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

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15/11/2022

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.

Can a multivitamin slow the ageing process? Not really

By

Kaniva Staff

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15/03/2026

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

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15/03/2026

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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14/03/2026

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. 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

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14/03/2026

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.

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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14/03/2026

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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14/03/2026

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.

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

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14/03/2026

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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14/03/2026

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.

First rubber road laid in New Zealand is made from recycled tyres

By

Kaniva Staff

-

14/03/2026

By Tim Brown of rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission

New Zealand’s first full rubber road has been laid in Glentunnel, in the Selwyn district.

The local council is trialling three rubber surfaces on Glentunnel Domain Road with the possibility of rubber-based roads being used in other parts of the district.

One part of the road uses rubber chips, another uses rubber in the bitumen, and a third combines the two.

Selwyn District Council transportation delivery manager Steve Guy said the rubber came from recycled tyres – a lot of them.

“So this trial is … saving 29 tonnes of waste tyres – so tyres that would normally get sent from here up to the North Island, shredded and sent abroad. So that 29 tonnes of tyres if that had got incinerated, for instance, would equate to between 20 to 30 tonnes of carbon emissions. So we’ve saved that,” he said.

Selwyn District Council transportation delivery manager Steve Guy. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown

“And ultimately there’s about 1797 mostly truck tyres that have gone into this trial, into this road.”

Cars, trucks, bikes and other road users would put the surfaces to the test over winter.

The rubber-based surface was longer lasting and cheaper over its lifetime despite a higher upfront cost, Guy said.

The product was produced by Treadlite.

Operations and engineering manager Richard Upperton said the company was in a position to rapidly increase production if demand increased.

“We could do hundreds of kilometres now, it’s just a case of how fast can the industry take it up and I’m confident we can keep up,” he said.

Treadlite operations and engineering manager Richard Upperton. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown

Cost would probably prevent the product from ever becoming the standard surface on state highways, but it had applications due to it producing a quieter road surface, Upperton said.

But Selwyn Mayor Lydia Gliddon said there were financial reasons to be excited about rubber roads.

“If we can take this trial and this can be implemented across the country, there’s savings for everyone,” she said.

“This is a circular economy as well. So we’re not having to export tyres off anywhere else, we can make use of the product we have and we can import less bitumen.”

Gliddon said the project reflected Selwyn’s commitment to smart, innovative thinking.

“Selwyn is always looking for fresh ideas that improve value for money and stronger results for our communities. We are determined to not just be building more infrastructure but building better, smarter infrastructure,” she said.

More than six million tyres reached end of life in New Zealand each year while around 180,000 tonnes of bitumen – almost all imported – was used on roads annually.

The council would look to trial the surfaces in other locations and on wider stretches of road if Glentunnel Domain Road was a success.

Alleged US ‘hitman’ in Auckland killing of Tongan father arrested in California

By

Kaniva Staff

-

13/03/2026

Auckland, NZ – Police say a United States national alleged to have acted as a contracted “hitman” in the killing of Auckland courier driver Tuipulotu Kokohu Vi, also known as Saia, is now in custody in California after being charged with a similar shooting in the United States.

New Zealand Police alleged the 26‑year‑old flew into the country in August 2024, carried out the fatal shooting, and then fled back to the US before investigators were able to identify him.

According to a report published today by the New Zealand Herald, the man—identified in newly unsealed court documents as Tanginoa Pahulu Tangi—is now facing charges in California after allegedly attempting another targeted shooting in the city of Oakley last year.

Vi, 59, was shot inside his courier vehicle on 19 August 2024 in Pakūranga Heights and died at the scene.

Police later alleged the shooter arrived in New Zealand specifically to carry out the killing on behalf of an organised criminal group, though Vi is understood not to have been the intended target.

US police later arrested Tangi following a dramatic vehicle pursuit after a man was shot multiple times outside his home in Oakley, California, in August 2025. Investigators in California described the shooting as a targeted attack, and identified the suspect as Tangi.

He now faces multiple charges in the US, including attempted murder, shooting at an occupied motor vehicle, and firearm possession. He has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

The revelation comes after parts of the suppression order were recently lifted, allowing the media to identify the alleged shooter for the first time.

New Zealand Police continue to investigate Vi’s death, and further arrests have not been ruled out as part of Operation Block, the ongoing homicide inquiry.

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