EDITOR’S NOTE:This commentary was edited to reflect the fact that the response from the Deputy Clerk was meant to say that the Parliament using the circular was a normal means of communication.
COMMENTARY: It is time for the practice of using circulars to make decisions in Parliament was reviewed.
Circulars should only be used on agendas that are urgent.
They should not be used on important issues such as pay rises for Parliamentarians.
Such issues should be properly debated in the House so that they can be recorded in the minutes for the public to read and also broadcast for people to listen.
As Kaniva News reported yesterday, the government’s use of a circular to canvas MPs’ views on a pay rise has been called into question.
However, the Legislative Assembly’s Deputy Clerk, Dr Sione Vikilani, said the circular was a normal means of communication approved by the House and any information sent through it was legal.
In Tongan he said: “Ko e tohi ‘avetakai ko e founga ngāue pe ‘oku ‘ataa ke ngaue’aki pea ‘oku ‘ikai ke ta’efakalao ha tu’utu’uni ‘i hono fakahoko ‘i he founga koia”.
Dr Vikilani did not respond to a question asking why a circular was used to ballot the pay hike and not a face-to-face voting in the House.
In 2018 Tonga’s former Prime Minister, the late ‘Akilisi Pōhiva, warned that using circulars in Parliament was open to abuse.
Speaking to Kaniva News, Pōhiva said the use of circulars was normal but did not allow for discussion.
MPs, especially the Opposition, could not debate whatever agenda was being circulated.
He said that traditionally Speakers and the Noble’s representatives, who were mostly the majority in the House, used it to ballot issues they wanted to be decided in their favour.
The late Prime Minister’s comments were made during an interview in 2018 about the decision to approve an invitation from the Tonga Rugby League for a Parliament delegation to attend a match.
The decision was adopted through a circular, by collective resolution of Parliament.
Prime Minister Pōhiva’s concerns are just as relevant today as they were four years ago.
Debates and voting in the House must be open so that all citizens can see how their MPs voted and debate can be held in public.
This was illustrated in our story yesterday when Dr Vikilani would not say how MPs voted on the circular.
A Parliament with secrets is not truly democratic.
England international Billy Vunipola is poised to switch allegiance to Tonga for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, as older brother Mako prepares to step into a coaching role with the ‘Ikale Tahi after confirming his playing career is nearing its end.
Vunipola brothers reveal they are swapping nations for next Rugby World Cup
The revelation was first reported on 20 March 2026, with Mako stating that he hopes to join Tonga’s coaching team for the tournament, while Billy is being lined up as a player under World Rugby’s three‑year stand‑down law, making him eligible in time for 2027, Ruck UK reported.
Tongan rugby officials have reportedly reached out to both brothers about formally joining the ‘Ikale Tahi programme, reflecting their long‑standing connection to the Kingdom.
Their father, Fe‘ao Vunipola, captained Tonga and represented the nation at the 1995 and 1999 Rugby World Cups, giving their potential return deep family significance.
Mako, now in the final stages of his playing career, confirmed that he will retire at the end of the 2024–25 season and move into full‑time coaching.
The former England and British & Irish Lions prop said he had held direct discussions with Tonga head coach Tevita Tu‘ifua, with coaching the national team described as a meaningful way to give back to his heritage.
“I am very proud of my Tongan heritage… Coaching is something I would really love to help with,” Mako told RugbyPass.
Although Tonga also approached him about playing, Mako admitted the 2027 World Cup “comes too late” for his body to endure another full international cycle.
Younger brother Billy Vunipola, who last played for England in 2023, is fully eligible to switch under World Rugby’s three‑year stand‑down rule, making him a strong candidate for selection in 2027.
Tonga officials are said to be “keen to get him involved,” and Billy’s current form in the French Top 14 has strengthened expectations he will feature in their 2027 campaign.
Mako joked that coaching his brother would not be new, saying he had “done that throughout our time together at Saracens,” but added seriously that the opportunity to contribute to Tonga’s future would be “very special.”
Emotional and cultural significance
The potential code‑switch has stirred considerable enthusiasm among Tongan fans and the wider Pacific rugby community, as the Vunipolas are among the most decorated rugby players of their generation, earning 154 England caps between them.
Their parents’ service to the Tongan community — with their mother, Rev. Iesinga Vunipola, a Methodist minister and chaplain to the UK Tongan community — has added further meaning to their move.
If finalised, Billy’s arrival as a player and Mako’s involvement in the coaching staff would significantly bolster Tonga’s preparations for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, where the Pacific Island nation aims to field its strongest squad in decades.
The Vunipola brothers’ transition marks a major milestone in rugby’s evolving eligibility pathways — and a major boost for Tonga’s ambition to rise on the global stage.
The Trump administration has been accused of running what analysts call the “largest fraud in U.S. immigration history,” after allegedly collecting more than $1 billion in visa and immigration fees from applicants—including Tongans—whose cases were intentionally stalled or never processed.
A new analysis by the Cato Institute claims the administration froze visa and legal status applications for citizens of 92 countries, effectively taking payments for petitions that authorities no longer intended to adjudicate.
According to the report, applicants were left in limbo as U.S. agencies allegedly refused both to approve or formally deny their cases, preventing refunds and blocking appeals.
Although the Cato Institute does not publish a list of the affected countries, Tonga is known to be among them, as it appears on recent Trump‑era U.S. travel‑restriction and visa‑freeze lists.
Mainstream media attempted to seek comment from the Trump administration, but no response was provided.
The allegations come as the Trump White House faces increasing scrutiny over a wide series of immigration restrictions which heavily target developing nations — including Tonga, the only Pacific Island nation placed under newly expanded U.S. visa limitations beginning 1 January 2026.
Tonga now faces partial suspensions on several visa categories, impacting tourism, study, family reunification, and long‑term migration.
Tonga Caught in the Crossfire of Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
Under Presidential Proclamation 10998 and related directives, Tonga was added to a list of nations subject to tightened U.S. immigration controls and partial visa suspension.
Restrictions apply to B‑1/B‑2 visitor visas and F, M, and J study‑related visas, cutting off key pathways historically used by Tongans to enter the United States. The U.S. cited “security‑focused screening and vetting concerns,” including document‑verification standards and visa overstay rates, as justification.
The move has caused widespread anxiety within the 70,000‑strong Tongan community in the United States, with many fearing that family visits, graduations, funerals, and cultural gatherings will be disrupted. Critics argue that the restrictions — which disproportionately impact non‑white and developing nations — echo the racially‑motivated quotas of the 1920s.
The Cato Institute report alleges that the Trump administration’s actions amount to a systematic fee‑collection scheme, whereby individuals from dozens of targeted nations were encouraged to apply and pay required fees, only to have their applications frozen indefinitely.
According to the analysis, the Trump administration’s immigration measures included expanded travel bans affecting at least 40 countries, alongside a freeze in visa processing for 75 nations that U.S. officials claimed posed a risk of over‑reliance on American welfare systems.
These combined restrictions have created a backlog of an estimated two million immigration applications, leaving applicants with no clear pathway forward.
The report further alleges that consular officers were instructed not to inform new applicants that their nationalities had effectively been banned, preventing individuals from understanding that their cases would not be processed at all.
Analyst David J. Bier writes:
“The government took their money, and now it won’t even adjudicate their applications… The State Department is actually telling consular officers not to notify future applicants that the government has banned them.”
Pacific Concerns Grow Over the Impact on Tonga
Tongan scholars and community leaders have criticised the inclusion of Tonga in the restrictive lists. Many note that Tonga has long cooperated with the U.S. on security matters, including deploying troops to support U.S. missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite this, Tongans now face restrictions normally reserved for conflict‑affected or high‑risk states.
A Guardian report noted widespread frustration in Nuku‘alofa, quoting experts who argued that Tongans “pose no threat” to U.S. security and that the decision punishes families and students rather than addressing any documented wrongdoing.
The Independent reports that American citizens with spouses overseas — particularly in Central America and Africa — have been separated from their families due to the freezes. Applicants were told their paperwork would not be processed, but also received no denial letters, making appeals impossible.
For Tongans, the impact of these restrictions could be severe. Students may lose scholarship placements, families may be unable to reunite, and churches and cultural groups could miss out on visiting ministers, performers, and elders who are central to community life.
The freeze also risks leaving Tongan‑American youth without the ability to be visited by relatives during major life events, deepening the emotional and cultural strain on diaspora families.
The Utah Division of Securities in the United States has urged the public to exercise extreme caution when approached with any investment or business opportunity connected to the BG Wealth Sharing Ltd scheme or its affiliated platform, DSJ Exchange.
The Division’s March 10 alert was issued just two days before the New Zealand Commerce Commission announced it was investigating TXEX — an investment scheme that has since resurfaced under new names, including BG Wealth Sharing.
The Utah Department of Commerce is the state’s main regulator for securities, licensing, and investor protection through its Division of Securities.
Coincidentally, Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua, who is also the Minister of Police, also confirmed in a recent livestream that BG Wealth Sharing Ltd is prohibited in Tonga, echoing earlier warnings issued by the National Reserve Bank of Tonga and the police.
The Utah Division warning follows a separate warning released by Canadian authorities, but Utah officials stress that their notice is based on concerns relevant to U.S. investors.
According to the Division, individuals have reported being approached about cryptocurrency‑related opportunities tied to BG Wealth Sharing LTD, prompting regulators to advise the public to verify a company’s legitimacy before handing over any funds.
To help protect consumers, the Division is directing potential investors to trusted regulatory tools, including the California Division of Financial Protection and Innovation Crypto Scam Tracker and the British Columbia Investment Caution List.
Both databases track entities associated with complaints, suspected scams, or regulatory action, and are updated regularly to help the public identify high‑risk or fraudulent ventures.
Officials also emphasised the importance of using the Utah Division of Securities’ own resources, which include guidance on identifying suspicious investment structures, recognising high‑pressure sales tactics, and reporting potential scams.
The Division clarified that the warning applies exclusively to BG Wealth Sharing LTD and its associated DSJ Exchange platform.
It does not affect or refer to any other companies that may use similar names such as “BG Wealth” or “Wealth Sharing.”
Regulators are reminding the public that cryptocurrency investments remain a high‑risk area where fraudsters frequently operate. Anyone contacted by representatives of BG Wealth Sharing LTD is urged to research the entity thoroughly, confirm its regulatory status, and report any suspicious activity to securities authorities.
Fresh Warning for Tongans
The Utah warning carries particular weight because the state is home to the largest Tongan population in the United States. The scheme has reportedly gained strong traction among Tongans across the US, New Zealand and Australia.
Critics say it reflects a recurring pattern in which parts of the community fall victim to investment scams, despite recent pyramid‑scheme collapses that left many families penniless and resulted in promoters facing court proceedings in both New Zealand and the United States.
Two notorious scams — Validus, which collapsed with an estimated US$200 million in losses, and Hyperfund, also known as Hyperverse, which collapsed with an estimated US$1.8 billion in stolen funds — were heavily promoted among Tongans using slogans and enticing promises of high returns from small deposits. Both schemes ultimately failed, leaving many Tongan investors unable to withdraw their money as promised.
The Utah warning comes as similar investigations and alerts have also been issued by the National Reserve Bank of Tonga, New Zealand’s Financial Markets Authority and Commerce Commission, Australia’s Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Canada’s Alberta Securities Commission, and the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, all targeting BG Wealth Sharing Ltd.
The man, who police only identified as the person responsible for breaking into the Tonga Communications Corporation (TCC) office and stealing $53,000 worth of mobile phones after he was arrested in an unrelated case, has now been sent to jail.
The Supreme Court of Tonga has sentenced 21-year-old Kasiano Tukuhaukava to two and a half years’ imprisonment for serious housebreaking and theft after he admitted committing the crimes.
Tukuhaukava pleaded guilty to both charges, which related to an incident on 12 July 2024, when he smashed a window at the TCC building at around 3am, entered the premises and removed multiple high-value iPhones from the office counter. Police later recovered only three of the fifteen stolen items.
According to the court, a TCC employee discovered broken glass and missing items when arriving at work at 7am.
Tukuhaukava later admitted the offending while being held on an unrelated matter in August 2024.
The court was told he had sold the stolen phones to friends.
The total value of the stolen items, which included multiple iPhone 12, 13 and 14 series models, prompted the Crown to emphasise the seriousness of the offending.
Justice Tupou KC accepted the Crown’s recommendation for starting points of four and a half years’ imprisonment for serious housebreaking and two years for theft.
However, the court reduced the combined starting point after considering the totality of the sentence and the fact that this would be Tukuhaukava’s first significant period of incarceration.
The judge referenced the principle that a first custodial sentence should not be “crushing” for a young offender, although the court also noted that Tukuhaukava had previously benefited from leniency in lower courts.
Tukuhaukava’s early guilty plea and cooperation with police earned him a 12-month reduction, resulting in a final sentence of two and a half years. The court found partial suspension appropriate, despite his recent escape from custody while awaiting sentence.
Tukuhaukava had been transferred to ‘Eua prison without the court’s knowledge, and Crown counsel later confirmed he had absconded from custody and received a separate seven-month sentence for that offence, of which he has served two months.
Justice Tupou suspended the final twelve months of the new sentence for two years on strict conditions, including that Tukuhaukava must not commit any imprisonable offence, must report to probation within 48 hours of release, and must complete a life-skills or similar programme.
The remaining five months of the seven-month escape sentence will be served cumulatively after completion of the present sentence. Subject to compliance with conditions and any remissions, Tukuhaukava will serve 23 months in prison.
By Susana Suisuiki of rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission
The world’s largest secondary school cultural festival, Polyfest returns this week to Tamaki Makaurau.
The 2026 ASB Polyfest will be held in two locations, over two weeks. File image. Photo: Abigail Dougherty / Stuff
For the first time the event will be held across two locations.
ASB Polyfest officially launches on Wednesday, starting with a flag raising ceremony at the Manukau Sports Bowl.
The venue transforms into a cultural hub with five stages featuring the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tonga, as wellas a stage dedicated to Diversity.
Attendees can watch cultural performances on the Pacific and Diversity stages as well as speech competitions up until Saturday.
Photo: RNZ
Meanwhile, Manukau’s Due Drop Event Centre will host the Maori stage with performances scheduled from 30 March – 2 April, reflecting the growing importance of this Polynesian cultural festival.
This year marks 51 years of Polyfest with the theme, ‘Ko au ko te Taiao! Ko te Taiao ko au! He Toa Taiao Taiohi no te Moana nui a Kiwa, ake, ake, ake! – The environment lives in me, as I live in it – a ‘Pacific Youth Eco-Warrior’ for generations to come”.
More than 80,000 people are expected to attend and while the event mainly showcases Pacific youth performances, organisers say it is a celebration of New Zealand’s diverse communities.
Speaking to Pacific Waves, the festival’s director Seiuli Terri Leo-Mauu said 263 groups from 73 schools had registered to perform this year.
Gate one volunteers at Polyfest Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi
Behind the scenes, Seiuli said there were many volunteers and “unspoken heroes” that ensure the event is run smoothly.
“Within the stage areas alone, with six stages there’s probably over just 100 people that are working within the stage areas,” Seiuli said.
“Organising it from last year, April to this year March, there’s a core team of seven that then grows into a team of 20 or 30.
“And then, on the ground with all our volunteers and all our contractors, there’s about 2000 then there’s about two or 3000 coming from the schools alone,” she said.
McAuley High School Samoan group Photo: BC Photography
Seiuli explained the splitting of the event with the Maori stage held at another location and time is due to the festival’s expansion and growth.
The subsequent schedule is also timed to complement Te Matatini, which is usually held every two years in February, allowing schools to have more time to practice for Polyfest.
In the lead up to Polyfest’s 50th anniversary, the event’s financial woes made news headlines with organisers scaling back the festival and blaming government for not increasing its funding.
Seiuli said securing long-term funding was still a “work in progress”.
“We worked with a contractor with some funding that the Ministry for Pacific Peoples provided for us to work on a funding strategy and funding model that still needs to be delivered,” Seiuli said.
She added that funders had emerged for 2027 and 2028 with several new stage sponsors on board.
Auckland Grammar School Samoan group Photo: BC Photography
Having directed the festival for the past 17 years, Seiuli said the festival had become about more than just the main four-day event.
The Leaders Conference held over two days at the start of the year also brings together cultural school leaders across Auckland and beyond giving them the opportunity to connect and also immerse themselves in the various workshops provided.
With the weather forecast looking clear over the next few days Seiuli said there had been no need for a wet weather contigency plan.
She said performances will continue on as scheduled and but families should still bring their umbrellas and gumboots, just in case.
New Zealand has around six to seven weeks’ worth of fuel available nationally, yet – in recent days – motorists in parts of the country have encountered empty pumps and temporarily closed forecourts.
Empty gas pumps at Pak’nSave Petone on March 20, 2026. (Source: 1News)
Both the Government and industry experts say the outages are localised delivery disruptions, driven by a surge in consumer demand, rather than any lack of fuel coming into or stored within the country.
The disruptions come as the war in the Middle East escalates, with tit‑for‑tat attacks targeting oil and gas infrastructure pushing global energy prices sharply higher.
Overnight, Brent crude oil, the international benchmark used to price fuel, briefly surged above US$119 a barrel, up about 60% since the conflict began.
Iran conflict fuelling price hikes across many New Zealand sectors
Overnight, Brent crude briefly topped $US119, up 60% since the war started, putting the pinch across the board.
Iran conflict fuelling price hikes across many New Zealand sectors 4:12
Overnight, Brent crude briefly topped $US119, up 60% since the war started, putting the pinch across the board. (Source: 1News)
AA principal policy adviser Terry Collins said motorists encountering empty pumps were being confronted with a delivery and logistics issue – not a national fuel shortage.
He said New Zealand’s fuel system effectively had two supply chains: Fuel arriving into the country by ship, and fuel being delivered domestically by tanker trucks to service stations.
“At a national level, there’s plenty of fuel. We’ve got fuel arriving by ship every week, storage onshore, and no issues with overall supply,” Collins told 1News.
AA principal policy adviser Terry Collins. (Source: 1News)
The problem, he said, arose at the local delivery level, particularly when there was an unexpected spike in demand.
Service station deliveries were tightly scheduled and optimised to run efficiently, meaning there was little spare capacity when demand suddenly surged.
“Those tankers are generally optimised to operate under normal conditions. When demand suddenly exceeds expectations in one location, a station can run dry before it’s due to be refilled.”
Once a station ran out, it took time for companies to reshuffle delivery schedules, especially given limits on driver hours, tanker availability, and the fact logistics operations were owned and run separately by different fuel brands.
But the Government and fuel suppliers say there’s no need to panic. (Source: 1News)
‘Toilet paper’ effect
Collins said the visibility of empty stations could also trigger a self‑fulfilling surge in demand, describing it as a “toilet paper issue”, referring to shortages during the Covid-19 pandemic caused by panic buying.
“They’ve created their own demand, then they drive past the station and see it’s got no petrol and think ‘hell, I better get some petrol’. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
Outages like this were usually highly localised, particularly in urban areas with many alternatives nearby.
“If Pak’nSave Petone runs out, it’s not a big deal, because there’s another six service stations along Seaview that haven’t run out.”
Rural areas, Collins said, were less likely to have the same spikes.
“They don’t have that volume of people in a rural area to have that big impact.”
Finance Minister Nicola Willis. (Source: 1News)
Finance Minister Nicola Willis today said empty pumps reflected a surge in local demand that had outstripped normal delivery patterns rather than a lack of fuel in the system.
“Local fuel companies are seeing increased buying from New Zealand customers, and so their normal patterns of restocking in some cases are not sufficient,” Willis told 1News.
Fuel companies were closely monitoring demand and understood it was in their commercial interest to ensure fuel stored nationally made its way to gas stations, she said.
“They’re competing against each other. They want to make sure that they’re selling the fuel that they can sell to customers.”
Willis said she had fuel companies to confirm that local distribution issues would be addressed.
“I sought assurances from the fuel companies that they will keep on top of that, local distribution, and that they will ensure that the supplies they have stored are making it to customers. And they affirmed, for me, that that is exactly what they will do.
NZ Govt prepares for worst fuel supply scenario
Iran and Israel trade attacks on fuel facilities in Middle East, heightening global supply fears.
NZ Govt prepares for worst fuel supply scenario 2:47
Iran and Israel trade attacks on fuel facilities in Middle East, heightening global supply fears. (Source: 1News)
Cabinet ministers were expected to consider further measures on Monday, including temporarily relaxing fuel standards, which one supplier says would allow fuel to be sourced from a wider range of international refineries.
Waitomo Group chief executive Simon Parham said New Zealand’s ultra‑low sulphur diesel standards were more restrictive than those used elsewhere.
“It really just broadens the market for purchases. In New Zealand it’s 10 parts per million, in the US it’s 15 — that opens up a whole new suite of refineries we can purchase from.”
The Commerce Commission said it was monitoring fuel prices daily and that current movements were consistent with past global disruptions.
It said there was no evidence of misconduct, adding that strong competition, helped by motorists shopping around, remained the best protection for consumers.
Martial arts icon and Walker, Texas Ranger star Chuck Norris has died at the age of 86, his family confirmed on Friday.
Norris was hospitalised in Hawaii on Thursday following a medical emergency before passing away the next morning, surrounded by family, who requested privacy regarding the circumstances of his death.
In a statement, his family described him as “a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather… and the heart of our family,” noting that he lived “with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved.”
Norris rose to international fame as one of Hollywood’s most recognisable action stars, known for his real-life martial arts mastery and his roles in The Delta Force, Missing in Action, and the long-running CBS hit Walker, Texas Ranger.
He also appeared alongside Bruce Lee in the classic 1972 film The Way of the Dragon, a performance that helped cement his status as a global action icon.
Tributes are flowing worldwide as fans and fellow performers remember Norris as a cultural symbol of strength, discipline, and resilience whose influence spanned more than five decades.
Police are appealing for the public’s assistance to locate 15‑year‑old Tracey, who has been reported missing from the Conifer Grove area in South Auckland.
Tracey was last seen on 27 February and was reported missing on 4 March.
Despite ongoing inquiries, police have not yet been able to find her.
She is described as approximately 150cm tall, with brown eyes and black hair.
At the time she went missing, she was wearing a purple T‑shirt and black Nike pants.
Police believe Tracey may be in the wider Auckland or Waikato regions.
Both police and Tracey’s family hold serious concerns for her welfare and are urging anyone who may have seen her, or who has information about her whereabouts, to come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to call 111, quoting file number 260305/8454.
Nuku‘alofa — The family of a young woman killed in a fatal Tongatapu crash earlier this month is expected to lay her to rest tomorrow at Telekava I Cemetery in Kolomotu‘a.
Malia ‘I Fatima Jr Tatu. Photo/Supplied
Eighteen‑year‑old Malia ‘I Fātima Tatu died when the accident occurred on March 13.
Police said in a statement that officers responded to a road traffic accident in Kanokupolu, which resulted in the tragic death of the young woman from Kolomotu‘a.
Several other passengers travelling in the same vehicle sustained injuries and received medical attention.
Police have not yet released details of the fatal crash.
They warned that dangerous driving behaviours such as speeding and racing put lives at risk.
Drivers are urged to act safely and responsibly, the Police said.
The authority extended its condolences to the bereaved family, stating:
“Tonga Police extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased during this difficult time.”
As family, friends, and the community prepare for her burial, tributes have been shared online.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, a family member reflected on the grief and memories shared in the days leading up to the funeral:
“The children’s time with our dearest Malia ‘i Fatima Tatu Jr… A very emotional evening — rosary, singing, sharing and crying over little things that matter to the kids. These are memories they will cherish forever. A quiet moment to reflect on the good things that Tima Leka did for them. Life goes on, and I hope what happened to Tima is something you will never have to go through.”
Malia’s funeral Mass will be held on Saturday morning at 10am at the Basilica, followed by her burial at Telekava I Cemetery.
Nuku‘alofa — A woman already serving life imprisonment for importing more than 137 grams of methamphetamine has been sentenced for a second time, after the Supreme Court of Tonga convicted her on an additional charge of importing drug‑use utensils.
‘Anita Toutaiolepo, 46, appeared before Justice Tupou KC for sentencing on Friday, just months after receiving one of the country’s harshest penalties for drug trafficking.
This latest case centres on six smoking pipes concealed within the same shipment that led to her original conviction.
The utensils were discovered when Customs officers scanned and inspected a drum shipped from the United States aboard the Papuan Poly, consigned directly to Toutaiolepo.
Suspicious markings led officers to open the container, where they found the methamphetamine along with six pipes wrapped inside a pair of pants.
Toutaiolepo and her daughter had personally cleared the drum at the wharf before Customs intervened.
This second sentencing focuses solely on the drug‑use utensils, a separate offence under the Illicit Drugs Control Act.
Although she had previously agreed to facts showing the drum was sent by her father in San Francisco and intended for her, Toutaiolepo later presented a new version of events, claiming the shipment was arranged by others in the household where she had been working as a caregiver.
Justice Tupou described this account as a “brand new story” inconsistent with the evidence and past admissions.
The court noted that she had failed to cooperate with authorities, continued to deny responsibility despite her conviction, and showed no remorse, offering shifting and contradictory explanations throughout the process
Justice Tupou set a starting point of nine months, reduced to six months due to her previously clean record before these offences.
The judge declined to suspend any portion of the sentence, citing her lack of cooperation and persistent denial.
However, because she is already serving life imprisonment, the six‑month sentence will be served concurrently, meaning it does not extend her time behind bars — but it does add an additional criminal conviction to her record.
The court also ordered that the six drug pipes be destroyed.
Justice Tupou stressed the need to denounce and deter those involved in Tonga’s growing drug trade.
