The celebrations following ʻEpalahame Lingikoni Taukeiʻaho’s court victory in the Liahona/Saineha Alumni Association dispute have taken another turn after he instructed his lawyer to pursue legal action against a Facebook commenter who accused him of failing to pay workers in Vavaʻu.

As Kaniva News reported this week, the Supreme Court ruled in Taukeiʻaho’s favour on 26 October 2026 in a leadership dispute that began after an emergency board meeting in October 2023 purportedly suspended him as president of the Liahona-Sainehā Alumni Association and appointed Pita Foliaki Hopoate as interim president.

Lord Chief Justice Malcolm Bishop KC found that constitutional amendments used to justify the leadership change had not been lawfully adopted, leaving the association’s 2018 constitution in force. The Court also dismissed the defendants’ counterclaim and awarded Taukeiʻaho legal costs.

Taukeiʻaho told Kaniva News that a Facebook user identifying himself as Tevita Ngoue posted the allegation in the comments section of a news report about the court ruling.

The comment, posted in Tongan on Kaniva News’ Facebook page, initially congratulated Taukeiʻaho on his court victory before urging him to come to Vavaʻu and pay workers he allegedly owed money, saying they had families to feed.

Taukeiʻaho, who owns Fusilau Landscape, a company contracted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to provide services, including landscaping, at its churches and schools throughout Tonga, strongly denied the allegations.

He said he contacted Ngoue directly, who responded that the comment was merely a “fakanāfala”, a Tongan expression which, in this context, suggested it was intended to provoke a reaction rather than make a serious allegation.

However, a screenshot of their message exchange, seen by Kaniva News, showed Taukeiʻaho informing Ngoue that he had referred the matter to his lawyer for legal action.

Kaniva News contacted Ngoue for comment.

Taukeiʻaho described the allegation as defamatory and said he believed it was part of an effort by his opponents to damage his reputation following the court decision.

It remains unclear whether formal defamation proceedings have been filed.

An 80-year-old Tongan mother visiting New Zealand has been left devastated after thieves ransacked her home in Mataika, Kolofoʻou, Tongatapu, stealing possessions her family estimates to be worth $200,000, including treasured ancestral handicrafts she had intended to pass down to future generations.

Her daughter, Maʻata Baranyi Heimuli, told Kaniva News that they were both in New Zealand when they received news of the burglary earlier this week and are now making arrangements to fly to Tonga.

Among the stolen possessions were traditional Tongan handicrafts inherited from the mother’s ancestors, carrying deep cultural and sentimental significance that cannot be measured in monetary terms.

These included fuatanga toka 20 x 2, toka hongofulu x3, fihu Tonga fute e 30 e 3, kie Haamoa fute e 12, ta’ovala falavala 2, ta’ovala fanakio 2, ta’ovala putu 2, ngafingafi 1, lōkeha 1, around 10 different types of ta’ovala, fala Paongo 20, fala Paongo 15, fala Paongo 12, fala tofua 15, fala fihu 20 and four kiekie.

Heimuli said her mother, Lipeti, was “devastated and deeply upset” after learning of the burglary.

House left in disarray

Photographs provided to Kaniva News by Heimuli show the apparent aftermath of the burglary, with beds overturned, mattresses and bedding propped against walls, and clothing scattered across rooms.

Heimuli said her mother’s nephew had been looking after the Kolofoʻou property while they were overseas.

Although he lives in Maʻufanga, he occasionally stayed overnight at the house or visited to check on it.

It remains unclear how the intruders gained entry, when the burglary occurred or how many people were involved.

Family appeals for information

A complaint has been lodged with Tonga Police, and Heimuli is urging anyone with information about the burglary or the whereabouts of the stolen property to come forward.

The family is particularly concerned about recovering the ancestral handicrafts, which represent generations of family history and were intended to be preserved for future descendants.

The estimated $200,000 loss has not been independently verified, and police have yet to publicly confirm details of the reported burglary.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s National Party has fallen below its disastrous 2020 election result in one of the final opinion polls before New Zealand’s general election, raising the prospect of a change of government as early voting gets underway.

The latest RNZ-Reid Research poll puts National at 24.8 percent, down 1.1 percentage points, while Labour leads on 30.6 percent, giving opposition leader Chris Hipkins a 5.8-point advantage with just nine days until voting closes on November 7.

National’s result is below the 25.6 percent it received in the 2020 general election, when the party suffered a crushing defeat.

Labour’s support remains relatively steady, slipping 0.2 points, while Opportunity has surged 1.7 points to 7.2 percent, potentially positioning the smaller party to decide the next government.

Labour has path to power

Under the poll’s parliamentary projections, Labour would secure 37 seats, the Greens 18 and Opportunity nine, giving the three parties a combined 64 seats in a 120-seat Parliament.

The existing National-led coalition would secure 54 seats, comprising 30 for National and 12 each for ACT and New Zealand First.

Opportunity’s nine projected MPs could also give the current coalition a majority, although Luxon has repeatedly ruled out working with the party.

Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong has indicated she would negotiate first with whichever party wins the most seats, potentially favouring Labour.

Voters dissatisfied with Luxon

The poll also reveals widespread dissatisfaction with Luxon’s leadership, with 53.8 percent of respondents rating his performance poorly, compared with 30.1 percent who assess it positively.

Hipkins leads Luxon as preferred prime minister by 23.3 percent to 17.1 percent.

Meanwhile, 50.5 percent believe New Zealand is heading in the wrong direction, against 30.5 percent who believe the country is on the right track.

Hipkins said the findings reflected growing public demand for change.

“They’ve seen three years of this government. They don’t want to see three more,” he told RNZ.

National disputes findings

National campaign chair Simeon Brown dismissed the result as inconsistent with other polling, insisting the election remained close.

A contrasting 1News-Verian poll released on Tuesday placed National ahead on 29 percent and Labour on 27 percent.

Both surveys questioned 1,000 eligible voters over similar periods but used different methodologies.

The RNZ-Reid Research poll, conducted between October 20 and 26, reported a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

With early voting underway, the conflicting surveys highlight an uncertain contest, although the RNZ findings suggest Labour could return to power with support from the Greens and Opportunity.

His Majesty’s Prisons in Tonga has signed a contract with Luna’eva & Sons to complete construction of a new female prison, with the facility expected to be finished in May 2027.

The contract was signed on 13 October 2026, and work commenced on 19 October, according to an announcement published on the department’s official Facebook page.

His Majesty’s Prisons said on its Facebook account that the facility would improve infrastructure for the safe custody and welfare of female inmates.

Female prisoners have historically been accommodated in separate sections of Huʻatolitoli Prison.

Funding and Tender

Tonga’s 2024/25 Budget Statement identified an estimated TOP$1.2 million for a female prison facility, with construction expected to begin during the final quarter of the 2023/24 financial year.

A separate parliamentary budget briefing referred to TOP$240,000 for completing construction. His Majesty’s Prisons subsequently advertised a tender for the remaining work in August 2026.

The latest announcement did not disclose the contract value or details of the new prison’s planned capacity and services.

Previous Concerns Over Conditions

The project follows previous concerns about conditions for female prisoners, including shortcomings in maternity care documented in a 2023 Supreme Court judgment and issues raised in earlier US human rights reports.

In its 2023 judgment in Rex v Kapeni Tamoʻua and Others, the Supreme Court recorded an acknowledgement by the Prisons Department that funding was insufficient for proper prenatal and postnatal care. The Court was also informed that facilities for mothers with young children were unavailable and that female prisoners from Vavaʻu had to serve their sentences in Tongatapu.

Earlier US State Department human rights reporting raised concerns about prison overcrowding and the lack of separate accommodation for female inmates requiring psychiatric care.

The reports described conditions at the time and do not establish whether those problems persist.

According to the World Prison Brief, Tonga had 21 female prisoners in 2022, representing approximately 3.8 percent of the prison population. A 2024 regional corrections report estimated that around 20 women were incarcerated.

Tonga’s Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Dr Taniela Fusimalohi, has issued an urgent warning over the country’s water supplies, urging the public to conserve water amid Super El Niño conditions and prolonged drought.

It comes as the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) warns that the current El Niño could become one of the strongest on record, potentially peaking in December 2026.

The phenomenon disrupts global weather patterns, causing severe drought and water shortages in parts of the western Pacific, including Tonga, while increasing the risk of heavy rainfall and flooding elsewhere. Its impacts could threaten agriculture, food security and public health well into 2027.

The notice, released through the Minister’s Facebook account, highlights concerns about water sources and drinking-water levels in storage tanks.

The Minister said in Tongan: “The Ministry of Lands, through its Natural Resources Division, will issue a notice today concerning the current water situation, water sources and the need to use water wisely because of the Super El Niño conditions and prolonged drought currently affecting us. The notice will also cover the levels of drinking water available in water storage tanks.”

It comes as photographs of withered crops and plants in Tonga have been shared on Facebook, highlighting the damage already caused to plantations by the prolonged drought.

According to the Australian Government’s Smartraveller advisory, drought conditions have been declared in Tongatapu, ʻEua and Haʻapai, while the Niuas are under a drought warning.

The advisory also warns that dry conditions could spread to other island groups.

Strong El Niño raises concerns

International climate assessments indicate that El Niño conditions are intensifying, with potentially significant consequences for Pacific island countries.

The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported in its October assessment a high probability of strong to very strong El Niño conditions continuing into early 2027.

The World Meteorological Organisation has also warned that the event could peak towards the end of 2026, affecting rainfall and temperature patterns across the region.

El Niño is commonly associated with reduced rainfall and increased drought risks in parts of the southwest Pacific, although its effects vary between countries and seasons.

Other Pacific nations face similar threats

Several Pacific countries have already taken measures in response to worsening dry conditions.

In Samoa, authorities have warned about declining rainfall and potential effects on agriculture.

The Solomon Islands has issued meteorological drought warnings, while Palau has activated the first stage of its national drought response plan.

El Niño can influence cyclone activity and tracks across the South Pacific, meaning communities may face both drought and severe storms during the same season.

Editor’s Note: What is El Niño?

El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon caused by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific, disrupting weather patterns worldwide.

It can bring prolonged drought, extreme heat and water shortages to parts of the Pacific, including Tonga, while increasing the risk of heavy rainfall and flooding elsewhere.

The name El Niño, Spanish for “the Christ Child”, originated with fishermen along the coasts of Peru and Ecuador who observed unusually warm ocean waters around Christmas. Scientists later adopted the term to describe this recurring climate phenomenon.

Construction of Tonga’s new Parliament building has advanced from its early foundations to the installation of its distinctive sweeping timber roof, with a recent aerial photograph revealing the emerging architectural design of the NZ$60 million complex.

The new parliamentary complex at Talangaholo is being built to replace the former Parliament House and Legislative Assembly offices destroyed by Cyclone Gita in February 2018, leaving Tonga without permanent facilities for its national legislature for more than eight years.

The photograph, shared by the Facebook page Tonga Parliament Building Updates, shows workers installing large curved timber frames above the central parliamentary chamber, while adjoining sections are already partially roofed.

Workers can also be seen on elevated platforms, with construction equipment positioned around the site to support the installation.

The roof design draws inspiration from traditional Tongan fale architecture, incorporating cultural elements into the modern parliamentary complex.

The latest image marks a significant change since Kaniva Tonga News reported in April on the project’s early structural development, when photographs released by the New Zealand High Commission showed steel reinforcements, timber formwork and foundation work.

However, the photograph does not establish how much of the overall project has been completed or whether construction is proceeding according to schedule.

In August, senior project adviser Dr Fakaʻiloatonga Taumoefolau told University of the South Pacific students and staff in Tonga that the building was expected to be completed by early 2028, provided work proceeded smoothly.

The revised timeframe extends beyond the 2027 completion date previously reported.

New Zealand and Australia are jointly financing the reconstruction in partnership with the Government of Tonga, with New Zealand managing procurement and construction.

Westland Construction is the main contractor, working alongside Ca’Bella Pacific Construction Tonga as the prime subcontractor.

The building is designed to withstand cyclones, storm surges and earthquakes, with plans also including a public gallery, dedicated media facilities and an education centre to improve public access to parliamentary activities.

The status of interior installations and finishing work remains unknown.

A 39-year-old man from Veitongo has been arrested and charged with grievous bodily harm following an alleged machete attack that left a 30-year-old man hospitalised in Tonga.

Tonga Police confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday, October 28, that the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, October 25.

The victim, a 30-year-old man from Haatēiho, remains at Vaiola Hospital recovering from his injuries.

Preliminary police investigations indicate that alcohol was involved in the incident.

The accused remains in police custody awaiting trial.

Police have not disclosed the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack, the extent of the victim’s injuries or whether the two men knew each other.

Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution when consuming alcohol, warning that drinking can lead to serious injuries or death.

In a separate statement issued the same day, police reported arresting and charging 14 people, including 13 men and one woman, for public drunkenness during an operation on Friday, October 23.

The Supreme Court of Tonga has ruled in favour of ʻEpalahame Lingikoni Taukeiʻaho in a leadership dispute involving the Liahona/Saineha Alumni Association, known in Tongan as Kautaha Kolisi Tutuku Liahoana/Saineha, finding that constitutional amendments used to justify his removal had never been lawfully adopted.

In a ruling delivered on 26 October 2026, Lord Chief Justice Malcolm Bishop KC determined that the association remained governed by its constitution confirmed on 12 July 2018.

The dispute arose after an emergency board meeting on 8 October 2023 purportedly suspended Taukeiʻaho, who had been elected president three months earlier, and appointed Pita Foliaki Hopoate as interim president.

Taukeiʻaho challenged the decision, arguing that the meeting was improperly convened, that he had been denied the hearing required under the constitution and that the defendants lacked authority to remove him.

The case was brought against Hopoate and nine other defendants.

Court finds constitutional amendments invalid

The Court found that the defendants failed to establish that changes to the association’s constitution had followed the required three-stage approval process involving the Executive Committee, Production Committee and General Committee.

Despite relying on different versions of what they described as an amended constitution, the defendants produced no evidence that the proposed changes had been properly considered and approved.

The disputed provisions included changes relating to permanent membership, the removal of officers and mandatory disciplinary hearings.

Justice Bishop found that the purported amendments could not lawfully replace the 2018 constitution.

The ruling also examined the defendants’ reliance on records suggesting that certain members had been elected to permanent positions. The Court found that the minutes did not support those claims.

These findings undermined the constitutional basis on which the defendants had sought to justify the October 2023 leadership decision.

Incorporation did not invalidate legal challenge

Another central issue was whether the association’s incorporation under Tonga’s Incorporated Societies Act on 19 January 2024 affected Taukeiʻaho’s claims.

The defendants argued that the association had previously been registered in October 2002 and that its subsequent incorporation affected the proceedings.

However, the Court found insufficient evidence that the association had been properly incorporated in 2002.

Justice Bishop ruled that the January 2024 incorporation did not retrospectively alter the legal position governing the disputed events.

The Court also recognised that an association’s constitution could create enforceable contractual obligations between its members, regardless of whether it had been formally incorporated.

Consequently, the defendants could not rely on the later incorporation to defeat claims arising from the 2023 leadership dispute.

Defendants’ counterclaim dismissed

The defendants also sought orders concerning the association’s incorporation records, including the removal of its January 2024 registration.

The Court dismissed the counterclaim, finding no sufficient legal basis for the requested orders.

Justice Bishop noted that the Registrar, whose records would have been affected, was not a party to the proceedings.

The Court further rejected the defendants’ argument that Taukeiʻaho had pursued his case against the wrong legal entity.

Plaintiff awarded costs

The Supreme Court ordered that Taukeiʻaho was entitled to the costs of the proceedings, to be assessed if the parties could not agree.

In closing, Justice Bishop appealed to both sides to resolve their differences in a spirit of Christian unity.

Citing Saint Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, he encouraged the parties to overcome their divisions and become united in mind and thought.

Shocking footage of a street brawl in Sydney following Tonga’s Rugby League World Cup victory over Lebanon has emerged, raising concerns about public safety during celebrations by Tongan supporters in Australia.

Australian broadcaster 9 News Sydney released footage of the confrontation in Parramatta following Tonga’s 36–0 victory over Lebanon at CommBank Stadium on Friday, October 23.

The incident follows a separate case in Queensland earlier this month in which a 22-year-old woman, believed to be Tongan, was fined more than AU$6,000 for multiple traffic offences, including driving on a learner licence without supervision.

Footage shared by 9 News shows several people confronting one another outside commercial premises in Parramatta, with one person apparently wielding a long pole.

The cause of the confrontation, the identities of those involved and whether anyone was injured or arrested remain unclear.

It has not been confirmed whether those involved attended the rugby league match.

Auckland celebrations raise concerns

In New Zealand, recent celebrations during the current Rugby League World Cup have also raised public safety concerns.

Kaniva News reported last week that a man was seen removing a traffic pole during celebrations in Auckland and using it as part of the festivities.

Police have also dealt with traffic disruptions and complaints about excessive noise during large gatherings of Tongan supporters in South Auckland, particularly around Ōtāhuhu.

The incidents serve as a warning to supporters ahead of Tonga’s highly anticipated clash with Samoa, highlighting the importance of celebrating safely without endangering others or disrupting public roads.

Woman fined $6,077

In Queensland, police intercepted a Hyundai iLoad in Ipswich on October 14 after allegedly observing a teenage passenger waving a flag through a window.

Officers discovered four 14-year-old passengers allegedly travelling without seatbelts, while the driver was operating the vehicle on a learner licence without an authorised supervisor.

The woman received seven infringement notices totalling A$6,077 and 25 demerit points.

Queensland Police warned that carrying unrestrained passengers posed serious risks of injury or death.

The incidents have drawn attention to public safety as Tongan supporters across Australia celebrate their national team’s World Cup campaign ahead of its highly anticipated clash with Samoa.