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Former Deputy PM called as witness in Lavulavus’ alleged land lease forged document case

By
Kalino Latu
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Former Deputy Prime Minister Sēmisi Sika was called as a witness in the case of a high profile couple accused of committing forgery.

Tourism MInister ‘Akosita Lavulavu, Former Tourism Minister ‘Etuate Lavulavu, Opposition Leader Sēmisi Sika

Disgraced Former MP and Cabinet Minister ‘Etuate Lavulavu and his wife Akosita Lavulavu, the Minister of Infrastructure failed to appear at the Fasi Magistrate Court today.

They had been charged with using a document, knowing it to be false, with the intent that it in any way be used or acted upon as genuine.

Sika, who is also the PTOA Party Leader was concerned after he and other witnesses arrived at the court today but the hearing was postponed until March 29 after the Lavulavus did not turn up. He said this was not the first time they attended the court before the case was adjourned.

Sika’s witness summon seen by Kaniva News says the hearing was expected to run for two days.

“You are ordered to attend at the Fasi Magistrate on 18 – 19 March 2021 and give evidence in the case of Akosita and ‘Etuate Lavulavu who were committed to the sitting of the Magistrate Court because they knowingly used a forged document on 6 September 2017,” Sika’s notice read in Tongan.

It is understood, all Cabinet Ministers including ‘Etuate were still in Vava’u.

As Kaniva News reported late last year a landlord in Vava’u has vehemently denied writing and signing a letter which was submitted to the Ministry of Lands and Survey telling them he agreed to allow ousted Cabinet Minister ‘Etuate Lavulavu to quarry rocks on his land.

The letter was believed to be written by the Lavulavus.

Sione Tunufa’i Tui said he learned further quarrying activities operated on seven acres of his eight acre tax allotment in Ta’anea were based on a letter he claimed he did not know was submitted to the Ministry of Lands and Survey three years ago.

Tui said they only agreed for ‘Etuate to lease only three acres of his land.

The letter was written on September 5, 2017 to the Ministry  telling the authority Tui had agreed to alter the lease purpose from business to quarrying.

The letter, which was written in Tongan, also claimed the reason Tui agreed to the lease was to facilitate ‘Etuate’s agreement with the Ministry of Infrastructure to provide quarrying activities.

“Not only that but also I agree to allow ‘Etuate Lavulavu and his Inter Pacific company to operate the tax allotment for quarry purpose and to sell it for profit,” the letter read.

A copy of the letter, seen by Kaniva News, was purportedly showed Tui’s signature.

Tui denial

Tui told Kaniva News in an exclusive interview he knew nothing about the letter.

He said the first time he knew about it was when he was handed a copy by a staff member at the Ministry of Lands and Survey after he made inquiries.

“I decided to use the law to resolve our problems and this was just the beginning,” Tui said.

He said he had also taken legal action against Hon. ‘Akosita because Etuate allegedly subleased the tax allotment to her.

In another letter seen by Kaniva News, Tui wrote to the Ministry of Lands on  January 27, 2020 and told its CEO he wanted to cancel the lease in question.

“The letter of September 5, 2017, which purported to show it was written by me was not mine. That was not my signature. And I haven’t seen any paper work like that before,” the letter read.

“We never talked about leasing and for a payment of $1500 per year. They were all made up by ‘Etuate Lavulavu,” Tui claimed.

Tui told the Ministry the signature he used to sign his letter of 27 January 2020 was his real signature which was totally different from the signature appeared on the letter apparently submitted to the Ministry dated on September 5, 2017.

‘Etuate’s response

‘Etuate, the People’s Party Deputy Chairman – the Party in which the Prime Minister was a founding member –  told Kaniva News Tui allegedly signed the letter and there were people who could bear witness to it.

He claimed Tui’s signature varied whenever he signed.

He claimed he did not forge the letter or falsify any documents.

‘Etuate also alleged some opposition politicians were behind Tui and wanted to defame him.

Under the spotlight

As Kaniva News reported last week, ‘Etuate came under the spotlight after Prime Minister Tu’i’onetoa revealed Inter Pacific Ltd was one of the three contractors the government awarded with contracts to supply rocks for the government’s new multimillion road project.

‘Etuate was made a Director of Inter-Pacific Limited in February 2016, but was replaced by ‘Inoke Finau Vala in May last year.

In 2016 Tonga’s Supreme Court convicted ‘Etuate 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.

Last year, the Supreme Court also ruled that ‘Etuate and Akosita must jointly stand trial on three counts of obtaining money by false pretences and three counts of knowingly dealing with forged documents.

The charges arise from an investigation of the finances of the ‘Unuaki ‘O Tonga Royal Institute, a private education provider.

Akosita was the director and ‘Etuate was the president.

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.”

Prayer vigil held in memory of Toakase Finau as tributes flow for her husband Viliami Lātū following tragic deaths

By
Kalino Latu
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The family and kāinga of Toakase Finau, 29, who died after what appears to be a murder suicide in Pukekohe last week have held a prayer vigil at the 7 Teretere Lane, Mt Wellington, Auckland last night.

Toakase Finau (L) and Viliami Latu

The solemn vigil was led by Vunahuo, one of the mātu’a and matāpule of the kāinga, a spokesperson said.

He shared a verse from the Holy Bible Psalm 107 which says: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle.”

The family believed Finau was murdered by his estranged husband Viliami Latu, 31, the father of her four children before he attempted to take his own life. He died in hospital two days later.

The family believed the couple’s relationship came to a head in November after Finau obtained the protection order against Latu after suffering extensive violence at his hands. Latu was released on bail in the same month and his attempts to restore his relationship with Finau was unsuccessful.

It is believed he contacted Finau last week wanting to see their children at his court-appointed bail address, his brother’s property in McNally Rd, Pukekohe.

The family alleged that the couple met after Finau arrived and discussed their relationship during which Finau appeared to have declined a suggestion by Latu for them to reunite.

During the vigil the members of the kāinga remembered her as a woman of good character and she cared for her children.

The family believed Police found a note in Latu’s pocket indicating the body of his estranged partner was in the boot of her blue Honda hatchback parked on his brother’s lawn.

Meanwhile, a tribute for Latu was posted on Facebook.

A Facebook user by the name Mele Taufa wrote in Tongan: “I love you Viliami and surprised at the pathway you chose for you and your wife to go though but how about your children they are in a situation where they did not really understand the circumstances surrounding your deaths. I am sorry if I failed in my pastoral role for you.”

A report by Stuff said questions are being raised around a decision to allow a man at the centre of a suspected murder suicide to remain in the community, despite absconding from police while already on bail.

It said Latu also had a history of violence against Finau, and of ignoring a protection order.

He was allowed to remain on bail despite allegedly escaping police custody when officers discovered him breaching release conditions.

America’s Cup: Victory on home waters for Team NZ

By
Kalino Latu
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This RNZ.co.nz is republished with permission

Team New Zealand has successfully defended the America’s Cup on home waters.

Team New Zealand's skipper Peter Burling (C) holds the America's Cup, affectionately known as the Auld Mug, after winning the 36th America's Cup against Luna Rossa Prada in Auckland on March 17, 2021.
Photo: AFP

The Kiwi syndicate wrapped up a 7-3 series win over Luna Rossa with a 46 second victory in race 10 of the regatta on Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf on Wednesday.

“It’s absolutely unreal,” Team New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling said on board Te Rehutai.

“Just coming back to the chase boat and seeing all the people involved in this campaign over three or so years and how many Kiwis are out here supporting the event again.

“We’ve had messages from everyone from the Prime Minister to high school kids to just about anyone you could think of with support and it just means the world to us as a team.

“I don’t think you could think of a much more special environment than this with over couple of thousand boats out every day, the village absolutely packed, people everywhere, to do something like this on home water is something the whole team is incredibly proud of.”

After securing the favoured right-hand side of the course in another tight battle off the start line, Team New Zealand got Te Rehutai’s nose in front to go through the first gate with a narrow seven-second lead.

That buffer was out to nine seconds after leg two, but it was the third of six legs when the defenders really extended to put one hand on the Cup again.

Team New Zealand powered downwind to be 27 seconds in front at the halfway mark of the race and, with a 37 second lead at gate number four, all that was required was two mistake-free legs to secure the series.

That was exactly what they produced, keeping things calm and composed in the last push to the finish before the celebrations finally broke out as they crossed the line.

Despite Luna Rossa’s challenge proving unsuccessful, co-helmsman Francesco Bruni said it had been a fantastic experience.

“I’d firstly like to congratulate Team New Zealand, they’ve done a fantastic job.

“But also I need to congratulate with Luna Rossa, they’re a fantastic team, we proved to the world that we could do it and it’s been hard luck in the last couple of days, but I think we’ve done a great job as a team.”

Team New Zealand celebrate winning the America's Cup, Race 10, Day 7 of the America's Cup presented by Prada.
Photo: Photosport

As he sat on the side of Te Rehutai soaking it all in, Team New Zealand flight controller Blair Tuke said the moment was hard to describe.

“Yeah, wow, what a beauty.

“Unreal. Defending the America’s Cup on home waters, out here on the Hauraki Gulf.

“Unbelievable feeling to know the work that’s gone in from so many people over the last three and half years, and even right back to before we won it in Bermuda.

“It’s been huge from the team, and a massive honour to race here in front of five million Kiwis. To know we’ve had their support … what scenes, unbelievable.”

The other man steering Luna Rossa had been Team New Zealand’s nemesis from San Francisco in 2013, Jimmy Spithill.

As he was after then being beaten aboard Oracle in Bermuda, though, the no-nonsense Australian was gracious in defeat.

“[Luna Rossa] is an incredible team, and really the whole campaign.

“It’s been an absolutely relentless campaign and just to see the passion, the emotion and the work ethic the Italians portray, [it] has definitely been one of the most amazing and campaigns in that regard for me.

“Obviously full credit to Team New Zealand. They developed a fantastic package and are deserving champions.”

After reclaiming the Auld Mug in Bermuda four years ago, the result ensured Team New Zealand had successfully defended international sport’s oldest prize for the second time in history.

The team first won the America’s Cup in 1995 in San Diego and went on to easily fight off the challenge of Luna Rossa in Auckland in 2000.

Ha‘apai governor who is a former lawmaker guilty of possessing unlawful turtle meat

By
Kaniva Staff
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A Supreme Court judge has found the former legislator who is now the Ha’apai Governor guilty of unlawful possessing of 198kg of turtle meat.

Manuopangai Hingano. Photo/Facebook

Viliami Manuopangai Hingano, 46, was in possession of the turtle meat out of the shell, without it being certified by an authorised officer that it came from a turtle of legal size.

He pleaded not guilty and elected trial by judge alone on 11  August 2020.

Hingano told the court that at about 8pm Thursday 19 March 2020,  Mohokoi Tongile’o telephoned him and asked if he could receive his (Mohokoi’s) cargo arriving on the boat the next morning, and told him that there was some fish in it for him too. He said that he told  him he would do it.

Hingano told the court that he had no guilty intent to commit this offence and that he did not know that the law required that there be prior approval to kill a turtle.

But Judge Niu didn’t buy it.

“Having heard the accused ‘s background, he being a director in the Ministry of Public Enterprises, and he had been a member of Parliament representing District 12 of Ha’apai which included Lofanga, and having grown up and living in Ha’apai, I do not believe
his evidence that he did not know that an approval was required before a turtle was killed,” Mr Niu said.

The court was told a Police officer Talia’uli Moa arrested Hingano after a joint operation which included three fisheries officers arrived at the Queen Salote Wharf at 10am on March 2020 to check if  there were any illegal shipments of catch. The MV ‘Otuanga’ofa arrived that morning from Vava’u and Ha’apai.

Moa said that a man who was standing by one of the ship’s container at the wharf asked him what work they were doing. The man was Hangano, the court was told. He told Hingano that they were inspecting the ship’s cargoes for unlawful marine produce,  and he jokingly said to Hingano, “May be you are one of those who ship up unlawful fishing produce”, and then he asked Hingano, “Do you have any cargo?”

The Police officer said Hingano said, “Yes, it’s a small cooler of fish and turtle (meat)”.

The Police officer said he asked him again whether it had turtle (meat) and that Hingano replied yes. He said he asked for his driver’s license and after Hingano gave it to him, he asked him whether it would be alright to inspect his cargo in which Hangano agreed .

Moa said he called the fisheries officers before they inspected the cargoes which was a cooler and stand up freezer. Both were full of fresh turtle meat in crushed ice and there were also two crayfishes and six small fishes.

Contacting Ha’apai Fisheries office

One of the fisheries officers telephoned the Fisheries office in Pangai, Ha’apai to check their record of permits and it was confirmed there was no permit issued for the killing of turtles in Ha’apai in the name of Hingano.

“Having considered all the evidence given and the submissions of both counsels, for which I am grateful, I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the accused did possess, at Nuku’alofa, on 20 March  2020, 198 kg of turtle meat out of the shell without it being certified by an authorised officer that it came from a turtle of legal size,” Mr Niu said.

“Accordingly, I find the accused, Viii Manuopangai Hingano, guilty and I convicted him of the charge with which he is charged in this trial.”

Footage shows police pull over bus driver caught driving wrong way on road

By
Kalino Latu
-

Video footage caught the moment a bus believed to have passengers inside drove down the wrong side of what appear to be a Tongatapu main road towards oncoming traffic.

Police pull over a bus driving on wrong side of the road. Photo/Screenshot

The footage shows a bus driving towards vehicles driving in the opposite direction down the main road.

The bus can be seen swerving to the side as a white car headed towards it.

It was at that moment a Police van which was sitting in traffic on the left lane can be seen before the bus was pulled over to the left side of the road.

Kaniva News  could not independently verify the authenticity of the material.

A motorist managed to capture the blunder, uploading it to the popular video-sharing platform TikTok before it was shared to Facebook by Radio Nuku’alofa FM 88.6 on March 10.

““Thank you to our listeners. Not only you all report on the traffic but you send photos & videos of reckless drivers. Keep them coming & we will keep posting them. Thank you to Tonga Police for stopping this silly bus driver,” the Radio captioned the footage, followed by the hashtag “. #saiaupito #ohnono #busdrivers #police #tonga”.

“Serves you right,” a commenter said.

“It’s about time to have bus lane,” another wrote.

The video clip was accompanied by the song Oh No by the American rapper Kiam Akasi Holley who is known by her stage name Capone.

Police could not be reached for comment.

Bloods gang killers of innocent Tongan man sentenced in Auckland

By
Kaniva Staff
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Two Bloods gang members have been sentenced this morning after the tragic death of a Tongan man in Auckland, New Zealand in May last year.

Samuela Anania Tupou. Photo/Supplied

Janeiro Tapusoa, 28, pleaded guilty to murder one month before the three-week jury trial last year. He has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 13 years and one month.

Leroy Tinei, 27, was found guilty of murder at trial, and has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 11 years and four months.

Tupou’s family attended today’s sentencing, the New Zealand Herald reported.

Tupou was shot and killed by Tapusoa early on Saturday, May 25 at Seaside Park, while he socialised with his cousin and friends. He was wearing a blue singlet, and blue is associated with the Crips gang, but Tupou was not part of any gang.

A member of rival gang Bloods, Tapusoa was on the hunt for Crips members – known as “searching for crabs”. Tinei was driving the car.

Tupou approached the car the two men were in. He was shot in the chest, top right thigh and back. The men fled in the car as Tupou fell to ground, where he died.

Crown lawyer Kristy Li said Tapusoa shot three bullets at close range from the passenger seat of the car. Tupou was understood to be half a metre away from the passenger window – a random, unarmed victim shot without any warning, she told the courtroom.

“I do not consider there was anything aggressive about Tupou as he approached the Mazda,” said Justice Walker.

Cook Islands current PM and former PM face fraud charges

By
Kaniva Staff
-

This story by RNZ.co.nz is republished with permission

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and former prime minister and MP Henry Puna are facing charges of fraud and two counts of improper payment of public money.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna and his deputy Mark Brown.
Former Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna (L) and current Cook Islands PM Mark Brown. Photo: Phillipa Webb / Cook Islands News

Norman George, counsel for the prosecution, submitted that Brown and Puna conspired to arrange for two charter flights funded out of the public purse to travel to the northern islands of Penryhn and Pukapuka.

The flights uplifted the two winning candidates from those islands and returned them to Rarotonga to form a government after the June 2018 general elections.

The two winning candidates at the time are the current Deputy Prime Minister Robert Tapaitau and Associate Minister of Justice Tingika Elikana

The flights were paid for out of the Civil List budget which is managed by Parliament.

An email from then caretaker Finance Minister Mark Brown to the former Deputy Clerk of Parliament to arrange for the flights, was produced in court by the private prosecutor.

George submitted there was never a mention of bringing other successful candidates to Rarotonga.

The case is being heard by judge alone and presided by Chief Justice Sir Hugh Williams QC.

The charges have been brought about as the result of a private prosecution by Rarotonga resident Paul Allsworth who alleges around $US35,000 was paid for the flights.

Puna and Brown have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution has submitted a list of 19 witnesses to call during the trial.

The list includes a number of sitting Members of Parliament including Deputy Prime Minister and Penrhyn MP Robert Tapaitau, Pukapuka MP Tingika Elikana, and former Penrhyn MP Willie John.

Former MPs Teariki Heather and Kiriau Turepu are also expected to take the stand, along with Finance Secretary Garth Henderson and Acting Police Commissioner Akatauira Matapo.

Puna will be represented by lawyer Ben Marshall, and lawyer Tim Arnold will represent Brown.

The Cook Islands News reports the case was first brought before the High Court in 2019, when a private criminal proceeding was filed by lawyer Norman George on behalf of the case’s former complainant Teokotai George.

Cook Islands Prime Minister, Henry Puna, at the Asia Pacific Energy Leaders' Summit, 1 November 2018, Te Papa, Wellington.
Cook Islands Prime Minister, Henry Puna, at the Asia Pacific Energy Leaders’ Summit, 1 November 2018, Te Papa, Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades

As with the current case, both Puna and Brown had pleaded not guilty, however days before the case went to trial the complainant instructed lawyer Wilkie Rasmussen, who had taken over the case, to withdraw his complaint.

As part of the charges, the two are alleged to have breached section 280 of the Crimes Act 1969 and s 64(2)(d)(1) of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management Act 1995-96.

The case is the latest in a number of trials presided by Chief Justice Williams this month that started last week, and intend to fill a backlog after a year-long gap caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pasifika urged to take up swimming lessons after drowning stats

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Sela Jane Hopgood of RNZ.co.nz. The broadcaster’s story is republished with permission

A Samoan-New Zealand lifeguard is encouraging Pasifika to take up swimming lessons in the wake of a report highlighting their over-representation in drowning statistics.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand’s Beach & Coastal Safety Report show Pasifika, Māori and Asians are over-represented in drowning figures.

No caption
Photo: Surf Life Saving New Zealand

On average, 36 people drown every year on New Zealand’s coastlines, the report found.

Most drownings occurred on non-lifeguarded beaches or outside of patrol hours, and 87 percent of victims were male.

SLSNZ chief executive Paul Dalton said per capita, although not overall, Māori and Pacific people were over-represented in the figures.

“Their exposure to risk is a bit higher than other ethnicities simply because of kaimoana [food from the sea], the connection they have with the water. They are out there doing stuff, and different stuff to everyone else.”

Last year a University of Auckland study discovered found a majority of cases in New Zealand were not wearing a lifejacket when found.

The study also found the median age of drowning victims was 41 years.

In terms of ethnicity, 37 percent were European New Zealanders, 12 percent were Asian, 24 percent were Māori and 19 percent Pasifika.

University of Auckland study spokesperson Dr Jonathon Webber said the latter two were over-represented in the statistics compared with their percentages in the population, perhaps due to activities of food gathering and fishing.

In 2012, Pacific people were also over-represented in drowning statistics, making up 7 percent of New Zealand’s population at the time, but accounting for 9 percent of the country’s drowning deaths.

In 2007, Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) reported the growing number of recreational-based drowning deaths amongst Māori and Pacific Islanders.

Two thirds of all Māori and Pacific drowning deaths were recreational-based.

Large-scale and small-scale fishing in the waters off Madang in Papua New Guinea.
Large-scale and small-scale fishing in the waters off Madang in Papua New Guinea. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades

Surf Life Saving NZ lifeguard John Tuia (who is of Samoan heritage) said there were many Pasifika who did not participate in swimming lessons and it was one of the reasons why there were high drowning rates for that particular group.

“I can personally relate to this because when I grew up in Samoa, swimming lessons was never a priority because we would always swim in shallow water. Also , in the islands there are not many places that run swimming classes like they do in New Zealand.

“Pasifika grow up learning to cover yourself as a sign of being respectful to the public, so wearing swimming togs is not common practice. In general, Pasifika wear t-shirt and shorts to cover up when swimming, but we know heavy clothing is not ideal as these can become water logged and heavy, making it difficult to swim or float,” he said.

Tuia said there were a lot of places in New Zealand where people could sign up for swimming lessons, but financial cost was a barrier for some Pasifika families.

“It’s really unfortunate because Pasifika love the ocean. In every report released by SLSNZ we find that it the people who go diving for food to feed their families that get in trouble in the water.

“The main reason is because they haven’t been taught about water safety,” he said.

Tongan Olympic swimmer Amini Fonua said this was an issue for not just Pasifika, but Pacific people in the region.

“I go back to Tonga every Christmas or every second Christmas and I try to host free swimming lessons for kids because it is bizarre how we live around islands, but we don’t know how to swim, so I hope we can change that.

“We have a tough time with water safety and the swimming school in the Pacific still, so I think having kids learn how to swim and have water safety skills that will last a lifetime I think that’s the biggest thing that makes me happy with what I do.”

Lifeguard flag, Gold Coast.
Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson

SLSNZ is calling for more public education about water safety.

“Education needs to continue with an “ages and stages” approach, so that we’re not just trying to get it all over and done with teaching kids to swim and then leave it at that,” Dalton said.

“We actually need to keep going and recognising all the times and points in your life when you’re engaging in water activities.

“We also need to have cultural responsive forms of education in New Zealand as well.”

Tongan convicted murderer locked up with New Zealand mosque shooter Brenton Tarrant in special ‘prison within a prison’

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A Tongan convicted murderer is  being guarded in a special “prison within a prison” along with the Christchurch mosque shooter, Brenton Tarrant, at a huge cost to the New Zealand taxpayers.

A third notoriously violent criminal Hemi Te Poono has been also locked up in the same unit of the prison.

This has been revealed last week in a story published by the New Zealand Herald.

Siuaki Lisiate, who was of Tongan descent, was sentenced to preventive detention for stabbing murderer Graeme Burton, an amputee, more than 40 times with a shank. Burton is serving a life sentence with a minimum non-parole period of 26 years for shooting Karl Kuchenbecker dead in Lower Hutt in 2007.

Lisiate, a Crips gang boss, also known as JFK or Just F***ing Krazy ordered the 2009 execution of rival Bloods gang member, Tue Faavae, at Auckland Prison – the same place where Burton was attacked.

Faavae, 23, was strangled to death with a radio power cord in a gang-related revenge killing.

Lisiate was sentenced in 2011 to life imprisonment for the murder, with a minimum non-parole period of 18 years.

The special prison 

The facility, known as the Prisoners of Extreme Risk Unit, was set up four months after  Tarrant murdered 51 worshippers and injured 40 others at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques, the Herald reported.

Tarrant was sentenced to life without parole.

“Based within Auckland Prison but run separately, the unit is the operational and custodial function of the Prisoners of Extreme Risk Directorate – a group also established in response to the March 15 terror attack,” it said.

“Its role has since been expanded and Corrections National Commissioner Rachel Leota says it now manages other inmates who present “an ongoing risk of serious violence”.

It also supervises prisoners who have the ability to “influence others to engage in serious violence or threats”.

As well as “violent extremists”, Leota says offenders connected to organised crime groups may also fall under the group’s purview given their “capability to seriously threaten the safety and security of a prison”.

“It is a separate entity – a prison within prison,” a source said of the Prisoners of Extreme Risk Unit.

Unit cost

“It’s a secret squirrel operation. There is a special vetting system for staff to work there.”

Corrections says the unit cost $2.77 million in the year to October 31, excluding the salaries of the six staff in its management group.

That compares to Corrections spending about $1.1 billion in 2020 to guard close to 10,000 prisoners across all its facilities.

The average population at Auckland Prison on any given day in the 2019/20 financial year was 522, a Corrections spokesman said.

A further $150,000 has been spent so far on modifications within the unit to protect the “health, safety and security” of staff and inmates. Leota refused to release specific details because it was “operationally sensitive”.

Woman who fell from moving vehicle in South Auckland has died

By
Kaniva Staff
-

This One News / TVNZ story is republished with permission

A woman who fell from a moving vehicle in South Auckland over the weekend has died of her injuries.

1 NEWS
Source: File image

The vehicle was travelling on Rimu Road, Māngere Bridge, on Saturday when the woman fell out, a police spokesperson told 1 NEWS.

The woman was transported to Middlemore Hospital with critical injuries, where she later died.

Police said they are supporting the woman’s family.

Inquiries into the circumstances are still ongoing and police have been speaking to a number of witnesses.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to contact police on 105, quoting reference number 210313/7409.

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