This article is published with permission under Kaniva News partnerships with Radio New Zealand.
There are 39 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 28 new probable cases in New Zealand, bringing the country to a total of 1106, the Health Ministry has confirmed.
Watch the media conference here:
Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said 13 people were in hospital, and three were in ICU – one in Wellington and two in Auckland. One of the people in ICU is in a critical condition.
“Two people have been discharged from hospital since our update yesterday and recovering at home,” he said.
There have been no additional deaths and 176 people have now recovered from the coronavirus.
He said New Zealand could be encouraged by daily case numbers staying at a similar level, but health authorities were still looking for a drop.
“Some success so far, but our aim is to stamp it out,” Dr Bloomfield said.
Just under 40,000 tests have been carried out so far. There were 3709 tests completed yesterday, the highest number of tests in one single day.
Dr Bloomfield said there were now 12 significant clusters, with 72 cases now linked to the Marist College cluster. The cluster associated with a wedding in Bluff has now had 62 cases, and the Matamata cluster has 58.
He confirmed the new Christchurch cluster was based at Rose Wood rest home, with 15 confirmed and probable cases amongst residents and staff.
Twenty residents are being moved to Burwood hospital for further care.
“They have put a DHB person into the rest home to supervise the care of the remaining 40 residents, to make sure appropriate infection prevention control – including appropriate use of PPE – is happening there to look after and care for those remaining residents,” Dr Bloomfield said.
Forty-three percent of total cases are travel-related, 38 percent had contact with a confirmed case and 2 percent are considered community transmission. The rest are still under investigation.
Auckland Metro, Waikato and Southern are the areas with the highest number of cases under investigation.
If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs)
The hard reality of saying goodbye to a loved one during the Covid-19 pandemic has come home to a Tongan family this week.
Grandmother Senolita was buried by members of her family, who posted a video of the burial on Facebook.
Only four people were allowed to attend.
Grieving family members prayed and sang hymns during the burial.
According to Ministry of Health regulations updated on April 2, public funeral services are not permitted and families or communities must not carry out funerals.
This is to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
However, family who have been in the same isolation bubble as the dead person may go to the cemetery or crematorium for the burial.
Funeral directors are encouraged to carry out burials and cremations as quickly as possible.
Where this is not possible, the funeral can be held after the Alert Level 4 restrictions ease.
The dead can be cremated and the ashes buried at a later date and memorial services can also be delayed.
There will be an opportunity for family who have been in the same isolation bubble as the deceased to go to the funeral home to view the body.
Viewing of bodies must only take place in a funeral home managed by a funeral director registered with their local authority.
The main points
The hard reality of burials carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic has come home to a Tongan family this week.
Grandmother Hulita Senolita Niumeitolu was buried by members of her family, who posted a video of the burial on Facebook.
Tongan player Jason Taumalolo has been touted as a possible starter for a Queensland side in a series of state of origin matches, even while the Covid-19 pandemic is raging.
The matches would be played with no fans present.
The Skilled Stadium on the Gold Coast has been named as a possible venue for a three match series.
New South Wales coach Brad Fittler has pushed the idea of a series of State of Origin games to start the rugby and has named Taumalolo as a possible member of the Maroons.
Other players Fittler has tentatively names include Andrew Fifita, Will Hopoate and Siosiua Taukeiaho.
A test by the Tongans against New Zealand that was scheduled for June 20 this year has been cancelled because of the pandemic.
Rugby League officials have postponing the mid-season Oceania Cup fixtures, which also featured Samoa and the Cook Islands
However, Oceania Tests are still scheduled for October.
New Zealand is in strict lockdown and with international travel almost a standstill. Flights in and out of Tonga are virtually nonexistent.
Despite the obstacles, Fittler is enthusiastic about the idea.
“I’ve spoken to some of the players about it and they’re already pumped,” the NSW coach told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“The Origin series would be a good way of kicking things off, to show everyone that rugby league can lock down two teams for an extended period. And if that works, it could be a precursor to the rest of the NRL starting at some stage.”
The players
Taumalolo plays for the North Queensland Cowboys but in the past three years has been instrumental in taking Mate Ma’a Tonga onto the international stage.
Fifita, who has had an often tumultuous career, led the sipi tau, in front of a sold-out crowd at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium before their match against the Kangaroos in 2018.
In 2017 Hopoate played for Tonga in every game of their assault on the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals and scored a try during their win over New Zealand.
On 2 November 2019, Taukeiaho captained Tonga’s 16-12 defeat of Australia.
The main points
Tongan player Jason Taumalolo has been touted as a possible starter for a Queensland side in a series of state of origin matches, even while the Covid-19 pandemic is raging.
New South Wales coach Brad Fittler has touted the idea of a series of State of Origin games to start the rugby and has named Taumalolo as a possible member of the Maroons.
For more information
Fittler backs Origin to restart season – and Taumalolo for Queensland
The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by the Minister of Justice Vuna Fā’otusia against charges of using threatening language to a government servant.
The charge arose out of an incident on January 12 2019, during a police investigation concerning a stolen cow.
The Minister is alleged to have telephoned the police officers involved and said:
“Why did you take Faioso’s cow? And stop working like a tough guy before I shoot the shit out of a Police and had Faioso found you all of his farm, he would have shot the shit out of you. “
The Appellant was subsequently charged with having breached sections 57 and 65 of the Criminal Offences Act.
Section 57 says: “Every person who uses threatening, abusive or insulting language or behaviour towards any officer in the service of the Government shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for any period not exceeding 2 years, or to a fine not exceeding $5,000, or to both such fine and imprisonment.”
At the preliminary enquiry of the charges on October 22 last year counsel for the Minister made no case submissions in respect of both charges.
Principal Magistrate Mafi rejected the submission in respect of S.57 but upheld the submission in respect of S.65 and ruled that there was insufficient evidence for that charge to be referred to the Supreme Court.
Both decisions have been appealed. This proceeding concerns the decision in respect of S.57.
The defendant argued that, the Prosecution described its understanding of the Defendant’s submissions as being, relevantly, that S.57 did not apply to the Defendant as a Cabinet Minister or anyone in the service of the Government.
An argument was also presented that the law did not apply to police.
Lord Chief Justice Whitten, presiding, rejected this argument.
“It is evident that Parliament intended . . . severe consequences for those who engage in threatening, abusive or insulting language or behaviour towards officers when in the service of the Government,” the judge said.
“That important and express distinction from ordinary citizens in society cannot be overlooked and effect to it must be given.
“In my view, S.57 was deliberately designed by Parliament to respond to the language allegedly used in this case directed to the police officers concerned.”
“The appeal is dismissed.”
The main points
The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by the Minister of Justice Vuna Fa’otusia against charges of using threatening language to a government servant.
The charge arose out of an incident on January 12 2019, during a police investigation concerning a stolen cow.
Eight people have been arrested and methamphetamine, cannabis, drug untensils and cash have been seized in a drug bust across Tongatapu.
The Tonga Police Drug Enforcement Taskforce made the arrest on Wednesday 1 April 2020.
The eight arrested, all males aged between 26 and 49, included four from Vaini, three from Tofoa and one from Lapaha.
Police seized 1.67 grams of methamphetamine, 20.61 grams of cannabis, drug utensils and over $600 pa’anga in cash.
The eight arrested included four men from Vaini, three from Tofoa and one from Lapaha all between the aged of 26 to 49.
All eight men have been charged accordingly and are in police custody to appear before Court at a later date.
“These arrests should reassure the community that preventing illicit drugs supply is a high priority for Police. We will continue to target those who supply drugs within our community, and hold them to account for their crimes,” said A/DPC Vailea.
Anyone with information about drug related offending are asked to contact 22784.
Tonga’s lockdown measures to stop Coronavirus coming into the country had been relaxed but certain restrictions had been extended for another week until April 12 at 1am.
This afternoon, Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa ordered the extension in a press conference in Nuku’alofa saying he has renewed the measures.
Local mobile vehicle marketing and roadside vendors were now allowed to recommence their services. The Talamahu, Ma’ufanga and Fanga market places were still banned.
The Prime Minister has lifted bans on crops and fisheries export industries as well as construction companies.
The restrictions on inter-island marine transport within Ha’apai, Vava’u and the Niuas have been lifted.
Legal practitioners and clients with cases affecting lockdown and curfew measures and state of emergency were allowed to operate.
Tonga has no confirmed case of Covid-19 with eight suspected cases returning negative tests.
Despite this the government went into lockdown on March 29 as authorities strive to keep the country Covid-19 free.
Ko hono fakamahino ‘e he ‘Eiki Palēmia’ ‘a e makatu’unga ‘o e ngaahi founga ‘oku tēkolo’i’aki ‘e he pule’anga’ e feinga ke ‘oua na’a hū ki Tonga ‘a e mahaki Koviti-19. Ko e polokalama ‘eni mo e ‘Ōfisi ‘o e Palēmia’ ne hiki he ‘aho 9 Mā’asi pea tok liliu ‘e he Kaniva’ he ‘aho’ ni 2 ‘Epeleli’ ki he lea ‘ingilisi’
This is a translation of an audio recording provided by the office of Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa. It is provided as a statement of record of Hon. Tu’i’onetoa’s public statements.
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The government’s efforts to keep the coronavirus away from its shores had been based on what Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa has described as the immediate response phase.
He urged the public to stay focused on the idea that Tonga was in a stage of fighting to stop the Covid-19 from coming into the country.
He said the next phase was recovery, but that would come later if the coronavirus affected Tonga or the war against it was over.
The Prime Minister was responding to questions during an interview with Managing Director and Editor of Radio FM87.5 Katalina Tohi on March 9.
Tonga has no confirmed case of Covid-19. The country is being on lock down, curfew and national state of emergency until April 6.
Katalina Tohi: Two weeks ago there were travelers coming in and out of the country. There were rumours about a Fiji Airways’ air hostess who appeared to have contracted the coronavirus and some travelers to Tonga were on that plane. What has been done to protect Tonga?
PM Tu’ionetoa: Works are underway to organise and discuss the plan. The virus can be contracted through human contact and it came from overseas as we knew it came from China. The number of cases in New Zealand is rising. One has got it in Fiji and Australia there were cases there as well. The three airports through which travelers to Tonga departed were Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. It has been confirmed the coronavirus was there and works were underway to close them. Our National Committee for Covid-19 was working to extend the lockdown. The Ministry of Education planned for the school holidays to be brought forward so they sit within the shutdown schedules. Also the number of civil servants has to be reduced and working from home has to be facilitated. The lockdown was made so that an inquiry was made to find out about those travelers who arrived here on last Saturday and within the last two weeks before that to make sure we did not have the coronavirus here. The government is aware of the needs to import and bring in goods from overseas. But bringing in any more passengers is not allowed.
Katalina Tohi: You talked about the schools. They have one and two-week holiday schedules. This might be an opportunity to activate them at this time just like implementing a national quarantine?
PM Tu’i’onetoa: Thanks Katalina. We are currently thinking about it and the Minister of Education has mentioned that yesterday. A survey had been conducted on government, church and non-government schools about that. We are having a Cabinet meeting tomorrow and hopefully we will have the results of the survey to look at.
Katalina Tohi: Has the government had any plan for those workers at airlines and businesses as they will no longer be working?
PM Tu’i’onetoa: That’s one of the government’s responsibilities is to look after those workers. If you became aware of the time when Tropical Cyclone Gita struck there were various government committees set up to address it such as Shelter Committee, Economic and Social Recovery Committee, the Health, Water and Sanitation Committee and Education. The effects of the cyclone covered many areas which these committees had to deal closely. This is a disease and some of those committees may not be needed. But committees like the Economic and Social Recovery Committee have to provide a plan for the government on this. The World Bank and ADB have given us guidelines on how we apply for financial assistance. When we receive that funding the government will allocate it.
Katalina: The government’s preparedness status is clear both in economic plans and emergency and in long term.
PM Tu’i’onetoa: Every plan has long and short terms. This could be clearer if we refer to it as immediate response phase and recovery response phase. At this stage, we are at the immediate response phase of the plan. To make sure the disease will not come into Tonga. Let’s focus on that. We already understand there will be effects and there will be time for recovery. We have to leave the recovery behind although it is important and we have to be aware of it. When the disease will come in that’s another phase and we have to look at it differently. That’s why it is important for the people not to take these matters lightly. Blocking things at this stage is a better idea. Look at Italy where only two people allegedly brought the disease into their country. Now they struggle to stop it. Say we go past the first or second month and nothing has happened, the tourism sector will be dead already. Then we will implement the recovery plan which will help them to recover financially.
Katalina Tohi: There are people who are flouting the notices.
PM Tu’i’onetoa: That was one of the things we looked at during a meeting attended by almost all the Cabinet ministers and CEOs. We talked about what you are talking about. We are a small population. And it should be easy but some did not want to abide by the rules and some were not aware of the public announcement. But I thank most of the country while we are struggling with the global disaster. I appeal to all Tongans: Let’s work together. We will all share its advantages and we will be happy about it. There was an example Katalina. When the tsunami alert came people went to the shore to watch. When the waves came the people ran, but it was too late. This time we should learn from it like that Tsunami in Niua. Let’s not disobey the government’s rules and the Ministry of Health. We are still safe and the people knew that. Let’s thank God for His love and care for our nation. We have a duty to be obedience.
Katalina Tohi: There were countries who helped us in the past, especially Australia and New Zealand. Have there been any assistance from them?
PM Tu’i’onetoa: These two countries have helped us financially and technically. Our contact with them is closer at this stage, especially the Ministry of Health. Although international flights have been banned, if we need to bring in medicines and services that must be done.
Katalina Tohi: Have you anything else to add?
PM Tu’i’onetoa: I appeal to the public this disease is destructive and there is no need for us to take it lightly, otherwise we would become like Italy or Korea. They tried to stop it, but many lives have been lost. We do not want to lose lives. Let’s stay focused on that. But if the disease comes we have to change our course of action. Let’s pray to God to protect us at this time of difficulty.
This article is published with permission under Kaniva Tonga partnership with Radio New Zealand.
There have been 89 new confirmed and probable cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand, bringing the total number of cases to 797.
Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said 92 people had now recovered from the coronavirus.
Thirteen people are in hospital, two are in ICU. All patients are stable.
Dr Bloomfield said 51 percent of cases still have a strong link to travel and 31 percent are links to confirmed cases. Only 1 percent are being classed as community transmission, but 17 percent are still being contact traced.
He said 2563 tests were done yesterday. More than 26,000 tests now conducted.
Watch the latest media conference live here:
Police Commissioner Mike Bush is also set to provide an update.
Yesterday it was confirmed that there are 708 cases of Covid-19 in the country of which 82 people have recovered, 14 are in hospital and two in intensive care. Only one person has died.
New Zealand is now in its eighth day of the level 4 alert status – a full lockdown for at least four weeks.
If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs)
By Sela Jane Hogwood. This story is published with permission under Kaniva Tonga partnership with Radio New Zealand.
A New Zealand citizen, who is currently unemployed, is struggling to return back home from Tonga due to border closures.
Richard Fruean is a former food factory worker from Hastings, Hawkes Bay, but since resigning from the job, has moved to Auckland to live with his parents.
Mr Fruean flew to Tonga at the beginning of March to be with his wife and to file her and their daughter’s residency papers to live in New Zealand.
However Mr Fruean was unable to board his return flight back to New Zealand on 31 March due to the borders being closed in Tonga until 6 April.
Mr Fruean said he was worried he would be charged by Tongan immigration for overstaying his visit.
“I contacted the New Zealand High Commissioner in Tonga and they advised me that they would have to contact immigration about my concern.”
“The High Commissioner said I should be fine to be an over-stayer in Tonga due to the current circumstances with the lockdown and border closures, but I told them my biggest concern is that if I get charged for over-staying, I won’t be able to pay for it because I resigned from my job back in New Zealand.”
“The High Commissioner did warn me that I might get a fine for over-staying, but I am still waiting for the confirmation from both them and the immigration. The only problem with that is the immigration in Tonga are closed due to the lockdown, so I don’t know when I will find out my fate.”
Mr Fruean said he just wanted to be able to extend his visa so that he was visiting Tonga legally.
He faced another hurdle when arranging his return back to New Zealand with Virgin Australia.
“The flight centre in Hastings where I booked my flight for Tonga contacted Virgin Australia about my situation and was told they were closed until June, so therefore could not do anything about my return flight from Tonga to New Zealand until then.”
“I had to explain to the flight centre that I wanted to come back to New Zealand immediately especially seeing I was due back at the end of March because I wanted to look for a job to earn money to pay for my bills, but they told me that I couldn’t get a refund for my return flight and instead would get airfare credits for a future flight.”
“The thing is I was hoping to use the refund money to book a flight with Air New Zealand to come home once the borders open, but now I have to think of another plan.”
The government and Tonga Power Limited have agreed an emergency package of measures to ensure vulnerable people do not get cut off amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
The sole electricity provider said there was a drop in diesel rates from $1.6906 per litre in October 2019 to $1.5091 per litre in March 2020.
The new electricity tariff rate of 73 sēniti per kWh was approved by the Electricity Commission to be effective from 1 April 2020.
It said the new published rate for all electricity will reduce by a total of 10.16 sēniti (12.2%) per kwh to 73 sēniti per kwh from the current tariff of 83.16 sēniti per kWh set back in 1 November 2019.
“The accumulated price reduction from October 2019 to 15 March 2020 is driven mainly by the ongoing price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia since 8 March 2020 and the current economic impact of the World wide COVID-19 pandemic,” a statement said.
The tariff set back in November 2019 of 83.16 seniti per kWh was subsidised by the government of Tonga (shareholder) to remain at 79.90 senit per kWh up to March 2020, it said.
