Pt England homicide: Man charged in relation to death of Charles Pongi
Auckland City Police have today charged a man in relation to the death of Charles Pongi in Pt England in August 2023.
Charles Pongi
A homicide investigation was launched earlier this year following the death of the 32-year-old, who was alleged to have been shot when more than 70 gang members from the Head Hunters, Rebel MCs, and associates converged on the Taurima Reserve in Pt England on 5 August for an intended brawl.
Early this morning detectives, supported by the Armed Offenders Squad, executed five search warrants across Tāmaki Makaurau.
Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin, of Auckland City CIB, says two men were located and taken into custody without incident.
“A 24-year old man from Mount Albert has since been charged with murder, assault, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
“The second man, a 26-year-old from Weymouth, has been charged with discharging a firearm with intent to intimidate, and unlawful possession with a firearm, which Police allege was part of the significant violence at the suburban park on 5 August.”
Both men are due to appear in the Auckland District Court today.
Detective Inspector Baldwin says the Police investigation remains ongoing.
“Police would like to thank the Pt England community for their patience and their support while we have been making enquiries into this incident.
“The Operation Pastel team remains committed to holding further individuals to account,” Detective Inspector Baldwin says.
Police continue to ask anyone with information which may assist the investigation to contact us on 105 quoting the file number 230805/0100 or by going online to https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105
We are also reminding the public Police have set up a secure portal which people can anonymously upload any images and footage.
KANIVA COMMENT: Will the king launch Lulutai airline’s new Twin Otter?
King Tupou VI
It is normal protocol for the king to launch new aircraft or big government projects.
Kaniva News understands the airline has bought the eight years-old 19-seat DeHavilland Canada Twin Otter for about US$6.5 million.
It is understood that in May this year Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade awarded a contract to support a Twin Otter in Tonga.
But will His Majesty be happy to launch the aircraft? Relations between the palace and the government have not been good. He is yet to appoint Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku’s proposed Cabinet Ministers.
The government’s involvement in the private sector was one of the things the king mentioned when he chastised the Tu’ionetoa government in 2021.
Critics believe the king is still unhappy with the government’s continued involvement with the airlines while at the same time private companies have been vying to operate it, including Fly Niu.
His Majesty may also wish to distance himself from the controversy that has surrounded the airline since it began operations. The purchase of the Twin Otter has been the latest episode in that controversy.
It appears the Twin Otter is dependent entirely on Australian aid and support. It is not entirely clear whether the purchase of the aircraft was organised or subsidised by Australia. We have previously asked Lulutai’s CEO, Poasi Tei, to confirm of who funded the purchase of the aircraft.
Having sat in China for several weeks, the twin engined passenger aircraft arrived in Australia at the end of October and was due to fly to Tonga last Friday.
The Australian government had provided the Tongan government with Aus$1.25 million to help with transporting the aircraft, training staff and ensuring its entry into service.
Since 2022 Australia has organised a wet-lease arrangement with Fiji Airways to operate regular flights while Lulutai’s fleet is grounded.
Australia has been working with Lulutai Airlines to develop a long-term sustainable business plan, but full details are yet to emerge.
Lulutai has faced continual pressure from the Tongan public during the past 18 months, since technical problems affected flights from Tongatapu to the outer islands of Ha’apai and Vava’u.
By Kelvin Anthony of rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission
The Fiji Meteorological Service says Tropical Cyclone Mal is “likely to intensify” into a category 3 system as it approaches the Fiji Group on Tuesday night.
Tropical Cyclone Mal threat map at 12pm on Tuesday, 14 November. Photo: Fiji Meteorological Service
“The current analysis indicates that destructive Category 3 winds are likely to be confined close to the centre of the system over open waters,” the weather office said.
“However, if the system moves closer to the land areas in comparison to the current expected path, hurricane force winds could also be experienced over the land areas.
“Gale to storm force winds are expected over the land areas of Yasawa and Mamanuca Groups from later this afternoon or evening and spread over the rest of the country overnight, especially over western and southern Viti Levu, Vatulele, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands.”
A heavy rain and flash flood warning remains in force for the low-lying and flood prone areas across all of Viti Levu.
The Fiji Roads Authority is also reporting several roads and crossings affected from flooding.
Controlled movement
In a news conference on Tuesday afternoon, National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) director Vasiti Soko said cyclone Mal would move closer to the western part of Fiji in the next few hours.
“As it moves closer to Fiji, there is high possibility that it will likely intensify as it approaches the Fiji Group tonight. As TC Mal approaches the western division rainfall will continue to increase. The system will pass through Fiji later tomorrow,” she said.
She said Fiji Met Service has also confirmed that although Category 2, members of the public should brace for windspeeds of 120km/h from Tuesday afternoon.
“High tidal waves measuring nine metres in open waters is anticipated and around four metres is expected in our coastal areas. Therefore, making coastal communities very vulnerable for coastal inundation. Most activities are expected overnight.”
Soko confirmed the Emergency Committee has decided that “there will be controlled movement in place from 6pm today (Tuesday) to 4am (Wednesday) for high risk areas”.
“In other words we will work closely with Fiji Police to limit the movement of people during this period to ensure safety of our people,” she said, adding that is not a curfew but “police coming coming in to control moving of people with regard to their safety”.
“We are preparing for the worst case scenario.
“If there’s is something that we want to achieve out of this – is no fatality. We are trying our best to have no loss of lives from this controlled movement.”
Soko said there are eight evacuation centres active with almost 300 evacuees residing across the central, western and eastern divisions.
“Each of these evacuation centres is manned by two police officers – one male and one female – are always on standby to ensure safety of our vulnerable groups.”
She said businesses in the capital had also confirmed that they would cease all operations.
Schools have been closed for Tuesday and Wednesday with external exams for Year 12 and 13 postponed to next week.
Public servants have been instructed to work from home and the Fijian government has confirmed that it has paid the salaries of all government workers in advance.
“Civil servants can now access their pay from midday [Tuesday], 14 November. This includes both established salary staff and government wage earners,” Finance Ministry permanent secretary Shiri Gounder said.
Nausori health centre down
The Health Ministry said the Nausori Health Centre outpatient department has been “temporarily suspended”.
“Patients seeking outpatient care should visit Wainibokasi Hospital, which is open 24 hours a day, or Nakasi Health Centre, which is open until 8pm at night,” it said in a statement.
“Emergency Cases and Maternity Cases only will continue to be seen at the Nausori Health Centre Maternity Unit foyer.
“Health facilities that are open at this time in the Nausori and Nasinu areas: Makoi Health Centre (open until 10pm daily) and Valelevu Health Centre (open 24hrs daily).
“For medical emergencies, members of the public in the Nausori and Nasinu areas are encouraged to go to their nearest health facility for immediate medical care.”
Evac centres on standby
FBC News reports over 450 evacuation centres are on standby.
Commissioner Western Apolosi Lewaqai told the state broadcaster that 70 percent of the centres “are established within schools, demonstrating a community-wide effort to provide safe havens for those who may be affected by the impending cyclone”.
Neighbours caught a man in the act of burgling at a house in Nuku‘alofa.
Two men had apparently broken in through the window and began gathering valuables when they became aware of approaching by neighbours.
One of the men fled the scene and escaped, report on Facebook alleged.
Photos posted to Facebook seen by Kaniva News showed a shirtless and shoeless man with blood on his face was being withheld by a woman while another man standing facing him.
The accused was reportedly beaten up before he was warned.
The post appeals to residents of Kolomotu’a and the whole of Tongatapu to watch out for anything suspicious.
Meanwhile, Police have arrested a burglar who was reported to have been responsible for several burglars and thefts at Tofoa.
Reports said Uepi Latu was currently in custody at Hu’atolitoli prison awaiting court appearance.
A woman who used her employer’s bank card to steal around $34,000 has been jailed.
Employee steals $34,000 from Tonga National Rugby League
Seinivunga Sanetify Ki Loto Tatau Lafo’ou, 30, was sentenced to 20-months imprisonment, partially suspended, for forgery and theft from National Rugby League Tonga (NRL).
The court was told the money was taken from a bank account in 46 systematic unauthorised withdrawals over 13-months.
The funds stolen were a grant from the Government of Australia for the development of NRL in Tonga
In 2021, NRL office created an account with the Bank of the South Pacific Limited Tonga in the name of Tavakesina Fangupo.
Mr Fangupo is the Country Manager of the NRL Tonga Community Outreach Program.
Miss Lafo’ou, who pleaded guilty to one count of theft, was employed at the NRL head office situated at Ma’ufanga.
The debit card for the relevant account was locked in Lafo’ou’s office. The pin number for the said debit card was known only to Fangupo and Lāfo’ou.
On l December 2022, when Fangupo went to pay the office rent, he discovered he could not make the payment due to insufficient funds in the account.
He enquired at the bank and received a bank statement revealing withdrawals from various ATM machines in the Nuku’alofa and Ma’ufanga area between the months of October, 2021 to November, 2022 amounting to $34,300.00.
Fangupo contacted Lāfo’ou and arranged a meeting to discuss the transactions.
On 2 December 2022, Lāfo’ou gave Fangupo a letter from Ms ‘Amelia ‘Asi, her co-worker, admitting to withdrawing the money. She was attempting to frame ‘Asi for the theft.
Fangupo met with ‘Amelia who admitted responsibility for one withdrawal under the directions of Lāfo’ou. She confirmed to Fangupo that she did not give the defendant a confession letter for the withdrawals.
Fangupo lodged a complaint about the missing funds with the police on 15 December.
Justice Tupou convicted Lāfo’ou for theft and is sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.
Two months from the sentence for the forgery is added to the headcount resulting in a final sentence of 20 months imprisonment.
The final 12 months of her sentence is suspended for a period of 2 years from the date of her release from prison on the condition that during that period she is to:
(a) not commit any offence punishable by imprisonment;
(b) be placed on probation;
(c) contact the probation office within 48 hours of her release and thereafter according to directions provided by the probation officer.
Failure to comply with those conditions may result in the suspension being rescinded and the Defendant being required to serve the balance of her prison term.
In the result, and subject to those conditions and any remissions available under the Prisons Act, the Defendant will be required to serve 8 months in prison.
The judge also said: “The Defendant is to be given credit for any time spent in custody on remand for the charges the subject of these proceedings”.
A blaze in commercial buildings in Nuku‘alofa reached third-alarm status overnight.
Emergency services were first called to the building at the corner of One Way and Uelingatoni roads in Kolofo’ou at around midnight, reports said.
A streamer who livestreamed the incident on Facebook claimed the buildings included Teta Tours’ office and former Loni theatre, two of the Nuku’alofa long serving businesses in the capital.
The government has no plans to build houses for the tsunami victims now living in tents at ‘Atatā Si’i.
Tents set up at ‘Atatā Si’i after government ordered tsunami victims to move from a hall they were staying in for about two years after the Hungas deadly eruption. Photo/Kaniva Tonga News
As Kaniva News reported recently, a group of people who survived the tsunami had been living in a church hall, even while other people from the original village of ‘Atatā had been moved into new houses.
They were recently ordered by the government to move to ‘Atatā Si’i and live in tents.
Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu told the Legislative Assembly the houses of the 19 families who were moved to ‘Atatā Si’i had not been damaged by the tsunami.
Hon. Vaipulu said the assessment report for the reconstruction projects was based on those whose houses had been damaged. He told the House the ‘Atatā Si’i estate holder had provided land for the tsunami victims and that the government was looking for funding.
“Leave it for the government to figure out what to do for these people.,” Hon. Vaipulu said.
He said the estate holder has given land for the people, but the government was looking for funding.
Former Finance Minister Dr ‘Aisake Eke asked Vaipulu to confirm when the people living in tents would have houses built if they had been given land.
The Deputy Prime Minister said if money could be photocopied the houses would have already been built.
Responding, Hon. Eke told Vaipulu he had seen the budget and there was enough money to build the few houses needed. He said the people who had been told to live in tents did not know what the government panned for them.
He said he was baffled by the government’s plan to exclude these people from the government’s tsunami rebuilding plans as the island was in a “red zone”. Hon. Eke said these people should not be allowed to go back to ‘Atatā. He questioned why the government considered returning them to the island.
“They saw the deadly wave,” he said, referring to the devastating experience they faced on the day the tsunami struck the island.
“These people did not want to return” to ‘Atatā, Hon. Eke said.
The victims were described as living in a state of constant apprehension (“nofo ‘i lelenga”). The House was told the people had faced problems while living in the hall, including at one stage having the electricity disconnected. It is understood the power bills were paid by the government’s National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO).
The Deputy Prime Minister scolded NEMO in the House for failing to make sure the power bills were paid. The House was also told these Atatāans had often fallen out with the owner of the hall, which was the Siasi ‘O Tonga church.
Hon. Eke accused the government of failing to make sure these people were living harmoniously with the owners of the hall.
MP Tevita Puloka said one of the reasons these people were still living in Tongatapu was because there was no more school in the island.
The ‘Atatā people were first evacuated to ‘Isileli in Kolomotu’a and lived there temporarily before being moved to the Maliukuonga hall of the Siasi ‘o Tonga at Kapetā, Kolomotu’a.
Tonga’s Lulutai Airlines will soon be able to fly its new aircraft to service the country’s domestic route.
Lulutai Airlines de-Havilland Twin-Otter. Photo: Tonga High Commission Canberra
The Tonga High Commission Office in Canberra confirmed on Friday that the de-Havilland Twin-Otter was in Australia in the last week of October for final preparation before flying to Tonga to begin its service.
Tonga’s acting High Commissioner to Australia Curtis Tuihalangingie was able to inspect the aircraft on Thursday and confirmed the aircraft was leaving for Tonga on Friday.
The Australian government had provided the Tongan government with AU$1.25 million to help with transporting the aircraft, train pilots to fly it, purchase spare parts needed and ensure its smooth transition into servicing the people of Tonga.
Australia has been providing support to Lulutai Airlines since mid-2022 in critical areas, such as training for pilots and engineers, a wet-lease arrangement with Fiji Airways to operate regular flights while their fleet was grounded for maintenance, as well as regional cooperation and collaboration with other Pacific Island airlines.
They are also working with Lulutai Airlines to develop a long-term sustainable business plan to support fleet growth as well as good reservations and sales system enhancements.
Tongan Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni had stated last month that the aircraft would help Lulutai meet the demands of local travel.
“This new aircraft is a much-needed boost to our current fleet and will help us keep families, communities, tourism operators and businesses connected,” he had said in a statement.
Australia’s High Commissioner to Tonga Rachael Moore said Australia is proud to partner with the Kingdom to support Lulutai Airlines achieve reliable, sustainable and safe domestic connectivity.
“The entry into service support will ensure Lulutai Airlines can start operating their new aircraft as soon as it arrives in Tonga,” she said in the statement.
“Reliable domestic air travel remains essential to Tonga’s economic recovery, development and tourism.”
She said Australia remains committed to helping build a stronger Pacific family and to navigate shared challenges together.
Lulutai has been under a lot of pressure from the Tongan public over the last 18 months, following technical problems to their aircrafts, affecting flights from Tongatapu to the outer islands of Ha’apai and Vava’u.
One of the company’s aircraft was grounded last year for three months for repairs and maintenance, with Fiji Airways stepping in to serve the domestic route.
Akosita and her husband, Etuate were jailed in 2021 for corruption and fraud connected with a school they ran.
Tonga MP Akosita Havili Lavulavu in Wellington for a mentoring programme by the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Pacific Region. Photo: VNP / Daniela Maoate-Cox
The Court of Appeal then ordered that the duo be retried in the Supreme Court.
Ahead of that retrial ‘Akosita Lavulavu had asserted Justice Langi would show bias because she had been working at the Attorney General’s office when the charges were first laid against the Lavulavu’s nearly six years ago.
Lavulavu was seeking leave to appeal after Justice Langi had declined an earlier application to recuse herself from presiding over the re-trial.
The Matangi Tonga website reports Justice Tony Randerson stating he had no hesitation in concluding that this appeal had no merit.
He said there is nothing to suggest the judge will not deal with the case fairly, objectively and in accordance with her judicial oath.
The Lavulavu’s were chargely over allegedly fraudulent claims for $US250,000 in government funding given to their private school, “Unuaki ‘O Tonga Royal Institute, to cover student transition.
The school had claimed in 2013 to have 255 eligible students when there were only six; in 2014 the school claimed for 416 students when there were only nine; and in 2015 they claimed for 271 students when there was only four eligible.
An ill-timed leg injury has done little to keep Bond University track sprinter Babe Antonio Vaitohi from his Olympic dream.
Tongan track sprinter Babe Antonio Vaitohi. Photo/Supplied
Next month the 100m and 200m flyer will compete in the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands, which serves as an Olympic qualifier.
But the road to Honiara hasn’t been without drama.
Two months out from the biggest meet of his life, a small tear in his patella tendon disrupted his typically vigorous training schedule, preventing him from engaging in weight-bearing activities and, most crucially, running.
But Vaitohi and his Gold Coast-based coach Tony Fairweather remain confident in his ability to recover for the Pacific Games and keep intact his goal to represent Tonga at the world’s biggest sporting event in Paris in 2024.
“Regardless of this injury, I know that I’m going to do everything I can to get back to where I need to be,” he said defiantly.
And he’s had an intriguing sporting journey so far.
Vaitohi was born on the Pacific Island of Tonga and split his time between his home nation and New Zealand until the age of 12 when he moved to Australia and found his love for sprinting.
Bouncing between the two island nations as a child, Vaitohi’s path appeared to lie not in sprinting, but in the Pacific Island’s chief sporting passion of rugby, a sport that runs in his family’s blood.
“Actually, it was through rugby that I identified my potential in sprinting,” he said.
“My dad saw how fast I would run on the field and out of interest he encouraged me to give sprinting a try.
“I still play rugby here and there, but track is my main sport and my primary goal now.”
And so it was that at 13-years-old, just one year after taking up competitive sprinting, he claimed his first Australian championships in the junior 100m and 200m, besting competitors with years more experience.
The now 20-year-old is completing his Bachelor of Sport Management at Bond University with hopes to continue working within his chosen discipline.
The Pacific Games represent Vaitohi’s best chance of securing a Team Tonga tracksuit and of booking a ticket to Paris for the 2024 Olympics, despite the urgency of his injury recovery and the vagaries of selection.
“Qualifications work differently for some of the Pacific countries,” he explained.
“Due to the lack of funding and sports development in some of the Pacific nations it’s only the best athlete per country that gets sent.”
Vaitohi’s current 100m times range from 10.7 to 10.8 seconds, but at the Pacific Games, he aims to lower that mark considerably.
“With my ultimate goal of making the Olympics, I hope to achieve a time of 10.2 or faster,” he said.
“In my opinion there’s no greater achievement than representing your country at the Olympics and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got to make it happen.”
