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Rare micro Moon eclipse expected to be visible across Aotearoa

By
Kaniva Staff
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By RNZ.co.nz. Republished with permission.

The longest partial lunar eclipse visible in New Zealand in more than 800 years should provide a stunning spectacle tonight, the Otago Museum director says.

It has not been seen in our skies since Kupe landed in Aotearoa 800 years ago. It starts at around 8.20pm although the best time to see will it be just after 10pm, Dr Ian Griffin told First Up.

“You’ll see a dark shadow starting to eat away at the bottom part of the Moon and over the next hour and a half, as the Moon gets higher in the sky, the shadow will climb across more and more of the Moon until just after 10 o’clock 97 percent of the Moon is going to be covered by the Earth’s shadow and it should be blood-red in colour and low in the north-eastern sky and it should be a marvellous, marvellous sight because not only will it be blood-red and much dimmer than the normal Moon but you’ll see the sub-cluster Matariki so it should be very pretty indeed.”

People in the north of Aotearoa see the Moon rise earlier so will see more of the eclipse, however, it will still be visible around the rest of the motu.

“The interesting thing about this is that it’s a very very long eclipse and the reason for that is that the Moon is at its furthest part of its orbit away from the Earth; it’s called a micro Moon tonight … because it’s so far away from the Earth it moves very slowly and that’s why the eclipse is so long.”

It is called a blood Moon because during a lunar eclipse the Earth passes directly between the Moon and the Sun so the Earth’s shadow falls directly on the Moon and that is why it gets dark, Dr Griffin said.

“At the mid-phase of the eclipse the only light falling on the Moon is from all of the sunsets around the Earth so that is why the colour goes red. It’s a very beautiful thing.”

While lunar eclipses happen every couple of years, the next one as long as tonight’s will not occur for another 648 years’ time in 2669, he said.

Carolle Varughese who is a councillor at the Auckland Astronomical Society also expects the blood-red phase of the eclipse will be able to be observed all over New Zealand.

“This is a full Moon and the Earth and the Sun and the Moon all line up so the Earth is sort of in the way of us getting a good full Moon and it’s sort of just blocking the light from the Sun a bit, giving us the blood Moon.”

The eclipse last May involved a super Moon and while most people can’t see much difference between a micro and super Moon astronomers and enthusiasts will get “pretty excited”, she said.

‘Akilisi Pōhiva’s influence missing as rival democrat factions dig their own political graves and hand victory to PM

By
Kalino Latu
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COMMENTARY The PTOA dug its own grave for this election, with squabbling and in-fighting handing victory to Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’ionetoa.

PM ‘Akilisi Pohiva. Photo/Kalino Lātū

As Kaniva news predicted earlier this week, it was possible for Hon. Tu’ionetoa to still win despite the widespread concern over what many voters saw as corruption and mis-spending of government funds.

According to one academic commentator, the absence of democrats leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva played a big part in the election.

In the run-up to the election, Associate Professor Malaki Koloamatangi of Massey University told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat this was the first election since Pohiva’s death in 2019.

“His passing has left a gap in the political landscape in Tonga and his influence also will be missing,” Associate Professor Koloamatangi said.

The late Prime Minister’s absence was sorely felt among the rival PTOA factions.

As Kaniva news reported last night the PTOA not only lost both their rival leaders, but their majority votes in some of their strongholds as well, because the votes were divided between its rival candidates, allowing independents to beat them both.

The PTOA Party fielded rival groups known as the PTOA People’s Board, led by Siaosi Pōhiva, and the PTOA Core Team led by Sēmisi Sika.

Prime MInister Dr Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa. Photo/Kalino Lātū (Kaniva News)

Their rivalry cost them seven seats in parliament to the independents.

PTOA top senior members, including Mateni Tapueluelu, Leader Siaosi Pōhiva and Leader Sēmisi Sika were all defeated.

Siaosi Pōhiva was defeated by Tongatapu 1’s new MP Tēvita Puloka.

Leader Sēmisi Sika lost his Tongatapu 2 seat to Dr Pingi Fasi.

PTOA senior MP Māteni Tapueluelu lost his seat to incumbent Minister of the Economy Tafafu Moeaki. Tapueluelu and his  rival PTOA candidate ‘Ilaiasi Lelei ‘Ufi received a combined result of 1457 votes from the PTOA voters, but because they shared that number it allowed Moeaki to defeat  them.

In Tongatapu 5 the PTOA voters gave a total of 1104 votes to the PTOA candidates with 614 votes going to Losaline Ma’asi and her PTOA rival ‘Akanete Ta’ai receiving 490 votes. Dr ‘Aisake Eke won by 958 votes.

In Tongatapu 7 the PTOA voters gave their candidates Sangstar Saulala and Paula Piveni Piukala a total of 1420 votes. Sangstar won by 810 votes.

In Tongatapu 10 the PTOA rival candidates revived a total votes of 1554 while Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa received only 1303 votes. However, Tu’i’onetoa won after the two PTOA rivals split their votes with Kapeli Lanumata receiving 1086 votes and Vika Kaufusi 468 votes.

Corruption, drugs

The democrats should have won if they had been united and settled their differences.

Dissatisfaction at the government’s flagrant mishandling of the road projects, their tour of the islands to supposedly pray Covid-19 away while receiving gifts and feasting and the Prime Minister’s prolonged refusal to act against convicted Cabinet Minister ‘Akosita Lavulavu all grated with the voters.

According to a report launched by anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International just days before the election, a survey of Pacific countries- including Tonga – showed corruption was a significant problem.

“This new data reveals the high levels of corruption directly experienced by people in the Pacific, which points to a pressing need for reform,” Transparency’s head, Delia Ferreira Rubio, said.

“Governments need to listen to their people and address their corruption problems to ensure they can vote freely and access quality public services easily, regardless of who they know and what they can pay.”

Corruption should have been a major issue that helped the democrats to win, as the party of reform. Clearly, however, their own ineptitude in fielding rival candidates meant they could not capitalise on this topic.

The other major concern for voters was the kingdom’s burgeoning drug problem. Again, this should have been an issue the PTOA could have used to woo voters, but it was not to be,

The sobering reality is that the government did not so much win this election as the PTOA lost it.

All PTOA supporters can hope for at this stage is that the leaders of the two party factions learn this bitter lesson well: If they are ever to regain power they must reconcile with each other and rediscover the late ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s vision for a truly democratic Tonga.

A sobering reality hits Democrats after election losses; voters elect nine new faces

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tonga’s PTOA Party (Democrats) lost both their rival leaders and majority votes in some strongholds with defeats to seven independent candidates among People’s Representatives in yesterday’s elections.

The PTOA Party was split in the lead up to the elections with the creation of two rival groups — the PTOA People’s Board led by Siaosi Pōhiva and PTOA Core Team led by Sēmisi Sika.

Last night they faced the reality that they had dug their own grave.

The voters have elected nine new People’s MPs and three new nobles to the all-male Parliament, according to provisional results announced by the Supervisor of Elections Pita Vuki.

PTOA top senior members, including Mateni Tapueluelu, PTOA People’s Board leader Pōhiva and Core Team leader Sika were all defeated.

People’s Board leader Siaosi was defeated by Tongatapu 1 new MP Tēvita Puloka.

Core Team leader Sēmisi Sika lost his Tongatapu 2 seat to Dr Pingi Fasi.

Tapueluelu loses seat
PTOA senior MP Māteni Tapueluelu lost his seat to incumbent Minister of Economy Tafafu Moeaki.

Tapueluelu and his PTOA rival candidate ‘Ilaiasi Lelei ‘Ufi received a combination result of 1457 votes from the PTOA voters, but because they shared that number it opened an opportunity for Moeaki to defeat them.

In Tongatapu 5, the PTOA voters gave a total of 1104 votes to the PTOA candidates, with 614 votes going to Losaline Ma’asi while her PTOA rival ‘Akanete Ta’ai got 490 votes. Dr ‘Aisake Eke won the seat by 958 votes.

In Tongatapu 7, the PTOA voters gave their candidates Sangstar Saulala and Paula Piveni Piukala a total of 1420 votes. Sangstar won by 810 votes.

In Tongatapu 10, the PTOA rival candidates gained a total votes of 1554 while Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa received only 1303 votes.

However, Tu’i’onetoa won after the two PTOA rivals split their votes with Kapeli Lanumata receiving 1086 votes with Vika Kaufusi gaining only 468 votes.

The democrats should have won if they had been united and settled their differences.

Dissatisfaction at the government’s flagrant mishandling of the road projects, their tour of the islands to supposedly pray Covid-19 away while receiving gifts and feasting and the Prime Minister’s prolonged refusal to act against convicted Cabinet Minister ‘Akosita Lavulavu all grated with the voters.

The sobering reality is that the government did not so much win this election as the PTOA lost it.

All PTOA supporters can hope for at this stage is that the leaders of the two party factions learn this bitter lesson well: If they are ever to regain power they must reconcile with each other and rediscover the late ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s vision for a truly democratic Tonga.

Provisional election results:
People’s Representatives:
Tongatapu:
Tt1: Tevita Puloka (1695 votes)
Tt2: Dr Ping Fasi (962)
Tt3: Siaosi Sovaleni (2084)
Tt4: Tatafu Moeaki (1237)
Tt5: Dr ‘Aisake Eke (968)
Tt6: Poasi Tei (1771)
Tt7: Sangstar Saulala (810)
Tt8: Semisi Fakahau (1020)
Tt9: Seventeen Toumoua (828)
Tt10: Pōhiva Tuionetoa (1303)
‘Eua:
Eua11: Dr Taniela Fusimalohi (1072)
Ha’apai:
Hp12: Viliami Hingano (475)
Hp13: Veivosa Taka (731)
Vava’u:
Vv14: Saia Piukala (1010)
Vv15: Sāmiu Vaipulu (747)
Vv16: Dr Viliami Latu (1047)
Niuas:
Niua17 Vatau Hui 367 votes

Nobility election:
Tongatapu:
Lord Vaea (13 votes)
Lord Tu’ivakano (12)
Lord Fohe (10)
Vava’u:
Lord Tu’i’afitu (9)
Lord Tu’ilakepa (8)
Ha’apai:
Lord Tui’ha’angana (5)
Lord Fakafanua (4)
‘Eua:
Lord Nuku (11)
Niuas:
HSH Prince Kalaniuvalu, the Lord Fotofili (2)

Fijian families set for relocation as cyclone season arrives

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By RNZ.co.nz and is republished with permission.

Ten Fijian families living in a flood-prone area of the capital Suva are preparing to relocate from their homes, the government said.

A day out from the arrival of Cyclone Yasa, there is already flooding across Fiji, including at the River Road settlement in Narere,
A day out from the arrival of Cyclone Yasa, there is already flooding across Fiji, including at the River Road settlement in Narere, Photo: Semi Turaga / Fiji Village

The Government said the houses are currently sitting on the drain reserve and this restricts the Ministry of Waterways from carrying out maintenance and upgrades at River Road in Narere.

River Road has been prone to flooding with many homes at the informal settlement damaged during the recent cyclones in Fiji.

The cyclone season in the Pacific is from November to April. The 10 families will be relocated to the Millennium Lease area in Nausori.

A series of consultations have been carried out with the families since July 2020, the government said in a statement.

“But the relocation was put on hold in April of this year due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

“In September this year, the families were granted formal approval to build new homes in the Millennium development lease area.

“So far, five families have cleared land to prepare for construction while two more families have already commenced building their homes.”

The government said the families have also been granted consent to apply for water and electricity connections for their new homes.

The Ministry of Housing and Community Development is assisting the families with their relocation.

Villagers help unload. It is the first aid drop to this Taveuni village.
Villagers help unload. It is the first aid drop to this Taveuni village. Photo: RNZI Sally Round

Relocation last option – govt

Meanwhile, the government said relocating villages is the last option.

The Minister for Waterways and Environment, Mahendra Reddy, made the comment while officiating at the ground-breaking ceremony for the longest stretch of nature-based solution sea-wall at Viseisei Village in Lautoka this week.

Dr Reddy said the $23,400 sea wall would directly benefit more than 800 people.

The minstry has not built a nature-based solution sea-wall of 500m and the new structure is for one of the largest villages, he said.

He added the sea-wall would also benefit more than 150 households.

With the cyclone season from November to April, the government said it was helping villagers prepare for any threat.

But Dr Reddy said relocating villages was the last option because houses in the villages represented much more than their physical structure.

“It is no longer a physical object that you move from one place to another,” he said.

“It is about the people, their livelihood, their culture, heritage and the bond with that place.”

Dr Reddy said Fijians settled near coastal areas some eight decades ago and proudly established their lifestyles accordingly.

“Their lives, culture and their source of livelihood is intertwined within the coastal areas which is now being threatened to the extent that some of these villages cannot be protected and need to be relocated.”

Homes along River Road in Narere.
Homes along River Road in Narere. Photo: Supplied/Fiji NDMO

Polls in Tonga open for 2021 election

By
Kaniva Staff
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By RNZ.co.nz and is republished with permission. 

About 60,000 Tongan voters are able to vote in a new government today.

They will be electing 17 People’s Representatives for the 26-member legislature.

The 33 noble families will elect their nine representatives from within their own ranks.

No caption
Photo: RNZI/ Koro Vaka’uta

There are 72 candidates standing, including 12 women.

RNZ Pacific’s correspondent in Tonga, Kalafi Moala, said a high voter turnout is expected.

“There has been leading up to the election a very strong drive to get people registered to vote. People over 21 years of age are eligible to vote here in Tonga and then of course there’s been people that have returned from overseas, people that have moved from other areas.

So there has been a strong registration drive and so the expectation also is there will be a higher vote this year than the previous election,” he said.

The polls have just opened and a result in expected by 10 o’clock tonight.

If this election follows the pattern of recent elections the prime minister will not be chosen until nearer Christmas.

New Vice Chancellor for AUT encourages young Pasifika to pursue education

By
Kaniva Staff
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By RNZ.co.nz and is republished with permission.

The new Vice Chancellor of the Auckland University of Technology is calling on young Pasifika peoples pursuing their education to stay the course.

Toeolesulusulu Damon Salesa, who is currently a Pro-Chancellor at the University of Auckland takes up his new role at AUT in March next year.

He is the first person of Pacific descent to head a university in New Zealand.

Associate Professor Toeolesulusulu Damon Salesa
Associate Professor Toeolesulusulu Damon Salesa Photo: The University of Auckland

Toeolesulusulu said the past two years of the Covid-19 pandemic have been the most difficult for education in a long time.

He said part of the reason he chose to take up the new role is that AUT’s provides a pathway to education for people of all ages, backgrounds and races, regardless of the life stage or academic credentials.

“The pressures of the pandemic have forced many young people to have to choose between furthering their education or providing for their families, and institutions like AUT can help.

“Now is a great time to just leave school and get a job. But in terms of the future that students’ families need, that our city and our communities need, education still remains the single most powerful way to transform the lives of you and your family and through them our communities,” Salesa said.

PM shows bias over constituency projects, but could still win because of PTOA bungling

By
Kalino Latu
-

COMMENTARY: Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa has attracted exceptional attention this election because of what has been seen as his overtly biased policies towards constituencies who did not vote for his party or support his Cabinet.

Prime MInister Dr Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa. Photo/Kalino Lātū (Kaniva News)

This could make him the kingdom’s first Prime Minister to take such a prejudicial stance since Tonga’s political reforms of 2010.

He has shown in the two years of his tenure a huge lack of good leadership and an apparent misuse of the country’s budget by only favouring his Cabinet Ministers’ constituencies with much needed infrastructure projects.

Tu’i’onetoa’s chance

If Hon. Tu’i’onetoa is returned to Parliament this election it will not be because of his use of the government’s  multimillion projects to woo voters of his constituency,  but the wrong decision the PTOA party made to promote two candidates in Tongatapu 10.

The two PTOA factions’ latest action was terribly dangerous and showed how profoundly their leaders lack any real leadership qualities.

They showed recently they could reach a compromise in some constituencies like Tongatapu 8, where the PTOA People’s Board candidate withdrew to support the Core Team candidate Sēmisi Fakahau and Siaosi Pōhiva agreed to appear on the Core Team’s candidate list.

Why did they not make such a compromise in other constituencies, including Tongatapu 4, 5, 7 and 10?

Lapaha links to Mu’a (Tongatapu 9)

Tongatapu 10 has been one of the PTOA’s strongholds for more than 30 years since the democratic movement was introduced in Tonga in 1980s. A number of factors helped these people maintain their strong belief in the democrats. There were people in the Mu’a  electorate next to Lapaha in Tongatapu 10 who were shot on Malinoa island after they were accused of being involved in the failed attempt to assassinate the then Prime Minister  Shirley Baker.

The Mu’a electorate was where the Mu’a Parliament was established after their leader of the Tu’i Tonga line was defeated and dethroned by King Taufa’āhau 1  and his warriors.

Although there was a reconciliation after the war and the dethroning of the Tu’i Tonga (Tonga King) the Mu’a chiefs were still furious.

It continued in the Mu’a parliament which was occupied by the Tu’i Tonga chiefs.

In the 1990s some residents of Tongatapu 10 were vocal in support of the Democratic Movement, including a man by the name Vaha’akolo Fonofehi from Lapaha who was detained together with the Taimi ‘o Tonga newspaper editor because of their criticism against the then Minister of Police Clive Edwards for opposing the democrats.

The Tongatapu 10 people showed their support for the democratic movements as part of the work their own Parliament initiated after the Kanokupolu line took over.

Tu’i’onetoa and the nobility

Last week the Prime Minister went on air on his official Facebook livestream with  Radio FM 87.5 and highly recommended the noble MPs and the need for all MPs to stand together with the nobility.

His preaching shows he has completely rejected the continued work made since 2010 to improve Tonga’s democratisation process. His rejection was a U-turn, a contradiction of what he told Tongatapu 10 voters in 2017, when he asked the voters  to elect him because he supported the PTOA and their democritisation process. Now he keeps telling  the public that the PTOA has a plot to take away  the king’s power by force, something the PTOA has denied vehemently.

This election gives Tongatapu 10 another chance to test their good judgement and whether they will change it because of the new wharf, weaving houses, new road sealings and distributions of water tanks or whether they will dump him and elect one of the two PTOA candidates with their policies which support the principles of democracy.

 

Prime Minister criticised for lifting curfew on wharf project in last few days before election

By
Kalino Latu
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The Prime Minister had been criticised for allowing work on a new wharf to continue during curfew a few days before the elections.

Photos of government workers repairing roads in the Prime Minister’s Lapaha electorate this morning. Photos / Supplied

The launch of the new wharf in the Prime Minister’s Afā electorate was celebrated on Friday last week.

Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa made the revelation on Saturday night during his official Facebook livestream with Radio FM 87.5.

He said the Ports of Authority workers worked day and night before they completed the wharf.

“I asked the Minister of Police to exclude them from the curfew,” the Prime Minister said in Tongan.

READ MORE:

The Prime Minister was responding to allegations made on a Facebook livestream report by  the PTOA Party’s social media reporter, ‘Asiata Māsima, who goes by the Facebook name Fakafehi Lola.

He said Māsima  alleged that Afā  and its overseas residents had complained that  the wharf was launched unfinished because the government knew they would be rewarded with Tongan goods and seafood during the celebration. The Prime Minister denied this.

Māsima told Kaniva News he got the information from Afā residents.

He said the timing of the launch just a few days before the election showed the Prime Minister was doing everything he can do to make sure he did not lose his seat.

The Prime Minister’s actions in his electorate, where his rival candidates did not have the same benefit of being able to cite governments development  projects, was criticised by veteran journalist and media commentator Kalafi Moala as bullying.

Moala compared the situation to the battle of David and Goliath in the Holy Bible.

The revelation of the selective lifting of the curfew came after Tongan Police arrested  124 people for breaching restrictions and curfews during Tongatapu’s one-week lockdown. This included 36 people who gathered at kava sessions

There were also reports of police closing down street markets during the lockdown.

In April 2020 Tonga Police arrested 568 people for breaking the night curfew after the kingdom’s state of emergency was declared in March.

Of those arrested, 357 had allegedly breached the lockdown rules or obstructed officers.

Meanwhile, the Tu’i’onetoa government is being criticised for unfairly wooing  voters after workers with truckloads of rocks and tar were spotted this morning sealing roads in his Lapaha electorate.

Tongatapu 7 Candidate for the PTOA Party, Piveni Piukala, said the government should act as a caretaker at this state and should not be seen working on these projects in their constituencies.

Piukala said it appeared there was a legal issue.

Reports of government ministers distributing water tanks and renewing water supplies in their constituencies, including one in Tongatapu 6, was also criticised for being scheduled in the days before the elections

Covid-19 update: 222 new community cases of Covid-19 announced

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By RNZ.co.nz. Republished with permission.

There are 222 new community cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand today.

The Ministry of Health has also announced one new Covid-19-related death.

Yesterday, there were 173 new community cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand – 163 in Auckland, seven in Waikato, two in Northland and one in Lakes District – plus one found in Wairarapa that came in too late for the day’s official tally.

The government announced yesterday that booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine will be available in a fortnight for people who got their second dose more than six months prior.

From today, no one can work in healthcare or schools if they have not had one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine unless they are exempt from the government’s mandate.

Covid-19 update: 207 new community cases in New Zealand today, one further death

By
Kaniva Staff
-

There has been a total of 207 new community cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand today, with one new death at North Shore Hospital.

The new cases today include 192 cases in Auckland, seven in Waikato, two in Northland, three in Taupo, one in Rotorua and two in the Tararua district. A further Rotorua case will be included in tomorrow’s official numbers.

In a statement, the Health Ministry said a woman in her 90s died in North Shore Hospital last night. The woman had a number of underlying health conditions and had Covid-19.

“Her underlying health conditions and the state of her health meant it was not clinically appropriate for her to receive ventilator or ICU care.

“Her family was regularly updated and had the opportunity to speak with her regularly by phone. The family has been offered cultural support by the DHB.”

The Ministry said the woman was admitted on 6 November from Edmonton Meadows Care Home where there has been an outbreak with 25 cases of Covid-19 in staff and residents.

There are 90 people in hospital with the coronavirus, including one case in Whangarei and one in Dargaville. Seven are in intensive care.

Fifty of the cases in hospital are unvaccinated or not eligible.

There were also two cases reported in managed isolation today.

Four new community cases were confirmed earlier today – the two in Rotorua, with the two other cases in the Tararua district – after the announcement last night of three more positive cases in Taupo.

Of the seven new cases confirmed in the Waikato overnight, six are known contacts. Three of the cases were from Hamilton, two from Te Kuiti, one from Ōtorohanga, and one from Ngāruawāhia.

One of the two new cases in Northland being reported today is a close contact of an existing case and investigations are continuing to determine how the other case is linked to the outbreak.

There were no cases reported in Taranaki today and all of the five close contacts identified at this stage have tested negative.

“However, Public Health Officials are continuing to encourage anyone with Covid-19 related symptoms, no matter how mild, to get tested.”

There were 175 new community cases in New Zealand yesterday.

There have now been 5578 cases in the current community outbreak and 8331 cases in New Zealand since the pandemic began.

The Ministry said 26,996 vaccine doses were administered yesterday – 7149 first doses and 19,847 second doses. Ninety percent of New Zealanders have had their first dose and 81 percent are fully vaccinated.

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