A teenage girl waving what appeared to be a Tongan flag from a moving van attracted police attention in Queensland, Australia, leading to a traffic stop that resulted in a 22-year-old learner driver receiving A$6,077 in fines and 25 demerit points.

The incident occurred amid widespread celebrations by Tongan rugby league supporters ahead of the national team’s World Cup clash with England, which Tonga subsequently won 30–12 in Perth on Saturday, 17 October.

Queensland Police said officers spotted the teenager waving a flag from a Hyundai iLoad travelling along Redbank Plains Road, southwest of Brisbane, at approximately 10.30pm on Wednesday, 14 October.

Officers stopped the vehicle and discovered three other 14-year-old teenagers travelling without proper restraints in the rear of the van.

The female learner driver, from Redbank Plains, received seven traffic infringement notices for alleged offences including carrying unrestrained passengers, exceeding the vehicle’s permitted passenger capacity, driving without an authorised supervisor and failing to display learner plates.

Police footage shared on the myPolice Greater Ipswich Facebook page also shows a passenger wearing a shirt with what appears to be a Tongan flag design on the sleeve.

Another van is seen apparently waiting at traffic lights across the road, with a passenger waving what also appears to be a Tongan flag.

However, police have not confirmed whether the flag in question was Tongan or whether the occupants were participating in rugby league celebrations.

Police issue safety warning

Ipswich Highway Patrol Officer in Charge Senior Sergeant Jarrad Tyne said the incident highlighted the importance of ensuring passengers were properly restrained.

“We want to remind all drivers whether you’re heading out to celebrate an event or catching up with friends and family it’s important to make sure everyone gets home safely,” he said.

The Hyundai iLoad was registered to carry only three occupants but was carrying five people when police stopped it.

Queensland Police released the footage on Tuesday, 20 October, as part of a public road safety warning.

World Cup victory fuels celebrations

Tongan supporters had begun displaying national flags and celebrating across Australia, New Zealand and Tonga in the days leading up to the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.

The excitement intensified after Tonga defeated England 30–12 at HBF Park in Perth, with Haumole Olakauʻatu scoring twice and Stefano Utoikamanu and Tolutau Koula adding a try each.

The match attracted 18,302 spectators, including King Tupou VI and Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala.

The victory strengthened Tonga’s prospects of advancing further in the tournament and provided another occasion for overseas Tongan communities to demonstrate their national pride.

Queensland’s Tongan community

Queensland is home to a substantial Tongan community, including families living in Brisbane, Ipswich and surrounding areas.

According to the 2021 Australian Census, approximately 9,491 Queensland residents reported Tongan ancestry, while 2,225 were born in Tonga.

The community forms part of Australia’s wider Tongan diaspora, where rugby league has become an important expression of cultural identity and solidarity with the national team.

Tongan man Pelikani Taukei’aho has been acquitted of murder and manslaughter after fatally shooting a man during an armed robbery linked to a cocaine deal worth about $100,000 in Featherston, New Zealand.

The High Court in Wellington heard that Taukei’aho fired his revolver after Doreion Hard and his associates robbed him and another Auckland man, Tauave Sue, of cocaine in a supermarket carpark in March 2025.

Both defendants were cleared of homicide charges following a three-week trial but are awaiting sentencing in December after pleading guilty to cocaine possession, supply and offering to supply.

According to the NZ Herald’s Open Justice reporting, the pair had travelled from Auckland on 22 March 2025 carrying cocaine, cash, a 9mm revolver and 50 rounds of ammunition.

Prosecutors said each expected to earn $4,000 from the transaction, which could have helped establish a drug supply network in the Wellington region.

Drug deal turns deadly

The court heard that Hard, who was under the influence of methamphetamine, had no intention of paying for the cocaine.

He arrived at the Fresh Choice supermarket carpark with five associates in two vehicles.

Hard and another man confronted Taukei’aho and Sue at gunpoint before taking two backpacks containing cocaine from their car.

As the robbers attempted to escape in a red ute, Hard fired a shot, prompting Taukei’aho to discharge his revolver.

One of Taukei’aho’s bullets fatally wounded Hard, while two others struck a bakery sign across the road.

The exchange of gunfire lasted approximately three seconds.

Defence argues self-defence

Taukei’aho’s lawyer, Louise Sziranyi, argued that her client had acted to protect himself after being threatened with firearms during the robbery.

She said Taukei’aho was outside his vehicle when a shot was fired from the departing ute, leaving him only moments to react.

However, Crown prosecutor Tim Bain disputed the self-defence argument, maintaining that the robbers were already leaving and no longer posed an immediate threat.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants had pursued the robbers after losing their cocaine and that Taukei’aho’s use of force was excessive.

Jury delivers not-guilty verdicts

Sue’s lawyer, Karun Lakshman, argued that his client had arranged the drug transaction but neither anticipated nor agreed to a shooting.

He also pointed out that Sue’s DNA and fingerprints were not found on the firearm recovered by police.

In his summing up, Justice Andru Isac reminded jurors that the defendants’ involvement in drug dealing did not automatically make them criminally responsible for Hard’s death.

After approximately 10 hours of deliberations, the 11-member jury returned not-guilty verdicts on the homicide charges.

Taukei’aho and Sue are scheduled to be sentenced in the High Court at Wellington in December on the cocaine-related offences they admitted at the beginning of the trial.

Former St George Illawarra Dragons playmaker Talatau ‘Junior’ Amone has moved closer to reviving his international rugby league career after being named among Tonga’s reserves for Friday’s World Cup clash against Lebanon in Sydney.

The 24-year-old, whose NRL career was derailed by a criminal conviction over a hammer attack on a roofing contractor in Australia, has been cleared to represent Tonga despite remaining barred from the Australian competition.

His inclusion follows Tonga’s impressive 30-12 victory over England in Perth on Saturday, giving the national team a winning start to its 2026 Rugby League World Cup campaign.

The official team list released on Tuesday, 20 October, confirms that Amone has been named as reserve No. 20, outside the starting lineup and interchange bench.

Conviction derailed NRL career

Amone was deregistered by the NRL after being convicted over a November 2022 incident in Wollongong in which he chased roofing contractor Jai King across a rooftop while armed with a hammer. King fell while attempting to escape, breaking both hands and suffering injuries to his ribs and hip, according to evidence reported by ABC News.

Despite pleading not guilty, he received a two-year community corrections order and 300 hours of community service.

The conviction cost him his $500,000-a-year contract with St George Illawarra Dragons, and the NRL has so far refused to consider registering a new contract for him.

Amone has since continued playing with Wynnum Manly Seagulls in the Queensland Cup, where his performances impressed Tonga’s coaching staff.

International authorities approve return

According to The Age, International Rugby League chairman Troy Grant said Amone’s deregistration applied only to the NRL competition and did not prevent him from participating in the World Cup.

“He was only subject to an NRL competition stand-down,” Grant said.

Grant cited Amone’s community work and continued involvement in rugby league, describing his situation as a redemption story.

Tonga coach Kristian Woolf also praised the player’s maturity since his previous involvement with the national team in 2022.

“He came into camp with us in 2022 as a young man. He’s come back into camp this time and I can tell there’s a different focus, there’s a real maturity about him, and it’s been a pleasure to have him in camp,” Woolf told The Age.

Amone represented Tonga at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup, playing two matches and scoring one try.

Tonga assesses playing options

Amone’s chances of taking the field against Lebanon remain uncertain, with Tui Lolohea named at five-eighth alongside halfback Isaiya Katoa.

Latu Fainu, who suffered a pectoral injury during the victory over England, has also been named on the interchange bench after assessments indicated the injury was less serious than initially feared.

Any opportunity for Amone to play will depend on changes to Tonga’s match-day lineup.

Workers recruited from overseas for jobs in New Zealand cannot legally be charged recruitment fees, even if the payments are made outside New Zealand, following a landmark Employment Court ruling.

The ruling matters for Tonga, where workers have long relied on New Zealand employment opportunities, particularly through the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, raising important questions about protection from unlawful recruitment charges.

According to a 1News report published in August, 1,676 Tongan workers participated in the programme during the 2025/26 season.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) announced the ruling on Tuesday, 20 October, saying it confirmed that the Wages Protection Act 1983 prohibits such payments regardless of where they are made.

Overseas Recruitment Fees Prohibited

INZ National Manager Risk and Verification Aaron Smith said the Court’s decision established an important precedent in combating migrant exploitation.

The prohibition covers payments made by prospective workers or on their behalf by relatives, friends or others, including payments collected by agents acting for New Zealand employers.

“The Court’s decision provides a legal tool to help combat this exploitation,” Smith said.

“It makes it clear no matter where the worker is, how much is paid, and regardless of to who, that it is illegal to charge a fee for a job in New Zealand.”

Smith said migrant workers paying substantial sums for promises of employment and residency remained a widespread feature of exploitation.

Implications For Tongan Workers

Tonga has long supplied seasonal workers to New Zealand’s horticulture and viticulture industries, where they are employed in fruit harvesting, orchards, vineyards and produce packing.

Recruitment may be conducted directly by New Zealand employers or through overseas agents operating under established labour mobility arrangements.

Immigration New Zealand requires employers using recruitment agents to cover recruitment costs both inside and outside New Zealand rather than passing those expenses on to workers.

The ruling also has implications for Tongans recruited through other employment pathways, including the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme.

However, legitimate visa application fees, medical examinations and other authorised immigration expenses are distinct from unlawful payments demanded in exchange for securing employment.

Employers Face Legal Consequences

Smith urged migrant workers who believed they had been misled or pressured into paying for job offers or visa support to report their experiences to Immigration New Zealand.

“Anyone who believes they have been misled or pressured into paying for job offers or visa support should contact us,” he said.

Although INZ cannot itself recover money paid in job scams, it has enforcement options against New Zealand employers responsible for unlawful recruitment charges.

“If you break the law, misuse your position, or take advantage of migrants for financial gain, including through making false job offers, there will be consequences,” Smith warned.

The ruling does not establish that recruitment agents operating in Tonga have engaged in unlawful practices, but it strengthens legal protections for workers recruited overseas and reinforces employers’ accountability for recruitment arrangements involving third parties.

A 64-year-old man has died after suffering a fall at Fanga ko Pava Beach in Vaini, Tongatapu, on Sunday, 18 October.

Tonga Police confirmed the death in a media statement issued on Monday, identifying the deceased as a man originally from Pahu who had been residing in Vaini.

No further details about the incident were provided.

The incident has prompted police to remind members of the public to exercise caution and prioritise their safety while enjoying recreational activities.

“This tragic incident serves as a solemn reminder to the public to exercise caution, celebrate responsibly, and prioritise safety at all times,” the statement said.

Tonga Police extended their condolences to the deceased man’s family, relatives and loved ones during what it described as a difficult time.

Tonga’s jubilant Rugby League World Cup celebrations have been marred by allegations that supporters ripped a traffic sign from the roadside and used it for reckless antics in central Ōtāhuhu, Auckland.

The incident was reported amid widespread celebrations following Tonga’s stunning 30–12 victory over England, which sparked excitement and national pride among Tongan communities in New Zealand and across the Pacific.

The editor of Kakalu O Tonga, ʻUluʻalo Poʻuhila, condemned what appeared to be reckless behaviour by a group of Tonga rugby league supporters after a photograph circulating on social media appeared to show a roadside traffic sign removed and carried through central Ōtāhuhu, Auckland.

The photograph appeared to show a Tonga rugby league supporter carrying a tall metal roadside pole topped with a circular 50km/h speed-limit sign.

The editor warned that further incidents could prompt Auckland Council to close sections of roads and shopping areas to prevent damage, while police might also have to be deployed to monitor the area.

Reckless Behaviour Draws Criticism

The editor expressed concern that the actions of a small minority could tarnish the happiness, excitement and warmth shared by the wider Tongan community following the victory.

He urged supporters to celebrate responsibly without damaging public property, disrupting businesses or endangering others.

Ōtāhuhu, home to a substantial Tongan and wider Pacific population, has long been a gathering place for supporters celebrating major victories by Tonga’s national rugby league team.

It remains unclear whether the sign was damaged or whether the incident was reported to Auckland Council or Police.

Kaniva News has not independently verified the circumstances surrounding its alleged removal.

Previous Celebrations Prompted Warnings

Previous rugby league celebrations involving Tongan supporters in Auckland have prompted repeated police warnings over dangerous driving, disorder and public safety.

During the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, police reported attacks on two officers in separate incidents in Ōtāhuhu, while in 2022 they warned against people riding on moving vehicles, obstructing roads and creating hazards for pedestrians.

Similar concerns resurfaced in 2025, when police arrested 23 people and issued 204 traffic infringement notices following celebrations associated with a Tonga–Samoa match.

Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, police again identified Ōtāhuhu and other Auckland suburbs as potential hotspots, urging supporters to celebrate responsibly without endangering others.

Tonga’s capital, Nukuʻalofa, has been named among several Pacific cities where Chinese-linked criminal and political influence operations could potentially emerge, according to a Washington-based security analyst commenting on US corruption allegations against Fiji-based businessman Zhao Fugang.

The warning comes amid a diplomatic dispute between Fiji and the United States, with Suva demanding evidence after Washington accused Zhao of bribing Fijian citizens to advance Chinese government, business and criminal interests.

On October 7, the US State Department publicly designated Zhao, director of the Overseas Chinese Service Center in Suva, for alleged significant corruption under Section 7031(c) of US appropriations legislation.

The designation generally makes him and his immediate family ineligible to enter the United States but does not constitute a criminal conviction.

Zhao previously came under scrutiny following a March 2024 joint investigation by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project and Australia’s Nine media outlets.

The investigation reported that Australian intelligence authorities suspected him of holding a senior position in an alleged criminal network involved in drug trafficking, money laundering and human trafficking.

It also reported that the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission had designated him a priority organised crime target in 2023.

Zhao and China Deny Criminal Allegations

Zhao, a China-born naturalised Fijian citizen and owner of the Yue Lai Hotel in Suva, has denied bribery and other allegations of criminal wrongdoing.

He said American authorities had neither contacted him nor given him an opportunity to respond before announcing the restrictions, adding that he was willing to cooperate with any lawful investigation by Fijian authorities.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has criticised what Beijing described as attempts to vilify and smear China following the US announcement.

Washington has not publicly disclosed the detailed evidence supporting its bribery allegations or identified the Fijian citizens allegedly involved.

The dispute has drawn attention to concerns about organised crime and foreign political influence across the Pacific, where China maintains extensive diplomatic and economic relationships.

Fiji Demands Supporting Evidence

Fiji’s government has called on Washington to provide credible information supporting its allegations against Zhao so that local authorities can determine whether further investigation is warranted.

Fiji has acknowledged Washington’s authority to impose immigration restrictions while maintaining that suspected offences committed within its jurisdiction must be addressed through its own legal processes.

On October 14, FijiVillage reported that the US Embassy had not responded to questions about whether supporting evidence had been shared with Fijian authorities.

How Tonga Became Involved

Tonga’s inclusion in the regional controversy stems from comments by Dr Gregory Brown, founding executive director of the Alliance Futures Initiative and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, in an interview published by Radio Free Asia on October 14.

Brown questioned whether activities of the kind alleged in Fiji could also occur elsewhere in the Pacific, naming Nukuʻalofa alongside Honiara, Port Moresby and Port Vila.

His assessment did not identify any criminal operation in Tonga, implicate Tongan officials or establish a connection between Zhao and the Kingdom.

Radio Free Asia is a US Congress-funded international broadcaster operating as a nonprofit organisation. Brown’s Washington-based research organisation monitors Indo-Pacific security developments, including Chinese diplomatic activities across Pacific island countries.

A strong wind warning remains in force across Tonga as Tropical Cyclone Wati intensifies into a Category 2 system in the South Pacific, although meteorologists say the cyclone itself is not expected to threaten the Kingdom.

The Tonga Meteorological Service has attributed the strong winds to a high-pressure system southwest of the country, while Wati was last reported more than 1,100 kilometres east of Tonga’s northernmost islands.

In its 7pm bulletin on Sunday, October 18, the Matatoa Weather Forecasting Centre forecast moderate to fresh southerly and southeasterly winds, becoming strong at times, across the country.

For the Niuas, Vavaʻu and Haʻapai, mainly fine conditions with possible brief showers were expected through Monday night.

Tongatapu and ʻEua were forecast to experience similar weather, with cooler temperatures overnight.

The outlook for Tuesday indicated continuing southeasterly winds, strong at times, accompanied by cloudy periods and isolated showers.

Temperatures in Nukuʻalofa were forecast to reach 26°C on Monday, with an overnight minimum of 16°C.

Cyclone Wati Intensifies Offshore

In a separate advisory issued at 11am on Sunday, the Meteorological Service reported that Wati had reached Category 2 intensity at approximately 1am.

The cyclone was located near latitude 14.7 degrees south and longitude 163.0 degrees west, approximately 1,165 kilometres east of Niuatoputapu, 1,250 kilometres east-northeast of Neiafu in Vavaʻu, 1,330 kilometres east-northeast of Lifuka in Haʻapai and 1,475 kilometres east-northeast of Nukuʻalofa.

“Based on its current track, the system is not expected to pose any threat to Tonga,” the advisory said.

Category 2 tropical cyclones have maximum sustained winds of 89–117 kilometres per hour under the Australian and South Pacific tropical cyclone intensity scale.

While Tropical Cyclone Wati is not expected to threaten Tonga or New Zealand, authorities in the Cook Islands have activated emergency preparations as the Category 2 system approaches parts of the island group, bringing the risk of destructive winds, heavy rainfall and dangerous seas.

The next cyclone advisory was scheduled for 11am on Monday, October 19.