – or Egan stationed in the halves for most of the contest.

“The best part was the boys were so calm and so clear during adversity,” Webster said.

Harris-Tavita is definitely out next week, so Webster must likely choose between Nicoll-Klokstad out of position or a first-grade debut for Luke Hanson.

If Nicoll-Klokstad failed his head injury assessment – and Webster had no outcome to report – the spine may include both Hanson and Tuaupiki.

Calves are tricky injuries – and trickier the older you get – so Capewell, 32, may need some time to heal. On the positive side, second-rower Marata Niukore, also recovering from a calf, played for the reserves in the curtainraiser and would be a like-for-like replacement.

Co-captain Mitch Barnett also nears a return from last year’s season-ending knee injury.

Canberra Raiders

The visitors started strongly with the opening try to fullback Kaeo Weekes, but had little else to offer for the rest of the journey.

Coach Ricky Stuart is usually the first to point the finger, if he thinks his team has been treated poorly by match officials, but this contest wasn’t close enough to blame anyone else.

“Disappointed with the result and the scoreline obviously,” he offered. “When you’re on, you’re on and when you’re off, you’re off.

“We had our chances, but they defended very well. You can’t take anything away from their defence – they scrambled well and defended well.

“That intercept, and then we made an error and they scored off that to put them 12 ahead,” Stuart identified the turning point. “With a big home crowd behind them and them on the front foot, it was going to be a big task coming back.”

After needing Golden Point to overcome Manly Sea Eagles in their season opener, the ‘Green Machine’ face another examination next week, when they host Canterbury Bulldogs, who also needed extra time to edge St George Dragons in their Vegas opener, before drawing the bye this week.

Tuivasa-Sheck 150th

The veteran wing had a mixed night, not at all helped by the loss of Capewell and Harris-Tavita from his edge.

He had a pass thrown behind him and another that dipped at his feet in the first half, but eventually led his team with 210 running metres.

While he couldn’t find the tryline in his milestone game for the club, RTS was caught off guard, when Boyd tossed him the ball to convert Watene-Zelezniak’s final try.

“Just hit and hope,” he winked. “I was in shock at the time, but all the boys were egging me on, so I took the role on and was surprised it went over.”

Tuivasa-Sheck kept the kick low, with a little right-to-left fade that steered it safely between the uprights.

Webster observed: “If we’d missed the top eight by two points, I was never going to forgive him.”

What the result means

Again, too early in the season to make any definitive difference on the competition table yet – but Warriors are on top and become the first team to record two victories in the new season.

After two big wins, their points differential is comfortable (+58), remembering they finished only +21 for all of last season and never ventured above +36.

[h}What’s next

Warriors travel to Newcastle Knights, who took out the 2025 wooden spoon, but have changed coaches in the off-season and won their season-opener against North Queensland Cowboys 28-18 in Vegas.

Kiwis coach and Warriors assistant Stacey Jones will have a chance to discuss Kalyn Ponga’s impending international allegiance switch with the player after the game.

Justis Huni marks grateful comeback in high‑stakes clash with Frazer Clarke

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tongan‑Australian boxer Justis Huni says he feels honoured and grateful as he prepares to face British Olympic medallist Frazer Clarke on one of the sport’s biggest platforms — the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov, streaming worldwide on Netflix on April 11.

Justis Huni

Huni, who last fought in London before suffering a dramatic late knockout loss to Fabio Wardley, returns determined to showcase his technical prowess and represent Australia with pride in what is seen as a pivotal comeback moment in his career.

Huni, 37, will return to the ring at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where the blockbuster 10‑fight card will feature some of the biggest names in British and international boxing.

Speaking ahead of the fight, Huni said he was thankful for the moment and fully aware of the scale of the global audience awaiting him.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to step onto one of the biggest stages in boxing. Big respect to Frazer — Olympic medallist and a tough competitor — but I’m coming to do what I always do: represent Australia with pride and show the world what I’m capable of. I’ve been putting in the work, staying focused, and I’m ready for this moment.”

Huni (14‑1, 9 KOs), widely regarded as one of Australia’s most technically gifted heavyweights, enters the fight looking to rebuild momentum after suffering the first defeat of his professional career — a dramatic 10th‑round knockout at the hands of Fabio Wardley on June 7, 2025.

Despite dominating the majority of the rounds, Huni was caught late by a powerful right hand in a bout that has since been remembered for its dramatic comeback finish.

The matchup against Clarke (9‑2‑1, 7 KOs) is considered pivotal for both fighters as they attempt to reclaim ground in the competitive world‑level heavyweight rankings.

Clarke, a Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist, is also navigating his own comeback path following recent domestic setbacks. The pair’s meeting has been described by analysts as a high‑stakes clash that could significantly reshape their respective career trajectories.

The April 11 card — the first major Netflix‑streamed boxing event of 2026 — features a stacked lineup, including Conor Benn vs Regis Prograis and Jeamie TKV vs Richard Riakporhe, leading into the highly anticipated Fury–Makhmudov main event.

With the global spotlight fixed firmly on London, Huni says the timing feels perfect for him to make a statement.

“I’ve been putting in the work,” he said. “Staying focused. This is the moment — and I’m ready.”

Huni vs Clarke will open the main card as one of the most closely watched heavyweight contests of the night.

Woman killed, several injured in Tongatapu crash as QSC celebrations wind down

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A woman has died and several others have been injured following a serious vehicle crash in Kanokupolu, Tongatapu, as Queen Sālote College’s (QSC) centennial celebrations draw to a close.

Kaniva News understands the crash occurred last night, though no official details have yet been released by Tonga Police at the time of publication.

The number of vehicles involved and the cause of the collision remain unclear.

Photos circulating on Facebook show what appears to be a severely crushed vehicle, suggesting a high‑impact collision.

Other images shared by members of the public show at least one injured person lying in a hospital bed, while another photo shows a man with a bloodied face and arm, indicating multiple casualties.

Tributes and messages of condolence have begun flowing on social media, with community members expressing shock as the tragedy unfolds during what has otherwise been a week of celebration for the QSC community.

QSC centennial celebration

It remains unclear at this stage whether the victims were travelling as part of activities linked to QSC’s centennial celebrations.

The anniversary’s main celebration took place on Thursday, marked by a prayer service and an evening pō lotu featuring performances from various alumni choirs.

This was followed on Friday by a grand gathering at Malaʻe Pangai Lahi in Nukuʻalofa, which included a wreath‑laying ceremony.

Alumni then marched on Saturday, with the centennial programme scheduled to conclude on Sunday with prayer services and communal feasts.

Australia boosts Tonga’s sporting future with ADF training visit

By
Kaniva Staff
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Staff from The Australian Defence Force (ADF) Sports Branch will arrive in Tonga to deliver a sports development program under the ADF International Sports Program from 16–20 March 2026. The last program was in 2023.

Australian Defence Force Rugby League and Australian National Rugby League Community Program Deliverer, Mr Alan Tongue finish a training session with Fua’amotu Government Primary School on 14 October 2019.

The visit will highlight Australia’s longstanding partnership with Tonga and will reflect Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) coordinated efforts to strengthen regional relationships and sporting capability ahead of the 2031 Pacific Island Games in Tonga and the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.

Throughout the visit, ADF coaches and sports trainers will work alongside His Majesty’s Armed Forces and local sporting bodies to share knowledge in rugby union, cricket and sports training.

Planned activities will include practical coaching sessions, introductory cricket programs and a sports trainer package covering first aid, nutrition, musculoskeletal basics and sports taping.

Colonel Richard Watson, Officer in Charge of the activity, said the program will be designed to deepen peopletopeople links and support Tonga’s sporting pathways.

“Sport is a passion shared by Australia and Tonga, and it will continue to bring our communities closer together. These engagements will strengthen local capability, support future athletes and officials, and help build the foundations for longterm sporting development,” Colonel Watson said.

The program will also support broader regional objectives, including healthier communities, youth development, gender equality and social cohesion.

While open to everyone, activities will be designed to ensure women and girls have opportunities to participate. This inclusive approach will reflect Australia’s commitment to supporting diverse and resilient Pacific communities.

“It’s not just athletes who make sport possible, by working with coaches, trainers, referees and administrators, we will help build the essential skills needed to deliver competitions at every level,” he said. Sport will remain a powerful platform for connection, dialogue and trustbuilding across the Pacific.

Through the PacificAus Sports and Team Up initiatives, Australia will continue partnering with Pacific nations to support community wellbeing, strengthen local capability and foster closer regional ties.

The ADF will look forward to a productive and enjoyable week of shared learning, competition and engagement with Tonga and His Majesty’s Armed Forces.

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