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New bills allow gov’t to control social media and internet contents; king opens Parliament via livestream

By
Kalino Latu
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Revisited; First published on March 3, 2020, additional information on opening of Parliament this week.

The government was expected to submit to Parliament the results of its investigation following what has been previously described as violent attack against royals on Facebook.  

King Tupou VI will open the Legislative Assembly via livestream on Thursday, because of Covid-19 restrictions in place.

The government was expected to submit new bills and current laws would be amended to allow the state to be able to police social media.

A government committee which included the Attorney General was working hand in hand with Facebook authorities in Australia.

Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa has described the way how the committee operated as sailing smoothly (“lele ‘i Matangi”) and relentlessly (“ta’emālōlō.”)

The committee has gathered good and significant amount of evidence, the Prime Minister told Kaniva News.

As we reported last year, a number of violent threats made toward the King and his daughter have prompted government to mull over closing down Facebook in the kingdom.

The attack was part of an escalating online war between the pro-democracy camp and those firmly backing the royals, the nobility and their supporters.

The Prime Minster said when Parliament opens in May “we will step into another level which will enable us to put an end to these abhorrent, disrespectful and discourteous behaviours” being exercised on Facebook.

He said these misbehaviours had been caused by only a few people and they affected “the future of our children.”

Hon Tu’i’onetoa’s comments came after he told civil servants during a televised prayer service in Nuku’alofa  recently that using offensive language and hate speech on Facebook these days has become uncontrollable.

He said it was disappointing and too much to bear “when we found out that they were our real friends and immediate family members who were defaming us on Facebook.”

When asked about a meeting in Australia late last year between Facebook authorities and a Tongan delegation led by the Attorney General, Hon Tu’i’onetoa said his government was still working on the issue. He said people accused of slandering the royals were living overseas and that part of the investigation was marred by the lack of laws in Tonga.

The Prime Minister said the government would not close down Facebook in the kingdom.

He said Facebook was a great platform for social, economic and religious purposes and only some who abused it and these people needed to be severely punished.

Sam Cane confirmed as new All Blacks captain

By
Kaniva Staff
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Chiefs flanker Sam Cane has been confirmed as the All Blacks new captain.

The 28-year-old succeeds Kieran Read who retired from the All Blacks after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster said he was delighted to name Cane as the new captain.

“Sam is an experienced All Black with eight years in the team now and is a ‘follow me’ type of leader and a very good thinker in the game.  He has a natural ability to connect with everyone in the team and is straightforward and direct when he needs to be.

“There’s massive respect for Sam amongst the players and management, and he’s perfectly placed to lead the All Blacks into the future.”

Foster said while the All Blacks’ plans for this year were still being worked through due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there was an important role for the captain.

“We wanted to confirm Sam now because he’ll play a key role helping us plan for whatever the future looks like and will be working behind the scenes with the other leaders,” Foster said.

Cane said it was a “massive honour” to be given the captaincy.

“It’s a pretty exciting challenge really and as I’ve spent more time in the All Blacks and grown as a player, I’ve become a lot more comfortable being a leader in the team.

“The great thing about the All Blacks is that the leadership group is full of captains and experienced players already, so I’m just really looking forward to working closely with that group and doing my best to lead them and the rest of the squad.”

Cane has already captained the All Blacks on three occasions.  He became the 67th Test captain and fifth youngest ever when he captained the team against Namibia at RWC2015 at the age of 23.  He also captained the team against Italy in 2016 and against Argentina in Buenos Aires last year.

“My style as captain will be to not really change the way I do things.  I’m just myself and will continue to be.  I already work on building relationships, especially with the younger guys in the squad, and everyone else connected with the team, so that will continue,” Cane added.

“While we don’t know yet what the rest of the year looks like for the All Blacks, I’m looking forward to catching up with the coaches and other senior players as we firm up our plans.”

Mini biography – Sam Cane

Raised in the small rural Bay of Plenty community of Reporoa, Sam Cane has had an exceptional career since breaking into professional rugby as a teenager.  He made his provincial debut for Bay of Plenty in 2010 at just 18 years old and his Super Rugby debut for the Chiefs the following year. In 2011, Cane was also part of the Junior World Championship-winning New Zealand Under 20 side, was the New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year and was also nominated for International Age Grade Player award.   He helped the Chiefs to the first of their back-to-back Investec Super Rugby titles in 2012 before making his All Blacks debut in June that year aged 20. A devastating tackler and scavenger, he has continued to take his game to new levels in recent seasons. He was co-Captain of the Chiefs for four years taking sole charge this year and has played 116 games for the club. In 2018 Cane fractured his neck during a Test against South Africa and faced months of recovery post-surgery before making a much-anticipated return to the Chiefs in 2019, helping the team through to the Quarter Finals. A Rugby World Cup 2015 champion with the All Blacks, Cane was also part of the RWC2019 squad.

Samuel Jordan CaneBorn: 13 January 1992 in Rotorua
Physical: 1.89m, 106kg
Position: Loose forward
Province: Bay of Plenty
Investec Super Rugby team: Chiefs
Investec Super Rugby appearances: 116
All Blacks Debut: 16 June 2012, vs Ireland in Christchurch, aged 20.
All Blacks Tests: 68 (Three as Captain)
All Blacks Test Points: 65pts (13 tries)
All Black Number: 1113

PM Tu‘i‘onetoa predicts PTOA party’s “falling apart and quarreling” as he speaks out amid Democrats’ pestering him following power struggle saga 

By
Kalino Latu
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[maxbutton id=”2″ ] Prime Minister Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa said even though he quit the Democratic Party last year, the PTOA had not stopped hounding him.

Hon Tu’i’onetoa, whose name has been at the centre of an ongoing feud among Democrats, said he did not want to be dragged into the party’s saga, even though  they had called him “heke” (betraying the party by crossing the floor) and hungry for power.

He denied these accusations in an exclusive interview with Kaniva News this week.

The Prime Minister’s name resurfaced two weeks ago when former Cabinet Minister and Party member Dr Tu’i Uata claimed the Party made a last ditch attempt to bring Hon Tu’i’onetoa back after he left the Party last year and before the premiership election but it failed because MP Mateni  Tapueluelu refused to join them as planned.

Dr Uata also claimed Dr Tu’i’onetoa scolded Hon Tapueluelu in a party meeting after former Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva died. The Prime Minister said this was true. He said Dr Uata was true in what he said in his response to MP Tapueluelu.

Dr Uata claimed the Party agreed to nominate Hon Tu’i’onetoa as Deputy Prime Minister but Hon Tapueluelu disagreed.

Hon Tu’i’onetoa was a member of the PTOA party and was appointed Minister of Customs and Revenue and later  Minister of Finance before Hon. ‘Akilisi died last year.

READ MORE:

Hon Tui’onetoa said there was a conspiracy to get rid of him from the Party after Akilisi’s death.

He claimed the former Prime Minister’s son-in-law, Hon Tapueluelu, was hungry for the premiership and that the allegations of an arranged nomination for the Deputy Premiership that have been swirling in public for some time was a calculated move designed to prepare MP Siaosi Pohiva for the Premiership election in the next election.

He claimed MP Tapueluelu was domineering and when he was in a temper he scolded ‘Akilisi while the Cabinet ministers present.

He said Hon Tapueluelu emailed and cursed him after he won the premiership election last year. Tapueluelu also called him heke and hungry for power.

PTOA Party in disarray  

Hon Tu’i’onetoa said Dr Tu’i Uata was correct when he said he told the first PTOA’s meeting after ‘Akilisi’s death to stand together and leave everything as it was so they could win the premiership election and complete ‘Akilisi’s terms.

He said he did this because he respected ‘Akilisi.

“I told them let’s not rock the boat,” PM Tu’i’onetoa said.

“Let’s create a constitution for us to follow so that we are organised.”

Hon Tu’i’onetoa said they did not believe in him so he told them he quit.

He told them he has been through the same failed scenario before and he did not want to go through it again.

He said he told the Party before he left they would row about who would have the power and would end up in disarray.

“I went back home and told my wife I will hold on to being an MP and not being a Cabinet minister during my next two year-term before I quit politics,” he said.

People’s Party

Hon Tu’i’onetoa said he quit the party before the nobles approached him to set up the People’s Party.

“That’s God’s plan and I am thankful for that,” he said.

He said the PTOA party greatly missed ‘Akilisi, but he was dead and they were living in the past.

“Siaosi and Mateni were not ‘Akilisi,” he said.

Hon Tu’i’onetoa claimed they struggled for power as if it was a family possession.

They only preached about ‘Akilisi’s democratic visions, but never brought them down to application level and create any course of actions to physically benefit the people.

They have criticised us and our roading project but that’s people’s top priority, he said.

“We have done that,” the Prime Minister said.

“We went and met with all the 17 constituencies and asked them to tell us their urgent needs and they told us their first priority was roading.”

He said the only policy the PTOA had was the political reform which saw the king’s power be diminished, but at the same time they were fighting to see who got the most power.

Plan to dismiss Chief Secretary

He also accused ‘Akilisi’s son Siaosi, PTOA supporter Piveni Piukala and MP Tapueluelu of plotting to dismiss the Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet Edgar Cocker.

Hon Tu’i’onetoa said these three attended a meeting in his house at Niutao and were unhappy about Cocker releasing information claiming ‘Akilisi was seriously ill and would not recover. They were supported by former Minister of Health, MP Saia Piukala.

He claimed it was Tapueluelu who moved for the meeting  to dismiss Cocker.

Hon Tu’i’onetoa, Tonga’s former Auditor General said he intervened and told them there was a procedure for dismissing somebody from the civil service.

“You can’t just get angry with somebody and fire him. There has to be good reasons for the dismissal and there’s a process for it,” he said.

Because of the former Minister of Health’s involvement, Hon Tu’i’onetoa said he believed ‘Akilisi was not seriously ill.

He said he just found out after ‘Akilisi’s death that he allegedly had cancer.

He said things had been kept secret and he only found out about ‘Akiliksi’s resignation plan after his death.

He said the meeting at Niutao was meant to be only for MPs, but Piveni and Siaosi attended and they appear to have been trying to control the meeting.

Pacific Meeting Forum

Hon Tu’i’onetoa said they left  with ‘Akilisi and Cocker to attend the Pacific Forum Meeting in Tuvalu last year, a few weeks before the former Prime Minister died.

They received a message from Tonga that the Cabinet would propose the Public Service Commission dismiss Cocker.

He said Cocker came to him as they were in the same room very distraught about the message.

“I told him let’s pray and let God handle it as he perceives everything.”

Tapueluelu did not respond to our request for comment and Siaosi said he did not believe in addressing issues between him and Tapueluelu over the media.

Ko e ongoongo’ ni ‘i he lea faka-Tonga (This news in Tongan)

Koe’uhī na’e ‘i ai ha ngaahi ongoongo heni ne ‘ohake ai e hingoa ‘o e ‘Eiki Palēmia’ ‘i ha fekihiaki ‘a Dr Tu’i Uata mo Mateni Tapueluelu pea pehē kia Siaosi Pōhiva ‘i tu’a pea to’o mai ‘e he Kaniva ‘o lele’i, na’e pau faka’eke’eke ai ‘e he Kaniva’ ‘a e ‘Eiki Palēmia’. ‘Oku mahu’inga e tali ‘a e ‘Eiki Palēmia’ koe’uhī he ‘e maama ai e ngaahi me’alahi kau ki he palopalema ko ‘eni kuo hoko he PTOA mo e toki ‘ilo ‘e he tokolahi ta na’e mole ‘a e pule’anga hili e mate ‘a ‘Aklisi Pōhiva ko e tupu mei he ‘uakai mafai ‘a ha ni’ihi pe ‘o e kau PTOA, hangē ko ia ne fetukuaki ai ‘a Dr Tu’i Uata, Siaosi mo Māteni’.  

Ko e tali ‘eni ‘a e ‘Eiki Palēmia Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa ‘a ia na’e fai hono ki’i ‘ētita’i pea toki pulusi ko ‘eni’:  

“Oku ikai foki te u fie kau au he tau lau a e PTOA he na’aku ‘osi nofo au mei ai he ta’u kuo ‘osi, ka ko ho’o fehu’i mai Kalino, fakataha moe tukuaki’i au ‘e Mateni Tapueluelu ko u heke, kimu’a eni ia pea toki fai a e fili Palemia, na’e ‘asi mai ia ho’o ‘ātikolo he Kaniva, o tukuaki’i au oku ou fie Palemia, pea ‘e mole a e Pule’anga ki he Hou’eiki ko eku fie Palemia. Pea toe fai tohi mai ‘o talatuki’i au ‘e muimui ‘a e mala ‘iate au, hili a enau fo’i he fili Palemia. Pea na toki ke naua mo Tu’i Uata koeni. Lolotonga ‘enau kemipeini ke lava ‘a Siaosi Pohiva he fili Fale Alea Vahenga Kolomotu’a, na’a na luo taha pe mo Siaosi Pohiva he tala ‘eku heke, pea ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha taha au ke fai ki ai ha falala, he ‘oku ou fiema’u mafai ko e me’a ia na’aku heke ai ‘o kau mo e Hou’eiki?  Pea ko’eni ‘oku toe kau pe hoku hingoa he fakamatala ‘a Mateni Tapueluelu pea mo e fakamatatala ‘a Tu’i Uata, ‘i he’ena kee, ‘o tukuaki’i ‘e he tama koe a e pea tama ko e a ee.

Ko hono mo’oni oku mo’oni ange ‘a Tu’i Uata he me’a koia na’e hoko ‘i he’emau fakataha. Pea ne u ‘osi ‘ilo foki ‘e au kimu’a he’emau fakataha, kuo nau ‘osi alealea ke tuku au ki tu’a. Hange pe ko ia na’e fakamatala ki ai ‘a Tu’i. Ko e taimi ia koeni kuo kamata ke fai tu’utu’uni pe ‘a Mateni ia ‘iate kimautolu, he na’e kamata fuoloa pe ia, ka ‘ita pe ‘a Mateni ia ‘ia ‘Akilisi lolotonga ’emau Kapineti, te ne tafulu’i pe ‘e ia ‘a ‘Akilisi, ka mau fesiosiofaki kimautolu, ki he utua pehe a e fiepule. Pea na’a nau tu’u fakataha pe mo Siaosi mo Piveni, hange ko e loto ‘a Siaosi mo Piveni  ke tuli ‘a Edgar Cocker, tokua ‘oku fie pule mo ‘ene tala ki he kakai oku puke lahi ‘a ‘Akilisi, ‘e ikai toe sai, ka e toutou ‘ave pe ki muli. Me’a eni na’e hoko ‘i he fakataha ‘i hoku ‘api nofo’anga ‘i Niutao. Pea kau mo Saia Piukala he poupou fefeka, pea u pehe koe’uhi ko e Toketa ‘a Saia Piukala, oku loi a e pehe ‘oku puke lahi, he na’e ikai ke u ‘ilo ‘e au pehē tokua na’e kanisā.  Mou sio ange ki he fakapulipuli a e me’a na’e fai, a’u ki he ai a e tohi fakafisi, ko e toki ilo pe ia ‘e au na’e iai ‘a e me’a pehe he ’emau valau holo kuo ‘osi pekia ‘a ‘Akilisi. Talaange ‘e Mateni te ne fokotu’u e ia ki he Kapineti ke tuli ‘a Edgar. Ko e fakataha eni a e kau Fakafofonga, ka na’e huhu’i hake ai ‘a e Siaosi mo Piveni, ‘o hange pe ke na pule’i enaua ‘a e fakataha. Koau pe na’a ku talaange ke tuku, he oku oku ou anga he me’a koia he na’a ku ‘atita, ‘Oku ‘ikai te te ‘ita pe ha taha pea te tuli. ‘Oku pau ‘oku iai ha uhinga lelei mo mamafa, pea ‘i ai mo hono processes totonu.

‘Alu au mo ‘Akilisi, mo Edgar ki Tuvalu he Pacific Forum Meeting, ngaahi uike si’i ki mu’a  pea pekia ‘a ‘Akilisi, ma’u ange ‘a e tala mei Tonga ni, kuo tu’utu’uni a e Kapineti ke fokotu’u ki he PSC ke tuli ‘a Edgar mei he ngaue. Humai ‘a Edgar, ‘o lea mai sio atu au mei tu’u a e mafu ‘o Edgar, he’ene fakamatala mai kiate au. Pea u talaange kia Edgar, punou ke fai ha’ata lotu, he na’ama loki taha pe, tuku ia ki he ‘Otua ‘oku ne ‘afi’oi a e me’a kotoa pe. Ko e ‘Otua ‘oku ha’u mei ai hotau tokoni, he ta’ofi ‘e he ‘Otua, kohai te ne toe lava ke liliu. Fakafeta’i na’e ‘ikai malohi a e Setane ‘ia Satai, pea oku te’ekiai ikuna tu’o taha ‘a Setane ‘ia Satai.

.Kuo nau movete he taimi ni, ka na’a nau fokotu’utu’u a e me’a kotoa ki he halanga ‘o e PTOA ki he Kaha’u. Koe ai ‘o Semisi Sika ke Deputy pea Taki, ko e heliaki pe ka e lava ke hoko hake ‘a Siaosi he 2021 ‘o taki pea fili Palemia. Me’a pango, toe fie Palemia pe mo Mateni ia.  Mo’oni ‘a Tu’i, na’a ku tafulu’i ‘a Mateni he’emau fakataha, koe’uhi kuo u ‘osi ilo ‘e au a e fa’ufa’u ke tuku au ki tu’a. Ka na’a ku faka’ap’apa’i ‘a ‘Akilisi, pea u talaange ‘oua te tau ue’i ha me’a (rock the boat.) Kae fa’u ha Konisitutone ke tau fononga ai koe’uhi ke tau maau. Na’e ‘ikai te nau tui mai kiate au, pea u talange ‘alu eni ia ki homau ‘api. Ko u a’u mai pe ‘o talaange ki hoku hoa, te u hoko atu pe he Fale Alea, ka he’ikai te u toe minisita, he fo’i ta’u e ua oku toe , pea u malolo ai kuo fe’unga ‘a e politiki. Toki hoko kotoa kimui ‘a e talanoa mo e Houeiki, he na’e ‘ikai palani’i ia ‘e ha taha, ta ko e ko e palani ia ‘a e ‘Otua , pea oku ou fakafeta’i ai. Ka na’aku tala ange, kimu’a pea u ‘alu ki tu’a, te mou ke pea te mou movete. Ko u ‘osi fou mai au he halanga tatau koena oku ‘amanaki ke mou fou ai,  pea he ‘ikai te u toe fou tuo ua au ai, koe’uhi te mou toe ke pe he mafai, pea te mou movete pe .

Ko e core team a e PTOA ‘oku nau ongo’i aupito e mole ‘a Akilisi, ‘oku nau kei hēhē’ia pe he kuohili ka kuo mate ‘a ‘Akilisi ia. ‘Oku ‘ikai ko Akilisi ‘a Siaosi, pe ko Mateni. ‘Oku’ na taufefusi he mafai’, hange ko ha koloa fakafamili ia ‘anautolu. Ko enau me’a pe oku fai ko e tala pe a e ngaahi visone ‘a Akilisi, ene lelei mo faka’ofo’ofa, ka e ikai ke nau tu’u hifo ‘o fakakaukau’i ha ngaue ke fai ke fakafuo mo fakasino mai ai a e ngaahi visione mo e ngaahi fakakaukau (concepts) oku lau pe oku ‘uhinga ki he ha. Nau kei nofo pe he kuohili ‘o misi ki he kaha’u, mo fakaanga holo pe kia kimautolu, oku hala emau ngaahi ngaue ko ē, hala ’emau tanu hala,  ‘a e me’a oku fika ‘uluaki ki he kakai’, na’a mau ‘osi ‘alu ‘o ‘eke he feitu’u kotoa he vahenga fili koeni ‘e 17, ko ‘enau tali tatau aipe – ke tanu honau hala’. Kuo nau ‘alu ‘o fai pehe? Hala’ata ko e fakaanga pe mei he tefito’i niu; ka e ikai ‘omi ha fo’i ngaue ko e  fetongi ‘oku saiange, tukukehe pe a e feinga to’o mafai ‘o e Tu’i, koia pe oku mahino mai, ‘a e ‘uakai mafai. Ka ‘oku nau taufefusi pe kohai te ne ma’u e mafai lahi taha ‘iate kinautolu.

Tongan mother of Covid-19 victim in United States calls for people to take virus seriously

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tongan mother Sloane Tai Finau has called for people to take the Covid-19 virus seriously after family members in the United States were diagnosed positive.

Finau’s daughter and partner are ill.

“If any of you are feeling unwell, go and get tested,” she said.

“There is no shame in it.”

Finau, who is currently in Auckland, said she was concerned that people in the United States were travelling from state to state.

They were not facing the same strict restrictions as New Zealanders.

“I ask Americans to take it seriously,” she said.

“I wish I was home so I could do something for her.”

There have been  more than one millions confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the United States and more than 60,000 deaths.

Tonga extends restriction measures

There have been no cases in Tonga.

The Tongan government has extended the kingdom’s state of emergency until May 17.

Night-time curfews will remain in force from 9pm to 5am.

Licensed night clubs, clubs, bars and kava clubs can open only on Fridays and Saturdays.

Preparatory kava sessions prior to church services shall be permitted on Sundays only.

Gyms, sporting events and activities, celebration of birthdays, marriages and other recreational or related gatherings are permitted.

All events such as bingo and contact sports shall be prohibited.

A funeral gatherings shall be restricted to a total of 20 people indoors and 40 people outdoors with an authorised officer to be present throughout.

Everybody must observe personal hand hygiene and follow all Public Health Advice.

According to a Reuters’ report,  21 Pacific  nations  have reported no cases, including Samoa, American Samoa, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Niue, Nauru, Kiribati, the Cook Islands and the Solomon Islands.

Other Pacific nations including Fiji (18), New Caledonia (18) and Papua New Guinea (8) have reported cases.

The main points

  • Tongan mother Sloane Tai Finau has called for people to take the Covid-19 virus seriously after family members in the United States were diagnosed positive.
  • Finau’s daughter and partner are ill.

For more information

Sloane Tai Finau

National COVID-19 Restrictions Notice

Covid 19 coronavirus: The countries with no cases – still

Real Tonga’s problems latest in long line of disturbances to kingdom’s airline services

By
Philip Cass
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When Air Chathams owner Craig Emery announced that his airline’s Pacific subsidiary was to cease flying in Tonga in 2013, he said his company was the 11th operator to  service the kingdom.

Chathams Pacific started flying in Tonga in 2008 to replace a gaggle of tiny operators which had filled the gap since the collapse of Royal Tonga airlines.

The question is whether Real Tonga will be the 12th and whether there will be a 13th.

Like all previous operators Real Tonga is operating in a small market with high costs and an often ambivalent government attitude.

As we reported in 2017, the government of the late ‘Akilisi Pohiva  government refused to grant a license to Tonga Airlines, saying there was no room in the kingdom for a second airline.

Emery made the same point when he announced his airline’s withdrawal, saying the market was too small for two operators.

At the time critics said the loss of Chatham Pacific was a major step backwards for tourism and the people of Tonga.

Businesman Peter White, a regular traveller, told Matangi Tonga Online: “I have travelled from Auckland to Vava’u seven times in the last six years and can say that all the other airlines in Tonga before Chathams Pacific were all mediocre at best.

“All my previous flights on Airlines Tonga and Peau Vava’u for example were all excessively delayed, cancelled, over-sold or over-weight. Communication was non-existent and the staff did not seem to really care.”

Emery was forced out of the kingdom after the government announced it had been given an MA60 airliner – a copy of a 1960s Russian design and a Harbin Y12 – a copy of the Australian Nomad – and would operate its own service.

That service became Real Tonga, which faced fierce opposition to the MA60, by the New Zealand government, which withdrew aid money and refused to certify the aircraft because of its poor safety record.

Real Tonga is now facing the same financial crisis affecting airlines all over the world because of the Covid-19 pandemic and has appealed to the government for help.

However, it is understood there have been problems with the lease on the Chinese aircraft from the government.

The government is now considering the future of flying in the kingdom and whether direct government management would be cheaper than contracting an outside company.

In the past the royal family has had a direct involvement in the airline industry. King George Tupou V and Indian businessman Joseph Ramanlal owned Peau Vava’u, which lasted from May 2004 to November 2006 operating leased DC3s.

Peau Vava’u was issued with the only domestic operating license after the bankruptcy of the former carrier Royal Tongan Airlines. The monopoly also meant it got rid of its only competitor, Fly Niu.

Both of these airline rose out of the collapse of Royal Tongan airlines, which closed down owing US$8.5 million. The Tongan government pumped TP$20 million into the airline during its 19 year existence. Late ‘Akilisi Pohiva blamed  King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV for the financial crisis and called on him to use his own funds to bail Royal Tongan out of its financial woes. The king had overruled opposition from the Cabinet and Parliament to enter into a disastrous lease of a 757 from Royal  Brunei Airlines which was eventually repossessed.

An audit  by KPMG in 2003 showed the airline was almost insolvent and that it had lost more than US$5 million after a wildly ambitious international expansion.

Royal Tonga had its origins in a 1983 proposal for what was to be called Friendly Island Airways by Japanese operator All Nippon Airways. The plan was for ANA to use one of its surplus 737s and to provide technical and managerial assistance.

The main points

  • When Air Chathams owner Craig Emery announced that his airline’s Pacific subsidiary was to cease flying in Tonga in 2013, he said his company was the 11th operator to service the kingdom.
  • Chathams Pacific started flying in Tonga in 2008 to replace a gaggle of tiny operators which had filled the gap since the collapse of Royal Tonga airlines.

For more information

Real Tonga CEO denies claims of cheap aircraft leases, says no room for second airline

Chathams withdrawing from Tonga Domestic Air Services

Vava‘u law enforcement officers strike again: more expired goods seized from businesses within a week

By
Kalino Latu
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Disputes over expiry dates on meat boxes ended in a decision to seize and destroy expired cartons of meats in Vava’u on Tuesday.

Neiafu Town Officer Vāvā Lapota claimed some cartons of meats arrived in Vava’u in what he described as “repacked” boxes.

He also claimed some of these frozen meats were expired according to their expiry dates recorded on the boxes but the business owners who purchased the meats insisted the dates showed the meats were still in good condition for consumption.

There had been claims the meats had been imported from the USA and their expiry dates had been written as month / date / year. This was  not how abbreviated dates were normally written in Tonga in which they were sequentially written as date / month / year.

Lapota also claimed some of the meats appeared to have changed colours and showed signs of spoilage.

He disputed the meats at the wharf leading to a hold on its release while senior authorities were being contacted.

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The meats and other expired goods, however, were released by Food inspectors.

The disputes finally reached the main office in Tongatapu and the law enforcement officers went to the store owner this week and seized the disputed goods before they destroyed them, Lapota told Kaniva News.

The seizure came just within a week after another bust led to destroying of a large amount of canned foods, cooking products and expired goods in Neiafu.

Food Ministry CEO Dr Viliami Manu told TBC it was believed businesses sent their expired goods and sold them in the outer islands.

He said 30 cartons of chicken seized in Vava’u had their expiry dates written as 9/2/2020. He said the chicken boxes were imported from the USA and according to that country’s labelling expiry dates format on goods the chicken boxes had an expiry date of September/ Second of May /2020.

He reportedly said the Food Ministry has just assigned an inspector to join the Customs services at the wharf to inspect some of the imported meats and canned foods from overseas.

As Kaniva reported on April 22, a complaint from the Neiafu town officer has led to seizures of expired goods from a number of  convenience stores.

We also reported claims businesses in Neiafu hid their expired goods in other places when authority inspected their stores.

Before that instance we reported that around 400 boxes of rotting chicken have been destroyed in Vava’u after authorities inspected a refrigerated container at a Chinese shop in Neiafu in February.

Bags of expired flours and rotting salted beefs were previously found at this store before the February bust.

Tongan players will make their mark for NZ Warriors if 2020 NRL round gets underway

By
Philip Cass
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Whenever and whether the New Zealand Warriors take part in a revived NRL round, Tongan players are likely to make their presence felt on the field.

The Warriors have been expected to fly to Australia on Sunday to go into training for a revived NRL season at a proposed quarantine station in Tamworth.

But now there is also talk they could play their NRL games at Mt Smart stadium in Auckland.

And there is also confusion over how much the players will be paid for taking part.

It’s an important issue for the team members who could be in Australia for five or six months.

The Warriors have been granted permission from the Australian government for a border clearance, but still need clearance from the New south wales state government.

As well as an 18 week club season, the State of Origin series is expected to be played in November.

The Warriors currently have 10 players with Tongan connections on the books.

They include Albert Vete, who has also played internationally for Tonga and Melbourne storm;  Solomone Kata who has played for both Tonga and New Zealand internationally;  fellow New Zealand and Tonga internationals Tuimoala Lolohea and Siliva Havili; Ben Murdoch-Masila who has represented and played in the UK and Australian; John Palavi, who has competed in Queensland and France; David Fusitu’a, who was  the NRL’s top try scorer in 2018 and part of Tonga’s world breaking push in 2017, Tongan international Glen Fisiiahi, Agnatius Paasi, who has played in Australia and for Tonga and fellow  Tongan international Leivaha Pulu.

PM in talks with Real Tonga airline’s owner, but denies reports gov’t set up its own airline

By
Kalino Latu
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Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa has denied rumours the government has passed a resolution to set up its own airline.

But Hon. Tu’i’onetoa confirmed he had been in personal talks with Real Tonga’s owner about the airline’s future.

He said pilots from Real Tonga who had been laid off following a dramatic drop in revenue following the Covid-19 crisis and subsequent restrictions had approached the government and asked them to run an airline.

He said the government was still reviewing the proposal.

“It is important for the nation to know that the government does not take this lightly,” the Prime Minister said.

“The expense for operating an airline is huge and none of the previous airline operators in Tonga made any profit whatsoever.

“However, the service is required for the people.”

He said after seven years in business Real Tonga still faced problems and had approached the government for help.

There were contractual difficulties arising from the leasing of the Chinese-made Y12 and MA60 aircraft from the government.

He said a Cabinet committee had been set up to look at the  best option for the future.

The committee had offered two options; one for the government to keep operating Real Tonga either on its own or in partnership with the existing management; or with somebody else.

“The second option was not really supported by the committee’s report, but the other option still has problems,” the Prime Minister said.

He said it still had to be determined which would be the cheapest option.

Other questions to be answered included whether it would be profitable if the government ran it, whether the government would have to financially support Real Tonga if they kept flying and whether anybody else would be interested in running an airline in the kingdom.

The Prime Minister said Cabinet also had to consider whether an air service could cover the cost of flights to  Eua, Ha’apai and Vava’u and the Niuas or whether they would need a government subsidy.

The same question applied to flights to  Ha’apai, ‘Eua and Vava’u.

Real Tonga

Like every airline in the world, Real Tonga has been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Border and airport closures and internal lockdowns have eliminated many markets. The International Air Transport Association is predicting a fall of almost 50% in passenger traffic this year.

Apart from internal services, Real Tonga operates a service to Samoa and there have been promises of a service to Auckland.

However, it has faced complaints over its prices. In 2017 Palu hit back at criticisms of Real Tonga’s ticket prices by the then Prime Minister, the late ‘Akilisi Pohova, who said the kingdom needed two airlines.

He said the amount charged for aircraft leases by the government were more expensive than normal commercial lease compare to similar capacity aircraft type.

Hon. Pohiva’s comments came after his government refused an operating license for Tonga Airlines.

Palu said airfares in Tonga could be reduced by having lower fuel prices, localisation of pilots and engineers, better airports and weather forecast systems, fewer taxes and better regulatory support from the government.

The main points

  • Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa has denied rumours the government has passed a resolution to set up its own airline.
  • But Hon. Tu’I’onetoa confirmed he had been in personal talks with Real Tonga’s owner about the airline’s future.

For more information 

Real Tonga CEO denies claims of cheap aircraft leases, says no room for second airline

Government no longer owns Kalonikali Tonga newspaper, PM Tu‘i‘onetoa says

By
Kalino Latu
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Local media have questioned this week why the government has revived its previously unpopular owned local newspaper known as Kalonikali Tonga.

Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa has denied this to Kaniva News.

“That allegation was a lie,” he said.

He said the paper was sold by the Lord Tu’ivakanoo’s government and it was purchased by Publisher Kalafi Moala.

He said he understood the paper was then sold by Moala to Lawyer Clive Edwards.

He said the new owner now is former MP ‘Etuate Lavulavu and the government has nothing to do with it.

Song about love and loss in the 50s goes viral among Auckland Tongan community: “Just what we need” in time of pandemic says granddaughter

By
Kalino Latu
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A song written to commemorate a suitor who drowned at sea more than 60 years ago went viral among the Tongan community in Auckland this week.

The song, Simulata nofo ā or Simulata Noa, was written for Simulata Pope of Tongoleleka, Ha’apai in the 1950s.

The song has re-emerged in the past decade, being played by acoustic bands at kava sessions and recorded by some local electro-pop singers. But they only played and recorded three verses of the composition including the verse which contained Simulata’s name.

It was believed the song originally consisted of six verses.

It went viral in the Tongan community this week after its six verses were sung and livestreamed by Kaniva Tonga Entertainment on Wednesday morning. Since then the clip had been shared more than 1000 times, received 700 reactions and had also received 14,000 views.

Auckland-based documentary maker Simulata Mosimani Pope said it was “pretty buzzy” that people were singing for her grandmother, for whom the song was written.

“Discovering a legacy that derives from true love is just what we need for this pandemic!”  she told Kaniva News.

Despite the song being more than half a century old, and its music and lyrics being simple and straight forward (hualela), a phrase and the name Simulata made it catchy to today’s listeners.

The phrase “inu mai ha ma’anga tahi” or “’ai mai ha ma’anga tahi” – longing to drink a mouthful of seawater, has become compelling.

The song’s popularity has been boosted by so many people staying online during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Men romantically and fondly called their wives or lovers online as Simulata and in return their lovers jokingly responded by saying – it looked like you have been drinking too much seawater.

Mosimani said she first listened to the song in 2013 and has been researching its origins ever since. She asked her father about the song and the mystery began to unravel.

Since then she has travelled to Tonga and other countries where the song was very popular, being played in faikava settings.

“I came to a bit of a standstill in my findings but since the lockdown has happened and the song went viral I decided to open up the search books again,” Mosimani said.

According to the song her grandmother’s suitor died at sea in Ha’apai while he was on a trip to Kao island in the 1950s.  He was in his late teens.

The suitor was one of two twins from Ha’ato’u, Ha’apai but Mosimani has been contacting their family to find out who was the one who courted her grandmother.

Mosimani told Kaniva News her findings appeared to show the composer was Tala-Ki-Ha’amoa, a herald of Lord Tu’ilakepa and whose real name was Sione Tapu’osi Hungalu of Ofu, Vava’u.

A relative told Kaniva News that Hungalu died in 1996.

Simulata Snr died in early 1980s in Ha’apai.

Mosimani said she had found a number of different versions of the original song and collected some promising information from some sources including players who first sang and played the song.

“I would like to acknowledge SiekafaMedia1 retake on the song as it really opened up an online platform,” she said.

“From my one social media post I managed to find all sorts of connections and people to the song.”

She said that during her research people had been able to confirm or correct  information for her and she met a son of one of the musicians who played the original.

Malosi Pictures, which produced the acclaimed For My Father’s Kingdom were helping her make a documentary about her research.

She planned to release a documentary film on her findings soon.

“This quest was never important to anyone as much as it was for me,” she said.

“I never met my namesake and in this time of a crisis I have never felt so close to her.

“From a romance that she had in the 1950s, I have met so many people, reconnected with so many friends and family and being humbled by how life was back in Ha’apai.”

Mosimani said she set out to find the original lyrics which included more verses.

“Now, I’ve found more than the lyrics,” she said.

“Not only did I find the original verses, I’ve had people from the original bands that travelled with the song, I’ve had people who recorded the song on radio in the 60s and I now have leads to the family where Simulata’s lover came from.”

If anyone has any information further about Simulata or Simulata Noa or about the twins Tevita and Samisoni living in Ha’atou in 1955 please email simulatapope@gmail.com

The song:

Some places in the song belong to Ha’ato’u, Ha’apai. These included Molaea, Velata, Tūkunga  and Siale Afuhia. According to Mosimani’s findings, some versions show the first line of the second verse was Simulata Noa while others showed it was Simulata nofo.

Si’i hilinoa he ‘i Molaea
Ko e fua ia ‘o e Tu’ilakepa
‘I he kolotau he ko Velata
Ko e moto ‘o e siale afuhia.

Simulata nofo fai ho loto
Ka e tuku au a au na’e mahino
‘Eku fiema’u ho fo’i sino
Ke ke hoko ko hoku losalio.

Ke u ‘ai mai ha ma’anga tahi
Ke ta vahevahe he ‘i kilisitahi
Mo ta vahe ua ‘a si’eku ‘ofa ni
Ke ke ‘ilo ko e ‘ofa ‘oku lahi.

Peheange mai ko ha mate ‘i ‘uta
Ke u fua koe ki Tukunga
Ke ke huki ai he’eku mātu’a
Ka u tā pata ke tu’umo’unga.

Peheange mai ko ha puke lahi
Ke u hela’i a hao feinga’i
‘Ou milimili si’ao mamahi
Ke ke hoko ko e vaikau’aki.

Ke ke sio mai ‘i hoku sino
Kuo tauanga’a ‘i he tokoto
‘E Tiloau ho to Fakapō
Motukia ‘i he motu ko Kao.

'Oku pehe ko e hiva Simulata koe hiva ia ne fa'u he ta'u 1957 e Talakiha’amoa hange kiate au ko e hingoa matapule ia o e tokotaha ko Sione Tapuosi Hungalu . Tokua ko e hiva ni ne veesi 'e ono 'o hange ko ia 'oku hiki atu 'i lalo. Na'e toki hiki me'alea 'uhila leva hono fo'i veesi pe 'e tolu 'o tuku ange mai he kamata'anga 'o e ta'u ni. Ko e tolu ko ia ne kamata'aki ia e veesi ua 'o e 'olisinolo' 'a ia ne kamata'aki 'a e Simulata. 'Oku ai mo e fakamatala 'e taha pehe 'oku 'ikai ko e fasi totonu ia 'o e 'olisinolo' 'a 'eni ne toki hiki me'alea 'uhila'i mai ko eni. Ne kehe tokua hono fasi ne 'uluaki hiva'i 'aki. Kaekehe kei 'atā pe fakatotolo mo ha taha 'e tanaki mai. Ko e ki'i hiki live atu pe 'ena 'ikai ke u fakapapau'i pe 'oku tonu 'a e silapa mo e anga hono hiva'i pe 'ikai. Ko e 'atunga pe 'eni lokatauni ha pe me'a 'e ala ma'u tau 'ai ia kae toki fakatonutonu hahaha. Ko e fakamatala kou 'oatu ko e to'o mai pe mei he'etau peesi 'o e Ngaahi Hiva Kakala FakaTonga mo hono Ngaahi 'Uhinga. 'Oku pehe 'e he fakamatala ai ko e ma'u e veesi 'e ono ko eni mei he pepa hiva 'a e kau tame'a Laukaupo'uli mei Te'ekiu. Mahalo ko ha pepa 'a Peni Palei mo e kau tama tame'a ko ia oku pehe ne nau ta holo e hiva ni he taimi ko ee. 'Oku lahi pe mo e 'u fakamatala poupou holo heni he Feisipuka ki he pehe ko e fo'i hiva na'e veesi ono ko 'eni pea ko e hiva fuoloa, na'e fa'u ia te'eki fa'ele'i e tokolahi heni. Si'i hilinoa he 'i Molaea,Ko e fua ia 'o e Tu'ilakepa,'I he kolotau he ko Velata,Ko e moto 'o e siale afuhia.Simulata nofo fai ho loto,Ka e tuku au a au na'e mahino,'Eku fiema'u ho fo'i sino,Ke ke hoko ko hoku losalio.Ke u 'ai mai ha ma'anga tahi,Ke ta vahevahe he 'i kilisitahi,Mo ta vahe ua 'a si'eku 'ofa ni,Ke ke 'ilo ko e 'ofa 'oku lahi.Peheange mai ko ha mate 'i 'uta,Ke u fua koe ki Tukunga,Ke ke huki ai he'eku mātu'a,Ka u tā pata ke tu'umo'unga.Peheange mai ko ha puke lahi,Ke u hela'i a hao feinga'i,'Ou milimili si'ao mamahi,Ke ke hoko ko e vaikau'aki.Ke ke sio mai 'i hoku sino,Kuo tauanga'a 'i he tokoto'E Tiloau ho to Fakapō,Motukia 'i he motu ko Kao.

Posted by Lino Lātū on Monday, April 27, 2020

The main points

  • A song written to commemorate a suitor who drowned at sea more than 60 years ago went viral among the Tongan community in Auckland this week.
  • The song, Simulata Noa, was written for Simulata Pope in the 1950s.
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