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NRL virtual training programs focus on Pacific

By
Sisi Latu
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By RNZ/Radio New Zealand is republished with permission. 

NRL’s Game Development Manager in Tonga, Tavake Fangupo, is hopeful training programs being run virtually by the NRL and Australian Defence Force will boost confidence in coaches in the region.

NRL and ADF take virtual coaching to Tonga.

NRL and ADF take virtual coaching to Tonga. Photo: NRL in Tonga

Over 70 players, coaches and officials in the country participated in a five-day course to ensure participants are exposed to the game and other opportunities despite Covid-19.

This is the third virtual sports programme the NRL have provided virtually because of the pandemic, with sessions covering coaching, refereeing, nutrition, first aid, CPR and strength and conditioning.

While a new governing body for rugby league is still to be established in Tonga, Fangupo said the courses are a great way to educate officials and to provide opportunities to some of the smaller islands.

No caption

Photo: NRL in Tonga

“We have three outer islands, Vava’u, Ha’apai and Eua. We pretty much try to get the ones in the outer islands to attend because they’ll probably never get that opportunity,” he said.

“Coaches and referees and sports trainers here are able to translate that to to the local coaches or referees and sports trainers [because there is] obviously the language barrier.”

“But the idea is to help coach and educate local coaches and it’s worked really well. Touch wood my biggest concern was that we might have internet issues, but we’re quite fortunate that wasn’t an issue.”

Initially the courses have been for rugby league, but the long-term goal is for other sports to get involved as well, he added.

“We had netball join us this year for the first time, it’s normally just rugby league but we reached out to netball to see if they wanted to participate.”

“A lot of them have never experienced anything like that before so it was quite good for them to be part of it. This is an ongoing partnership that we’ve got with the Australian Defence, so we want other sports to have that opportunity to join also.”

NRL Pacific Program Manager, Michael Asensio, told NRL.com that an increase in trained coaches will create positive role models in the region.

“An increase in trained coaches will create positive role models and give Tongan participants the best chance to be exposed to the game and experience the many social and health benefits,” he said.

“We’re incredibly proud of the important work of the men and women of the ADF and look forward to working together to achieve positive outcomes for Tongan communities.”

Director general of the Australian Defence Force Sports Cell, Brigadier Phil Winter, told the league website the partnership with the NRL has helped strengthen the relationship between Australia and its Pacific neighbours.

“Sport provides a ‘universal language’ and the virtual program for Tonga is designed to teach leadership, gender equality, respect, nutrition and healthy living.”

“The virtual sports program also provides an opportunity to demonstrate the enduring ADF partnership with HMAF of Tonga, and reinforce shared values through sport.”

Covid-19 numbers: 62 new cases in the community today

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

There were 62 new cases of Covid-19 in the community reported in New Zealand in the past 24 hours, Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield has confirmed.

Dr Bloomfield and Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins are now providing an update in regards to the current outbreak.

Watch the update here:

A record 80,000 New Zealanders got a vaccine yesterday, while testing numbers also reached a record high – nearly 50,000 across the country.

This morning RNZ revealed Aucklanders may have been administered a dose of saline solution instead of the Pfizer vaccine when they attended the Highbrook vaccination centre last month.

A senior health official confirmed five doses had remained at the end of the day and didn’t tally up with records, so the possibility some people hadn’t received the correct vaccine dose couldn’t be ruled out.

The Ministry of Health has not contacted any of those potentially affected.

Meanwhile, New Zealand is staying in alert level 4 lockdown until at least midnight on Friday, and Auckland until at least midnight on Tuesday.

Covid-19 vaccine mistake in Auckland sparks investigation

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By RNZ.co.nz. Republished with permission

Five Aucklanders who turned up for their Covid-19 vaccine last month may have got a dose of saline solution instead but the Ministry of Health still has not told them.

The ministry still has not been able say what will be done to ensure those affected will receive two full Pfizer doses.

RNZ was alerted because of concerns there could be vulnerable people in the community who wrongly believe they are fully vaccinated.

The mistake happened at the Highbrook vaccination centre in Auckland and RNZ understands the problem was discovered at the end of the day, when staff realised there was an extra vaccine vial left over.

This has been confirmed by the Ministry of Health, which said “the vaccine stock didn’t match the number of doses administered”.

There were 732 people vaccinated that day, made up of people in groups 1, 2 and 3.

Those groups include border workers, high-risk frontline health workers, over 65s and those with health conditions that make them more vulnerable to Covid-19.

Some would have been getting their first dose, others their second.

National director for the Covid-19 vaccination and immunisation programme Jo Gibbs said five doses were unaccounted for at the end of the day.

“It could have been due to some vaccinators getting more than the regular number of doses out of some vials and forgetting to record this. An alternative that we can’t rule out is the possibility that some people didn’t receive the correct vaccine dose,” she said.

RNZ understands the vaccination centre could not determine who the five people affected were.

Typically, a vial of the Pfizer vaccine contains multiple doses which is then diluted using saline solution once it has thawed on site.

RNZ has been told it is possible that those people could have received very little vaccine or just saline solution instead.

It is thought the likely scenario is that an already used vial had saline solution added.

Gibbs said the wrong dosage would not have harmed the patient and that “these types of situations occur from time to time”.

A full review has since been undertaken, she said.

“We are working through that report to determine our next steps, including discussing with other jurisdictions their response when similar events have occurred,” she said.

Gibbs said the ministry had a “principle of open communication with any patients involved”.

However, when asked if that has means those patients potentially affected have been informed, the ministry confirmed they are yet to be contacted.

“We are still gathering the information needed to fully understand the situation and provide any advice or support that might be needed.

“We will be communicating with people who may have been affected when that work is complete,” she said.

For live Covid-19 updates

The Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights gives all consumers the right of open communication with a provider.

“A consumer should be informed about any adverse event, ie, when the consumer has suffered any unintended harm while receiving health care or disability services.

“An error that affected the consumer’s care but does not appear to have caused harm may also need to be disclosed to the consumer. Notification of an error may be relevant to future care decisions.”

A disclosure should include acknowledgement of the incident, an explanation of what happened, how it happened, why it happened and, where appropriate, what actions have been taken to prevent it happening again, it said.

Australians offered extra shot

A similar instance has occurred in Australia at Rockhampton Hospital in Queensland last month.

It resulted in six people receiving an ultra-low dose of the vaccine and may not have been vaccinated.

All 159 people who received the vaccine that day were contacted within a week and were offered a repeat dose.

In brief: news from around the Pacific

By
Sisi Latu
-

By RNZ and is republished with permission.

Vanuatu tightens border restrictions to ward off Delta

From mid-September, all people travelling to Vanuatu must be vaccinated against Covid-19.

The government has suspended all inbound travel by both sea and air until September 12th, as a precaution against the risk of the Delta strain of Covid entering the country.

Waterfront at Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu

Waterfront at Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu Photo: RNZ/Sally Round

The Ministry of Health said from that date all inbound travellers must be fully vaccinated.

Additionally, requirements for arrivals to undergo testing and 14 days in quarantine remain mandatory.

More arrests in Tonga cocaine case

Tonga police have confirmed that a total of 19 people have been arrested and charged in relation to the cocaine seized in Vava’u.

Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Halatoa Taufa told local media four male adults from Ha’alaufuli have recently been arrested in Vava’u.

The Central Police Station in Tonga's capital, Nuku'alofa.

The Central Police Station in Tonga’s capital, Nuku’alofa. Photo: RNZI/Gareth Thomas

Matangi Tonga reports they remain in police custody and have been charged with engaging with others in the supply of illicit drugs.

It’s estimated 14 kilograms of cocaine have been seized in the outer island with an estimated street value of more than $2.1 million USD.

Last month the first cocaine packets washed up on Vava’u beaches and were handed to Tonga police prompting a extensive search operation.

Police investigations continue.

Repatriation flight from NZ to Tonga deferred due to Covid-19 cases

A repatriation flight from Auckland that was scheduled to arrive in Tonga on Wednesday has been deferred, due to the recent increase of Covid-19 cases there.

A Tongan government spokesman Paula Ma’u said the deference is until further notice, and all passengers and appropriate authorities were notified earlier this week.

A flight from Pago Pago has also been deferred – the decision was made by American Samoa.

At this stage, only the Vanuatu flight is on scheduled to arrive in Tonga on Wednesday.

As for Fiji, flights remain deferred, due to its Covid-19 situation.

Pasifika families needing assistance increasing during lockdown

The Whanau Ora agency Pasifika Futures say demand for assistance from Pasifika families has continued to ramp up since alert level four lockdown began in New Zealand.

The agency’s chief executive Debbie Sorenson said most Pasifika families are shopping week-to-week and a large number of people in Pacific communities are in casual employment contracts.

Ms Sorensen said as a result Pasifika people end up with no income during lockdown resulting in a high level need.

“We have over the past week pushed out $NZ3.2 million dollars worth of support to 27 partners up and down the country. That’s provided help to over four and a half thousand Pacific people, more than 3,000 families,” explained Debbie Sorensen.

Debbie Sorensen said the Pasifika Futures’ support includes food and help to pay utility bills, and a huge demand for supplies for babies and children.

 

Hipkins warns Delta outbreak affecting young, as baby under one tests positive

By
Sisi Latu
-

By ONE News/TVNZ and is republished with permission.

A child aged under one is among the Covid-19 cases in the Delta outbreak.

1 NEWS
Source: istock.com

Dr Ashley Bloomfield told the Health Select Committee Tuesday afternoon after being questioned by National’s Dr Shane Reti, who asked what the age of the youngest case was.

“Even from the data I’ve got from a few days ago, a breakdown on the first… 40 cases, our youngest case was aged under on,” Dr Bloomfield said.

“Half the ages were under 20, think that age profile may well have changed since,” Dr Bloomfield said.

The cases now far exceed 40 – today totaling 148 after 41 new cases were reported.

Ashley Bloomfield says youngest Covid community case is under 1

“At that point we had no cases who are Māori, but I understand there is at least once since then,” Dr Bloomfield said.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said the Delta variant was infecting younger populations “more readily than other variants of the virus and we’re seeing that in our current response”.

When asked today if thought had gone into pulling the vaccination eligibility for people aged 12 to 29 forward from September 1, Dr Bloomfield said the date would be remaining, but children aged 12-15 could get vaccinated with parents if they call the centres ahead of the appointment.

Nine students at AUT test positive for Covid-19

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By RNZ.co.nz. Republished with permission

In information posted on the Auckland University of Technology website, it says one of the cases was not on campus while infectious and it was awaiting further information on three.

AUT says it is working with public health authorities to identify locations of interest on campus and close contacts are being contacted directly.

There are locations of interest across the city and North Shore campus, across a number of different days and times.

Level 3 Library AUT City Campus:

10 August 10.45am – 7pm

11 August 10:15am – 2.45pm

13 August 11am – 2.30pm, 4.45pm – 5.05pm

16 August 10.15am – 5pm

17 August 10.45 am – 7.15pm

Room 416 WZ Building AUT City Campus: 11 August 3pm – 5.30pm

People present at the mentioned locations are asked to isolate at home for 14 days from date of last exposure. Test immediately, and on days 5 and 12 after last exposure. Call Healthline for what to do next.

See full list of locations of interest here.

Separately, The University of Auckland says it is not aware of any more of its students testing positive for the virus.

A student at one of the university’s halls of residence tested positive and anyone in the Whitaker and Waipārūrū Halls was told to isolate and get tested.

The university says pop-up testing centres there over the weekend have now been removed.

It understands all students were tested and so far they have not been advised of any more cases.

Meanwhile, there are 41 new cases of Covid-19 in the community today, a day after the country’s lockdown was extended.

New Zealand is staying in alert level 4 lockdown until at least midnight on Friday, and Auckland until at least midnight on Tuesday.

Covid-19: Over 50 percent of outbreak cases are Pasifika

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Mariner Fagaiava-Muller, RNZ Pacific Journalist. Republished with permission. 

A community leader questions why officials have not heeded calls for more Pacific-led organisations to lead their own vaccination drives.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, followed by Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield
Photo: Stuff / Robert Kitchin

Pasifika peoples account for more than half of cases in New Zealand’s Delta outbreak.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield made the revelation in Monday’s press conference, in which it was also announced that Aotearoa will extend its nationwide lockdown until 11.59pm on Friday.

He said no current community cases of Covid-19 are of Māori origin.

A detailed breakdown of cases by ethnicity is expected soon from Manatū Hauora / the Ministry of Health.

“Unfortunately because of where the outbreak is currently, new cases are looking to be predominantly Pacific cases,” said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Ardern made the remark in response to most cases from the outbreak originating from the Samoan Assembly of God Church Māngere.

Anyone who attended service at the Andrew Baxter Drive address on 15 August between 9am and 3pm has been asked to self-isolate and get tested.

Pacific Response Coordination Team chair Pakilau Manase Lua said it was a huge concern.

“The church in question is one in South Auckland and we all know what happened last year,” he said.

“And we don’t want this to be blown up into another bashing of South Auckland because we’ve got to remember the original case was from the North Shore.”

Pakilau Manase Lua is the Pacific collection access project community lead at Auckland Museum.
Pakilau Manase Lua is the Pacific collection access project community lead at Auckland Museum. Photo: Supplied

Following St Anthony Church and St Therese Church, Samoan Assembly of God Māngere is the third church to be linked to the cluster. However, Bloomfield said congregations and their leaders have cooperated swiftly.

“There was a Zoom call last night with many from the church,” he said.

“It was very successful with Pacific health leaders and others. So there’s very active engagement between community leaders, the public health unit and others.”

‘Pacific communities are not to blame’

Lua questioned why officials had not heeded calls for more community-led organisations, like churches, to lead their own vaccination drives.

Pasifika have the highest levels of testing within the country but the lowest vaccination doses administered.

“If we were able to engage our Pacific churches earlier on, we could possibly have had the highest rates of vaccinations as well,” he said.

“But sadly, we’re the lowest.

“We don’t have nearly enough of our people vaccinated so that’s a concern.”

Pacific Perspectives principal researcher Dr Debbie Ryan
Pacific Perspectives principal researcher Dr Debbie Ryan Photo: RNZ Pacific/Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor

Pacific Perspectives principal researcher Debbie Ryan said vaccination across the board is inaccessible for communities, in a mainstream healthcare system that doesn’t fully service Pasifika to begin with.

She said long-standing inequities are at fault and Pacific communities are not to blame.

As of yesterday, nearly 1.8 million New Zealanders had received one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine while just over a million have got both jabs.

Health ministry data shows 103,645 Pasifika have had their first dose and 63,164 are fully vaccinated.

“Pacific communities don’t have the same level of access to primary care, to early prevention, getting the appropriate health information,” she said.

“So there is also a recognition that there is a lot of work that the health system needs to do in terms of improving its responsiveness to our communities.

“What we need to look at is what are the systems of delivery of vaccinations.”

Tonga Olympians prepared for long wait in NZ before flying home

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By RNZ.co.nz. Republished with permission

A group of Tongan Olympic team members are locking down with family and friends in New Zealand while they wait for a change in Covid alert levels.

Six athletes and officials have completed 14 days in managed isolation in a Christchurch hotel, with one more due to be released from MIQ today.

The Secretary General of the Tonga Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (TASANOC), Takitoa Taumoepeau, was one of four released from quarantine on Sunday and is already adjusting to lockdown life.

“We are staying with our family, three of us,” he said.

“One of the athletes, Ronald (Fotofili), he is staying with his family relatives here in Christchurch, so they picked him up yesterday from MIQ, but the three of us (Taumoepeau, Chef de Mission Amanaki Fakakovikaetau and athletics coach Siueni Filimone) are staying together in this place so we are more or less creating our own bubble here.”

Taekwondo athlete Malia Paseka and swim official Vila Day were the first of the Tongan delegation to be released from quarantine last Monday and had been planning to link up with the other four Tonga-based team members in Auckland ahead of their flight back to Nuku’alofa.

Paseka is staying with extended family in Auckland during the Level 4 lockdown, which came into force six days ago, but Day is stuck down in Queenstown, after her holiday plans went awry.

“She went for a short trip to Queenstown during everything was normal here but she was caught there with the change in the alert level,” Taumoepeau explained.

“She said she is still waiting there…and once there (is an) ease in the level then she will go back, but that will depend on when our repatriation flight is put back in action.”

Tonga Sports Association and National Olympic Committee's Takitoa Taumoepeau.
TASANOC’s Takitoa Taumoepeau. Photo: TASANOC Facebook

The Tonga-based team members were booked on an Air New Zealand flight home from Auckland to Nuku’alofa this week but Taumoepeau said they are now preparing themselves for an extended wait.

“They informed us it would be just a one week delay or postponement but I guess they were banking on the alert level going down,” he said.

“But if the Auckland region seems to be not improving every day I think we may be looking here at a couple of weeks or even longer.”

The group will also have to complete a further three weeks in managed isolation when they return to Tonga, Taumoepeau said.

“We will be doing another 21 days at home and we said to ourself ‘it would be nice to get out of this 14 (in New Zealand) and catch the flight back home and do our 21 and that’s it’ but things change and we all know that anything can happen during the Covid.

“Whatever rules or laws we put down it can change within a second so we accept it but we were not expecting it so we will have to tag along I guess.”

There is some good news, however. Taekwondo coach Master Paula Sitapa is due out of quarantine today and will be able to reunite with his Auckland-based family after many months away from home.

After the best part of six weeks under strict Covid restrictions in both Tokyo and MIQ, Taumoepeau said, even under lockdown, they have appreciated the ability to leave the house to exercise, while everyone in their bubble is well accustomed to wearing a mask in public.

The Olympic Committee back home is in the process of wiring extra funds to the Tongan delegation in New Zealand so they can keep themselves fed and sheltered, but Taumoepeau joked the generosity of their extended family meant they would likely return home a few kilograms heavier.

“We have relatives and family here – they keep bringing food and I keep telling them don’t bring any more food or we will be tired of eating (laughing).”

Tonga to amend controversial constitution clause 23 with new bill

By
Kalino Latu
-

This story by Kalino Lātū was first published by Te Waha Nui

A bill before Tonga’s Parliament that would amend a controversial clause in the kingdom’s constitution shows just how important it is for news media to hold leaders to account, says veteran journalist and publisher Kalafi Moala.

The private bill would remove part of the Clause 23 re-enactment of 2013 that gives a convicted government representative 42 days in office with full entitlements and salaries while appealing a conviction.

The clause sparked public outrage last month after Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa used it as a justification for doing nothing against his jailed Cabinet Minister Akosita Lavulavu from the beginning of her court appearance until she had been sent to jail.

Akosita and her husband ‘Etuate Lavulavu were jailed for six years after plundering more than half a million pa’anga of the Government’s school fund scheme, co-funded by the New Zealand and Australian governments.

Tu’i’onetoa told media he could not have done anything under the law against Akosita until the results of her appeal were out.

He said Clause 23 was to protect the rights of Tongan citizens.

Criticisms

Critics noted that if the Court of Appeal rejected Akosita’s appeal the constitution had allowed a convict to stay in office for 42 days, or even more if their appeal was delayed.

In Akosita’s case it will take until Court of Appeal hearing sessions in September or March next year’s to process her appeal.

An opinion piece by the Kaniva Tonga News at the time asked the Prime Minister how the money paid Akosita after her conviction would be recouped if her appeal was rejected.

The Tongan news site’s editorial said the clause was “embarrassing” for Tonga. It called on the Prime Minister to use his discretion.

Kalafi Moala. Photo/Kalino Lātū

The Prime Minister later made a sudden u-turn and declared in the House that Akosita had resigned and her pay had been stopped effective from July 1, effectively rejecting Clause 23.

New Bill

The amendment bill was submitted by the Speaker Lord Fakafanua last week, with Moala hailing it as a media success.

“The recent attempt by Parliament to make some necessary amendment to Clause 23 is an example of how our lawmakers need to be more scrutinised on how they carry out legislative work,” Moala told Te Waha Nui.

“Clause 23 was used by Prime Minister Pohiva  Tu’i’onetoa as an excuse for his non-action on his criminal Minister, Akosita Lavulavu.

“Why [suddenly] accept the Minister’s resignation now, when the appeal has not taken place yet?”

Moala said the Prime Minister had walked back on his stand on Clause 23.

“This clearly shows the issue of his sideswipe of the Court’s decision and inappropriate support for his Minister had nothing to do with the law.

“The man did not have the good sense . . . to discipline a corrupt minister.

“Laws, in my view, are creations of imperfect man, but the laws are nevertheless based on a code of ethical behavior, underpinned by moral values that anchor a society.

“Any laws in Tonga that do not correspond to a moral value system that is Christian and Biblical need amendment or abandonment.

“What is legal should always be moral, yet there are times that a society legislates against morality.”

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

‘E alea’i Fale Alea hano liliu e konisitūtone kupu 23 ne fai ai ‘a e vālau hono ngāue’aki ‘e he palēmia’ ke malu’i ‘a ‘ene minisitā kuo tautea ngāue pōpula ki hono kākaa’i ha pa’anga ‘ova he vaeua miliona’ ko Akosita Lavulavu. Na’e tupu ‘eni  koe’uhī ko e pehē ‘e he kupu’ ni’ ‘e ‘ikai faka’aonga’i leva ha tu’utu’uni tautea ‘a e fakamaau’anga’ ki ha taha ngāue fakapule’anga kuo fakahalaia’i kae ‘oua leva kuo mahino ha’ane tangi. Na’e fakaanga’i lahi ‘a e lao ko ‘eni ‘e he Kaniva’ pea fai ai e tipeiti hangatonu he mītia’ mo e palēmia’. Ne pehē ‘e he ‘Ētita’ e Kaniva’ taimi ko ia’ ‘oku fu’u fakamā ‘aupito ‘a e fa’ahinga konisitūtone pehe’ ni ke ngāue’aki tautefito ki he ava ai e matapaa’ ke pipiki ki ai ‘a e palēmia’ kae tupu hono mafai ‘i he kupu 51 ‘o e konisitūtone’ ke ne tuku ha taha ki tu’a ‘i ha fa’ahinga taimi pe. Ne ‘ikai fuoloa kuo holomui e palēmia’ ‘o ‘ikai toe muimui ki he kupu 23 ka ne fakahā kuo fakafisi ‘a Akosita. Ko e lao fakaangaanga ko eni ko e fakahū atu ia ‘e Sea Fale Alea Lord Fakafanua. Kuo pehē ‘e Kalafi Moala ko e ngā’uni ko ‘eni ‘a e Fale Alea’ ko e ikuna ia ki he mītia pea mahino e mahu’inga ke nau sivisivi’i e to’o fatongia ‘a e kau taki mo fa’u lao ‘o e fonua’. Ko e lao fakaangaanga ‘eni ne fakahū atu he uike kuo ‘osi’ ‘e he Sea’ Looti Fakafanua. ‘Oku fokotu’u atu ai ke to’o ‘aupito ‘a e konga he kupu’ ni ‘oku’ ne faka’atā ke kei ma’u lakanga fakapule’anga pe ha taha kuo taute’i kapau ‘e tangi.

Fifteen charged in Tonga cocaine investigation

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Sela Jane Hopgood, RNZ Pacific Journalist

Police in Tonga have so far charged 15 people in their ongoing investigation into cocaine packages that washed up on beaches on Vava’u.

A 2.6kg bag of cocaine.
A 2.6kg bag of cocaine. Photo: Supplied.

The first packets of cocaine were handed over to Tonga Police last month triggering a large search operation on the outer island.

A total of 15 people – 12 in Vava’u and three in Tongatapu – have been charged in relation to the seizure of over 14 kilograms of cocaine which has an estimated street value of around $US2.2 million or 5m pa’anga.

Five people accused in relation to the seized cocaine have had their cases adjourned to 4 October at the Magistrate’s Court in Neiafu for submission to the Supreme Court.

Among them are three foreigners – Ian Robin Cox, 70, a British national, his American wife Brenda Cox, 58, and fellow American Calvin Manuceau, 25.

The trio all lived at Houmelei in Neiafu.

The two other accused, whose cases have been adjourned, are Andrew Motuliki from ‘Utulangivaka and Kapeni Tamo’ua of ‘Utungake.

The 10 remaining accused are still in police custody. Their cases are expected to be called today at the lower court.

The charges laid by police range from possession and engaging with others in the supply of illicit drugs to intentionally lying to police, contravening section 29 of the Illicit Drugs Control Act.

RNZ Pacific correspondent, Kalafi Moala
RNZ Pacific correspondent, Kalafi Moala Photo: RNZ Pacific

RNZ Pacific’s correspondent in Tonga Kalafi Moala said police have confirmed the cocaine was brought into the Kingdom by yachties.

Moala said the police announced that the cocaine packages looked similar to those that were found in Vava’u in 2012 through the wrecked yacht JeReVe.

“What we know is that the yachties are connecting with a number of locals to distribute the cocaine. However, they’re not distributing within Tonga.

“The police believe that the cocaine could be heading to New Zealand or Australia,” Moala said.

“Vava’u is a very popular destination for yachties. The police felt that the cocaine was anchored there in Vava’u to hide and that locals would find it and bring it onto the land.”

RNZ Pacific are awaiting a response from Tonga police on any further updates on the cocaine cases.

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