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.
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.
As the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant moves closer to announcing the 2026 winner, supporters from across the Pacific have intensified their online promotion, doing everything they can to back their contestants.
Seven contestants are vying for the crown this year, representing the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga.
One of the ways Tongan supporters are showing their backing for Miss Siosiana is by sharing photos of her with her mother, Anita Roberts, who held the Miss Heilala title in 1997.
“Did you know our beautiful Miss Heilala 2025–2026, Siosiana Patricia Lavulo Taumoepeau, is the daughter of Anita Roberts, who was crowned Miss Heilala in 1997?” one Facebook post stated.
“Beautiful Miss Heilala 1997, Anita Roberts, mother of our reigning Miss Heilala 2025, is truly stunning,” one responder wrote.
Based on the main activities tracked during the competition so far, Miss Papua New Guinea Iampela Popena currently leads the popular vote by a wide margin, securing around 70,000 votes. She is followed by Miss Taumoepeau, who has garnered approximately 40,000 votes.
The popular vote, cast online by members of the public, does not count toward the official judging score for the crown.
Miss Tonga 2025, Rachael Guttenbeil, won the Miss Popularity award last year, prompting many to question why Tongan votes have dropped so sharply this time.
As Kaniva News previously reported, Tongan supporters made it clear from the outset that they would withhold their votes this year in protest, after the pageant committee failed to resolve allegations that last year’s results were rigged.
According to reports, supporters have alleged that Miss Guttenbeil should have won the 2025 beauty contest, claiming the pageant’s chief judge, Mr Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt, tampered with the scorecards to award the crown to the Samoa contestant, Litara ieremia allan.
Organisers of the Pacific Islands Pageant reportedly said they have overhauled their judging system after last year’s rigging allegations, unveiling stricter scoring checks and independent oversight.
A Wellington woman has been sentenced to 20 months in prison after she used her own name and those of 10 others, including dead people, to fraudulently obtain $28,118 through the Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme.
Sariah Wehipeihana pleaded guilty in January last year to two representative charges of dishonestly using a document related to five successful wage subsidy applications and a further 27 unsuccessful applications.
She was sentenced at Auckland District Court on February 5.
All the applications were submitted between April and June 2020.
She used her own name and the names of 10 others in the applications.
This included individuals unaware their identifies were being used, and in some cases, the names of dead people.
The successful applications resulted in a total of $28,118.40 being paid into bank accounts controlled by Wehipeihana, with the funds then used for personal expenses, including shopping and online gambling.
A reparation order was sought, but no repayments had been made to date.
The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) said 56 people had now been sentenced in wage subsidy fraud cases, with another 48 still before the courts. More than $830 million in wage subsidies had been repaid since the scheme began.
Kaniva News has issued a formal apology after the Supreme Court of Tonga found the outlet had breached a non‑publication order by identifying the complainant in the sentencing of Viliami Taumoepenu.
The Court notified the publisher that naming the complainant violated a suppression order made under section 119 of the Criminal Offences Act, which prohibits the publication of any information that may reveal the identity of a complainant in offences of a sexual or indecent nature.
In response, Kaniva News said the breach was inadvertent and occurred during the editorial process after the judgment was uploaded for reporting.
The publication removed the identifying information immediately after being notified by the Court.
“Kaniva News apologises unreservedly to the complainant for the inadvertent breach of the Court’s order,” the publication said.
“We take the Court’s directive seriously and have now corrected the article to ensure full compliance with the law.
We are reviewing our editorial procedures to prevent any recurrence.”
The Supreme Court has issued a first warning to Kaniva News, stating that any future breach will be dealt with “in a severe manner.”
Kaniva News says it remains committed to responsible reporting and ensuring that all court‑ordered publication restrictions are strictly followed in future articles.
Auckland, NZ – Heavy rain warnings and watches are in place across much of the North Island, with downpours expected to continue into Saturday morning.
Authorities are urging residents and travellers to stay alert as conditions worsen, especially in regions already affected by earlier rainfall.
Orange heavy rain warnings have been issued for the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty including Rotorua, and Gisborne/Tairāwhiti. Additional warnings are in place for Bay of Plenty east of Ōpōtiki and parts of Tairāwhiti on Friday night, with forecasters expecting periods of intense and persistent rain.
A heavy rain watch is covering large parts of the North Island, including Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Waikato, Waitomo, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatū, and the Tararua District.
MetService says these areas could see heavy rainfall at times, increasing the risk of surface flooding, rising rivers and hazardous driving conditions.
Search and rescue teams have been deployed to the East Coast in preparation for potential emergencies, including slips, road blockages and communities becoming temporarily isolated. RNZ, New Zealand’s statutory civil defence lifeline broadcaster, will continue to provide up‑to‑date information as the situation develops.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) is also warning the public to take extreme care if planning outdoor activities.
Acting Operations Manager for Hawke’s Bay, Kahori Nakagawa, said visitors should check DOC alerts before leaving home and avoid tracks, huts and campsites in areas prone to slips or flooding.
“MetService is forecasting intense rainfall over the weekend, which could affect tracks, campsites, and access roads,” Nakagawa said. “We’re asking people to think carefully before heading out, and to be prepared to change their plans if needed.
The last thing we want is people getting hurt or stuck.”
DOC staff will assess huts, tracks and campsites once the worst of the weather has passed before deciding when they can safely reopen.
Nakagawa said safety must remain the priority. “Naturing is about connecting with the outdoors, but that connection also means respecting nature’s power and knowing when to pause or change plans.”
Travellers are being urged to check the DOC website for alerts, as well as Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and local council websites for road closures, slip warnings, flood updates and any water restrictions.
MetService expects heavy rain to continue through Friday night and into early Saturday, particularly in eastern and northern regions. Some areas may also experience isolated thunderstorms, increasing the risk of flash flooding.
Authorities are advising residents to secure outdoor items, avoid driving through floodwaters, keep devices charged in case of power outages, and check on vulnerable neighbours as the weather system moves through.
The Tongan community erupted with pride across social media this week as Auckland‑born George Hōlani became the first Tongan to feature prominently in a Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl victory.
Auckland‑born George Hōlani, whose Tongan heritage has sparked widespread hohoko celebrations, moments after the Seahawks’ Super Bowl win.
The Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29–13 in Super Bowl LX, securing the franchise’s second championship title, with Hōlani contributing in the offensive rotation.
The Super Bowl is one of the world’s most-watched sporting events, drawing over 100 million viewers annually and attracting audiences far beyond the United States.
Its combination of high‑stakes competition, global broadcast reach, and major entertainment elements has elevated it into a cultural spectacle that resonates internationally.
But for Tongans worldwide, George’s win meant far more than a sporting milestone — it activated one of the deepest cultural markers of identity: hohoko, the connecting, mapping and celebration of genealogical ties that define who one is, who one belongs to, and how one’s achievements elevate the collective.
It became a moment of cultural revitalisation, strengthening existing family ties while helping many rediscover or learn their connections anew.
This is why George’s victory resonated so deeply: Tongans were not simply celebrating an athlete, but tracing the ancestral lines that connect his achievement to the broader kāinga.
One exchange illustrated this perfectly. Australia‑based Tongan broadcaster Lavinia‑Naufahu Tunitau responded to a Facebook comment from Caroline T. Fusimālohi, after Fusimālohi initiated George’s hohoko lineage by naming his grandparents Seleti and ‘Ahononou Hōlani:
“Caroline T. Fusimalohi wow! Thank you for letting me know. I know ‘Ahononou was married to Seleti Holani — have I got his name right? Toni Kaihau’s cousin. Pea ko si’ono mokopuna eni (and this is his grandson)… another grandpa namesake. Awww… so proud of him,” Tunitau wrote.
Caroline T. Fusimalohi replied:
“Lavinia Naufahu‑Tunitau, you have elephant memory. ‘Io koe grandson ‘o Seleti Holani mo ‘Ahononou.” In English, Fusimālohi was confirming Tunitau’s comment, agreeing that George is the grandson of Seleti and Ahononou.
Other posts recalled memories from friends in New Zealand who knew George’s parents before the family relocated to the United States.
The Lomu–Hōlani hohoko
New reporting from the New Zealand Herald amplified the significance of the community’s genealogical celebration.
The Herald noted that George, who was born in Auckland before moving to the United States at age three, has become only the second New Zealand‑born player — after Riki Ellison — to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
He spent his early years in Onehunga with his Tongan parents Saia and Atelaite, growing up in a tightly knit Polynesian family that shaped the humility and resilience he carries today.
Just as Tongans were tracing their genealogical links to celebrate him, the Herald revealed that George himself belongs to an extraordinary lineage: his father, Saia, and All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu were cousins, both raised in the village of Holopeka in Tonga’s Ha‘apai group.
Hōlani is a large family clan originating from the suburb of Kolomotu‘a in the Nuku‘alofa district.
George was not only representing Tonga on the world stage — he was continuing a family legacy of global sporting excellence, the kind that Tongans instinctively celebrate through hohoko.
The Supreme Court of Tonga has sentenced Rodney ‘Ofa ki Tafuna Tomasi to 13 years in prison for possession of more than 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, following a contested trial in which he maintained his innocence.
Tomasi was found guilty of possessing 3,547.86 grams of methamphetamine, an amount the court noted as significant and consistent with large‑scale drug dealing.
The judge said evidence presented at trial showed Tomasi had been in contact with a drug supplier in the United States, identified as Ika ‘Ofa, and was involved in coordinating the movement of the drugs inside Tonga.
He also communicated with a local informant and used a vehicle to collect the consignment, which was concealed in a sack of sugar.
In passing sentence, the Chief Justice said methamphetamine continued to cause severe harm across Tongan communities and posed what he described as an “existential threat” to the social fabric of the country.
He said courts had a duty to impose penalties that would deter others from engaging in the trade.
The court adopted a starting point of 15 years’ imprisonment, based on sentencing bands applied in previous drug cases and the substantial quantity involved.
A two‑year deduction was granted because Tomasi was considered a first‑time drug offender, despite having older convictions from more than a decade ago.
This resulted in a final term of 13 years, with the last two years suspended for a period of three years. Tomasi will therefore serve 11 years before the suspended portion begins. The sentence was backdated to 14 November 2025.
Although several letters of support were submitted by Tomasi’s family, village officer, and parish priest, the court found that the seriousness of the offending outweighed the mitigating material.
However, prospects for rehabilitation were acknowledged in the presentence report, leading to the partial suspension.
In addition to the prison term, the court ordered the forfeiture of assets used in the commission of the offence.
These included Tomasi’s white Mazda vehicle, which was driven during the drug pickup and used to evade police, and cash totalling $21,150 discovered hidden in his home during the search.
Two mobile phones — a green Samsung device linked to communications with the US‑based supplier and a black and silver Oppo phone used to contact the informant and Tomasi’s wife — were also seized. The illicit drugs were ordered to be destroyed immediately by incineration.
The judge imposed conditions on the suspended sentence, including that Tomasi must not commit any imprisonable offence, must live at an address approved by the Probation Office, must remain under probation supervision during the suspension period, and must report to the office within 48 hours of his eventual release.
A 26‑year‑old man from Afā is in police custody after allegedly assaulting a police officer and obstructing officers who were trying to carry out their duties during an incident in Nuku‘alofa last Friday night.
AI‑generated illustration, for illustrative purposes only.
Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Halatoa Taufa told Radio Tonga News that the incident happened outside Ciora on Taufa‘ahau Road, where police had been called to break up a fight.
He said officers believed alcohol played a major role in the confrontation, and confirmed the accused is a member of His Majesty’s Armed Forces.
A video circulating on social media shows a police officer restraining a man on the ground while waiting for backup.
As the officer attempted to hold control of the situation, another man — now the accused — allegedly approached from behind and punched the officer.
Taufa said assaulting or obstructing a police officer performing his duties is a serious criminal offence in Tonga.
He said the man is also facing additional charges, including being drunk in a public place, consuming alcohol in a public area and using offensive language.
Because the incident occurred while officers were working to restore public safety, Taufa urged the public to cooperate with police and support efforts to keep communities safe and peaceful.
The accused remains in custody and is expected to appear in court at a later date.
Police investigations into the incident are continuing.
By Gill Bonnett of RNZ and is republished with permission
This story discusses details of slavery and sexual abuse.
Two young people have told how they were held in slavery by an Auckland man for several years.
Moeaia Tuai was sentenced to jail for more than 16 years on Thursday. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Former prison officer Moeaia Tuai, who is 63, was found guilty by a jury last year of two charges of slavery, two counts of rape and a string of other sexual assaults. He was on Thursday jailed for more than 16 years.
In a victim statement, one of the complainants said he took her youthful happiness, her voice and virginity, and she sometimes felt like her soul had left her body. “A lot of the time, I wish I wasn’t here,” she said, adding she wished she was living a normal girl’s dreams and living her life.
“But sadly, instead, I am one of those girls fighting demons and emotions I don’t deserve, every day,” she said.
“I find it very hard to communicate with others because I was always stopped from speaking with anyone and everyone… I often have flashbacks that just hold me back and I’d rather be home alone.
“To hear my mother’s heartbreak after 10 plus years of being kept apart – my mother’s first time in New Zealand was for a court case.”
She described Tuai and his relatives as a “narcissistic and hypocritical family”.
Suppression orders prevent any information likely to identify the victims from being published.
The second victim, a young man, spoke through tears about the good Samaritans who helped him when he ran away, frightened and not able to sleep at night.
The High Court in Auckland was packed with family and friends of Tuai and his victims, with several crying while the details of the offending were read out.
‘False testimony’
“My parents are now trying to rebuild the good life that was broken because of these people… A glass that has been shattered into tiny pieces cannot be put back together again.”
He spoke through an interpreter to the defendant and his relatives – some of whom gave evidence to the jury, but also faced allegations during the trial that they too were involved in the offending.
“To anyone who has given false testimony here, I pray that you feel repentance in your heart. A glass that has been shattered into tiny pieces cannot be put back together again.”
Only Tuai has been charged in connection to the offending, which occurred from 2016 to 2024.
The court heard he might face poor treatment, and need to be segregated if prisoners found out he was a Corrections officer.
Justice Michele Wilkinson-Smith was asked to consider whether Tuai could have a shorter sentence because of that, and also due to the effect his sentence would have on his sick wife. She granted a small reduction to the jail term – and noted his wife had also benefited from the offending.
Funding Tuai’s lifestyle
Sentencing Tuai, Wilkinson-Smith said the older complainant had been assured before arriving in New Zealand that he could finish his secondary school education, but he was immediately put to work at a boarding lodge that his wife’s sister owned.
After moving to Australia, Tuai took control of the male complainant’s internet banking, his bank card and passport, allowing him only $100 of his weekly pay for full-time work.
“He was funding your lifestyle,” she told Tuai, saying that only ended when the man ran away and managed to get a new passport to return to New Zealand.
Tuai, his wife and the second victim also returned to New Zealand, where she was told she could not go to school – and instead must supplement his state benefits by working cash in hand jobs.
“At one point, the female victim worked 57 consecutive days without a single day off, including weekends,” Wilkinson-Smith said.
“The evidence for that came from your own diary which recorded her working hours…You were using her as a source of labour and income, as you had previously used the male complainant. She had no autonomy and no access to the money she was earning.”
When she had a formal job, her estimated (lost) wages were $80,000.
Saddled with debts
She was ‘treated as property in every way’ by Tuai, who made her work for free, have sex with him, controlled her movements and restricted her ability to get help or report him.
Before he raped her, he bought alcohol to ply her with, using money from her own bank account.
“It is clear that as far as you were concerned, she was in New Zealand only for your benefit,” Wilkinson-Smith added.
He felt entitled to the money the two earned, ‘drained their bank accounts’ and threatened them with deportation, she said, leaving them saddled with debts through loans they were forced to take out.
Both young people suffered threatened and actual violence, and were told they would lose the right to stay in New Zealand if they did not “obey his orders” or alerted authorities.
The judge said slavery was not a “cultural misunderstanding” and she was worried about how widespread it might be.
“I hope that this case highlights for others that this is slavery. It is not legal. You cannot bring people to New Zealand to exploit them for their labour and income.”
Where to get help:
Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends
Air New Zealand’s flight NZ0974 / SQ4286from Auckland to Nuku‘alofa, scheduled to arrive at 5.25pm today, Thursday 12 February, has been cancelled.
The airline’s website provides no explanation for the cancellation, but it comes as Air New Zealand faces major disruption from a cabin crew strike affecting long‑haul services
The strike action, led by the Flight Attendants’ Association of New Zealand (FAANZ), has already caused widespread disruption.
Reports say the airline has so far cancelled 44 flights and adjusted schedules as it prepares for industrial action planned for Thursday and Friday. Up to 16,000 passengers are expected to be impacted across the network.
The strike involves crew from Air New Zealand’s wide‑body aircraft fleet, affecting most long‑haul routes to North America and Asia.
Negotiations between the airline and unions E tū and FAANZ have been ongoing for weeks, centred on pay and working conditions, but no agreement has been reached.
Air New Zealand’s chief customer and digital officer, Jeremy O’Brien, told Newstalk ZB that the airline considers the disruption “controllable” and has taken steps to limit its impact.
He said the airline is trying to protect services to the Pacific by using its narrow‑body jets on some Tasman and Island routes to keep those flights operating where possible.
International long‑haul flights, however, are bearing the brunt of the cancellations.
Passengers affected by the strike are being contacted directly by the airline with rebooking options, accommodation support where needed, or the option of a refund or travel credit.
No further details were available this afternoon regarding the specific cancellation of flight NZ0974 to Tonga.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to remove identifying information prohibited under a court order. Kaniva News apologises unreservedly for the inadvertent breach of the publication restriction. We take the Court’s directive seriously and have corrected the article to ensure full compliance with section 119 of the Criminal Offences Act. We are reviewing our editorial processes to prevent any recurrence.
Viliami Taumoepenu has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after admitting to breaking into a woman’s home and indecently assaulting her.
An illustration of a prisoner being escorted into Hu‘atolitoli Prison. This image is an AI‑generated graphic created for news purposes.
The offending occurred on July 19, 2025, when Taumoepenu entered the complainant’s home as a trespasser.
He also indecently assaulted her by touching her without consent.
The court described the conduct as a serious violation of the victim’s safety in her own home and noted that she had previously regarded the defendant as a brother.
Taumoepenu pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and cooperated with police, which resulted in a reduction of the overall sentence.
Lord Chief Justice Bishop KC considered his personal background and acknowledged that he had faced difficulties, including leaving school early and being influenced by his peers.
However, the judge also noted that he had prior convictions, including offences of a similar nature, and had breached previous community-based sentences.
For serious housebreaking, the court imposed a sentence of two and a half years, reduced by six months for his early guilty plea. For serious indecent assault, the court imposed 18 months, to run concurrently with the first count.
This left a final custodial sentence of 18 months, followed by a suspended period of 12 months to run over two years under strict conditions set by the court.
The sentence was backdated to account for time already served in custody.
The court also issued a publication restriction under section 119 of the Criminal Offences Act, prohibiting the release of any information that could identify the complainant.
