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Girl drowns in Touliki swimming pool

By
Kaniva Staff
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A young Tongatapu girl drowned in the swimming pool at Touliki this morning.

Police rescue team was called shortly after the girl went missing in the pool area.

Her body was pulled from the water after 2pm.

Local reports said attempts to revive the girl at the scene failed.

It is understood the girl was with members of a sport team from Lavengamālie College.

No further details available.

The death came after authorities temporarily closed down the pool in 2013 after the body of a 41 year old father was recovered after he was swimming there with his children.

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Mount Roskill alleged shooting leaves men with multiple gunshot wounds

By
Kaniva Staff
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Police are seeking witnesses to a firearms incident that occurred at an address on Marion Avenue, Mount Roskill at approximately 7:42am this morning.

On arrival, Police found three men who had sustained gunshot wounds.

The men, who had injuries ranging from critical to minor, were all transported to Auckland Hospital where they are currently receiving treatment for their injuries.

Police are also seeking information about a dark coloured SUV or people mover type vehicle that was seen fleeing from the vicinity of Marion Avenue at speed shortly after the incident occurred.

Anyone with information about the vehicle or the incident itself is asked to come forward and contact Police on 105.

Information can also be passed anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police are at the scene today conducting a scene examination and a scene guard is in place.

We would like to reassure the public that we are committed to ensuring the safety of the community and bring those responsible to justice.

Man arrested after body found near Manurewa

By
Kaniva Staff
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An investigation has been launched following a death at an address in South Auckland shortly after midnight yesterday.

Police were called to the Randwick Park address on Trimdon Street at 12:07am Friday where a man was located deceased.

The death is being treated as a homicide.

A 46-year-old man has been arrested and charged with injuring with intent to injure in relation to the incident.

He is due to appear in Manukau District Court today.

One dead, one injured in overnight Ōtara shooting

By
Kaniva Staff
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A man was killed and another injured in an overnight shooting in South Auckland, police said this morning.

About 11:45pm Police were called to a report of a firearm being discharged on Bairds Rd, Ōtara.

On arrival Police located a critically injured man and attempted to provide medical attention, however he died at the scene.

A second person was moderately injured and taken to Middlemore Hospital.

Scene guards remain in place.

“Locals should expect to see a strong Police presence in the area today,” says Detective Inspector Tofilau Va’aelua, Counties Manukau District Crime Services Manager.

“I want to reassure the community that we are absolutely committed to finding those responsible for this and holding them to account.”

Judge condemns inter-school violence, says jail term for accused must act as deterrent

By
Philip Cass
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A jail sentence was the only way to deter school violence, the Supreme Court has been told.

Soane Patita Toutai’olepo was sentenced to one year in jail for his part in an attack on a  truck carrying Tupou College student.

Lord Chief Justice Whitten said  it would be inappropriate to suspend any of the sentence.

This would risk sending a message that if somebody causes serious injury by taking part in school violence, they could escape prison time.

“If that ever was the belief, it must be dispelled,” the judge said.

“Such mindless violence must not continue.

“It is incumbent on the Court to apply the law in a manner which reinforces that community expectation and which serves to protect all school students from street violence initiated for no other reason than that they different schools.”

Toutai’olepo was one of a group of Tonga College students who threw rocks at a truck carrying Tupou College students home after a school sports competition.

The accused threw a large rock at the truck which hit 12 years-old Lata ‘i Lapaha Funakia. He was knocked unconscious and was rushed to Vaiola Hospital where surgeons operated for a compound depressed fracture to the left side of his skull.

The court was told that conflicts between school was a serious problem in Tonga.

The victim’s father said despite the fact that Toutai’olepo had not apologised, they had forgiven him

When arrested he cooperated with police.

In sentencing the accused, the judge said he had to provide an  opportunity for rehabilitation and deter others from future acts of violence between rival schools.

Toutai’olepo was sentenced to two years in prison. The second year of the sentence was suspended. Two weeks were deducted from the first year of prison because of time already spent in jail.

Vava‘u set to kick off Heilala Festival 2020 in May

By
Kalino Latu
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The Heilala Festival 2020 is expected to officially begin on May 11 in Vava’u.

The national event which included beauty pageant contest, cultural competitions, and celebrating the Royal Birthday of His Majesty King Tupou VI, will then move to Lifuka, Ha’apai on May 15 – 22.

On May 25 – 29 the event was expected to be celebrated in ‘Eua before the final events in Tongatapu on June 22 – July 4.

“In bringing Tonga Tourism Industry to actively engage in working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Tourism, we wish to invite you to join and celebrate with us on this significant and colourful event,” Tourism CEO Sione Mafi said in a statement.

“Governors of Vava’u and Ha’apai as well as the Government Representative of ‘Eua, are absolutely supportive and totally ebullient and happy to brace the National Event.

“The Ministry wishes to acknowledge every Heilala Festival‘s major sponsor, Fiji Airways, in which it’ll be again this year’s major sponsor.”

Last year the traditional event ended in bitter controversy after 2018 – 2019 Tongan beauty queen Kalo Funganitao’s title was stripped off after she spoke of alleged mistreatment and bullying by organisers.

2018 runner up, Lupe Vete, was then recognised as Miss Heilala for the 2018 to 2019 period.

Video shows how late ‘Emaloni ‘Iongi remembers his eldest popular music brother

By
Kalino Latu
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‘Emaloni ‘Iongi, one of the widely known musicians and electric band drummers in Tonga died last week in Fiji.

He was in that country for about four years undergoing kidney dialysis treatment, his daughter Lillian ‘Iongi Fifita told Kaniva news.

His body was welcomed in Tonga on Tuesday and was laid to rest this afternoon Friday 28 at ‘Ahomatavaka cemetery in Tokomololo.  

Lillian has shared a video clip on Facebook early this week.

In that video, ‘Emaloni and his brother Sitiveni ‘Iongi were interviewed by what appeared to the former OBN Television in Tonga, and is believed to have been recorded a decade ago.

The interview was part of a programme organised to launch a number of music albums produced by the ‘Iongi brothers to celebrate the 61th birthday of their eldest brother and founder of the ‘Iongi Brothers’ Electric Music group, Siale ‘Iongi.

Siale was one of Tonga’s most popular acoustic and electric band guitarists and composers.

It is believed Siale has recorded more songs ever than any Tongan composers and players, according to an interview with him published on Kaniva website in December last year.    

‘Emaloni was asked during the interview to say something he could remember that may still remind him of his brother Siale.

In his response, ‘Emaloni said Siale had always welcomed and admired any Tongan composers and musicians who he had happened to listen to their music.

According to the video clip, ‘Emaloni thanked Siale for his talents which greatly inspired him and their other siblings.

‘Emaloni later embarked on his own music business in which he successfully created his own electric group band by which her eldest daughter Lillan joined.

Samoan leader praises court for valuing ceremony in Tongan manslaughter case

By
Kaniva Staff
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A Samoan community leader has praised the Auckland High Court for acknowledging a traditional ceremony apology in sentencing a Tongan man who had pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Joseph Antonio Halaholo Larson appeared before the High Court in Auckland  charged with manslaughter.

Larson’s appearance was made after punching Jerico Telea in the face in Easter last year. He pleaded guilty on November 15.

Telea remained in a coma until Easter Monday when life support was switched off.

Larson’s Tongan family negotiated with Telea’s Samoan relatives to make a traditional apology through the Samoan custom known as ifoga.

The New Zealand Herald reported that Larson’s lawyer, Emma Priest,  said his family had done everything possible to make amends and Larson was “held accountable culturally” through ifoga.

She thanked Telea’s family for their “incredible strength of character” in deciding to forgive Larson.

Samoan community leader Papaliitele Lafulafu Peo described ifoga as an action of remorse by a wrongdoer’s family performed before the wronged family, Stuff reported.

He said it was a serious and very emotional event.

“We prepare fine mats and a member from the wrongdoing side has to bow down and cover his or her body with a fine mat,” Peo reportedly said.

“Then the rest will just sit silently behind that person. Then we have to wait for a member of the other side. If they want to accept our ifoga, they will come and uncover this person.

“For a court to value ifoga, I credit the court because it’s part of our culture.”

Larson was sentenced to one year of home detention and ordered to obtain treatment for alcohol abuse.

For more information

Family seeks forgiveness after drunken Auckland encounter ends in man’s death

Auckland bartender admits killing man in central city

Siosiua Helotu Ula’s killer Wade Niania sentenced after drug deal gone wrong

By
Kalino Latu
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The man who killed Tongan teenage drug dealer Siosiua Helotu Ula has been sentenced to five years and one month imprisonment for manslaughter and other charges.

He was also disqualified from driving for three years and six months after his release from prison.

Wade Edward Niania , of Titahi Bay, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, kidnapping, disqualified driving, and having methamphetamine intending to supply it, Stuff reported.

Ula, 19,  died in hospital two days after an incident in which Niania tried to ripped him off when Ula of Wiri, Auckland tried to sell him methamphetamine which might have been worth $40,000 if bought in bulk.

A disagreement ensued after it became clear Niania only had $300 to buy the bulk.

The court was told Ula fell from Niania’s Mercedes on Warspite Ave, Waitangirua, Porirua, just after 4pm on October 7, 2018, after he pulled himself free while he was being grapped by another man in the car.

Niania was a patched Mongrel Mob member and he was already in debt to several criminal gangs, Stuff reported.

Justice Jan-Marie Doogue while sentencing Niania said: “ I accept that you did not intent to kill Mr Ula but you did intent to seize the methamphetamine and kidnapped him in order to do so.

“Your action created the situation where Mr Ula endeavoured to escape from a moving car.

“You deliberately continue to drive and in evidently dangerous manner even after Mr Ula was outside the vehicle holding to it.”

Niania’s lawyer, Mike Antunovic, said “that since Niania had been in custody he had resolved to turn his life around and had done courses already that would help with that and he wanted to do more.”

Another traveler from China denied check in, turned away at Fua‘amotu airport, Health Minister confirms

By
Kalino Latu
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Another traveler has been refused entry to Tonga in the fourth week of travel restrictions introduced by the Government to stop the spread of coronavirus.

In response to a question from Kaniva News this morning regarding the traveler, the Minster of Health said she “was informed that traveller had past travel history to Hong Kong and within the past 14days-Tonga Travel Advisory Num 3: still stands…”

It is understood the passenger arrived in Tonga last night on Air New Zealand flight number 974. They failed to show a health declaration card to health authorities at the airport.

“The passenger originated from Belgium transiting through Hong Kong to NZ and from there to Tonga with no self-quarantine taken as clearly stated in the Advisory, or provision of any medical clearance,” Dr ‘Ofa Sanft Tukia from Vaiola hospital told Kaniva news.

On February 2 “His Majesty’s Government has issued a travel advisory requiring the need for self-quarantine for all foreign travellers originating from or transiting through China and may be denied entry into Tonga, with the exception of Tongans. The Tongan nationals who qualify under this will need to undergo quarantine with the Ministry of Health.” 

New Zealand will block travellers who have been through mainland China in a bid to stop the deadly coronavirus reaching our shores, NZHerald reported.

“It is placing temporary entry restrictions into New Zealand on all foreign nationals travelling from, or transiting through, mainland China to assist with the containment of the novel coronavirus and to protect New Zealand and the Pacific Islands from the disease.”

Meanwhile, Chinese authorities have reported that 406 new cases were confirmed on Tuesday, a drop on Monday’s 508, bringing the total number of cases in mainland China to 78,064, and 2,715 dead, the Guardian reported.

Of the 406, 401 were in Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak. The previous day saw 499.

52 people died from Covid-19 in Hubei province on Tuesday, fewer than the 68 reported on Monday.

There was one new confirmed case in the province of Shandong, two in Sichuan, one in Heibei, as well as four new confirmed cases in Hong Kong and one in Taiwan, according to Tencent.


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