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COMMENTARY: Prime Minister Pōhiva 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 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.

Jonah Lomu’s mother reveals she doesn’t see his sons: ‘I pray one day we can meet’

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Indira Stewart, 1News In-depth Multimedia Reporter, and is republished with permission

As fans here and overseas unite to watch the new doco about New Zealand’s greatest rugby legend Jonah Lomu, back home there still remains the deeply divided family he left behind. In an exclusive interview with TVNZ, Lomu’s mother Hepi reveals she hasn’t had contact with the late All Black’s children Brayley and Dhyreille in years.

Hepi and her son Jonah Lomu (Composite image: Callum Lloyd) (Source: TVNZ)

“I haven’t seen them,” says Hepi Lomu of the two boys, now in their mid- to late teens. “Maybe a long time ago after Jonah died [his wife Nadene Lomu] bring the boys here, but that’s all. I pray God is going to touch those two and one day, we can meet.”

LOMU, currently screening nationwide, premiered at Auckland’s Civic Theatre last month. It was reported as an emotional event attended by hundreds but, Hepi says, her grandsons weren’t present.

“They were invited to the premiere but I don’t know why they not come, but it doesn’t matter to me. I’m happy whether they watch or don’t watch. That’s their decision,” she says.

The film touches on Lomu’s three marriages, including his last to his widow Nadene, but did not disclose the strained relationship between Lomu’s family and Nadene.

Last year, Nadene, alongside her two sons, spoke to TVNZ on the tenth anniversary of Lomu’s death about her frustrations over the way she believes Lomu continues to be exploited and her longstanding battle for the rights to his name and image.

Hepi says that interview prompted her to finally speak out, after a decade of silence. “Although the discussion was about other things it felt as if she was putting us down and putting down the people who worked with Jonah,” she says.

“Just let it be. She should have just left the children out and not exposed them. I don’t want this to become a matter of people trying to investigate who’s right or wrong.”

Nadene was involved in initial discussions with the documentary makers but chose not to be part of it and took legal action in 2023 in an attempt to block the film. The following year the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand ruled against her claims, allowing Tongan-Kiwi filmmaker Vea Mafile’o and Irish filmmaker Gavin Fitzgerald to continue production – with the aid of an $800,000 grant from the Film Commission.

That ruling also affirmed the instructions Lomu had left in his will. He gave full control over his money, trademark and properties to his long-time lawyer Chris Darlow, for the benefit of his sons Brayley and Dhyreille.

‘If there was no me, there would be no Jonah’

The film has done little to heal family rifts – in fact, quite the opposite. While Nadene told TVNZ last year that her late husband “was not public property”, he was, says Hepi, her son. “What she needs to understand is – I’m the mother. I am his mother. Sometimes, she doesn’t want us to be involved in anything. Everything of Jonah is belong to them.

“But now he die, I said – if there was no me, there would be no Jonah and none of this would be happening today.”

Lomu is often described as rugby’s first true global superstar and, at the height of his career, he was said to be worth millions. But there are no signs of that in the humble South Auckland home where he grew up and where Hepi still resides. A wall cabinet full of his trophies, awards and priceless memorabilia are all that remain of his legacy in the family’s home.

Among the treasures, hundreds of hours of never-before-seen home video footage some of which features in LOMU. Other exclusive clips are published for the first time in Hepi’s interview on TVNZ+ where she remembers how Lomu slept in her living room during some of his kidney dialysis treatment, and the last conversation she had with him before he died the next day.

“I didn’t think there would ever be a time like this where we would show these tapes again,” says Hepi of the rare home-video footage of Lomu as a young teen, which she had stored away since his death in 2015. “It is a long time [ago]. I can’t stop crying. I try to forget, I try to let go of it in my heart.

“Sometimes I can, but sometimes I cannot.”

Tonga’s first fully Tongan-language degree undergoes accreditation evaluation

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tonga has reached a historic milestone in higher education, with the country’s national qualifications authority evaluating what it says is the first degree programme submitted for recognition in Tonga to be written entirely in the Tongan language.

The Tonga National Qualifications and Accreditation Board (TNQAB) said its panel evaluation of the Tonga National University Bachelor of Tongan Language and Cultural Studies took place from Monday, August 31 to Saturday, September 5, 2026.

The evaluation represents the first time Tonga’s national quality-assurance standards have been applied to a degree programme presented entirely in Lea Faka-Tonga, according to TNQAB.

First of its kind

TNQAB described the programme as both “unique and nationally significant”, saying it was the first programme submitted for use and recognition in Tonga that had been written completely in Tongan.

The development represents an important step for the use of Lea Faka-Tonga not only as a subject of academic study, but as a language through which an entire university-level programme can be designed, presented and assessed against national higher-education standards.

“It is often said that a people’s culture lives within their language,” TNQAB said.

The Board said the programme presented evaluators with the significant task of determining how Tongan language, culture and academic quality are brought together within a university qualification.

Programme under detailed scrutiny

The accreditation process included an in-depth desk analysis and discussions examining the programme, its curriculum and supporting policies.

The evaluation also included a site visit to Tonga National University and its teaching sites.

The process is intended to assess the programme against Tonga’s applicable national quality-assurance requirements before its recognition.

Three-member panel

The three-member evaluation team was led by Dr Linita Manu‘atu, an Auckland-based Tongan academic and educator.

She was joined by local educators and community leaders Mrs Lasalle Halatuituia and Mr Kalafitoni Latu.

TNQAB Senior Qualifications Analyst Mrs Tupou Pasikala Fiu facilitated the evaluation.

TNQAB wished the panel success in what it described as “historic and important work”.

The significance of the assessment extends beyond the accreditation of an individual degree. If approved, the programme would mark a major development in the institutional use of Lea Faka-Tonga in higher education, demonstrating its application across the curriculum and academic quality-assurance process at bachelor’s-degree level.

Supreme Court orders PM’s Office to allow Tonga Chronicle, 88.1 FM journalists into press conferences

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga’s Supreme Court has issued urgent interim orders restraining the Prime Minister and his officers from refusing journalists from the Tonga Chronicle (Kalonikali Tonga) and 88.1 FM Letio ‘a e Kakai (People’s Radio Tonga) admission to Government press conferences.

Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua

Lord Chief Justice Malcolm Bishop KC issued the orders on 4 September 2026 following an urgent ex parte application by ‘Etuate Lavulavu, Chief Executive Officer of the Tonga Chronicle and 88.1 FM, a station operated by Takiama Companies Limited.

The Prime Minister of Tonga is named as the first defendant/respondent and the Kingdom of Tonga as the second defendant/respondent in the civil proceedings, CV 45 of 2026.

Court intervenes ahead of press conference

According to the two-page order, Lavulavu sought urgent interim orders without notice to the respondents.

The application was supported by an affidavit sworn by Lavulavu on 3 September 2026, together with an affidavit from Amanda Amiafolau Loamanu (née Vaipulu) sworn on 2 September.

The Chief Justice said he was satisfied the matter was urgent because a Prime Minister’s Office press conference was to be held imminently.

The Court issued the orders after Lavulavu also gave an undertaking as to damages.

The first and central order restrains the Prime Minister, his officers, servants and agents from refusing Lavulavu and journalists and staff from the two media organisations admission to:

“any press conference held by or on behalf of the Prime Minister’s Office or the Government of Tonga”

They must be admitted on the same terms and conditions applied to journalists from other news organisations, according to the order on page one.

Access to Government building

The Supreme Court went further by ordering that Lavulavu and journalists and staff from the Tonga Chronicle and 88.1 FM be admitted to the St George Government Building under the same terms and conditions applying to other members of the public and news media.

The order requires Lavulavu to immediately serve the respondents with a sealed copy of the interim order, together with the Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim.

However, the orders are interim rather than a final determination of the dispute.

The Prime Minister and the Kingdom of Tonga have been given liberty to apply to the Court to have the orders set aside or varied.

The case is scheduled to return to court for a hearing on 11 September 2026, with costs reserved. The orders were signed by Lord Chief Justice Bishop in Nukuʻalofa on 4 September.

Underlying dispute yet to be determined

The interim orders represent an immediate court intervention concerning access by journalists to Government press conferences and the St George Government Building.

However, the document does not set out the full circumstances that led to the alleged refusal of access, nor does it contain the Government’s response to Lavulavu’s allegations.

Tonga Police arrest 54 drivers for drink-driving during weekend enforcement operation

By
Kaniva Staff
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NUKUʻALOFA, TONGA — Tonga Police arrested and charged 54 motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol during a weekend road-policing enforcement operation.

Police said those arrested comprised 39 males and 15 females.

The arrests were made as part of a road-policing operation targeting drink-driving and improving safety on Tonga’s roads.

Police did not provide further details about where the arrests were made, the ages of those charged, or the alcohol readings recorded during the operation.

Police warn motorists

Tonga Police used the results of the operation to renew its warning about the dangers of driving after consuming alcohol.

“Drink driving places lives at risk,” Police said, urging motorists to make responsible decisions.

The 54 drivers have been charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol.

Labour and National polling collapsing – both under 30 percent

By
Kaniva Staff
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RNZ Digital reporters

Labour and National are both polling below 30 percent in a new poll that also has Opportunity short of the threshold needed for getting into government.

The Quilae Wong-led upstarts have fallen from 6.1 to 4.5 percent in the latest Taxpayers’ Union-Curia Poll, bucking the trend found in other polls.

Labour has taken a big hit, down 1.9 to 25.9 percent – its lowest result in this poll since July 2024, and even lower than the 26.9 point thrashing it got at the 2023 election.

National has also taken a tumble, down two points, to 29 percent – also significantly lower than the 38 percentage points it won at the last election.

The current coalition government would be returned to power based on this poll, with Opportunity unable to get above 5 percent and become kingmaker.

ACT and the Greens were the main beneficiaries of the major parties and Opportunity’s collapse. The Greens were up 3.8 percentage points to 13.9 percent, and ACT up 3.2 to 10.5 percent.

New Zealand First was down 0.7 to 8.4 percent.

Te Pāti Māori gained 0.5 points to 2 percent. The party this year hopes to use MMP’s overhang to boost the chance of removing the coalition.

Rounding out the party vote results were NZ Loyal (1.5 percent), Animal Justice (1.2), Women’s Rights (0.7), Vision NZ (0.5) and the New Conservatives (0.5).

When it came to seats, the coalition – National, ACT and NZ First – would get 64 compared to the opposition – Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori – on 56. The right-leaning Taxpayers’ Union’s analysis assumes Te Pāti Māori would win three seats.

Opportunity would get zero on these results, being below the 5 percent threshold.

Christopher Luxon remained ahead of Chris Hipkins as preferred prime minister, down 2 percentage points to 21.2 percent. Hipkins fell 2.9 to 16.9 percent.

The poll was conducted by Curia Market Research for the Taxpayers’ Union. It is a random poll of 1000 adult New Zealanders and is weighted to the overall adult population. It was conducted by phone (landlines and mobile) and online between Tuesday 01 September and Thursday 03 September 2026, has a maximum margin of error of +/- 3.1% and 4.1% were undecided on the party vote question.

This story was first published on rnz.co.nz

American Idol winner Iam Tongi honours Tongan heritage at Hawaii wedding

By
Kalino Latu
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American Idol winner Iam Tongi has celebrated his Tongan heritage as he married longtime girlfriend Leah Solis in Hawaii, wearing traditional Tongan attire while cultural performances and a distinctive Vavaʻu kupesi featured prominently in the couple’s wedding celebrations.

American Idol winner Iam Tongi and his wife, Leah Solis, celebrate their marriage in Hawaii, with Tongi proudly incorporating his Tongan heritage into their wedding celebrations.

Tongi, who made history in 2023 as the first Pacific Islander to win American Idol, married Solis in an outdoor ceremony in Hawaii on Friday, September 4, according to photos and videos shared by family and friends.

The wedding came just days after Tongi turned 22 and about three years after his emotional journey on the American television singing competition propelled the young Pacific artist to international recognition.

Footage from the ceremony showed Tongi wearing a tupenu, a traditional form of Tongan male attire, as he stood hand-in-hand with his bride during the ceremony.

His Tongan heritage was also prominent at the wedding reception, where relatives and friends performed traditional Tongan dances as part of the celebrations.

Tongan heritage carried into wedding rings

Perhaps one of the most distinctive expressions of Tongi’s connection to Tonga was incorporated permanently into his wedding ring.

Maui Divers Jewelry and Polynesian cultural artist Sam Mangakahia worked with the couple to design customised gold-and-diamond wedding bands incorporating elements representing their respective cultural heritages.

Tongi’s ring features the Tokelau Feletoa, a traditional Tongan kupesi associated with Feletoa in Vavaʻu.

According to the designers, the pattern depicts the cross-section of a tuna and represents chiefly status and courage, serving as a reminder for Tongi to act courageously while honouring his heritage.

Solis’ ring, meanwhile, incorporates a Maya temple motif reflecting her Mayan heritage and connections to spirituality, ancestors and the relationship between heaven and earth.

The wedding bands continue an established relationship between Tongi and Mangakahia, a Māori artist based in Hawaii who previously spent about 60 hours creating a customised guitar for the singer following his American Idol success.

That instrument also incorporated Polynesian designs representing Tongi’s Tongan heritage and family connections, including the name of his late father, Rodney, engraved at the top.

Tongan heritage on both sides of family

Tongi was born and raised in Kahuku on Oʻahu, Hawaii, but his family background has strong connections to Tonga.

His mother, Lillie Tuifua Tongi, is of Tongan and Irish heritage and originally comes from Tongatapu, while his late father, Rodney Tongi, was of Tongan and Samoan heritage.

Tongi himself previously explained his heritage after his American Idol victory, saying his mother’s maiden name was Tuifua and that she was Tongan and Irish, while his father was half Tongan and half Samoan.

He also revealed at the time that although he had never visited Tonga, he hoped to travel there and had extensive family connections in New Zealand and Australia.

Tongi has spoken publicly about the importance of his Pacific identity to his music. During a 2023 interview following his American Idol victory, he said he eventually hoped to produce a Polynesian album featuring songs in Tongan, Samoan, Hawaiian and Fijian.

Father shaped musical journey

Tongi was just 18 when he captured international attention with his American Idol audition.

His emotional performance of James Blunt’s “Monsters”, dedicated to his late father Rodney, moved the judges and became one of the defining moments of his journey through the competition.

Tongi has said his father, who was Tongan and Samoan, was instrumental in developing his love of music, encouraging him to progress from playing the ukulele to guitar and singing.

He eventually won American Idol in May 2023, becoming the first person from Hawaii and the first Pacific Islander to win the competition.

Three years later, Tongi’s wedding provided another public expression of the cultural heritage that has accompanied his rise to international prominence — from his tupenu and Tongan dancing at the celebration to the Feletoa kupesi he will now carry on his wedding ring.

Koloamatangi at centre of fiery clash as Leniu ignores referee six times

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tongan-heritage Rabbitohs forward Keaon Koloamatangi found himself at the centre of a fiery confrontation with Sydney Roosters prop Spencer Leniu during South Sydney’s commanding 50–20 victory on Friday night.

The incident unfolded in the 24th minute after the Roosters were awarded a six-again following a ruck infringement involving Koloamatangi.

Instead of immediately playing the ball, Leniu became locked in a tense stare-off with Koloamatangi as the pair exchanged words.

Referee Adam Gee reportedly instructed Leniu six times to play the ball, but the Roosters forward continued focusing on his confrontation with Koloamatangi.

Even after players from both teams separated the pair, Leniu threw the ball away and was penalised.

The incident proved costly for the Roosters, who were already severely undermanned after resting nine players for the match.

Commentators Slam Leniu’s Conduct

Premiership-winning Roosters halfback Cooper Cronk described Leniu’s conduct as “stupid”, while former Panthers star Greg Alexander said the prop had “completely lost his head”.

Fox League commentator Michael Ennis said Leniu had been expected to assume greater leadership responsibility because of the absence of several senior Roosters players.

Leniu was substituted shortly after the confrontation and did not return to the field.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson rejected suggestions that the substitution was intended as punishment, saying it formed part of the club’s wider strategy to give its younger forwards more playing time.

Robinson acknowledged that Leniu had crossed the line but defended the passion and aggression he brings to the team.

“He went over it. I want him to play with his natural spirit and just stay under the line,” Robinson said.

The coach said Leniu had enough experience to control himself, play the ball and ensure that his aggression benefited his team.

Koloamatangi, meanwhile, remained composed as Leniu’s reaction attracted criticism from commentators and contributed to the Roosters conceding a penalty.

The Rabbitohs went on to secure an emphatic 50–20 victory over their traditional rivals.

Source: Fox Sports

Second patient in two months found dead in Waikato Hospital toilet

By
Kaniva Staff
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RNZ

A second patient within two months has been found dead in a toilet at Waikato Hospital.

Waikato Hospital. (File photo, RNZ / Simon Rogers)

Health New Zealand said the patient died in the bathroom on a surgical ward in mid-August.

Spokesman for the Waikato district, Dr Gary Hopgood, said the ward was fully staffed at the time.

“Whenever an unexpected death occurs in hospital, a review is initiated to establish the circumstances, and this event has triggered such a review. We are not able to provide further details ahead of the completion of that process.”

Hopgood said Health New Zealand’s deepest sympathies are with the patient’s family.

Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious and has been referred to the Coroner.

At the end of June, a woman and her daughter tried unsuccessfully to save the life of a man who was found unconscious in an emergency department toilet at Waikato Hospital.

This story was first published on rnz.co.nz

Unconfirmed reports claim several Tongans arrested at Salt Lake City airport amid expanding ICE crackdown

By
Kalino Latu
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Unconfirmed information circulating on social media claims that about five Tongans were arrested by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement after arriving on an Alaska Airlines flight at Salt Lake City International Airport.

Kaniva News contacted ICE seeking confirmation of whether the arrests occurred, when they allegedly took place and the grounds on which the Tongans may have been detained. ICE had not responded at the time of publication.

US-based Tongan pastor Olympia Kaumatule Tukutau posted a warning on Facebook about the reported arrests, claiming that ICE had previously detained several other Tongans.

However, no photographs, official documents or direct accounts from the alleged detainees or their families have emerged publicly to substantiate the latest claim.

The allegation comes amid a significant expansion of immigration enforcement at airports across the United States, including against travellers taking domestic flights.

Recent investigations have revealed that the Transportation Security Administration has been sharing passenger information with ICE to help agents locate travellers who may be subject to deportation.

Tongans Face Wider Restrictions

The allegation also emerges as Tongans in Tonga continue to face difficulties travelling to the United States following restrictions imposed by the Trump administration in January.

As Kaniva News reported this week, tighter US visa policies have significantly affected Tongan pickleball players seeking to compete in international tournaments.

Several players were unable to attend a recent tournament in Utah after their visa applications were denied, despite some having previously held multiple-entry US visas and travelled to the country.

Tournament president Johnny Hafoka said the number of Tongan participants fell from 20 last year to eight this year. Players have also faced the prospect of visa bonds and increased scrutiny when entering the United States.

TSA Data Fuels Arrests

According to Reuters, ICE arrested more than 800 people following TSA referrals between President Donald Trump’s return to office and February 2026.

The TSA reportedly supplied ICE with records relating to more than 31,000 travellers through its Secure Flight programme, which was originally established for aviation-security screening.

A formal information-sharing agreement between TSA and ICE was signed in May 2025, but its details only became publicly known in July following legal action seeking the documents.

CBS News reported that the cooperation had expanded beyond national-security and serious-criminal investigations to include civil immigration violations, such as overstaying an authorised period in the country.

ICE sources told the outlet that airports enabled agents to know in advance when targeted individuals would be travelling and where they could be located.

The wider airport-enforcement campaign makes the latest allegation concerning Tongans plausible enough to warrant investigation, but it does not confirm that the reported arrests occurred.

There is also no evidence presently available to Kaniva News suggesting that Alaska Airlines participated in the alleged enforcement action. The airline’s name is relevant only because social-media accounts identify it as the carrier on which the Tongans allegedly travelled.

Man in viral Tonga restraint video says his phone was stolen, apologises for ‘unlawful’ conduct

By
Kalino Latu
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A man who identified himself as the apparent police officer shown restraining and punching another man in a video reported by Kaniva News has come forward to explain the circumstances surrounding the incident and apologise for his conduct.

The sender, Antonio Mafileo Tongia, contacted Kaniva News through Facebook Messenger after the article was published. A review of his Facebook profile indicates that he is from Tokomololo and works for Tonga Police.

However, Tonga Police have not officially confirmed his employment or that he is the uniformed man shown in the 58-second video.

Tongia said he had finished work and was acting as a private citizen when the incident occurred. He said he was waiting for food at a takeaway when he discovered that a man had allegedly entered his vehicle, taken his mobile phone and passed it to a friend.

Tongia said he confronted the man and asked for the phone to be returned but became increasingly angry when the man repeatedly denied taking it.

“My patience grew heavy on the guy, so I held him down and started punching him,” Tongia said.

He claimed the alleged accomplice later passed the phone to a security officer at another restaurant across the street, who returned it to him.

Tongia said he released the restrained man after recovering the phone and checked that he was able to stand before driving away.

Despite explaining the circumstances leading to the incident, Tongia acknowledged that his actions were unacceptable and unlawful.

“I know violence is not the way, and I’m not satisfied any bit of what I did to the guy,” he said. “My emotions took the best of me and rage took over.”

“What I did was not lawful. I am very ashamed.”

Tongia said he had not intended to seriously harm the man and claimed that he loosened his grip whenever he believed the restraint was becoming excessive.

However, the video appeared to show the uniformed man applying his knee or body weight while holding the other man down as he struggled and waved his hands in apparent distress.

A person could be heard warning the apparent officer to treat the man appropriately or he could die.

The restraint technique drew widespread criticism online, including from senior prison officer and competitive Taekwondo practitioner Kuata Tokolahi, who described it as dangerous and warned that it could cause death.

Tongia apologised for his conduct and said he intended to find the man to try to make amends.

“I will try to find the guy and correct my actions,” he said. “I pray he’ll forgive me. Again, I am very ashamed.”

Tongia’s account remains an allegation and does not independently establish that the restrained man stole the phone. His Facebook profile and message also do not constitute official confirmation that he is a Tonga Police officer or the person shown in the video.

Kaniva News is seeking confirmation from Tonga Police and whether an investigation has been opened into the incident.

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