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Lulutai plane flying on Christmas Day disputed as ‘unfair’ after man arrested for swimming on the public holiday

By
Kaniva Staff
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A confrontation at the Vava’u police station this afternoon led to police releasing a man they had arrested and charged after he allegedly swam in the sea during Christmas day.

Neiafu Town Officer Vāvā Lapota.

Neiafu town officer Vāvā Lapota said his 21-year-old son was arrested today and intended to be remanded in custody after the police claimed he had breached the kingdom’s Christmas Day law.

He said the police called and told him to bring bedding for his son as he was expected to remain in custody, apparently overnight, while they were processing his charges.

Lapota told Kaniva News he arrived at the police station and confronted the police officer who was working on his son’s arrest.

He said he told her that his son should be processed and released without being held in prison.  

He claimed the police officer insisted she needed more time because of staffing shortages.

However, Lapota pointed her to several police officers who he said were standing around in the office.   

He said he asked the police officer why they didn’t stop the Lulutai aircraft from doing business on Christmas as it is an apparent breach of the Christmas Day services prohibition.

He said no response was given to his question.

He said a Lulutai aircraft had conducted several flight services on Vava’u today, during Christmas.

“That’s unfair”, he said in Tongan.

Lapota said the police finally agreed and released his son. However, they told him that his son should expect receiving his charging document after Christmas.

The police and Lulutai airlines could not be reached for comment.

Under Tongan law, people are not allowed to conduct business or work on Sundays. Public transport is also not available on Sundays.

The law stipulates that activities such as swimming, playing sport, dancing, listening to loud music, and fishing are illegal on Sundays.

It says Christmas Day and Good Friday must be observed in compliance with Sunday laws.

The law also gives the Minister of Police the power to grant exemption especially in a state of emergency.

Christmas forecast: Scattered thunderstorms and rain across NZ

By
Kaniva Staff
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Santa may need to bring a raincoat and gumboots as parts of the motu are in for a wet start to Christmas.

Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Scattered thunderstorms were expected to develop over parts of the northern and central North Island on Sunday evening through to Christmas Day.

Heavy rain was set to continue around Mount Taranaki/Taranaki Maunga, The Tararua Range, Tasman ranges west of Motueka and the ranges of Westland south of Otira through to about 9am on Monday with up to 80mm expected to fall in some places.

MetService says rainfall could peak at around 20-millimetres per hour before easing later in the day.

A heavy rain warning has been issued for the areas.

Around 20 flights into Auckland were delayed on Sunday, as rain swept across the region.

MetService meteorologist John Law said Christmas would be hot and muggy for the rest of the country.

“As we head into the final days towards Christmas, we’ll find our weather dominated by some pretty warm and muggy air,” he said.

“[There’s] an area of low pressure that’s one of the systems introducing all this warm and muggy air over us.”

On Christmas Day itself, while there would have been rain, Law said the weather was expected to improve.

“Everything does look to be improving through the day, so as we head towards the end of the day we should find some dry conditions, perhaps the best of the brightness and the driest, warmest temperatures as well, out towards that eastern side of the North Island … places like Hawke’s Bay up as high as 30 to 32C.

“On the South Island, generally some drier and brighter weather there … [for] places like Christchurch and Canterbury, [they are] looking pretty decent through Christmas Day.”

rnz.co.nz

Person in critical condition after Auckland hit and run

By
Kaniva Staff
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One person has been taken to hospital in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle on Hills Road, Ōtara.

Police say they were called to the scene about 8.40pm. Photo: RNZ / Patrice Allen

The incident occurred yesterday evening at about 6.50pm.

“The vehicle involved left the scene and inquiries are ongoing to locate it,” said police.

“Hills Road is closed while police conduct a scene examination, and motorists should avoid the area.”

NRL hands Mate Ma’a Tonga player a notice over hammer attack guilty verdict

By
Kaniva Staff
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A Mate Ma’a Tonga player has received a notice after he was found guilty over a hammer attack on a tradesman that occurred on November last year in Australia.

The St George Dragons five-eighth ‘Amone Talatau Jr, 21, was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, stalking or intimidation and destroying or damaging property.

The Wollongong Local Court found Amone and his father guilty and sentenced Amone to a two-year intensive corrections order and 300 hours of community service.

He was also fined $1000 by the court for a charge of destroy or damage property and ordered to pay compensation to the victim.

The verdict came after Amone was charged with reckless grievous bodily harm in company, destroy or damage property and stalking or intimidation with intent to cause fear of physical or mental harm over the matter in Warrawong.

Police allege Amone was involved in an incident that saw a tradesman attacked with a hammer, while a car roof and windscreen was also damaged with the tool.

Sporting News report says that Junior Amone’s play for the Dragons next year is uncertain.

It says, the NRL have responded to the verdict by issuing the playmaker with a notice, which has thrown Amone’s future into doubt.

He was expected to cop a lengthy suspension from the league and be unavailable at least for the start of the 2024 season. 

However, he may now miss the upcoming campaign completely and be forced to reapply for registration with no definitive time frame attached to this process. 

St George Illawarra released a brief comment regarding the matter last week ahead of the possible sanctions from the NRL.

“The Dragons acknowledge the two-year Intensive Corrections Order that was handed down to player Talatau Amone,” the statement said. 

“The club will now work closely with the NRL Integrity Unit to determine the appropriate next steps.”

‘I’m back’ roars Joe Parker as he dominates favourite Wilder

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

New Zealand boxer Joseph Parker has revived his professional career with an emphatic points win over American big-hitter Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia.

Parker was a firm underdog for the clash of two former world champions but he dominated from the outset against his listless 38-year-old opponent and nearly produced a knockout in the eighth round.

The judges unanimously scored the 12-round contest in Parker’s favour, which potentially opens the door to another world title shot.

Parker was already dominating the fight when he caught Wilder with a flurry of punches late in the eighth round, sparked by a wild right hand that connected with his back-pedalling opponent.

The three judges scored it 118-111, 118-110, and 120-108 to Parker indicating they had him winning virtually every round.

Parker shouted “I’m back!” after receiving the decision.

The Aucklander said his preparation had been spot on.

“I have a lot of respect for WIlder but we trained very hard for this. Everyone had plans but this is God’s plan,” he told broadcaster DAZN.

“The strategy was to be really fit, stay calm, stay relaxed. Maybe inactivity played a big part (for Wilder).”

* See how the bout unfolded with RNZ’s live blog.

It’s Parker’s fourth win of the year after a points victory over Jack Massey and knockout wins over Faiga Opelu and Simon Kean.

In 2022 he suffered a massive setback when he was stopped in 11 rounds by another Briton Joe Joyce, but has had a stellar year which he attributes to working with Tyson Fury’s camp.

New Zealand’s Junior Fa fought on the opening fight of the card but was well beaten by undefeated Cuban Frank Sanchez.

Fa, 34, defended Sanchez’s attacks well through the early rounds but was caught in the seventh by the 31-year-old before the referee called off the contest, handing him a third career defeat.

Also on the card, British heavyweight Daniel Dubois stopped unbeaten American Jarrell Miller in the tenth and final round while Dmitriy Bivol defended his portion of the world light-heavyeight title with a wide 12-round points victory over England’s Lyndon Arthur.

WATCH: Former police officer with ‘distinctive’ high-pitched voice dedicates song to his friends before his death

By
Kaniva Staff
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A Tongan singer and guitarist with an impossibly high-pitched voice had spent one of his last days sharing how he really missed his friends and acoustic group band players because of his chronic illness.

Taukatelata Vakalahi died in Australia last week in what appeared to be a heart related disease, according to his close friends.

In a streamed video recently uploaded  to Facebook, the former police officer in Tonga said he was overcome with acute nostalgia for his days with his friends at kava sessions.

He said his illness had prevented him from joining them again but he hoped he would soon sing and play together with them again.

He said he was unwell and he was looking forward to receiving medical treatment.

“Fai e ki’i ta’elata. Ngaahi feohi’anga ko ē ne u anga ai ‘ikai ke toe hoko”, he said in Tongan.

He said he was going to dedicate a song to his friends.

The love song was Taumaiā which was composed by the late famous Tongan song writer and singer Mrs Tu’imala Kaho.

Tributes are being paid to the singer with many describing him as gifted with a “distinctive voice”.

“May you continue to sing in heaven with your beautiful voice”, a commenter wrote.

“God bless u with your lovely voices see in Heaven ofa atu moe hufaki”, another commenter wrote.

“I don’t believe it’s his talent your voice is clean and clear like a woman amazing”.

Accused’s blood to be tested for drugs after Tongan mother stabbed to death

By
Kaniva Staff
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Brisbane Police have been granted an order to obtain blood samples as soon as possible from a woman charged with murder so they can be tested for the presence of drugs.

‘Ana Afā Fesimaka Moimoi

Dorothy James Downie, 55, is accused of fatally stabbing Tongan woman ‘Ana Afā Fesimaka Moimoi, 43, also known as ‘Ana Fa Lavaka, in the Brisbane suburb of Hamilton on Thursday.

She has also been charged with enter with intent.

Police responded to reports of a disturbance at an address on Oxford Street in Hamilton about 8.45am on Thursday, where the mother-of-one was stabbed several times including in the chest before dying of her injuries in hospital.

Downie was charged by police on Thursday with her matter briefly heard in the Brisbane Arrests Court on Friday, where police sought an urgent forensic order to secure blood samples.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Tara Williams said the urgency was in relation to whether there were prescription or non-prescription drugs in her blood at the time of the attack.

“My submission is if it’s not dealt with today there is a potential loss of evidence,” the court heard.

“Over time, the longer that it takes to deal with this application the levels are going to change … it’s going to result in incomplete information for the prosecution and for defence to consider.”

Daniel Hannay, representing Downie, said his client had a history of delusions of grandeur and psychosis, and still needed to be seen by a mental health nurse.The order was granted by magistrate Andrew Hackett.

Downie was remanded in custody with the matter adjourned until February 14.

Tongan woman stabbed to death in Brisbane, Australia

By
Kaniva Staff
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A Tongan woman has died in Australia on Thursday after allegedly being stabbed to death by her neighbour.

‘Ana Afā Fesimaka Moimoi. Photo/Supplied

‘Ana Afā Fesimaka Moimoi, 43, was given first aid then taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, where she died.

Police told local media they were called to a unit complex on Oxford Street in Hamilton about 8.45am after reports of a disturbance.

They found Moimoi in her unit with stab wounds.

Police said they had charged her 55-year-old neighbour with one count each of murder and entering with intent.

She is due to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.

The women both lived in the unit complex on Oxford Street, which police said “may be operated by Public Housing”.

Detective Inspector John Mison from the Gateway Crime Group said there was no information to suggest it was a domestic violence incident, and nothing to suggest forced entry to the unit.

He said police had attended the unit complex before, and there had been previous reports of disturbances there.

Mison appealed for public help with the investigation “to determine the exact timeline of what occurred”.

“A team of detectives are out at the scene conducting door knocks and speaking to witnesses … to obtain the complete picture in relation to what occurred this morning,” Mison said.

“We’ve got scientific officers down at the scene conducting an investigation.

“They’ll be doing a search looking for the weapon. I can’t confirm if that’s been seized.”

Three brothers injured, suspect sought after machete attack outside Nuku‘alofa bar

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tonga police are looking for suspects after three brothers and a friend had been allegedly attacked with a machete during a brawl outside a bar.

The police said one of the brothers sustained a serious injury to his wrist which required him to remain in hospital for further medical assistance.

A police statement said the police attended the brawl at around 11.41 pm on Saturday, 16 December 2023 outside one of the bars at Taufa’ahau Rd in downtown Nuku’alofa.

It said the victims are three brothers aged 25, 31, and 38 from Havelu and a friend from Ha’ateiho.

“They were visiting the bar when a dispute arose between them and others leading to a brawl just outside the bar”.

The Police also said a witness claimed that one of the attackers appeared to be holding a machete that he swung against the victims causing serious injuries to the left wrist of the 31-year-old brother.

“He now remains at the Vaiola hospital for further check-ups while the 25 and the 38-year-old brothers and the friend, who also suffered injuries during the attack, have been discharged.

“Meanwhile, Police investigations and searching for suspects are underway.

“Police Commissioner, Shane McLennan is urging the public to be more careful during this festive season, especially when out drinking or partying to avoid causing unnecessary harm to yourself and or others”.

Victim unleashes on church-going fake tradie

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Nat Wallace of https://9now.nine

An unlicensed tradie with a “history longer than religion” when it comes to dodgy building jobs has gone to work on his new image while spending time behind bars.

Tevita Ungounga’s latest project is called AKA Newlife, promising to build a better life for the Tongan community. (Nine)

Tevita Ungounga, who A Current Affair first exposed in 2021, has launched a charitable website where you can buy a ticket, and the first prize is cash or a house built by him.

Ungounga is currently facing more than 50 charges from fraud to illegal work, and was recently put behind bars for breaching his bail by doing more unlicensed and uninsured jobs.

The devout churchgoer appears as the founder of his latest project – AKA Newlife – which promises to help build “a better life for the Tongan Community.”

It describes Ungounga, who was even jailed in Hawaii, as an “expert in construction, micro finance, political systems and the laws of many countries”.

“How can he keep scamming?” asked Jo Wong, whose house resembled a war zone after Ungounga worked on it for over six months.

The mother of two said Ungounga, who’d been working on other properties in the same street, knocked on her door offering to build a retaining wall.

“He portrayed himself as someone who wanted to help, even on a Sunday he’d show up to my place in a nice clean shirt after he came from the church,” she said.

“He scammed an old couple in our neighbourhood and someone put it on Facebook ‘beware of this person’, and yeah my heart just sunk.”

Wong and her husband confronted Ungounga, who they say had taken $120,000 to do the job.

He left the backyard in such a state the house was in danger of sliding off a hill, with the couple given a quote of $300,000 to fix the damage.

A giant boulder was also dropped in their driveway before being moved to a precarious position outside their son’s bedroom.

“At one stage he starts threatening us, ‘if you don’t pay more I won’t do this for you, I won’t clean up for you,” Wong said.

Ungounga had previously been given a 14-month intensive corrections order after taking $235,000 from a pensioner and leaving his house a shell with no running water.

“He’s a pig, a disgusting pig,” Ian O’Connor said at the time.

When A Current Affair confronted Ungounga over that incident he told us that he “never takes the money” and described his victims as liars.

Ungounga has done an interview promoting his latest venture AKA Newlife – it’s unclear if any transactions have taken place but most payment options on the website are currently disabled.

NSW Fair Trading is aware of Ungounga’s involvement with the website.

David Ross, a reputable business owner who is listed as AKA Newlife’s Director of Finance, confirmed Ungounga was the “owner”.

“It worries me a lot,” he replied when asked if Ungounga being in jail concerned him.

“I’m a consultant.

“I don’t know what he’s doing with the bank accounts.”

Mr Ross, despite seemingly not knowing the extent of Ungounga’s offending, described him as a “victim”.

“He did the work and he didn’t get paid,” he said.

A court heard Ungounga had “a history longer than religion” when it came to doing dodgy building work.

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