A man sailing from Faleloa to Kauvai Ha’ano has been reported missing.
Afuhia Fehoko was last seen on Saturday afternoon before he entered the water at Faleloa in a white and blue stripes colour boat.
Since then his whereabout was still unknown.
It is understood the search is being assisted by locals.
Police could not be reached for comment.
A passenger minibus had to be pulled from Tongatapu’s Ha’asini beach this afternoon.
Footage sent to Kaniva News showed a passenger minibus with Vaiola label in its top front destination sign partly stuck in the ocean.
The detail of the incident was still unknown.
It is unclear whether there were people in the bus when it got stuck.
No reports of injuries.
The Ministry of Infrastructure reported on Facebook that it received call for assistance and it sent staff there with one of its loader machines to tow the bus.
The incident was reported today Sunday 7 on Facebook.
It is illegal in the kingdom for buses to operate on Sunday unless operators got permission from the Police.
However, an onlooker had sent another photo this evening showing what appeared to be the minibus in question being recovered from the sea.
Prime Minister Hu‘akavameiliku says there are no grounds for concern after China offered to assist with hosting of the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting in Nuku’alofa in August.
His revelation last week comes after Australia’s Pacific Minister Pat Conroy said there should be “no role” for China in policing the Pacific Islands, and Australia will train more local security forces to fill gaps, after Reuters reported Chinese police are working in Kiribati.
Tonga’s Prime Minister’s office published a photo of the Prime Minister with a team from the People’s Republic of China’s Police and Security visiting Tonga last week.
“If it’s training and if the (Tonga) police deem it to be necessary, of course we will take up the offer,” PM Hu’akavameiliku told reporters.
Tonga’s Police Commissioner, Shane McLennan, told the ABC that the delegation of six officers came from Shandong Province and were “following up” the meeting China hosted with Pacific police ministers and chiefs in December last year.
The Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) reported the Commissioner as saying that while the MPS delegation had a “broader” agenda on police cooperation, the main discussions were on how Chinese police could help Tonga host the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders’ meeting in August.
“At the moment it is totally focused on what assistance they can provide to assist us as Tonga police to deliver the PIF leaders meeting,” McLennan told the ABC.
PM Hu’akavameiliku said: “We’ve discussed the numbers of police motorcycles and supporting vehicles (to be handed over),” the ABC reported.
He also said that Australia and other nations had “no reason to be concerned”.
“If it’s training and if (Tonga) police deem it to be necessary, of course we will take up the offer,” he said.
He said China was also willing to donate police vehicles and motorbikes to Tonga – much like it has in Solomon Islands – to help ensure the event ran smoothly.
But senior opposition lawmaker Simon Birmingham said Australia, the wealthiest member of the Pacific Islands Forum, must offer all resources needed to prevent any Chinese security involvement at the summit.
“It is deeply concerning for any suggestion that security or other resources for the Pacific Islands Forum to be held in Tonga would need to be provided by any nation outside of the Pacific Islands Forum membership,” Birmingham told the ABC.
Australia, New Zealand and Tonga have a Tri-party Partnership on Policing, a trilateral arrangement focusing on developing leadership and building an efficient and effective Policing service that has the trust and confidence of the community.
Tonga and New Zealand’s current Policing Programme (TNZPP) 2022 – 2025 was aimed at increasing skills, knowledge and capability to deliver policing services.
The United States last month cautioned Pacific Islands nations against assistance from Chinese security forces, after Kiribati’s acting police commissioner Eeri Aritiera told Reuters that uniformed Chinese officers were working with its police in community policing and a crime database program.
“There are no Australian police in Kiribati, although Canberra has pledged to fund a new police radio network, police barracks and two maritime security advisors are supporting Kiribati police to maintain a donated patrol boat”, Reuter reported.
Pacific Island leaders had agreed in 2022 at a meeting of the Pacific Island Forum regional bloc to fill any security gaps from within the “Pacific family”, he said.
Chinese police have been deployed in the Solomon Islands since 2022.
Conroy said Australia would like to see police from Papua New Guinea, Fiji and other Pacific nations play a greater role in assisting island neighbours with security, as they had done for December’s Pacific Games in Solomon Islands.
China’s ambassador to Australia said last month that China had a strategy to form policing ties with Pacific Island countries to help maintain social order and this should not cause Australia anxiety.
The Lulutai Y12 aircraft breaks down shortly after landing this afternoon at Fua‘amotu Domestic Terminal, a reliable source allegedly told Kaniva News.
The Twin Otter, which arrived shortly after the incident, was ordered to stop and temporary parked on the runway while the Y12 had to be removed.
An aircraft tug was brought in to assist the aircraft before it was able to move.
It is understood, the Fiji Airways 737 aircraft taxing for take off from the international airport during the incident had to be delayed until the domestic runway was cleared, the source claimed.
It was unclear whether there were passengers in the Y12 when the incident happened.
Lulutai airlines could not be reached for comment.
The news comes after the Y12 plane collided with a tow – tractor after the tow-bar snapped during towing at Fua’amotu hangar in July last year.
That incident came shortly after the same plane experienced a runway excursion.at Kaufana airport on ‘Eua in which it veered off the runway during an attempted take-off.
Saab investigation
Meanwhile, the Tonga Civil Aviation Division has sought assistance from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau for the investigation into the Lulutai SAAB 340B crash at the Fua’amotu International Airport in December.
As Kaniva News reported at the time that plane slid off the runway and hit a cement block causing significant structural damage to the aircraft.
The Tonga Civil Aviation said: “As the investigation continues, the Chief Investigator together with the ATSB will continue an assessment of the recovered components, review collected documentation together with all other relevant material to the investigation.
It said a final report will be released in due course at the conclusion of the investigation.
Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku has confirmed his resignation as Minister of His Majesty’s Armed Forces.
He also confirmed the resignation of Fekita ‘Utoikamanu as Minister of Tourism and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ‘Utoikamanu is now the new Minister of Tonga Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC)
They resigned on March 28, the Prime Minister told the Parliament this morning.
The two Ministries in question were vacant and the Prime Minister did not provide any detail about it.
The new Minister of Tourism was Dr Viliami Latu Uasike who was also the Minister of Economic Development and Trades.
The Prime Minister’s Office has announced a press conference for this afternoon, probably for the Prime Minister to elaborate further on the news.
The news comes after relations between the Prime Minister and the throne had been tense since the king issued a memo saying he no longer supported Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku as the Minister for His Majesty’s Armed Forces and Hon. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Tourism.
The Prime Minister ignored the king’s memo.
As we reported earlier, the Nobles responded by demanding that the Prime Minister and Hon. Utoikamanu resign immediately in order to assuage King Tupou VI’s disappointment.
The Nobles circulated a letter which described the Prime Minister’s refusal to accept the King’s show of power as very concerning and intimidating the peace of the country.
Since 2010, when Tonga adopted its frail constitution, the kingdom has been a democracy, but one that has been constantly under threat as forces in the palace seeks to reassert their dominance over the country.
His Majesty King George V agreed to relinquish his executive to a government elected by the people.
Clause 51 (7) of the Constitution bars the king from making any interference in the daily operations of Cabinet, including nominating the Ministers for the king to appoint.
By RNZ.co.nz and is republished with permission.
Two people have been arrested after a kidnapping in Auckland’s North Shore on Tuesday night.
Earlier, police had been on the hunt for three people they believed to be involved in forcing a woman into a car from a house in the suburb of Beach Haven just before 7.30pm on Tuesday. She was later found injured in Greenhithe.
Detective Inspector Callum McNeill said two people were taken into custody after being found in central Auckland on Wednesday afternoon.
“Our investigation has been progressing throughout the day, and we have been speaking with the pair late this afternoon.”
Footage provided by Auckland businessman Leo Molloy showed two people were arrested in one of his bars – the Headquarters bar on Customs Street in central Auckland.
He said he was at home when staff rang him and told him about the arrests.
“Two people came in, took a seat in a quiet corner, a female walked over to the lobby shop to get Lotto tickets, before she got back the police swarmed the place.
Molloy said he visited the bar after the arrests to check on the other patrons and staff, but they were undisturbed.
A 32-year-old man from Dairy Flat is facing multiple charges, including kidnapping, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, commission of a crime using a firearm and burglary with a firearm.
A 28-year-old woman from Bayview has been arrested in relation with outstanding warrants, and also faces a charge of failing to carry out obligations relating to a computer search.
McNeill said further arrests could not be ruled out.
“The investigation will continue, and while matters are before the court, what I can say is that we do not believe this was a random incident.”
The pair will be appearing in the North Shore District Court on Thursday.
Police said the victim was recovering from her injuries in hospital.
“She will have a long road to recovery, and we will be looking to speak further with her around what has occurred.”
Police thanked those who have helped in their investigation, and they said staff would continue to be present in the Beach Haven area and provide reassurances to community.
One neighbour, who RNZ have agreed not to name, was home when the situation unfolded in Beach Haven on Tuesday.
“There was a woman and a couple of small kids, primary school aged kinda kids, and very shortly afterwards a couple of teenagers ran out into the street, obviously all in a state of distress and confusion,” she said.
“They said people with guns were in the house, so I said ‘Right, you need to get off the street, come inside,’ took them all inside to my house, and we called 111.”
The neighbour didn’t see the kidnapping, which left a woman requiring hospital treatment after she was found in the nearby suburb of Greenhithe.
The residents who had fled stayed at the neighbour’s home until the coast seemed to be clear … but she insisted the children remain with her until they were sure it was safe.
“While mum and the teenagers where off dealing with what they needed to do and talking to the police and everything, the kids stayed with me,” the neighbour said.
She said the children’s father was able to make it through the police cordon, and stayed with them.
“We just waited until the police said ‘Yes, you can head on home now’.”
Martin has lived in Beach Haven for 40 years. He said he first heard a helicopter flying above the street last night.
“I got a phone call from my son who was trying to get home, he was telling me there had been a bit of a confrontation at the corner there and they’d blocked off the roads and he wasn’t able to get back,” he said.
“So he was sitting at the roadblock […] and waiting to come home.”
Another resident, Alexandra, said it used to be a quiet neighbourhood.
“I’ve been back in Beach Haven for just over a year now, and it’s got really bad, crime-wise it’s got really bad,” she said.
“It’s getting quite scary actually.”
She described the police response at the scene.
“There was about nine police cars, and they blocked off part of Sunnyhaven [Avenue] there, and there was armed police,” said Alexandra.
“That was quite scary, you know, when you’ve got police walking around with these great big guns.”
Alexandra said crime in the area was affecting her day-to-day.
“I’m getting to a stage where I’m not wanting to go anywhere, and that’s not good,” she said.
“Especially at night, I won’t even go to the shop at night.”
The neighbour who looked after the woman and children who fled the house praised the police officers involved.
“The police have been absolutely amazing,” she said.
“Really, big thanks to the police, they’ve done a great job.”
The neighbour said she was still trying to process what happened.
“This is the sort of thing you see on TV, it’s not something you think is going to happen in your street, or next door to you, or to people who’ve been your neighbours for a long time,” she said.
“There is a real sense of un-reality about it.”
By rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission
People are reportedly trapped under buildings in Taiwan after a 7.2 earthquake that has also prompted tsunami warnings in the region.
Media in Taiwan are reporting people have been trapped under collapsed buildings in the city of Hualien following the quake on Wednesday,
TV stations are screening footage of buildings that have collapsed and power is out to some parts of capital Taipei, witnesses say.
There is no tsunami threat to New Zealand, GNS Science and NEMA have confirmed.
Japan has also issued an evacuation advisory for the coastal areas near the southern prefecture of Okinawa after the tsunami warning.
Waves up to 3 metres were expected to reach Japan’s southwestern coast around, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Its epicentre was in the waters off the eastern coastline of Taiwan, according to the country’s Central Weather Administration.
A tsunami measuring 0.3 metres has already reached Yonaguni island, in southwestern Japan, NHK has reported.
Japan was rocked by its deadliest quake in eight years on New Year’s Day when a 7.6 magnitude temblor struck in Ishikawa prefecture, on the western coast. More than 230 people died in the quake that left 44,000 homes fully or partially destroyed.
Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the world’s most seismically active areas. Japan accounts for about one-fifth of the world’s earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.
On March 11, 2011, the northeast coast was struck by a magnitude 9 earthquake, the strongest quake in Japan on record, and a massive tsunami. Those events triggered the world’s worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl a quarter of a century earlier.
By Gill Bonnett, immigration reporter of RNZ, and is republished with permission.
A man who had his refugee status revoked has been accused of helping others make fraudulent asylum claims and offering to sponsor a woman’s visa through a fake marriage.
The 37 year old returned to China six times after claiming he was at risk of persecution there – the first just weeks after he was told he could settle here.
Authorities cancelled his recognition as a refugee, saying he procured it by fraud or false information and his trips showed he no longer needed protection in New Zealand.
The man claimed in 2016 that he converted to Christianity and had been detained overnight in China for attending an underground house church. He provided photographs of his baptism and attendance at a church in New Zealand and an affidavit from a fellow member of the church congregation.
But two months after getting permanent residence he returned to China and stayed seven weeks.
In 2019, he was convicted of assault with intent to injure and threatening to kill or commit grievous bodily harm and has since been charged with receiving stolen property.
The Immigration and Protection Tribunal ruled it could not hear his appeal until he was served with a deportation liability notice, but it detailed the accusations against him.
“In 2018 and 2019, the Refugee Status Unit became concerned that [he] may have been facilitating fraudulent refugee claims after he had been observed visiting the Unit’s office on a regular basis and taking multiple blank claim forms,” it said in its decision.
“Thereafter, the Refugee Status Unit received a number of what appeared to be templated claims from Chinese nationals who provided an address, phone number and email address which the appellant had used previously.”
They either did not attend interviews or were identified as having lodged false claims.
“One such person indicated that they had simply paid someone to get a work visa and were unaware that they had claimed refugee status.
“In March 2020, the Refugee Status Unit was made aware of a notice in simplified Chinese placed on a notice board at a tertiary education institute in New Zealand by a person stating they were a male, permanent resident, aged 33 years who was willing to sponsor a woman to immigrate through a ‘business marriage’.”
The phone number was the same as the man’s passenger arrival card contact details and he was also aged 33 at the time.
The man told the Refugee Status Unit (RSU) he still needed protection because of his religion, and had returned to China to see his mother who was in danger from Covid-19.
But the RSU cancelled its recognition of him as a refugee.
“It found that the evidence ‘strongly suggests’ that the appellant was involved in fraud relating to the refugee and protection system in New Zealand. When this was considered against his multiple returns to China, and that five of these six returns occurred prior to the outbreak of Covid-19 in China, a refugee and protection officer was satisfied that [he] may have falsely represented that he was a genuine Christian convert who had been detained and warned in the circumstances that he had claimed.”
His returns without incident to China showed he had no adverse profile with authorities there, it said.
By rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission
There are growing calls for random roadside drug testing after seven people were killed in crashes over the Easter weekend.
The previous Labour government introduced legislation to allow for roadside drug testing – but Transport Minister Simeon Brown said the legislation was flawed and unworkable – after police could not find a suitable testing device.
Labour spokesperson for police Ginny Andersen told Midday Report the legislation was not unworkable and the government could have implemented testing if they wanted to.
Changes were made to the legislation in August 2023 – to back up the roadside saliva test with a laboratory test.
“That’s what Australia does and that’s best practice to use,” Andersen said.
Former police minister Ginny Andersen. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Legislation was being drafted and if the “current government wanted to enact that, they could have done so very quickly”.
It would have been ready to be enforced by August this year.
“I don’t know why they haven’t proceeded with the work that was undertaken back in August last year,” Andersen said.
She said the only technology available was a saliva test which could “throw a false positive”.
“This government’s priorities are very different to ours and it does seem that cost is a prohibitive factor.
“Potentially the cost of those lab tests or the cost of rolling this out nationwide may be one of the reasons why they haven’t acted quicker than they have.”
For now, it was up to Brown and Police Minister Mark Mitchell to front up, she said.
In March, Brown said a new legislation to enable roadside drug testing was on the cards.
Last June, he called the state of roadside drug testing “another abject failure by Labour“.
Instead, the National Party suggested two roadside saliva tests for drug testing – if a driver failed both, then a sample from the second test will be sent to a lab.
It had proposed to fund it by tapping into NZTA’s road safety partnership programme with police.
AA road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen said drivers were losing their lives as a result of risky behaviour.
He hoped the legislation would change this year to allow the use of drug testing devices like in Australia and Europe.
By Alvise Armellini of Reuters, and is republished with permission
Pope Francis has soldiered through a more than two-hour Easter Vigil Mass in St Peter’s Basilica, one of the longest services in Catholic liturgy, amid renewed concerns about the 87-year-old’s frail condition.
His voice at times sounded raspy and out of breath, but he read out all of his prepared texts, including a more than one-page long homily, and he smiled and waved at the congregation as he left in a wheelchair.
In other occasions, Francis has delegated longer readings to aides.
On Friday, the pope skipped at the last minute the night-time Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession at Rome’s Colosseum in what the Vatican said was a bid to “preserve his health” ahead of other Holy Week events.
The surprise move came after weeks in which Francis repeatedly limited his public speaking and cancelled engagements while struggling with what has been described as colds, bronchitis and the flu.
The pope is also restricted in his mobility due to a knee ailment, and regularly uses a wheelchair or a cane.
Francis looked in better shape on Thursday as he performed a foot-washing ceremony in a women’s prison, recalling Jesus’ gesture of humility to his apostles at the Last Supper, and at a Good Friday service in St Peter’s.
Holy Week consists of several solemn ceremonies leading to Easter on Sunday, the most important festivity in the Christian calendar, celebrating the day in which the faithful believe Jesus rose from the dead.
Saturday’s evening service, held in Christendom’s largest church, started in near total darkness before lights were turned on, signifying the passage from darkness to light when the Bible says Jesus rose from the dead.
It was attended by about 6,000 people, the Vatican said.
In his homily, recalling that the stone sealing Jesus’ tomb was rolled back as he was resurrected, Francis urged Christians to keep their faith even when weighed down by sorrow, fear or other adversities.
He mentioned, among other things, “the rubber walls of selfishness and indifference that hold us back in the effort to build more just and humane cities and societies”, as well as “all our aspirations for peace that are shattered by cruel hatred and the brutality of war”.
Francis is set to conclude Easter celebrations on Sunday with Mass in St. Peter’s Square and his twice-annual “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) blessing and message from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
– Reuters
