National MP Erica Stanford said the party’s resigned Taieri candidate Stephen Jack sharing a poem that compared Jacinda Ardern to Adolf Hitler was unacceptable.
Stephen Jack. (Source: National Party)
Jack resigned last night after Stuff reported he had re-posted a poem on Facebook in 2021, comparing the former prime minister to Hitler.
Stanford told Morning Report the then-prime minister deserved some respect.
“Making disparaging comments about the prime minister like that is not acceptable,” she said.
“It’s disrespectful. No matter what you think of Jacinda Ardern, she was our prime minister and she deserved some respect.”
On Sunday it was reported by Stuff that Jack had also re-posted a sexist joke in 2020.
National’s deputy leader Nicola Willis labelled that joke “disgusting” – and warned a repeat incident may trigger the party’s disciplinary code.
Stanford said she had not met Jack and could not comment on whether the party’s candidate selection panel had seen his comments.
“I don’t know very much about this candidate, I’ve never met him, I only heard the news, as you probably did, break last night.”
She said the party had acknowledged after the last few years that its processes for selecting candidates “weren’t as robust as they could be” and it had been addressing that.
“I know the board have been going through every candidate … even the existing MPs they went through, and made sure that the process was robust.”
A National Party spokesperson told RNZ on Wednesday night via email that the party would open selection for another candidate for the seat in due course.
PALO ALTO, Calif, – Palo Alto police have arrested three men and a teen who allegedly committed two armed robberies Monday night, within 25 minutes of each other and a third in Milpitas.
According to police, the first incident happened around 6:35 p.m. on the 1100 block of Trinity Lane. Authorities said a neighbor may have interrupted an auto burglary and one suspect pointed a handgun before fleeing. The thieves took cell phones, and a female victim’s purse.
“My family still lives here and I never seen any crime. It’s always been a good area,” said long-time resident Max Topete. “Yeah very surprised. I had no idea.”
Palo Alto police detectives said less than 25 minutes later, the same suspects pointed a gun at woman as she arrived home in the 800 block of Marshall Drive. The four, wearing ski masks, took her cell phone, then drove off toward Moreno Avenue.
Shortly after the second Palo Alto robbery, Milpitas investigators reported an armed robbery in that city, which they believed was linked to the Palo Alto case.
“We did have some partial, possible plate information that was very helpful, that was given to us by one of the victims. We were able to share that information very broadly with all of our partners in the Bay Area,” said Palo Alto Police Lieutenant Brian Philip.
Palo Alto police dispatched officers as far south as Morgan Hill, in an attempt to locate the suspects. They received help from San Jose police, which used its helicopter in the search for the suspect’s vehicle: a stolen, white 2020 Kia Sportage.
No one was injured during the suspects’ alleged crime spree, police said.
The suspects, all Oakland residents, were arrested and the stolen property was recovered. Eighteen-year-old Siahola J’lan Tupouata, 19-year-old Curtis Eddie Charles Freeman, and 21-year-old Tavita Lauti Fifita are now in the main Santa Clara County jail. The 16-year-old is in the county’s juvenile detention center. All four face charges related to the rash of crimes.
Police believe Freeman was the driver of the Kia and that the 16-year-old had an outstanding probation violation in Alameda County.
Philip said he hadn’t worked a case similar to this in years.
“This was unique last night,” Philip said, “[it] initially came out as an auto burglary.”
Palo Alto detectives said they found other items, possibly related to other crimes, inside the stolen Kia. Police officials want residents, and police departments, to come forward if they think there’s a connection to this case.
ByJesse Gary, Fox KTVU. Gary is a reporter based in the station’s South Bay bureau. Follow him on Twitter, @JesseKTVU and Instagram, @jessegontv
Unconfirmed reports claim sea water entered the cargo hold of the MV Otuanga’ofa while she was sailing between Ha’apai and Vava’u this week.
MV ‘Otuanga’ofa. Photo?Kalino Lātū (Kaniva News)
A video clip purportedly showing sea water seeping into the hold of the ferry has been circulating on Facebook.
Kaniva News has been unable to independently verify the contents of the video.
We have contacted the Minister of Transport to confirm the story.
Hon. Toumo’ua was asked to confirm whether it was true the ferry in question was MV Otuanga’ofa.
He was asked to explain what had happened.
He was also asked what work had been done to resolve the alleged leak.
The Tongan weather service has issued weather warnings for Tongatapu, ‘Eua, Vava’u and Ha’apai this week. It warned that strong winds could cause damage, heavy rainfalls and rough seas.
Former chief mate and captain Ngaloafe ‘Ulupano, who shared the video to his Facebook account, told Kaniva News sea water was obviously entering the ship through the front ramp or the side doors.
He claimed this could be caused by the failure of the watertight doors, which were designed to prevent the sea water from entering the ship and to withstand water pressure from both sides and the front.
A video clip purportedly showing sea water seeping into the hold of the ferry has been circulating on Facebook
Ulupano, who is currently in Auckland and often visited the Otuanga’ofa crew when the ship was dry docked at Auckland wharf, said he was aware that the Otuangaofa’s watertight doors had been checked in Auckland before the ferry returned to Tonga early this month.
Ulupano said the situation was dangerous if it was not fixed immediately. He said it was hard to believe a leak could occur only a month after the ferry completed a six month maintenance programme.
Kaniva News makes no imputation or allegation concerning the quality of the work done on the Otuanga’ofa during her stay in Auckland.
The MV Otuanga’ofa was donated to the Friendly Islands Shipping Agency Ltd by the Japanese government in 2010.
She was estimated at the time be worth about TP$40 million. Since then she has provided passenger and cargo services to the Vava’u and Haapai groups.
She was previously dry docked in Suva for maintenance in 2018.
When she arrived in Auckland September she was told to stay out of New Zealand waters for three weeks while the hull was cleaned because it posed a biosecurity threat.
The Agency had denied allegations reported in March saying that it spent about TP$9 million on the vessel’s maintenance in Auckland, including costs for painting, welding, general maintenance, replacement parts, insurance, crew costs and medical bills. It did not say how much has it cost.
Tonga’s Minister of Transport told a press conference in late January that when the ferry arrived in New Zealand some unforeseen mechanical and electrical issues were identified which were not addressed when the ‘Otuanga’ofa was being repaired in Fiji in 2018.
British heavyweight Joe Joyce’s world-title ambitions were derailed as he suffered a sixth-round technical knockout loss to China’s Zhilei Zhang at London’s Copper Box Arena.
Zhilei Zhang (photo) and Joyce are Olympic silver medallist
Joyce, 37, was staggered several times and had no answer to Zhang’s power as he suffered his first pro loss.
The ringside doctor twice inspected Joyce’s swollen eye before the referee halted the contest in the sixth.
“I’m just disappointed with my performance,” Joyce told BT Sport.
Joe Joyce says his ‘journey will continue’ after Zhilei Zhang loss
“The right hand he kept hitting me with… I couldn’t get out of the way, so respect to Zhang.
“I expected to win like I normally do. Thanks for all the support and congratulations.”
Joyce, the 2016 Olympic silver medallist, was the mandatory challenger for unified champion Oleksandr Usyk’s WBO title and was on the cusp of a world-title shot.
He added: “I’m disappointed. I’d like to apologise to all my fans and supporters – I’ll be back. My journey’s not over, this is just a hurdle I’ve tripped over. I’ll be back.”
This was not part of the script, with Joyce losing his WBO interim title.
Zhang – a 39-year-old, 6ft 6in southpaw with an accomplished amateur career – was far from a walkover opponent, but was the underdog.
Joyce entered the ring to the theme tune of sci-fi film Terminator, and it was a robotic performance from the Putney fighter.
He has been guilty of starting slow in the past, but even he looked surprised by the tremendous opening round from ‘Big Bang’, who hurt Joyce twice with big lefts.
‘Juggernaut’ Joyce has been commended in the past for having the best, and toughest, chin in the division, but he struggled to shrug off Zhang’s heavy shots.
He became a sitting duck at times and was staggered by a left and then a huge right in the second before wobbling towards his own corner.
Blood began to pour from Joyce’s nose, both eyes marked up and swollen.
Joyce was 1st 9lb lighter than his opponent at Friday’s weigh-in, and Zhang’s power could be heard from the thud of each punch to the Briton’s temple.
Joyce desperately needed a response and started firing back in the fourth, but with his eye starting to close, there were concerns from his team the fight could be halted.
While the ringside doctor inspected Joyce between round five and six, Zhang smiled and acknowledged the crowd.
The fight was allowed to continue, but with Joyce’s eyesight clearly hindered – and being repeatedly peppered by Zhang’s punches – referee Howard Foster recalled the doctor in round six before deciding to save Joyce from any more, potentially long-lasting, damage.
‘I will be back’
Zhang – who won silver at the 2008 Olympics – now boasts 25 wins, with 19 stoppages, one defeat and one draw.
“Today is mine,” he said. “Today belongs to me, belongs to everyone who showed up, belongs to every Chinese fan who showed up.”I’m 39 years old, but I’m disciplined, I train hard and next step I go for the title.”
In fight week, Joyce said was targeting a world-title shot against Usyk, WBC champion Tyson Fury or a lucrative bout against Anthony Joshua.
He insisted he “will be back” and promoter George Warren said they may seek a rematch with Zhang.
There were 14,242 new cases of Covid-19 reported in Aotearoa in the week to midnight on Sunday, and a further 21 deaths related to the virus.
The 21 people added to the Covid-19 death tally brings the total number to 2716 people whose deaths are linked to the virus.
Of the new cases last week, 6061 were reinfections, according to the figures from the Ministry of Health today.
There were also 363 people with Covid-19 in hospital as of midnight Sunday, with nine cases in ICU.
The seven-day rolling average of cases is 2029.
Last week 12,129 new cases were reported and eight further deaths were attributed to the coronavirus.
Professor Michael Baker said New Zealand was experiencing its fourth wave of the virus, with numbers doubling in the last seven weeks.
Baker said hospitalisations had increased and watewater testing showed a significant rise in Covid-19 cases in the community.
He encouraged people to get the new Covid booster, isolate if they were infected, and mask up in poorly ventilated environments.
“It’s really important that everyone who has a position in authority thinks about the health of their workforce and their school population and the social venues that they operate in.”
He questioned why any employer would want their employees to come to work with Covid-19 and likely infect co-workers and potentially, customers.
FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA
Ko e keisi fo’ou ‘e 12,242 ‘o e Koviti 19 ‘kuo lipooti ‘i ‘Aotealoa ‘i he uke mei he tu’uapō Sapate pea mo ha toe mate ‘e toko 21 tu’unga he vailasi.
Tanaki e 21 ko eni ki he mate fakakatoa he Koviti fe’unga mo e toko 2716 ‘aia ko e kau mate ia ne kaunga ki ai ‘a e vailasi.
‘I he ngaahi keisi fo’ou ‘o e uike kuo ‘osi ko e 6061 ne toe pihia fakatatau ki he fika ‘a e Potungaue Mo’ui he ‘aho ni’.
Na’e ‘i ai ‘e kakai ‘e toko 363 ma’u ‘e he Koviti 19 ne ‘i fale mahaki he tu’uapo Sapate pea toko hiva ‘i he ICU.
Ko e ‘avalisi ‘i he ‘aho fitu he uike ko e keisi ‘e 2029.
I he uike kuo osi ne ‘i ai ‘a e keisi fo’ou ‘e 12,129 ne lipooti mo ha toe mate ‘e valu tu’unga he kolonavailasi.
Pehe ‘e Professor Michael Baker kuo a’usia ‘e Nu’u Sila ha kaupeau hono fā ‘o e vailasi ‘o tapolo ‘a e fika ko ia he uike ‘e fitu kuo hili’.
Pehe ‘e Baker ko e tākoto falemahaki kuo lahi ange pea ‘oku ‘asi mei hono tesi ‘o e vai kuo faka’aonga’i ‘a e fakalalahi ‘a e keisi Koviti ‘i he komiunitii’.
Kuo ne fakalotolahi mai ki he kakai ke nau huh puusita, mavahe kapau kuo ke pihia pea tui ‘a e masaki ‘i he ngaahi feitu’u oku ‘ikai sai ‘a e venitileisini ai.
Pehe e Baker ‘oku ne tui tatau mo e pule’anga ke fakamavahe’i ‘a e kakai ‘oku puke.
‘Oku ne fehu’ia ‘a hono kei faka’atā ‘e he ngaahi ngaue’anga ‘a e kau ngaue ke omi ‘o ngaue ‘o kei fakapipihi ‘a e Koviti ki honau kaunga ngaue’.
It is time to ‘de-prioritise’ the response to Covid 19, which will now be no worse than the flu for the majority of the population, an epidemiologist says.
University of Otago professor Peter McIntyre said the focus should now be on getting those at higher risk double-boosted, rather than worrying about infection control through increased mask wearing or improved ventilation.
That group included the elderly and Māori and Pasifika over 60 years old.
Covid-19 numbers rose in recent weeks, prompting some epidemiologists to talk about a fourth wave of the disease, and calls for the government to enable better ventilation in classrooms and order masking on public transport.
Hospitalisations were also up by 144, with 363 patients in hospital with Covid-19. And the deaths of 21 people were attributed to Covid-19, up from eight the previous week.
Professor McIntyre – also medical advisor for the Immunisation Advisory Centre – said rather than looking at the total numbers we should identify groups that were not double-boosted or did not have anti-virals available to them.
“The people we’re really worried about now are those people who’ve got significant underlying diseases or because they’re in very advanced years, so we’re talking about people over 70 or 75,” McIntyre said.
Māori and Pasifika older than 60 years were also in that group, he said.
“For everybody else it’s going to be a less severe problem for them than flu.”
McIntyre was also head of the Department for Women’s and Children’s Health at the University of Otago.
He said the combination of the number of historic Covid-19 infections and the country’s high vaccination rates meant there was a really good level of immunity in New Zealand.
“To be honest I get a bit frustrated … at the fact this keeps popping up with all these messages about avoiding infection.
“I just think without any disrespect … to the people who still think that’s important, I just believe the game’s moved on and we should have our attention elsewhere.”
Epidemiologist Michael Baker yesterday told RNZ that while the fourth wave of the virus was not as intense as the previous waves, it was definite, with a gradual rise in the number of self-reported cases every day, as seen in RNZ’s ongoing database of Covid-19 information.
Last week, Cabinet decided to keep the few remaining Covid-19 restrictions for at least the next two months. Most pandemic rules have been scrapped, but people still have to self-isolate for seven days if they test positive, and masks must be worn in hospitals in some circumstances.
FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA
Kuo taimi ke oua toe fakamu’omu’a ‘a e ngāue ki he Koviti 19, ‘a ia ‘i he taimi ‘e ‘ikai toe kovi ange ia ‘i he fuluu ki he tokolahi taha ‘o e kakai, ko e ha lau ia ‘a ha ‘epitemolosisi.
Na’e pehe ‘e Peter Mclintyre mei he ‘Univesiti ‘o Otago, ko e mea oku ton uke fai ki ai ‘a e tokanga ko kinautolu ‘oku i he tu’unga fakatu’utamaki ang eke huhu malu’i tu’o ua kinautolu, kae fakatatafe hoha’a ki hono pule’i ‘a e pipihi ‘aki hono fakalahi ‘a e tui masaki mo fakalelei’i ‘a e venitileisini’.
Ko e kulupu ko ia’ oku kau ai ‘a e kau vaivai mo e Maori mo e kau Pasifika ova ‘i he ta’u 60.
Na’e mahiki ‘a e fika ‘o e Koviti ‘i he ngaahi uike kuo osi, ‘o hu mai ai ‘a e kau ‘epotemolosisi ‘o talanoa ki ha toe aake mai hono fa ‘a e mahaki, pea mo ui ki he pule’anga ke ‘ai ha venitileisini lelei ‘i he ngaahi loki ako mo e tu’utu’uni’i ‘a e masaki ‘i he fefononga’aki ‘a e kakai’.
Na’e ha mei he ngaahi keisi ne tuku ange mai ‘e he Potungaue Mo’ui ‘a e ‘avalisi ‘o ha mahiki ‘o keisi ‘e 300 a’u ki he 2029.
Ne a’u ‘a e tākoto falemahaki ki he toko 144 pea mahaki ‘e 363 ‘o e Koviti. Kate ‘e 21 he Koviti a’u ki he toko valu he uike ki mu’a’.
Oku toe hoko foki ‘a e Professor McIntyre – ko e fale’i fakametikolo ki he Immunisation Advisory Centre – pea na’a ne pehe ‘oku totonu ke ‘oua te tau sio ki he fika fakakatoa, ka tau tau ‘aitenitifai ‘a e ngaahi kulupu ‘oku te’eki huhu pusitā tu’o ua pe te’eki ke nau ma’u ha ‘enitivailolo.
Ko e kakai ‘oku tau tokanga ki ai ‘a e kakai ‘oku i ai ‘a honau mahaki tauhi lahi pe kuo nau fu’u motu’a, ‘a ia ‘oku tau talanoa ki he ta’u 10 pe 75.
Ko e kakai Māori pe Pasifika motu’a ange he ta’u 60 ‘oku nau ‘i he kulupu kinautolu ko ia’.
Ki he toenga e fa’ahinga ko ee ‘e ‘ikai ha fu’u fakatu’utamaki ia hange ke fakatu’utamaki ange ‘o e fuluu’.
Ne toe hoko foki ‘a McIntyre ko e ‘ulu ia ‘o e Department for Women’s and Children’s Health at the University of Otago.
Na’a ne pehe ko e fakataha’i ‘o e fika ‘o e pipihi ‘a e Koviti mo e leiti ‘oe huhu malu’i mā’olunga ‘a e fonua’ ne uhinga ia na’e ‘i ai ‘a e levolo lelei ‘i he ‘imiunitii’ ‘i Nu’u Sila.
Ne pehē ‘e Epitemolosisi Michale Baker ki he letio Nu’u Sila lolotonga ‘oku ‘ikai fu’u o’o fefe ‘a e aake mai ko eni hono faa’ hange ko ‘ene aake ki mu’a, na’e ‘i ai ‘a e kaka mamalie ‘a e fika ‘o e ngaah keisi faia’aho.
I he uike kuo osi ne tu’utu’uni ‘a e kapineti ke kei hoko atu pe ngaahi fakangatangata ‘e ni’ihi ‘o e koviti oku kei toe ‘i he toe mahina ‘e ua ka hoko’.
Kuo lahi ‘a e ngaahi tu’utu’uni ki he panatemiki kuo ‘osi fakata’e’aonga’i ka e kei fiema’u pe kakai ke nau fakamavahe ‘i ha ‘aho e fitu kapau kuo nau tesi positive, pau ke tui ‘a e masaki i he ngaahi fale mahaki ‘i he ngaahi me’a ‘e ni’ihi.
UPDATED: Naomi Ballantyne has sold her Partners Life insurance company to Japanese life insurer Dai-ichi Life Holdings last year for around $1 billion.
Naomi Ballantyne – founder/chief executive of the life insurance company Partners Life Photo: Bruce Jarvis
That’s after starting ClubLife and sold it to ING in 2009.
She built three of the largest life insurance companies in New Zealand and founded two of them over the past 39 years.
She is the longest-serving chief executive in the New Zealand life insurance industry, which she entered nearly 40 years ago, Businessdesk.co.nz reported.
In the 2017 New Year Honours, she was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business.
She was born in Glenfield, Auckland to a religious mother who was born in Tonga and an alcoholic Canadian father.
“When I was born, it was that new subdivision that all the really poor first-home buyers built. It was the “wop-wops” back then; we were completely surrounded by horse paddocks and bush”, she was quoted by the Businessdesk as saying.
“I’m naturally happy, and that’s my mother’s nature, and it didn’t matter how hard her life got and how difficult dad was.
“She was the most magnificent, loving, funny mother and dad was very smart, but he had real alcohol problems that resulted in anger and moodiness”.
Ballantyne started working at 13.
“I’ve never stopped. I worked strawberry picking, then in a dairy, I worked in Farmers menswear,” she told Newstalk ZB.
“My parents never paid a single cent for me, not school things or clothes.”
Her father was very keen on her going to university though.
She said she didn’t see herself as an entrepreneur. She just saw herself as a do-er.
“Whenever anything needed doing or fixing, it would be given to me. What I didn’t understand is that is what entrepreneurship is. When Sovereign sold to ASB, I just left because I couldn’t lead staff who were trusting me into something I didn’t believe in.
“Then I couldn’t get a job, because I had been “that girl” who upset everyone in the market. So, I had to start my own company. There is a degree of self-confidence to say, “I know I can do it. It’s not what I would have chosen to do but now I have to do it, so I’m going to.”
“If you are prepared to do those things, then anyone can be an entrepreneur. The biggest problem is that most people who think they want to own their own business don’t want to do any of those things.
“I built three of the largest life insurance companies in New Zealand and founded two of them over the past 39 years. That’s careers for people, it has supported advisers, it has changed the industry in terms of products and services that are offered, and paid out a huge number of claims with products that didn’t exist before we hit the market.
“That’s something I am really proud of. It doesn’t mean I am not terrified at times, because there are a whole bunch of people following me and depending on me.
“But each time you overcome a hurdle, you have more confidence that you’ll make it over whatever the next hurdle is. You don’t need to be the smartest person in the room, and you won’t have all the answers.
“If you’re the boss, you have the luxury of calling the last shot. It is okay to seek ideas and opinions, then take the best one and give credit for it. Because there is no risk to your position, or mana, or your status”.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
This story was edited to reflect the fact that Ballantyne was not the first Tongan billionaire as previously claimed in the first version. Ballantyne contacted us about our story and made the correction. She said: “I sold Partners Life for just over NZ $1b but I am not a billionaire as there were many other shareholders, including our majority shareholder Blackstone. All previous reporting of the transaction has been accurate in this regards, so I would really appreciate your correcting this too. I have done very well, but definitely am not in the billionaire league”
Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni will lead the first mission to the Pacific since Covid-19 broke out.
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Sepuloni, who is also the Associate Foreign Affairs Minister for the Pacific, will leave for Solomon Islands, Fiji and Tonga on Sunday.
It would be an invaluable opportunity to strengthen New Zealand’s relationships and reaffirm the commitment to working alongside Pacific whānau to respond to challenges, Sepuloni said.
The region was the government’s “foreign policy priority”, Sepuloni said.
“We proudly take a Pacific-led approach to solving the issues facing the region, not least to mention, climate change.
“Tackling climate change together, which has become a harsh reality here in Aotearoa New Zealand, continues to be of urgent importance. It’s more important than ever that we all take collective action to combat its effects, especially alongside our Pacific whānau.
“Our shared Blue Pacific Continent also faces a range of challenges including institutional and economic fragility, social and demographic issues, and increasing geo-strategic competition.”
Sepuloni will be accompanied by the Minister for Pacific Peoples Barbara Edmonds and the Climate Change Minister James Shaw as well as other community leaders.
FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA
‘E tataki atu ‘e he Tokoni Palemia Nu’u Sila Carmel Sepuloni ‘a e misiona ki he Pasifiki talu ‘eni mei he to ‘a e Koviti 19.
Ko e Sepuloni foki ‘oku tokoni Minisita Foreign Affairs Minister ki he Pasifiki pea ten au mavahe atu ki Solomon Islands, Fiji mo Tonga he Sapate.
Ko e faingamalie mahuinga ‘eni ke toe fakafefeka’i ‘a e va’ mo toe fakapapau’i ‘a e tukupā ‘a Nu’u Sila mo fengaue’aki mo e fanau ‘a e Pasifiki.
‘Oku fakamu’omu’a ‘e Nu’u Sila ‘a e lisione’ ‘i he’ene ngaahi polisī ki muli’.
Oku polepole ‘a Nu’u Sila ke ne tataki ‘a hono solova ‘a e ngaahi palopalema ‘a e feitu’u ni hange ko e feliuliuaki ‘a e ‘ea’.
E kau fakataha atu ki he folau ni ‘a e Minisita ki he Pacific Peoples Barbara Edmonds mo e Minisita ki he Climate Change Minister James Shaw mo ha taki mei he ngaahi komiunitii’.
The 26-year-old was rescued from a home in Belmore by tactical police officers on March 14.
Elkheir was arrested on Wednesday in Greenacre after an investigation by detectives and police officers under Strike Force Kkuoa.
The Yagoona woman has been accused of illegally accessing Traffic for New South Wales data and then passing these details onto the alleged kidnappers prior to Vuong being abducted.
She has been charged with kidnapping for the intent of ransom, causing an unauthorised computer function to commit a serious indictable offence, accessing restricted computer data, and participating in a criminal group.
Her bail conditions include the surrender of her passport, the imposition of a nightly curfew, and the payment of a $300,000 surety which will be forfeited if she skips court.
Police in March described the kidnapping as a “very serious crime” involving an “extreme” level of violence.
During the ordeal Vuong, who was not known to police, was bound and had his teeth forcibly removed.
Six other Tongan men – Sunia Tu’ineau Junior Siasau, John Totau Fahamokioa, Viliami Siasau, high profile Tongan rapper Valeli Tonga, Lolo Liavaa and Kiteau Tatafu – were arrested in March over the alleged plot and are currently before the courts.
Elkheir will next appear at Parramatta Local Court on June 8.
Minister for Infrastructure, Sevenitiini Toumo’ua, has accused contractors who supply rocks for government road maintenance of forging records to obtain millions of pa’anga a month.
Minister of Infrastructure and Civil Aviation Seventeen Toumo’ua
The Minister did not name the companies allegedly involved.
The Minister’s claims come just before the latest court hearing over the years-long saga of the kingdom’s ill-fated roading project, which was started by the previous government of the late Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa.
The claim has sparked a huge public reaction on social media.
The Tu’i’onetoa government contracted three quarry companies to provide rocks at $70 per truck load.
Hon. Tu’i’onetoa said at the time the contracts were offered to these companies because they bid the lowest prices which were affordable for the government.
The announcement of the successful bidders at the time sparked public outrage after it was revealed the contractors were close friends and families of some of the then Cabinet ministers.
The contractors were the Island Dredging Ltd quarry a company operated by former Minister of Police Lord Nuku’s children, another contractor was City Engineering and Constructions Ltd which belonged to a member of the former Prime Minister’s political Party, Saia Moehau. The other contractor, Inter-Pacific Limited belonged to convicted former Minister and fraudster ‘Etuate Lavulavu.
The Minister for Infrastructure claimed yesterday that records of loads carried under the roading contract were falsified to obtain TP$1 million in one month.
He alleged that trucks transporting rocks for the roading site used two different registration plate numbers.
He said TP$18 million of taxpayers’ had already been paid. He described this as “imprudent.”
Companies with strong government, family, connections awarded road building contracts. (L-R) Saia Moehau, Lord Nuku and ‘Etuate Lavulavu
Kaniva News contacted Hon. Toumo’ua to clarify his comments.
Hon. Toumo’ua was asked to identify the company or companies that allegedly falsified recording of the number of rocks transported to the roading site.
He was also asked to clarify whether claims, which were made on Facebook, referred to the three contractors appointed by the former government to supply rocks.
We asked him to explain what he meant by saying the TP$18 million that had been paid was “imprudent” and to whom it was paid.
The Minister was also asked to clarify what he meant when he said trucks used to transport rocks used two different registration plates.
Hon Toumo’ua’s claims follow a recent statement by City Engineering and Constructions Ltd boss Saia Moehau to a local news outlet that the Minister did not tell the whole truth in a recent interview when he claimed that a contractor – understood to be Moehau, – submitted an invoice of $1.9 million, but the Ministry’s auditors decided to pay only TP$900,000.
Moehau took the Ministry to court, which ruled in the Ministry’s favour and said it only had to pay TP$860,000.
Moehau also reportedly said the government paid his lawyer TP$15,000 and he was expecting to seek compensation of about TP$14 million from the government through the courts.
PTOA Democratic supporters said the TP$18 million paid to the contractors had been a waste of money as all roads which had been filled and constructed under the project had been completely damaged shortly after their maintenance or construction.
Former Opposition Leader Semisi Sika said at the time the project should be stopped as Tonga could not afford that TP$400 million allocated for the construction and maintenance of all roads in the country within three years.
The former government also facilitated and guaranteed the contractors’ loans from the Tonga Development bank to buy new equipment for the job.
