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American Idol: Katy Perry in Elastigirl outfit for Disney Night predicts Iam Tongi will win season

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By dailymail.co.uk

Katy Perry predicted that Iam Tongi would win season 21 of American Idol on Sunday during Disney Night of the ABC show.

The 38-year-old pop superstar wore a red Elastigirl costume complete with a red wig and black eye mask as she declared that Iam, 18, of Kahuku, Hawaii, was the frontrunner.

‘I believe it’s written in the stars,’ Katy said. ‘I don’t believe in coincidences. I know that you are Iam, but when I see your name I see ‘I am …the next American Idol.’

‘There’s a moment in time in your life when magic happens and my friend this is magical for you,’ Lionel said. ‘This is a time when all the stars align. It’s really happening.’

Bold prediction: Katy Perry predicted that Iam Tongi would win season 21 of American Idol on Sunday during Disney Night of the ABC show

High school student Iam was the last contestant to perform during the two-hour live show and delivered an emotional rendition of Father And Son by Cat Stevens. 

When he was finished the crowd chanted his name and was given a standing ovation by judges Katy, Lionel and Luke Bryan, 46.

Iam after his mesmerizing vocal performance was voted into the top three along with Megan Danielle, 21, of Douglasville, Georgia, and Colin Stough, 18, of Gattman, Mississippi.

The show opened with Grammy-winner Sara Bareilles, 43, and the top five contestants singing When You Wish Upon A Star from Disney’s Pinocchio.

Katy in her Mrs. Incredible outfit had a special message on Mother’s Day.

‘I’m doing this for all the moms out there! ‘ Katy said while straddling her leg across the judge’s table.

‘That desk will never be the same,’ quipped host Ryan Seacrest, 48.

‘I do wish there was a little bit more air conditioning in here,’ Katy said in the skintight outfit.

The frontrunner: Iam, 18, of Kahuku, Hawaii, became the frontrunner to win season 21

Standing ovation: Lionel Richie, Katy and Luke Bryan gave Iam a standing ovation

Final performance: The two-hour live episode ended with Iam performing

Top three: Iam after his mesmerizing vocal performance was voted into the top three along with Megan Danielle, 21, of Douglasville, Georgia, and Colin Stough, 18, of Gattman, Mississippi

Each of the top five contestants were tasked with singing two Disney songs – a classic and soundtrack favorites.

Disney Channel star Sofia Carson, 30, served as the episode’s mentor and met with each of the contestants individually at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

Wé Ani, 24, from Harlem, New York, went first after enjoying her first visit to the park. We picked Into The Unknown from Frozen II to sing. Sofia urged her to try to make the song her own.

For her performance, Wé wore a purple long sequined dress as she belted out the Idina Menzel song.

‘You look like a star, you sound like a star, you act like a star, your stage presence is amazing,’ Lionel said.

‘I’m just going to get it out of the way because you deserve it, that was incredible!’ Katy said. ‘It was like you were a superhero of vocals.’

‘Thank you, Mrs. Incredible,’ Wé told Katy. 

‘Great performance,’ Luke commented.

Grammy winner: The show opened with Grammy-winner Sara Bareilles, 43, and the top five contestants singing When You Wish Upon A Star from Disney’s Pinocchio

Top five: Iam, Megan Danielle, Sara, We Ani, Colin Stough and Zachariah Smith sang together during Disney Night

Show mentor: Disney Channel star Sofia Carson, 30, served as the episode’s mentor and met with each of the contestants individually at Disneyland in Anaheim, California

Disneyland fun: Wé Ani, 24, from Harlem, New York, went first after enjoying her first visit to Disneyland with her mother Jackie

Zachariah Smith, 20, a grill cook from Armory, Mississippi, took his family to Disneyland and then practiced singing I Just Can’t Wait To Be King from The Lion King with Sofia. He took the stage wearing a lion-themed embellished jacket and performed.

‘You actually may become King,’ Katy said. ‘Lionel and I would know something like that. You were to me such the underdog and now look at you know, you are in the top of tops.’

‘You are on fire my friend,’ said Lionel who performed with Katy at the recent coronation of King Charles III.

Zachariah told Ryan if he made it through he was looking forward to spending time with his brother who was autistic.

Colin picked Sheryl Crow’s song Real Gone from the movie Cars. He said the movie was one of his favorites. Colin’s mother Nara joined him for a day at Disneyland.

‘My mom’s the reason I’m here,’ Colin said. ‘She’s the one who signed me up on the show.’

Colin took the stage wearing all black down to his cowboy hat.

‘That was maybe my favorite performance that you have done,’ Luke said. ‘It was great.’

Happiest place: Colin’s mother Nara joined him for a day at Disneyland

‘Colin you came out looking like an electric guitar,’ Katy said.

Megan brought her mother Monica with her to see Disneyland. Megan picked You Can’t Stop The Girl from Maleficent to perform, dedicating it to her mother who had helped her growing up. Megan took the stage in a black long tulle dress.

‘That was a stellar performance,’ Lionel said.

‘The whole time I just want to tell you that you are a vocalist,’ Luke said. ‘That’s what that term is designed for. A vocalist is someone that delivers vocals just like you did.’

Ryan asked her why she chose that song.

‘Really because of everything I have been through not only me but my siblings and my mama over there,’ Megan said. ‘It’s a reminder that we can keep going and nothing can stop us.’

The Bachelorette star Hannah Brown, 28, and her boyfriend Adam Woolard also stopped the show and shared that they were big fans.

Iam performed the song Lava from the short film Lava. When a crowd gathered at Disneyland and saw Sofia mentoring Iam, he turned around and wowed the crowd with his singing.

Close bond: Megan brought her mother Monica with her to see Disneyland

Bachelorette star: The Bachelorette star Hannah Brown, 28, and her boyfriend Adam Woolard also stopped the show and shared that they were big fans

Surprise concert: When a crowd gathered at Disneyland and saw Sofia mentoring Iam, he turned around and wowed the crowd with his singing

Iam received another standing ovation from the judges and the audience. The crowd chanted his name.

‘You know exactly who you are and honey that is a superstar,’ Katy said.

‘Authenticity, you are so authentic to what you are,’ Luke said. ‘You make a room light up and it’s very special.’

‘I consider you a master storyteller,’ Lionel said.

Wé went next and sang  the inspirational ballad The Climb from Hannah Montana after spending time at Disneyland resort with her mother Jackie. She gave her mother a bouquet of flowers and read her a mother’s day card.

‘You are my best friend,’ Wé said.

We wore a long gold sequined dress for her performance.

‘You are so elegant in your delivery and that was the perfect song for you to show that elegance,’ Luke said.

‘It was superb,’ Katy said. ‘You are a master of your craft now.’

Halle Bailey 23, from The Little Mermaid made an appearance on the show singing Part of Your World wearing a long blue strapless dress.

Zachariah gave his mother a handwritten letter thanking her for all she had done for him growing up. Zachariah said he was proud of his mother. Zachariah then sang Life Is Like A Highway from the movie Cars.

Katy said she appreciated the card Zachariah gave to his mother and that was all a mother wanted.

‘My 12-year-old Tate gave Caroline $7 in her card,’ Luke said referencing his family.

Colin did a folk song from Nobody Knows from Pete’s Dragon while playing the guitar. The judges gave him a standing ovation.

‘You really do an amazing job of holding the room,’ Luke said.

‘You walk out on stage and you step into your light,’ Lionel said.

Colin said he was looking forward to getting back home and getting on a motorcycle with his grandfather. Megan then performed Carried Me With You, the theme from the movie Onward. Sofia encouraged her to continue to be vulnerable on stage. The judges gave her a standing ovation when she finished.

‘So effortless, so natural, you are always in the pocket, you just got it,’ Luke said. ‘You’ve got the magic voice. You’ve got the magic delivery.’

Magic kingdom: Colin, Zacharia We, Megan and Iam enjoyed Disneyland with their loved ones

Megan told Ryan she couldn’t wait to get back to Georgia to eat some creamy cheese dip with jalapeños.

After the votes were tabulated, Ryan announced that Iam, Colin, and Megan would all be moving on to the top three. We and Zachariah were sent home.

American Idol will return Monday with a recap episode titled Journey to the Finale.

The season 21 finale next Sunday will feature Keith Urban, 55, as a mentor and he also will perform Wild Hearts.

Fatal crash leads to closure of Auckland’s Southern Motorway northbound lanes

By
Kaniva Staff
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By rnz.co.nz

A fatal crash closed northbound lanes on the Southern Motorway at Ōtara for several hours early this morning.

Photo: Waka Kotahi

The pedestrian was struck by a vehicle in the northbound lanes, near the Te Irirangi Overbridge at 3.50am.

The person died at the scene, a police spokesperson said.

The serious crash unit has been investigating.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency said the closure was between the off-ramp onto SH20 and Te Irirangi Drive.

The lanes were reopened by 8.30am.

Dr Jonathan Howard: why US doctors spread Covid disinformation

By
Kaniva Staff
-

‘Oku taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala fakaTonga

An American doctor believes more than 800,000 Americans would be alive today, if the US had taken New Zealand’s Covid approach.

A refrigerated truck is used as a morgue at The Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York during the Covid-19 pandemic in April, 2020. Photo: Vanessa Carvalho / Brazil Photo Press via AFP

Jonathan Howard, who is the chief of neurology at Bellevue Hospital in New York, said he was angry that influential health professionals minimised the seriousness of the virus.

“We want them infected,” was the call of then presidential science adviser Paul Alexander.

It’s also the title of Howard’s new book, which tells the story of how some medical and public health professionals came to become anti-vaccine and pro herd immunity.

He told Kim Hill on Saturday Morning there was a deluge of mis-information from prominent US doctors, some of whom wanted to actually spread the virus.

“Famous doctors from our top universities went on television and told people that Covid was just going away, that it was just the flu, that young people under the age of 65 have essentially no risk,” he said.

“And not only were there not attempts to limit the virus, these were loud influential voices who wanted to spread it.

“You can read quotes from our former Covid advisor, Donald Trump’s former Covid advisor, celebrating rising cases, saying this is a good thing when cases rise, which is shocking and astonishing.”

While Howard said there were obvious differences between the two countries, many lives could have been saved if the US had taken a similar approach to New Zealand.

“If we had limited infections until we had vaccinated the vast majority of our population, we would have potentially had hundreds of thousands of people still alive today, there’s no question about that.”

Jonathan Howard MD, 'We Want them Infected'

Jonathan Howard MD and his new book, We Want them Infected. Photo: Jonathan Howard MD

However, our zero-Covid strategy wasn’t without its critics, with Stanford professor Jay Bhattacharya writing that it had “cost New Zealand dearly”.

“I think that the fact that most of your grandparents are still alive means that zero Covid did not cost you dearly,” Howard said in response.

“I don’t discount that, there were real costs of the lockdowns, I don’t know anyone who argues otherwise and I want to be very clear that I was protected from those costs, meaning I am very fortunate to be employed, I worked throughout the pandemic, I was never lonely, I don’t have my own business.”

But Howard said he didn’t think that the alternative – letting the virus spread freely – would have yielded a better outcome.

He said that when forklifts were needed to move bodies into giant refrigerated trucks in New York, it was fantasy to imagine the city could have operated as normal during the pandemic.

“You talk about deferred healthcare – every single healthcare worker was working with Covid patients, our hospitals were overflowing,” he said.

“So when I hear people lament they missed cancer screenings, who would have done those screenings? Would elderly patients have left their house to go to crowded waiting rooms to get a mammogram for example? I don’t think so.

“I think that the fantasy is that things could have just been normal if only if it hadn’t been for overly cautious politicians.”

By comparison, New Zealand did well, Howard said.

“I look at the numbers, I look at your death rate with great jealousy.” he said.

“And I think for long periods of time your economy was more open than ours was because we had to keep locking down, just because there were overwhelming outbreaks of the virus.”

Howard said the fact many older New Zealanders were still alive compared with the US statistics, showed the success of this country’s Covid strategy.

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

Oku tui ha toketa ‘Amelika ne laka hake ‘i he toko 800,000 ha kakai ‘Amelika ne mei kei mo’ui pe ‘o a’u mai ki he ‘aho ni kapau ne ngaue’aki ‘e Amelika ‘a e founga tau’i ‘e Nu’u Sila ‘a e Koviti.

Na’e ‘ita ‘a Jonathan Howard, ko e pule ia ‘o e niuolosi ‘i he Bellevue Hospital i Niuioke ‘i hono fakama’ama’a’i he kau polofesinale ‘o e mo’ui ‘a e mafatukituki ‘o e vailasi.  

“’Oku tau fiema’u ke nau pihia” ‘a e ui mei he fale’i saienisi fakapalesiteni ko Paul Alexander.

Kuo fakahingoa’aki ia ‘a e tohi fo’ou ‘a Howard, ‘a ia ‘oku talaki ai ‘a e anga e hoko ‘a ha kau polofesinale he mala’e ‘o e metikolo mo e mo’ui ‘a e kakai ko ha ‘enitivekisini mo poupou’i ‘a e herd immunity.

Na’a’ ne fakahā ki ha Kim Hill he polokalama Saturday Morning na’e ‘i ai ha fu’u ma’unga fakamatala halal ahi ne mahua mei he kau toketā  ‘Iū’esa’, ni’ihi ‘o kinautolu ne nau fiema’u ke mafola ‘a e vailasi’.

Ne hā mai ha kau toketa ‘iloa ‘o kitautolu mei he ngaahi ‘univesiti talaa’ he televisone ‘o tala ki he kakai ‘e ‘osi pe ‘a e Koviti pea ko e fuluu pe ia, pea ko e kakai iiki he ta’u 65 ‘oku ‘ikai fakatu’utamaki ia kia kinautolu.

Kau heni ‘a e ngaahi lea ‘a taha fale’i ki he Koviti ‘a e Palesiteni ki mu’a ‘a ‘Amelika ko Donald Trump a ia ne ne pehe ko e me’a lelei ia ke mafola lahi ange ‘a e Koviti.

Lolotonga  ne pehe ‘e Howard ‘oku mahino pe faikehekehe ‘i he ongo fonua na’e mei haofaki’i ha ngaahi moui lahi ‘i Amelika kapau ne nau fou he founga ‘a Nu’u Sila.

‘A ia ‘i he’ene lau kapau ne fai ha ngaue ke fakangatangata e mafola ‘a e pipihi ‘a e Koviti ne mei tokolahi ‘a e kakai ne fakahaofi.

Kakehe ko e policy ko ia Zero Covid pe ta’ofi e mafola ‘a e Koviti kei fakaanga’i pe o pehe e ha Palofesa mei Stanford ko Jay Bhattacharya ne fua ‘e Nu’u Sila ‘a hono faingata’a. Ne ne pehe ‘e ia ne ne monu’ia ia ‘i ‘Amelika lolotonga e ‘ikai ha’anau zero covid he ne kei lava ke kei ngaue pe ia he uhouhonga ‘o e to ‘a e Koviti.

Ka ne pehe ‘e Howard ko e kei moui a’u mai ki he ‘aho ni ‘a e ngaahi kui ko e ola lelei ia ‘o e fokotu’utu’u ngaue zero covid.

Kia Howard ko ene vakai ko ee ki he fakafehoanaki e ngaahi fika e mate mo e puke ‘a ‘Amelika mo Nu’u Sila, ne fu’u to atu ‘aupito ‘a Nu’u Sila ia.

Born within minutes of each other, graduating on the same day

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By rnz.co.nz

Identical triplets have graduated with law degrees on the very same day.

Cale, Max and Jackson Tu’inukuafe, who are of Tongan heritage through their father, all graduated from the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand this week.

Triplets are rare, and according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine identical triplets only occur once in every 10,000 births.

Middle brother Max, says its a special bond that they share.

“It’s a closeness in relationship – its like a higher version of brothers. We’ve been together since day one so we’re very close,” he said.

Tu'inukuafe triplets with Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban

The brothers with Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban Photo: Canterbury University

In Tongan, triplets are known as Mahanga Tolu – literal translation “twin three”.

The Auckland-based Tu’inukuafe trio all wanted to study law and decided to all move down together to study at Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University as it provided something new.

There’s an inseparable bond of support but they are also competitive.

“We’re always constantly grinding to get on top of each other, but at the end of the day, we all end up being pretty even,” said Max.

“Yeah no, we’re extremely competitive with each other,” said the youngest of the three, Jackson.

“We have our ups and downs because we clash with each other…but we’re still pretty good friends,” he added.

The quirks of triplets

The identical triplets and looking the same has its quirks with many unable to tell the difference.

“We’ve gotten used to seeing people that our brothers know but that we don’t know – we act like we know them because one of our brothers might be friends with them,” Jackson said.

Having three lookalikes on the rugby pitch would pose an intimidating presence with the brothers looking out for each other when they play.

“There’s been a few years where we played on the same rugby team,” said Max

“If anything happened to one of us, the other two would go over and help him out – it was pretty good, playing with my brothers,” he added.

A celebration of Pasifika achievement

Cale, Max and Jackson Tu'inukuafe

Photo: Canterbury University

The triplet’s graduation is cause for celebration for the Pasifika Hub at Victoria University, a designated Pasifika team that aims to improve representation and support for staff and students.

Pasifika are under-represented in law in New Zealand, so having three enter the legal arena at the same time is quite a feat.

The trio are now pursuing careers as lawyers and are working for firms in Auckland.

“It’s a really proud feeling that we can represent our Tongan heritage and hopefully encourage young pasifika to pursue a tertiary degree,” said Cale.

“We had a very Palangi upbringing but are very proud of our Tongan heritage,” he added.

Tongan businesswoman praises Ballantyne’s achievements, says they are second cousins

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Tongan businesswoman has come forward to claim Naomi Ballantyne as a cousin.

Ballantyne’s story was widely shared on social media after Kaniva News covered a report in the New Zealand Herald.

Daniel Guttenbeil Fifita (L) and Naomi Ballantyne. Photo/Supplied

It became the top story of the week among other local media which republished it.

Ballantyne has been the focus of a number of industry and general media reports in the past because of her personal and industry achievements and her work with the Pasifika community.

Ballantyne has created and sold three of the biggest insurance brands in New Zealand.

Her latest sale was of Partners Life, which she started in 2011 for about $1 billion to Japanese life insurer Dai-ichi Holdings.

Ballantyne was quick to correct the impression that she had become a billionaire, saying there were other shareholders.

She earlier sold ClubLife to ING in 2009.

Many of our readers wanted to know about her Tongan connection and which family name she belonged to in Tonga.

According to an earlier report, Ballantyn’e s mother was German-Samoan, but she spent her formative years in Tonga before settling to raise her family on Auckland’s North Shore. Ballantyne takes part in Pasifika business events Tongan and her father Canadian.

According to the Herald her mother was a gambler and her father an alcoholic. She grew up without any money and was working from the age of 13.

While Ballantyne declined a request for an interview with Kaniva News, a businesswoman in Tonga, Yvette Guttenbeil, came forward and said she was Ballantyne’s second cousin.

Guttenbeil said Ballantyne’s mother’s maiden name was Evelyn Guttenbeil. She was born in  Vavaʻu, the daughter of Herman Guttenbeil and Flora Crichton-Guttenbeil. 

Yvette Guttenbeil

Her older brothers Jim Guttenbeil and Gerhardt Guttenbeil (from Hermanʻs first marriage) continued to live in Vavaʻu when their siblings, including Evelyn, migrated to New Zealand.

Guttenbeil said Ballantyne’s grandfather Herman and her grandfather Charles were brothers. 

She told Kaniva News that her nephew Daniel Guttenbeil Fifita and his two brothers worked at Ballantyne’s company.

“We are all very proud of her massive achievement and her tribute to her mother,” Guttenbeil said.

Biden apologises to PNG, Blinken being sent for Pacific dialogue

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By asiapacificreport.nz

PNG Prime Minister James Marape did not give a firm answer on the signing of the controversial US-PNG Defence Cooperation Agreement
PNG Prime Minister James Marape (top right) did not give a firm answer on the signing of the controversial US-PNG Defence Cooperation Agreement. Montage: PNG Post-Courier

By Lawrence Fong and Gorethy Kenneth in Port Moresby

United States President Joe Biden yesterday apologised to Prime Minister James Marape and the people of Papua New Guinea for abandoning his planned trip to Port Moresby, and instead is sending Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

Details of Blinken’s travel to PNG are still being finalised and will be announced soon, but he will be here on Monday, Marape said.

He said Blinken would be involved in bilateral dialogue with the PNG government and leaders of the Pacific Island countries.

Marape, while addressing journalists yesterday afternoon, had to excuse himself twice during the hour-long address, to take calls from the White House and from Biden.

He said Biden was apologetic but had given his commitment to visit PNG and the region in the near future.

Marape also talked about the benefits of the US-PNG Defence Cooperation Agreement, downplaying fears that the agreement was unconstitutional and would sacrifice PNG’s sovereignty.

“Sorry I didn’t mean to be rude, but this call that came in this time, you know the US President is a very important man, he is not easily accessible, he’s got stiff protocols to access him and I was privileged on behalf of our people that he placed a call directly through my cell phone,” Marape said in apology to the local and international journalists in attendance.

“We spoke and I just stepped out and got his call.

‘Sincerest apology’
“He [President Biden] conveyed his sincerest apology that he cannot make it into our country.

“I did place an invitation to him that the next earliest available time, please come and visit us here, but he has confirmed that he has directed Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to arrive here on Monday to meet with us for a specific bilateral with Papua New Guinea as well as a regional meeting with the Pacific Island leaders.

“He did invite again the Pacific Island leaders for a continuation of a progressive continuation of the meeting that we initially held last September in Washington.

“And so those were the reasons why I stepped out.”

Marape also said he had invited Biden to visit PNG whenever he could, and Biden had agreed.

He said that when Biden came, he would be able to sign the Ship Riders Agreement with PNG.

He said the agreement had been approved, and was ready for signing.

But he did not give a firm answer on the signing of other, more controversial agreement, the US-PNG Defence Cooperation Agreement.

He said the agreement was done within the confines of PNG laws, and assured the people that it would be of benefit to the country.

Rabuka apologises to PNG
Meanwhile, Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae received Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at Government House in Port Moresby this afternoon.

Rabuka arrived in the country today and paid a courtesy call on the Governor-General.

By way of introduction, the Prime Minister and his delegation performed a traditional Fijian reconciliation ceremony complete with the presentation of a whale tooth, a significant Fijian traditional gift, to the Governor-General.

The traditional ceremony that Prime Minister Rabuka performed sought forgiveness and reconciliation on behalf of the people of Fiji for the closure of the Fiji High Commission in PNG in 2020.

Lawrence Fong and Gorethy Kenneth are PNG Post-Courier reporters. Republished with permission.

Magnitude 7.7 earthquake near Loyalty Islands triggers tsunami threat for Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By asiapacificreport.co.nz

The tsunami warning broadcast today for New Caledonia
The tsunami warning broadcast today for New Caledonia on RRB, a commercial radio station, applies to all islands, with people being asked to evacuate coastal areas for higher ground. Image: NEMA/RNZ Pacific

RNZ Pacific

New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is warning coastal areas  are expected to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in the Pacific.

A tsunami threat was issued for Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia after the 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck southeast of the Loyalty Islands.

The warnings were issued just after 3pm by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre. The earthquake was nearly 38 km deep.

In its warning, NEMA said: “Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, and anyone in or near the water close to shore.

“People … should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.”

The first tsunami activity causing these strong currents and surges may reach New Zealand in the areas North Cape at approximately 5pm, NEMA said.

“This may be later and the first tsunami activity may not be the most significant. Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this advisory is cancelled.”

Coastal inundation was not expected, NEMA said.

The areas under threat:

  • The West Coast of the North Island from Cape Reinga to Whanganui including the West Coast of Auckland, Manukau Harbour and New Plymouth
  • The East Coast of the North Island from Cape Reinga to Tolaga Bay including Whangārei, Great Barrier Island, the East Coast of Auckland, Waiheke Island, Waitematā Harbour, Tauranga, Whakatane and Opotiki
  • The West Coast of the South Island from Farewell spit to Milford Sound including Westport, Greymouth and Hokitika

Advice for people in areas under threat:

  • Stay off beaches and shore areas
  • People on boats, liveboards and at marinas should leave their boats/vessels and move onto shore. Do not return to boats unless instructed by officials
  • Move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries
  • Do not go to the coast to watch the unusual wave activity as there may be dangerous and unpredictable surges
  • There is no need to evacuate other areas unless directly advised by local civil defence authorities
  • Listen to local civil defence authorities and follow any instructions and share this information with family, neighbours and friends
A tsunami forecast map issued by the National Emergency Management Agency on Friday 19 May after an earthquake in the Pacific near the Loyalty Islands.
A tsunami forecast map issued by the National Emergency Management Agency today after an earthquake in the Pacific near the Loyalty Islands. Omage: NEMA

RNZ Pacific senior reporter Walter Zweifel said the warning broadcast for New Caledonia on RRB, a commercial radio station, applied to all islands, with people being asked to evacuate coastal areas for higher ground.

Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department issued the following statement: “An earthquake of this size has the potential to cause destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicenter within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours.

“The National Disaster Management Office advises people over all Vanuatu group to take appropriate action and precautionary measures upon receiving this advisory. This includes immediate evacuation from coastal areas to higher grounds.”

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

Covid-19 figures for children a “warning signal” – expert says vaccination levels can rise

By
Kaniva Staff
-

‘Oku taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala fakaTonga

An expert on Covid-19 data says figures showing that the number of reported Covid-19 cases in children aged 5 to 14 has more than doubled is “a bit of a warning signal.”

According to a recent government report,  the number of infected children aged between five and 14 has risen since schools went back at the end of April.

Health New Zealand data showed that, between April 24 (when term two began for most schools) and this week, the rolling seven-day average of reported cases per 100,000 people in this age group grew 168%.

This was four times the rolling case rate for people aged 15 to 24 and more than six times the rate for  25 to 44-year-olds.

Dr Emily Harvey from Covid-19 Modelling Aoteoroa said the  number of cases among children was higher that would be expected.

However, she told Stuff that there were things that could be done.

She said action could be taken to improve  classrooms ventilation.

Low levels of Covid-19 vaccination in children could also be raised.

“It’s not too late to do something about that, either”.

According to the Ministry of Health in the week ending May 14 there were 11,739 new cases overall.

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

Kuo pehe ‘e ha taukei ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha faka’ilonga lelei ‘a e mahino mai kuo tapolo ‘a e fika ‘o e fanau iiki ta’u 5 ki he 14 kuo ma’u ‘e he Koviti.

Fakatatau ki he lipooti ‘a e pule’anga Nu’u Sila ne mahiki ‘a e lahi ‘o e puke ‘a e fanau ko eni ‘i he’enau toe foki ki lokiako he faka’osinga ‘o ‘Epeleli.

Ko e teita mei he Potungaue Mo’ui ‘a Nu’u Sila a’u ia ki he peseti ‘e 168 ‘a e fanau he vaa’i ta’u ko eni mei ‘Epeleli ‘aho 24 ki he ‘aho ni, ko ha fika ia mei he toko 100,000 ne puke.

Oku liunga fa ‘eni ia ‘i he to’u ta’u 15 ki he 24 laka ‘aki ia ‘a e liunga ono ‘o kinautolu puke he ta’u 25 ki he ta’u 44.

Pehe ‘e Dr Emily Harvey mei he Covid-19 Modelling Aoteoroa ko e fika ‘i he kauleka ko eni oku puke ‘oku laka ia he fika ne fai ‘a e ‘amanaki ki ai.

Ka na’a ne pehe ‘e lava pe ke fai ha me’a ki ai hange ko hano fakalelei’i ‘o e venitileisini ‘o e ngaahi lokiako pea ke hiki hake mo e levolo ‘e toki ngofua ai ke huhu malu’i ha leka.

Na’a ne pehe ‘oku te’eki tomui ‘eni.

Fakatatau ki he Potungaue mo’ui na’e ‘i ai ‘a e keisi fakakatoa ‘e he 11739 ‘i he uike’eki ‘o Me ‘aho 14.

‘Cold-blooded and callous’: Peter Vī jailed for brutal murder of partner in Hamilton apartment

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A Tongan man who kicked and punched his partner to death as she lay on the floor must serve at least 11 years for her murder.

Peter Vi in the dock of the High Court at Hamilton where he was jailed for 11 years and nine months for the brutal murder of his partner in 2021. Photo / Belinda Feek

Peter Vi, 59, was jailed after he was found guilty of beating Georgina Ngataki  with both arms while she was saying “don’t”.

The 55-year-old mother and grandmother suffered massive head injuries.

Vi’s actions were labelled “cold blooded” and “callous” from the afternoon of September 22, 2021, in which he left his partner, Georgina Ngataki, to die on the floor of her Wellington St flat, surrounded in blood after a brutal attack, the New Zealand Herald reported.

Ngataki’s bereaved whānau got to share their frustration, anger, and grief at the loss of a beloved grandmother, mother, sister, and aunty at Vi’s sentencing in the High Court at Hamilton recently.

Vi launched his frenzied attack of kicks and punches after getting into an argument with Ngataki while drinking.

Court documents state after bashing her, he was heard to say, “Oh no, she’s not dead” before leaving the 55-year-old on the floor, changing out of his shorts, and fleeing.

He would return minutes later.

Not to seek help, but pick up the remainder of his box of New Zealand lager beers he had been drinking.

Vi first appeared in the Hamilton District Court in September 2021 charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

That charge was upgraded to murder after Ngataki later died of her injuries, which included a concaved skull and other trauma to her head.

Crown prosecutor Rebecca Guthrie said the impact of Ngataki’s death on whānau had been significant and long-lasting.

She told Justice Mathew Downs that whānau who were in court to see him jailed would hear the full extent of Vi’s “callous” attack for the first time.

It was callous, she said, as the 59-year-old left Ngataki on the floor without seeking help, while the blows of his kicks and punches were so loud they could be heard by neighbours.

She was also vulnerable, both due to the size differential between the pair and also her having suffered a brain aneurism some years previously.

‘Insurmountable horror’

Victim impact statements of Ngataki’s whānau detailed not only being confronted with the “insurmountable horror” of her death, but the frustrations of Covid-19 restrictions at the time, which saw Auckland under lockdown and residents unable to leave the district.

Many whānau lived in Auckland and while few of Ngataki’s siblings managed to get approval to cross the border, many didn’t, leaving them still struggling with their grief.

Ngataki’s mother was stuck north of the border.

“As Georgina’s mother, not being able to be there … because of Covid restrictions at the time was something that words will never be able to describe.

“The absolute horror that I had to endure at that time was insurmountable,” describing Vi’s offending as “selfish”, “inconsiderate”, “heinous” and “destructive”.

Instead, she had to see her daughter’s last moments alive via video call from family who were at her bedside in Waikato Hospital’s intensive care unit.

“It was then that my heart broke and I felt powerless to help Georgina.

“It was at that point that I became aware that the situation was truly horrific and that this was something that I would not be able to fix.”

‘Oh no she’s not dead’

Justice Mathew Downs explained how Vi and Ngataki moved into the same apartment complex on Wellington St in 2018.

The pair, who both suffered from alcohol addiction, became friends, and soon after a relationship developed.

However, their relationship was punctured by arguments and violence handed down by Vi.

Five months before her death, Ngataki was hospitalised after Vi struck her in the face with such force it rendered her unconscious. She woke with bruising, bleeding, sore ribs, a broken nose and a concussion.Despite the severity of the assault, the relationship continued.

Just after 2pm on the day she died, Ngataki and Vi returned to her unit, with Vi carrying a box of New Zealand Lager.

Shortly afterward, the pair got into an argument over money.

During the argument, Vi punched and stomped Ngataki on the head several times and afterward said aloud to himself: “Is she dead?”

“Oh no she’s not dead,” he said.

A neighbour, who had heard the “audible thuds” went to check on her and saw Vi kneeling over striking her with both arms, and Ngataki saying “don’t”.

He then changed into track pants, while still in her unit, before heading to his own unit at 2.36pm.

At 2.49pm, he left his unit, this time changing all of his clothing, including his jandals, and went to Ngataki’s unit to grab the rest of the beer, then left a minute later.

He’s then seen leaving the complex and walking down Wellington St.

Police arrived at 3.07pm, and after initial confusion about which unit they were at, they arrived to find her unconscious and with blood around her head and on the cushions of a nearby couch.

When questioned by police before she died, Vi said that during an argument Ngataki banged her head on a table five times and that she was well when he left.

He was questioned again after she died, and said that he had slapped her with the back of his hand three or four times “but not with any force”.

‘You allowed her to die’

Justice Downs told Vi there were multiple aggravating features of the case.

The magnitude of the violence, breaching her trust – “she was entitled to look to you for protection, not harm”, and the “cold-blooded, and indeed callous” actions after attacking her; only returning to the flat to get his beer.

“At no stage did you seek medical attention for Ms Ngataki or raise the alarm.

“In short, you allowed her to die.”

Vi, of Tongan descent, had no family in New Zealand and disputed he was an alcoholic, instead, he believed he was a “binge drinker” and often only argued with Ngataki when they were drinking together and “sometimes” hit her.

“Plainly you did,” Justice Downs told him.

The earlier assault on Ngataki was also serious enough to warrant a higher starting point than the 10-year minimum for murder.

After applying discounts for his late guilty plea, just days before the March trial was due to start, and his personal circumstances, Justice Downs jailed Vi for life, with a minimum term of 11 years and nine months.

This story was first published by the New Zealand Herald. Edited by Kaniva News.

Government agrees to confidential agreement with internet provider over multi-million dollar contract payment due four years ago

By
Philip Cass
-

A multi-million dollar dispute between the Tongan government and a Vanuatu-registered internet provider has ended with a confidential agreement.

Kacific Broadband Satellites Group (Kacific) had been pursuing the Tongan Government for nearly US$6 million owed for an agreement made in 2019.

The Prime Minister’s office issued a statement yesterday saying the settlement was in the best interests of Tonga.

“We are delighted to have resolved our differences with the Government of Tonga and are excited about the prospect of working together,” Kacific CEO Christian Patouraux said..

“We believe that this agreement represents a significant step forward in our relationship and look forward to building a strong and mutually beneficial partnership with the Government of Tonga, for the benefit of all the people of Tonga.”

In 2019 Kacific Broadband Satellites Group signed a 15 year agreement with Tonga Satellite Ltd (TSL), a Tongan government company, to provide high speed broadband via satellite to the kingdom.

The company said the service would connect communities in 89 remote outer islands with high-quality internet. In the case of a fibre cable outage, similar to the one experienced in January 2019, the satellite internet bandwidth could be redistributed and shared with Tonga’s main centres.

In January 2019, the international fibre cable connecting Nukuʻalofa to high speed internet was severed, leaving most of Tonga’s people and organisations without access to the internet or international phone calls. During the 12 days in which the cable was repaired, satellite technology was used to provide bandwidth to the nation.

The then Minister for Commerce, Consumer, Trade, Innovation and Labour Dr Tevita Tui’Uata said the Kacific system met the needs of Tonga to provide full broadband access to all residents of Tonga.

The Kacific contract was based on a single upfront payment of US$5,760,000 due on June 15, 2019. This was never paid. In January 2021 Kacific began arbitration in Singapore against Tonga Satellite and the Tongan government.

Cabinet attempted to de-register and remove Tonga Satellite from the Register of Companies after those proceedings had started. Kacific took the government to the Tongan Supreme Court which ruled that TSL had to be re-registered. This meant Kacific could continue its legal efforts against the government.

In his summing up of the court case, Lord Chief Justice Whitten said he was satisfied that there was a sufficient basis to support an inference,that the Government proceeded to “engineer the removal of TSL from the Register for the clear purpose of frustrating the arbitral proceeding against TSL.”

The judge said attempting to remove TSL from the register of companies “had likely done little to enhance, and may even have damaged, the Government’s reputation for being a responsible and reliable international trading.”

Any issues between Kacific and TSL would be determined by the law of Singapore, under which arbitration had commenced.  In any case, TSL had no assets.

For more information

Tongan government signs deal with Kacific for remote island connectivity and fibre back-up

Tongan Government Signs Deal With Kacific for Remote Island Connectivity and Fibre back-up

Kacific succeeds in its application to Supreme Court to restore Tonga Satellite to Register of Companies

Kacific succeeds in its application to Supreme Court to restore Tonga Satellite to Register of Companies

Application to restore Tonga Satellite Limited to the Register of Companies. Judgement.

https://ago.gov.to/cms/judgements/supreme-court-civil/category/188-cv-2021.html?download=2248:kacific-broadband-satellites-international-ltd-v-registrar-of-companies-government-of-tonga-cv-25-21-tosc-8-jun-2021-whitten-qc-cj-judgment
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