Wednesday, March 4, 2026
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Tributes flow for Tongan man missing after Piha incident in Auckland

By
Kalino Latu
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Tributes are pouring in for Manitisa Pāhulu, who was swept out to sea in Auckland after a tragic incident at Piha that triggered a major land, sea, and air search last week.

As Kaniva News reported earlier, emergency services launched an extensive search operation after a man was swept off the rocks while fishing south of Piha on Sunday morning.

Police confirmed that the fisherman had been at Union Bay, Karekare, when a powerful wave knocked him into the sea at around 10.15am.

Search teams from Police, Coastguard, and Surf Lifesaving New Zealand were immediately deployed, with lifeguards scouring the coastline between Karekare Beach and Mercer Bay.

Four rescue watercraft, an inflatable rescue boat, and the Piha Search and Rescue Squad were all involved in the operation. Surf Lifesaving New Zealand said the man was washed away near Farley Point, with the alarm raised by a witness who ran to the Karekare Surf Life Saving Club for help.

Despite the intense effort, lifeguards were stood down by 1pm, although Police confirmed the operation would continue, with further searches planned for low tide later in the day.

Police also noted that the Karekare coastline is notorious for its unpredictable surges and dangerous swell, and regularly warn rock fishers to use extreme caution.

Sunday’s tragedy unfolded just hours after another water‑related emergency in the region, when the body of a missing kayaker was recovered in Waiwera, north of Auckland.

While Police have yet to release additional official details about the Piha victim, family and friends have identified him as Sione Manitisa or known to many as Manitasa Pāhulu, a Tongan resident in Auckland, according to sources who knew him well.

Although Police have not issued any official confirmation of his death, Manitisa’s relatives and friends have begun expressing their grief on Facebook, describing the situation as “seriously unexpected” and remembering him as a man of good manners who had no issues with anyone.

Relatives said he was deeply loved, and that if his disappearance is ultimately confirmed as a loss, it would leave a profound shock throughout the community.

Further updates will be provided as Police continue their investigation and search efforts along the rugged West Coast.

Two arrested for alleged online harassment and harm via Facebook platforms in Tongatapu

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Tonga Police have arrested two individuals in separate incidents for the alleged misuse of electronic communication services, following reports of harassment and disrespectful online behaviour.

Police confirmed that on 23 February 2026, a 56‑year‑old resident of Te’ekiu was taken into custody after allegedly using an electronic communication service to menace, harass, or cause harm to another person during a Facebook Live broadcast.

In a second and unrelated case on 25 February 2026, a 42‑year‑old resident of Ha’asini was arrested for allegedly using an electronic communication service to menace or harass another individual by posting disrespectful and harmful information about them using a Facebook feature known as “My Story.”

According to authorities, both incidents raise concerns about the growing misuse of online communication platforms to target or intimidate others. Police reminded the public that harmful online behaviour carries legal consequences under Tonga’s laws.

In a statement, Tonga Police urged the public to uphold the nation’s Four Golden Pillars—Respect, Nurturing Relationships, Humility/Generosity, and Loyalty—not only in everyday interactions but also in all online spaces.

Officers emphasised that “words can impact others” and encouraged responsible communication across digital platforms.

The arrests also serve as a reminder that complaints about online harassment and threatening behaviour will be taken seriously, and individuals found misusing communication services may face prosecution.

For further media enquiries, the public is advised to contact the Tonga Police Media & Public Relations Office on 740‑1613.

BG Wealth Sharing under scrutiny as Police warn public after local meeting videos emerge

By
Kalino Latu
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Nukuʻalofa, Tonga – Tonga Police has warned that promoting the BG Wealth Sharing Scheme is an offence, following Kaniva’s report that scheme promoters appeared to meet in Tonga last week.

According to the advisory, the National Reserve Bank of Tonga (NRBT) has formally identified BG Wealth Sharing as an illegal investment operation, warning that the scheme bears the hallmarks of a pyramid or Ponzi structure.

It followed videos shared on Facebook over the weekend showing a meeting, attended mostly by women, listening to a woman who appeared to be promoting the BG scam.

As we reported earlier on Friday, a meeting by BG campaigners had been announced on social media to be held at the Tonga Tauʻataina Church hall in Haʻateiho at 7pm the same day.

Authorities in Tonga, New Zealand, Australia and the US said the schemes depend on money from new participants to pay earlier investors and often collapse, causing significant financial loss.

Tonga Police reminded the public that it is illegal to initiate, donate to, advertise, implement, finance, or manage any pyramid or Ponzi scheme in Tonga. Individuals involved in such activities may face criminal prosecution.

Authorities are strongly advising people not to join or promote the BG Wealth Sharing programme and to be cautious of any similar schemes promising unusually high or guaranteed returns.

Members of the public who have already been approached by representatives of the scheme, or who may have provided personal information or money, are encouraged to report the matter to the Tonga Police Cybercrime Unit.

Reports or suspicious activity can be submitted by contacting 7401660 or emailing cybercrime.unit@police.gov.to.

For additional media inquiries, the public is advised to contact the Tonga Police Media & Public Relations Office at 740‑1613.

One investment, withdrawals “until the end of time”

As Kaniva News reported last week, an aggressive promoter of the BG scheme, Siani Kijlstra, told her followers that a leadership team from the organisation would arrive in Tonga to hold a meeting and answer questions about joining the programme.

She promoted a slogan in Tongan: “Inivesi tuʻo taha fakatuputupu ki he pāʻangangalu,” telling followers that if they joined, they would make only one investment and then be able to withdraw profits from it “until the end of time.”

Online Promotion by Tongans

As Kaniva News has reported, a significant number of Tongans in New Zealand, Tonga, Australia, the United States and elsewhere have been actively promoting the scheme online.

Promoters circulated the company’s logo across Facebook and encouraged community members to join.

One Facebook group run by Tongans and dedicated to BG Wealth Sharing has amassed several thousand members.

Cyclone Urmil weakens but Tonga remains under multiple weather warnings

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tropical Cyclone Urmil continues to affect Tonga despite weakening and moving further away from the southern island groups.

According to a 5pm advisory issued by the Tonga Meteorological Services, the cyclone, now a Category 1 system, is expected to move out of Tonga’s maritime boundary later tonight, but heavy rain, damaging winds and hazardous seas are still forecast to impact several areas.

At 3pm today, the system was positioned about 805 kilometres west southwest of Nuku’alofa and was moving southeast at a speed of 23 knots.

Meteorologists reported maximum sustained winds near the centre of about 50 knots, with momentary gusts reaching as high as 120 to 140 kilometres per hour.

The storm’s associated cloud bands continue to produce widespread heavy rain, poor visibility and high to very high seas reaching between seven and ten metres, while strong northwesterly swells of four to six metres are expected to remain dangerous for coastal communities.

The Meteorological Service has maintained several warnings for land and coastal areas, including a gale warning for Ha’apai, Tongatapu and ‘Eua, and heavy rain and flash flood advisories for Vava’u, Ha’apai, Tongatapu and ‘Eua.

Vava’u remains under a strong wind warning. Marine warnings also remain in place, with storm warnings and damaging swells affecting the Tele‑ki‑Tonga and Tele‑ki‑Tokelau waters, while gale and strong wind warnings apply to the coastal waters of Ha’apai, Tongatapu and ‘Eua. A small craft advisory continues across all island groups due to dangerous sea conditions.

As the system tracked southeastward today, regional forecast models continued to show Urmil drawing closer to the southern maritime zones. By midday, the cyclone was sitting about 880 kilometres west southwest of Nuku’alofa and moving east southeast at roughly 36 kilometres per hour.

While Tonga braces for the cyclone’s continuing influence, Fiji has been dealing with heavy flooding after the system passed about 520 kilometres southwest of Nadi earlier this morning. Several roads were inundated and emergency officials issued warnings urging motorists to avoid flooded areas.

Photos shared on social media show fallen trees lying across the road, with authorities later seen cutting and removing them this afternoon. The clean‑up followed reports of heavy rain across Tongatapu and a small earthquake that was felt by some residents.

Man injured in Papakura shooting as Police launch investigation

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A man has been taken to hospital after a shooting in the Auckland suburb of Papakura late this morning.

Police say officers were patrolling the Clevedon Road area at around 11.20am when they heard what sounded like gunshots. A short time later, they located a man suffering from a gunshot wound.

St John Ambulance confirmed they were alerted at 11.24am and responded with two ambulances, a rapid‑response unit and a manager.

Paramedics treated the injured man at the scene before transporting him to Middlemore Hospital, where he remains in moderate condition.

Police, supported by the Armed Offenders Squad, carried out inquiries at a property on Grove Road, though no arrests have been made at this stage.

Investigators believe the incident was targeted.

“We are following strong lines of enquiry in relation to the people allegedly involved in this incident. Initial indications are that the victim and the offenders are known to each other and there is no risk to the wider community,”
a police spokesperson said.

Cordons that were put in place around Grove Road have since been lifted, and police thanked affected residents for their patience.

A continued police presence is expected in both the Clevedon Road and Grove Road areas throughout the evening as officers work to establish what happened. Witnesses reported the Police Eagle helicopter circling overhead earlier in the day as part of the response.

Police are urging anyone with information to come forward as the investigation continues.

Tsunami no-threat advisory issued after 6.1 magnitude earthquake southwest of Tonga

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Nuku‘alofa, Tonga – The National Tsunami Warning Centre has issued a Tsunami No Threat Advisory following a magnitude 6.1 earthquake that struck southwest of Tonga this evening.

According to the advisory, the earthquake occurred at 6.44pm on 1 March 2026 (Tonga local time).

It was recorded at Latitude 21.9° South and Longitude 179.3° West, at a depth of 590 kilometers, with the epicentre located approximately 430 kilometres southwest of Nuku‘alofa.

Officials stated that, based on current seismic data, “a result tsunami wave is unlikely to affect Tonga.”

The magnitude remains provisional and may be updated as further analysis is completed.

The National Tsunami Warning Centre emphasised that this is the final message for the event unless significant changes occur.

Social media platforms lit up this evening with reports from residents across Tonga who say they felt strong shaking after an earthquake struck near the island nation.

One of the earliest social media posts came from Kaufaki Monukaeafe, who wrote in Tongan: “Mālō pē hao” — a phrase expressing relief, translated as “Thanks, we are just saved.”

His post drew immediate engagement, including a commenter who asked, “Was it big or small?”

Monukaeafe has not yet responded to clarify the strength of the shaking.

Search underway for fisherman swept off rocks near Piha

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Auckland, NZ — A major search operation is underway after a man was swept off the rocks while fishing south of Piha on Sunday morning.

Police say the man was fishing at Union Bay, Karekare, when a wave knocked him into the water at around 10.15am. Search teams from Police, Coastguard and Surf Lifesaving New Zealand were immediately deployed, but as of early afternoon there was still no sign of him.

Surf Lifesaving New Zealand confirmed the man was washed away near Farley Point, and that the alarm was raised by a witness who ran to the Karekare Surf Life Saving Club for help.

Lifeguards launched a wide search between Karekare Beach and Mercer Bay using four rescue watercraft and an inflatable rescue boat, supported by the Piha search and rescue squad.

By 1pm, lifeguards were stood down, though Police said the operation was continuing, with additional searches to be carried out at low tide later in the day.

Union Bay and the surrounding Karekare coastline are known for powerful surges and unpredictable swell, and authorities regularly warn rock fishers to take extreme care in the area.

Sunday’s incident comes just hours after the body of a missing kayaker was discovered in Waiwera, north of Auckland — the second serious water‑related emergency in the region the same day.

Police have not released further details about the missing fisherman, and the search remains active.

Cyclone Urmil keeps Tonga on alert as Fiji battles flooding from southward shift

By
Kaniva Staff
-

As Cyclone Urmil tracks southward, Tonga faces rising threat levels while Fiji battles heavy flooding left in the storm’s wake.

The forecast map shows Cyclone Urmil tracking southeast from west of Fiji, with projected positions marked from 11am 1st March to 1am 2nd March as the system moves toward the southern waters of Tonga, passing south of Nadi and approaching the Tele‑ki‑Tonga and Tele‑ki‑Tokelau zones.

Fiji Authorities said the cyclone was located about 520 kilometres southwest of Nadi at 6am, bringing intense rainbands and strong winds across multiple divisions.

Although the system is not expected to track directly over Fiji, the Fiji Meteorological Service said Urmil was moving southeast at about 30km/h and generating widespread downpours.

Officials warned motorists to avoid flooded roads and to remain alert to changing conditions.

Warnings Strengthen Across Tonga

In Tonga, the cyclone now poses a growing threat as it continues to track east‑southeast across the region.

The Fuaʻamotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre said at 1pm on Sunday that cyclone warnings remain in force for Tongatapu, ʻEua, Tele‑ki‑Tonga and Tele‑ki‑Tokelau.

At midday, Cyclone Urmil was positioned about 880 kilometres west‑southwest of Nukuʻalofa, moving east‑southeast at roughly 36km/h.

The system is carrying sustained winds of 100km/h, with gusts reaching up to 140km/h near its centre.

Gale warnings also remain active for Haʻapai, Tongatapu and ʻEua, while Vavaʻu is currently under a strong wind warning. Authorities say wind speeds are expected to increase gradually as the cyclone draws closer.

Heavy rain warnings and flash‑flood advisories remain in effect for Vavaʻu, Haʻapai, Tongatapu and ʻEua. The warnings have raised concerns about flooding in low‑lying and flood‑prone communities.

Marine conditions are also expected to become hazardous as the system progresses. Storm warnings and damaging swells are still in force for Tele‑ki‑Tonga and Tele‑ki‑Tokelau waters, with gale warnings in place for Haʻapai, Tongatapu and ʻEua coastal waters.

Rough Seas Expected

All coastal waters across Tonga remain under a small‑craft advisory, with authorities urging fishers and small boat operators to stay ashore. Large swells and rough seas could make navigation extremely dangerous.

Forecasters say associated heavy rain, strong winds and damaging gale‑ to storm‑force conditions will affect several island groups over the next 24 hours.

They are urging residents in exposed areas to secure property, monitor weather updates and follow official safety instructions.

Emergency authorities in Tonga warn that conditions may deteriorate quickly as the cyclone continues its approach. They advise communities to prepare for potential power outages, flash flooding and disruptions to inter‑island travel.

Tonga’s lack of ties with Iran — yet its strong connection to a faith founded by Iranians

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Explainer – As the world reels from reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a US–Israel strike, Tonga’s own unusual connection to Iran — despite having no diplomatic relations — has come into sharp focus through the growth of a faith founded in Persia, the modern Iran.

In the wake of the massive US–Israel joint operation known as Operation Epic Fury, President Donald Trump has claimed that Khamenei was killed in the opening wave of strikes targeting senior regime figures.

According to other accounts, dozens of top Iranian security and military officials were also eliminated in the coordinated attack, with as many as ten high‑ranking leaders reportedly killed when Khamenei’s fortified compound came under direct fire.

Statements attributed to President Trump described the strike as an effort to give Iranians their “greatest chance” to reclaim their country, while Iranian state media alleged that several members of Khamenei’s family were also killed, though details remain unclear.

Israeli officials told Fox News that more than 40 senior regime operatives were taken out in the first hours of the operation, underscoring the unprecedented scale of the assault.

Shared Faith, No Diplomacy

Tonga and Iran occupy opposite ends of the geopolitical landscape: one a small Pacific kingdom, the other a major Middle Eastern state deeply involved in regional conflict.

Yet the two nations share a unique, indirect connection through the Bahá’í Faith, a religion founded in 19th‑century Persia that today has a meaningful presence in Tonga.

Despite this religious link, Tonga has no formal diplomatic relations with Iran, and the two countries have never exchanged ambassadors, embassies, or bilateral agreements.

A Religion With Iranian Origins

The Bahá’í Faith was founded in the mid‑19th century by Mírzá Ḥosayn ʿAlī Nūrí, known as Bahá’u’lláh, who was born in Tehran in 1817. Britannica confirms that the religion began as a reformist movement rooted in Persia before emerging as a global faith.

It grew out of the Bábí movement, also founded in Iran by the Báb (Mírzá ʿAlí Moḥammad of Shiraz) in 1844. Both central figures of the Bahá’í Faith were Iranian.

After enduring persecution in Iran, Bahá’í communities migrated and expanded worldwide, eventually establishing a significant footprint across the Pacific.

Tonga’s Significant Bahá’í Community

Tonga and its global diaspora are home to a significant Bahá’í community.

Detailed demographic studies of Tonga’s Bahá’í population show:

  • The World Religion Database (2015) estimated that Bahá’ís represented 3.5% of Tonga’s national population.
  • With Tonga’s population around 105,000, this equates to roughly 3,600 followers.

This makes the Bahá’í Faith one of Tonga’s larger minority religions, with deep roots in Tongan society since the mid‑20th century.

The Bahá’í Faith was introduced to Tonga in 1954 by pioneers following global expansion plans initiated by the Bahá’í leadership.

The first Local Spiritual Assembly was formed in 1958, and by the early 2000s, Tonga had dozens of local assemblies and its own Bahá’í school, the Ocean of Light International School.

Missiles hit near Tongan Embassy as Israel says Khamenei is dead and Iran insists he is safe

By
Kalino Latu
-

Missile debris has fallen near the location of the Tongan Embassy in Abu Dhabi as Iran and the wider Gulf reeled from retaliatory strikes, while conflicting reports emerged over the fate of Iran’s Supreme Leader.

Israel’s prime minister says there are “growing signs” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is “gone” following US–Israel attacks that heavily damaged his compound, according to BBC‑cited briefings, even as Iranian officials insist the leader remains “safe and sound” and deny reports of his death.

Meanwhile, multiple explosions were reported across Abu Dhabi’s Corniche district — the location of the Tongan Embassy at Etihad Towers on Corniche Road — as missile interceptions sent shockwaves through the area.

Witnesses told Reuters that several rapid explosions caused windows to shake in homes near the Corniche following the incoming strikes.

The UAE Ministry of Defence confirmed that missile debris fell across several parts of Abu Dhabi, reporting one civilian fatality caused by falling shrapnel in a residential area.

The attacks came as Iran targeted Gulf states hosting American military bases, including the Al Dhafra Air Base—located about 30 kilometres from the city centre—which was among Tehran’s stated objectives.

The Tongan Embassy has not yet updated the advisory it issued on Friday for Tongan residents and travellers in the region following the latest missile strikes.

Corniche Area Among Impact Zones

One witness interviewed by Reuters said she heard “five booms in rapid succession” that shook windows in a house near Abu Dhabi’s Corniche, confirming that the area around Etihad Towers experienced the shockwave from falling missile fragments or interception blasts.

The Corniche waterfront is a high‑density area home to foreign missions, luxury hotels and government buildings.

While there is no official confirmation that missile debris struck Etihad Towers directly, the confirmed proximity of explosions means the Tongan Embassy was within the affected impact zone.

Residents in both Abu Dhabi and neighbouring Dubai reported seeing missiles streaking across the sky, with air defence systems intercepting many of the threats.

Claims of Death

Reuters reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader — long seen as the architect of the nation’s anti‑US posture and regional military reach, while suppressing waves of domestic dissent — was killed in joint Israeli and US strikes, according to a senior Israeli official quoted by the news agency on Saturday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says there are “growing signs” that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, may have been killed in the US–Israel strikes, citing intelligence that his compound in Tehran suffered extensive damage, according to the BBC.

Satellite images earlier showed the Supreme Leader’s residence heavily hit, while Israel claims that “several senior figures” within the Iranian regime have already been eliminated during the operation.

Netanyahu concluded his remarks by urging Israelis to follow safety instructions from the Home Front Command, signalling that military operations against Iran are likely to continue “for as long as necessary.”

Regional Retaliation and Escalation

The Iranian missile launches followed massive US–Israel joint strikes on Iranian targets earlier in the day.

According to Emirati authorities, several waves of incoming Iranian missiles were intercepted over Abu Dhabi. Missile debris fell in areas including Saadiyat Island, Khalifa City, Bani Yas, Mohamed bin Zayed City and Al Falah, but the government also confirmed debris fell in other unspecified locations—one of which resulted in a fatality.

The UAE Defence Ministry described the Iranian attack as a “blatant violation of national sovereignty”, warning that the state reserves its full right to respond.

Authorities temporarily closed the UAE’s airspace, suspended flights at Dubai International Airport, and issued mobile alerts instructing residents to stay away from windows and move to safe areas.

What It Means for Tongans in the Region

As of publication, there are no reports of injuries involving Tongan citizens or embassy staff.

Given the proximity of the strikes to the Corniche district, Tongans living in Abu Dhabi—especially those near Etihad Towers—are urged to maintain extreme caution.

The Embassy has asked all Tongans in the UAE and across the Gulf to:

  • Register with the mission immediately
  • Avoid unnecessary travel
  • Monitor official safety alerts
  • Remain indoors during any further missile activity

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