Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Newsletter
Support Kaniva
Home Blog Page 185

No parole for Manu Hausia who attempted to murder partner with scissors  

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A Tongan man was denied parole for the first time after being jailed for stabbing an Oamaru, NZ mother of four in front of her family.

Manu Hausia

The parole board heard 30-year-old Manu Hausia had recently been reclassified as a high-security prisoner after accruing eight misconducts.

Manu Hausia told the Parole Board he wanted to return to Tonga. He came to New Zealand on an interim visitor visa, before the incident happened in February 2021.

He was jailed for six-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to four charges.

A court summary of facts said Hausia’s first victim was a solo mum with five children who met him at a rugby game in Auckland at the start of the year.

They began a relationship and started living together a short time later in Oamaru.

At about midnight on June 19, Hausia was at their place in Oamaru waiting for the victim to return home from church.

When she got home, the court heard, he confronted her, requesting to see her phone.

While he was checking her phone, she went to take a shower.

But when she came out and laid down on her bed, Hausia attacked.

He punched her in the head with full force, causing her to scream and raise her a

As she lay there, he continued to rain punches down on her head and body, causing her to lose consciousness.

The woman’s 1-year-old son was 2m from the bed and started crying, distracting Hausia from the assault.

She regained consciousness and crawled into her 11-year-old son’s bedroom where she blacked out again.

The summary says that he was still angry as he followed her.The young boy tried to stop the assault on his mother and phoned the police.

Hausia fled the property and was later found in Ashburton.

The victim was admitted to Oamaru hospital, suffering severe swelling to her face, upper body, arms, bleeding from her ears, and concussion.

When police spoke to him, Hausia admitted punching her numerous times as there had been a “misunderstanding”.

Hausia, who has no previous convictions, declined to be interviewed by police and gave no explanation for his actions.

Government shows double standard when it addresses nurses’ pay rise proposal strike

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Prime Minister’s dealing with the nurse’s proposal to increase their pay appears to show that he has two opposing policies.

Some of the nurses who arrived at the Palace Office with their petition to the king. Photo/Supplied

One policy seems to be to easily approve the Prime Minister’s demands from the budget and the other appears to be to hinder civil servants from asking for money from the public purse. 

Nurses in Tonga staged an early morning strike today as a result of their disappointment with the Minister of Health’s handling of their proposal for a pay rise.

Hon. Saia Piukala attempted to downplay the situation by repeatedly saying he had held meetings with the nurses about their proposal. However, at one stage, he admitted that he was unhappy when he found out the nurses had marched to the king with their proposal this morning.

In Tongan Hon. Piukala said: ““Me’apango toki mahino ia he pongipongi ni kuo fai ‘enau laka mo e tohi tangi ki He’ene ‘Afio”.

Hon. Piukala said during a press conference this afternoon he and his chief executive officer had proposed some changes to the nurses in some of their meetings to make their proposal look good (“’hā lelei”).

He said some of the changes he suggested included the percentage the nurses demanded the Cabinet approve for their pay rise.

He also said they had agreed on all the changes and he was awaiting the final draft so he could submit it to the Cabinet for a decision. He said he was surprised when he heard about the strike, but respected their decision as they have the rights to approach the king.

READ MORE:

He said the Ministry quickly mobilised staff to relieve the strikers this morning.

He said the nurses had told the chief executive they would return to work after submitting their proposal to the royal palace office. 

The peaceful march without banners was led by the Vaiola Hospital Matron Sr ‘Akesa Uili Halatanu followed by about 100 nurses.

The proposal

Broadcaster Katalina Tohi told the Minister the nurses had been disappointed because they failed to reach an agreement with him despite several meetings.

Tohi said the nurses were also upset after being forced to work extra shifts after many nurses left to take up jobs overseas. She said the nurses had to work up to 12 hours and they did not get enough rest.

The Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku said he had yet to receive the nurses’ proposal, but he has to consider the “affordability” of the pay rise demanded.

He said there was also a need to consider the rest of the civil servants when dealings with the proposal.

He also said the cabinet has approved cost of living allowance worth $11 million for all civil servants to start in January.

Criticisms against PM

Critics have blasted the Prime Minister, labelling his response as being two-faced. They accused Hon. Hu’akavameiliku of increasing the budget without going through Parliament as required by the law. 

Hon Hu’akavameiliku had been accused of increasing the government’s overseas travelling budget by TP$8 million from TP$13 million to TP$21 million.

As Kaniva News reported previously, MP Piveni Piukala claimed this was unlawful because the law says the government can only make an increase of 10 percent, or TP$1.3 million. Any changes to the budget that is more than that must be submitted to Parliament.

The Prime Minister had also been accused of falsifying the budget to hide the investment of millions of pa’anga on Lulutai airlines and the continuing appointment of Cabinet ministers as members of the Lulutai board of directors, despite the law saying they can only be members within one year. Lulutai airlines was incepted in 2020.   

Commenters on Democratic supporters Facebook groups questioned the Prime Minister’s response and compared it to the Parliament’s recent pay rise which was only approved through a circular savingram being circulated around MPs to tick a yes or no answers.

“Funny how the government increased the traveling budget by $8 million without considering people’s other needs now they told the nurses they have to consider other civil servants before making decision on their proposal”, a commenter wrote.

“Nurses should not return to work until their petition is dealt with”, another wrote.

Gov’t sends delegation around the world, but concerns about whether it will act on findings

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Tongan government has sent a delegation on a round the world trip to consult Tongans living overseas about what their concerns are.

(L to R) Tasimani Telefoni (First Secretary Tonga High Commission), Warrick Vea, Sione Leki, Amipelela Tokelau, Louise Waterhouse (Hon. Consul for Tonga ), Hon. Tu’i’afitu, Lady Louena Tu’i’afitu, Viliami Folau, Makakaufaki Matekitonga.

But critics are concerned that it does not meet the same fate as a similar excursion in 2012, when the report on people’s concerns was published, but never submitted to Parliament. Some of the concerns in that report dates back even earlier, to 2008.

The Ministerial visit also comes a decade after the Tongan Royal Land Commission recommended women and expatriates be given rights to land.

Little action appears to have been taken over the concerns that were revealed.

The Minister of Lands, Lord Tu’i’afitu, and a team of officials are currently in Australia. They will be there until Friday and then travel to New Zealand and the United States of America.

READ MORE:

The Minister is accompanied by Lady Tu’i’afitu, Deputy CEO Viliami Folau, Chief Draughtsman Sione Leki, Senior Urban Planner Makakaufaki Matekitonga, Registration Officer Warrick Vea, and Assistant Registration Officer Amipelela Tokelau.

Meetings have been held in Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney and will conclude in Brisbane. The Ministry said the programme would address key areas of improvement, share updates, and provide important information about land. It included explaining how land processes work, addressing concerns and working closely with Tonga’s High Commission offices overseas, to make land-related transactions easier.

Referred to officially as the Toe Talatalanoa Overseas Programme, the mission was launched after Kaniva News asked the Ministry’s acting CEO about the lack of action over the 2012 report.

As we reported at the time, the report showed that overseas Tongans’ chief concerns were land, women’s rights and rising sea levels.

The proposals received clearly showed concerns regarding the land tenure system and its history, the law of succession, women’s rights, freehold land, mortgaged land, leased land, abandoned land, land belonging to Tongans living overseas and the foreshore.

People living in the outer islands were worried about the erosion of land by the sea and the right of Tongans to use the foreshores and seek a livelihood from the sea without impediment. People living in rural villages were more concerned with tax allotments and their ability to lease these lands.

People residing close to the foreshores and lagoons such as Fanga’uta were concerned with development projects in these areas that could affect their livelihoods. Tongans living overseas wanted to know how they could contribute to the upkeep of their land in Tonga possibly by payment of taxes that could be imposed on them to contribute to the general revenue of the country.

There was great concern and dissatisfaction with the services provided by the Ministry of Lands.

Two issues that were raised were the role of abandoned land and absentee landholders and the rights of Tongans living overseas.

Women’s rights in Tonga continue to be a contentious issue. Tonga remains almost alone in refusing to sign the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women. Attempts by former Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva to ratify it in 2015 were blocked by the king, who declared that only he had the right to make treaties with foreign states.

Earlier this year delegates to meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Commission said Tonga should give Tongan women the right to inherit land.

The call came a decade after the Tongan Royal Land Commission recommended women and expatriates be given rights to land.

Tongan law and traditional custom forbids land ownership by women. Only a son can inherit land with rights passed on to other male relatives if parents do not produce a male heir.

Under the current law Tongans are not allowed to own land outright, but men over the age of 16 are allowed to hold land by grant or by lease.

Women are allowed to lease land but are not given grants and Tongans who move overseas forfeit their land rights.

Radio New Zealand quoted Brazilian delegate Tovar Nunes as saying the kingdom should ratify the convention on legislation to remove all forms of discrimination against women, in particular the right to own land and inherit it.

Delays in taking action on earlier reports and recommendations reflect earlier concerns about the 2012 report. The late ‘Akilisi Pohiva accused the government of wasting money on overseas travel when their reports were not followed up and processed to address its findings.  

For more information

Tongans shared their concerns over land law and practices with Royal Commission’s meetings
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/182853/tonga’s-royal-land-commission-reviews-land-laws
UN delegates call on Tonga to give women land rights a decade after report recommended it

Tongan PhD graduate: A celebration of Pacific firsts for the Otago Business School

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Iki Mafi Uele has joined the Otago Business School (OBS) as their first Pacific lecturer in the Accountancy and Finance department.

Iki Mafi Uele pictured on graduation day by his wife Aitasi Anapu-Uele, who also works at the University.

He graduated on Saturday with a Doctorate of Accounting, and is believed to be OBS’ first Pacific PhD in Accounting.

He describes his doctoral thesis topic as “a new call for accounting” which deals with the importance of public values in his field.

“This looks at things that are valued by a society. Public values like honesty, accountability, transparency.

“At the end of the day, what we’re dealing with is numbers. How can we use those numbers to deal with the values that a society or environment worry about,” Iki says.

His research topic was inspired by the questions he had in childhood in Tonga as the son of a fruit farmer and weaver, Mosese and Melaia of Fakakakai Ha’apai.

“We always hear about honesty and people misusing money, and I always questioned in my heart why these people had money and could escape all these penalties, while my family and I had nothing.”

He says his research was a blend of western methodologies and “a contextualised pan-Pacific way of doing research”, which included the use of the Pacific Kakala research framework and e-talanoa methods.

“What I found in Tonga is that western rules, regulations and internal controls are important aspects of accountability but they alone will not be able to deliver accountability and transparency in the context of the Pacific.

“Their presence helps, but it has to be principle-driven.”

Last year, Iki came first in the OBS Three Minute Thesis Competition and also won the OBS Outstanding Doctoral Student  – Community Engagement award.

Iki’s academic journey began at Tonga College in 2001, where his dux position created scholarship opportunities that would send him around the world in pursuit of higher education.

In 2006, he graduated from the University of the South Pacific (USP) with a double degree in Accounting, Finance and Mathematics.

He then served as an accounting and mathematics high school teacher and tertiary lecturer in the Pacific region, including in Tonga, Tokelau and Fiji.

Iki Mafi Uele speech image

A scholarship partially funded by Cambridge University allowed Iki to complete a Masters in Accountancy and Financial Management at La Trobe University in Melbourne in 2016.

He then took an Assistant Lecturer position at USP for Accounting and Finance programmes until he was ready to “climb the academic ladder” once again.

He joined Otago under the University’s Pacific PhD scholarship scheme just before the first COVID-19 nationwide lockdown in 2020.

“My PhD is a product of COVID-19. That comes with a lot of challenges,” Iki says.

Those challenges included conducting his e-talanoa over Zoom, which in nature is a data collection method that centres around love, respect, warmth and humour.

“We know that the talanoa method is effective when it’s face-to-face, but with COVID-19, all those privileges are gone.

“My research was a test of whether talanoa and the Indigenous way of doing research can continue on as a robust method of research over Zoom.”

Iki says the support he received during his PhD from Otago, his wife, the Tongan community and his spiritual brothers and sisters was phenomenal.

“There are different avenues here at the University that look after Pacific people.”

Associate Dean (Pacific) at the OBS Esmay Lemalu-Eteuati says she is pleased to be welcoming Iki and knows he will make a valuable contribution to the School.

“We at Commerce had made a decision that we would grow our own pool of Pacific academics from within our own division,” Mrs Lemalu-Eteuati says.

“We’re trying a different approach compared to other divisions, who have often sought academics nationally and internationally.”

– Kōrero by Keilah Fox

Tongan  commander congratulated after assuming leading role at Australian navy

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Family members and kāinga of Commander Rosemarie ‘Apikotoa have recenlty welcomed her successful career at the  Royal Australian Navy (RAN).  

Commander Rosemarie Apikotoa

It has been reported that Apikotoa is taking up a new commanding role at the Brisbane’s HAMAS Moreton warships.

The base is responsible for providing administrative support to RAN personnel and visiting warships.

‘Apikotoa began her career as a Maritime Warfare Officer, joining the Royal Australian Navy on the 20 Jan 1997 via Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) where she conducted Undergraduate and military studies.

She was graduated at the end of 1999 with a UNSW Bachelor of Arts Degree with a double Major in History and Geography and minor in Information Systems.

Since then, CMDR Apikotoa has served in various Warships (HMA Ships Anzac, Bunbury, Gladstone, Norman, Gascoyne, Sydney, Newcastle, Parramatta) being the first Officer of Polynesian descent to gain an Ocean Navigation Certificate and Bridge Warfare Certificate to drive Australian Warships at sea.

Highlights within her career include successfully circumnavigating Australia, patrolling Australian fisheries, mentoring female rugby players through Navy and ADF Rugby as well as deploying to the Middle East in Operation Catalyst Rotation 18 as the Deputy Operations Officer on-board ANZAC class frigate, HMAS Parramatta in 2008.

CMDR Apikotoa has been employed in the ADF’s Intelligence and Cyber Warfare domain for over a decade, the first position of which was Deputy Director Navy Intelligence Capability in 2011.

It was here that CMDR Apikotoa commenced part time study and graduated with a Master’s degree in Business from UNSW at the end of 2013. CMDR Apikotoa has played a significant role in building Navy’s Intelligence and Cyber Warfare Personnel capability.

For dedication shown in these duties, as well as long term (15 years) dedication to Navy rugby, CMDR Apikotoa was awarded a Gold Level Chief of Navy commendation. CMDR Apikotoa graduated from the Australian Command and Staff Course in December 2020 with a Masters in Defence Studies and Strategy from ANU.

Her kāinga and friends have welcome her achievements on Facebook.

“She is such a phenomenal spirit – I interviewed once a long while ago when she was given her first ship to command which required an overhaul”, wrote Tongan host of ABC’s  Pacific Mornings.

“She had to wait for ships to be manufactured which allowed for women sailors and officers to have utilities.

“We discussed her role as a Tongan woman and being an older sister with brothers and how that impacted her method of commanding and her specific leadership in commanding her own ship.

“It was such a fascinating discussion and also so stimulating. She grew up as a friend of my then producer.

“Some stories stay with you a very very long time. Such an insightful and brilliant heart full woman!

 I’m excited to see her celebrated here!”

“Wow. congratulations on your achievements and best wishes for your future” another wrote.

“Congratulations! We are all so proud”.

Person dead after medical event at beach

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By rnz.co.nz and republished with permission

A person has died in a water-related incident at Narrow Neck Beach on Auckland’s North Shore.

Police and ambulance were called to the beach near Devonport around 5.50pm Sunday.

A police spokesperson said the person appears to have suffered a medical event in the water.

They said the person had either gotten out or been taken out of the water and received medical attention on the shore, but did not survive.

The death will likely be referred to the Coroner who would ultimately rule on cause of death.

No more NZ citizens or residents trying to leave Gaza – MFAT

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says it is not aware of any remaining New Zealand citizens or permanent residents still seeking to leave Gaza.

Foreign affairs minister Winston Peters said on social media that one citizen left overnight via the Rafah crossing into Egypt, accompanied by a family member.

They are currently being offered support by the New Zealand embassy in Cairo.

Last month, the ministry said there were 20 New Zealanders trying to leave Gaza.

A steady stream of New Zealanders have left the region since the conflict broke out in early October.

Police investigate child’s death in Auckland

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The police are making enquiries after the death of child in south Auckland’s Papakura last night.

Police were called to an address on Cargill Street shortly after 9.30pm, where a child was found dead.

The death is being treated as unexplained.

A post-mortem is due to be completed tomorrow.

Tongatapu man jailed for one year after supplying illicit drugs to a child

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A Ha’asini man had been sentenced to one year and sixth months after providing illicit drugs to a child, 14, at Veitongo.

The last six months of his imprisonment term was suspended for 12 months on conditions.

Acting on a tip-off, the Police located Fili Napa’a, 31, in the driver seat of his vehicle with two passengers, one on the front  passenger seat and one at the back seat.

They found and confiscated part of a plastic bag on a compartment of the driver’s door.

They also discovered a plastic bag containing suspected cannabis branches and leaves on the driver’s seat floor, a .22 rifle beside the driver’s seat and an empty pocket on top of the speedo meter.

The Police also found $20 on a compartment underneath the radio-set.

A test tube containing a suspected methamphetamine inside the sun visor of the driver’s seat was also found as well as three packets of suspected cannabis on the back seat.

A yellow bowl containing cannabis leaves and cannabis leaves were found on the floor of the back seat.

The Police also searched Napa’a’s house at Ha’asini where they discovered more cannabis leaves and branches as well as drugs paraphernalia which they later tested and confirmed as illicit drugs.

The prisoner had previous convictions in which he received a suspended sentence for theft count in 2011.

In 2012 he was fined for drunkenness and escaping custody.

In 2014 he was fined for drunkenness and assault.

In 2019 he was fined for possession of illicit drugs.

Justice Cooper reduced Napa’a’s sentence for his guilty plea based on the following conditions:

  • He must report to probation within 24 hours of his release
  • He must be put on probation
  • He must complete a drug awareness course, and
  • He must not commit any offence punishable by imprisonment

“18 months imprisonment, the final 6 months suspended for 12 months on the above conditions”.

Massive losses in Australian crypto-currency schemes a warning to would-be investors

By
Philip Cass
-

Australians who have invested in crypto-currency schemes have lost hundreds of millions of dollars according to a new report in the Guardian.

Tongan promoter of Hyperfund scam in the USA Setaita Folau Tanaki recently warned that Tongan investors who had invested $100,000 and more in the scam had been unable to withdraw their money

Reported losses to these schemes total more than Aus$350 million since 2020. The actual amount lost is likely far higher, with research suggesting just 13% of losses are reported.

The most prominent schemes named in Australia have been HyperFund, HyperVerse and Blockchain Global.

Unfortunately, the Tongan community is highly likely to have its own victims.

Kaniva News has reported several stories in recent years about Tongans in different parts of the world who have been lured into investing their money in these schemes which promise huge rewards, only to see their money disappear.

READ MORE:

The latest losses in Australia should act as a warning to would-be investors.

Sometimes the money is the victim’s life savings, such as the $5300 lost by a mother who was conned into investing in a crypto-currency scheme

Tragically, even when the evidence is put in front of them, some Tongans have denied that there is a problem and continued to persuade friends, relatives and into throwing their money away.

Unlike New Zealand, Australia’s financial authorities appear to have been completely lax in trying to regulate these schemes and have not taken any meaningful legal action against them.

In September 2021 New Zealand’s Financial Market Authority warned: “The FMA are concerned HyperFund may be operating a scam.  HyperFund operates on a Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) model and claims to offer passive investment opportunities. We have received reports of them recruiting affiliate investors in New Zealand. It is not registered or licensed to provide financial services/products in New Zealand.”

Sam Lee, the founder of the failed Blockchain Global cryptocurrency exchange. Photograph: Blockchain Global/Facebook

Illegal

In New Zealand pyramid schemes are illegal under the Fair Trading Act. They usually offer a financial return based on payments made by new recruits. Returns depend on the recruitment of new members, not sales of a product or service. Only the tiny number of people  at the top of the pyramid would likely make money, since the number of possible new recruits in any community would be limited.

Earlier this year In February, the New Zealand Financial Markets Authority issued an interim stop order against Validus Oceania and associated members, which effectively banned it from operating.

In California the state’s Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation has issued a ease and desist order against Sam Lee, operator of a failed financial scheme.

International law enforcement agencies have identified crypto-currencies at the centre of  global money laundering operations  by drug and human trafficking cartels.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime warned that crypto-currencies like Bitcoin were being used to launder criminal proceeds and began training law enforcement officials across the Pacific.

The people who benefit most from crypto-currencies are not those who lose all their moneys, but international criminal gangs.

Kaniva News says:

Do not invest in crypto-currencies such as Bitcoin or any kind of pyramid scheme. They are a fraud, offering unrealistic returns that cannot be sustained. You may get some return, but ultimately your money will disappear. Any profits you make will come from other people being defrauded. Any investment you make may well benefit criminal gangs. Investing in crypto-currencies and pyramids is not only foolish, it is also unethical and immoral.

For more information

Investors lose millions as crypto schemes operate unchecked in Australia

As El Salvador counts costs of adopting Bitcoin and UN warns of crypto-currency crimewave, will Tonga heed warning signs?

As El Salvador counts costs of adopting Bitcoin and UN warns of crypto-currency crimewave, will Tonga heed warning signs?

Lions Share cryptocurrency operation a suspected pyramid scheme – Commerce Commission

Lions Share cryptocurrency operation a suspected pyramid scheme – Commerce Commission

Validus claims it will ‘stick around for a long time,’ but withholds full details on withdrawals

Validus claims it will ‘stick around for a long time,’ but withholds full details on withdrawals
1...184185186...950Page 185 of 950
© Copyright 2026 Kaniva Tonga News & Entertainment