Tonga’s long-awaited Anti-Corruption Commission ended its first year with 36 cases under investigation but no charges or prosecutions, as severe staff shortages, limited investigative capacity and gaps in key systems challenged the new watchdog expected to confront the Kingdom’s long-running corruption allegations.

The figures provide the first official picture of how the much-anticipated Commission has responded to complaints after years of public concern over alleged corruption, misuse of public funds and weaknesses in government accountability.

Its inaugural annual report shows 37 complaints were received during FY2024/25. Of those, 36 — 97.3 percent — remained under investigation, while one had proceeded to judicial review in court. The report does not identify the judicial review matter by name, although the ACC was involved in court proceedings with the National Reserve Bank of Tonga during the reporting period.

No charges had been filed and no prosecutions had commenced by the end of the reporting period.

Staff Shortages Hamper Commission

The report reveals the Commission was attempting to handle the caseload while operating with just nine staff against a recruitment target of 25.

The staffing target was officially recorded as “Not Achieved”.

The Commission identified difficulty attracting and retaining skilled investigators, legal officers and ICT specialists as one of its major internal challenges.

It was also operating without a secure Case Management System and digital evidence tools, while its small team had to manage both the establishment of the new institution and its investigative and operational workload.

Delays Cloud Fraud Investigations

The report also identified delays in information sharing with law-enforcement and oversight agencies and warned that judicial backlogs could slow corruption prosecutions.

Fraud dominated the complaints received during the year.

Fifteen of the 37 complaints — 40.5 percent — involved alleged fraud.

Seven were classified as maladministration or referrals, six involved alleged corrupt conduct and five involved alleged interference.

Two complaints involved bribery and another two involved victimisation. No money-laundering complaints were recorded.

Fraud Cases Demand Greater Focus

The Commission said the large proportion of fraud allegations pointed to a need for greater investigative focus on areas including procurement, payroll and benefits fraud and stronger information-sharing arrangements with law-enforcement agencies.

It acknowledged that its caseload was heavily concentrated at the investigation stage with few advanced outcomes.

However, the Commission said such an investigation-heavy pipeline was typical during the early development of an anti-corruption agency while staffing, standard operating procedures and forensic capability were being built.

The way complaints reached the Commission also exposed another weakness in its first-year operation.

Thirty of the 37 complaints — 81.1 percent — were made in person, while only four were received by email.

No complaints were received through the Commission’s website or by telephone.

The Commission said the figures could indicate problems with the discoverability, trust or usability of remote and anonymous reporting channels.

Where investigators uncover evidence of criminal conduct, cases are referred to the Attorney General for consideration of charges.

The Commission said it planned to recruit additional investigators and legal officers, introduce a secure digital case management system and strengthen its enforcement capability as it moved beyond its establishment phase.

Tonga is planning to perform up to 100 hip, knee and other joint replacement procedures next year after the country’s first arthroplasty programme at Vaiola Hospital successfully put its first patient back on her feet and home within days.

The breakthrough follows the arrival of a volunteer specialist surgical team from New Zealand to perform Tonga’s first joint replacement operations, working alongside Vaiola Hospital doctors and nurses from September 28 to October 2.

The pilot programme was established to bring the highly specialised surgery to Tonga, where there is no resident orthopaedic surgeon and patients have previously had limited access to such treatment.

Previously, Tongans requiring joint replacements, including people suffering severe arthritis of the hips or knees, had to travel to New Zealand or Australia for surgery.

Orthopaedic surgeon Dr John van Dalen estimated that receiving such treatment overseas could cost about NZ$35,000, putting it beyond the reach of many Tongan families.

The breakthrough at Vaiola Hospital means patients selected for the current programme can instead undergo the operations in Tonga and free of charge, with the specialist New Zealand surgical team volunteering its services.

The visiting team’s work has been supported through fundraising and sponsorship, including funding from the Rapid Relief Fund of the Plymouth Brethren church in New Zealand.

The significance is particularly stark given Tonga’s GDP per capita of about NZ$11,500, compared with about NZ$84,000 in New Zealand.

The Ministry of Health said preparations for the next round of patients will begin in November, with the specialist surgical team expected to return in March 2027.

Lord Tangi ‘o Vaonukonuka, Tonga surgeon and former Minister of Health, said the programme was aiming for between 75 and 100 cases next year, subject to funding.

The expansion follows Tonga’s historic first arthroplasty procedures this week, allowing patients who previously had to travel to New Zealand or Australia for specialist joint replacement surgery to be treated at home.

In an encouraging early result, the Ministry said the programme’s first patient was already walking and had been discharged from Vaiola Hospital on Wednesday afternoon after being monitored in the surgical ward.

The current programme, running from September 28 to October 2, involves an eight-member specialist team working alongside Vaiola Hospital doctors and nurses.

The visiting team includes surgeons Dr John van Dalen and Dr Tom Sharpie, anaesthetist Dr Geoff Spenser, Tongan assistant doctors Dr Charlotte Tu‘imana and Dr Letania Mikaele, registered nurses Lynette Sweetman and Lydia Sargent, and logistics coordinator Steve Flaunty.

The mission was sponsored and funded by the Rapid Relief Fund of the Plymouth Brethren church in New Zealand, according to the Ministry.

A critical development enabling the operations to be performed locally was the renovation of Vaiola Hospital’s Central Sterile Supply Department.

Van Dalen said adequate sterilisation was essential for patient safety in complex joint replacement and trauma surgery.

The upgraded facility allows surgical instruments to be cleaned, disinfected and sterilised between operations to standards described by the Ministry as approaching international levels.

Lord Tangi encouraged Tongans suffering from conditions requiring knee, hip and other joint replacements to come forward now that the procedures can be performed in the Kingdom.

“Doing the surgery here in Tonga will make a big difference,” Lord Tangi and van Dalen said, according to the Ministry. “We believe it will change people’s lives, enhance families, and also allow people to be independent.”

The current mission is considered a pilot, but plans are being developed to establish the service annually and potentially bring the specialist team to Tonga twice a year if sufficient funding can be secured.

The longer-term goal is also to strengthen local surgical expertise and build Tonga’s capacity to provide specialised orthopaedic treatment without forcing patients to seek costly treatment overseas.

Clarify the 75-to-100 targetFix the patient timeline

Tongan-New Zealand Olympic great Dame Valerie Adams has paid an emotional tribute to legendary New Zealand sports journalist, broadcaster and author Phil Gifford, saying he and his wife Jan became like family to her.

Gifford died on Tuesday night aged 79 after a media career spanning more than 50 years.

Adams was appointed a matāpule (herald) to Lord Vaea in January 2015, receiving the Tongan chiefly title Tongitupe-‘O e-Funga Taua from the noble, whose estate includes her home village of Houma in Tonga.

Gifford was one of New Zealand’s best-known sports journalists, broadcasters and authors, particularly renowned for his rugby writing and his satirical alter ego, Loosehead Len.

An Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, Gifford worked with Adams on her 2012 book, Valerie: The Autobiography, a collaboration that developed into a close and lasting friendship with Adams and his wife, Jan.

Following news of his death, Adams said her “heart is heavy with sorrow over the loss of an extraordinary man”.

She recalled how Gifford and his wife Jan quickly became much more than professional acquaintances while they worked together on the book.

“Phil and his wonderful wife, Jan, quickly became like family to me when we began the journey of writing my book,” Adams said.

“It was a challenging time for all of us, especially as Jan faced health struggles, but an unspoken bond blossomed from that experience.”

Adams said she eventually felt “like a cherished child to them”, with the couple becoming closely involved in both her sporting career and family life.

They travelled to Switzerland to visit her and attended several of her competitions, including the Commonwealth Games.

Their support continued through major milestones away from sport.

“They were there to celebrate the births of my children and helped care for them while I worked hard to make my comeback,” Adams said.

When the four-time Olympic medallist relocated to Christchurch while pursuing her campaign for the Tokyo Olympics, having Gifford and Jan nearby made the move significantly easier, she said.

Adams also remembered Gifford’s passion for rugby, thanking him with humour for “all the rugby insights I didn’t know I needed”.

She said she would treasure their countless memories and the way Gifford and Jan had always welcomed her into their lives.

“My thoughts and prayers are with Jan and the entire family during this difficult time,” Adams said.

“You all meant so much to him.”

Gifford also worked with renowned rugby coach Sir Wayne Smith on his 2023 book, Smithy: Endless Winters & The Spring of ’22.

His death brings to a close a career of more than half a century in New Zealand sports journalism, broadcasting and writing.

Tighten the story for publicationMake the opening more news-focused

Prominent Tongan social media personality and former anti-drug campaigner Afimeimo‘unga Hola has reportedly died.

Reports of Hola’s death began circulating on social media, although Kaniva News has not yet independently confirmed the circumstances of his death or received an official statement from his family.

Former rugby union coach and ‘Ikale Tahi player ‘Isi Fatani was among those who announced Hola’s death on Facebook this morning.

“Tokoua heikai teke ngalo ha taimi. RIP,” Fatani posted as he shared the tragic news.

The Tongan message translates approximately as: “Brother, you will never be forgotten. Rest in peace.”

Hola was a well-known online personality in Tonga, attracting more than 10,000 followers on Facebook and frequently using social media to comment on public and community issues.

He became particularly prominent through his involvement in Tonga’s anti-drug movement, at a time when growing methamphetamine use and trafficking had become a major national concern.

His anti-drug activism later became embroiled in controversy after accusations involving members of Tonga’s prominent families and public figures were aired through social media.

In 2021, Hola was at the centre of a highly publicised dispute that divided some anti-drug campaigners and their supporters after allegations were made involving Princess Pilolevu Tuita.

The Princess subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit against Hola but later withdrew the case, apparently after taking into consideration Hola’s social media fundraising campaign to cover the costs of his legal defence.

The controversy generated considerable public debate and exposed divisions within the anti-drug movement over the allegations and the way the campaign was being conducted.

Hola later faced legal trouble over other claims he made online.

In 2022, a Nuku‘alofa Magistrate sentenced him to 11 months’ imprisonment, fully suspended, after he was convicted of two counts relating to electronic communications in which two business owners were accused of manufacturing and selling illicit drugs.

Despite the controversies surrounding him, Hola remained a recognisable figure on Tongan social media and was particularly associated with outspoken commentary on drugs and other social issues.

Kaniva News is seeking confirmation and further information from his family.

A Tongan man accused of murder is standing trial in the High Court at Wellington over a fatal shooting following an alleged drug deal in a Wairarapa supermarket car park.

Pelikani Taukei’aho and co-defendant Tauave Sue have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Doreion Hard, who was fatally shot in Featherston on 22 March 2025.

The Crown alleges the confrontation began after Hard and three other men arranged to meet the defendants to buy several ounces of cocaine, but instead planned to rob them.

Prosecutor Tim Bain has described the incident as a “drug deal gone sideways”.

The court heard the men arrived armed and that Hard and another man approached a grey Holden Cruze occupied by Taukei’aho and Sue.

A witness told the court the men appeared to rob the Holden’s occupants, with at least one allegedly brandishing a firearm while packages were removed from the vehicle.

The owner of a red ute used by Hard’s group testified that she heard a gunshot and saw the vehicle’s rear window shatter as they began leaving the car park.

She said Hard then grabbed her arm and told her he had been shot.

The woman told the jury she tried to stop Hard’s bleeding and keep him conscious while others in the ute were concerned with disposing of firearms and other items.

The Crown alleges Taukei’aho emerged from the Holden and fired at the departing ute, with one of the shots fatally striking Hard in the back.

Another witness, who told the court he had served in the military for 22 years, said he heard three or four shots during the rapidly unfolding incident.

Defence lawyers have questioned witnesses closely about the sequence and timing of events during the confrontation.

Hard was later found critically injured in Carterton and died despite emergency services attending.

Taukei’aho and Sue deny murder, and the allegations against them remain to be determined by the jury.

The trial has been allocated five weeks and is continuing.

Tongan dancer and teacher Mele Ta’e’iloa has become an overnight social-media sensation after an unexpected appearance on stage with international pop star Jason Derulo in Auckland.

Ta’e’iloa, an Auckland-based dancer who teaches dance at Manurewa High School, was attending Derulo’s performance when an opportunity arose for her to join the American singer on stage.

What followed quickly attracted widespread attention online, with footage of Ta’e’iloa dancing alongside Derulo spreading across social media and attracting more than one million views within hours.

The performance was particularly remarkable because Ta’e’iloa had only a few minutes to prepare before stepping onto the stage.

She had not previously heard the song, Mi Chico, and was given only a short time to learn some of the choreography before performing it in front of the Auckland audience.

The latter part of her performance was freestyle, allowing the Tongan dancer to draw on her own experience and training.

The opportunity came after one of Ta’e’iloa’s friends, who was among the dancers performing at the concert, contacted her shortly before the number and invited her to take part.

Although the appearance was therefore partly arranged, Ta’e’iloa had little advance preparation and had not expected when she left home for the concert that she would end the night performing alongside one of the world’s best-known pop artists.

By the following morning, videos of her performance were circulating widely and her phone had been flooded with messages and social-media notifications.

The viral moment has also drawn attention to Taeiloa’s work away from the concert stage.

She teaches dance at Manurewa High School in South Auckland, an area with one of New Zealand’s largest Pacific communities, while also working a second job.

Her sudden rise to online attention has prompted strong reaction from viewers, including Tongans celebrating seeing one of their own confidently taking an unexpected opportunity on an international artist’s stage.

One commenter said: “Mālō Mele, you represented Tonga with confidence and made us proud.”

Another wrote: “She was given one opportunity and she absolutely made the most of it. That Tongan energy!”

A third commenter joked: “Jason Derulo may have been the star, but Mele stole the show.”

The appearance has transformed what began as an ordinary night out for Taeiloa into a viral showcase of Tongan talent before an audience extending far beyond the Auckland concert venue.

A young New Zealand-born Tongan woman has become the first Pasifika student to graduate from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Sport, Health and Physical Education conjoint degree.

Meleana Payn, the youngest of five children and only daughter of Siliva and Joyce Payn, traces her Tongan roots to Mailetaha, Tongatapu, and Neiafu, Vavaʻu.

Her graduation carries particular significance for her family, whose journey in New Zealand began when her maternal grandfather, Kapeliele Cocker, migrated from Tonga in the late 1960s seeking greater opportunities for his family.

“Everything I’ve been able to achieve is because of the sacrifices and opportunities he helped create for our family,” Payn said.

Education was strongly encouraged in her household, with Payn saying tertiary study was regarded as an expectation rather than simply an option.

She said her parents did not have the same educational opportunities while growing up in Tonga, making her achievement part of a family aspiration extending across generations.

Payn also credited Māori and Pacific support programmes at the university, including Tuākana Business and Commerce ‘o Pasifika and Pasifika Success within Sport, Health and Physical Education, for helping her succeed.

She said being surrounded by Pacific people provided strength and confidence and connected her with mentors who became role models and part of her university whānau.

Payn said that while she was honoured to be among the first Pasifika graduates completing the conjoint pathway, the greater significance was helping other Māori and Pacific students see themselves succeeding in higher education.

“What matters is creating pathways where our people can see themselves succeeding and feel confident enough to take up space in those places themselves,” she said.

Her academic journey is continuing, with Payn now studying a Master of Business in Sport Leadership and Management at Auckland University of Technology.

Influenced by her father’s involvement in rugby in Tonga and New Zealand, her research interests centre on increasing opportunities for Pacific people in sport leadership and management.

Alongside her postgraduate studies, Payn is Tuākana Business Head Tutor Pacific, a role through which she hopes to provide other Māori and Pacific students with the support she received during her own studies.

For Payn, the graduation belongs not only to her but to the family and community that supported her.

“I owe it all to my village,” she said. “This is a huge win for all of us. But I also know the job’s not finished.”