Air New Zealand will relocate its head office to Auckland Airport, leaving the central city.
The Air New Zealand head office will be relocated to Auckland Airport by 2024. Photo: Air New Zealand
The company has announced it will refurbish its airport campus and build a new 10,000sq/m hangar at the site.
The airline said the move will centralise its operation, future-proof its infrastructure and reduce property costs.
The majority of the company’s staff are based in Auckland and those based at its existing Fanshawe Street head office are expected to move to the airport in 2024.
Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran said it has spent the past two years looking at how it can set itself up for success.
“We know we work best when we work together and we have plenty of under-utilised space at the airport campus to make that happen.
“We’ll be creating an environment where the people who plan our future work alongside those who operate our aircraft and work with our customers every day.
“Globally, this way of working is delivering exceptional results for customers and shareholders, and this is the right time to get ready for a move as we prepare for the global recovery in aviation.”
Foran said the company has more space than it needed in the Auckland central city and was already paying for a precinct at the airport that had more than enough room.
“With building costs increasing and our CBD leases coming to an end, this is the time to get started on the work to bring our people together,” he said.
Moving the city office to the airport would cut costs by 20 percent over 15 years, the airline said.
Air New Zealand’s operations centre. Photo: Air New Zealand
It said the office’s lease will end in 2027 and it’s exploring sub-lease options.
The new engineering facility – called Hangar 4 – was first announced in 2019 and will be the largest single span timber arch aircraft hangar in the Southern Hemisphere, Air New Zealand said.
It would also be sustainable, with a six-star green rating.
“We’re confident that our long-haul operation will return so investing now in a new hangar that will be large enough to house a 787 and two A320s side-by-side in one space makes complete sense.
“Our existing hangars were built in the 1960s and 1980s and, while they have served us well, our fleet has changed over the decades. We now have a need for a more modern, innovative structure that takes energy use and other sustainability factors into account,” Foran said.
The family of Henelē Taliai, a Tongan officer killed in the Solomon islands during the Second World War hope that one day his remains will be sent back to Tonga.
Lt Henelē Taliai
But they feel the government has forgotten him.
“Today my Dad remembers his older brother Lt Henele Taliai, who was killed in action in the Solomon Islands,” his nephew ‘Ikani Taliai wrote on Anzac Day.
“The Army Camp in Tonga, Taliai Camp, was named after him by Her Majesty Queen Salote.
“He was killed alongside New Zealand Lieutenant Ben Masefield and the song “Taio” was written in remembrance of the two of them by Siotame Mataele, a soldier and friend to them both.”
‘Ikani said Masefield’s remains had been repatriated to New Zealand, but his uncle’s remains were still in the Solomon Islands.
“One day we will get him back home.”
In 2018 the then Prime Minister, ‘Akilisi Pōhiva revealed that Lt Taliai’s younger brother, the Rev. Siupeli Taliai, had written to Lord Ma’afu, the then Minister responsible for His Majesty’s Armed Forces, asking the Tongan Government to repatriate the soldier’s remains.
Hon. Pōhiva said at the time the government would discuss the request as a matter of urgency.
Henelē served with the First Commando Fiji Guerrillas in the Solomon Islands during the campaign to drive the Japanese out of South Georgia.
Lieutenant Taliai was killed by machine gun fire on July 12, 1943 when a commando patrol, edging along the beach towards Munda, ran into a heavy concentration of Japanese troops.
In her thesis on the Tongan military forces, historian Amanda Lee said he was regarded as a loved and admired young officer by the troops he commanded.
The commando patrols, made up of Tongans, Samoans and Fijians, were known to the Americans as the South Pacific Scouts. They made a key contribution to the Allied advancement during the campaign, serving as scouts and flanks for the American troops.
The commandos had a reputation for bravery and an adept understanding of the Pacific environment they were fighting in.
As a young man he was a keen rugby player and represented Tonga in test matches against Fiji.
His father and grandfather were both Methodist ministers. He was an outstanding athlete at Tupou College, where he captained the cricket and rugby teams and was senior prefect.
The official British history of the Islands campaign, Among Those Present, said he was confident the Tongans would give a good account of themselves if ever they got into action.
“We were famous warriors in the old days and were feared all over the South Pacific,” he was quoted as saying.
“We’re a bit out of practice, but we think we can pick it up again.”
Tongan rugby international Daniel Tupou could be out of the NRL for a fortnight after a neck high tackle on Anzac Day.
Daniel Tupou narrowly avoids being sent off after a high tackle on Mikaele Ravalawa.
The Sydney Rooster’s winger, who is of Tongan descent, tackled St George’s Illawarra winger Mikaele Ravalawa in the 54th minute of the game at the Sydney Cricket Grounds.
Ravalawa was not injured in the incident, but Tupou’s arm hit him in the side of the head after grazing the top of the ball.
Tupou has been suspended for a week by the NRL and has the option to appeal the penalty to the NRL judiciary. However, if he loses, he will face an additional week on the benches.
Tupou, who has represented both Tonga and Australia internationally, was part of the Rooster’s side that defeated St George’s 40-22 in last year’s NRL season.
The Roosters lost 12-14 in last weekend’s clash.
Senior rugby league figures said they were surprised Tupou was not immediately sin-binned after the incident.
Tupou was allowed to stay on the field for his tackle in the 54th minute despite the NRL’s mandating the sin bin for direct contact to the head.
Dragons coach Anthony Griffin told the media that Tupou “would have been jailed for two years during Magic Round last year” for the incident and the NRL’s chief executive, Andrew Abdo, said he was “surprised” Tupou wasn’t sent to the sin-bin.
“From where I was sitting to me it was a sin bin – direct contact to the head,” Abdo said.
“I was very surprised it wasn’t a sin bin, I think it should have been.”
On local Sydney media Triple M’s Mark Geyer said fans expected more consistency in the application of rules.
Reliable sources have told Kaniva News that members of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga’s board queried possible conflicts of interest if Lord Sevele was appointed to the country’s most important financial institution.
As Kaniva News has reported over the past few days, Minister for Finance Tatafu Moeaki wrote to the board reassuring them that Lord Sevele would “manage any perceived conflict of interest on his part and any other members of the board.”
It is understood the board had queried the Minister over Lord Sevele’s appointment because Lord Sevele owned Rowena Financial Services.
This company’s services included money transfer and this appears to be a direct conflict of interest with Sevele’s role.
“No director shall act as a delegate of any agricultural, commercial, financial, industrial, professional or other interest, or receive or accept directions therefrom in respect of duties to be performed under this Act or by virtue of such capacity under any other Act.
“All directors shall fully disclose to the Board . . . . any agricultural, commercial, financial, industrial, professional or other interests with which they or any person with whom they have personal, family, business or financial relations may at any time be directly or indirectly connected and shall refrain from voting on any matter related thereto which becomes the subject of Board action.”
Rowena Financial Services is registered with the Tonga Business Registry. The director is Lord Sevele’s wife Ainise and the shareholder is their daughter Marianne Rowena Tohi. The shareholder was changed from Feleti Sevele, who is Lord Sevele, on 22 July 2020.
Several other corporate entities listed on the Business Registry appear to be tied to Lord Sevele either directly or through family directorships and shareholdings. Not all of these appear to be still functioning.
These include Molisi Tonga Ltd, Sevele Education Foundation, Tonga Travel and Tour Ltd and Citywide Tech Tonga Ltd.
Kaniva News makes no imputations as to the legality of these company’s arrangements.
A leading Tongan figure has expressed concern that apart from a conflict of interest with the Reserve Bank, potential conflicts of interest may also exist with Lord Sevele’s other positions.
Our source suggested that a conflict of interest may arise when a person who is a Lord and an advisor to the king owns a businesses that could benefit from royal or Privy Council decisions.
Chinese loan
One of the most serious concerns raised about Lord Sevele’s previous actions was his decision to borrow $118 million from China to rebuild Nuku’alofa after the 2006 riots.
The amount borrowed was later criticised as being too much and it was claimed by some economic analysts that the damage to Nuku’allofa could have been rebuilt with for a few million.
When Lord Sevele was questioned about this by the Tonga Broadcasting Commission, he said he thought China would turn the loan into a grant, an idea China rejected despite many requests.
Businesses whose property was destroyed in the riots were allowed to borrow from the loan. It was later reported that some of them refused to pay back the money they owed because they thought that China would one day turn the loan into a grant.
Much of the loan money was used to renew the royal palace in Nuku’alofa, even though it was not affected by the 2006 riots. The Vuna wharf, which was not affected by the riots, was also funded from the loans.
Lord Sevele’s City Assets business previously known as Molisi Tonga also benefitted from the loan, which had not been approved by Parliament.
Lord Sevele was criticised in parliament in 2017 after it was revealed he rejected a demand from the Tongan government to sign a contract to make sure he is obliged to pay back the money he borrowed to rebuild his business after the 2006 riot.
The Minister of Finance was contacted for comment. Lord Sevele ‘O Vailahi could not be reached for comment.
COMMENTARY: In his response to our questions about the appointment of Lord Sevele to the board of the National Reserve Bank, the Minister for Finance told us to compare living costs in New Zealand and Tonga as an explanation of why the bank needed the services of experienced people.
However, we may, respectfully, draw a different conclusion to the one the Minister would like us to make.
Our conclusion is that in New Zealand a recommendation to appoint someone with such a controversial background as Lord Sevele would not be accepted.
If the New Zealand Cabinet did make such a recommendation they would expect to face the consequences of very public questioning.
In New Zealand any appointments to the Reserve Bank are closely scrutinised by the financial press, as happened when criticism was levelled at the bank for the appointment of an economist with what were seen as too strong ties to Australian banks.
We might also expect that the public would want a full accounting for the recommendation.
We do understand that at a time of financial crisis, the Covid-19 epidemic and the potential consequences of Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, that the government is looking for sound advice from experienced hands.
But is there something else going on?
Former Acting Chairman of NRB Richard Prema
On re-reading Minister Moeaki’s letter to Acting Chair of the National Reserve Bank, Richard Prema, it is clear the Minister was responding to concerns raised by Mr Prema. In paragraph one the Minister said the concerns had been noted, including other representation of the business sector to the board.
Those concerns were not detailed in the letter, but it is quite clear that there was some concern about the board’s directorship and that Cabinet had responded by appointing Lord Sevele and another director.
The fact that the Minister mentioned conflict of interest in the beginning of paragraph two of his letter leads us to suspect this issue has been raised either by the bank or Cabinet.
The Minister said: “The government needed experienced people to help deal with the kingdom’s financial crisis.”
This led us to ask what experiences Lord Sevele ‘O Vailahi has, apart from his academic background in which he held a Doctor of Philosophy in economic geography. Critics have argued that Sevele should not be regarded as a successful business operator since most, if not all, of businesses he operated have ceased operations. His record while in government as Prime Minister and chairman of a number of boards and committee is open to question.
Is this the kind of experience the Minister of Finance and the Cabinet want to be paid for by taxpayers’ money to control one of the most important financial institutions of the country?
We also asked Hon. Moeaki whether there was a conflict of interest over his recommendation of Sevele, given that the former Prime Minister was a voter in his constituency and they went to the same church.
The Minister of Finance responded by saying that this “had nothing to do with his personal relationship with the former Prime Minister”. The Minister also said: “The National Reserve Bank was not a political body”.
The power to appoint the directors to the board lies with the Cabinet. It depends on the Ministers’ favour and who they think might be a suitable person for the posts. It does not go through the Public Service Commission, so directors cannot be screened using the PSC rules and regulations for civil servants.
The Minister was right that the NRB was an independent body and is not political. But unfortunately, the Cabinet, which appoints directors for government boards, is a political body. And given Tonga’s political system in which the Prime Minister lobbies for a majority of the MPs to vote for him in the premiership election, there is a tendency for the PM and other Cabinet members to refrain from vetting the Minister of Finance’s candidate for NRB directors as a reward for his allegiance to the Cabinet.
Also, each minister will in turn, make the same proposal for their candidates to be appointed by the Cabinet to their various boards. Because the Minister of Finance appears to have supported Sevele’s questionable experiences and failed to justify his recommendation with good reasons, the people have rights to criticise the appointment including blaming him for nepotism.
This situation is clearly unacceptable. Appointments, to statutory bodies like the Reserve Bank should be subject to independent scrutiny and subject to stringent criteria. Appointments to public companies can also offer lessons. For instance, the New Zealand Financial Markets Authority recommends that directors “should be selected and appointed using rigorous, formal processes designed to give the board a range of relevant skills and experience.”
The FMA also recommends that chairs of boards should be independent.
To many people there will remain a question as to whether Lord Sevele has the relevant skills and experience.
Who, then, might fulfil these criteria?
Richard Prema, the Acting Chairman could be a good candidate for the Chair of the National Reserve Bank. He has been a successful businessman, coming from an Indo-Fijian family who moved to the kingdom in the 1950s. They started the Prema and Sons company – of which he is listed as CEO – which sells a range of good.
With a successful background in business, why was Prema not simply confirmed in his position as chairman?
The Supreme Court had dismissed a petition by former Acting Prime Minister Sēmisi Sika to overturn the results of the election for Tongatapu No 2 in last November’s election.
Dr ‘Uhilamoelangi Fasi and MP Sēmisi Sika
Sika was a Member of the Tongan Parliament from 2010 to 2021. He is currently leader of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.
Sika alleged that ‘Uhilamoelangi Fasi won the election by bribery.
He alleged that on or about November 16 last year, Dr Fasi gave Siosaia ‘Ahokovi, of Haveluloto, $100; that on November 3, 2021, Dr Fasi indirectly gave groceries to members of the community police at 12 community police posts at Haveluloto; that in the first week of November 2021, Dr Fasi directly or indirectly gave Telusila Pelesikoti TP$300 or paid her electricity bill in the sum of TP$300 and that on October 7 last year Dr Fasi indirectly gave TP$400 to the steward of the Church of Tonga at Haveluloto as a gift towards a fundraising by the church members.
Sika claimed that each instance Dr Fasi did so in order to influence the vote.
In his summary of the case Lord Chief Justice Whitten, presiding, said that according to the law, anybody who, directly or indirectly, gave money or valuable gifts to persuade an elector to vote or not vote was guilty of bribery.
Giving money or a valuable gift included giving, lending, agreeing to give or lend, offering, promising or promising to procure or try to procure, any money or valuable gift.
It was not necessary to prove that such actions did in fact produce any effect on the election.
Any money or valuable gift given or offered or agreed to be given within three months of any
election by or on behalf of a candidate, would be considered to have been offered for the purpose of influencing the vote.
Lord Chief Justice Whitten said it had to be assumed that when it framed the law Parliament took into account Tongan customs involving the giving of gifts whether by way of assistance to family members, refreshments or as part of recognized rituals or ceremonies.
The judge said that the quality of the evidence presented by Sika’s witnesses ranged from clear and credible to confused and confusing.
Lord Chief Justice Whitten described Dr Fasi and witness ‘Epele Sekeni as impressive witnesses.
“Throughout their cross-examination, they gave clear, measured and consistent evidence, none of which was damaged in any material respect. Therefore, where the evidence of Mr Sika’s witnesses conflicted with that of Dr Fasi and his witnesses, particularly ‘Epele, I preferred the latter.”
The judge said the first claim failed and that ‘Epele gave Siosaia the TP$100 in appreciation of work being done and help workers buying their lunch, not on behalf of Dr Fasi.
The second claim failed because there was no evidence or suggestion that Dr Fasi gave the groceries himself.
The third claim as withdrawn.
The judge said the fourth claim failed.
“The uncontroverted fact that the money was given ultimately for the benefit of the Tofoa church, within the Tongatapu 7 district, would negate any rational possibility that Dr Fasi had sought to induce the electors of the Tofoa church to vote for him because their vote could not assist him in being elected as the representative of the Tongatapu 2 electorate,” the judge said.
Minister of Finance Tatafu Moeaki said today the appointment of Lord Sevele as a director of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga had nothing to do with his personal relationship with the former Prime Minister.
Lord Sevele ‘O Vailahi (L), Minister of Finance Tatafu Moeaki
He said the government needed experienced people to help deal with the kingdom’s financial crisis.
As Kaniva News reported yesterday news of the appointment leaked when a letter to the Reserve Banks’s board of directors recommending the appointment was posted online.
Hon. Moeaki said the appointment had been approved by Cabinet.
He said Lord Sevele would “manage any perceived conflict of interest on his part and any other members of the board.”
We asked the Minister to tell us about the basis for the Cabinet’s recommendation of Lord Sevele for the post.
We also asked Hon. Moeaki whether there was a conflict of interest over his recommendation of Sevele, given that the former Prime Minister was a voter in his constituency and they went to the same church.
The Minister said the National Reserve Bank was not a political body.
It was a legally independent body separate from the government.
He said Tonga was facing enormous financial problems and the government had appointed new directors to deal with the problems.
“This is an administrative issue that should have not been leaked to the public, but the facts were in that letter of mine to the National Reserve Bank of Tonga on April 14,” he said.
The task of the directors was to help the government’s social economic recovery process.
The Reserve Bank had to deal with the country’s financial matters, including inflation, the external account, the exchange rate, regulation of the financial institutions stability, the money supply and interest rates.
He said a comparison of the costs of living in New Zealand to Tonga, the remittance fees to Tonga and the cost of loans made it clear why the appointment of experienced people as directors was necessary.
In response to questions about his personal relationship with the 78-year-old Lord Sevele, the Minister said: “Your other questions were not related to the appointment of the director.
This had nothing to do with the town or church that I came from. I have no comment for your other concerns.”
Kaniva’s article has triggered further attacks on the government from the public.
Many people have said the issue put the Hu’akavameiliku government in a position like that of the former Prime Minister Tu‘i‘onetoa who was criticised for his relationship with convicted fraudsters Etuate and Akosita Lavulavu.
Tongatapu police say they have arrested a 30-year-old Pili driver involved in an alleged hit-and-run that left a 40-year-old Ma’ufanga man dead.
Tonga Police. Photo/Kalino Lātū
The fatal collision happened on Tuesday at around 7.20pm on Tupoulahi Road at Fasimoeafi.
The driver had failed to stop and report the accident to police, said Deputy Police Commissioner Tevita Vailea.
Vailea said the victim was rushed to the hospital.
“Medical officials notified Police yesterday, 20th April of the injured victim and the critical condition that he was in, and a Police investigation was launched straightaway.
“Police located the driver responsible and made arrest around 10:40 pm last night.
“Not long after the arrest, at around 11.11pm last night, Police received a report from the Vaiola Hospital that the victim has passed away.
“The deceased’s family was advised immediately.
“This fatal accident is the second road death for this year, 2022. The suspect remains in Police custody for reckless driving causing death and is due to appear in court later this week.
Contact Police on phone 740-1660 or 922 to share any information you may know about this incident or any crime”.
Vladimir Putin sent a chilling warning to the West yesterday by test-launching his fearsome ‘Satan II’ missile.
Vladimir Putin ordered the test firing of his Sarmat RS-28 ‘Satan II’ missile – which is capable of carrying enough nuclear warheads to destroy France in a single strike
Capable of striking a target 11,200 miles away, the nuclear-capable Sarmat RS-28 is said to be the world’s longest-range intercontinental ballistic missile.
Putin described the launch as a ‘big, significant event’ for Russia’s military and claimed the weapon can overcome all modern defence systems.
However the US described the testing as ‘routine’ and dismissed any global threat.
If fully armed, it can deliver a payload big enough to destroy an area the size of France.
In remarks televised around Russia, Putin congratulated the military on the launch, adding: ‘This truly unique weapon will strengthen the combat potential of our armed forces, reliably ensure the security of Russia from external threats and make those who, in the heat of aggressive rhetoric, try to threaten our country, think twice.’
He added it was ‘capable of overcoming all modern means of anti-missile defence.’ Dmitry Rogozin, director of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, said the weapon was a ‘present to Nato and all sponsors of Ukro-Nazism’, a reference to the outlandlish propaganda claims that Kyiv is run by neo-Nazis.
Despite the timing – coming as Western countries pledge further heavy weaponry to aid Ukraine – the Pentagon said it was notified by the Kremlin of its intention to launch the weapon.
Initial tests of the missile took place in 2017 and the first full-scale launch was delayed from December, prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The RS-28 Sarmat is designed to replace the R-36, which had been nicknamed SS-18 Satan by NATO.
Describing the successful launch, a statement from Russia’s defence ministry said: ‘Sarmat is the most powerful missile with the longest range of destruction of targets in the world, which will significantly increase the combat power of our country’s strategic nuclear forces.’
Capable of travelling at up to 16,000mph, it can deploy multiple warheads and other weapons towards targets at hypersonic speeds, making it extremely difficult to bring down.
It will be able to launch the Avangard, Russia’s first hypersonic missile, which can travel at the top of the Earth’s atmosphere at more than ten times the speed of sound.
Putin has previously described the weapon as ‘invincible’. The original Soviet-era Satan missile has been in service since the 1970s, while ‘Satan II’ is said to have been in development since the early 2000s.
The head of Moscow’s strategic missile forces, Colonel-General Sergey Karakayev vowed to keep developing hypersonic weapons.
‘By the time they [the West] find an antidote, we must have found another solution to this. And today we are working on it. There are developments, there is work in progress.
Jack Watling, of the Royal United Services Institute defence think-tank said the timing of yesterday’s test was mere posturing by Putin ahead of Russia’s Victory Day on May 9, where the Kremlin shows off its weapons.
‘The timing of the test reflects the Russians wanting to have something to show as a technological achievement in the lead-up to Victory Day, at a time when a lot of their technology has not delivered the results they would have liked in Ukraine,’ he said.
When Putin invaded Ukraine in February he made a reference to his nation’s nuclear deterrents, warning the West that any major intervention would ‘lead you to such consequences that you have never encountered in your history’.
PTOA supporters have asked why former Prime Minister Lord Sevele ‘O Vailahi has been recommended to become chair of the National Reserve Bank’s Board of Directors.
Lord Sevele ‘O Vailahi (L), Minister of Finance Tatafu Moeaki
A letter of recommendation signed by Minister of Finance Tatafu Moeaki has been shared on social media.
Hon. Moeaki said the appointment had been approved by Cabinet.
He said Lord Sevele would “manage any perceived conflict of interest on his part and any other members of the board.”
Kaniva News has asked Hon. Moeaki for comment.
We asked him to tell us about the basis for the Cabinet’s recommendation of Lord Sevele for the post.
We also asked Moeaki whether there was a conflict of interest over his recommendation of Sevele, given that the former Prime Minister was a voter in his constituency and they went to the same church.
PTOA Party political social media activist Sharon Sēkona said she was baffled by the letter and asked if there was no one else in Tonga who would be a better fit for the post rather than Sevele.
“‘Ikai pe toe ai ha taha ia ‘i Tonga e qualified ki he position eee hoiiii”, she wrote in Tongan.
Controversial
PTOA Party supporters said Lord Sevele had a questionable background.
He has been accused of being involved in the illegal transfer of million of dollars from a Chinese grant to Princess Pilolevu Tuita and Tongasat
The Supreme Court has declared the transfer as illegal.
He was sacked as CEO of the organising committee for the 2019 Pacific Games that were going to be held in Tonga.
In 2017 the then Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva withdrew the kingdom from hosting the Games. He said he was unhappy with the financial budget organised by the organising committee chaired by Lord Sevele.
Lord Sevele was Prime Minister when the MV Ashika sank in 2009, killing 74 people.
Some people were charged and jailed after the tragedy, including the captain of the vessel Makahokovalu Tuputupu, Acting Director of Marine and Ports Viliami Tu’ipulotu and John Jonesse the Managing Director of the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd, which owned the vessel.
However, critics said the prosecution should have brought to justice everybody involved, including Lord Sevele, who was accused of being instrumental in bringing the doomed vessel to Tonga.
Chinese loan
Sevele was chair of the Nuku’alofa Development Corporation which administered and spent a TOP$118 million loan from China to reconstruct central Nuku’alofa after it was destroyed in riots on 16 November 2006.
He was accused of making unconstitutional decisions about the loan. Loans of more than TOP$15 million must be approved by a resolution of Parliament.
In 2013 a Parliamentary committee chaired by the late ‘Akilisi Pōhiva found that Sevele wanted to spend some of the reconstruction money on the City Assets Building (Molisi Tonga Ltd), which he owned.
