Nukuʻalofa, Tonga — A newly released image has offered the public a first detailed look at Tonga’s new Parliament complex currently under construction, capturing the project in its early structural stages as work steadily progresses.
New Parliament Rising — Foundations of Tonga’s new Parliament complex take shape at the Lakalakaimonu Estate, with steel reinforcements and construction works underway on the NZ$60 million project expected to be completed in 2027. Photo/New Zealand High Commission, Nuku’alofa, Tonga.
The photograph, released by the New Zealand High Commission in Tonga, shows the scale of the development taking shape at the Lakalakaimonu Estate within the Tufumāhina Royal Estate on Tongatapu—site of the country’s future parliamentary headquarters.
In the foreground, a large rectangular foundation is visible, with dense steel reinforcement bars and timber formwork outlining the footprint of the building. At the centre of the site, workers and construction materials can be seen, indicating ongoing activity as groundwork continues.
The construction area spans a wide space, with multiple foundation segments being prepared simultaneously. Earthworks, gravel mounds, and heavy equipment are positioned across the site, highlighting both the scale and complexity of the project.
Behind the construction zone, the Royal Archives building stands elevated among trees and open green fields, providing a clear contrast to the emerging development.
The new Parliament complex is being built to replace the previous Fale Alea and Office of the Legislative Assembly, which were destroyed by Cyclone Gita in February 2018. The rebuilding effort marks one of Tonga’s most significant national infrastructure projects in recent years.
New Zealand and Australia are jointly funding the reconstruction, with the New Zealand Government managing a funding package of approximately NZ$60 million, alongside contributions from Australia. The project reflects a strong regional partnership aimed at strengthening Tonga’s governance infrastructure.
Designed with resilience in mind, the new complex will incorporate climate-resilient features to withstand extreme weather events, while also ensuring the architecture remains culturally appropriate and reflective of Tongan identity.
Plans for the facility include a public gallery, dedicated media spaces, and an education centre intended to promote civic awareness and improve public access to parliamentary processes. Officials say the development is expected to enhance transparency and engagement between the government and the people.
The construction is being led by Westland Construction, working alongside local subcontractor Ca’Bella Pacific Construction Tonga. The project is expected to employ a workforce made up of around 70 percent local workers, providing employment opportunities and skills development within the country.
Once completed, the new Parliament complex is anticipated to stand as a modern and resilient seat of governance for Tonga, symbolising both recovery and renewal following Cyclone Gita.
Construction is currently in its early stages, with the foundations now clearly taking shape. The project is expected to be completed in 2027.
A Tongan national was denied entry into New Zealand, detained for about 24 hours at Auckland International Airport, and then removed to Fiji instead of Tonga, despite holding a valid two-year multiple-entry visa.
Tevita Sitelimani Finefeuiaki. Photo/Supplied
The man, Tevita Sitelimani Finefeuiaki, was reportedly stopped after failing to declare books he was carrying in his luggage on Friday, 24.
Finefeuiaki, who had travelled from Tonga as part of a research project, was detained in Auckland before being sent to Fiji, where he spent several more days in custody before returning to Tonga on Monday.
The circumstances surrounding his removal — particularly the decision not to return him directly to his country of origin — have raised questions about the handling of the case by Immigration New Zealand.
Dr Paula Onoafe Lātū, principal of Sia’atoutai Theological College in Tonga, described the treatment of Finefeuiaki, whom he called his “son in Christ” and research assistant, as “appalling” and “inhumane.”
Books Project Timeline Explained
Mr Lātū said Finefeuiaki was with him in Auckland before being sent to Tonga to collect books from his personal library to support research for new publications marking 200 years since Methodist missionaries first brought Christianity to the kingdom in 1826.
The books they were working on were expected to be completed and published in New Zealand by the end of May.
Lātū said Finefeuiaki was detained after failing to declare the books on arrival. However, he questioned the severity of the response, saying he was deeply concerned by both the treatment of Finefeuiaki and the consequences that followed.
He argued the declaration requirements may not have clearly specified that books intended for academic research needed to be declared.
Detention Costs And Expenses
The church minister alleged that Finefeuiaki was not provided with sufficient food during his detention in Auckland and was later required to pay for accommodation during his stay in Fiji.
An invoice shared with Kaniva News shows a payment of $532.95 to the Grand Melanesian Hotel, listing Finefeuiaki as a “detainee”, including $272 in security-related charges.
Lātū said he had also paid $600 to arrange for the books to be transported separately from Tonga to New Zealand, where they were expected to arrive last night.
Although Finefeuiaki has since returned safely to Tonga, Lātū said the experience had taken a significant emotional toll.
“What’s wrong with a Tongan carrying books?” he said in an interview with Kaniva News. “Are books only for pālangi to carry? I’m really down about this.”
Why Travellers Are Refused Entry
According to information published by Immigration New Zealand, travellers may be prevented from boarding or entering New Zealand if they do not meet entry requirements, including failing to provide evidence that they meet the conditions of their visa.
Dr Paula Onoafe Lātū. Photo/Tonga National University
Authorities also reassess travellers on arrival, checking identity, documentation, and declared goods before granting entry permission. Travellers can be denied entry if their documents are invalid, if they do not hold the appropriate visa, or if they provide false or misleading information.
Immigration New Zealand states that travellers must demonstrate they have a genuine reason for travel, sufficient funds to support themselves, and arrangements to leave the country at the end of their stay.
Kaniva News has sought comment from Immigration New Zealand, including clarification on the legal basis for Finefeuiaki’s detention and removal, the decision to send him to Fiji, the conditions of his detention, and whether the case will be subject to review.
Policy Concerns Raised
Lātū believes the immigration policy falls short of fairness.
“Dawn raids are on the horizon,” he said, invoking a phrase commonly used within the Tongan community when immigration issues arise, reflecting fears that Pasifika and other migrant communities are once again being unfairly targeted, re-traumatised, and treated as criminals—despite the Government’s formal apology in 2021 for the notorious Dawn Raids of the 1970s.
“I do not see any crime in him carrying books into New Zealand,” Mr Lātū told Kaniva News.
“My son is part of this book project and lives with me at my home in Takanini.
“We arrived here late last year. He is my library assistant, researcher, and typist.”
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has confirmed that four senior staff — including its Director of Investigations — have resigned, clarifying earlier reports that identified only three departures.
Director of Investigations Kalisi Tohifolau (left) with ACC Commissioner Chris LaHatte. The image is cropped from a group photo shared on the ACC’s Facebook page.
As reported by Kaniva News last week, the investigators resigned amid allegations of dissatisfaction with the Commission’s working policies and its leadership.
They reportedly believed the Commission’s approach to investigations conflicted with their professional values and established policing principles.
ACC Commissioner Chris LaHatte previously declined to comment on the specifics of the officers’ resignation, as reported by Kaniva News.
In a later statement to the media confirming the resignations, he did not deny the allegations, instead stating that the reasons for the officers’ departure “must be handled confidentially and respectfully.”
In the statement issued amid growing public speculation, the Police Commissioner, Geoff Turner — in a joint release with the ACC Commissioner — confirmed that the investigators will not be immediately returned to their former police duties, as suitable replacements must first be identified.
While the Commission did not identify the officials who resigned, Kaniva News understands the Director of Investigations is former Police Inspector Kalisi Tohifolau, who was previously named in an ACC statement. The identities of the other three remain unknown.
Meeting Invitation Not Taken Up
Mr LaHatte said he had invited the Director of Investigations to discuss the issues raised, but the meeting did not take place.
Despite the high-level departures, the ACC said its operations remain unaffected, with investigations continuing under existing governance and delegation arrangements.
The Commission said it released the statement to counter speculation and ensure accurate reporting while maintaining its legal and ethical obligations around staff confidentiality.
The Commission said the leak appeared to reveal only the resignations, not the underlying reasons.
The Commission indicated that any discussion of the reasons behind the resignations would, if addressed at all, be handled through the appropriate channels at a later stage.
The recruitment of senior police officers to the ACC was part of the government’s effort to accelerate the handling of a large volume of complaints before the Commission, including about 70 complaints lodged ahead of the country’s general election in November.
The complaints reportedly included allegations against the former Hu’akavameiliku government, ranging from misappropriation of public funds to breaches of governance protocols. Hu’akavameiliku denied the allegations at the time.
The Commission was also tasked with investigating former Police Minister Piveni Piukala, who was accused of assisting Mormon leader Pita Foliaki Hopoate to flee Tonga while he was subject to a restraining order. Piukala argued at the time that it was his job to assist Hopoate.
No public updates on the investigations have been released to date.
The Anti-Corruption Act came into force in 2007, but no commissioner was appointed until the establishment of the current Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), with its first commissioner sworn in in July 2024.
Although different explanations have been given for the delay in activating this critical institution, critics argue that successive lawmakers may have hesitated to enforce the law due to longstanding allegations that could implicate those in power.
Utah prosecutors have charged a California man with murder in connection with a deadly January shooting that impacted a Tongan LDS church community in Salt Lake City, leaving two people dead.
Fatal shooting victims Sione Leonaitasi Vatuvei and Vaea Tulikihihifo, Jr. are shown in GoFundMe account photos.
John Vea Uasike Jr. 32 was arrested and taken into custody on April 14 in connection with six felony charges, including two counts of murder and weapons violations, the Salt Lake County district attorney’s office said in a news release.
The shooting took place on January 7 in the back parking lot of a place of worship for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon church.
According to reports, the gunfire broke out from a dispute between people who knew each other and were attending a funeral. All the victims were adults. Police have previously said they do not believe the violence was connected to animus toward a particular faith.
The men who died in the shooting have been identified as Vaea Tulikihihifo, 46, and Sione Vatuvei, 38.
Gun Drawn in Confrontation
Witnesses saw Uasike get a gun from a black sport utility vehicle and point it at a man’s head, according to the newly unsealed charging information in the case.
Others tried to calm Uasike down and, while they held up his hand with the gun, Uasike fired twice into the air causing the others to duck then scatter, alleges the information written by Salt Lake City police detective Steven Bigelow.
Uasike then went around the SUV and allegedly fired toward the church and funeral attendees, killing two and striking others, Bigelow wrote.
A witness said someone returned fire and Uasike, who was taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound, went to California after being treated, according to Bigelow.
Authorities in Tonga have moved to dispel circulating claims by a social media group alleging a significant drug bust in Vavaʻu, describing the information as false and misleading.
The Facebook group Tonga Felafoaki alleged that police conducting a checkpoint operation in Vavaʻu discovered 300 kilograms of methamphetamine, but Tonga Police have denied the claim, describing it as incorrect.
Tonga Felafoaki is a large, widely followed Facebook group with more than 150,000 members that serves as an informal platform for sharing news, opinions, and community discussions among Tongans in Tonga and the diaspora.
The page appears to attract significant engagement due to its ability to quickly circulate information, particularly on issues of public interest such as crime, politics, and social events.
However, the group is not known to be operated by qualified journalists or a recognised media organisation.
The individuals or administrators behind the page are not publicly identified, and there is limited transparency regarding editorial processes, fact‑checking standards, or accountability mechanisms.
As a result, content shared on the platform is not subject to the same professional verification standards typically expected of established news outlets.
In an official media release issued on Wednesday, April 29, the Tonga Police addressed a viral post shared on the Facebook page TongaFelofaki, which claimed that police officers from Tongatapu—currently stationed in Vavaʻu—had seized 300 kilograms of methamphetamine, locally referred to as “ice,” during a checkpoint operation.
The police firmly rejected the claim, stating that no such seizure has been recorded.
“Tonga Police confirm that this information is false and misleading. No such seizure has been made by officers in Vavaʻu,” the statement said.
Police emphasised that the claim is not supported by any official records, operational reports, or documented enforcement actions by law enforcement in the area.
Call for Public Caution
Authorities urged the public to remain vigilant when encountering information shared online, particularly on social media platforms, where unverified content can spread rapidly.
“The public is urged to exercise caution and verify information through official Tonga Police communication channels before sharing or believing unverified social media posts.”
Officials warned that misinformation, especially regarding serious issues such as drug activity, can lead to unnecessary concern and confusion within communities.
Impact of Misinformation
The Tonga Police highlighted the broader risks associated with spreading inaccurate information. False reports about criminal activities—particularly large-scale drug seizures—can create unwarranted fear among residents and undermine trust in public institutions.
Police officials reiterated their commitment to transparency and encouraged members of the public to rely only on confirmed updates provided through official channels.
“Spreading false information can cause unnecessary fear and confusion within the community,” the release noted.
The police statement concluded with a reminder that accurate and responsible sharing of information is essential to maintaining community trust and public safety.
By Jonty Dine, Sports Reporter of RNZ and is republished with permission
Fehi Fineanganofo is in rare form.
Already with 14 tries to his name this season, the calls for an All Black callup have become deafening
Unfortunately, Fineanganofo is the latest export from Aotearoa’s rugby factory, and will leave our shores at the end of the season.
Clark Laidlaw asked if the journos in the room could pitch in to keep him in the country, with skipper Jordie Barrett adding that maybe they need to start a GoFundMe.
“I’m not sure. Be nice to keep him here, wouldn’t it? For the competition, forget higher honours and stuff, for us and for the competition he’s a genuine X-factor. He’s a highlight reel most weeks,” Laidlaw said.
However, he was hopeful he would return.
“Who knows, he might be back. He’s only 23, his best rugby is ahead of him. Hopefully he continues to improve.”
Fineanganofo will link up with English Premiership club Newcastle, leaving a huge hole at the Hurricanes.
Jordie Barrett joked there was an internal campaign to get their star wing to reconsider his move.
“He gets the odd jab in the ribs and an arm around him to stay. But that’s ultimately up to him. As a player in New Zealand, we’d love to have him. Pure and simple. But he’s made a decision for himself and his family, but between now and June, who knows. We’d love to have him.”
Laidlaw said Fineanganofo provided them with serious firepower outwide.
“He’s pretty devastating when he gets ball in hand and even a half opportunity. He’s a handful when he gets space and gets one-on-one.”
Despite a first half hat-trick, Laidlaw said he still gave Fineanganofo a rev-up at the break.
“He got a little bit of a hurry-up at half-time, if I’m being honest. I felt his off-the-ball stuff wasn’t where it needed to be, and he responded really well in the second half.”
Barrett said it was a special feeling having a player on the park in such blistering form.
“It’s pretty cool. The job is to get him the ball. You give players opportunities sometimes and in today’s game a one-on-one with a bit of space is as good as you get with organised defences.”
With Josh Moorby bagging a brace and Jone Rova coming off the bench for a late try, the Hurricanes scored all seven tries through their wingers.
“All our outside backs are going really well and it comes off the back of their hard work and getting into position to take opportunities,” said Laidlaw.
Barrett, who began his professional career playing for Canterbury, said it was a special occasion to play at Te Kaha.
“Unreal. So good. It’s amazing to have the stadium in New Zealand and for us to enjoy it after the time and money that’s gone into it. It’s got a different feel to Forsyth Barr, almost more like a European stadium, not as much airflow, quite humid, the ball gets a little more slippery. But the atmosphere is outstanding. Purpose-built rectangular stadium, crowd right on top of you. Tough to beat. More of that please.”
The Hurricanes were again expansive with their attack, a tactic they don’t plan to reign in come play off time.
“Competitions are won in June. But it’s not going to stop our ambition. A lot of it comes off working really hard to earn opportunities to play. The game’s at a stage where we want to ask what’s next and be brave and ambitious with the ball,” Barrett said.
“But we’ve also got an eye on playing smart rugby when conditions limit opportunities.”
King Charles III’s historic state visit to the United States this week has drawn global attention, but for Tongans living across America, the visit carries an added layer of cultural and historical significance.
The King and Queen Camilla arrived in the United States on April 27 for a four‑day state visit marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The trip includes high‑profile engagements in Washington DC, New York City, and Virginia, highlighted by a formal White House state dinner and a rare address by the King to a joint session of the US Congress.
While the visit is largely focused on reinforcing diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and the United States, it has also resonated among Pacific communities, including thousands of Tongans who now call the US home.
Tongan communities in states such as California, Utah, Texas, Hawaii and Washington maintain strong cultural, religious and historical links to the British Crown through Tonga’s unique constitutional monarchy.
Tonga remains the only remaining kingdom in the Pacific and has long maintained a special relationship with the British monarchy. Although Tonga was never formally colonised, it adopted a constitutional system inspired in part by British governance traditions, and the monarch of Tonga continues to hold deep ceremonial and cultural authority.
For Tongans living in the United States, King Charles’ presence has revived conversations around history, identity and the evolving role of monarchy in modern Pacific life.
King Charles’ address to Congress, only the second ever delivered by a British monarch after Queen Elizabeth II in 1991, reflected on shared democratic values, long‑standing alliances and the importance of people‑to‑people connections. Those themes struck a chord with Pacific diaspora communities who continue to contribute to American society while maintaining close links to their homelands.
The King’s itinerary also includes engagements beyond formal diplomacy, such as meetings with families of September 11 victims in New York and a community block party in Virginia celebrating America’s upcoming anniversary.
Although no official meeting with Pacific or Tongan community representatives was announced as part of the visit, Tongans in the US followed developments closely through churches, social media and community networks. Many reflected on their own experiences of migration, service, and loyalty — values also emphasised in Tonga’s monarchical tradition.
King Charles has previously demonstrated interest in Commonwealth and Pacific communities, including recent visits to Samoa and engagements with Pacific diaspora groups in the United Kingdom. His US visit has renewed discussion about how those relationships might continue to evolve, particularly as younger generations of Tongans abroad shape new connections with both their host countries and ancestral roots.
By Ella Scott-Fleming, Open Justice reporter, rnz and is republished with permission
Teenager Silas Sims and his underage mates were sold alcohol at three different venues before he jumped into a car, drove drunk and crashed into a power pole.
Silas Sims, 16, was killed when his car hit a power pole last July. Photo: Open Justice
The much-loved 16-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. His blood contained more than three times the legal alcohol limit for adult drivers.
Last month, eight months on from the fatal crash, the two bars that sold him drinks on 19 July last year had their liquor licences suspended. The liquor shop that sold alcohol to Silas and his friend three times that day has had its licence cancelled.
In making those decisions, the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority said a “disturbing” if not “alarming” feature of the case was the “apparent ease” with which the young men were able to buy drinks, without any efforts to check their ages.
Silas’ parents, who pushed for the venues to be prosecuted, have told NZME they are glad there have been repercussions.
While they did not want any businesses to be shut down, they were satisfied that the consequences were “part of deterrence”.
“We did want it to be a big case in so much as a wake-up call,” Silas’ father, Benjamin Sims, said.
“Those sentences have been that.”
Day-drinking in Matakana
On the day he died, Silas had made plans to meet up with two friends, whose names are suppressed, in Matakana, north of Auckland, to drink and smoke cannabis.
He first entered the Matakana Liquor Centre alone after 2pm and asked duty manager Tracey Brown where the Jägermeister was.
She showed him, and he bought a 700ml bottle of the 35 percent alcohol spirit. He was not asked for ID.
An hour and a half later, he and a friend arrived at popular music venue the Leigh Sawmill Cafe, in Leigh, 15 minutes’ drive northeast of Matakana.
Silas ordered two beers from owner and duty manager Edward Guinness.
Silas was asked his age; he told Guinness he was 18 and was not asked to prove it.
He failed at buying a second round, however, and was told he had “had enough”.
Then, the pair met up with a third friend and again entered the liquor store.
Silas bought a four-pack of rum and colas, while his friend bought an 18-pack.
They were served by two different staff members, including duty manager Johann Graas. Neither was asked for ID.
At 5.45pm, the pair went to the Matakana Village Pub, where they bought a rum and cola and a Guinness.
Silas’ two friends tried to dissuade him from driving home and tried to take his keys.
But he persisted and, while driving along Leigh Road, on a left-hand bend, he crossed the centre line, left the road and crashed into a concrete power pole in a paddock.
He was pronounced dead after being removed from his car by paramedics.
An autopsy showed he had 193 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. Drivers under 20 aren’t allowed to have any alcohol in their system; the adult limit is 50mg.
Without fear
Silas Sims, 16, who died in a drunk-driving accident last year, was never asked for ID when buying alcohol, his mother said. Photo: Open Justice
Silas’ parents described their son as outgoing, charming and fearless.
“He could walk into a room and talk to anybody, from the day he could speak,” his father said.
“He didn’t have enough fear,” his mother, Sarah Sims, added. “… and that’s heartbreaking.
“It was just a lot of bad luck, and I so wish he was here.”
She told NZME her son looked older than he was.
“He is the kid that would get served. He looked 20.”
By the time he was served at the Matakana pub, he was “really, really rotten”, she said.
CCTV footage showed him stumbling around the pub.
His mother became emotional as she said she wished someone at the venue, after taking her son’s money, had also looked out for him.
Denying liability
The venues responded differently to the police applications to have their liquor licences suspended or cancelled.
The owners of the Leigh Sawmill Cafe and the Matakana Village Pub accepted the applications.
However, the Matakana Liquor Centre, owned by Micmat Ltd, denied liability.
Micmat owners John and Louise Walsh told the authority they had taken extensive steps to ensure alcohol was not sold to minors at their store.
There were multiple wall signs at the shop, even for the staff, and rigorous staff training and declarations to ensure that the law was followed.
Despite all these precautions, Silas and his friend were not asked for ID a total of three times in three hours, the authority found.
They were therefore found liable.
Warkworth teenager Silas Sims with his parents Sarah and Benjamin. Photo: Open Justice
The duty managers
Duty manager Brown, who sold Silas the bottle of Jägermeister, had her manager’s certificate suspended for two months.
The certificate of the store’s second manager, Graas, had already lapsed, and he had left the industry, so the application against him was dismissed.
Leigh Sawmill owner Guinness admitted breaching the law and contributing to Silas’ death.
He told the authority he was “embarrassed” and admitted he had “messed this one up”.
His certificate was suspended for eight weeks.
Christopher King, duty manager of the Matakana pub at the time, gave evidence that, when Silas came into the bar, he was complaining of a splinter in his hand.
There was a brief moment, as King shone a torch on Silas’ hand and got him tweezers, when they were in close proximity.
King told the hearing it never crossed his mind that Silas was a minor, as he appeared “broad-shouldered and confident”.
On reflection, he accepted he may have been distracted, but Silas had none of the “red flags” of drunkenness, such as smelling of alcohol.
The authority found it “difficult to understand” how King had not found Silas to be drunk, considering the teen left the pub and was killed 20 minutes later.
King’s certificate was suspended for 12 weeks.
Consequences
Leigh Sawmill’s liquor licence was suspended for two weeks from 14-26 April, and the business has closed for that time.
The Matakana Village Pub, which now has a new owner, had its licence suspended for 21 days, from 29 April to 19 May.
Matakana Liquor Centre’s licence was cancelled, and the company was given 21 days to close the business.
Its lawyer, Andrew Braggins, told NZME an appeal against the cancellation had been lodged.
A representative from Leigh Sawmill Cafe told NZME it felt the matter had been “dealt with” and did not wish to comment any further.
Deborah Body, who owned the Matakana pub at the time, said she deeply regretted the incident.
She had accepted all the applications the police made and co-operated “from the outset”.
“We knew what we had done,” she told NZME. “There was no question for us.”
The liquor store owners declined to comment.
Police said they could not speak about the proceedings as Silas’ death was still before the coroner’s office.
They could not say whether any criminal charges would be laid in future for the same reason.
Actioning change
Meanwhile, Silas’ parents say taking a more “positive” and active approach and effecting change has helped with their grief.
Benjamin Sims, a web developer, said he looked at his son’s bank statements after he died and noticed that purchases at alcohol stores were classed as “restricted” by the bank, because Silas was underage.
He has gathered signatures for a petition that is currently before a parliamentary committee to require banks to restrict or block such payments.
“[Banks] make billions of dollars a year. [They] can afford to do this.
“It’s not about alcohol; it’s about all restricted goods.”
Sixteen people have been arrested over their alleged involvement in one of the country’s largest drug smuggling syndicates, recruiting Kiwis as young as 19 years old through social media.
Customs alleged 252kg of methamphetamine had been transported on return trips to Malaysia between October 2025 and January 2026.
The drugs were allegedly mainly carried in passenger luggage.
Customs said the three-month investigation, assisted by police, uncovered the syndicate who had been recruiting young New Zealanders through social media.
Search warrants were executed yesterday in Rotorua, Hamilton and Auckland, leading to the arrest of 11 people aged between 19 and 31.
Methamphetamine found in luggage. (Source: Customs)
Customs said those arrested are alleged to be linked to the syndicate as couriers, recruiters, and organisers.
Five arrests earlier in the year as part of the same operation brought the total number to 16, it said.
Customs investigations manager Dominic Adams said the arrests had effectively dismantled a significant drug smuggling syndicate, but there would be others like it, and New Zealanders needed to be aware of the dangers and consequences.
“This is a tactic we know is used by organised criminal groups worldwide. They will recruit suitcase couriers through social media to do the legwork for them, offering money in exchange for travelling overseas and bringing back drugs in their luggage.”
Adams said it had been ruining young people’s lives in many countries, and New Zealand was “unfortunately not immune”.
Cash found during a search warrant. (Source: Customs)
“We want young New Zealanders to be aware of the consequences. Customs urges you not to sacrifice future freedoms for the promise of fast money and free travel. Drug couriers will face a long time in prison, as well as jeopardise future employment opportunities and international travel – it is not worth the risk.”
Suspicions about drug smuggling could be reported by calling 0800 937 768, or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
An Air New Zealand flight scheduled to arrive in Tonga in the early hours of ANZAC Day has been cancelled, disrupting travel for passengers heading to Nukuʻalofa.
Air New Zealand flight NZ0977, also operating under Singapore Airlines codeshare SQ4285, was due to arrive at Fuaʻamotu International Airport at 12.45am on Saturday, 25.
While the airline has yet to issue an official explanation for the cancellation, Kaniva News understands—based on information circulating on social media—that an incident at Fuaʻamotu Airport may have temporarily blocked the runway, preventing the aircraft from landing.
Details surrounding the reported runway incident remain limited, and it is unclear how long the runway was closed or whether other flights were affected.
Kaniva News has sought clarification from Air New Zealand and airport authorities regarding the cause of the incident and any impact on upcoming flights.
Passengers have been advised to check directly with their airline for rebooking information and further updates.
