A Tongan man appeared in court in Queensland charged with attempted murder following stabbings in Stanthorpe.
The 21-year-old Ta’ufo’ou Lamipeti got into an altercation with the two men before stabbing them with an undisclosed object at a Wallangarra Road home in March.
The alleged victims, aged 21 and 30, were transported to Princess Alexandra Hospital with serious back and chest injuries, the Herald Sun reported.
They were later reported to be in a serious but stable condition.
Lamipeti was taken into custody a short time later.
He was charged with one count each of attempted murder, acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, and common assault.
Defence lawyer Clare Hine told the Warwick Magistrates Court she was still waiting on final pieces of evidence from the prosecution, including DNA from the alleged weapon and medical reports for the alleged victims.
Mr Lamipeti will remain in custody until his next court date which was last week August 25.
The senior politician who tried to topple Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa – and was due to appear in court next month – has died in Tonga.
Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Vuna Fā’otusia. Photo/Kalino Lātū
Former Deputy Prime Minister Sione Vuna Fā’ostusia, 68, had been ill for some time.
He was one of the leaders of Tonga’s reform movement and a colourful character off the political stage as well as on it.
Fā’otusia was a member of the Tongan Public Servants Association and head of the association’s strike committee in 2005. The strike drew support from students, teachers, health workers and some Parliamentarians, as well as Prince Tu’ipelehake. The strike lasted six weeks and is considered one of the key moments in the development of democracy in Tonga that ultimately led to the reforms of 2010.
The former Deputy Prime Minister was counsel to the Shipping Corporation of Tonga, owners of the Princess Ashika, which sank with heavy loss of life in 2009. Four people were found guilty of manslaughter in the subsequent trial.
In 2014 he became Minister of Justice in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Akilisi Pōhiva. He was re-elected to Parliament in 2017 and re-appointed to Cabinet. As Justice Minister Fā’otusia appointed the first Tongan judge to the Supreme Court of Tonga.
Following the death of ʻAkilisi he supported Tuʻiʻonetoa for the role of Prime Minister and left the Democrats to join the new People’s Party. He was made Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and Prisons.
Two years ago he was charged with wrongfully interfering with the course of justice and using threatening language in a dispute over a cow. He was acquitted in December 2019, but an appeal returned the matter to the Supreme Court. He was due back in court on September 16.
In December last year MP for Tongatapu 2, Sēmisi Sika filed a motion for a vote of no confidence in Hon. Tu’i’onetoa on December 10.
The vote of no confidence detailed a list of concerns, including the allocation of road building contracts, Covid-19 preparedness and what was seen as selective government support for businesses.
Fā’otusia signed the petition and then resigned from Cabinet. He cited concerns about what he saw as the undue influence of disgraced former MP ‘Etuate Lavulavu on the Prime Minister and the cost of the government’s prayer and fasting excursions to the outer islands.
The motion was defeated 13-9 in January this year.
The Prime Minister has continued to be dogged by his relation to Lavulavu and his wife, a Cabinet Minister, who were convicted and sentenced to jail in the Supreme Court for fraud.
As a politician Fā’otusia was helpful to the press and generous with his time. On his door of his office was written in Tongan: “You can walk in, there is no need for you to knock and ask for permission to see me.”
Off the political stage, his personal life was colourful and he was known for his numerous liaisons. The late ‘Akilisi Pōhiva once joked that Fā’otusia has everything he needed to sit in the Prime Minister’s chair, but ne needed to get married first.
While ‘Akilisi praised and hailed him for his strong commitment to democracy and his personal support, he hesitated sometime because of Fā’otusia’s marital status, something that was not seen as reflecting well on him from a Tongan cultural or Christian perspective.
Fā’otusia finally married last year when he turned 67.
Emergency benefits for migrants are being axed from today – and advocates say the timing could not be worse.
NZISA president Afiqah Ramizi. Photo: Supplied
The Ministry of Social Development has been providing benefits to migrants since it took over from a Red Cross support scheme last year.
The founder of migration thinktank The Fair Initiative, Charlotte te Riet Scholten-Phillips, said migrants pay the same taxes and should be allowed benefits because Covid-19 had created extraordinary circumstances.
“It’s very disappointing that the government has decided to stop these benefits when there’s obviously still a need,” she said.
“It’s distressing to hear constant reference to the ‘team of 5 million’ and how our wonderful essential workers are contributing to our Covid response, but when the migrants in that team need help we’re cast aside.
“How is it that one moment we’re part of the ‘team’ or ‘essential’ and the next it’s OK to force migrants into poverty and possible homelessness – is this what New Zealand is now? What happened to our fabled kindness?”
Among temporary visa holders are an estimated 25,000 international students, who are limited to working 20 hours a week.
The International Students Association (NZISA) was told by the Ministry of Social Development that emergency benefits were only available to temporary visa holders as a short-term solution while they arranged to return to their home countries or found work.
Advice on the Ministry of Social Development website says those still needing support should contact their embassy.
NZISA is also upset that a hardship fund is only available to domestic New Zealand students, when it was offered to international students during last year’s lockdown.
Some were struggling to find work, especially as they were not allowed to work full-time unless they’re supermarket staff, said its president Afiqah Ramizi.
“Normally international students would be funded either by the family members, or by scholarship,” she said. “The problem with the majority who are funded by their family members is that other countries are in a worse position due to Covid-19.
“International students also have told us that they have not received any responses from their embassies, when they reach out for support at this time.
“It’s bad timing that the benefits expire now. We did request for more time, we asked for at least the cover at level 4 and 3.”
Association of New Kiwis Aotearoa president Charlotte te Riet Scholten-Phillips and her daughter. Photo: Supplied / Charlotte te Riet Scholten-Phillips
She said it was a lot to ask of students to return to their home countries – forfeiting the money they had paid for their courses, and the time they had spent on uncompleted studies – and returning to countries where Covid-19 was a very real danger.
“NZISA is extremely disappointed at the government’s and education providers’ inaction and the lack of support for international students during this time of crisis,” Ramizi said.
“We pay extensive international student fees, support local economies, and contribute to the New Zealand job market. At the same time we are cut off from our families who are also struggling abroad.
“This disparity between the support given to international students and domestic students continues to drive a wedge between our communities. It goes to show that international students aren’t a valued community.
“Immigration New Zealand could model the Canadian government’s approach in removing the 20-hour cap for all international students working in priority sectors over lockdown.”
MSD said those migrants receiving an emergency benefit will get their final two days of payment in the week beginning 6 September.
Group general manager of client service delivery Kay Read said people who need further support or repatriation advice should contact their Embassy, High Commission or Consulate.
“MSD’s Community Connectors will also be available to help temporary visa holders who are currently receiving an Emergency Benefit to help them engage with foreign missions, and other available community and non-government organisation support,” Read said.
“Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is also continuing to provide funding through the INZ Repatriation Fund. This fund assists people who are in hardship and need help with paying for travel to return to their home country.”
MSD said any decision to extend the availability of benefits would be for ministers to consider.
In a statement, the Ministry of Education said the $1 million International Student Hardship Fund was set up in May 2020 and it had been distributed to about 4000 students.
“The Hardship Fund for Learners helps tertiary education organisations provide temporary financial assistance to domestic tertiary learners who face hardship due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said the Ministry of Education’s group manager tertiary Belinda Himion.
“Since the return to alert level 4, officials have been meeting regularly with peak body organisations, including international student leaders, to understand and respond to the needs of the sector.”
FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA
Fakangata he ‘aho’ ni ‘a e vahe penefiti ne ma’u ‘e ha kau folau mai ki Nu’u Sila mei he ngaahi fonua’ kau ai ‘a Tonga, ka ne nau fihia heni ‘o ‘ikai lava foki tu’unga ko e fakataputapui ‘o e Kōviti’. Kuo fakaanga’i lahi ‘a hono ta’ofi ko ‘eni ka kuo pehē mei he pule’anga Nu’u Sila’ ko kinautolu ‘oku kei fiema’u tokoni’ ke nau fetu’utaki ki he’enau ‘ōfisi konisela’ pea ki he kau Tonga’ ko ‘Atalanga ‘e fai ki ai ‘a e fetu’utaki’. Ko e vahe penefiti ‘eni ne ‘iloa ko e Emergency Benefits pea’ ne ‘atā ia ki he kau ngāue ma’u ngofua ngāue fakataimi, kau ako mo kinautolu visa ‘eve’eva mai’.
A strange object which washed up on a Tonga beach on Sunday has sparked debate online leaving locals baffled and bemused.
Photo of the buoy which was first seen by many as mysterious/ Photo by Katea Retreat Beach (Facebook)
Photos of the mystery object quickly appeared on social media and ideas about its origins came pouring in from around the world.
Some who shared the images online yesterday said they have posted them because they need this mystery solved.
The posts have gotten hundreds reactions and shares as well as responses yesterday, including some who warned that the object might bring disaster to the country.
Some locals claimed there was a “dangerous warning” sticker inside the object.
Some alleged it was a small homemade submarine used to transport illicit drugs in the sea.
However, another photo was posted to Facebook this morning with a woman standing by the object appears to have resolved the puzzle.
The photo with caption was posted by the katea Retreat Beach.
“Look what washed up on Katea Retreat Beach!” the caption goes.
“Our friends first noticed it Sunday morning on a beach walk. We called the Mua Police Station to investigate because it’s something we never saw before and they arrived on the scene Sunday morning.
“From their investigation, the police contacted the Marine department and the Ministry of Fisheries. Together they determined last night that it is Bouy #11 which marked the barrier reef on the south side of Tongatapu and broke off from its anchor. They are working on repairing the bouy and moving it back to its proper location”.
FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA
Ne ‘i ai ha tailitili hono ma’u ‘a e me’a ngalikehe ko ‘eni hangē ha mīsini ‘i he matātahi Fu’amotu’. Lahi e vavalo ki ai pea ni’hi nau tukuaki’i na’a ko ha ki’i vakauku ne ngāue’aki ki hano fetuku ‘o e faito’o konatapu’. Ka ‘oku ha mai ‘eni ha tā he pongipongi’ ni ‘o pehē kuo mahino mei he kau ma’u mafai’ ko e fo’i poe pe ia ne ngāue’aki ‘i tahi ke ne tala e ngata’anga e hakau’, ka ne motu ia mei hono taula’.
The Covid-19 Vaccine Independent Safety Monitoring Board believes a woman’s death may have been caused by myocarditis, a rare side effect of the Pfizer vaccine.
It is being treated as the first case in New Zealand where a death in the days after vaccination has been linked to the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said the board noted that there were other medical issues occurring at the same time which may have influenced the outcome following vaccination.
The case has been referred to the coroner, who is investigating. The cause of death has not yet been determined.
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle, which can reduce the heart’s ability to pump blood around the body and cause rapid or abnormal heart rhythms.
A viral infection usually causes myocarditis.
The ministry said the benefits of vaccination with the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine continued to “greatly outweigh the risk of of both Covid-19 infection and vaccine side effects, including myocarditis”.
“In New Zealand, adverse events following vaccinations are reported to the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring (CARM). All cases with a fatal outcome are referred to the CV-ISMB for review. CARM provides as much information on the case as possible for the clinical experts on the CV-ISMB (the board) to help them in their consideration of whether there was a link to vaccination.
“This is the first case in New Zealand where a death in the days following vaccination has been linked to the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. While CARM has received other reports of deaths in someone recently vaccinated, none are considered related to vaccination.”
Covid-19 Independent Safety Monitoring Board Dr John Tait told Checkpoint there had been 32 reported cases of myocarditis in New Zealand after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine.
He said there had also been cases of anaphylaxis – an allergic reaction to the vaccine.
“Very small numbers of true anaphylaxis, because it can be sometimes quite hard to distinguish,” he said.
“Other potential complications which have not necessarily come up with the vaccine – tinnitus… and a few other ones…
“In terms of specific adverse reactions to this vaccine, it’s very difficult to determine which is a result of the vaccine or which would have resulted otherwise.”
At a post-Cabinet media briefing this afternoon, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield emphasised the side-effect was rare and it was much more common with a Covid-19 infection.
“The risk of myocarditis after the vaccine is much lower than the risk of myocarditis after being infected with Covid-19.” he said.
“The safety profile of this vaccine is very very good.”
Bloomfield said he signalled the possibility of the rare side effect when it became known, and if people have symptoms such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath or chest pain they should seek medical support.
An international expert in vaccines agreed the risks of serious harm from Covid-19 were far greater than any risk from Covid-19 vaccines.
Otago University professor Peter McIntyre, who advises the World Health Organisation, said the condition is a rare side-effect.
“Even though this is tragic and we all wished it hadn’t happened, that risk is very tiny compared to the risk we’re facing from Covid,” he said.
McIntyre said people should call a doctor if they have chest pain or trouble breathing after being vaccinated.
More than 3.33 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in New Zealand to date (to 11.59pm on 29 August).
Tait said it was “important to thoroughly investigate significant and serious adverse events related to vaccination”.
“We want to ensure that the outcomes from this investigation are widely available for others to learn from. The findings will be published to increase the scientific knowledge about vaccine-induced myocarditis.”
Tait, like the MOH, advised continuing to use the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, saying the board remained confident about it.
The board told the MOH of the death to ensure healthcare providers were vigilant and aware of signs of myocarditis and pericarditis.
Symptoms include new onset of chest pain, shortness of breath and an abnormal heartbeat.
Anyone with those symptoms in the days after being vaccinated must seek medical attention, the board said.
The board extended its sympathies to the woman’s family and friends.
Further details cannot be released while the coroner investigates.
FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA
Mate ha fefine ko ha fuofua keisi ‘eni ‘i Nu’u Sila’ ni tukuaki’i ko e ola tamaki ‘eni ‘o e huhu’aki ‘o e faito’o ki he Koviti ‘a e kautaha Pfizer. ‘Oku fakatupu ‘eni ‘e he alangamahaki ko e Maikataitisi pe ko ha takakula he uoua ‘o e mafu’ ‘a ia te ne fakatupunga ha holo ‘a e ivi malava ke pamu ‘e he mafu’ ‘a e toto’ pea ‘e ala fakatautu’u ai ‘a e tā ‘a e mafu’. Angamaheni ‘oku tupu ha vailasi mei he Maikatatisi’. Ko hono faka’ilonga’ ‘oku kau ai ‘a e mamahi ‘a e fatafata’, nounou ‘a e mānava mo e fetō’aki ‘a e tā ‘a e mafu’. Kae ‘i he taimi tatau kuo pehē ‘e he kau mataotao he faito’o’ ‘oku fu’u kei fakalilifu ange pe tāmate ‘oku fai ‘e he Kōviti’ ‘i he Maikatātisi’ pea ‘oku kei hulu ‘ānoa ange pe lelei ‘oku ‘omi ‘e he faito’o ‘a e Pfizer ke ne tau’i ‘a e Kōviti’ ‘i he olatamaki tātāmotaha kuo fai ‘e he maikatātisi’. Meimei ‘oku ‘ikai hao ha faito’o ta’e ‘i ai ha’ane uesia kovi ki he sino ‘o e tangata’ pea ‘oku hoko ia ‘i he ngaahi makatu’unga kehe hangē ko ha ni’ihi kuo nau puke he ‘alēsia (allergy) ‘o kovi kia kinautolu ia ha fa’ahinga faito’o, pea ‘oku fa’a ‘eke ‘eni ‘e he toketaa’ ‘i he taimi lahi ‘o ha faito’o ‘oku ‘oange ki ha mahaki – ‘a ia ko e ‘eke pe ‘oku ‘alēsiki (allergic) ki ha fa’ahinga me’akai pe faito’o.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield are set to announce alert level decisions for Auckland and Northland.
Watch live from about 4pm:
Ardern announced on Friday that New Zealand south of the Auckland boundary would be moving to alert level 3 from 11.59pm on Tuesday. Cabinet confirmed this decision today and Ardern says this will be for at least a week, to be reviewed at Cabinet next week.
Northland will likely join the rest of the country at alert level three from 11:59pm on Thursday, Ardern says.
Cabinet has also confirmed Auckland will remain at alert level four until 14 September. Cabinet will consider next steps for the region on 13 September.
Ardern says level 4 “is making a difference”.
“The job is not yet done and we do need to keep going.”
For Auckland and Northland, Ardern says the cases in Warkworth were found late in the lockdown and were not equivalent to the cases in Wellington, where cases were monitored and did not appear to have spread.
“We just haven’t had that level of time for the cases we’re concerned about in Warkworth, and with possible contacts beyond. Once we have that same level of reassurance in Northland we feel safe to move alert levels.
She says the government is awaiting test results from wastewater in Northland, and tests from people who were at locations of interest. If they all came back clear Northland could move to alert level 3 at 11.59 pm on Thursday.
“Just an indication here if all those tests come back clear,” she says.
Ardern says if New Zealand had not moved into alert level 4, estimates of the number of new cases today could have been about 550.
“The more we do to limit our contact, the faster we will exit these restrictions,” she says.
“Auckland is doing a huge service for all of us. And not just now, but throughout this pandemic. It’s Auckland that has maintained our gateway to the world, that has done a lot of the heavy lifting in welcoming Kiwis home safely, that has worked hard to keep Kiwis safe when there has been an outbreak. Auckland has done it tough.”
Ardern says the government is considering further restrictions under level 4 to prevent transmission occurring at the workplace. “It is a privilege to be open at level 4,” she says.
She says New Zealand has about 840,000 doses of the vaccine in the country, and has been receiving about 350,000 each week.
“Our planning has been for the programme to administer 350,000 doses per week. We have the supply and infrastructure to do this sustainably over a long period of time.”
There has been an increase in demand, she says, and the government is working to reach that but falling short would merely mean falling back to the government’s earlier plans.
“If we are unable to do this then the worst-case scenario is we pull back to our planned volumes … contrary to the reporting, we are not running out of vaccine.”
Speaking about today’s case numbers, Bloomfield says while it is 30 fewer cases than yesterday, it is just one data point. However, he says 52 percent of the 83 cases reported yesterday were household transmission, and 72 percent did not create any new exposure events.
“So of those cases reported yesterday … only 28 percent are considered to have been infectious in the community, which may simply have been a visit to a supermarket … or may be an essential worker.
He says 101 of the total cases are essential workers, just four of them who have been infectious in the workplace and seven who were infected in the workplace.
All of the new cases announced today were detected in Auckland.
Ardern says it’s too soon to say if daily case numbers have peaked.
The DHB apologised last night over the move, acknowledging it was not the DHB’s policy, nor a requirement, and that it had affected trust and confidence with its Pacific communities.
This story by Kalino Lātū was first published by Te Waha Nui
The Tongan Government has slashed funding for non-government schools it says have misspent aid earmarked for teachers’ salaries, a study of the kingdom’s parliamentary record has shown.
Minister of Education, Siaosi Sovaleni. Photo/Facebook
The Minister of Education, Siaosi Sovaleni, told Parliament in July some schools were using the money for office staff, which was not allowed under the funding agreement.
Sovaleni, who did not identify the schools, said auditors did not find any fraudulent activities.
However, Cabinet had this year decided to slash funding “equal to the money they allegedly misspent, paying them only the remainder”, Sovaleni told the House in Tongan, according to Hansard of July 14 this year.
In February this year former Prime Minister Lord Sevele revealed the funding scheme had been withheld by the Ministry of Education and Training for more than three years from some church schools because they misspent it.
Sevele asked the Government to help fix it to help the schools.
New Zealand aid stops
New Zealand stopped its aid for Tonga’s non-government teachers in 2016, the same year Tonga’s Auditor General uncovered fraud in the government school funding scheme, leading to a Cabinet Minister and her husband being jailed for six years last month.
Akosita Lavulavu and her husband ‘Etuate Lavulavu plundered NZ$348,806.57 from the Tonga Education Support Programme II when they operated the ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade contributed NZ$4,458,606 through the TESPII scheme, via a grant to the Government of Tonga, from 2013 to 2016.
“A proportion of this funding went to school grants, which included assistance to non-government schools,” a spokesperson told Te Waha Nui.
These funds were managed by Tonga’s Ministry of Education and Training under terms set out in the Grant Funding Arrangement.
New Zealand’s current education support to Tonga is focused on numeracy and literacy outcomes for students, as well as education policy.
New Zealand has a record of putting a stop to its aid funding to Tonga when controversies arise.
In 2013 New Zealand’s foreign minister said he would withhold tourism funding to Tonga until a plane gifted by China was certified by a respected international authority, despite China insisting it was safe.
Tongans in the United States are trying to recruit new members for an investment scheme called Hyperfund that is offering unrealistic returns to investors.
Setaita Tānaki claims Hyperfund has $30 million investment
Kaniva News has learned that Tongans who have bought into the scheme have been promising potential recruits a big payday.
However, all the evidence shows that those who buy in to such schemes have some chance of making money, but there is no real return on investments. Their payouts only continue as long as other people keep buying in to the scheme.
Eventually all such schemes collapse and people lose all their supposed investment.
Now some Tongans in New Zealand have inquired after video clips and banners promoting Hyperfund appeared on Facebook.
In May this year, Setaita Tanaki, who appears to be based in Utah, appeared online to claim that Hyperfund was just like any other financial company. She said people who complained about it did not know how to withdraw the profits they should receive.
She claimed she has received rewards of US$200 daily and she urged Tongans in New Zealand and Australia as well as yard workers in the US join in.
She also claimed anybody who invested in the company had the amount tripled immediately which was then unavailable for a certain period of time.
“You need to invest $330 in the Hyperfund which is the minimum,” Tanaki said.
“The $300 is your money and $30 is an administration fee. So once you deposit your $330 into Hyperfund they automatically triple the amount and the amount will show in your account within 24 – 48 hours as $900 but it will appear as pending for 20 months.
“During that 20 months Hyperfund then invests your money. Everyday you will be given an interest of $1.50 as a reward. When the reward reaches $50 you can withdraw it.
“That’s 34 days of your investment. You can withdraw it or you can re-deposit that $50 in which Hyberfund will triple it. The more money you deposit the more money you will receive.
“Last week I had a client in California they were a couple they wanted to deposit $300,000. I flew there and deposited their money into Hyperfund. Once it was deposited the Hyberfund tripled their money and they have $300,000 in their account. Their reward was $3500 every week. I advised them to withdraw one week after the other and just redeposit the following weeks. “
In response to accusations that the company was suspicious in a separate Facebook livestream, she claimed the company was real and had $30 million invested. She described the $30 million investment as a “pot of gold.”
But not everybody is convinced. Loukie Fungavaka spoke to Kaniva News about his experiences.
“They said they were just like the Bitcoin Kiwi System and other such companies,” Fungavaka said.
“But we have not yet signed up with them. I am afraid if I invested my money it would be lost. I tried to use my Kiwi Bank in depositing my money, but they did not accept it and then we withdrew.”
Semi-literate statements
One of the signs that people should be wary of such schemes are the semi-literate statements from supposed experts and professionals that have been posted in various places online. The following certainly doesn’t sound the work of a professional working in insurance:
“This has been a great experience. I understand numbers and COMPUNDING very well with my insurance background. This concept really makes sense if you UNDERSTAND THE REAL INTENT of this project. Once you get IT, OHHHHHMY GAWWWWD IT’S A NO BRAINER. On the quest to #30million.”
Or this claim:
“This is a rare opportunity to bulk up some savings and keep bulking them up and earn mega interest. I so far have invested a few thousand and now am seeing massive returns. In a years time I will have enough for a deposit on a house no problem. Say you put in $1000 yoy will automatically be able to compound this in to $3000 and then whilst you’re new balance is unlocking day by day you will be able to re buy memberships and then as long as you remember to log in every few days and re buy at $50 (witch adds $150 to total balance) then you will be watching you’re money snowball in to a big big amount.”
NZ Commerce Commission warnings
News of this latest money making scheme comes in the wake of a report about a locally run scam that left investors thousands of dollars out of pocket.
The New Zealand Commerce Commission puts it very simply: There are no get-rich-quick schemes. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
The Commission says people should not hand over their personal details or money to someone they have not met who solicits them online, via e-mail or text.
People should be wary about providing personal information, passwords or bank details in response to communications that they owe money or that they are owed money.
When people are buying goods or services on-line check they should make they know who they are dealing with.
The Commission said people should check review sites, social media and websites like Scamwatch to find out about other peoples’ experiences before they handed over money or personal details.
FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA
‘Oku kamata ke ‘asi lahi mai ‘eni hano tu’uaki ‘o e Hyperfund ‘e he kau Tonga mei ‘Amelika’ pea kuo nga’uta ha ni’ihi ke faka’eke’eke ke nau kau ki ai mei Nu’u Sila mo ‘Aositelēlia. ‘Oku hoko ma’u pe foki e ngaahi me’a peheni’ ke toe fai mai ai ‘e hotau kāinga ha faka’eke’eke ki he Ongoongo ‘a e Kaniva’ tu’unga ‘i homau ngafa ke faka’eke’eke ki ha mo’oni ‘o ha me’a ‘oku hoko. Ko e tu’uaki ko ‘eni mei ‘Amelika’ ‘oku mei fai mei Utah ‘e he fefine ko Setaita Tānaki. Pea kuo’ ne pehē kuo ne ma’u ‘a e US$200 he ‘aho ko ‘ene tupu he’ene ‘invesi ‘i he Hyperfund. Kuo’ ne uki ‘a e kakai ke nau kau ange ‘i he’ene tui ko e monū’ia ‘eni ke lavemonū ai ‘a e Tonga’. Kuo’ ne pehē ‘e kamata pe ‘ete mēmipa’ ‘aki ‘a e totongi ko e $300 tānaki ki ai mo e $30 ko e fī ‘a e kautaha’. Na’a’ ne pehē ko ho’o huu’ pe pe ha pe lahi ho’o pa’anga ‘e fakahuu’ ‘e liungatolu’i ia ‘e he kautaha he taimi pe ko ia’ ka ‘e loka’i ai ‘i he māhina ‘e 20 kae foaki atu pe ho’o ki’i tupu $1.50 he ‘aho. Ko ‘ene a’u pe ‘o $50 te ke lava leva ‘e koe ia ‘o toho ‘a e tupu ko ia’.
Ko e fakamatala ‘eni ‘oku ma’u ma’u’
Ka ‘i he fakatotolo tau’atāina ‘a e Ongoongo ‘a e Kaniva Tonga’ ‘oku mahino ai ‘oku ‘ikai toe kehe ‘a e Hyperfund mo e ngaahi sikiimi pilamita kuo ha’ulu ‘i Nu’u Sila mo ‘Amelika’ pea lavea ai mo e kāinga Tonga he kolope’. Ko ‘enau faitatau’ ‘oku peheni: ‘E ‘i ai ‘a e sēniti ia ‘e ma’u ‘e ha taha ‘e kau ai tautefito ki he kamakamata’. Pea ‘oku hangē pe ia ha faka’ai’ai’. Ka ko e tokolahi taha ‘e ’ikai toe ma’u kotoa mai ‘a ‘enau pa’anga kuo fakahuu’ ‘amui tautefito ki he kau fakahū pa’anga lalahi’. Ko hono totongi fakafoki mau ‘enau pa’anga’ ‘e fakafalala pe he lahi ‘o e kakai ‘e hū atu ki loto ke vilo ai e pa’anga ke nau vahe’. Pea ko ‘ene palopalema ‘oku hoko ia he fo’i tu’utu’uni ko ia’ – ke fakahū mai ke tokolahi kae hokohoko atu ho’o vahe’. Kuo ‘osi fakamo’oni’i ko e taha ia ha fo’i tu’utu’uni ta’emalava ke a’usia fakatatau ki hono fiema’u’ he ‘oku ‘ikai ma’ungofua pe ma’u noa pe ha kakai ‘oku nau faingamalie pa’anga ke fakakau ki he ‘invesi’ ni. Ka ke manatu’i te ke palopalema’ia koe hono feinga’i ha kakai ke fakahuu’ ka kuo ‘osi ‘ela ‘i loto ‘i he Hyperfund ia pe sikiimi pilamita’ ‘a ho’o lau afe pe lau mano pe kilu’. Pea fuoloa pe hono ta’e ‘oatu ha kakai ke fakatokolahi ko e kamata ia ke nau tuku mai e ngaahi fakamatala tulitonuhia kehekehe iku ai pe ki he tala mai kuo mole ‘a e pa’anga ‘i he hā mo e hā mo e hā. Hili ange ko ia’ ‘oku ‘ikai mole ‘a e pa’anga ka ko hano puke ia ‘o ma’u ‘e ha ni’ihi ne nau fokotu’u ‘a e kulupu’. Ko e me’a kotoa ‘eni kuo a’usia ‘e kinautolu ne tō hono malanga’i ‘o e ngaahi kulupu fakahū pa’anga ‘i Nu’u Sila’ ni, ‘Aositelēlia, ‘Amelika mo Tonga’.
Hala ha fefakamo’oni’aki fakapepa:
Ko e me’a ‘e taha ke tokanga ki ai ‘a e kakai’, fekau’aki mo e fa’ahinga ‘invesimeni ta’epau peheni’ ko e ‘ikai ha fefakamo’oni’aki fakapepa’ ki he ngaahi alea kotoa ‘oku fai ‘osi pea ‘oatu ha’o tatau ke ke tauhi. Ke hangē ko e pangikee’ ke ke tipositi fakateemi ha’o pa’anga ‘osi pea mou tangutu ki lalo mo e kau ngāue ‘a e pangikee ‘o fakamatala’i atu ‘a e me’a fakapepa ko ia’, ‘e toho kotoa ‘a fē ho’o pa’anga’ pea ko e ha ‘a e tupu te ke ma’u’ ke ke mahino’i ‘osi pea mou fefekamo’oni’aki tohinima ki ai. ‘Oku ‘ikai ha me’a pehē ia ‘i he ngaahi sikiimi pilamita ko ‘eni’ hangē ko e Hyperfund. Ko hono fakamatala’i atu ‘o e tupu mo e pa’anga te ke ala ma’u mo e founga ‘a ho’o fakahū pa’anga’ ‘oku fai ngutu pe. Pea ko e halanga ia ki ha puputu’u lahi mo e mole ‘a mui he ‘e ‘ikai ha me’a fakapepa ia ke fakamo’oni’i ‘i ha fakatonutonu fakalao ke mo’ua mai ha taha ke totongi fakafoki mai ho’o pa’anga’.
‘Oku ‘ikai pe ako e tokolahi
Neongo foki ‘a e ngaahi teu hopo ko ‘eni mo e mahino kuo holafa ‘o mole ‘osi e pa’anga lau kilu a’u ki he miliona ‘i hono fakataha’i’, ‘a e kakai Tonga ‘i Nu’u Sila he me’a ko ‘eni ko e sikiimi pilamita’ ka ‘oku ‘ikai pe tuku. ‘Oku kei sio pe Kaniva’ he mītia fakasōsiale’ ‘oku kei tu’uaki mai pe ia ‘e ha ni’ihi ka ‘oku nau tala ‘eni ko e founga fo’ou pea ‘oku ‘osi ‘i ai ‘enau fo’i sisitemi ko ā te nau lava ai ‘e kinautolu ‘o fakatupu ha pa’anga ma’a e kakai’. Ka ‘oku ‘ikai ha mo’oni ia ai. Ko e pilamita’ pe ia. He ‘e iku kotoa pe ki ho’o fakahū pea ko ho’o vahe ‘e makatu’unga he kakai te ke fakahū ange’ pea ko e founga tofu pe ia ‘a e sikiimi pilamita’. ‘E palopalema ia pea ko e ‘uhinga ia ‘oku ta’ofi fakalao ai ‘e he ngaahi fonua’ ke tapui ‘a e fa’ahinga ‘inivesimeni ta’epau’ ni.
Ko e ngāue faka’akauniteni pe fakafika
‘Oku totonu foki ke mahino ko hano ‘invesi pe fakatupu ha pa’anga lahi hangē ko ha 1 miliona nai pea ke vahevahe pa’anga ko ia’ fakataha mo hono tupu’ ki ha kakai ‘e toko 100 nai ‘i ha lau ‘aho pe ko e me’a ia ke fika’i ‘e ha taha ngāue fakapolofesinale hangē ko ha ‘akauniteni pe taha ma’u mata’i tohi he fika’. He ‘e fiema’u ha taha ‘oku’ ne lava lelei ‘aupito ‘a e fika ‘Āsipa’ (Algebra) pe Setisitika’ (Satistics) pe ‘Akaunitingi’. Fiema’u ha taha ia ‘oku paasi pe kaulafai he ngaahi fika ko ‘eni pea ‘e ala ke tau falala atu ke lava fika’i ‘a seniti ko ‘eni ke tonu hono vahevahe’ neongo hono ‘osi fakamo’oni’i ‘oku ta’emalava ‘i he sikiimi pilamita’. ‘Oku faka’ohovale ‘a e ngaahi kulupu sikiimi pilamita lahi ‘i Nu’u Sila kuo holafa ka ko e fokotu’u ia ‘e he kau fefine ne ‘ikai ke nau ngāue fakapolofesinale pe faka’akauniteni pe ma’u ha taukei ngāue fakatupu pa’anga pe te nau ma’u mata’itohi he mala’e ‘o e ngaahi fika ko ‘eni’. Ka nau fo’i tu’u hake pe ‘o uki e kakai ‘o tānaki pa’anga ke nau ‘inivesi mo fakatupu’i tokua’. Kumi atu ki honau puipuitu’a’ ko e kau ngāue leipa pe, kilina mo peki he ngaahi fale koloa’, te’eki ke nau lava tānaki ha pa’anga ke fakatau kesi hanau ‘api pe me’alele, ka nau tu’u mai ke nau ‘inivesi ha laui kilu pe miliona’. Oku fakamo’oni ki heni ‘a e me’a ko ‘eni. ‘I he faka’eke’eke ‘a e Kaniva’ he palopalema ko ‘eni ‘i Nu’u Sila’ ‘oku meimei ko e fakamatala tatau pe ‘oku ha’u mei he kau fakalele pilamita kuo palopalema’. Ko ‘enau pehē ne fu’u lahi e pa’anga’ ia pea ‘ikai ke nau toe ‘ilo pe ‘e vahevahe fefee’i pea vahe atu e ni’ihi kae ‘ikai ‘ilo pe ‘e fēfee’i e toenga iku ai pe ki he ta’ofi. Ko e tefito’i palopalema heni he ne ‘ikai pe ha’anau taukei fakafika mo faka’akauniteni ke lava ke nau e pa’anga’. Pea ni’ihi ‘ilo pe ‘e ‘ikai ke nau lava ka ko e fo’i mātu’aki kākā pe ke ma’u e pa’anga ‘a e kakai’. Ne ‘eke atu ki he taki kulupu ‘e taha he kau pilamita ko ‘eni pe ‘oku ne ‘ilo ko e pa’anga ‘e fiha he pēseti ‘e 25 ‘o e tola Nu’u Sila ‘e $1 ‘ikai ke ne ‘ilo ia ‘e ia. Pea kapau ‘oku ‘ikai ke ne ‘ilo e ki’i fika faingofua ko ia’ pea ‘e fēfē ha’ane lava fika’i e tupu ko e pēseti ‘e 20 ‘o e $18,000 ne lī ‘e he taha ‘ene kau mēmipa līlii’ ke fakafoki ange ‘i ha ‘aho pe ‘e 7 hangē ko ‘enau palomesi’.
Na’e ‘osi toutou lipooti ‘eni ‘e he Kaniva’ he ngaahi ta’u ki mu’a ka ne kei fili ha kakai Tonga ke nau tō hono malanga’i ‘e ha ni’ihi ke ‘oange ‘enau pa’anga ke fakatupu. ‘Ikai fuoloa kuo holafa ‘o mate pea nau mātuku ‘o mole ‘enau pa’anga kae tu’umālie ai kinautolu ia ne nau fa’ufa’u e fo’i invesimeni ta’etotonu ko ia’.
This story by Kalino Lātū was first published by Te Waha Nui
From royal excrement to Covid-19, turning Tongan expressions into English and vice versa is no easy task, even for the most experienced speakers.
(L-R) Māloni Tutu’ila, Prof Tēvita ‘O Ka’ili and Univā Havea
In some cases, it’s a matter of finding a way to say an English word in Tongan, while in others complicated phrases have to be translated so their meaning stays intact.
Tongan Language Week starts next week on September 5 and choreographer Māloni Tutu’ila said he had warned organisers to stop using the widely used proverb “Ta ki Liku Ta ki Fanga” while judging speech competitions.
The proverb is in casual language, using ordinary words from daily conversation. But in ancient times, while the Tu’i Tonga ruled (a line of Tongan kings – now the kingdom is ruled by the Tu’i Kanokupolu or Kanokupolu lines) the proverb referred to the stick used to wipe the king’s rear after defecation.
“Liku was the name given to the front point of the stick and fanga was the name given to the end point of the stick,” Tutu’ila told Te Waha Nui.
Nowadays the proverb is variably translated into English, including this version: “Adept in manoeuvring on a weather-beaten coast and in a sheltered bay.”
This translation refers to its Tongan interpretation in modern days as someone who is skilled or proficient in a number of settings.
Tutuila said two other obsolete words widely used nowadays with many not knowing their original and offensive meanings, were fokoleta and fāleta. Fokoleta means the king’s excrement while on land. Fāleta refers to the king’s excrement while at sea.
Fokoleta is widely used nowadays with the same meaning as the word leta. Leta means scattered or lying about all over the place.
The Delta variant
Meanwhile, there are growing concerns over a lack of Tongan words for new English ones and the words Tongans have to use these days.
Tongan has about 20,000 words, according to a study of Dr Maxwell Churchward’s 1959 English-Tongan dictionary.
At the same time the second edition of the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary contains entries for 171,476 words in current use and 47,156 obsolete words.
The latest to be used in conversational Tongan include the Delta variant of Covid-19. Kaniva Tonga News Tonganised it as Tēlita, a translation used in the lyrics of the song Hāmala ‘a Noa composed by the late Sūnia Tu’ineau.
Tu’ineau appeared to have used Tēlita to refer to a triangular tract of sediment at the mouth of a river, typically where it diverges into several outlets – a delta.
However, Kaniva noted after its use of the word Tēlita that Univā Havea, a Tongan language tutor in Australia, translated it as Telitā.
At the same time, Professor Tevita ‘O Ka’ili, from Brigham Young University, translated it as Teletā.
Professor Ka’ili said he used the translation already used in the United States for the city of Delta and Delta Airlines.
“Tongans in the US called them in Tongan as Teletā. I believe all the Tonganisations of the word Delta are wonderful and leave them for the public to choose which one they prefer to use,” Professor Ka’ili told TWN.
Differences are normal
Translator Uanivā Havea said when she translated from English into Tongan she checked the Tongan dictionary first to see if the word had already been translated.
“The Maxwell Churchward Tongan dictionary has a translation for Delta which is Telita,” Havea noted.
“However, I checked the English pronunciation of the word and there is an emphasis on the last vowel ‘a’, so I translated it into Tongan as Telitā, adding a macron on the vowel ‘a’.”
Havea said it was normal practice for Tonganised words to sometimes have differences in some of the vowels depending on what the translators felt was easier to pronounce.
“For example, the word Cardinal is translated into Tongan as Katinale or Katinali. The word council is translated as kosilio or kōsiliō.”
The Supreme Court has sentenced Sioeli Tapueluelu to 12 years jail for what Lord Chief Justice Whitten called a gutless act of cowardice.
Sioeli Tapueluelu. Photo/Supplied
The court was told Tapueluelu punched Harilal Vamanrav from Ngele’ia on the head and then hit him with a wok.
“The defendant’s history and senseless outburst of violence in this case, resulting in the death of an innocent young man, make him a serious danger to society, which this Court must strive to protect,” Lord Chief Justice Whitten said.
The accused changed his plea to guilty on the day of his trial, on July 19.
Tapueluelu attacked Vamanrav without warning on the evening of March 8, 2020 in the house of Semisi Tapueluelu, where the defendant lived.
They were drinking and about midnight Vamanrav went to the kitchen to prepare food.
Sioeli Tapueluelu followed him. They were then heard arguing about a t-shirt. Tapueluelu suddenly hit Vamanrav in the back of the head and knocked to the floor.
He then struck him with a wok and punched and kicked him in the head. Tapueluelu then hit Vamanrav with a small steel stove.
Semisi Tapueluelu tried to intervene but the defendant hit him and knocked him to the ground. Semisi then alerted his neighbour, a police officer, about the assault.
The officer called for help and walked towards Semisi’s house and caught the defendant on the driveway. When the officer went inside the house, he found Harilal unconscious and unresponsive but still breathing.
Harilal died the next day from severe swelling of the brain caused by the assault.
Lord Chief Justice Whitten said the defendant’s criminal history demonstrated a “dangerous propensity for violence.”
The accused was jailed in New Zealand for his part in assaulting a man. Tapueluelu and a companion beat the man and struck him with a hammer so badly that he was hospitalised for nearly a week.
