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Cyclone Gabrielle makes landfall as thousands without power, evacuations begin

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By RNZ.co.nz

Cyclone Gabrielle is already bringing strong winds and heavy rain to parts of the North Island.

Most of the North Island is covered by some kind of Severe Weather Watch or Warning either for wind, rain or both.

Red heavy rain warnings have been issued for Northland, Auckland, the Coromandel and the northern parts of Gisborne Tairāwhiti.

Red strong wind warnings have been issued for Northland, Auckland and the Coromandel.

A Flourish data visualization

* Read more: Cyclone Gabrielle’s impact in numbers

Thousands are without power, while some people in Coromandel and Gisborne are already starting to evacuate, and Auckland Council is closing all non-essential services Monday and Tuesday.

Power company Vector said there were widespread power outages, especially in exposed areas across north Auckland.

It said about 15,000 customers were without power at 7pm.

“This number will change constantly as we restore homes and businesses but, with the weather due to worsen, we expect further outages overnight and tomorrow.”

Northpower has also been working to restore power in the Whāngarei area, writing on Facebook that “cyclone winds have caused major damage to the network, much of it from trees falling through lines.”

Auckland Council has said it will close all non-essential services across the region on Monday and Tuesday, including libraries, community centres, early childhood education centres, and active recreation centres.

The Auckland Harbour Bridge has been closed due to high winds and will remain closed overnight.

All Auckland train services have also been cancelled tonight, and KiwiRail has closed operations on the top half of the North Island until at least 3pm tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Coromandel Civil Defence controller Garry Towler says six evacuation centres will be open 24-7 while another 12 to 15 community-led centres are on standby to open if required.

* Read more: Cyclone Gabrielle in photos

An emergency alert text was sent to all people on the peninsula this afternoon.

Towler says most people appear to be heeding the warning, as traffic leaving the region is heavy. He’s advising people to go to family or friends.

Earlier, Northland declared a precautionary state of emergency for an initial period of seven days.

Speaking at today’s official update, MetService meteorologist Georgina Griffiths said even with significant wind gusts in Northland already being reported, the weather today was just the start.

She said they had not seen pressure this low in 40 years.

“This is a serious event for New Zealand.”

Many Auckland schools, services to close Monday

By
Kalino Latu
-

Much of Auckland will be closed on Monday as Cyclone Gabrielle storms through the motu.

Auckland Airport has prepared itself for further flooding and has sandbags waiting. The airport was severely affected during Auckland's January deluge.

Auckland Airport has prepared itself for further flooding and has sandbags waiting. The airport was severely affected during Auckland’s January deluge. Photo: RNZ / Jonty Dine

Auckland Council will close all non-essential services across the region on Monday and Tuesday, as the region prepares for Cyclone Gabrielle.

* Follow RNZ’s live blog for the latest weather updates.

The non-essential services affected include libraries, community centres, early childhood education centres, and active recreation centres.

Only critical services, such as building assessments, will take place.

Essential services, such as contact centres and cemeteries, will remain open.

Aucklanders are being urged to stay home if possible on Monday and Tuesday.

The Auckland Harbour Bridge has been closed due to high winds and will remain closed overnight.

The prime minister said earlier today it is up to individuals to decide if they work from home tomorrow as Cyclone Gabrielle moves closer to New Zealand.

Chris Hipkins said people should continue to minimise non-essential travel as the country heads into the working week.

“I think the message at the moment is minimise the traffic on the roads as much as possible.

“People can make their own decisions about that, but if they’re in a position to work from home, yes, they can do that.”

Air New Zealand is cancelling all flights, to, from or through Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Taupō until midday on Tuesday.

The InterCity bus network has cancelled three day-time services today and overnight services between Auckland and Wellington tonight and tomorrow as a precaution.

KiwiRail has decided to proactively close the rail network in the top half of the North Island on Sunday night, until at at least 3pm Monday.

KiwiRail said commuter trains in Auckland, the Northern Explorer train and the Te Huia train between Auckland and Hamilton will not be running tomorrow.

Rail lines from Auckland to near Marton will also be closed.

While the Ministry of Education hasn’t officially ordered schools to close, most schools in Auckland will be closed Monday and some Tuesday as well.

Please check with your local school directly or via social media to confirm their status before Monday morning.

Very few schools are confirmed to be open, although Auckland Grammar School has said in a statement that they will remain open for on-campus learning tomorrow.

The University of Auckland will also be moving to online exams Monday and Tuesday.

Jury trials in Auckland and Whangārei are being postponed until Wednesday.

Among the other closures are Auckland Zoo, which announced it is closing Sunday afternoon until further notice, and Auckland War Memorial Museum and Auckland Art Gallery, which will be closed Monday. Rainbow’s End amusement park is closed today and Monday.

Several Auckland libraries are being closed or used as emergency centres, so please check their website for information.

Kerbside waste collection has also been cancelled for Monday and Tuesday in Auckland.

Multiple Countdown stores are also closing early tonight. Countdown Waitangi, Warkworth, Tikipunga, Regent, Whangārei, Whitianga, Gisborne, Katikati, Kaihohe and Kerikeri are all closing between 7 and 8pm. Countdown Paihia Central has already closed early.

Cyclone Gabrielle in pictures: Flooding and trees downed across northern parts of New Zealand

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By RNZ.co.nz

Power outages, downed trees, flooding and empty aisles at supermarkets are some of the early impacts being seen as Cyclone Gabrielle lashes the upper North Island.

At the Onerahi ramp in Whangārei with about an hour to go till high tide.

At the Onerahi ramp in Whangārei with about an hour to go till high tide. Photo: Supplied/ Adrienne Chubb

Cyclone winds have caused major damage to the Northpower network, much of it from trees falling through lines.

Cyclone winds have caused major damage to the Northpower network, much of it from trees falling through lines. Photo: Supplied / Northpower / Facebook

Cyclone winds have caused major damage to the Northpower network, much of it from trees falling through lines.

Cyclone winds have caused major damage to the Northpower network, much of it from trees falling through lines. Photo: Supplied / Northpower / Facebook

A damaged power pole near Warkworth.

A damaged power pole near Warkworth. Photo: Supplied / Vector Limited

Orewa Beach on Sunday afternoon, as Cyclone Gabrielle makes its way to New Zealand.

The sea was surging at Orewa Beach on Sunday afternoon. Photo: Supplied / Chris Newson

Orewa Beach on Sunday afternoon, as Cyclone Gabrielle makes its way to New Zealand.

Strong winds and a high tide at the north Auckland beach. Photo: Supplied / Chris Newson

Strong winds and a high tide have washed away part of Orewa Beach in north Auckland. One kite surfer is out in the heavy swell.

One kite surfer was out in the heavy swell at the beach. Photo: RNZ / Rhonwyn Newson

Strong winds and a high tide have washed away part of Orewa Beach in north Auckland. One kite surfer is out in the heavy swell.

Photo: RNZ / Rhonwyn Newson

Flooding has begun as a result of Cyclone Gabrielle on Riverside Drive in Northland's Whangārei.

Heavy rain from the cyclone caused flooding at Riverside Drive in Northland’s Whangārei. Photo: RNZ / Soumya Bhamidipati

Flooding has begun as a result of Cyclone Gabrielle on Riverside Drive in Northland's Whangārei.

Riverside Drive in Northland’s Whangārei. Photo: RNZ / Soumya Bhamidipati

Cyclone Gabrielle is causing havoc in the Far North, downing trees and powerlines. Photos by Top Energy NZ

In the Far North, trees and powerlines came down, causing an outage to about 1500 properties on Friday morning. Photo: Supplied / Top Energy NZ

Cyclone Gabrielle is causing havoc in the Far North, downing trees and powerlines. Photos by Top Energy NZ

Photo: Supplied / Top Energy NZ

In Auckland, crews were working to restore electricity at Karekare on the west coast, in Henderson and pockets of east Auckland and the North Shore.

There were also outages at Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula, Waharoa in Waikato and Inglewood in Taranaki.

Auckland Airport has prepared itself for further flooding and has sandbags waiting. The airport was severely affected during Auckland's January deluge.

Auckland Airport has braced itself for flooding and has sandbags at the ready after being severely affected during January’s deluge. Photo: RNZ / Jonty Dine

Air New Zealand announced international arrivals and departures on Monday would be extremely limited. There are also domestic flight cancellations through to Tuesday.

Essentials have sold out at supermarkets across Auckland as people prepare for Cyclone Gabrielle. This includes shelves bare of milk and bread.

Essentials were sold out at several supermarkets across Auckland as people prepared for Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: RNZ / Jonty Dine

Bread aisle at St Luke’s Countdown were wiped clean as Aucklanders prepared for Cyclone Gabrielle.

The bread aisle at St Luke’s Countdown was wiped clean on Sunday morning. Photo: RNZ / Veronica Schmidt

Authorities are reassuring people supermarkets will stay open and urged people not to panic-buy.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins visits Auckland Transport's operation centre in Takapuna, North Shore as Cyclone Gabrielle makes landfall.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins visits Auckland Transport’s operation centre in Takapuna, North Shore as Cyclone Gabrielle makes landfall. Photo: RNZ / Ashleigh McCaull

Army personnel from 16 Field Regiment unload supplies at the Central Distribution Centre in Auckland alongside volunteers from the Auckland City Council. Essential supplies such as blankets, torches and pillows will be distributed throughout Auckland as part of Op Awhina.

Today personnel from our New Zealand Army’s 16 Field Regiment assisted in delivering and unloading more than 50 pallets of emergency supplies to the central distribution centre in Auckland ahead of the severe weather from Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: Supplied / New Zealand Defence Force

PM Chris Hipkins arrives at Hub West, a community facility in Henderson to see cyclone response

Photo: RNZ / Lucy Xia

Cyclone Gabrielle on 12 February.

Satellite imagery of Cyclone Gabrielle on 12 February. Photo: Twitter / NIWA

National Emergency Management Agency message: Cyclone Gabrielle will impact much of the North Island with severe gales, heavy rain and very large waves forecast from today through to Tuesday.

This is expected to be an unprecedented and dangerous weather event.

MetService has issued severe weather warnings for many parts of the North Island.

Keep up to date with MetService weather warnings and advice from your local Civil Defence Emergency Management Group.

Adhere to all advice and instructions from authorities.

Cyclone Gabrielle will also exacerbate the impacts for those communities recovering from recent floods

Avoid travelling during severe weather, and check Waka Kotahi for road closures.

  • Do what you can to prepare your household for the coming days.
  • Information about preparing for storms can be found at getready.govt.nz.
  • Call 111 if you feel in any danger.

Stay safe. Don’t take any chances.

House is not paying for former PM’s expenses while on medical leave in US says Chief Clerk

By
Kalino Latu
-

Parliament is not paying for any of former Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa’s costs while he is seeking medical treatment in the United States.

The Chief Clerk of the Legislative assembly said Parliament was not responsible for his travel and medical costs.

Speaker Lord Fakafanua. Photo/Fale Alea ‘O Tonga

“The assembly has not paid any travelling allowance, airfare, medical expenses, nor any other expenses incidental to the MP’s travel or his medical treatment being sought,” the Chief Clerk said.

However, he was entitled to continue receiving his basic salary as an MP because he was on approved medical leave and remained a Member of the House.

The statement also denied that Parliament had paid for Hon. Tu’i’onetoa’s treatment in Sydney in 2017. We are willing to accept this statement in good faith.

However, we have Hon. Tu’i’onetoa’s own word from an interview in 2018 that his expenses were paid for from taxpayers’ money.

If that payment was not authorised by Parliament then it would be helpful to clarify under what circumstances it was paid.

Dr Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa. Photo/Kalino Lātū

The Chief Clark reiterated that the former Prime Minister’s extended medical leave had been approved by Parliament by circular, a method which caused some criticism when it was announced.

However, the Chief Clark has explained that a circular is used when decisions have to be made when the House is not sitting.

The Chief Clark’s statement is welcome.

READ MORE:

Kaniva News believes it would be beneficial for the Chief Clark to regularly explain and clarify procedures and policies for the public.

This would improve communication between the House and taxpayers and help strengthen democracy in Tonga.

Bomb found, detonated on Auckland beach

By
Kalino Latu
-

Bomb disposal squads blew up a suspicious item on a beach north of Auckland earlier this afternoon.

A person discovered the item on Orewa Beach at 2pm and notified police.

A Defence Force bomb squad arrived on the scene to set up a cordon and dispose of the item.

Police said the cordon will remain in place while the scene is cleared.

Felony charges for Tongan contractor accused of ripping off several US residents

By
Kaniva Staff
-

KEARNS, Utah — Landscaping work: paid for, but not completed.

Jessy Nguyen told KSL Investigators a man named Ofa showed up at his mom’s house last June, offering to do some work. His mom hired Ofa to pour concrete, put in a fence, and do some landscaping work, paying more than $40,000.

Tongan contractor Fe’ofo’aki Ahoafinoa

“He did the work, like he started,” said Nguyen, “but as soon as he got the money, he stopped.”

Nguyen said both he and his mom tried to reach Ofa multiple times to get the job finished, without success.

“He’ll give you a sob story of why he can’t come, and then he just stops answering your calls,” said Nguyen.

Eventually, Nguyen went to West Jordan Police. As he dug into Ofa and his company, Noah Concrete, he found he wasn’t alone in his frustrations.

“The funny thing is, I Googled this guy, and he’s had like five or six different business names,” he said.

KSL Investigators found it wasn’t just different business names, but Ofa goes by several names himself, including Feofaaki Ahoafi, Tevita Ahoafinoa, and David. He opened multiple businesses, including TLT Construction, Tevita Concrete and Landscaping, and Dateline Construction.

According to records we obtained, Ofa has been cited seven times since 2014 for engaging in construction trades without a license.

Despite citation after citation, Ofa continued to work without a license, breaking state rules. The citations add up to $9,000, all of which are unpaid.

“That tells us a story that they just don’t care,” said Mark Steinagel, director of Utah’s Department of Professional and Occupational Licensing.

His office has heard from so many victims who have lost thousands of dollars, they’ve referred the matter to criminal prosecutors.

“I definitely think law enforcement and prosecutors should take a look at whether the harm and fraud he’s perpetuated deserve severe penalties,” said Steinagel.

Criminal penalties have been assessed. KSL Investigators combed through court records, searching Ofa’s aliases and company names, and found his activity goes all the way back to 2011.

He has been charged with misdemeanors for engaging in a construction trade without a license five times. The most recent charge was settled in November with a plea in abeyance, for which he must complete a thinking errors class and be on probation for a year.

More serious punishment may be coming.

During the course of our investigation, two additional cases against Ofa were filed, both carrying felony charges of theft by deception.

One of those cases involves the Nguyen job. Because of the amount of money Ofa is alleged to have taken without finishing the work, the penalty could mean up to 15 years in jail.

KSL Investigators reached out to Ofa multiple times on different phone numbers without a response.

After finding an address listed on the most recent lawsuit against him, we stopped by his home. While Ofa was not there, a man driving by saw our cameras and stopped. He was able to get Ofa on the phone for us.

When asked about the Nguyen job, he said, “Oh yeah, the only thing that I can think is that it’s been snowing, that’s the only thing that’s holding me up.”

When we pressed him about some of the complaints against him going back years, and that Nguyen’s job was abandoned last summer, long before it snowed, he responded, “That job, I’m still working on it. I got the fence and all that, but I’m not done. You know, the snow came down and then I’m going to complete. I’ve got the fence and the rest of the material.”

When asked about his multiple convictions of contracting without a license, he said he needs to work.

“Like I said, what I rather do? I cannot feed my family. I have six kids, and the only way I can do it is going out and trying to get some work,” Ofa said.

As for Nguyen, he thinks Ofa needs to be stopped before he financially hurts anyone else.

“I think the part that makes me so mad, and the reason we reached out to you guys, is that clearly he’s doing this to other people,” said Nguyen.

Ofa is due in court on February 10, and KSL Investigators plan to follow this story.

BY MATT GEPHARDT AND CINDY ST. CLAIR KSLTV.com

Have you experienced something you think just isn’t right? The KSL Investigators want to help. Submit your tip at investigates@ksl.com or 385-707-6153 so we can get working for you.

Speaker remains tight lipped about former PM’s payments while on medical leave in US

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Speaker of the House has remained silent on whether Hon. Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa’s travelling allowance and salaries are being paid by the government.

As we reported last month, there have been calls for the Speaker, Lord Fakafanua, to state whether or not the 72-years old former Prime Minster is still being paid his travelling allowance and salary while he is seeking medical attention in the United States.

Lord Fakafanua (L), Former Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa

This was in response to a press from Parliament and confirmation that Hon. Tu’i’onetoa’s medical expenses in the United States were paid for by his family.

It is understood that MPs are entitled to these if they are on medical leave overseas.

The calls for further information were sparked by a Parliamentary press release confirming that the former Prime Minister had been granted an extension of his medical leave.

Kaniva News earlier raised the question of whether his continued absence from the House might trigger a by-election certain circumstances.

We asked the Speaker to release Hon. Tu’i’onetoa’s salaries and travelling allowance records while he is in the United States and confirm whether he is still receiving them.

We also asked the Speaker why Parliament has not confirmed that it paid the former Prime Minister’s expenses while he has been having spinal surgery in Sydney in 2017.

So far Lord Fakafanua has not responded to these questions.

For more information

Parliament approves longer medical leave for former Prime Minister, but now there are calls for release of salary and travelling allowance details

Parliament approves longer medical leave for former Prime Minister, but now there are calls for release of salary and travelling allowance details

Could Tongatapu 10 MP Tu‘i‘onetoa’s continued medical absence lead to another by-election?

Could Tongatapu 10 MP Tu‘i‘onetoa’s continued medical absence lead to another by-election?

Dr Sitiveni Halapua, controversial Tongan politician and respected scholar, dies

By
Kalino Latu
-

Dr Sitiveni Halapua, former Deputy leader of Tonga’s Democratic movement, has died January 29.

Born on February 13, 1949,  he was a respected academic, a pioneer of Tonga’s democratic reforms and pioneer of a conflict resolution  system based on traditional practices.

Dr Sitiveni Halapua. Photo/Kalino Lātū, Kaniva Tonga News

Halapua earned a doctorate in economics from the University of Kent in the UK and went on to lecture in economics at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji.

He was Director of the Pacific Islands Development Programme at the East-West Centre at the University of Hawai’i for more than 20 years.

It was while working at the East-West Centre that he developed a conflict-resolution system based on the Polynesian practice of Talanoa, known as the Talanoa conflict-resolution system.

It has been used in the Cook Islands, Fiji, and Tonga.

READ MORE:

In November 2005 Dr Halapua was appointed to the National Committee for Political Reform, aimed at producing a plan for the democratic reform of Tonga.

In October 2006 the Commission recommended a fully elected parliament. He later accused Prime Minister Feleti Sevele’s of hijacking the report and blamed this for the 2006 Nuku’alofa riots, which destroyed much of central Nuku’alofa.

Dr Halapua was elected to Parliament as a people’s representative for Tongatapu 3 in the 2010 elections.

Four years later, he was ousted as candidate for the Democratic Party after party leader and Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s newspaper, Kele’a,  accused him of being at the centre of a plot to seek the Premiership.

As Kaniva News reported at the time Kele’a claimed that three Democratic Party members, including People’s Representatives Semisi  Tapueluelu and Sione Taione planned in 2012 to replace Pohiva with fellow parliamentarian Dr Sitiveni Halapua.

Kele’a alleged that the plan was made in 2012 when the Democratic Government lodged a motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister, Lord Tu’ivakano.

Both Taione and Halapua denied the story.

Relations between Pohiva and Halapua had been strained since October 2013 when Dr Halapua abstained from voting  for a bill that would have let the Prime Minister be popularly elected.

The bill was laid before the Tongan Parliament by Democrat  MP Dr ‘Aisake Eke and had  received massive support from many of the 17 popular electorates, nine of which elected Democrat Members of Parliament. However, the motion was lost 15-6.

Dr Halapua’s abstention drew strong criticisms from the local media and the Democrats.

Kele’a lashed out at Dr Halapua’s behaviour, with the editor saying he no longer trusted him as one of the front benchers of the party.

Dr Halapua had long been an advocate of what he called Pule’anga Kafataha or ‘Coalition Government.’

Under the proposal all parliamentarians, whether nobles or commoners,  would work together as a coalition.

In 2010 Halapua told Kaniva News that Democratic Party Parliamentarians voting as members of a coalition could elect a noble rather than his party leader, ‘Akilisi Pohiva, but still keep their allegiance to Pohiva and the Democratic Party.

After he was removed as a Democrat candidate, Dr Halapua said he would stand as an independent at the next election,  but did not run. He stood unsuccessfully in 2017 election.

Australian financial subsidy will keep Tongatapu-Vava‘u service flying until June

By
Kalino Latu
-

Australia will help Tonga pay Fiji Airways to run a passenger service seven times a week between Tongatapu and Vava’u.

Tonga and Australia signed a financial agreement this morning which will help fund the service until June.

The Australian High Commissioner to Tonga Her Excellency Rachael Moore and Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku

The service is being provided by Fiji airways’ domestic carrier, Fiji Link.

The financial subsidy is expected to help reduce the worst of the crisis.

Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku announced the agreement earlier today.

Lulutai’s CEO, Poasi Tei, said Lulutai had compensated overseas visitors who were stranded in Tonga. He said Lulutai had worked with Qantas and Air New Zealand to handle overseas visitors’ issues with connecting tickets.

The Prime Minister said additional expenses incurred by the compensation deal would be covered by Australia.

The Australian High Commissioner in Tonga, Rachael Moore, said Australia was donating Aus$500,000 to the rescue package.

“It will depend on the number of flights,” Moore said.

“Lulutai will continue to sell tickets. If there is a shortfall in the cost of any of those segments Australia will meet that shortfall to ensure that connectivity domestically for Tonga.”

Hon. Hu’akavameiliku said Australia’s support would ensure Lulutai would not encounter further financial problems between now and June.

Asked whether the government had considered selling Lulutai to a private company, the Prime Minister said that was part of the process to resolve the Lulutai crisis. He said the immediate priority was to sort out the Tongatapu – Vava’u flight crisis. 

A journalist asked the High Commissioner whether the Australian government was aware that Lulutai’s management involved ousted Deputy Prime Minister Poasi Tei who was appointed as CEO. Tei’s election was declared void after the Supreme Court convicted him of electoral bribery.

The journalist, a daughter of the late Prime Minister and former Democratic Leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva, wanted a response from Ms Moore, but the Prime Minister quickly picked up the question and eventually said the appointment of Tei went through due diligence process and there was nothing illegal about it.

New Zealand PM to look into Pacific overstayer petition

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By RNZ.co.nz

New Zealand’s new Prime Minister has agreed to look at an overstayer petition that was launched by Pacific community leaders almost three years ago.

The petition calls for pathways to residency to be established for Pasifika overstayers under compassion grounds.

The petition has 11,119 signatures. The Petitions Committee recommended that Parliament take note of it.

Chris Hipkins was questioned by RNZ Pacific over a lack of action by the government over the issue.

“I want to make sure we have a country in New Zealand where Pacific people are respected, they have a place and where we can continue to maintain a really strong relationship with their home countries,” he said.

When questioned on whether he will make changes to the government’s policy, he said “I haven’t had an opportunity to look at that issue yet but I absolutely intend to look at it.”

Mati Filemoni Timoteo (Samoan Matai or High Chief) and Pakilau o Mana Moana Manase Lua guide the guest of honour and Taumu’a into the kava ceremony.

Mati Filemoni Timoteo (Samoan Matai or High Chief) and Pakilau o Mana Moana Manase Lua guide the guest of honour and Taumu’a into the kava ceremony. Photo: Jinki Cambronero, Someday Stories

One example given of Pasifika people who need support is Tongan overstayers who have nothing to go home to one year on from the devastating volcanic eruption.

Pakilau Manase Lua, who is a Tongan community representative, said people are terrified they will be deported.

He said he is not advocating breaking the law.

The people he is fighting for have legitimate reasons to stay and deserve compassion, he said.

“They might have been here during the lockdowns and they couldn’t go back. Or they were here on a temporary visa and it was difficult to go back due to the eruption so these people are probably wanting to find a better life, and what better place than Aotearoa New Zealand.

“These are people who are often already working,” Pakilau said.

Overstayers are contributing to the economy and are not eligible for benefits, he said.

Kanokupolu beach with the destroyed Liku’alofa Resort.

Kanokupolu beach with the destroyed Liku’alofa Resort. Photo: Supplied

The government has said previously that it is: “committed to upholding a fair rules-based immigration system and delivering on the goals of the immigration rebalance”.

But it also admitted that: “progressing an amnesty for overstayers would be a considerable undertaking and regardless of which group of people it may be extended to, it would take time to progress and would require legislative change.”

Pakilau wants action now because at the moment overstayers and their children are scared.

“It ties in with the Dawn Raids apology, apologising is great but it is not going to solve the problem we have now especially their children, the children of overstayers are an innocent party it’s not their fault.”

Chris Hipkins said he is committed to Pacific Communities in Aotearoa and will look into the calls made in the petition.

No caption

Photo: Supplied / Pakilau Manase Lua

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