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

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

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

Circulars should only be used on agendas that are urgent.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Speaking to Kaniva News, Pƍhiva 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 Pƍhiva’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.

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

By
Kaniva Staff
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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.

New Zealand’s first full rubber road has been laid in Glentunnel, in the Selwyn district. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown

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.

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

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.

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

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
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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 Pakƫranga 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.

Nailini ‘The Tongan Goddess’ Helu returns to the ring

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tongan boxing powerhouse Nailini Helu is set to step back into the ring on 26 March for a showdown with Papua New Guinea’s world‑ranked Sheilla Yama in Auckland.

The bout will feature as the co‑main event of BX‑9 4, broadcast live on pay‑per‑view through CSN.Watch.

Helu, a two‑time PBCNZ Pacific Super Middleweight champion, faces one of the toughest challenges of her career as she steps back into competitive boxing for the first time since August 2024. The matchup has been billed as a clash of Pacific powerhouses—Tonga vs Papua New Guinea.

Nailini Helu (left) in a blue singlet

In preparation for her return, Helu is training under renowned Tongan combat sports coach Master Lolo Heimuli, whose distinguished coaching career includes guiding global stars such as David Tua, Mark Hunt, Doug Viney, Ray Sefo, Junior Fa, Israel Adesanya, and many others.

One of the biggest hurdles for Helu will be a significant weight drop. Helu typically fights between 72.5 kg and 79.4 kg—between middleweight and light heavyweight. For this bout, however, she will compete at 66.4 kg, a welterweight limit and the lightest weight of her career.

Helu, who usually walks around at 74 kg, is working with a dietitian to safely achieve the cut.

Yama, meanwhile, will move up a division from her usual super lightweight category at 65.6 kg. With both fighters struggling to secure opponents in their respective classes, BX‑9 promoter Oz Jabur worked to bring the cross‑Pacific matchup together, eventually securing signed contracts.

Helu’s Inactivity Presents a Test

Helu has not fought since 17 August 2024, when she claimed her second PBCNZ Pacific Super Middleweight title in a rematch against Tinta Smith. The long layoff may pose challenges as she re‑enters the ring.

Yama enters the fight with strong credentials, holding international recognition including a WBA No. 10 ranking, WBC No. 19, and BoxRec No. 17. Helu, currently unranked due to inactivity, has previously reached BoxRec No. 5 at super middleweight and IBF No. 6 at light heavyweight.

Another Tongan athlete will feature on the card: David Rounds, also known as Lolo Heimuli Jr, who will make his Semi‑Pro/Hybrid‑Pro debut. Rounds has dominated the amateur scene, having won the 2024 New Zealand National Amateur Championship, as well as North Island Golden Gloves titles in 2022 and 2025.

He was set to compete in the 2023 Pacific Games with a pathway to the Olympics, but was medically ruled out. Rounds will face fellow amateur Alfie Horton.

BX‑9 4 will also showcase former world title challenger Andrei Mikhailovich, who headlines the card against Australian Jordan Towns.

Full Card Confirmed

Main Event

Light Heavyweight 8x3min rounds

(New Zealand) Andrei Mikhailovich vs Jordan Towns (Australia)

Co-Main event

Welterweight 6x2min Rounds

(New Zealand/Papua New Guinea) Sheilla Yama vs Nailini Helu (New Zealand/Tongan)

Cruiserweight 5x3min rounds

(New Zealand) Nikolas Charalampous vs Lochlan Duncombe (Australia)

Pro Preliminaries card confirmed

Heavyweight 4x3min rounds

(Wellington) Jordan Collins vs Mathew Matich (Whangarei)

Super Middleweight 4x3min rounds

(Waikato/Bulls) Emile Richardson vs Jack Dickson (Christchurch)

Hybrid/Semi-Pro Card

Light Heavyweight 3x3min rounds

(New Zealand) Josh Tonga vs Oliver Parker (Australia)

Super Welterweight 3x3min rounds

(Australia) Raam Didumo vs Feargus Gordon (New Zealand)

Featherweight 3x3min rounds

(New Zealand/Tonga) Lolo Heimuli jnr aka David Rounds vs Alfie Horton (New Zealand)

Manase Folau Uaisele jailed for sexual offending against young girls in Hawke’s Bay

By
Kaniva Staff
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A predator finally exposed by his brave young victims has been jailed for more than five years after being found guilty of multiple sexual offences against girls.

Manase Muimui Folau Uaisale, 33, was sentenced in the Napier District Court today to five years and five months’ imprisonment after a jury found him guilty on 12 charges relating to sexual offending and indecent assault.

Police arrested Uaisele after confirming he had victimised five students during his time working as a teacher aide at Te Whai Hiringa School in Hastings, formerly known as Peterhead School.

He also worked as a youth worker at the YMCA and assaulted a child there.

Uaisele’s sentencing covered 12 charges, including committing an indecent act on a child, committing an indecent act on a young person, and engaging in sexual connection with a young person, Stuff reported.

“His first victim, now aged in her mid-20s, wept as she told Uaisale she had just started high school and was a happy child when he abused her,” it said.

Uaisale groomed his first victim by giving her gifts and promising marriage, a pattern she now recognises as manipulation and abuse by a dangerous man.

In her statement, she expressed deep guilt for the girls who were abused after her, explaining that her delay in reporting was due to fear, not negligence, as she was just a child without protection or support, the NZ Herald reported.

Uaisele had also pleaded guilty to sexual offending that occurred in 2015 when he was a church mentor and youth leader. Uaisale’s six victims were aged between 11 and 14 at the time of his offending.

His offending occurred at the school, in a church bathroom and while travelling to a religious association.

The Herald also reported that Judge Russell Collins praised the courage of the now‑adult woman who came forward, as well as the other girls who provided victim impact statements to the court.

Standing Up Takes Courage

Hastings Child Protection Supervisor, Detective Sergeant Kate Hyde, said police acknowledge today’s sentencing and commended the bravery of the young victims who came forward.

“It takes a great deal of courage to come forward and stand up to your abuser,” Detective Sergeant Hyde said.

“These brave actions of the victims have not only led to holding Uaisele to account but may have also protected other children from suffering how they did.”

She said the victims and their families had shown remarkable strength throughout the investigation, working closely with officers over what was an extremely difficult process.

“While this sentence does not change the damage that Uaisele has caused, Police hope the victims are able to find some closure in this outcome to hopefully help during their healing process,” she said.

Detective Sergeant Hyde said the court outcome concludes the case, but police remain open to receiving further information.

“This matter has now been concluded in court; however, Police will take further complaints should any other victims come forward.”

Police continue to encourage anyone affected by sexual harm to seek support and report offending.

Air NZ fuel crisis cancels travel for tens of thousands; stark warning for Tonga

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Commentary – A global jet‑fuel supply crisis has forced Air New Zealand to cancel more than 1,100 flights through early May, triggering travel disruptions across the region and raising concerns in Tonga, where families, businesses, and seasonal workers rely heavily on New Zealand’s air links.

The airline confirmed that approximately 44,000 passengers will be affected as skyrocketing jet‑fuel prices—driven by Middle East tensions and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—hammer New Zealand’s aviation sector, RNZ reported.

The cancellations, which represent a five percent reduction across Air New Zealand’s entire network, will focus on off‑peak services, but both domestic and international flights are included.

Although the exact flights affected have not yet been announced, the short‑haul Pacific routes fall within the risk category, making it highly likely that travel between Auckland and Nukuʻalofa will be disrupted.

Tonga Braces for Travel Uncertainty

Tonga has previously experienced the flow‑on effects of Air New Zealand disruptions. In November 2025, a major Air NZ operational meltdown spread across several countries, including Tonga, where flights to Nukuʻalofa were among those affected.

That episode highlighted the Kingdom’s dependence on New Zealand’s aviation network. In the current crisis, travel agents warn that Tonga‑bound passengers could face reduced seat availability during busy travel periods, unexpected changes in departure times, increasing competition for rebooking slots when schedules shift, and higher ticket prices as fuel surcharges rise.

For Tongans travelling for medical referrals, schooling, funerals, business or seasonal‑worker programmes, any reduction in travel reliability could cause significant hardship.

Fuel Crisis Rooted in Global Conflict

The disruption originates from a severe global fuel shortage linked to escalating conflict in the Middle East.

The effective shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz—a crucial waterway carrying about 20 percent of the world’s petroleum—has sharply reduced access to aviation kerosene.

Jet‑fuel prices have more than doubled, and New Zealand, which now relies entirely on imported refined fuel after shutting down domestic refining, has been hit especially hard.

New Zealand’s jet‑fuel reserves totalled only around 50 days at the start of March, underscoring how vulnerable the country is to international market fluctuations and shipping delays, according to RNZ.

Airline Advice

Air New Zealand has advised travellers to monitor their flight updates closely through the Air NZ app or website.

Passengers affected by schedule changes will be contacted directly via email, and those whose new flight timings no longer suit their plans are entitled to full refunds regardless of fare class.

Travel‑management offices have been notified to expect rolling cancellations and to be prepared to assist passengers with last‑minute rerouting.

Calls to let workers stay home to beat fuel prices

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

The government is being asked to let the public sector work from home where possible in the face of rising fuel prices – and some private employers are considering what support could be offered.

Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Petrol prices have increased rapidly in recent weeks as war in the Middle East put pressure on oil supplies.

Some countries, such as Vietnam and Thailand, have urged people to work from home to save fuel.

Public Sector Association national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the New Zealand government should do the same.

“We’re calling on the New Zealand government to take note of these overseas examples and also encourage public sector workers in New Zealand to work from home,” Fitzsimons said.

“Working from home in this environment has lots of benefits. It will reduce the demand on fuel. It will mean more workers are able to get by and don’t suffer the shock of increased petrol prices.”

She said with 91 hitting $3 a litre in some places, many people were struggling to get by.

“Government could easily indicate to the public sector that more workers should work from home and it would overnight have a difference for those people,” Fitzsimons said.

In the private sector, ANZ said its flexible work policy offered options for employees, giving the majority the ability to work remotely up to 50 percent of their time.

“We understand flexibility doesn’t mean the same thing for everyone and flexible arrangements will vary depending on the employee’s role, what part of the business they work in, where they are, personal circumstances, and available technology,” a spokesperson said.

“ANZ staff who need extra assistance can talk to their manager about short-term support options which may be available to them.”

Woolworths said it was monitoring the situation but operating as usual at this stage.

Fonterra said it offered flexible working arrangements for office-based roles and encouraged employees to have an open discussion with their manager about their situation if required.

Employers and Manufacturers Association head of advocacy Alan McDonald said it was likely to be considered by more employers if prices rose significantly further, or the situation continued for longer.

Employment lawyers said even those whose employers were not openly offering work from home solutions could request it, if they were feeling budget pressure.

“You can always ask,” said Alastair Espie, at Duncan Cotterill. “The question is whether they have to say yes and the starting point will be they probably don’t necessarily have to.

“If your contract says your place of work is the employer’s premises or offices or site or whatever, then any deviation from that would need to be by agreement.

“If the employer says no, you can look at making say a formal flexible working request. But that’s a sort of a longer process and it’s not necessarily just going to solve it on a day-to-day basis in the short term.”

Alison Maelzer, a partner at Hesketh Henry, said a formal flexible working application was a more structured way of making a request, and there was a framework within which an employer must consider it.

“Many employers and employees will prefer to have a more informal conversation, at least in the first instance. Obviously, working from home will not be possible for all employees, in all roles. However, where a request can be accommodated, this may help employers with retention, employee engagement, and productivity.”

Family of missing fisherman Bruce Māue seeks answers as they hold prayer services

By
Kalino Latu
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The family of the missing Tokomololo fisherman held solemn vigils amid an unsuccessful search mission to find him.

Bruce Māue. Photo/Supplied

Bruce Māue, 43, also known as Chris, remains unaccounted for after disappearing during a fishing trip aboard the longliner FV Pacific Horizon on 4 March 2026, Tonga Police said.

Bruce’s family first raised the alarm on Wednesday, March 3, after his fishing employer notified them that he had gone missing “within 24 hours” of being dropped off to board his fishing boat, his aunt, Lolinda Māue, said in a livestreamed video seen by Kaniva News.

With the search operation now abandoned, Lolinda said Bruce’s disappearance has left “his family and loved ones heartbroken.”

She said the family desperately wants answers about Bruce’s whereabouts.

Lolinda said that while the official process to determine what happened to Bruce is still underway, the family chose to hold a prayer service last week because they do not want to think of his disappearance as an “open coffin.”

Commenters on social media described Bruce as “tamasi’i angalelei,” meaning he was known as a young man of exemplary conduct, held in high regard by his community.

Several people remembered how often he shared his catch with them.

It is understood that Bruce had previously served as a soldier, although it remains unclear whether he was still in that profession at the time he went missing.

Route Before Disappearance

According to police, the vessel departed Tongatapu on Tuesday, 3 March, heading approximately 44 nautical miles northeast to its designated fishing grounds.

While the crew were operating in the area on Wednesday, 4 March, they discovered that one crew member was missing, the police said.

Immediate search efforts were carried out on board and in the surrounding waters, but the missing fisherman could not be found.

In a statement, Tonga Police extended their sympathies to the family and loved ones of the missing crew member, acknowledging the distress caused by the incident.

Authorities also reminded all maritime operators of the ongoing need to prioritise safety at sea and maintain constant awareness of crew welfare during voyages.

Tokaikolo Church challenges court action over leadership election dispute

By
Kalino Latu
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A dispute over the leadership of the Tokaikolo Church has escalated into a legal battle after a senior minister challenged the eligibility of two top church leaders to continue holding office.

Tokaikolo Church spokesperson Sangster Saulala. Photo/Supplied

Rev Mesake Mapapalangi has reportedly filed legal action challenging the validity of the re‑election of the church’s President, Siosaia Fapuiaki Tatafu, and its General Secretary, Siaosi Pita Kava.

The Tokaikolo Church itself has been named as the third respondent in the case.

According to reports, Rev Mapapalangi argued that both Tatafu and Kava are already over 70 years old, which the reports implied is a legal age limit for holding those positions.

He further states that both men are in declining health, noting that one is now wheelchair‑bound while the other is undergoing dialysis treatment.

Rev Mapapalangi argues that these circumstances make it unlawful for the two leaders to continue serving in their posts.

He claimed this week that a recent court decision had cancelled the election because Tatafu and Kava could no longer legally remain in office.

Church responds to the court action

In response, church spokesperson Sangstar Saulala told Kaniva News that the leadership considered the timing of the court’s communication on the matter unusual and is now formally disputing it.

He said the court’s letter was only delivered last Friday and required a response within seven days. However, the letter itself was dated 26 February, which meant the seven‑day deadline technically expired on Friday 6 March—the same day it was delivered.

Saulala said that under normal practice, deadlines begin from the day the letter is actually received. If counted from last Friday, the church’s seven‑day window would not expire until tomorrow.

“The church will therefore submit its response tomorrow,” Saulala said, adding that they would also ask the court to cancel the order issued on Tuesday, 10 March, on the grounds that the church did not receive the original notice until after the deadline had already passed.

Saulala did not dispute questions about our information, indicating that Rev Mapapalangi is taking the church, the president, and the secretary to court, nor the basis of their accusations.

The Tokaikolo Church is no stranger to court disputes.

The Auckland‑based Tokaikolo Christian Church previously faced High Court allegations of financial mismanagement, including claims of misused donations and substantial losses in a Ponzi scheme.

Plaintiffs in that case sought interim orders to freeze church spending and called for a forensic audit of all income and expenditure dating back to 2003.

The Tokaikolo Church has also been involved in a long‑running land dispute in Kolomotuʻa, where the Court of Appeal ruled that church members were entitled to reoccupy and own the land and buildings after a split in 2014.

The decision required the breakaway Mo’ui ‘Ia Kalaisi fellowship to vacate the property within 21 days, overturning earlier rulings that had awarded them the lease.

Cabinet steps in after years of land bungles with new disputes and complaints committee

By
Kalino Latu
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After years of public frustration, legal setbacks, and scathing court criticism over the Ministry’s mishandling of land matters, the government has finally moved to overhaul how disputes are dealt with.

Land Minister Dr Taniela Fusimalohi

To break the cycle of costly, time‑draining court battles, a new dispute‑resolution process has been created to offer landowners a quicker and more accessible path to justice.

The Minister for Lands, Dr Taniela Fusimalohi, announced today that Cabinet has formally approved the creation of the new land‑grievance review body within the ministry

The committee will include the Government’s Legal Advisor, the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Lands, and will be chaired by the Minister, with the Head of the Ministry’s Legal Division serving as secretary.

Land‑related disputes or serious complaints involving two parties, particularly over land boundaries or contentious ownership claims, will be referred to the committee for review.

The Minister said the committee is expected to mediate disagreements, resolve conflicts, or provide well‑considered recommendations to the Minister, helping reduce the number of cases that escalate to the courts.

The initiative will streamline and strengthen land administration, ensuring clearer, more efficient, and better‑informed ministerial decisions on land matters.

The news comes as a relief to many Tongans, especially the more than 200,000 living abroad who often must return home to resolve land matters that affect their families and estates in the kingdom.

A recurring pattern has also emerged on Kaniva News’ Facebook platforms, where readers regularly express frustration whenever land‑related stories are published, with many commenters criticising the Ministry for its handling of land applications, decisions, and its ongoing failure to improve these processes.

CEO: Govt revisits airport ground‑handling issue after identified ‘shorcomings’

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Lord Fakafanua government has reopened discussions on the long‑running Fuaʻamotu Airport ground‑handling controversy, revisiting concerns first raised during last year’s political standoff over how the service was allocated.

Dr Fotu Fisi’iahi

The issue re‑emerged following former Minister of Public Enterprises Piveni Piukala’s unsuccessful attempt to renationalise the service.

At the time, he claimed that awarding the ground‑handling contract to a private company may have weakened border controls and contributed to breaches that undermined efforts to stop illicit drugs entering the country.

Piukala also made several other allegations that appeared to link Air Terminal Services (ATS), the long‑standing company responsible for ground‑handling operations, to the rising importation of illicit drugs into the country.

The former Minister further alleged that a Sunday medivac landing request by ATS, intended for a patient evacuation, was rejected after his own investigation revealed there was no patient.

He also dismissed the chief executive of Tonga Airports Ltd during the pursuit of his reform agenda, accusing the head of the state‑owned enterprise—which oversees the nation’s airport services—of what he described as an “abuse of power.” The CEO, Edgar Cocker, could not be reached for comment at the time.

ATS Rejects Allegations

However, ATS firmly denied any wrongdoing in a press release issued at the time, describing Piukala’s accusation as “a barrage of unjustified and ill-informed attacks.”

ATS Director Paul Karalus told Kaniva News in October last year that the company continued to operate as normal, despite Piukala telling the media that a process was underway to replace it.

Kaniva News understands that ATS’s contract with the government expired last year, but because of the technical complexity of the operation and the stringent regulatory requirements for any company seeking to take over—criteria that reportedly only ATS currently meets—the company has continued providing the service.

Review Included in 100‑Day Plan

Dr Fotu Fisiiahi, Chief Executive of the Ministry of Public Enterprises, recently confirmed that the matter has now been formally brought back to the Ministry’s attention.

He said the current Minister Hu’akavameiliku has included the issue as part of his 100‑day policy agenda.

In Tongan he said: “Talu mei he ‘aho ‘uluaki ‘o ‘Okatapa ta’u kuo ‘osi’ pea mo e ngata ‘a e ngaahi alēlea ko eni’ makatu’unga pe ia ‘i ha ngaahi tƍ nounou fakaalea.”

This translates into English as: since October last year, the negotiations around this issue had ended due to shortcomings.

He did not elaborate further, offering no additional details about the matter.

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