Police have released information about items of clothing found with a dead baby discovered at an Onehunga recycling plant on Monday.
If you recognise any of these items contact the Operation Deer team. Photo / Supplied
Police are appealing to the public to help identify clothing that could help them find her mother.
A post-mortem carried out earlier this week confirmed it was baby girl who was born at full term and despite our appeals to the public, we have received limited information to help us identify her or her mum.
Now, Police are releasing images of items of clothing located in a blue plastic bag that was found during our scene examination.
Detective Inspector Scott Beard says the baby may have been in the blue bag, which also included several items of baby, children’s and adult clothing.
The clothing includes a child’s beanie, a distinctive pink child’s sweater and pink t-shirt, women’s belts and two women’s tops and a sequined skirt that appears to have been cut up.
There were also two baby onesies with colourful prints on them located in the area, which may have also come out of the bag.
Detective Inspector Scott Beard says while detectives can’t fully determine whether the clothing is definitely linked to the mother of this baby, anyone who recognises the items is urged to contact Police immediately.
“We are asking that if this clothing is known to you or you recognise who this clothing belongs to please contact us.
This information will greatly help us with our enquiries,” he says.
“Not only do we want to identify the baby girl’s mother to ensure her welfare and get her the medical assistance and support she needs, but we also want to get some answers for the sake of this little girl.
“She has no name and no one to mourn and bury her.
The sooner Police can identify her mother, the sooner this baby girl can be treated with the respect she deserves and laid to rest.”
Anyone with information can contact 105 quoting file number 210816/2825 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
Some images are attached to this release but a number of additional images can be accessed via this dropbox link:
All of New Zealand will remain at alert level 4 until at least Tuesday midnight, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed.
Cabinet will meet on Monday to decide on the next move on the country’s alert levels.
Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield have provided an update on the country’s alert level situation.
Watch the briefing here:
New Zealand went into lockdown at 11.59pm on Tuesday. Auckland and Coromandel were initially set to be in level 4 for seven days, while the rest of the country was put into level 4 for three days.
The Prime Minister said the delay in opening until Tuesday means there will be more time to assess how much of the country has been affected.
“We believe we’ll be in a better position to make an assessment about all of New Zealand with that full seven days, granted Auckland is looking like it will have the challenge of being the primary site of this outbreak.”
Ardern said the country was in a “reasonable position”, but it was still early days in the outbreak and it was too soon to draw any conclusions.
“We are still waiting on a large number of contacts to be tested,” she said.
“We just don’t quite know the full scale of this Delta outbreak. All in all this tells us we need to continue to be cautious.”
Ardern said it was important that the cases at this point appeared to be linked and there were not cases popping up where they were not expected.
The large number of locations also meant the country was likely dealing with more cases, and with cases confirmed in Wellington today, health authorities were now dealing with an outbreak that was not isolated to Auckland.
“It’s much better to assure ourselves now …. than allowing the virus to spread easily.”
She urged people to check locations of interest and if they have been there at the time they should get a test. However, she warned that if they were there earlier or later, a test was not necessary.
“Many people have been doing the right thing and have encountered long wait times at our testing stations. Please do remember you can also call your GP to see if they are testing.”
She said contacts should stay home and isolate. Others should, under level 4, stay home with their bubble.
She reminded New Zealanders that anyone over 12 visiting an essential service was required to wear a face mask.
“We are also asking people to just wear a mask as they leave their home generally. Remember people have got the virus just by walking past someone.”
People should be washing their hands, scanning in, and “please be kind” and check in with friends and family.
“Following the rules to the letter does mean we can reconnect faster.”
She said the lockdown method was tried and true.
“Keep up the amazing work and everyone – and I mean everyone – needs to play their part.”
Dr Bloomfield said the testing rates across the country have been six to 10 times the usual level, and “we need to keep that up”.
He said the 24,000 swabs in one day in Auckland is 50 percent higher than the previous single-day record.
Yesterday health authorities managed to link the current cases of the Delta variant in this country to a traveller who arrived from New South Wales and was taken to Middlemore Hospital earlier this week.
Vaccination clinics have resumed operating after a one day pause to get alert level 4 protocols in place, but one Auckland clinic said it was now doing half the number of vaccinations that it was prior to the lockdown.
The identities of five accused who appeared in a Vava’u court yesterday in connection with multi-million worth of cocaine seized in Vava’u last month can now be revealed.
They included the three foreigners, named as Ian Robin Cox, 70, a British national, his wife Brenda Cox, 58 and Calvin Manuceau, 25, who are both Americans.
Matangi Tonga Report said these accused all live in Houmelei.
Two Tongan accused were named as Andrew Motuliki from ‘Utulangivaka and Kapeni Tamo’ua of ‘Utungake.
The court case will go to the Supreme Court on October 4.
Police have so far recovered 14 kilograms of washed-up cocaine with an estimated street value of more than TOP$5 million.
Police previously said 12 people (9 males and 3 females have been arrested to date – 10 in Vava’u and 2 in Tongatapu.)
They are facing criminal charges relating to possession and engaging with others in the supply of illicit drugs.
“Others have been charged for intentionally lying to Police.”
Police also said previously they seized almost 2kg of cocaine from a workshop at Neiafu owned by the Coxes as well as from their rented residence at Houmelei.
As Kaniva News reported previously, cocaine worth more than TOP$4 million has washed up on Hōleva and Ha’alaufuli beaches, before police scoured nearby shores for similar illicit packages.
In 2012, a yacht which washed up in Vava’u seas with a badly decomposed body on board was carrying more than 200kg of cocaine worth up to US$120 million.
There have been 11 new cases of Covid-19 reported in the community this afternoon, including three in Wellington, the Ministry of Health has confirmed.
In a statement, the Health Ministry said there were now 31 cases associated with the current Auckland community outbreak.
“All cases have or are being transferred safely to a managed isolation facility, under strict infection prevention and control procedures, including the use of full PPE.”
The Ministry said the three in Wellington had recently travelled to Auckland and visited a location of interest there.
The 11 new community cases reported today include three seperate cases were in family bubbles with previously reported cases, while two of today’s cases are also in a family bubble together.
“Public health officials are currently conducting interviews to establish how the new cases were infected and to determine further details of their movements. We will continue to release this information as it becomes available.”
It also said the international Air New Zealand crew member reported yesterday has now been confirmed as a border-related case, and not linked to the Auckland outbreak, based on the results of whole genome sequencing.
The Ministry said there were also two new cases in managed isolation.
There were 27,899 tests were processed across New Zealand.
The Ministry said testing centres in Auckland had their busiest day ever, by more than 50 percent.
“More than 24,000 community tests were performed across Auckland yesterday, with more than 8000 at community testing centres and around 16,000 at general practice and urgent care clinics. Police are helping to manage traffic flows at sites.
“There are 13 community testing centres available for testing across Auckland today, including seven pop-up community testing centres at Narrow Neck, St Lukes, Wairau Valley, St Johns, Albany, Mângere East, and Pakuranga Heights. There is additional dedicated testing for Avondale College staff, students and whânau, who are considered to be close contacts.”
About 2600 swabs have also been taken from Auckland City Hospital staff and all have been negative so far, after a fully vaccinated staff member worked there while unknowingly potentially infectious.
Earlier today North Shore Hospital took action after it was confirmed a patient who has now tested positive for Covid-19 was treated there. New Zealand Post also revealed a positive Covid-19 case this morning, a temporary worker at their Auckland Operations Centre in Highbrook.
Cabinet is currently meeting to decide whether the country’s alert level settings should be changed or not and is expected to make an announcement at 3pm.
***
This is an official Covid-19 ALERT.
All of New Zealand is now at Covid-19 alert level 4.
The alert level will be reviewed after 3 days for all areas EXCEPT Auckland & Coromandel Peninsula which is likely to remain at level 4 for an initial period of 7 days.
A community case of Covid-19 has been identified.
Stay at home where possible & follow the Alert Level 4 guidelines. This will stop the spread of Covid-19 and SAVE LIVES.
Everyone is asked to:
Wear a mask and keep a 2 metre distance from others whenever you leave your home.
If you are sick, call your doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice about getting tested.
Keep on scanning QR codes whenever you leave your home.
Practice good hygiene – wash hands often.
Services including supermarkets, pharmacies, clinics & petrol stations will stay open at Alert Level 4. Face coverings are mandatory for all people – both employees and customers – at businesses and services operating at Alert Level 4 involving customer contact.
For more information on Alert Level 4 go to [the government website www.covid19.govt.nz]
***
RNZ is the statutory Lifeline Utility responsible for radio broadcasting under the Emergency Management Act 2002 and it has a memorandum of understanding with Government which has been activated to help deal with potential health issues related to the pandemic. RNZ’s Lifeline Utility obligations do not affect our editorial independence as a public media organisation or the rigour of our news gathering and reporting operations.
As New Zealand’s Lifeline Utility radio broadcaster, RNZ is required to maintain essential public information channels and news during times of national emergency and we are committed to supporting all New Zealanders.
We are also committed to looking after the health and well-being of our staff.
RNZ will continue to provide essential information services – broadcasting and publishing critical public service announcements on air, on our website and via social media channels. Comprehensive news will be available on air and via our website and digital services.
If necessary RNZ Concert and RNZ Pacific will carry news and information from RNZ National. Parliament will continue to be broadcast on the AM network when the House is sitting. As the country’s public service media organisation, RNZ is committed to supporting all New Zealanders.
Footage has emerged of a brawl inside a Tongan church building in East Palo Alto in the United states.
Tongan church members in Palo Alto intervened and stopped the fight
The video clip, which has been widely shared on Facebook this week, shows a man wearing a formal red Tongan attire speaking into a microphone.
It appeared he was attempting to share his concerns with the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga congregation.
But while he was speaking he was intermittently interrupted and stopped by another man wearing a formal white Tongan attire and was standing short distance away.
Some church members can be heard pleading with the duo to stop the quarrel as they were in a church building.
The man in white attire was seen walking towards the man in red before some members of the church intervened and attempted to stop them.
Kaniva News has not been able to confirm the authenticity of the video or who filmed it.
It is understood the church was conducting a misinale fundraising.
In 2019, a man appeared at an East Palo Alto court after trying to slit a fellow parishioner’s throat while she was eating in their Tongan East Palo Alto church’s dining hall.
In 2018, a footage of a brutal brawl outside a Tongan church in East Palo Alto was shared on social media.
Two separate Auckland high schools have reported Covid-19 cases on Thursday night.
It was confirmed that a student at Lynfield College had contracted the virus, with all staff and students at the school considered close contacts.
Earlier, a student at Northcote College has been confirmed as having Covid-19.
Both students attended their respective schools on Monday and Tuesday while infectious.
Students and staff from both schools must now isolate for 14 days.
The positive results at Northcote and Lynfield mean four education facilities have reported a case amongst its students and staff after a teacher from Avondale College and an AUT student both tested positive on Wednesday.
Parents and students at Northcote College are not surprised that a Covid case has been identified at the school on Auckland’s North Shore.
The parent of a year 11 student who didn’t want to be identified, told 1 NEWS “I haven’t left the house because I didn’t want to be the one who brought the Weet-Bix box home with Covid on it.”
She’s relieved that both her and her 16-year-old son had their first vaccination two weeks ago because she is immuno-compromised.
“My teen and all his mates hang out at the mall. It’s become a hot spot which is really concerning.”
But ultimately she’s not surprised.
“I’m not shocked because it was all feeling very close to home this week.”
It’s a sentiment shared by the parent of a 13-year-old student at the school.
“I was saying it was only a matter of time. It felt like the situation was closing in on us with all these locations in our community being listed all around us.”
Staff at Northcote College are currently in meetings and unavailable to respond to questions from 1 NEWS.
The case adds to a growing list of populous locations of interest tied to the Auckland Delta outbreak which also has supermarkets, shopping malls and a church.
It also comes after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today Kiwis aged 12-15 years old will now be able to get the Covid-19 vaccine.
New Zealand’s ethnic pay gap – where Pākehā men are paid 27 percent more than Pasifika women – is being investigated by the Human Rights Commission.
Equal Employment Opportunities commissioner, Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo. Photo: HRC
Pacific men earn 24 percent less than their white male counterparts while Pasifika as a group earn 23 percent less than European New Zealanders.
For tāngata Māori it’s not much better.
Equal Employment Opportunities commissioner Saunoamaali’i Karanina Sumeo said the formal inquiry into why the gap was not closing launched today.
The planning stage was complete and an advisory group had been established that includes the Employers and Manufacturers Association, Pacific Business Trust, the Council of Trade Unions and government ministries, Sumeo said.
“MBIE (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment) and Pacific peoples are there to give advice, and also, we want to make sure that what we pick up from it can be integrated and will be no surprises to government.
“And I suppose these are the two major departments that we want to act on the findings to push it.”
Pacific workers needed equal opportunities in the work place, including for advancement, further education and training, Sumeo said.
Workplaces needed to be free from discrimination and exploitation in order for everyone to thrive, while ensuring workers were recognised with equal pay for work of equal value, she said.
But income statistics showed that had not happened for Pacific people in Aotearoa
Sumeo said she had tried to get key players to the table to tackle the issue by establishing relationships with business and Pacific communities.
“The set-up stage is done, and now we’ve started the engagement with our people, workers, people who are running businesses,” she said.
It was not just Pacific people taking part.
“Because obviously the majority of businesses are not owned by Pacific, but they’re key to make things right.”
The inquiry is to consider the experience of Pacific workers with a special focus on the manufacturing, construction and health sectors, which employ large numbers of Pasifika.
What’s wrong
The inquiry aimed to identify areas of opportunity to close the pay gap and narrow the disparity.
There was a wide variety of issues to overcome and Sumeo used the care sector as an example.
“Because we’re very good at providing the service, what happens is that those organisations then leave our people at the service delivery level and don’t prioritise moving them up the ladders.”
“Workers deserve better” Photo: RNZ Pacific / Sela Jane Hopgood
That was an example of inequity that could be targeted because of the disparity between what workers and employers were saying, she said.
There were stories from recruitment firms in the sector who said Pacific people did not put their hands up for advancement, she said.
“Actually they are putting their hands up. They do have the qualifications. They do have the experience. They’re just not being given the opportunity.”
The denial of opportunity had been described by some Pacific workers as a form of bullying, Sumeo said.
“Sometimes when our people speak up, we’re seen as troublemakers. So they’re denied the opportunity.”
Immigration status and job security played into that.
“If you’re only here on a visa, people don’t feel safe to open their mouths if they feel like they’re being treated unfairly.
“I think for our people, when we’re living at that really pointy end of the economy where every hour of work counts, every dollar counts, it’s really hard to risk that, even when you know your rights have been violated.”
The use of confidentiality agreements by businesses during the settlement process of disputes was also troublesome, Sumeo said.
They were used to “move things quickly, but also to shut down the complaint”.
“Of course, that doesn’t help some of our people who feel affected by issues like bullying and harassment in the work place who feel like they can’t reach out for help.”
Employers’ recognition inconsistent with reality
Another issue for Pasifika workers was the lack of recognition by their employers that there was an issue.
“When we ask people about the ethnic pay gap, some of them look at you like ‘it’s a thing?’ and then say they don’t have any pay gaps.
“We pay everybody fairly, equally.”
Upon interrogating their data they then recognised there was an issue, Sumeo said.
However, even large well-resourced employers were not necessarily recording and collating the data.
“There’s no excuse for a large employer not to have analysts and people in the HR department to collect ethnicity data.”
However, Sumeo made the point that it was only then that you could quantify the extent of the issue.
“For example, I had a conversation with one of the DHBs (district health boards). They didn’t think they had an ethnic pay gap until they looked at their data, and they did collect ethnicity data.
“And as a result, they’re are now frantically looking at how can we address this.”
Cultural competence was another issue that needed addressing, according to the commissioner.
Sectors like health and education had a high demand for employees who reflected their client bases.
“When you know if you don’t have the cultural competence of your work force, you know you’re not going to understand the people you’re providing a service for, and you’re never going to get those outcomes.
“And yet our pay scales do not factor in pay for cultural competence.”
The findings of the inquiry into the Pacific pay gap will be used to address the disadvantages faced by the lowest paid members of New Zealand’s work force, but will also be used to identify areas which can advantage other ethnic minorities.
The inquiry launch was carried out online due to the current alert level 4 Covid-19 lockdown.
A student at Northcote College has been confirmed as having Covid-19, with all staff and students at the school considered close contacts.
Northcote College. Source: 1 NEWS
The student attended school on Monday and Tuesday while infectious.
Earlier, a student at Northcote College has been confirmed as having Covid-19.
Both students attended their respective schools on Monday and Tuesday while infectious.
Students and staff from both schools must now isolate for 14 days.
The positive results at Northcote and Lynfield mean four education facilities have reported a case amongst its students and staff after a teacher from Avondale College and an AUT student both tested positive on Wednesday.
Parents and students at Northcote College are not surprised that a Covid case has been identified at the school on Auckland’s North Shore.
The parent of a year 11 student who didn’t want to be identified, told 1 NEWS “I haven’t left the house because I didn’t want to be the one who brought the Weet-Bix box home with Covid on it.”
She’s relieved that both her and her 16-year-old son had their first vaccination two weeks ago because she is immuno-compromised.
Another Auckland mall added to locations of interest, dates go back to August 1
“My teen and all his mates hang out at the mall. It’s become a hot spot which is really concerning.”
But ultimately she’s not surprised.
“I’m not shocked because it was all feeling very close to home this week.”
It’s a sentiment shared by the parent of a 13-year-old student at the school.
“I was saying it was only a matter of time. It felt like the situation was closing in on us with all these locations in our community being listed all around us.”
Staff at Northcote College are currently in meetings and unavailable to respond to questions from 1 NEWS.
The case adds to a growing list of populous locations of interest tied to the Auckland Delta outbreak which also has supermarkets, shopping malls and a church.
Kiwis aged 12-15 now able to get Covid-19 vaccine
It also comes after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today Kiwis aged 12-15 years old will now be able to get the Covid-19 vaccine.
The current cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand have been linked to an Australian case who was taken to Middlemore Hospital earlier this week.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield have provided a Covid-19 update on day two of the nationwide lockdown, where it was revealed there were now 21 community cases.
Watch the live update here:
Ardern said the current positive cases have been linked via genome sequencing to a traveller who arrived from NSW on a managed red zone flight. That person returned a positive day one test on 9 August and was moved from Crown Plaze to the Jet Park Facility.
They were then transferred to Middlemore Hospital on 16 August.
Ardern said the period in which cases were in the community was relatively short, but new information could change this conclusion.
She said primary lines of investigation are staff at the Crown Plaza, staff at the Jet Park facility and staff involved in their arrival and transport. Middlemore Hospital is not part of the investigation.
Customs are investigating footage and identifying areas of interest and testing staff.
“Nothing has eventuated from this line of inquiry to date.”
Staff at Jet Park and Crown Plaza are being retested.
Ardern said a family adjacent to the case at the Crown Plaza had now tested positive for Covid on their day 12 test.
“That means we’re dealing with a high level of infectivity in this case.”
She said everyone at the Crown Plaza will stay on while the usual protocols were undertaken.
Ardern said while compliance across the managed isolation sites for vaccination had been very high, “we will continue our search in a thorough way across both sites as you would expect”.
Ardern thanked the first positive case for getting tested.
“If it wasn’t for you getting tested when you did, this could be a much much more difficult situation.
“Having said that, we’re prepared for cases to get worse before they get better, that is always the pattern in these outbreaks. But today, we believe we’ve uncovered the piece of the puzzle we were looking for
“That means our ability to circle the virus, lock it down, and stamp it out generally has greatly improved.”
Dr Bloomfield said all cases in the community are being transferred safely to a quarantine facility or are already there
He said 12 of the 21 cases have already been confirmed as being part of the same Auckland cluster. A further eight are currently being investigated.
“These new community cases are not unexpected, as the Prime Minister said, and we would expect the number of cases to continue to grow in particular because of the large number of locations of interest and the mobility of these cases over the few days before the lockdown started.”
As of this morning, more than 360 individual contacts have been identified, although this does exclude contacts from large settings.
“Through the day-to-day, that number will increase significantly.”
Bloomfield said they were fielding a large number of complaints about people holding gatherings and they were being referred to police.
“As you can see from that update, level 4 is where New Zealand needs to be at the moment,” Ardern said.
Ardern said ministers will meet tomorrow morning to decide the lockdown level for the rest of the country outside Auckland and Coromandel. The decision will be shared at tomorrow’s 1pm update.
All of New Zealand is now at Covid-19 alert level 4.
The alert level will be reviewed after 3 days for all areas EXCEPT Auckland & Coromandel Peninsula which is likely to remain at level 4 for an initial period of 7 days.
A community case of Covid-19 has been identified.
Stay at home where possible & follow the Alert Level 4 guidelines. This will stop the spread of COVID-19 and SAVE LIVES.
Everyone is asked to:
Wear a mask and keep a 2 metre distance from others whenever you leave your home.
If you are sick, call your doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice about getting tested.
Keep on scanning QR codes whenever you leave your home.
Practice good hygiene – wash hands often.
Services including supermarkets, pharmacies, clinics & petrol stations will stay open at Alert Level 4. Face coverings are mandatory for all people – both employees and customers – at businesses and services operating at Alert Level 4 involving customer contact.
For more information on Alert Level 4 go to [the government website www.covid19.govt.nz]
***
RNZ is the statutory Lifeline Utility responsible for radio broadcasting under the Emergency Management Act 2002 and it has a memorandum of understanding with Government which has been activated to help deal with potential health issues related to the pandemic. RNZ’s Lifeline Utility obligations do not affect our editorial independence as a public media organisation or the rigour of our news gathering and reporting operations.
As New Zealand’s Lifeline Utility radio broadcaster, RNZ is required to maintain essential public information channels and news during times of national emergency and we are committed to supporting all New Zealanders.
We are also committed to looking after the health and well-being of our staff.
RNZ will continue to provide essential information services – broadcasting and publishing critical public service announcements on air, on our website and via social media channels. Comprehensive news will be available on air and via our website and digital services.
If necessary RNZ Concert and RNZ Pacific will carry news and information from RNZ National. Parliament will continue to be broadcast on the AM network when the House is sitting. As the country’s public service media organisation, RNZ is committed to supporting all New Zealanders.
By Barbara Dreaver, I News Pacific Correspondent. Republished with permission
Tongans in New Zealand who put thousands of dollars into pyramid scheme, Tongi Tupe Nuusila, have been left without cash for food or rent as the country is plunged into lockdown.
Those recruited into the scheme are told if they put in anything from $2,500 – $10,000, after three weeks they can turn up to collect big money every Saturday, turning over profits of thousands of dollars.
One victim told 1 NEWS he put in $5000 that he got from his children’s educational savings but no money was forthcoming on the due date despite the promises.
“I am very upset I feel betrayed,” he said.
Tongi Tupe Nuusila is headed by Ofa Siasau who runs it from her Otara-based Alfa Shipping company, of which she is a director.
Tens of thousands of dollars in cash have been collected and given out from the premises in just one day. “Gifting” is also being promoted in Facebook lives by her associate Tomasi Ofanoa in a bid to attract new customers.
However there have been no payments made in the last fortnight.
Siasau refused to answer questions from 1 NEWS about the scheme and whether she was paying tax, whether she regretted running an illegal pyramid scheme and how much she owed people.
In a phone interview, Ofanoa denied having anything to do with the scheme despite posting videos where he encourages people to come down and get some money.
The pyramid scheme was founded in the US, with claims more than $11 million is now owed to victims there, in Australia and New Zealand.
But Tongi Tupe Nuusila is just the tip of the iceberg with its self-styled CEO, Tilila Siola’a Walker Sumchai, based in the US.
She promotes Tongi Tupe on her Facebook platform, PTOA Global Movement for the Poor, featuring herself handling large amounts of money and verbally attacking anyone who criticises her money-making scheme.
The use of “PTOA” as part of her platform has angered the PTOA party, a political movement founded by the late Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva.
Its New Zealand branch has come out swinging, accusing Sumchai of hijacking the name and forming a breakaway group to promote her personal money-making agenda,
Michelle Halapio Pome’e says the deliberate use of PTOA to promote Tongi Tupe is confusing victims, who sign up thinking it’s part of the political movement when it’s not.
“It is quite upsetting for us we don’t promote unlawful activities in Tonga, here or anywhere for that matter,” she said.
A public meeting was held in June by pyramid scheme victim, Tionly Fatukala, who hoped to raise awareness in the community.
However, the meeting was disrupted by Siasau and Ofana, who brought along supporters to shut it down.
Fatukala lost $20,000 in another scheme, now she’s determined to bring all pyramid scheme leaders to justice while helping victims complain to the Commerce Commission.
“I was proud to be Tongan, but at the moment I’m so ashamed that these Tongans have taken advantage of us Tongans,” she said.
The Commerce Commission is investigating the New Zealand branch and 1 NEWS understands Tongan victims in the US have complained to authorities about Sumchai.
They included the three foreigners, named as Ian Robin Cox, 70, a British national, his wife Brenda Cox, 58 and Calvin Manuceau, 25, who are both Americans.
