A total of 185 principal Tongan applicants were successful in the New Zealand government’s Pacific immigration quota ballot for 2022, New Zealand Immigration said today.
The 2022 Pacific Access Category ballot draw took place on 7 December 2022.
INZ said If an applicant’s “number is listed we will contact you with information about how to apply for residence in New Zealand”.
Applicant which registration number is not listed their number was not drawn, and they cannot apply for New Zealand residence under the 2022 Pacific Access Category.
INZ said applicants who had been unsuccessful can register again to enter the ballot in 2023 when registrations for the Pacific Access Category reopens.
The Tongan successful registration numbers are now available as follows:
There have been 40,098 new cases of Covid-19 and 35 deaths of people with the virus over the past week, the Ministry of Health says.
There were also a total of 514 people in hospital with the virus, including 14 in ICU.
Of the 35 deaths being reported today, one was from Northland, 12 were from the Auckland region, four were from Waikato, one was from Bay of Plenty, one was from Lakes, one was from MidCentral, three were from Wellington region, one was from Nelson Marlborough, six were from Canterbury and five were from Southern.
One was in their 40s, four were in their 50s, three were in their 60s, three were in their 70s, 15 were in their 80s and nine were aged over 90. Of these people, 15 were women and 20 were men.
Kuo ‘i ai ha keisi fo’ou ‘e 40,098 mo ha mate ‘e 35 ‘i he uike kuo ‘osi mei he Koviti lau ia ‘a e Potungaue Mo’ui ‘a Nu’u Sila ni.
Na’e ‘i ai mo e toko 514 i fale mahaki kau AI ‘a e toko 14 he ICU
Ko e toko 35 e kau mate ne lipooti ia he ‘aho ni taha ‘i Northland, 12 he vahenga ‘Aokalani fa mei Waikato, taha mei he Bay of Plenty, taha mei he Lakes, taha mei he MidCentral, tolu mei he vahenga Uelingatoni taha mei Nelson mo Marlborough, ono mei Canterbury pea nima mei he saute.
Toko taha ne ‘i hono ta’u 40t, fa ‘i he 50t, tolu ‘i he 60t, tolu ‘i he 70t pea toko 15 ‘i he 80t pea toko hiva ‘i he 90t. I he kakai ko eni ko e toko 15 kakai fefine pea 20 ko e kakai tangata.
Ko e ngaahi keisi ko eni mei he kominitii’ ko e toko 11,142 ko e kau toe puke.
Koe ‘avalisi ‘ene vilo mai ‘i he uike ko e toko 5721.
I he ‘aho Pulelulu, na’e lipooti ai ha keisi faka’aho a’u ki he toko 7000 ‘a ia ko e ‘uluaki taimi ia talu mei Siulai.
I he uike kuo ‘osi ne lipooti ‘e he Potungaue ha toko 34, 528 ko e keisi fo’ou ia ‘o e Koviti pea mate ai ha toko 40 ne ma’u ‘e vailasi mei he uike ki mu’a.
UPDATED: The family of missing Tongatapu man Talanoa Leakona Lemoto hold grave fears for his safety after five days of anxious searching has failed to find him.
The 35-year-old teacher at Tonga College from Hala’ovave disappeared on Wednesday 7 and despite a number of promising leads, searchers have failed to track him down.
His wife, Malia Maketalena Pomana, said on Facebook the family are gravely concerned for his safety.
She said she was heart-breaking and couldn’t sleep well.
“I will never give up searching for you Noa no matter what”, she said in Tongan.
“It’s night now and you’re still not home. I keep calling your number eventhough it’s off, thinking it will eventually ring. Today it was a lot for all of us however, the outpour of prayers from everyone has gotten us through it”.
She said the family appreciate all the prayers and support from the public.
As Kaniva News reported last week, Lemoto was attending a school function before losing contact with his family members on Wednesday, December 7.
Tonga Police said Lemoto was later spotted at Naudi Ruby night club apparently after the school function.
The family have posted a picture of an orange Honda Fit car with number plate C24480 and asking the public to look out for it.
The Police said he was wearing a red collar t-shirt with the name ‘Atele on it and a grey colour tupenu.
The police are actively searching for Lemoto with the help of His Majesty’s Armed Forces.
The Hu’akavameiliku government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Australia.
The MOU was signed between Australia’s Minister for Defence, Pat Conroy, and Tonga’s Foreign Minister Fekita Utoikamanu on December 9.
It comprised agreements to support Tonga’s budget, aviation, and seasonal workers.
Tongan Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku said: “It has been a great pleasure for me to welcome Minister Conroy to Tonga, the third Australian Minister to visit since June of this year. I am proud to announce that during this visit, Tonga and Australia signed two new arrangements to further strengthen our partnership”.
The agreement includes a Direct Funding Arrangement for AUD30 million in additional budget support to Tonga in 2022-23 to support Tonga’s economic recovery from compounding shocks, including COVID-19, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai disaster and more recent global inflationary pressures.
The two countries also agreed to a Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme Memorandum of Understanding that renews the joint commitment to implement the PALM scheme to support the economic development of Tonga and builds skills for Tongan workers when they return home.
A third arrangement, an aviation Memorandum of Understanding establishes a framework for Tonga Civil Aviation Division to work more closely with Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) across technical, regulatory, and other areas of support was also announced.
Minister Conroy said he was honoured to make his first visit to Tonga as Minister for International Development and the Pacific. He remarked:
“Australia and Tonga share a long and enduring bond of friendship. Australia always has been and always will support Tonga through good times and bad, just as the people of Tonga have done for us.
Australia is committed to supporting Tonga on its journey back to economic strength after recent crises and shocks. I am pleased Australia is providing additional budget support of AUD30 million to help the Government of Tonga’s economic recovery and the resilience of its people.
A missing man’s family have shared a picture of a car they said he was driving to a function before he went missing.
The car Lemoto was driving before he went missing
Talanoa Leakona Lemoto was attending a school function before losing contact with his family members on Wednesday, December 7.
Tonga Police said Lemoto was later spotted at Naudi Ruby night club apparently after the school function.
The family have posted a picture of an orange Honda Fit car with number plate C24480 and asking the public to look out for it.
Police said he was wearing a red collar T-shirt with the name ‘Atele on it and a grey colour tupenu.
Tonga police also said they are actively searching for Lemoto.
Talanoa Leakona Lemoto
Reporting the incident on social media Lemoto’s familys said: “It is really out of character that he isn’t home yet and we are asking for any information to help us find his whereabouts”
This morning December 10, the family’s social media updates show they were still searching for their son.
“Come back home Lemoto”, one post says.
The family said they kept calling him on his mobile phone, but it was off.
Anyone with information on Lemoto’s whereabouts is asked to call 8739727 or 7798448.
Police are calling for public assistance to find a man who went missing after being last spotted at the Naudi Rudi night club almost three days ago.
Talanoa Leakona Lemoto
Talanoa Leakona Lemoto was attending a function before losing contact with his family members on Wednesday, December 7.
Reporting the incident on social media yesterday Lemoto’s familys said: “It is really out of character that he isn’t home yet and we are asking for any information to help us find his whereabouts”
He was driving an orange Honda Fit car.
The family said they have reported Lemoto’s missing to the Police.
The public are asked to call the following telephone numbers: 8739727 or 7798448 if they have any information that could help locate Lemoto.
Tonga’s Ministry of Health has opened a new laboratory which has capacity for real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) COVID-19 testing.
The lab was supported and funded by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of India via the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).
Minister of Health Dr Saia Piukala. Photo/Screenshot (FM87.5 online)
“COVID-19 is not yet over and we recognize that here in Tonga so testing remains a priority for us,” explained Dr Saia Piukala, the Honourable Minister of Health in Tonga.
“During the pandemic we have strengthened our laboratory capacities to be able to test COVID-19 quickly and accurately, but also to be able to test for the many other diseases we will face in future. This support from WHO, UN and the Government of India is a welcome development in order for us to boost our testing capacity here in Tonga.”
The new laboratory was pre-built in New Zealand using sturdy shipping containers, allowing for quick set-up on arrival at the site in Tonga. Testing machines, laboratory supplies, staffing, operational support, and quality assurance programme and training were also provided by WHO with funding from the Government of India.
“The establishment of this new laboratory is a testament to shared public health agenda between the Government of Tonga and India. We are happy to see South-South cooperation in action here in Tonga towards better health and well-being. We thank the Government of India for their contributions and to the Government of Tonga for their leadership in this initiative,” said Sanaka Samarasinha, UN Resident Coordinator to Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
The new laboratory set-up in Vaiola Hospital will focus on COVID-19 testing but the current infrastructure will also have the capacity to detect priority pathogens such as influenza and dengue.
“This new container laboratory in Vaiola Hospital will help not only in the ongoing COVID-19 response but will also be critical in the detection and surveillance of potential disease outbreaks in the future,” said Dr Yutaro Setoya, WHO Country Liaison Officer in Tonga. “We are proud to support this initiative and glad to see how the Ministry of Health is leveraging the pandemic response to strengthen their laboratory services and overall health systems.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, laboratory capacity has been strengthened across the Pacific. All Pacific island countries and areas are currently equipped with RT-PCR testing capacity to detect COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA
Kuo fakaava ‘i Tonga ha leepi te ne lava ‘o tesi mo tala kei taimi e ola ‘o e tesi Koviti (RT-PCR)
Oku te’eki ai ke ‘osi ‘a e Koviti ka kuo lava ke tala pe ia ‘i Tonga ko ia ai ko hono tesi’ ‘a e me’a mu’omu’a taha kia kimautolu, ko e me’a ia ‘a e Minisita Mo’ui Saia Piukala.
Na’a ne pehe ko e lolotonga ‘a e Koviti ne nau fakafekefeka’i e ivi malava ‘o e ‘enau leepi ke lava ke vave hono tesi ‘o e Koviti mo tonu foki, pea ke lava ke tesi mo e ngaahi mahaki kehe foki ‘a ia te nau ala fepaki mo ia ‘i he kaha’u. Ko e poupou mei he WHO mo e UN pehe ki he pule’anga ‘Initia ‘eni pea ko e fakalakalaka mahu’inga ia kuo talitali lelei ‘e Tonga ke lava ke hiki’i hake ‘a e malava ke fai ‘a e ngaahi tesi.
Ko e leepi fo’ou ko eni ne langa ia ‘i Nu’u Sila pea toki uta koniteina ai ‘o fokotu’u ‘i Tonga ‘a ia ne vave ai hono fokotu’u he taimi pe ne tu’uta ai. Na’e toe fakaai ‘e he WHO ‘a e ngaahi misini tesi, leepi mo e ako ke fai ki he ngaahi me’a ni fakapa’anga ‘e he pule’anga ‘Initia fou he WHO.
Ko hono fokotu’u ko eni ‘o e leepi fo’ou ko ha tesitemeniti ia kuo faka’inasi’aki ‘a e fokotuutu’u ki he mo’ui ‘a e kakai ‘i he va ‘o e pule’anga Tonga mo ‘Initia. Na’a ne pehe ‘oku mau fiefia ke sio ki he ngaue fakataha ‘a e saute mo e saute ‘i Tonga ki hono teke ‘o e mo’ui leleiange’.
‘Oku mau fakamalo ki he pule’anga ‘Initia ki he’enau tokoni ki he pule’anga Tonga tautefito ki he’enau tataki ‘i he ngaue ko eni kuo kamata’, ko e lau ia ‘a Sanaka Samarasinha, ko e UN Resident Coordinator ki Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu mo Vanuatu.
Ko e leepi fo’ou ko eni ‘oku tu’u ia ‘i Vaiola pea te ne nofo taha ia ki hono tesi ‘o e Koviti 19 ka ‘e lava ke ne tala foki ha ‘asi ‘a e siemu ‘inifulūenisaa’ mo e tengi.
‘E toe lava ke ‘ilo ‘i he leepi fo’ou ni foki ha to ‘a ha tou mahaki kehe ‘i he kaha’u ko e lau ia ‘a Dr Yutaro Setoya, ko e ‘ofisa fetu’utaki ‘a e WHO Country ‘i Tonga.
‘Oku mau polepole ke poupou’i ‘a e ‘inisetivi ko eni pea mo fiefia ke sio ki he Potungaue Mo’ui ‘oku malangalanga ‘ene founga ke taliaki ‘a e panatemiki ‘aki hono fakafekefeka’i ‘enau ngaahi sevesi ki he leepi mo e sisitemi ki he mo’ui ‘i Tonga.
Lolotonga ‘a e to’umahaki faka’auha fakamamani lahi ko eni Koviti 19 kuo toe fefeka ange ‘a e ivi malava ke tokanga’i fakaleepi ‘a e mahaki ‘i he Pasifiki’. Kotoa ‘a e ngaahi fonua motu Pasifiki kuo fakanaunau kinautolu ‘aki ‘a e me’a tesi RT-PCR ke lava ke tesi ai ‘a e Koviti 19 mo e ngaahi mahaki kehe.
A newly-released survey shows daily tobacco smoking rates for New Zealand Pasifika youth are at a record low of less than 2 percent.
With just 1.2 percent of Pasifika smoking daily, that is significantly less than what it used to be in 2017 when it was at 5.3 percent.
Published by Action for Smokefree 2025 (ASH), the survey is one of the largest ongoing youth smoking surveys in the world, with 29,538 Year 10 student participants, aged between 14 and 15.
The survey looks at both vaping and tobacco use.
It found that 45 percent of Pacific Year 10 students had tried vaping, 11 percent vaped daily as opposed to 1.2 percent who were daily tobacco smokers, and 2.6 percent were regular (ie, either daily weekly, monthly) smokers.
ASH director Sir Collin Tukuitonga, who is a strong advocate for Māori and Pacific health, credits the decrease in smoking rates to various smokefree messages throughout the years in Aotearoa and a general acceptance from youth that smoking is not sustainable.
“But I think what has worked generally is the messages to young people that smoking is not cool and they used prominent people to promote that message to really get young people to accept a movement away from smoking.”
Tala Pasifika lead for Hapai Te Hauora’s National Tobacco Control Advocacy service, Lealailepule Edward Cowley said there was a gap between people already smoking, compared to those in the 14-15 age group who could not legally purchase tobacco which showed not all age groups had stopped smoking.
“It’s difficult for young people to access tobacco, which is probably why we see a drop. We really do see an increase from age 18 to 24, so whilst they are at a young age when they are at school we see a decrease when they start working and earning their own money, then are able to access and start to purchase things they want to purchase so we do see an increase in that age group.”
Cancer Society medical director George Laking said adults most likely remained smokefree if they had not taken up smoking in their teenage years.
The Cancer Society’s Dr George Laking Photo: Supplied
“The initiation of smoking characteristically occurs in youth, if you can get through your teen years without taking up smoking then you are less likely to take it up in general; they’ve basically missed the opportunity to take it up and they are not especially likely to take up smoking later on.”
Dr Laking also said there was a clear decline in tobacco use for both young people and elders – a positive sign for Pacific and Māori youth.
The survey shows a clear decrease in tobacco use this year among year 10 groups which certainly suggests as Dr Laking said that young people in the future would be much less likely to pick up smoking even though some young people were currently picking up the bad habit when they were 18 years old.
However, a smokefree New Zealand in 2025 still looks grim according to Dr Laking who said there was currently a lack of regulation and legislation in place.
Tobacco use was still prevalent in Māori communities which would still take a bit of time to reduce, he said.
“It would be 50-50 chance to get to that point,” he said.
The Ministry of Health is hoping to have less than 5 percent smoking rates for each ethnic demographic by that date.
Rugby League Samoa has confirmed Toa Samoa will be coming home for a welcome celebration on December 27.
Photo: Anric Sitanilei/RNZ
Rugby League Samoa official Lauaki Fereti Tuilagi said the programme for the visit is yet to be finalised, but all the players and coaches will be there.
Questions had been asked if the Rugby League World Cup finalists would be brought home to meet fans and supporters.
Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio said, on arrival back from watching the team in England, that Cabinet would meet to discuss bringing the team home.
He told media that when he spoke to team members after their games, they all wanted to come to Samoa.
Against the odds, Toa Samoa reached the World Cup final in England, becoming the first Samoan rugby team, men’s or women’s, union or league, to achieve such a honour at the highest level.
After shocking Tonga and England to reach the final, Toa Samoa went down 30-10 to Australia at Old Trafford, Manchester with the crowd mostly supporting Toa Samoa.
However, their campaign had started badly with a 60-6 defeat in the opening group game against the host nation, when several players had not arrived due to playing in the NRL Grand Final.
Samoan players have pledged to keep playing for the Pacific nation and they may be joined by more stars after qualifying for the Rugby League World Cup final.
Late last month supporters, family and friends converged on Sydney Airport to welcome back their heroes.
The Daily Telegraph reported the team were met by singing, clapping, dancing, horns and cheering when a see of red and blue flags greeted their return from the UK.
Fans gather in Apia before last month’s World Cup final Photo: RNZ / Anric Sitanilei
In Hawaii, lava flowing from Mauna Loa volcano continues to move slowly towards a major highway.
Photo: USGS
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reports the lava river has slowed down but continues to be fed from the erupting volcano.
In its latest update, the USGS reports the lava river is moving between 19 and 27 meters per hour.
It said the eruption is not a threat to nearby settlements but has warned residents to be prepared.
The USGS said the most significant fissure is feeding a lava flow advancing slowly northward toward the Daniel K. Inouye Highway.
The lava flow has reached relatively flat ground causing it to spread out in three directions and slow down significantly over the past several days.
As of 6.30am local time on December 5, the flow front was about three-and-a-half kilometres from the highway.
“Over the past day, there continued to be several small overflows from main channels, and the lava flow advanced at an average rate of about 8 meters per hour. Though the advance rate has slowed over the past several days, the lava flow remains active with a continuous supply from the fissure 3 vent,” the USGS said on its Facebook page.
“Lava flow advance rates may be highly variable over the coming days and weeks, and individual lobes may advance quickly and then stall. Additional breakouts may occur if lava channels get blocked upslope. Many variables are at play, and the direction and timing of flow advances are expected to change over hours to days, making it difficult to estimate when or if the flow will impact Daniel K. Inouye Highway.”
The USGS said volcanic gas plumes are lofting high and vertically into the atmosphere before being blown to the west at high altitudes, generating plumes in areas downwind.
Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano in the world, and has been erupting since November 28.
The USGS is providing a livestream of the eruption on its website.
