The Minister of Tourism Akosita Lavulavu told whale watching and swimming operators in Vava’u if they do not pay their licence fees and insurance on time their licences would be cancelled.
Hon ‘Akosita Lavulavu
“The Minister has no authority under the Whale Watching and Swimming Regulations to waive the fees or roll it over”, a letter from the Ministry last week April 9, seen by Kaniva News, read.
The Minister was responding after the operators requested to waive the fees for 2021 season because their businesses never gained any profits due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The operators also requested that the payment of licence fees for 2020 be deferred until Tonga opens its border.
The operators also requested that the three year licence term be extended by another year cancelling out year 2020.
They asked the Minister to exclude 3rd party insurance as a requirement for whale watching licence renewals until borders open.
In another request they asked that the whale watching guide tickets 2020 be extended at no cost.
It is understood each operator must pay TOP$1500 per boat licence fee and TOP$2000 for third party insurance.
The Ministry said these licences were valid for three years.
Minister’s response
The Minister declined the requests on all fronts saying there was no authority under the law for the Ministry to waive the requirements for which the operators have asked.
She said “all issued licences continue to be in effect despite Covid-19. Any fees required to be paid in accordance to the law must be paid”.
She said the law says the licences “shall be valid for 3 years”.
The Minster said the licence period cannot be extended to more than three years, “for any reason”.
She reminded the operators that all licence applications must beaccompanied by a third party public liability insurance and a copy of insurance policy.
“As an option, please note if applicants and licence holders do not pay their licence fees, their insurance, or fail to provide any other requirement for licences, that this will be deemed a breach of licence conditions. The licence will be cancelled, although you will be encouraged to re-apply for your licence whenever you decide to begin operating again”.
Akosita also said the government’s “priority as of now is the safety and health of its people and is currently concentrating on repatriating thousand of Tongans who are still getting stuck overseas”.
Operators’ reactions
The Minister’s response “frustrated” the Vava’u operators.
They asked whether the country’s state of national emergency allows authorities to consider and make special decisions when their businesses suffered economically.
“Does Govt expect us all to pluck this money out of thin air?, one of the operators, who we choose not to identify, told Kaniva News.
“Basically, if we do not pay we won’t get a license despite the fact that we will not have a season and have not had income since Nov 2019,” they said.
“We are in a state of emergency and special circumstances apply to these times yet the industry that provides so much for this Kingdom is going to be run into the ground.
“A gazette order could be made to ensure that fees are waivered”.
They said the King in his parliamentary closing speech said “that Tourism was one of the industries that needed to be looked after yet as you can see our Minister of Tourism has no desire to do that and wants to cripple the industry instead”.
Police have today charged three people with the murder of Auckland woman Meliame Fisi’ihoi.
Meliame Fisi’ihoi, 57, died when she was shot at her home on Calthorp Close, Favona. Photo/Facebook
Three men aged 19, 22 and 28 have been jointly charged with murder and are expected to appear in the Manukau District Court today.
They have been charged with Fisi’ihoi’s murder, as well as intending to cause grievous bodily harm to three others by shooting a gun at them, two weeks prior to her death.
The 57-year-old mother of seven was watching TV in her Calthorp Cl home in Favona, south Auckland, when something drew her attention to a window at the front of the house, in the early hours of January 15 last year.
She got up out of her chair, peered through the window and was fatally shot.
“Police’s commitment to this investigation has never wavered and we were always confident that arrests would ultimately be made, however some investigations are more complex and challenging than others and can take a significant amount of time and effort to resolve,” Police Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Bright said.
“Today’s arrests are a credit to the hard work and dedication shown by the Operation Truro investigation team.
“We hope the arrests today provides Mrs Fisi’ihoi’s family with some degree of comfort following what has been an extremely difficult time for them.
“We want to thank the Favona community for their cooperation during this investigation and hope they are also comforted by these developments.
“We are unable to comment further as this matter is now before the courts”.
The Australian experienced seafarer whose name was well-known in Tonga for decades has died after his boat capsized on the Mid-North Coast.
Captain Warner wrote in his memoirs, “the boys had set up a small commune with food garden, hollowed-out tree trunks to store rainwater, a gymnasium with curious weights, a badminton court, chicken pens and a permanent fire, all from handiwork, an old knife blade and much determination.”
Emergency services were called to Lighthouse Parade, in East Ballina, at 8.45am on Tuesday following reports two people were in the water after a boat had capsized while crossing the Ballina Bar, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
A short time later, a 17-year-old boy assisted Mr Warner, 90, to shore.
A member of the public started CPR on Mr Warner, but he died at the scene. The boy was not injured, the Herald said.
Officers from Richmond Police District established a crime scene and commenced inquiries into the circumstances of the incident.
Warner’s trilogy, Ocean of Light, said the celebrated sailor lived in Tonga for 30 years.
He arrived in the islands in 1966 after he rescued six Tongan boys who were marooned on the desert island of ‘Ata.
The boys had gone missing for 15 months after a misadventure before Warner rescued them.
These were students who were boarders of the St Andrew School in Nuku’alofa, before they had stolen a boat, and set sail for Fiji, only to be put off course by a storm, eventually washing ashore at ‘Ata.
In Tonga “Peter was proclaimed a national hero,” the Guardian reported.
As a reward for his rescue, late King Taufa‘āhau Tupou IV allowed Warner to trap lobster in the kingdom’s waters and started a business which employed many locals for years.
A disabled driver who killed a 76-year-old mother in Tongatapu admitted he did not know about the traffic rules because he did not sit any driving tests before his license was given to him.
Sitela Fungavaka. Photo/Supplied
It appears the licensing officers had been bribed to fake his tests before the driver’s mother picked up his license over the counter.
Siolosi Hu’akau, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving causing death and one count of dangerous driving causing bodily harm.
He was convicted of dangerous driving causing death and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.
For dangerous driving causing bodily harm, he has been sentenced to one year imprisonment, to be served concurrently with his sentence on causing death count.
The final 12 months of the head sentence is to be suspended on conditions for a period of two years from the date of his release from prison.
A court document said the prisoner “was speeding and driving in a manner dangerous to the public.
“He admitted to Police that he was not aware of the speed limits because he
did not obtain his driver’s licence validly – it was given to him over the
counter through his mother”.
The tragedy
The court was told that on Sunday, 25 October 2020, ‘Arnone Fungavaka was driving with his wife, Stella Fungavaka, to Kolonga to visit their son.
As they approached a sharp turn towards Navutoka, a red vehicle was also approaching the turn from the opposite direction. It was being driven by Hu’akau.
There were two other passengers in his vehicle. As he approached the turn, he lost control of his vehicle, swerved onto the right lane and collided head on with the Fungavakas’ vehicle.
Stella sustained multiple fractures, including a collapsed lung. As a result of her injuries, she was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
The prisoner
The prisoner was born with a medical condition affecting his lower limbs rendering him unable to stand for long periods of time.
He was physically and emotionally dependent on his mother and is attached to her.
Hu’akau was unable to read or write, having only completed class 1 at school. He is described as having the mind of a child .
No medical evidence was provided during his trial. His disability caused him great pain throughout his childhood. He did not have a normal teenager’s life.
Notwithstanding, his local parish priest and town officer reported that the prisoner was happily involved in church youth activities and is treated by his peers with understanding, as a child, in order to make him feel comfortable
The trial of the Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism Akosita Lavulavu and her disgraced husband ‘Etuate Lavulavu began yesterday Monday 12 as prosecutors try to prove the couple knowingly dealt with forged documents and obtaining credit by false pretenses.
Hon. ‘Akosita and her husband ‘Etuate Lavulavu
The trial arises from an investigation of the government grants intended to top up private and church schools teachers’ salaries.
The amount of money granted to each school was based on the number of students being enrolled.
As Kaniva news previously reported, the Auditor General’s office claimed hundreds of students supposedly attending the Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute could not be identified and that the Institute should repay TP$553,800 to the Technical Vocational Education and Training fund (TVET).
‘Etuate was the president of the school while Akosita was the director. They previously denied all charges.
The nation has been waiting five years for the case since the couple was first arrested on March 2016.
It has been delayed several times before the Lord Chief Justice ruled earlier this year that the case must be heard in court yesterday, April 12.
Akosita was dismissed from cabinet in April 2018 as a result of her charges but she was reappointed by the Tu’ionetoa government.
Yesterday she has been criticised for reinstating the Tonga Tourism Authority board with a budget of $1.5 million while it was clear that international travel will not resume anytime soon. Critics believed the move was a waste of money because tourism in the kingdom is being crippled by the impacts of COVID-19.
Separate fraud charge
Last week, the couple appeared at the Magistrate Court on separate charges after their land lord in Vava’u filed a lawsuit accusing the Lavulavus of allegedly forging a letter on his behalf telling the Ministry of Lands and Survey he allegedly agreed to allow ‘Etuate to quarry rocks on his land.
The Magistrate court has yet to decide on that court case.
The political engineer
‘Etuate publicly claimed the current government of Tu’i’onetoa managed to topple the former PTOA government because of a successful political campaign he engineered. He was later referred to by his critics as an “engineer”.
He was the mouthpiece of the Prime Minister he has his own newspaper and radio station in which he uses to attack the government’s critics.
He has been accused of overstepping his political roles outside government and attempted to interfere with the Prime Minister’s office.
He was the deputy chairman of Tonga People’s Party. Prime Minister Tu’i’onetoa is the Chairman.
The Lavulavus were under pressure recently after calls for Akosita to resign over her court cases.
Controversial backgrounds
‘Etuate Lavulavu is no stranger to courts, controversy or convictions.
In 2003 he was arrested by the FBI while trying to board a flight from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles. He was charged with falsifying immigration papers for Tongans to become American Citizens as part of a scam carried out with his brother. He 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 ‘Akosita to pay the plaintiffs’ costs after Lord Chief Justice Whitten quashed her decision to deny their whale watching and swimming licences.
Mr Whitten said the Minister’s decisions were infected by errors of law.
A car dealer who took more than $59,950 in deposits for cars he never delivered has been jailed for three years.
The final 12 months of the sentence was suspended on conditions for a period of two years from the date of her release.
Malia Selupe was charged with five counts of obtaining money by false pretenses and taking large deposits for cars he had advertised for sale and never supplied the goods.
Selupe operated a car dealer business called “Tavatu’utolu Motors”.
She held the business out as being able to import motor vehicles from Japan through online bidding and sales.
Between May 2016 and August 2017, Selupe received a total of $59,950 from four complainants for the purchase of motor vehicles.
None of the vehicles ordered ever arrived in Tonga. At the time, the prisoner gave the purchasers a raft of different excuses mostly concerning difficulties with or delays caused by the supposed Japanese supplier.
Despite assurances to some of the purchasers that they would receive refunds, none eventuated.
NSW Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman wanted on two outstanding warrants.
Salome Taufahema. Photo/Supplied
Salome Taufahema, 33, was wanted by virtue of two warrants in relation to drug-related offences, a statement said.
She is described as being of Pacific Islander/Maori appearance, about 150-160cm tall, with a thin build, brown hair and brown eyes.
Salome is known to frequents the south-western suburbs of Auburn, Lidcombe, Bankstown, Liverpool and Fairfield Greystanes, Blacktown, Ropes Crossing, Claymore and Pendle Hill.
As police continue to conduct inquiries into her whereabouts, they are urging anyone who may have information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone who sees the woman is urged not to approach her but to instead call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
In 2015 Police tried to track down a six-day old boy and his parents, whose behaviour was described as erratic when they were last seen in Western Sydney.
The parents were Salome Taufahema and Steven Kennedy.
A former gang leader who spent time in prison before he turned his life around and ended up receiving a Master’s degree from the University of Hawai’i was shot dead in Aiea, Honolulu.
Malakai Maumalanga
The 45-year-old Malakai Maumalanga was killed in his residence on March 29. His funeral and visitation services have yet to be announced.
Witnesses reportedly said one, maybe two suspects were involved in the shooting. No further details were available, the Hawai’ian Star Advertiser reported.
The ex-gang leader, who was also goes by the name of Mo, has been described as heavily involved with gang while “he was 13 years-old … and very angry, very violent.”
He was jailed when he was 18 for a drive-by shooting.
That journey takes him to the stage to receive a master’s degree in social work.
“I didn’t realize how far I came until right after finals then I realized I’m getting my masters”, Hawai’i News Now reported Maumalanga as saying.
Maumalanga was such a success story that he was hired by Adult Friends for Youth in 2002 and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work.
At the time of his death, he directly reported to Deborah Spencer-Chun, his former Adult Friends for Youth counselor.
“We worry about all the kids that we work with. Mo was no different,” Spencer-Chun told the Star-Advertiser on Sunday.
For the last 20 years, Mo has been giving back – working at Adult Friends for Youth, the Hawai’ian Khon2 reported.
“His passion was helping other kids who were just like him get a better future”, the paper said.
Tourism minister, Akosita Lavulavu, has come under fire for the reinstatement of Tonga Tourism Authority board last week with critics saying the decision was unnecessary and irrelevant after it appears that international travel will not resume anytime soon.
(L-R) Sēmisi Sika, Akosita Lavulavu and Saia Moehau
Tonga Tourism Authority Board (TTAB) is the government’s tourism marketing and advising panel. It was terminated in 2017 after the then minister, Semisi Sika, believed the board did not have any positive influence on tourism growth in Tonga.
Critics believe the Ministry’s Chief Executive Officer and their staff not only can do what was needed of the board of directors but it saved the Ministry money.
Sika, who is now the Opposition Leader, and Tonga Tourism Association (TTA) claimed more than 30 percent of the new board’s budget of $1.5 million would go to the board of directors pay and other fees. Sika has described this spending as imprudent (“fakavalevale”).
“How do we justify spending a $1.5m budget to market a locked border destination in the middle of a global pandemic?” Sika told Kaniva News.
Sika, who dismissed the 2016 tourism board before the Supreme Court quashed it the following year, also slammed the appointment of the directors saying they were people who have no experience in tourism industry.
Sika and the president of TTA, Saia Moehau, believed the budget should have been used to boost local tourist businesses which have been crippled by the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
New board announcement
On Thursday April 8 the Minster announced in a press release her new board members which included Ms. Mishka Tu’ifua (Chairperson and Tongatapu member), Mr. Simana Kami (Tongatapu member), Ms. Petunia Tupou (Tongatapu member), Mr. Simana Kami (Tongatapu member), ‘Aisea Ta’ofi (Niuafo’ou & Niuatoputapu) Mr. Alwyn Moa (Vava’u member), Mr. Finau Walter (Ha’apai member) and Ms. Temalisi Maile (‘Eua member).
Lavulavu, who was penalised and ordered by a Supreme Court decision last year to pay the plaintiffs’ costs after she wrongly denied their whale watching and swimming licenses, said the new board members replaced the previous board members whose contracts ended in June 2017.
The Minister also said: “The role of the Board is to implement the objectives in the TTA Act 2016. This will be achieved based on their policy advice to the Government, through the Minister, for the marketing, development, administration, promotion and investment in the Tourism sector to ensure sustainable growth”.
TTA concerns
In a letter dated March 24 from Moehau to the Minister, seen by Kaniva News, the president questioned the “relevancy” of the decision “especially at this very time of a very serious pandemic, Covid19, that shuts down our border and borders all over the World”.
“Sad to admit that since the implementation of TTAB, we, the tourism operators, never found any result of positive contributions from TTAB to our tourism growth”.
Moehau told Lavulavu this was why the former Tourism Minister made a decision to end the tourism board.
He said his association was aware that Lavulavu has “rescinded this cabinet decision as the result of your new TTAB today”.
Tourism operators need more assistance
Moehau told Lavulavu the association was grateful for the financial payouts to tourism operators throughout Tonga, but “these operators need more financial lifelines to keep them afloat and able to stay above water during this pandemic”.
“There would be some operators whom will survive after these tough times, but many will struggle to come back. But in order to maintain our tourism growth and tourism receipts above $100 Million Pa’anga per annum, we need everyone to stay afloat.
“As we all aware that the annual budget for TTAB is $1.5Million. With that, we are estimating there would be around a minimum of $150,000.00 Pa’anga per quarter out of that budget will go directly to TTAB’s directors’ fees, meeting fees, and local only travel expenses considering the structure of the new TTAB.
“That’s a minimum of $450,000.00 of that budget goes and spent on only members of the new TTAB per annum. This does not include salaries for TTAB’s new General Manager and their new Staff plus office expenses”.
The association has also recommended to the Minister to put “survival of all Tourism Operators” as priority and “delay or cancel the activation of TTAB until the border is opened”.
CEO and staff can do the board’s work
“Your CEO and Staff at our Ministry of Tourism is sufficed for now to work with all Tourism Operators to cooperate in all necessary working plans during these hard times,” Moehau wrote.
“We believe TTAB will overlap the Ministry’s current working plans”.
Moehau also suggested that the Minister diverts the TTAB budget of $1.5million Pa’anga to help struggling tourism operators in Tongatapu, Vava’u, Ha’apai, and ‘Eua.
“We need as much financial help as we can get to allow all our tourism products to remain ready and operatable once borders are opened in order to maintain positive and healthy tourism growth”.
TTA members included Vava’u Tourism Association, Tonga Hotels Association, Tonga Tourist Association, Tonga Travels & Tours Association, Whale Watching & Water Activities, Tonga Bars & Restaurant Association, Tonga Airlines Association and Heilala Festival.
FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA
‘Oku lolotonga faingata’a’ia ‘a e takimamata ‘a Tonga’ koe’uhi ko hono loka ‘o e kau’āfonua’ ‘o ‘ikai lava ai ha kau folau tua mei tu’apule’anga ke omi ki he fonua’ ke langa hake ngaahi pisinisi takimamata’. ‘Oku toe fiema’u tokoni fakapa’anga ‘aupito ‘a e ngaahi pisinisi takimamata fakalotofonua’ mei he pule’anga’ he ko ‘enau tō lalo ko ‘eni he ngāue ‘a e Koviti-19 ka ko kinautolu talu mei he kamata’anga ne nau tokonia lahi ‘a e ‘ekonōmika ‘a e fonua’. ‘Oku fiema’u leva ke potongi e pa’anga ‘a e fonua’ ‘o ‘oua ‘e ‘asi mai ‘oku fai’aki ha tolo veka. Kuo fakaanga’i lahi ai ‘e he taki ‘o e Fa’ahi Fakaanga’ Sēmisi Sika fakataha mo e hoha’a lahi mei he ‘asosieisini ‘a e ngaahi kautaha taki mamata ‘a Tonga ‘oku ‘iloa ko e Tonga Tourism Association ‘a e fo’i nga’unu ko ‘eni ‘a e Minisitā Takimamata’ Akosita Lavulavu ke toe fakaake mai ‘a e Poate Takimamata’ pea ‘oange mo ‘enau patiseti $1.5 miliona ke nau tu’uaki mo fakamāketi’i’aki ‘a e taki mamata’. Pehē ‘e Sika mo e palesiteni ‘o e TTA ‘e laka hake he pēseti ia ‘e 30 ‘o e patiseti ko eni ko e fo’i vahe ‘ata’atā pe ia mo hono totongi ‘o e kau talēkita ‘o e poate’ ni. Ka ko e hā ‘enau me’a leva ‘e fai ke langa hake takimamata’ ‘oku ‘ikai lava omi ha kau tua ia mei tu’apule’anga’. Na’e ta’ofi fakataimi ha toe fokotu’u poate he 2017 ko e tui ‘a e minisitā ‘aho ko ia’ ‘oku ‘ikai ha tokoni ia ‘a e poate ki he tupu ‘a e takimamata he fonua’. Ko e fatongia ‘o e poate’ ‘oku ‘osi lava lelei pe ia ‘e he CEO mo ‘ene kau ngāue’ ‘o fakahoko ‘a e ngāue ko ia pea malu ai e patiseti ‘a e Potungāue’. ‘Ikai ko ia pe ka kuo pehē ‘e Sika ko e kau talēkita poate fo’ou ko eni ‘a Lavulavu’ ko e kakai lelei pe ia ka ‘oku hala ha’anau taukei ‘e taha mo e takimamata. ‘Oku totonu ke ‘ave pa’anga $1.5 miliona ko ‘eni’ ‘o tokonia’aki ‘a e ngaahi pisinisi takimamata taautaha’.
Pasifika performers are ready to get back on stage at the Pasifika Festival this weekend after it was cancelled for two years in a row.
Photo: RNZ / Koroi Hawkins
Thousands are expected to attend the two-day festival that celebrates the Pacific cultures of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland with music, dance, arts, crafts, demonstrations, storytelling and food.
The annual festival, usually held at Western Springs, will be taking place at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium this weekend on Saturday from 10am to 8pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
Pasifika Festival has been cancelled two years in a row, in 2019 after the Christchurch terrorist attack and last year due to the first Covid-19 lockdown.
Hip-hop artist and tutor Shirl’e Fruean Photo: Supplied
Hip-hop artist and tutor Shirl’e Fruean, also known as Queen Shirl’e, has been performing at Pasifika since 2000 and said this year’s festival has been a long time coming.
“We’ve been waiting for the last two years to get on this stage.”
She said Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns had been hard on performers and this weekend was significant.
“A lot of our gigs have been cancelled and you know as artists this is what we rely on and for some of us, it’s our bread and butter.”
She runs pathways to performing arts which is an after-school development programme based in Māngere. She said the Pasifika festival gave them an opportunity to perform live on stage to an audience, some for the very first time.
“It’s massive, Pasifika is massive, especially for this programme. We rely on Pasifika Festival to give our next generation of Pasifikas a platform.”
“It’s really hard for young people to be on those big stages so to get given an opportunity on Pasifika is a key step forward for our kids and I think this is what I’m really focused on is giving our young people a platform.”
Fruean is performing on the Samoan Stage at 11am tomorrow morning alongside some of her students.
Auckland Unlimited head of major and business events Richard Clarke says there is great anticipation for Pasifika Festival this year.
“After being cancelled for the last two years, it is fantastic to be able to proceed with Pasifika Festival this year,” Clarke said.
“It’s an iconic event that celebrates our wonderful Pacific communities and brings together family, friends and communities.”
Eight villages will be set up with nine Pacific Island nations represented this year, Aotearoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu.
The eighth village, new to the festival this year, is the Fale Pasifika Village that will host the islands of Hawai’i and Kiribati.
Each village has a performance stage where cultural groups will perform traditional and contemporary dances. Market stalls are also set up selling food and merchandise unique to each culture.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will attend along with Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni and Minister of Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio.
