The Tonga Rugby Union CEO says despite the difficulties the Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the rugby schedule, they’re grateful for the support of officials.
Peter Harding, new CEO of Tonga Rugby Union Photo: World Rugby
TRU is thankful to the government in Tonga for their help in paying the players, especially as the players have had to pay for quarantine costs in New Zealand.
CEO Peter Harding said it was important that Tonga participated in the World Cup qualifiers to ensure they had a chance to compete for a spot in their berth in the 2023 tournament in France.
“We’re playing rugby in a pandemic, no one has ever gone through this before, so it’s going to be difficult to manage logistics of rugby and so forth.
“We knew what we were getting ourselves into and we agreed to it because that’s the only way we could have played these world cup qualifiers.
“if we didn’t play these qualifiers now, when were we going to play them? It would’ve meant potentially in the November window, which would mean opportunity for other test matches as well.
Harding expressed his gratitude to New Zealand Rugby and World Rugby for their support.
“They’ve been very good especially as the game is not a normal situation now.
“Every single person is scrambling in the best way they can.
“We put our hand up and accepted these conditions, so we’re not going to complain,” he said.
Harding explained that when a team plays a test match against a country in that’s nation’s home grounds, they are responsible for paying the accommodation of the away team.
“We made sure with New Zealand Rugby that our accommodation was covered by them when we played the All Blacks.
“However, with our upcoming match against Manu Samoa, I have signed on behalf of Tonga a memorandum of understanding that we would both look after the costs of our own teams.
“When you play in a World Cup qualifier, you have to fund your own team,” he said.
Manu Samoa will battle against Tonga’s Ikale Tahi in Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium on July 10 and in Hamilton a week later.
The winner will secure their berth in the 2023 tournament in France, while the loser will play-off against the Cook Islands, with the winner advancing to the Asia/Pacific Playoff.
There is one new Covid-19 case in Fiji who is a Tongan woman.
She is the second known patient to be identified as Tongan after a Tongan USP student was previously infected and is currently recovered in hospital, reports from the Tongan community in Fiji said.
Sina ‘Aholelei Kami in Suva said these are the only cases they have been made aware of.
She and the ‘Api Tonga Committee are making contacts with the students at USP.
“They are doing fine,” she told Kaniva News this evening.
Meanwhile, Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has announced all civil servants, and private sector employers and employees will be required to have a Covid-19 vaccination if they are to continue working.
Bainimarama made the announcement on Thursday night as the island nation grapples with its outbreak.
“Civil servants who have not received their first dose of the vaccine must go on leave from Monday next week,” he said in a live video on Facebook.
Those employees cannot come back to work unless they have at least received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. They must have that first dose by August 15, 2021.
On Wednesday, Fiji recorded 791 new daily Covid-19 cases and three deaths in a 24-hour period. To date, 42 people have died in Fiji since the pandemic began, and of those, 40 deaths have been during this year’s April outbreak. A total of 7940 cases have been recorded in Fiji since the pandemic began.
Fijians spreading false information about the coronavirus in Fiji will feel the full brunt of the law, police have warned.
.. Photo: Facebook/Fiji Police
The reminder of the consequences of spreading misinformation comes after a church minister appeared in court today charged with breaching the country’s Health Act.
The 48-year-old pastor was accused of creating public anxiety by posting anti-vaccination comments on social media.
According to police, he posted a series of short videos on Facebook which they said had created public alarm.
The posts called on people not to get vaccinated against the coronavirus because the “vaccine is evil,” a police statement said.
Health Secretary James Fong said he was concerned at the misinformation circulating on social media about Covid-19.
He said these false comments only hampered the ministry’s efforts to get Fijians vaccinated against the deadly virus.
“As of July 6th 329,837 adults in Fiji have received their first dose of the vaccine and 56,974 have received their second doses,” Dr Fong said.
“This means that 56 percent of the target population has received at least one dose and 9.7 percent are now fully-vaccinated nation-wide.”
He said people could check the ministry’s vaccine dashboard to find real-time data on first-dose and second-dose numbers at the national, divisional and sub-divisional levels.
Dr Ram Raju. Photo: Supplied
College slams colleague
Meanwhile, the Fiji College of General Practitioners has criticised a video posted on social media by one of its members against the Covid-19.
College president Ram Raju said the general practitioner’s post on social media backs conspiracy theories and myths about the coronavirus and is not supported by any scientific evidence.
Dr Raju said the doctor’s comments on the adverse side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine are being “misconstrued”.
The video has since been removed by Facebook administrators with a notice issued that the content was not factual.
Dr Raju said the GP’s comments did not reflect the views of the college.
“We do not condone any member spreading false information to the public,” he said.
“It is a time for all of our healthcare workers to unite and educate the public about the truth and dispel all fears.
“Doctors are seen to be community leaders who should therefore exercise extreme care and restraint in posting any news on social media.”
Dr Raju said the College of GPs supports the vaccination program rolled out by the Health Ministry.
He said they had held seminars on the subject well before the first case of Covid-19 was identified in Fiji in March last year.
“All our doubts were dispelled. At the moment, vaccination is the only method which can save lives against Covid-19.
“It’s just like giving vaccination for a host of other diseases to save lives, like measles, diphtheria, tetanus, pneumonia, hepatitis, etc.”
Dr Raju said there were some vaccination side effects that were to be expected.
“But getting Covid-19 is not a joke and these conspiracy theories need to be laid to rest.
“By vaccinating you are protecting yourself, your family and the population of Fiji.”
Residents in Suva at the Covid-19 Drive-Through Vaccination Centre. Photo: Facebook/Fiji govt
Vaccination drive-through opens
Meanwhile, the public is advised that the covid vaccination drive-through centre at Suva’s Albert Park will remain open.
The initiative was started by the Suva City Council and the Health Ministry.
The council’s senior executive, Isikeli Tikoduadua, said they hoped the campaign would encourage more people to get vaccinated.
He said within the first hour, over 150 people had been through the gates and got their first jab.
“What it does, is you are in your own bubble which is a good thing. Second is for those who are physically challenged this is an opportunity for them not to get out but to get vaccinated inside their vehicle.”
“This will actually tell us how effective this drive through is, and this is very exciting, very good way of vaccinating, this is the first time something is happening like this in Fiji, first ever drive-through. And it looks like a successful one.”
According to a post on the Fijian Government’s Facebook page, the ministry and police will work together to ensure that people accessing the drive-through site are able to go home during the curfew hours, should there be any delay.
The post stated that vaccination teams would take down details of people arriving at the drive-through facility.
It said these details would then be communicated to the police team at the park checkpoints for verification and clearance.
The nation-wide curfew, from 10pm to 4am, has been in place since the latest outbreak started in April.
Police arrested 84 people over the last 24-hour period for failing to wear a mask in a public place within a containment or lockdown zone.
Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu said this was part of the police step-up in enforcing the mandatory wearing of masks and other health and curfew restrictions.
A total of 98 cases were reported for curfew order breach and health restrictions, he said.
Fiji now has over 6000 active cases in isolation and more than 40 deaths reported.
Forgery charges against the fraudster Lavulavu couple have been dropped in a move that shocked the landlord’s lawyer.
‘Etuate Lavulavu and Minister of Infrastructure Akosita Lavulavu. Photo/Facebook
Cabinet Minister Akosita Lavulavu and her disgraced husband Etuate Lavulavu had been prosecuted with jointly and knowingly submitting a forged document to the Ministry of Lands and Survey with the intention of changing the land lease number 8660 from business lease to quarry.
The information was contained in a court document seen by Kaniva News.
The forged document appeared to have been signed by the landlord, Sione Tunufa’i Tui, but Tui did not sign, know or agree with the content of the document allegedly forged by the Lavulavus, the court document said.
Police Magistrate Loupua Kulī dismissed the charges on June 21, about two weeks before the Lavulavus were sentenced in the Supreme Court for plundering more than half a million pa’anga from the government school grant scheme.
The move has shocked Tui’s lawyer, Vili Mo’ale. Mo’ale told Kaniva News this afternoon July 7 the Magistrate’s decision was the first time he knew the prosecution had been dropped.
He said he filed the private prosecution on November 17, 2020 and it was processed to be heard in court but was delayed so the Lavulavus’ sentencing could be processed first.
Mo’ale said he just found out that ‘Etuate and Tui had agreed without him being involved to drop the prosecution.
“A decision was made to dismiss it and nothing can be done,” Mo’ale said.
He said he later repeatedly attempted to contact Tui, but to no avail.
“Even today I have not heard from Tui. I was told he has left for Vava’u”.
‘Etuate contacts Tui
As we reported previously, we interviewed Tui following the revelation that he had prosecuted the Lavulavus.
In that interview, Tui said ‘Etuate chased him after he took legal action against him and his wife, but he managed to avoid him as he did not want to talk to him.
Asked why ‘Etuate was searching for him Tui, said ‘Etuate may have wanted to negotiate about dropping the prosecution.
We recently contacted Tui to follow up on the case, but he did not answer his phone.
Sentencing
Condemned by the Supreme Court as dishonest and deceitful, the Lavulavus have been sentenced to five and six years respectively for their part in defrauding the government school grant scheme.
Judge Cooper, presiding, described their crime as “the worst sort of dishonesty.”
“The conduct of these defendants would be disgraceful in anyone, but for a member of cabinet, and a man who used his political connections and position to facilitate these frauds, goes beyond just criminally reprehensible,” he said.
Apart from an earlier conviction in the United States 1990s, he was sued by Late Prince Tu’ipelehake in 2000 for damages and unlawful cultivation of his land. Chief Justice Ward ordered Lavulavu to quit the land and pay $7,905 damages. The judge was scathing about aspects of Lavulavu’s testimony during the trial, saying: “I felt he was willing to say almost anything that seemed to suit the moment with a repeated disregard for the truth.”
FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA
Ne fai pe hono tuli holo ‘e ‘Etuate Lavulavu ‘a Sione Tunufa’i Tui he feinge ke meesi ‘o tamate’i hona faka’ilo ki he tohi nima loi’, ‘o ma’u pea neongo na’e tukupā ‘a Tui he’ikai te ne tali ha kole ‘a ‘Etuate ke tamate’i ‘a e tikite’ ka ne iku pe ‘o tukulolo ‘a Tui he ‘aho 15 ‘o Sune, toe ia e uike ‘e ua pea tautea ngāue pōpula ‘a e ongo Lavulavu ki hono ma’u ta’etotonu ‘a e pa’anga ‘ova he vaeaua miliona’ mei he pa’anga tokoni’i ‘o e ngaahi ako’ ‘e he pule’anga’. Na’e faka’ilo foki ‘e Tui ‘a e ongo Lavulavu ki he’ena fa’u ‘a e tohi fakamo’oni loi ‘o ‘ave ki he Savea ke liliu’aki ‘a e lisi ‘o hono ‘api mei he pisinisi’ ki he keli’anga maka. Na’e pehē ‘e Tui hala ke ne fai e tohi pea na’e ‘ikai fakamo’oni ia ai. Kaekehe, kuo fakahā ‘e he loea ‘a Tui ki he Kaniva’ ne ne ‘ohovale ia hono ui e hopo’ he ‘aho 21 māhina kuo ‘osi’ ‘o fakahā ai ‘e he fakamaau polisi’ Loupua Kulī kuo ‘osi felotoi ‘a Tui ia mo e ongo Lavulavu ke tamate’i ‘a e hopo ‘oua toe hoko atu. Na’e ‘ikai ‘ilo e loea’ ki heni pea fiu ia he toe feinga atu kia Tui ‘ikai toe tali mai pea ko e me’a ne ne ‘ilo’ kuo ‘osi mavahe ia ki Vava’u.
Fiji has officially recorded a new daily record of 791 new Covid cases – but the actual number is believed to be higher.
Source: 1 NEWS
There have been another six deaths of Covid patients in the last 24 hours although officials say three of them died of underlying health problems.
This takes the total number of deaths in this outbreak to 40 plus another 19 Covid-positive patients who have died of serious medical conditions.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health says because of the rapidly rising cases home-based screening and swabbing can no longer happen except in exceptional circumstances. Response teams will instead be looking after serious cases.
There are currently 6,500 active cases.
The field hospital in Suva is to become a Covid-dedicated facility.
Officials warn daily case numbers will continue to rise with more hospitalisations and deaths.
There’s no denying the weekend’s games have further highlighted the uneven playing field for tier 2 nations, and the need for discussions around eligibility laws to change, but for Manu Samoa and ‘Ikale Tahi fans on the night, it was about showing up for the love of their nations.
Samoa played the Māori All Blacks in the curtain raiser at Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium, before Tonga took on New Zealand, in preparation for their upcoming Rugby World Cup qualifying matches.
Esmeralda Lo Tam was one of more than 15 thousand people there to watch the double-header.
She said it was exciting for families to see Pasifika teams showcased alongside some of the best players in the world.
Manu Samoa fans excited to cheer on two Pacific teams on NZ soil. Photo: RNZ / Anric Sitanilei
“You know whether it’s Samoa, whether it’s Tonga, whether it’s Fiji, it’s all about supporting our Pacific people, Pacific development and Pacific rugby,” she said.
“I think playing international fixtures like this and being able to be showcased next to the All Blacks, the Māori All Blacks, right down to grassroots it’s awesome and exciting for everyone.”
Despite losing their two game series against the Māori’s, Manu Samoa fans were estatic to support their team on the field, after they were forced to play behind closed doors due to alert level restrictions in Wellington.
Faleaupu Faalavaau from the villages of Siufaga and Falelatai was donning the Manu Samoa jersey proudly cheering from the sidelines, but admits he was there for all the teams.
Faleaupu Faalavaau supporting all the teams on the night. Photo: RNZ / Anric Sitanilei
“Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, we are all Pasifika.. New Zealand, we live in New Zealand, so we support the New Zealand teams as well,” he said.
“We’ve met a lot of friends and family that are here to support all teams, whatever team, because we are all from the Pacific.”
Tu’uholoaki Vefekina travelled two and half hours from Tauranga with her husband and grandchildren to watch her younger cousin Viliami Taulani make his debut for ‘Ikale Tahi.
Tu’uholoaki Vefekina and her family travelled from Tauranga to watch her cousin Viliami Taulani make his debut for Tonga. Photo: RNZ / Anric Sitanilei
A wave of emotion hit her, saying his parents were watching from Tonga, and they were there to support on behalf of the family.
“It’s very special for me and my two grand daughters and my husband. My family, it doesn’t matter if we [have to] come a long way, but we’re happy to come and support him.”
The All Blacks opened their 2021 campaign with a record 102-0 over an inexperienced Tonga side, scoring 16 tries against a team featuring 13 debutants, some picked from New Zealand club rugby sides due to player unavailability some through contract restrictions and others because of Covid-19 travel restrictions.
It was an unfair buildup for Tonga, but for 13 players it meant wearing the red jersey and representing their heritage for the very first time.
Nikolai Foliaki, was one of those 13 to make his debut, and was bombarded with hugs and kisses from a very proud family post-match.
His older brother, John-Paul Foliaki, said the game was never about the score.
“[This moment], it’s for Tonga, it’s for my brother, we’re so proud of him and regardless of what the score was going to be, we’re always going to be supporting Tonga,” he said.
“The odds were stacked against us but the score was never the case, and you know that about Tonga, we’re always mafana… it didn’t really matter if we were playing the All Blacks, France, whoever.. we’re here for Tonga.”
Tonga fans leave the stadium in good spirits. Photo: RNZ / Anric Sitanilei
It was hard to miss ‘Ikale Tahi fan Simillani Talau, who was standing out in red, dancing amongst a group of All Blacks supporters.
He said he always knew New Zealand were going to win, but it didn’t matter.
“I know the boys are no good [against the All Blacks] but I stay outside and sau, and dance, and sau [because] the love is big for my country, for Tonga,” he said.
“Our team, our nation, they will try try and try, lose, lose and lose, they never give up, but one day they will win and beat the All Blacks.”
While the game was heartbreaking to watch, it’s a memory that players and famillies will cherish forever, leaving the stadium cheering, waving flags, proud, and their hearts full for the love of their country.
A damning new report out by New Zealand’s Health Quality and Safety Commission has called the healthcare system’s failure by Pasifika “a national shame”.
Bula Sautu – Pacific health in the year of Covid-19. Photo: Supplied
‘Bula Sautu’ is a Fijian expression of good health for a life that is lived to its full potential; a life of abundance.
But the figures in this report show that for Pasifika life is anything but that. It outlines some of the worst health inequities in the country, with Pasifika at the tail end of most of them:
Pasifika are 12 times more likely to be diagnosed with a mental illness than other populations.
Pasifika experience higher cases and deaths from breast, lung and uterine cancers – but the lowest rates of screening.
63 percent of Pasifika five-year-olds have tooth decay – compared to 31 percent of non-Māori non-Pasifika.
Pasifika live, on average, six years fewer than non-Māori non-Pasifika.
And the list goes on.
More than half of pregnant Pasifika women do not enrol with midwives, compared with just 19 percent of non-Māori or non-Pasifika.
For 10 years and counting, this has led to consistently higher rates of mortality for Pasifika mums and their pēpī.
Ngā Hau Māngere Birthing Centre manager Tish Taihia said expectant Pasifika mums were not aware of the process for finding a lead maternity carer (LMC).
The default options of midwives are those who work at their local hospital – who in most cases are ill-informed of the cultural needs of Pasifika mums.
“If they’re low-risk and can have a midwife as their LMC and care for them and birth their baby and go through the whole gambit of post-natal care – then it’s up to them,” she said.
“They actually have to find the midwife themselves and sometimes that’s daunting.”
She said the cost of that to māmā and their wider whānau was unnecessary.
“It obviously isn’t working because of the fact that DHBs are really struggling in maternity services, because the medicalisation of birth is skyrocketing,” she said.
Where to from here?
Health Quality and Safety Commission board member Dr Collin Tukuitonga said the figures were not good.
He said a faife’au who blessed Bula Sautu’s launch hoped the report would be the last in a long line or reports that have rehashed harrowing statistics with nothing actually done about them.
“The district health boards and primary healthcare providers, not Pacific, but everyone – is held to account for making those changes,” he said.
Tukuitonga said despite years of evidence and advice requiring systemic change in health, Pasifika in New Zealand have been denied their right to good health and wellbeing.
“I just think it’s unacceptable and unfair,” Tukuitonga said.
Collin Tukuitonga sits on the board of the Health Quality & Safety Commission. Photo: SPC
In anticipation of next year’s merger of district health boards into the mega-entity Health NZ, Tukuitonga said the government should look to this report to get an accurate picture of the state of Pasifika health.
He said a “business as usual” agenda would spell more disparities.
“We will have pregnant Pacific women not being able to access midwives in the numbers that are comparable to other parts of our community,” Tukuitonga said.
“We’ll have children continuing to miss out on vision and hearing tests and Well Child checks.”
“We’ll have Pacific people with diabetes continuing to have blindness, amputations and kidney failure.”
Bula Sautu co-author Api Talemaitoga said universities and polytechnics must encourage more Pasifika students to join the workforce.
He said healthcare was a one-size-fits-all practise.
“You go to your doctor, you’re told your blood test results, you’re given a prescription and out you go – without any emphasis on the quality,” he said.
The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (MAFF) Lord Tu’ilakepa allegedly challenged MP Veivosa Taka before attacking him in parliament yesterday, a source told Kaniva News.
MAFF Minister Lord Tuilakepa. Photo/Fale Alea ‘O Tonga (Cropped)
It is understood the MPs had engaged in heated arguments before Lord Tu’ilakepa walked over and allegedly attempted to punch MP Taka. The king’s noble also threatened the Ha’apai 13 MP, it has been claimed.
The security guards subdued him and no one was injured, the source said.
Lord Tu’ilakepa and the Speaker of Parliament had been contacted for comment.
In 2010 Tu’ilakepa was under house arrest as part of a police drugs investigation in four countries.
Veivosa Taka. Photo/Facebook
In 2012 he faced weapons and drugs charges after the police investigation allegedly linking him with a South American drug lord.
He was charged with the possession of guns and ammunition and drug exporting offences.
However, his drug charges had been withdrawn the following year with prosecutors saying it was because of the complexity of the case.
FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA
Kuo tukuaki’i na’e ‘ohofi ‘e he Ministā Ngoue’ ka ko e nōpele ‘a e tu’i’ ‘a Veivosa Taka ‘i Fale Alea. Ko e fakamatala ni ‘oku pehē ko e ‘oho fakapo’uli ‘eni ne fai lolotonga e alea ‘a e Fale’ ‘aneafi. Ne na ‘uluaki fetukuaki pea iku ‘o lue atu ai ‘a Tu’ilakepa ki he me’a’anga ‘o Taka’ ‘o fakamanamana’i mo ene ke tuki. Ne mālōlō ‘a e Fale’ ne toe takai atu tokua ‘a Tu’ilakepa ‘o tuki ka ne ‘ikai tau pea iku puke ai ‘e he kau sekulitii’. Na’e ‘alu ai ‘a Taka ‘o kole fakamoleole ‘osi ‘a e me’a’ ni ka ne ‘ikai ke tali ia ‘e Tu’ilekepa, fakatatau ‘eni ki ha fakamatala falala’anga kuo ma’u ‘e he Kaniva’.
Twenty-year-old Kilifi Jr Lapuaho of Vainī has died after he was a passenger in a car which struck a power pole near Hu’atolitoli on Sunday morning.
Kilifi Jr Lapu’aho. Photo/Facebook
Police said the car was heading to town when it swerved and crashed.
The driver was injured and now in Police custody after receiving medical treatment at Vaiola hospital.
Police also said early indications are that speed, alcohol and illicit drugs are factors in the crash.
Police were yet to release Lapuaho’s name, but friends have posted tributes to the young man on social media.
“I’m lost for words right now bro,” one said.
“I still can’t get my head around this you were taken from us far too soon man gone but will never be forgotten and will always remain in our hearts”.
The car which crashed and killed Lapuaho. Photo/Facebook
Another said: “You were the only male sibling and the eldest and the others were all your sisters now you are gone. Wake up and look at your mum she’s so distressed”.
Report said the Tongan student at USP in Fiji who has been tested positive for Covid-19 is recovered while other Tongan students were doing fine, reported Sina Kami from the Tongan community in Suva.
In Tongan she said: “Kei faingamālie ai pe ‘e tau tokotaha Tonga ne puke’ pehē ki he ki’i fānau”.
Meanwhile, Fiji is heading towards a disaster on an unprecedented scale with 636 new cases of Covid-19 and six deaths in just 24 hours, said TVNZ’s One News.
One News Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreavor reported:
There have now been 37 deaths since this outbreak started in April and another 16 people with Covid-19 which have been classified as dying from underlying medical conditions.
Secretary of Health Dr James Fong has predicted new case numbers will reach 800 a day.
Officials are urging residents to get vaccinated – so far 55 per cent of the target population have received one jab and nearly 10 per cent are fully vaccinated.
The morgue which can take 60 bodies is at full capacity and families are being urged to come and collect their loved ones for burial.
Medical providers are struggling to deal with serious cases, with ICU at Suva’s main hospital full.
Most people have been told to isolate at home but many have close contacts still going out to do urgent shopping to feed their families.
