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King refused to meet with late Pōhiva because he did not follow through on agreements – PM

By
Kalino Latu and Philip Cass
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King Tupou VI refused to meet with former Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva because he did not do things he had agreed to do, it has been claimed.

King Tupou VI shakes hands with Speaker Lord Fakafanua and PM ‘Akilisi Pōhiva. Photo/Tonga Parliament

Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa also said he had been told the late Hon. Pōhiva gave inaccurate reports to the media about his meetings with the monarch.

“The king told me in our first audience there was a lot of things which they discussed and agreed with ‘Akilisi Pōhiva, but ‘Akilisi did not do most of them,” Hon. Tu’i’onetoa told Kaniva News.

“The king said ‘Akilisi also told media things different from what they met about.

“This was the reason why he did not want to meet with ‘Akilisi again.”

The constitution requires them to meet.

Clause 50A (3) of the constitution says: “The Prime Minister shall regularly and as required report to the King upon matters that have arisen with the government and upon the state of the country.”

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In April last year we reported that King Tupou VI had rejected requests for an audience by Prime Minister  Pōhiva.

Hon. Pōhiva told Kaniva News  in an interview he had sent a number of requests but he was told the king was busy. He said he wanted to know why the king refused to meet him.

It was understood the Prime Minister and the king had not met for the 18 months prior to our story.

A source told us the king may have received wrong information about government matters because he had refused to meet with the Prime Minister.

The source said king Tupou VI had been unavailable for meetings with Hon. Pōhiva since he dissolved Parliament in 2017. The government was re-elected in a snap election.

The Palace Office could not be reached for comment.

Our report drew a strong response from PTOA supporters who took it further on social media and criticised the king.

However, until now  there has been no concrete evidence on why the king did not want to meet Hon. Pōhiva.

The main points

  • King Tupou VI refused to meet with former Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva because he did not do things he had agreed to do, it has been claimed.
  • Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa also said he had been told the late Hon. Pohiva gave inaccurate reports to the media about his meetings with the monarch.

Tongan scholars overseas succeeding despite Covid-19 restrictions

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tongan scholars overseas continue to succeed with their studies despite the obstacles faced due to COVID-19 restrictions.

About eighty Tongan students under the Australia Awards Scholarships are studying in Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Australia. Each has faced challenges, overcoming them with support and perseverance.

Students at USP, Laucala Campus in Suva have had to cope with inconsistent internet, extra assignments to replace class activities, and sharing laptops with their own children, which led to delayed communications with lecturers and courses coordinators. Nevertheless, they have adapted and found ways to succeed.

Lupe Vaka’uta who is studying for her Bachelor of Engineering at the USP Campus in Suva, has struggled to complete group assignments due to curfews and social distancing restrictions. But she is finding ways around these obstacles with the help of technology and her fellow students.

“Having friends helps me, personally, cope,” Lupe says. “We encourage each other to keep us motivated, because now that we no longer have classes to attend, we tend to relax a bit but we are mindful of due dates and tests and exams.”

Hehea Tukuafu Vaioleti juggles studying at the University of Adelaide with caring for her two young children with the help of her husband. She has faced challenges including slow internet connections, her laptop crashing prior to an assignment falling due, and her young children “distracting me every 5 minutes.”

“Regardless of the challenges faced through COVID-19, there has been an amazing support system,” says Hehea, who has received mentoring through the Australian Government’s Women’s Leadership Initiative, as well as support from the University of Adelaide including food vouchers, family support, internet, computer, and rent assistance.

“[This] has helped me realize that success requires collaboration and a positive mindset to achieve anything regardless of the situation.”

Other students also acknowledged the support from their families and the Australian Government for helping them overcome these challenges. Mele Inu Filise from the University of Technology, Sydney said COVID-19 was a lesson to be learned and that students should appreciate what they had, because they did not know what would happen tomorrow.

“We just have to have faith and persistence just as our studies.  There will never be a NO, there will always be a way for circumstances to work but we just have to sit, think, evaluate, and put forward a strategy,” Meleinu said.

“Almost nothing works on the first try, but we just have to keep reflecting and focus, then try again.”

New navigation charts bring economic and maritime safety benefits to Tonga

By
Kaniva Staff
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Navy disaster relief vessels and other large ships will no longer rely on old fashioned plumb lines and charts measuring in fathoms to enter some of Tonga’s waters, as they have done since the 1800s.

 

A partnership between Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Pacific governments is coming to fruition with the publication of new electronic navigational charts for the Kingdom of Tonga.

The new charts, created using hydrographic surveys of the undersea world around Tonga, will be vital if large ships are to navigate the reefs and hidden rocks safely. They also ensure compliance with international maritime regulations.

Ms Kelela Tonga, Director of the Marine and Ports Division at Tonga’s Ministry of Infrastructure, says the charts are of great importance for the safety of navigation of all vessels.

“The production of these charts is a milestone for the future of safe shipping within Tongan waters,” she said.

As well as opening up economic benefits for Tonga, the new ENCs will greatly assist New Zealand’s Pacific aid efforts. For the Royal New Zealand Navy (which surveyed Nuku’alofa in 2015 for the project), the ability to assist Pacific Island neighbours in a natural disaster requires significant pre-planning and an up to date knowledge of harbour approaches, port facilities and other potential landing sites.

“Transporting humanitarian aid, personnel and equipment from New Zealand across the expanse of the South West Pacific to the Islands is the easy part,” said Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Mat Williams.

“It is often the last few miles that pose the greatest challenges. To deliver assistance from the sea to those in need means we need complete trust in all the navigational tools at our disposal.

He said getting disaster relief to the right people, at the right time is a key role of the New Zealand Navy in the Pacific.

“If the worst was to happen, the new ENCs now give us increased confidence in accessing other locations around Tonga for the delivery and distribution of aid.”

In 2019, New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Tonga Her Excellency Ms Tiffany Babington delivered thirty thousand gigabytes of data from the survey work to the Tongan government. The data featured never-before seen images of the sea floor, previously uncharted rocks and reefs along with a number of interesting geological features including a small underwater volcano.

New Zealand, through LINZ, is responsible for the production and maintenance of nautical charts for the Kingdom of Tonga, Niue, Tokelau, Cook Islands and Samoa through the Pacific Regional Navigation Initiative (PRNI), which helps these nations to meet their international maritime obligations.

Lavulavus killing whale watching industry claims Sika, as experienced operator says new licenses put extra pressure on whales

By
Philip Cass
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Leader of the Opposition, Semisi Sika, has accused the current and former Ministers of Tourism of killing the whale watching industry in Vava’u.

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

Hon. Sika said the former Minister of Tourism, Etuate Lavulavu, approved more than 20 whale watching licenses before he was removed from office.

He said when he replaced Hon. Lavulavu he stopped his license policy and restricted the number of operators.

He said that when Akosita Lavulavu was appointed to the Tourism Ministry she revived the previous policy.

“But suddenly Akosita stopped it early this year and restricted the licensing again,” Hon. Sika said.

He claimed the sudden reversal of policy was because of the king’s concern about the situation.

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As Kaniva News reported last night, the whale watching industry has been in turmoil  since the government revoked a number of licenses earlier this year.

The Tourism Ministry said the action was designed to protect the country’s humpback whales by reducing the number of people in contact with the animals each year.

Vava’u Tourism Association secretary Brenda Cox, whose company lost its license, said Akosita Lavulavu had pulled the licenses of six experienced operators and gave them to  inexperienced new operators.

“If the Ministry of Tourism is concerned for conservation and sustainability, then why does the Minister state that her actions were based on the conservation of whales by reducing boat numbers?” Cox asked.

“She has revoked six license holders operating nine boats and replaced them with six new operators to operating 12 boats.

“This actually increases pressure on the whales.”

“I was on the board which helped draft the 2013 Whale Watch Regulations now in place.”

Vava’u’s whale watching industry is suffering from cancellations for the whale watching season which runs from June to October.

Neiafu town office Vava Lapota told Kaniva News the whale businesses had told him most of their customers had cancelled.

It has been estimated that Pacific Island economies have lost nearly $2 billion as the result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Tourist industries have been particularly badly hit.

Kaniva News has contacted the Lavulavus for comment.

The main points

  • Leader of the Opposition, Semisi Sika, has accused the current and former Ministers of Tourism of killing the whale watching industry in Vava’u.
  • Sika said the former Minister of Tourism, Etuate Lavulavu, approved more than 20 whale watching licenses before he was removed from office

Drugs found hidden in nappy during raid lead to conviction for possessing methamphetamine

By
Kaniva Staff
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A woman who tried to hide drugs in a nappy has been convicted in the Supreme Court of possessing methamphetamine and trying to bribe a police officer.

Ma’ata Pouono was found guilty of possession of methamphetamine and trying to bribe a member a policeman to take her home rather than take her to the Central Police Station to process her arrest.

Pouono  pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Constable Kalosi Tapueluelu told the court that on May 15 2018 he had received information that Pouono was selling methamphetamine at her home at Lapaha and that she was hiding the drug in a nappy which she kept in a rubbish bag.

A police raid on the Pouono’s house found the nappy with two packets of methamphetamine in it.

Cash totaling TP$1366 was also found.

At the time of the raid five of the accused’s eight  children were in the house. The youngest child was about two years old.

The court was told that while being escorted to Nuku’alofa, the accused said to the officers in the police vehicle: “Guys, what if you go with the money and I go back home to my children?”

Officer Tu’utafaiva replied: “No, we will finish our work on you.”

In her evidence, Pouono, who was eight months’ pregnant at the time of the arrest, said she had made TP$1000 by selling tapa cloth.

She said the drugs belonged to her husband, who was in jail. She claimed he had brought back TP$5000 from Australia and that the TP$366 was left over from that.

In his summing up, Judge Niu said he was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt, that the accused was knowingly in possession of methamphetamine.

She was found guilty on both charges.

Tonga Legislative Assembly organises first-ever budget briefing for CSOs

By
Kaniva Staff
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This article is republished with permission under PACNEWS partnerships with Kaniva News

NUKU’ALOFA, 01 JUNE 2020 (UNDP) – In a historical move, the Legislative Assembly of Tonga has for the first time organised a budget briefing for representatives of Tonga’s civil society organisations (CSO). The briefing was held in recognition of the CSOs’ role as key players within Tonga communities, and the importance of their involvement in the
national budget process.

The 2020-2021 budget, which also includes the appropriation for the COVID-19 stimulus package, was tabled on Monday 11 May. Ahead of the budget address in the House, parliamentary staff from the Tonga Legislative Assembly’s research and committees units have been working to decipher budget documents and provide a quick
analysis of the budget perspectives.
With assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), remote support was provided by the Parliaments of Fiji and New Zealand through the Pacific ‘Floating Budget Office’ to develop budget sector briefs outlining allocation trends and analysis. The briefs also informed members of parliament (MPs) before the debate and vote in the House.

The Pacific Floating Budget Office brings researchers from across Pacific parliaments to assist the national parliament in undertaking independent budget analysis. As the COVID-19 pandemic spread and imposed travel restrictions, the researchers provided virtual support to the Tonga Assembly staff.

“The budget briefings are not just important to the members of parliament, as they also contain information that are useful for members of CSOs and citizens”, highlighted the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, Lord Fakafanua.

“The budget is impacting the whole country, all sectors and institutions, and all communities across the country. The more information that is made available to citizens and CSOs to allow for their full participation in the process, the more open and transparent our governance systems become,” said Lord Fakafanua.

He added, “Today’s workshop is an opportunity to share with you as representatives of CSOs, the way in which the budget was debated in Parliament, and also information on the content of the budget itself.”

Lord Fakafanua also expressed his gratitude for the assistance of the pool of library and research staff from the Parliaments of Fiji and New Zealand, which were facilitated by partners from UNDP, the European Union (EU) and the Government of New Zealand.

The President of the Tonga CSO Forum, Drew Havea, was pleased with the briefing, and highlighted that the task now would be to transfer the knowledge to people in the communities and how they can be more involved.

“(I found it) very useful to see the process and the thinking behind the budget. The challenge is how to now make this easier for the people to understand and participate in the process,” said Havea.

He added, “(the Briefing was) awesome and very grateful for the opportunity to all come together as CSOs.”

The New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Tonga, Peter Lund said, “New Zealand has supported the Floating Budget Office under the Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiative since 2016, now in its second phase. The Floating Budget concept provides the invaluable opportunity for parliamentary staff and researchers from the region to contribute to an independent analysis of national budgets and allow our parliaments to
engage and learn from each other. “

He added, “This is Pacific-wide cooperation at its best. This year’s budget comes at a challenging time and today’s briefing for civil society organisations is a welcome initiative.”
The UNDP Pacific Office Parliamentary Development Specialist, Mr Jean-Raphaël Giuliani, emphasised that the principle of transparency, which applies to budget processes, does not only require providing access to information, but also that this information is easily understandable.

“Today’s workshop for CSOs is in line with this adage and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) talk about this very issue. SDG 16 makes explicit reference to the aim of making national institutions transparent and accountable.”

“This workshop is intended to provide information and analysis on the annual budget and its process, which will help to enable CSOs to actively participate in budget development,” said Giuliani.

He added, “The analysis in the briefs allows for an in-depth understanding of specific areas which can then inform CSOs’ engagement strategies with Parliament and Government.”

The one day workshop will be held at the Tanoa International Hotel and will be attended by more than 35 participants from 18 CSOs which include Tupou Research Institute, Women and Children Crisis Centre Tonga, Tonga Public Service Association, Lavame’a Ta’e’iloa Disabled People Association Inc, Tonga National Youth Congress, Tonga Family Health Association, Fo’I Tuluta – Ha’atafu Community, Tonga Nurse Association, Naunau ‘o e ‘Alamaite Tonga Association Inc, Tonga Community Development Trust, Tonga National Centre for Women and Children, the Civil Society Forum of Tonga, Ma’a Fafine mo e Fanau, Kolomotu’a Town Council, the Tonga Red Cross Society amongst others.

The CSO workshop was supported by the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji through the Strengthening Public Finance Management and Governance in the Pacific Project funded by the European Union (EU) and the Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiative funded by the Government of New Zealand.

For more information: Jone Tuiipelehaki Raqauqau, Communications Associate, Effective Governance, UNDP Pacific
Office in Fiji; Email: jone.raqauqau@undp.org , Tel: (679) 3227 552

Government says new airline will be joint venture, but will partner be Fiji Airways?

By
Philip Cass
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Speculation continues that Fiji Airways will be a partner with Tonga’s new airline.

The Fijian government is the majority shareholder in Fiji Airways, with Qantas as the next largest shareholder.

It also has links with the Oneworld alliance, particularly American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways and Qantas.

Prime Minister Hon. Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa announced last week that the new airline would be a joint venture, but gave no further details.

All of the Pacific Islands have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, with the tourism industry particularly badly hit.

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Fiji is the centre of the Islands tourist trade and a link with its airline could help bring additional tourist dollars to Tonga.

The government has emphasised the role of the airline in providing services to Tonga’s outer islands.

Last year the kingdom’s existing airline, Real Tonga, began a service from Fua’amotu International Airport to Nausori, the airport serving Fiji’s capital Suva using a Saab propliner.

At the time Real Tonga announced plans for a twice weekly jet service to Fiji’s main airport, Nadi, on Viti Levu’s west coast with an onward connection to Auckland.

However, in May this year Real Tonga was reported to be on the verge of bankruptcy.

Owner and CEO of Real Tonga, Tevita Palu, said the airline was millions of dollars in debt.

Minister of Finance Tevita Lavemaau claimed it had been operating at a loss since it started flying  seven years ago.

The Lulutai Airline

The king has named the new domestic airline as Lulutai. Lulutai is traditionally a large tropical bird of prey with a cultural and royal significance. The Tongan proverb “Kai pe manu vaivai ‘i he fāngota ‘a e Lulutai” appears to be the only source of information which could say something about the background of the bird which is hardly seen nowadays in Tonga. The proverb literally meant young birds shared the fish they had from the Lulutai’s fishing. It is being poetically used in Tongan speeches and writings to mean the monarch provides what is best for the people.

Eight games to NRL: family-first Katoa an instant hit

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Chris KennedyNRL.com Reporter

Warriors rookie Eliesa Katoa had played just eight games of rugby league prior to his NRL debut in round one after starring in junior rugby, with the code-switch made for the good of his family.

Speaking to NRL.com after bagging his maiden NRL try in an 18-0 shutout of the Dragons at Central Coast Stadium on Saturday, Katoa frequently mentions his family back home in Tonga and how everything he is doing – including the switch from union to league – is for them.

“Tonight was, I think, my 11th game of rugby league,” Katoa said.

“The reason why I wanted to play league is to help my family, whatever helps my family I’ll go with it.”

A regular in national age group rugby sides in Tonga, Katoa made several representative trips to New Zealand which resulted in a scholarship to Tamaki College for his senior years, where he played First XV until then being scouted by the Warriors when he finished school.

“I finished school in 2018 and I was playing First XV rugby and got the opportunity to come play for these guys,” he said.

“All my family is back in Tonga. I moved to New Zealand from Tongan rugby union in under-16s and I got a scholarship to one of the schools called Tamaki College in east Auckland and it started from there.”

Katoa missed half of last year’s Jersey Flegg season with injury before an impressive 2020 pre-season earned him a call-up to the senior side in round one and with back-to-back players’ player nods to start his career he hasn’t looked back.

“The boys have made my job a lot easier; I’m just glad I got an opportunity and every time I get an opportunity to play I try to put my best foot forward,” he said.

“I’m lucky, all the boys have helped me a lot and the coaches. I always ask questions if I don’t know something, ask the boys how they do something and they help me, they want me to get better.”

Given Katoa’s family is back in Tonga and he was already living away from them in Auckland, he feels like his sacrifice in coming over to be based in Australia pales in comparison to his teammates, who have made sacrifices to leave partners and young children behind.

“I don’t mind, as a young kid,” he said.

“My family is all back in Tonga. I’m happy for them because there’s no (COVID-19) cases there and not much back in New Zealand so I’m happy with my family in Tonga. I want to help all my family and if this is what it takes to help my family then why not.”

He may have only played 11 games of rugby league but there need be no concerns about Katoa’s focus on what the Warriors need to do to carry on the momentum from their first win of the season.

“We just have to back it up, we’ve got a game against Penrith next week so hopefully I get picked for that game and we do what we do again,” he said.

Coach Steve Kearney had praise for Katoa and his fellow rookies Jamayne Taunoa-Brown and Jack Murchie.

“Those young guys have worked really hard during the pre-season,” Kearney said.

“I’ve got trust they can get a job done for us and they’ve gone out there and done that. Young Murchie has just joined us this week, he’s done a job, Karl Lawton jumped out to left centre (after Peta Hiku was injured); I’m really pleased for those young guys.”

Tonga in top five of countries recommended for re-opening borders by Auckland academic as gov’t further eases coronavirus restrictions

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tonga should be a priority in re-opening quarantine free travel, according to an Auckland academic.

Dr Collin Tukuitonga, who is Associate Dean Pacific at the University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, said quarantine-free travel would bring enormous economic benefits to the Islands.

Writing in IdeasRoom, Dr Tukuitonga said priority islands should be Tonga, Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau.

“The economic benefits to small island economies cannot be overstated and most islands would welcome early restoration of economic activities to offset the damage brought on by the pandemic lockdowns,” he said.

“Tourism from New Zealand would recommence with minimal Covid-19 risks and trade would resume.”

He said the risk of introducing Covid-19 into New Zealand from the islands was near-zero and when New Zealand had been Covid-19-free for 28 days, the risk to the islands was near zero.

“Fiji could now be included in a New Zealand bubble as that nation was Covid-19-free for 35 days at the time of writing,” he said.

However, Australia was still showing new cases, which posed a threat to any trans-Tasman travel.

Dr Tukuitonga said New Zealand was the transit point for travel to and from these islands and Auckland was the home for many extended families from the islands and most Pacific communities would welcome the ability to reconnect with families and whanau.

He said  New Zealand had constitutional obligations to the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. It had a Treaty of Friendship with Samoa and long historical relationships with Tonga.

It is also the specialist hub for medical referrals from the islands.

Restrictions eased further

Meanwhile, the government continued gradually lifting its restrictions imposed to prevent the country from the novel coronavirus.

Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa announced Wednesday that businesses such as nightclubs, clubs and bars will reopen on Mondays until Saturdays beginning this Monday.

The night-time curfews shall apply from 11:00pm to 5:00am, he said.

All contact sports shall be prohibited.

Strict social distancing measures will continue to be in effect, and the country’s borders remain closed to foreign visitors until June 12.

Restrictions on gatherings have been tough for those mourning the death of a relative or friend, and it has been restricted to a total of 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors with an authorised officer to be present throughout.

Indoor gatherings in the kingdom have been limited to a maximum of 50 people and 100 people outdoors except for religious services and education institutions.

All activities and gatherings shall comply with those gathering restrictions and as well as with the Ministry of Health requirements for sanitation and hygiene.

Tonga is still Covid-19 free.

Support by local people ensures good quality food available says Neiafu Town Officer

By
Kalino Latu
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The Neiafu Town Officer, Vāvā Lapota, has attributed the arrival of quality meat in Vava’u to the hard work and the support of the local people to ensure they were buying good quality food.

Rotting chicken and expired goods destroyed in Vava’u in February. Photo/Vavā Lapota

Lapota told Kaniva News it had begun to be possible to buy and cook quality meat in Vava’u.

He described the meat as fresh compared with the meat they had bought previously.

He said that in the past and before the disputes between him and Food Authorities, they purchased frozen meat that, when defrosted, released dark blood.

He said meat bought after the dispute released  light red blood.

Lapota had accused Food Division authorities of being indecisive and letting down the taskforce trying to control the importation of poor quality food into Vava’u.

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Meanwhile, Opposition MP Piukala raised the issue in Parliament and told the Minister of Health Dr ‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu  and Food and Agriculture Minister Lord Tu’ilakepa that Vava’u  people had complained about poor quality food.

The Member for Vava’u 14 said people were extremely concerned about the ongoing problems of expired foods and frozen meat in dry containers being brought into the island group.

Dr Tu’ipulotu  said the government would provide a response later.

Eggs

Meanwhile, it has been claimed that fake chicken eggs were discovered in Vava’u last week.

Lapota said the eggs were reported to him by locals at Holonga, Vava’u after buying them from a local convenience store.

He took them to the Food Division office before they conducted experiments to check the eggs.

He said the eggs would be sent to Tongatapu for further scientific investigation.

The main points

  • The Neiafu Town Officer, Vāvā Lapota, has attributed the arrival of quality meat in Vava’u to the hard work and the support of the local people to ensure they were buying good quality food.
  • Lapota told Kaniva News it had begun to be possible to buy and cook quality meats in Vava’u.
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