Fiji has six more cases of Covid-19, two in the community and four in border quarantine.
The Health Ministry said there were 42 active Covid-19 cases in isolation, 18 in border quarantine and 24 community transmission cases.
Photo: 123rf.com
While making the announcement at a media conference this evening, the Health Secretary James Fong said four of the six new cases were soldiers returning from peacekeeping duties overseas.
Dr Fong said some of the soldiers had been “fraternising among each other during their 14-day quarantine in the border quarantine facility”, which he added is against the rules.
He said the other two cases were family members of the woman from the Wainitarawau Settlement in Cunningham who contracted the virus after attending a funeral in Lautoka last week.
Dr Fong said the woman’s family had been admitted at the Navua Isolation Unit since Wednesday, 21 April.
He said they had all returned negative results on their first two tests in quarantine.
He said as they had now tested positive after five days in isolation, they were not considered a transmission risk to the public.
Dr Fong said the six new Covid-19 patients brought Fiji’s total to 109 confirmed cases since the first case was detected on 19 March 2020.
Earlier, the ministry said it was awaiting test results from Australia on the country’s first locally-transmitted Covid-19 case.
A sample was sent to a Melbourne laboratory last weekend to determine the variant of the virus that a soldier had contracted in a border quarantine facility in Nadi on 18 April.
Dr Fong said the ministry was not aware of whether the latest locally-transmitted cases of the virus were of a new variant or linked to the already known Indian, UK or African variants.
He said swab tests taken to determine the variant of three other local positive Covid-19 cases would also be sent to Australia.
“We should be getting more details of those samples and I’m hoping that we will be getting that very soon, so I can discuss it more extensively in terms of what it means.”
Fiji has had 109 Covid-19 cases, with 65 recovered and two deaths reported.
The Tonga Rugby Union will not select players from its official sevens programme for the upcoming Olympic qualifying tournament in Monaco.
Tonga is hoping to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Vinnie Wylie
A squad of New Zealand based players has been training under head coach Tevita Tu’ifua for the past three years, which formed the core of teams that have competed in the men’s Oceania Sevens Championship, World Sevens Series and Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Tonga Rugby Union CEO Peter Harding said the New Zealand based programme has “kept men’s sevens alive for Tonga” but with Covid-19 still prevalent in the Northern Hemisphere, they have decided to only select players who are already currently playing professionally in Europe.
“Sending a team from New Zealand would require the players having 16 two-week MIQ (quarantine) spaces available on their return from Monaco after the competition,” he said.
“These spaces are scarce and extremely hard to acquire and taking 16 places at this particular time is not the right path to take.”
A New Zealand squad recently played against the All Blacks Sevens. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Talei Anderson
Peter Harding said the TRU considered sending a team from Tonga but, with France currently experiencing a fourth wave of coronavirus infections, it was decided not to risk bringing the virus back into the local community.
The Tongan squad to compete in the Final Olympic Qualification Tournament on 19 and 20 June will include a number of ‘Ikale Tahi internationals, with the players and management staff to be announced shortly once final arrangements are completed.
Tevita Tu’ifua, who is managing the process of selecting a European-based squad, said he supported the Tonga Rugby Union’s decision.
“This is the right course for our communities and our health. The players who have formed the core of our group will refocus their efforts on the Challenger Series and the Oceania Championship at the end of the year,” he said.
“The Oceania is a qualification for the Commonwealth Games and the Sevens Rugby World Cup, so there is everything to look forward to for 2022.”
Tonga men’s sevens coach Tevita Tu’ifua. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Talei Anderson
A Tongan woman who failed to deliver a ngatu she advertised on Facebook after receiving payment from a customer has refunded the money, it has been confirmed to Kaniva News this afternoon.
Shortly after the story was published on Kaniva yesterday morning the seller, Pina Tiueti, responded to our request for comment.
She apologised and said she has contacted the Auckland customer, ‘Alilia Teu Kata and apologised to her.
Tiueti said something went wrong and her laptop charger was damaged. She did not say anything about the ngatus.
This afternoon she sent us a screenshot of a transaction which appears to show $400 was transferred from an ASB bank account, under the name of S P Ta’ai to another ASB bank account under the name of ‘Alilia Teu Kata.
Kata has confirmed to Kaniva News she has received the money.
“Thanks for your help. Yes I have received it,” Kata said.
As we reported, Kata saw an advertisement on her news feed last week in which Tiueti was advertising ngatus with sizes ranging from Ngatu ‘Uli Launima at NZ$1,600 to Toka 10 at NZ$300.
‘Alilia Teu Kata says she thought she was being scammed by a person known as Pina Tiueti on Facebook. Photo/Supplied
Tiueti said whoever comes first will get the products.
Kata was one of those customers who first responded to Tiueti and after chatting through their messengers Kata deposited the $400 into Tiueti’s bank account on Wednesday last week. Part of the deal was that they agreed for Tiueti to deliver the ngatu into Kata’s house on Friday.
After the payment was made Kata repeatedly contacted Tiueti again but received no response until yesterday Monday 26 after we reported that Kata has threatened legal action against her.
Cabinet Minister Akosita Lavulavu and his husband ex-Cabinet Minister ‘Etuate Lavulavu have pleaded not guilty to charges relating to knowingly dealt with forged documents and obtaining credit by false pretences.
(L-R) ‘Etuate Lavulavu and ‘Akosita Lavulavu
The couple made their first appearance in court on April 12 after the charges were laid by the Crown Law Office.
The investigation was prompted by the Auditor General’s office claiming hundreds of students supposedly attending the Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute (UTRI) could not be identified and that the Institute should repay TP$553,800 to the Technical Vocational Education and Training fund (TVET).
Police charged the couple with using forged documents to support an application to obtain supplementary government funding to assist students at their UTRI private school.
The Lavulavus’ lawyer William Clive Edward Jnr told the court the couple allegedly used the grant legally, the Kakalu ‘O Tonga newspaper reported.
Akosita claimed the money was used to pay for a loan made to pay the teachers, it reported.
UTRI former acting principal Mele Tovi, who worked at the school from 2011 until 2016 told the court there were a number of options for the students to pay their tuition fees. These included paying by cash, donating Tongan handicrafts or doing voluntary works for the school.
The Auditor General Sefita Tangi told Supreme Court Judge Nicholas Cooper his auditors have detected suspicious activities (“me’a ngali kehe”) while they were auditing the UTRI register, the Kakalu said of Tangi.
Tangi told the court 283 students enrolled at the UTRI during semester one of 2013.
Under the government grants, each student was required to complete a form but it appeared some of the forms were filled by somebody else.
The Auditor General also alleged some of the names appeared on the UTRI register were people from the Tonga Post who were sent to do surveys as part of the government organisation’s attempt to install mail boxes at residential addresses.
‘Etuate was the Minister of Infrastructure at the time.
Some of the names appeared on the UTRI’s roll appeared to be fake while some real names were identified but those students did not attend UTRI. Tangi said this was supported by further inquiries conducted by the auditors in villages at which these students lived.
The auditors also traced one of the names in the register and found out he was a teacher teaching at ‘Apifo’ou College. He allegedly told the auditors he never enrolled at the UTRI, the report said.
The court was told the auditors found 105 names in the register which were allegedly not students of the UTRI during the period between 2013 and 2015. It has been claimed some of these names were performers of the UTRI floor show group.
Some students were enrolled before they left UTRI but it appeared their names were not removed from the roll when the auditors were investigating the school register.
One of the auditors, Popua Mafi, told the court the school has computerised system for its roll and it made it difficult for them to trace students’ names, the report said.
The Auditor General reportedly told the court some names found on the UTRI roll were the same with the names of students studying at the ‘Ahopanilolo Technical Institute.
The hearing continued since last week and the prosecutors are expected to call more witnesses.
Tonga has risen four places in the 2021 Reporters Sans frontiers press freedom rankings.
Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa. Photo/Kalino Lātū (Kaniva Tonga)
Tonga now ranks 46th out of 180 countries, up from 50st place last year.
The kingdom’s lowest score was 66th in 2013.
Its highest was 33rd in 2016.
Last year Tonga dropped five places on the RSF list.
RSF said Tonga independent media outlets have increasingly assumed a watchdog role since the first democratic elections in 2010.
“Some journalists say they are forced to censor themselves because of the threat of being bankrupted”, it said.
“In an effort to regulate “harmful” online content, especially on social media, the government adopted new laws in 2015, one of which provides for the creation of an Internet regulatory agency with the power to block websites without reference to a judge”.
Late Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva has campaigned for greater media freedom and paid a personal price for standing up to the authorities.
However, what has been seen as his failure to grasp the importance of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission’s editorial independence, and two senior editors were sidelined under pressure from his government, was not reflected well on him.
RSF also said: “Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa, who became prime minister in October 2019, must put a stop to the pressure and meddling and ensure that journalists enjoy full editorial independence”.
RSF Pacific ranking
Elsewhere in the Pacific, there have been setbacks while some wanted to rest on their laurels in this year’s RSF rankings.
Fiji dropped by two places from being at 52 last year to 55 this year. RSF said sedition charges poisoned the lives of three journalists with the Fiji Times, the leading daily, until they were finally acquitted in 2018.
“It was the price the newspaper paid for its independence, many observers thought.
“The newspaper’s distribution was banned in several parts of the archipelago at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020 because – the government said – the press was not an essential service. The pro-government Fiji Sun was nonetheless distributed with complete normality in the same areas”.
Samoa retained its last year’s ranking number 21. RSF said despite the liveliness of media groups such as Talamua Media and the Samoa Observer group, Samoa was in the process of losing its status as a regional press freedom model.
“A law criminalising defamation was repealed in 2013, raising hopes that were dashed in December 2017, when parliament restored the law under pressure from Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi so that he could attack journalists who dared to criticise members of his government. Since then, he has repeatedly tried to tell journalists how to do their job and what they can and cannot cover”.
Papua New Guinea dropped from 46 in 2020 to 47 this year with RSF saying the Prime Minister Peter O’Neil’s government had been involved in “many press freedom violations, including intimidation, direct threats, censorship, prosecutions and attempts to bribe journalists”.
ONGOONGO FAKATONGA
Kuo fakalaka ki mu’a ‘aki ha poini ‘e fā ‘e Tonga ‘i hono tu’unga fakamāmani lahi ‘o e tau’atāina ‘o e ongoongo’ fakatatau ‘eni ki he fakahokohoko ‘a e kautaha fakavaha’apule’anga ki he tau’atāina ‘a e mītia ‘oku ‘iloa ko e Reporters Sans frontiers press freedom ki he ta’u ni’ 2021. Na’a’ ne ‘i he tu’unga 50 he ta’u kuo ‘osi’ ka kuo’ ne ‘i he tu’unga 46 ‘eni he ta’u’ ni. Ko e tu’unga lelei taha ne a’usia ‘e Tonga ko e 2016 ‘a ia ne ne fika 33 ai. Ko e tu’unga ma’olalo taha ne ne a’usia ko e 2013 ‘a ia ne ne fika 66 ai. Pehē mei he kautaha’ ni kuo tau’atāina ange ‘a e ngaahi kautaha ongoongo tau’atāina ‘i Tonga’ ki honau fatongia’ talu e liliu fakatemokālati 2010. Ka na’e ‘i ai e ngaahi me’a ne fakakaukau’i ‘e he RSF hangē ko e lao ne fokotu’u he 2015 ke ne fakamafai’i e pule’anga’ ke ne poloka ha ngaahi uepisaiti ta’etomu’a ma’u ha mafai mei he fakamaau’anga’. Ko e ngaahi vātamaki ‘i he pule’anga ‘o ‘Akilisi Pōhiva’ mo e Letiō mo Televisone Tonga’ ‘o iku fakahiki lakanga ai ha ongo faiongoongo mā’olunga ne ‘ikai ke ‘ata lelei heni ‘a e pule’anga ko ia’ ki he RSF. Kuo tapou ai ‘a e kautaha’ ni ki he palēmia’ Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa kuopau ke ne fakapapau’i ‘oku tau’atāina kakato ‘a e kau faiongoongo mo e kau ‘ētita’ ki hono pulusi ‘enau ngaahi ongonoogo’.
The Tongatapu man who beat his de facto partner after she found him having sex with another woman next door was convicted and sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment.
The final eight months of the sentence was suspended for a period of two years with conditions.
Lord Chief Justice Michael Whitten said he considered the prisoner’s lack of previous convictions, early guilty plea and remorsefulness.
“I reduce the starting point by one third or 10 months, therefore resulting in an effective sentence of 20 months’ imprisonment” he said.
The court was told that on 26 October 2020, the victim woke up to find that her partner Kaati Luka was not in bed.
She went to their neighbour and found Luka having sex with another female there.
She was angry and yelled at him, the judgement said.
She ran out of the room while Luka was chasing after her, grabbing and punching her repeatedly.
The beating was stopped when his mother tackled him to the ground.
The victim was taken to the hospital where she was examined and found to have suffered, moderate to massive general facial swelling with multiple bruises.
UPDATED: A Tongan woman in Auckland said she believed she was being scammed by a stranger who appeared to be of Tongan identity on Facebook messenger claiming to have owned ngatus for advertisement.
A screenshot of the ngatus advertised on Facebook and (Inset) is Pina Tiueti’s Facebook profile photo
‘Alilia Teu Kata told Kaniva News she is expected to file a complaint with Police after a Facebook user by the name of Pina Tiueti failed to deliver the ngatu to her house on Friday.
Kata claimed she deposited $400 into the seller’s bank account under the name S Pina Ta’ai.
It is not clear whether Tiueti or the person who owned the Facebook account was real or fake.
Kata said she saw the advertisement on her news feed in which the alleged scammer advertised ngatus with sizes ranging from Ngatu ‘Uli Launima at NZ$1,600 to Toka 10 at NZ$300.
She said she deposited the $400 into the bank account after agreeing with Tiueti to buy one of the items.
Kata said Tiueti told her she was coming from Hamilton but she was staying in Onehunga at 85 Grey Street.
‘Alilia Teu Kata says she thought she was being scammed by a person known as Pina Tiueti on Facebook. Photo/Supplied
Kata said they have checked and found out there was no such address in Onehunga.
She also contacted Tiueti repeatedly since Friday after making the deposit but to no avail.
Kata regretted her lack of judgement.
“I have learnt from this and I will never trust somebody I do not know again,” Kata said.
Tiueti has been contacted through her messenger for comment.
The advertisement was still on her Facebook page.
It said she borrowed the ngatus from her mother.
She seemed to believe her prices were too cheap and told customers “she wanted loving one another”.
She has 472 friends on Facebook and on the comment section under the advertisement, Tiueti was seen replying to Kata and told her she has received her deposit.
“Alilia Teu Kata thanks your deposit was received. See you on Friday”.
Police advice
Police advised people to search Facebook for the profile name. If a profile was fake, there would often be more than one account using the same name.
Shoppers should also ask for a photo of the item with something dated, for example a newspaper or something similar, to ask for a photo of the item with the person in it, and to ring the bank to check that the account number given matches the name given.
You can also report the case to your bank or the scammer’s bank.
A Ma’ufanga man has been found not guilty of causing bodily harm after he threw a punch at another Ma’ufanga man knocking one of his teeth out.
Simione Kulitapa was acquitted earlier this month after pleading not guilty to willfully and without lawful justification causing injury to Sosefo Faka’osi.
The Magistrate court was told that on 4 August 2019 Faka’osi was drunk and got into an argument with his wife after he found out she did not cook food for him.
It said his wife was disappointed that Faka’osi was drinking alcohol on a Sunday.
Faka’osi swore at his wife before he engaged in an altercation with another person, identified in court as Soane.
Kulitapa heard the altercation and swearing, and he went with a torch to find out.
He arrived at the scene before Faka’osi challenged him into a fight. Meanwhile, a brother of Faka’osi, identified in court as Maka was attacking people at the scene with a torch.
Fearing he might be injured, Kulitapa threw a single-punch at Faka’osi causing him to lose a tooth.
Faka’osi admitted assault causing actual bodily harm in court saying he was doing it in self-defence in which Magistrate Mafi agreed.
Attendees at Auckland’s Anzac Day commemorations say they are thankful to be able to gather again after missing a year due to Covid-19.
Photo: RNZ/Vinay Ranchhod
About 15,000 people attended the city’s main Dawn Service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum under clear skies.
Paul Banks, whose father flew in combat in World War II and whose mother was in the civil defence corps in London, said the service was particularly special.
“It’s been two years since we’ve had one of these. By the time The Last Post and the Lament were played, I had tears in my eyes. It was far more moving emotionally for me than I can remember in the past,” Banks said.
Chris Maud’s father also flew in the Air Force in the Pacific in World War II.
He said it was great to be back.
“Some people would see Anzac Day as the most important commemorative holiday of the year … that’s reflected in the sheer number of people here who arrived before dawn.”
He said last year – when people were urged to stand at the end of their driveways as a tribute – was memorable in its own way.
“Last year a neighbour of ours went to a lot of trouble to conduct an Anzac service in the driveways. We met neighbours we didn’t know. Even though there wasn’t a service here last year, I think a lot of that went on on the streets of New Zealand.”
Auckland War Memorial Museum. Photo: RNZ / Jordan Bond
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gave a short address, paying special tribute to the women of wartime New Zealand – those who served and those who sacrificed in other ways.
“Each Anzac Day we commemorate the past but also the present. So to those who give of themselves now – men and women – who’ve cared for us through Covid-19, given comfort in times of disaster, performed rescues in the midst of crisis, we say thank you,” Ardern said.
“Our commitment to you on this day is not just our gratitude, but our pledge that while we may call on your commitment, we will do all we can to prevent calling on you to make the ultimate sacrifice. That we will do what we can to stop war, to prevent conflict, to say to mothers: we will remember them so you may never again lose them.”
In Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Jordan Bond
However, army veteran Kane Te Tai, who served in Afghanistan, said not enough was done to help past and present members of the Defence Force.
He said the government only seemed to want to know about veterans around Anzac Day but every other day they did not seem to care.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff spoke of his uncle in the Pacific, and nephew in Afghanistan – who both died in action.
He said they were two of 30,000 New Zealanders who did not return home.
“We pray today that those who sacrificed their lives did not do so in vain, but that we will one day realise the better world, the more just and peaceful world, that they fought and died for,” Goff said.
Hamilton pays tribute
In Hamilton, thousands attended the dawn service and a civic service later in the morning. Both were at the Cenotaph.
Many were pleased to be able to again attend in person.
Veterans and others marched from Victoria Street the short distance to Memorial Park just before dawn.
The Cenotaph in Hamilton. Photo: RNZ / Andrew McRae
Defence Force chief of intelligence Air Commodore Tim Walsh said Anzac Day was not only about remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice, but also the place of the military today.
“Like those that have gone before them they are dedicated to upholding New Zealand’s national interests and the values we hold dear.”
Defence Force chaplain Colin Mason said Anzac Day was to remember those who died for security, liberty, peace and freedom.
“The cost and brutality of those days at Gallipoli still haunt us as a nation. Time has not diminished the impact this campaign had upon our country and communities.”
Borneo and Vietnam veteran Gordon Dalziel, 75, was unable now to march in the parade but was still proud to be there.
“My friends who are not with us no more. It is just good to see that they are remembered. It’s amazing to see how many people there are here.”
‘We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them’
After the service people reflected on why they were there.
“I always find it beautiful. My daughter is six and we come every year since she was born so we have made it a family exercise to make sure we pay our tributes,” Ngawai Smith said.
“Getting up early one day a year to show that we and value the sacrifices that were made for us is a small price to pay.”
“Remembering these things is incredibly important and also praying for the dead is incredibly important,” Margaret Evans said.
“I think because we didn’t have it last year as well everybody has come out, even more, this year,” Wendy Park said.
“It was awesome, it was awesome to see so many people out here, all ages,” Steve Clayton said.
Hayley Clayton, 32, was attending her first Anzac Day service.
While admitting to not being much being a morning person she was pleased she came along.
“Actually a lot more people here than I thought there would be and I think that is fantastic especially kids.
“Bit humbling to know we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for a lot of them, a lot of people who lost their lives.”
Members of the public laid poppies at the base of the Cenotaph.
In Christchurch, thousands of people – young and old, were able to gather for the Dawn Ceremony in Cranmer Square. It was a cold morning recording about 3C.
Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel said there was a real sense of “togetherness”.
Air Force veteran Bill Mitchell is 108 years old. Photo: RNZ / Eleisha Foon
The city’s oldest World War II veteran, 108-year-old Bill Mitchell, said the service in Christchurch had been beautiful except for the cold.
Mitchell served in the Air Force’s engineering service in the Pacific during the war. He said the service in Christchurch had been beautiful except for the cold.
He said the secret to his age was drinking rum and coke.
In Wellington, Defence Force chief Air Marshall Kevin Short was heartened to see the big turn out.
About 10,000 attended the https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/news-special/audio/2018792970/anzac-dawn-service-from-pukeahu-2021 dawn service] at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park.
The National Youth Pipe Band of New Zealand at the 11am Anzac Day service in Wellington. Photo: RNZ/ Emma Hatton
Short said it was a reminder of how many people cared about the country’s servicemen and women. He said the services were becoming more popular.
Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy acknowledged those who gathered in Wellington and around the country for commemorations, and also those who could not make a service but were reflecting at home or elsewhere.
Gordon Sutherland from Johnsonville attended the national service in Wellington. He is a veteran who fought in Korea told of his experience, recalling the horror of seeing Napalm used.
Shortly after the story was published on Kaniva yesterday morning the seller, Pina Tiueti, responded to our request for comment.
The quake was 234km deep, and about 202.3km west-south-west of Nuku’alofa and Haveluloto.
