‘Quarantine facilities full’ – Gov’t defends its last minute cancellation decision which upset stranded Tongan passengers in Vanuatu

By

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27/05/2021

Tonga government said its last minute decision to cancel an agreement with Air Vanuatu to bring back a group of Tongan citizens stranded in Vanuatu, was made after a final decision by the kingdom’s Ministry of Health.

It said when the Air Vanuatu special flight arrived in Tonga today the quarantine facilities were already full with passengers who were repatriated back to Tonga on May 5.

Communication and Information CEO Paula Ma’u told Kaniva News the special flight was chartered by a Ni Vanuatu expatriate in Tonga to return his deceased father to Vanuatu.

Vanuatu citizens who were stranded in Tonga have returned home on that special flight.

Ma’u said the flight schedule was organised by the expatriate and the government assisted in facilitating the authorisation process and protocol.

Ma’u said there was no planned repatriation flight from Vanuatu.

He said they have announced Tonga’s next repatriation flights which included June 2, 3 and July 30,

“This was not a repatriated flight or a flight arranged by the government”, Ma’u said of the Vanuatu special flight.

The last moment

But the last minute cancellation on Wednesday 26 before the flight left on Thursday 27 has knocked the Air Vanuatu authorities and families of the Tongan passengers sideways.

Some have taken to social media to vent out their frustration and anger. Some have called on the Prime Minister to resign.

One commenter asked whether the government was nonplussed after the king reprimanded parliament recently.

“I refer to your email around midday today with the decision to deny carrying of Tongan citizen on the above flight and date,” an e-mail by the Air Vanuatu First Officer Luseane Fetuani in response to Tonga’s Director of the Ministry of Communication Officer Andrew To’imoana read.

“You already know how many repatriation flights there are into Tonga until the end of the year and how many people want to be in Tonga at any one time,” Fetuani said.

“With this knowledge in hand, I am wondering why were we strung along for this very costly exercise. Totally unacceptable.

“The least you could have done is let us know last week . . . even on Monday 24th before people went ahead and paid money that cannot be refunded; money that came from students, church workers, half pay workers and people who lost their jobs.”

As Kaniva News reported last night Fetuani has asked for the decision to be reconsidered.

“It has been a very stressful couple of weeks for some, trying to get this flight organised. Tongan nationals here have paid their tickets and did Covid-19 tests to be in line with your requirement”.

Fetuani told To’imoana it costs VT$25,000 per person, the equivalent to TP$500 for a Covid-19 test.

Air Vanuatu’s CEO ‘Atu Fīnau has described the late cancellation in an email to the Prime Minister as “cruel.”

“This would appear to be cruel timing and an incredibly insensitive decision.”

He said Air Vanuatu helped Tonga a lot and an Air Vanuatu was scheduled to arrive in Tonga tomorrow to fly 162 Tongans to Perth, Australia to join the Australian Seasonal Worker programme.

He said they flew 162 from Tonga to Australia in April.

Gov’t repatriation ‘proposal’ includes passengers to pay $4,000 quarantine fees in Tonga, CEO says

By

Kalino Latu

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27/05/2021

The government is working on a proposal for the repatriated passengers to pay their stay at managed isolation facilities, the CEO of the Ministry of Communication and Information Paula Ma’u told Kaniva News.

This is part of an action plan the government has proposed in an attempt to make sure there was money to pay the country’s four managed isolation facilities which costs taxpayers about TOP$600,000 to quarantine one repatriation flight.

Ma’u was responding after Kaniva asked the Prime Minister whether it was true there was a plan in place to charge TOP$4,000 for each repatriated passenger starting in July.

Ma’u said it was just a proposal and any fees for the repatriated passengers to pay will depend on which managed isolation facility they will stay in.

He said the government is currently paying Tanoa Hotel TOP $4,000 for each repatriated passenger it quarantined.

He said the other three which are Kupesi, Makeke and Taliai camp were cheaper, but he did not say how much.

The proposed charges for repatriated passengers at the facilities in Makeke and Taliai camp, which are under the government’s control will be very cheap, he said of the proposal.

He said the proposal was inline with what other countries were doing to cover the costs for their managed isolation facilities.

He also said talks were underway with New Zealand, Australia and other donors to see if they can help.

But it is just a proposal before it goes to the government committee and from there to Cabinet to make a final decision, he said.

As Kaniva news and other media reported, this proposal was planned to start in July.

Ma’u’s response in Tongan is posted verbatim below:

“Oku kei fakahoko e ngaue ki he ngaahi totongi pea e totongi kehekehe pe kihe ngaahi facility. E kehe pe totongi ki Tanoa, Kupesi, Makeke mo Taliai.

“Koe $4,000 koe rate ia oku lolotonga totongi ‘e he Pule’anga ki he Hotele Tanoa ki he toko taha hono kolonitini. Aia koe commercial rate pe ia a e Hotele ‘oku nau lolotonga charge mai kihe Pule’anga. ‘Oku pehee pe mo Kupesi he koe ongo hotele commercial ia. A ia ‘oku ikai toe kehe ia moha fonua fekauaki moe managed isolation facility charge”.

“Koe ngaahi fakamole ‘a e Pule’anga ki hono kolonitini ha tokotaha I Makeke mo Taliai koe meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) tukukehe hono ngaahi fakaleleii mo hono tauhi, etc. A ia. e ma’ama’a auptio ange ia, pea e tuutuuni pe kiai e Pule’anga ia.

“Ko e ngaahi fokotuutuu pe pea oku fakahoko pe moe ngaahi alea mo Nu’u Sila mo ‘Aositelelia mo e ngaahi tokoni kehe naa nau lava tokoni.

E toki maau pea toki fakahoko kihe Komiti ki haane tuutuuni, pea ka tali e toki ave kihe Kapineti ki hano aofangatuku ‘o fakatatau pe moe palani ngaue”.

Hundreds expected at memorial for ‘rising star’ kickboxer Liufau Vake

By

Kalino Latu

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27/05/2021

Hundreds of people are expected to gather at the Tuingapapai Church, Māngere this evening to honour the memory of the promising Mixed Martial Art (MMA) fighter who died after an attack in Central Auckland a week ago.

Liufau Tu’iha’angana Vake, 25, died May 16 after he was critically injured in what has been described as “a punch from behind” or a “coward punch”.

He will be laid to rest tomorrow Friday 28 at Waikumete Cemetery, in West Auckland.

It is understood the family and the kāinga are gathering today preparing refreshment for tonight’s service.

Police have confirmed that additional charges will be laid in due course after four people have appeared in court charged in connection with the incident.

Vake’s death was the latest tragedy in a year of heartbreak for the family after they lost their father Masiu Vake.

“They are hurting. We stand with them,” wrote Muay Thai boxer Golnaz Bassam-Tabar, the creator of the Givealittle page to help Vake family.

Within three days, the page had received more than $46,000, accompanied with heartfelt sentiments from the boxing community and beyond.

One supporter wrote that “My heart goes out to the Vake family and close friends, he didn’t deserve this to happen to him and you didn’t deserve to have him taken away from you in such a way. Much love to you.”

Vake’s last fought before he died was in late April. It was part of the Undisputed Fight Series event in Wairarapa, where he won by TKO in the first round in the card’s main event.

He had a 2-0-0 win-loss-draw record as a middleweight MMA fighter.

His death has been described as a great loss to the mixed martial art community as Vake had been seen as a promising and rising start fighter.

Last minute cancellation of passengers to fly on flight from Vanuatu to Tonga called inconsiderate, insensitive

By

Kalino Latu

-

26/05/2021

UPDATED: Air Vanuatu’s CEO ‘Atu Fīnau has described the late cancellation of a group of stranded Tongans to fly on a special flight from Vanuatu to Tonga today as “cruel.”

The flight was due to leave Port Vila this Thursday.

In an e-mail to Tongan Prime Minister Pōhiva Tui’onetoa, Fīnau said Air Vanuatu was told a group of Tongans planned to fly on air Vanuatu to Tonga could not go ahead today – only 24 hours before it was scheduled to depart.

“This would appear to be cruel timing and an incredibly insensitive decision.”

Fīnau said a small group of Tongan citizens were led to believe they could finally return to the kingdom.

Air Vanuatu First Officer Luseane Fetuani wrote to Tonga’s Director of the Ministry of Communication Officer Andrew To’imoana describing the cancellation as “totally unacceptable” and asking for the decision to be reconsidered.

“I understand that these are hard times and some hard and tough decisions must be made to protect the country and it’s livelihood,” she said.

“However, that does not mean that we are immune to being considerate.

“It has been a very stressful couple of weeks for some, trying to get this flight organised. Tongan nationals here have paid their tickets and did Covid-19 tests to be in line with your requirement”.

Fetuani said it costs VT$25,000 per person, the equivalent to TP$500 for a Covid-19 test.

“You already know how many repatriation flights there are into Tonga until the end of the year and how many people want to be in Tonga at any one time,” Fetuani said.

“With this knowledge in hand, I am wondering why were we strung along for this very costly exercise. Totally unacceptable.

“The least you could have done is let us know last week . . . even on Monday 24th before people went ahead and paid money that cannot be refunded; money that came from students, church workers, half pay workers and people who lost their jobs.”

After the Covid-19 outbreak, the Tongan Government restricted travel for Tongan nationals travelling from Vanuatu.

A repatriation flight from Auckland is expected to arrive in Nuku’alofa on June 2.

A similar flight from Brisbane is expected to arrive on June 3.

A flight from Fiji due on April 28 was cancelled because of the Covid-situation in that country.

‘Etuate Lavulavu swears on Bible in court before alleging government owes him $10 million

By

Kalino Latu

-

26/05/2021

‘Etuate Lavulavu kissed a Holy Bible in the Supreme Court last week and swore by the “Almighty God to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth” while defending himself during a fraud trial in which he is being charged together with his wife.

‘Etuate Lavulavu swears on the Holy Bible while defending himself

‘Etuate claimed in court the government owed him about TOP$10 million, the Kakalu newspaper reported.

Justice Nicholas Cooper wanted an explanation from ‘Etuate regarding the alleged debt. ‘Etuate claimed it was for renovation and construction works he did at the government’s Tonga National Centre (TNC).

Lavulavu and his wife Akosita Lavulavu, who is the Minister of Infrastructure, Tourism and Transport are defending themselves after pleading not guilty to charges relating to knowingly dealt with forged documents and obtaining credit by false pretences.

An investigation was prompted by the Auditor General’s office claiming hundreds of students supposedly attending the UNTRI could not be identified and that the Institute should repay TP$553,800 to the Technical Vocational Education and Training fund (TVET).

The couple allegedly used forged documents to support an application to obtain supplementary government funding to assist students at their ‘Unuaki ‘O Tonga Royal Institute (UTRI) private school.

Removal order

UNTRI was known as a university, but it ceased to be an accredited provider of education after a decision by the Tonga National Qualifications and Accreditation Board (TNQAB).

In 2014 ‘Etuate and UNTRI were ordered to move out of TNC, a judgement read.

The decision came after tenancy agreements were signed between the Ministry of Tourism and the university in 2008 and 2009.

The agreements allowed UNTRI and ‘Etuate to occupy TNC for a period of five years.

However, in 2013 the government commenced proceedings against Lavulavu and UNTRI seeking payment of outstanding rent and interest amounting to $158,400.

The following year the government lodged another legal action seeking court order against Lavulavu and UNTRI to vacate the TNC.

The complaint said the property has insufficient or no insurance cover and is a substantial asset at risk.

The tenancy and management agreements have both expired and the TNC was deteriorating, it said.

In his ruling former Chief Justice Anthony Ford said: “Taking into account the material placed before me, I do not find that the University or Mr. Lavulavu have “any real prospect” of succeeding in their claims to retain possession of the TNC”.

Ford also said: “I accept that the TNC is not properly insured. I also accept that it is at risk. It is a very substantial aid funded government asset which if lost could not be replaced by Mr. Lavulavu. The University has lost its accreditation. In my opinion the only arguable dispute between the parties is purely financial and does not provide any basis for the retention by the University or Mr. Lavulavu of the TNC”.

Controversial backgrounds

In 2003 Lavulavu apologised to the House after an altercation in which he swore at the late Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva.

In the same year, Lavulavu was arrested at the Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah after he arrived from Tonga and charged with falsifying immigration papers for Tongans to become American citizens as part of a scam carried out with his brother in 1997. He later pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal use of a birth certificate, but only had to pay costs.

In 2004 he began referring to himself as “professor” and said he had a doctorate from an American institution, which turned out to be a notorious “mail order” university which essentially sells degrees.

The Director of Education said at the time that the Ministry did not recognise his “professorship.”

In 2016 Tonga’s Supreme Court convicted him of bribery and spending over the legal limit on his 2014 election campaign.

The judge said Lavulavu was not a credible witness and that his evidence was implausible, evasive and untruthful.

As a result of his conviction he was kicked out of Parliament. His wife Akosita won the by-election in his electorate.

In a case in 2000, Lavulavu was sued by the Late Prince Tu’ipelehake for damages and unlawful cultivation of his land. In his summing up of the trial, Lord Chief Justice Ward said Lavulavu “was willing to say almost anything that seemed to suit the moment with a repeated disregard for the truth.”

Last year the Supreme Court ordered his wife ‘Akosita, a Cabinet Minister, to pay the plaintiffs’ costs after Lord Chief Justice Whitten quashed her decision to deny whale watching and swimming licences.

Mr Whitten said her decisions were infected by errors of law.

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

Kuo fuakava ‘Etuate Lavulavu he Tohitapu’ ‘o fakapapau ‘i he ‘ao ‘o e ‘Otua Mafimafi ko e me’a kotoa te ne lea’aki’ ‘i he fakamaau’anga’ ko e totonu mo e mo’oni kotoa pe ia, lolotonga hono hopo’i ia tukuaki’i ki hono ma’u kākaa’i ‘o ha pa’anga ‘ova he vaeua miliona’ mei he pule’anga’. ‘I he konga ‘ene fakamatala’ hili ‘ene fuakava’ na’a’ ne pehē tokua ai ‘oku mo’ua ange ‘a e pule’anga’ ia ki ai ofi ‘i he $10 miliona. Na’a’ ne pehē ko e pa’anga fakakātoa ‘eni hili ‘ene fai ‘a e ngaahi monomono mo e langa ki he Senitā Fakafonua’ ‘a ia ne lele ai ‘ene ako’anga ‘Unuaki ‘O Tonga’. ‘Oku mahino foki ne tu’utu’uni ‘a e fakamaau’anga ‘i he 2014 ke mavahe leva ‘a Lavulavu mei he senitaa’ hili ‘eni ‘a e tukuaki’i na’e ‘ikai ha malu’i pe ‘inisiua ki he ngaahi fale’, ta’etokanga’i ke ngaahi pea hā lingolingo mo ta’efe’unga ‘a e fu’u ‘api. Ne toe ‘eke’i fakalao foki mo e mo’ua ta’etotongi leni (rent) fe’unga mo e pa’anga ‘e taha kilu tupu pe $158,400 kia Lavulavu. Ne iku tu’utu’uni ai ‘a e fakamaau’anga lahi ke ne mavahe leva mei he ‘api ni.

Ōtāhuhu shooting victim named as Alec Moala of PapatoetoeAlec

By

Kaniva Staff

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25/05/2021

The man shot dead in the Auckland suburb of Ōtāhuhu over the weekend has been named.

He was 31-year-old Alec Moala of Papatoetoe.

Police and Victim Support are providing his family with support.

A post-mortem was completed yesterday and Police are continuing to make a number of enquiries to establish the circumstances surrounding his death, including speaking to several people in Beatty Street and the wider Ōtāhuhu area.

Police have also received a number of calls from members of the public since our appeal for information yesterday, and want to thank those who came forward with information.

This information is being assessed as part of our ongoing enquiries.

However, Police are still keen to hear from anyone with information about what occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning.

“We are confident there are people out there who know who is responsible and with information valuable to our investigation,” Acting Detective Inspector Warrick Adkin says.

“We urge them to do the right thing and come forward to Police for the sake of Mr Moala’s family.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact us on 105 quoting file number 210523/2150 or operation name Operation Alani.

People can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Malia Unalotokipea Li denies leaving disabled husband to die, sitting in his own waste

By

Kaniva Staff

-

25/05/2021

A Tongan woman has denied in the Auckland High court claims she failed to take reasonable steps to prevent her husband before he died sitting in his own waste.

She has been accused of failing to provide her disabled husband with food, water and medical help before he died.

Malia Unalotokipea Li, who is aged in her 60s, was charged with manslaughter in relation to the death of her 48-year-old husband, Lanitola Epenisa, who died of blood poisoning in 2016.

“In his opening address at the High Court in Auckland, Crown prosecutor Jasper Rhodes said one of Epenisa’s bed sores, on his buttocks, was so bad it went through to the bone”, Stuff reported.

“He said after Epenisa’s death, police officers and ambulance staff moved him from the La-Z-boy chair he died in. Epenisa had fused to the chair”.

The court was told that in the years before his death, Epenisa had suffered from strokes.

The Crown alleges Li’s level of care for her husband was “grossly negligent”.

But defence lawyer Mark Ryan said his expert witness claims the pressure sores were very recent, and Li did not fail to take reasonable steps to prevent the sores from developing or worsening.

“The deceased was a very, very unhealthy person,” Ryan told the jury.

“As soon as those pressure sores became infected, there was no defence mechanism in his body able to stop blood poisoning.”

Ryan said the case was “tragic” and urged the jury to focus its attention on the pressure sores.

Epenisa did not die of starvation, from lack of water but from sepsis caused by pressure sores, Ryan said.

“He had once run a business building stone walls but when his health meant he could no longer work, the family moved in with relatives. The couple, who had been married nearly 20 years, lived in a room with their teenaged daughters”.

Epenisa died in Māngere, South Auckland from sepsis, a blood infection from untreated pressure sores on his buttocks sometime on the night between October 1 and 2, 2016, a jury heard..

“A level two NZQA national certificate in health and disability foundational skills obtained by Li in February 2014 was produced as evidence by the Crown”, the Herald said.

“The Crown alleges the qualification proves Li had some training and experience in caring for people in similar position to Epenisa”.

The trial before Justice Edwin Wylie has been set down for six weeks.

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

‘Oku lolotonga lele hono hopo’i ‘a e fefine Tonga ko Malia ‘Unalotokipea Li ‘a ia ‘oku ne ‘i hono ta’u 60 tupu’ tukuaki’i ki he mate hono husepāniti ko Lanitola ‘Epenisa ‘i he 2016. ‘Oku tukuaki’i ‘a Malia ki he’ene ta’etokanga ‘ikai ke ne fafanga, fakainu pe fakama’a ‘a ‘Epenisa, 48, lolotonga ne faingata’a’ia mamatea hono sino hili ‘ene pākalava. Na’e mate ‘a ‘Epenisa ‘oku tangutu pe ‘i he’ene tu’u mama’o’ ‘i hono sea ve’eteka, ‘a ia ne toki to’o pe mei ai ‘e he kau polisi’ mo e kau ‘ōfisa mei he me’alele fakavavevave ‘a e fale mahaki’. ‘Oku faka’ikai’i kotoa ‘e Malia ‘a e tukuaki’i’ ni pea ‘oku lolotonga lele ‘ene hopo ‘i he High Court ‘a ‘Okalani fakafuofua ki ha uike ‘e ono.

Tongatapu Police chief under investigation after drink driving allegations

By

Kaniva Staff

-

25/05/2021

The Ministry of Police has launched a criminal investigation into Mu’a Police Chief Sisi Tonga after being caught drink driving, it has been claimed.

Nuku’alofa Cantral Police station. Photo/Kaniva Tonga News

It is alleged the police superintendent was driving his police vehicle while he was under the influence of alcohol, Kaniva News has learnt.

It is understood the incident happened after an official farewell ceremony was held last month in honour of the departing Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell.

Last year 21 police officers have been sacked over criminal convictions and serious disciplinary breaches.

The Tonga Police Board had terminated the employments following a hearing on a loss of confidence in their positions.

Reports said the officers failed to live up to the ethical and professional standards required of a Tongan Police Officer.

Of the 21 dismissals, 14 were based on serious disciplinary breaches that included unauthorised absence, failure to complete the recruitment requirements and sexual harassment.

Seven dismissals were based on criminal cases that include extortion, obtain money by false pretences, theft, assaults, reckless driving causing death and forgery.

With regards to the two sexual harassment cases, former Supreme Justice Charles Cato said it represented totally unacceptable behaviour which could not be tolerated.

“Females or for that matter any police officer is entitled to serve free from harassment of any kind be it sexual, bullying, or other humiliating conduct.

“There must be adequate avenues provided and education to allow officers who fall victim to these practices to make a timely complaint and seek professional advice within the force and if need be in confidence. If there is an adverse culture in the Tonga Police or parts of it, that culture must be arrested forthwith.”

Nearly $25,000 donated for MMA fighter Liufau Vake who lost life after Auckland attack

By

Kalino Latu

-

24/05/2021

Hundreds of well-wishers and bereaved friends and family of a man who died nearly a week after he was admitted to hospital following an assault while he waited for a taxi have donated $24,099.00 in tribute to his death.

Liufau Tu’iha’angana Vake. Photo/Supplied

Liufau Tu’iha’angana Vake, 25, was assaulted on Symonds St in central Auckland in the early hours Sunday morning May 16 and taken to Auckland Hospital in critical condition.

A GoFundMe page was set up by Golnaz Bassam Tabar, a friend of the Vake family, showed 264 generous donors have raised the money since yesterday Sunday 23.

It said: “Our beloved brother Fau has joined the Eternal. Fau fought a courageous fight in hospital for a whole week, after he was viciously and cowardly attacked on May 16th.

“ Let’s stand with Fau’s grieving family to alleviate some of the financial pressures at this unfathomably difficult time. Only months ago, the Vake family lost their father. They are hurting. We stand with them”.

Police said further charges will be filed in due course.

“Four men have already appeared before the Auckland District Court following the incident on 16 May at around 2.55am”, it said.

“Police can confirm that we are not currently seeking anyone else in relation to our investigation”.

Meanwhile, Vake’s partner has paid tribute to him after he died on Instagram.

Her full tribute reads:

“My high school sweetheart, 10 years of memories together with you & it has been & will forever be the best time of my life. Thank you for giving me the world’s best creation, Isa Banana.

“You have taught me so much in life, how to be comfortable when I’m out of my comfort zone, you’ve taught me what unconditional love really is, forgiveness, strength & most of all shown me the power of our lord, Jesus Christ. You are the heart of your family and You are so loved.

“You’ve brought so many people and have touched many hearts. That’s the kind of person you were, extremely loving, caring, a protector, giving.

“I swear & promise to look after our daughter, give her the best life and make you proud!

“My sweet love. Till we meet again. Isa banana loves you, your daughter just adores you, forever a daddy’s girl.”

Body of Tongan RSE worker who dies suddenly in Hastings to be flown home on Wednesday

By

Kaniva Staff

-

24/05/2021

The body of the Tongan Recognised Seasonal Worker (RSE) who died in his sleep in Hastings, New Zealand will be returned to Tonga on Wednesday.

Fuifuikula ‘O Lofakaitamaki ‘Ealelei. Photo/Supplied (cropped)

Fuifuikula ‘O Lofakaitamaki ‘Ealelei’s body is now at the Fountain Funerals in Papakura.

A failotu service for the 26-year-old is expected to be held at the mortuary this afternoon at 4pm.

‘Ealelei’s co-workers attempted to wake him up on Sunday May 16 at 12pm before they discovered he was dead, RSE Liaison Officer in New Zealand Sefita Hao’uli told Kaniva News.

‘Ealelei died at the Mr Apple Tongan RSE worker’s accommodation at Williams St, Hastings.

The young father is survived by his wife and their two children.

There are now 1162 Tongan workers in New Zealand.

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‘Etuate Lavulavu swears on Bible in court before alleging government owes him $10 million

Ōtāhuhu shooting victim named as Alec Moala of PapatoetoeAlec

Malia Unalotokipea Li denies leaving disabled husband to die, sitting in his own waste

Tongatapu Police chief under investigation after drink driving allegations

Nearly $25,000 donated for MMA fighter Liufau Vake who lost life after Auckland attack

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