A woman’s death in a home in Sopu has officially been ruled a suicide by hanging, local media reported.
‘Analupe Paletu’a, 24, was laid to rest on Saturday.
Her body was found in a kitchen “peito” while her family were away at church on January 28, the Talaki Online reported.
A post-mortem on January 30, confirmed her cause of death.
She was enrolled with the Tonga Institute of Higher Educations.
The death toll from the new coronavirus has exceeded that of the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2002 and 2003 in mainland China.
There are more than 17,000 confirmed cases in China, with 361 deaths, and more than 150 in other countries, with one death in the Philippines.
In a statement this morning, Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa has voiced “grave concern” about the increasing person-to-person spread of coronavirus after World Health Organisation declared it as a global emergency on Thursday.
The Prime Minister said the government was in the process of determining “the situation and actions necessary to ensure the welfare and potential return of the Tongan students in Wuhan, the Sports Team and Tongan students studying in mainland China.”
He said the government will also issue a travel advisory that would require quarantine measures to be implemented in order to protect Tonga’s borders and people.
“His Majesty’s Government, through the Embassy of the Kingdom of Tonga to China, has maintained regular contact with the students and sports team. At present, the reports from the Embassy have guaranteed that the students and sports teams are well, with the necessary supplies available to them until such time they depart China for Tonga,” the statement said.
“His Majesty’s Government, in light of the closure and potential closure of the New Zealand and Fiji borders to travellers from mainland China, are working and looking at options with for the return of our Tongan nationals who are currently in China.
“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.”
New Zealand-born Tongan lawyer Tavake Barron Afeaki has been appointed as the Privy Council’s new Lord Chancellor.
Afeaki has replaced former Lord Chancellor New Zealand lawyer Harry Waakens QC, the Lord Privy Seal has reportedly confirmed to local media last week.
The Lord Chancellor’s office will advise King Tupou 6th over judicial and other appointments.
Last year the former government had tried to push a raft of controversial six bills through parliament.
The bills included one which proposed to remove the king’s power to select judicial appointments and gave it to the government before recommending the king to appoint them.
The late King George V has reportedly said the role of the Lord Chancellor is to preserve the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary, but it’s also been strongly criticised, with a legal adviser saying the role of the Lord Chancellor was one of the changes made under the 2010 Constitution which have been called into question.
A report by Peter Pursglove, a legal consultant in Constitutional Law from Trinidad and Tobago said the changes mean judicial system now lacks openness, transparency and accountability.
“While the Ministry of Justice remains accountable to the people through Parliament the Office of the Lord Chancellor and the Office of the Attorney General are not publicly accountable and answer only to the King in Privy Council. This is contrary to the democratic principles upon which the new Constitution was founded.”
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An audio of the Prime Minister’s meeting in Vava’u was provided by the Prime Minister’s office and transcribed and translated into English by Kaniva News. Some parts of the content of this article had been abridged and rephrased (in English) to make them clearer to our English readers.
Town and district officers in Vava’u poured out their frustrations at having poor road conditions for many years during a meeting with the Prime Minister last week.
Some of the poor conditions were described as having been there a century ago and nothing had been done to fix them.
The officers also told the Prime Minister, who was in Vava’u to visit damaged areas caused by Tropical Cyclone Tino earlier last week, they wanted safe water tanks and wharves upgraded.
They said roads to their plantations were the first priority because their crops were their main source of income.
The town officer of Houmafaleono, Sione Hingano Vaitaki, said he believed some of the potholes in their roads today had been there since the 1910s (“hongofulu tupu.”)
Three villages including Mangia, Houmafaleono and Ha’akio used the same road, he said.
He said he believed they had the poorest road condition in the whole of Tonga.
He told the Prime Minister they have lack of safe water tanks.
Vaitaki described the frustration his residents had experienced by saying they thought they were not part of the government of Tonga and came from another planet
The longomapu town officer Sione Loseli said roads to the plantations were filled with rocks, but because they were left unsealed the fillinsg were eroded by rainwater.
He said his people had to park their vehicles where the filling ended and walk to their plantations.
It was a pity this happened when it was rainning, he said.
Loseli said his residents agreed to use the parliamentary constituency fund allocation to buy rocks for the roads.
The town officer said his people questioned his responsbility to fix the roads.
He said he explained to them that he had been to the Ministry of Infrastructure a number of times and raised the issue, but the Office directed him to talk to the Minister.
He said he could not reach the Minister.
‘Amanaki Fūnaki, the town officer of Tu’anuku, told the Prime Minister during the meeting the road maintenance queue meant it would take too long before the Vava’u 14 roads were repaired.
All town and district officers at the meeting including Neiafu, Hihifo and town officer of ‘Utungake complained to the Prime Minister about their poor road conditions.
The ‘Utungake town officer said they had no public wharf and only used wharves which belonged to motel owners in the island. However, they were damged by Cyclone Tino.
He also asked the Prime Minister to repair the causeway linking ‘Utungake with another island.
The town officer of Matamaka asked the government to help install water pumps in the island.
The Prime Minister, who was joined by a delegation of Cabinet Ministers and People’s Party officials, said he was able to visit Hila Ki Tapana and some of its surrounding sites and had a ground-view of the damage and he understood what to do.
He told the meeting to expect that in the next two years it would be a different story.
People who spoke at the meeting along with the officers supported the government’s new road project.
Important fish stocks in Tongan waters are dwindling and fishermen need to be better educated on ways to preserve numbers, a major international report has recommended.
The report by the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation was part of a five year long investigation of fish and reef conditions around the world.
This was the largest coral reef survey and mapping expedition in history.
The study was designed to assess the impact of man-made and natural disturbances on reef ecosystems, including runoff, climate change, storm damage, and Crown-of-Thorns Starfish outbreaks.
The survey was undertaken in September-October 2013 and concentrated on 58 dive sites in Ha’apai, Vava’u, and Niuatoputapu.
The survey report said fish populations had suffered badly since the 1950s when dynamite fishing was practiced.
Although dynamite fishing had been banned, other fishing practices, such as spear fishing, long line fishing, and net fishing were introduced, the human populations grew and the numbr of fish landed continued to increase.
Fishing regulations had not been able to keep up with the demand from both local subsistence fishers and fisheries exports.
The combined effects of overfishing practices and other pressures could lead to a drastic decline in the overall health of the coral reefs and fish communities.
The report said the Tongan Ministry of Fisheries had done substantial work to protect the country’s fisheries resources.
“We recommend substantial effort be dedicated to educating the people of Niuatoputapu on the importance of sustainable fishing practices, as well as to protecting the marine resources and reefs surrounding the northern Niua islands from larger fishing vessels,” the report said.
“These reefs are of critical importance in providing new reef fish to the southern island groups that are exposed to increased pressures.
“Overall, the reef fish species that are particularly important to local fishers, such as parrotfish, emperors, snapper, and groupers, all of which play an important economic and ecological are at critical low.
“It is critical that accurate documentation of the number of fish landings, as well as their size and species distribution, be recorded and provided by local fishermen as there is limited information being collected on this currently.
“It is important to continue engaging with local fishers to establish quota and size restrictions that will best protect and improve the populations of economically important reef fish species.”
The main points
For more information
Global Reef Expedition: Kingdom of Tonga Final Report
By Steve Kilgallon and Catrin Owen , Stuff.co.nz
A prominent Catholic priest regrets the “silly mistake” that forced him to leave the church, after he admitted possessing semi-nude photos of a girl under 16.
Sosefo Sateki Raass was parish priest of St Mary’s, in Mt Albert, Auckland, but was convicted in March 2019 of indecent communication with a person under 16. He was told to serve 100 hours of community service for his offending. He was not placed on the sex offenders’ register.
Raass had been considered a rising star of the church, was principal priest of the Auckland Fijian community and was also the celebrant at Japanese rugby international Amanaki Mafi’s wedding.
It’s understood a relative complained to police after a 15 year old girl sent semi-nude selfies to Raass over Facebook.
Raass claimed he hadn’t solicited the photos from the girl, and hadn’t realised her age. He said he pleaded guilty to “get it out of the way, I didn’t want to hang on and waste time.”
He agreed it had ruined his career. “It did, yes, but I have to let it go. It was a silly mistake but.. We all make mistakes…. I believe things happen for a reason.”
Raass has left the priesthood and is now in a relationship with a woman with whom he shares a West Auckland home.
After he was convicted, reporting his case was delayed because his lawyer, Steve Bonnar QC, successfully opposed applications from Stuff to read the court file which detailed his offending.
Bonnar told Stuff his client hadn’t made enquiries of the victim’s age and believed she was over 16. But he said that was “no defence to the charge”.
“There were inappropriate communications…it wasn’t a situation of grooming,” Bonnar said.
After leaving the priesthood, Raass became a director and shareholder of a memorials business, but he said that venture hadn’t worked out and he was now employed in a family business.
The case has caused a change in how the censor’s office views potentially objectionable ‘selfies’, said the chief censor, David Shanks.
At the heart of the case appears to be whether or not Raass asked for the images to be sent to him.
Police originally sent the images for review by the Office of Film and Literature Classification in early 2018, which ruled them objectionable. But on appeal by Raass, the decision was overturned by the office’s Board of Review.
The review board said while the way in which the images “appear to have been brought into existence are highly objectionable (if ultimately proven in a court of law) and in no way to be condoned” and depicted a young person nude or partially nude in a way which could be viewed sexually, they were not “injurious to the public good”.
There had been discussions by prosecutors about appealing that decision to the High Court, but that process halted when Raass entered a guilty plea.
Shanks said the review decision was, in part, because the board decided that there wasn’t enough evidence before them to make a firm decision on the issue of solicitation. The office would now prefer agencies supplied all ‘chatter’ around an image, “to make it more straightforward and clearer, so we can take into account contextual matters in considering the publication.”
Shanks said the law was written in 1993 before digital selfies were considered, and his office didn’t want to criminalise teenagers – so their decisions were interested in the circumstances in which selfies were made: “It is quite a different scenario in terms of the public impact and public harm in a situation where an adult male is essentially procuring or exhorting a young person to provide these sorts of images.”
Virginia Noonan, director of the Catholic Church’s National Standards Office – the church’s policeman – directed comments to the Auckland Catholic diocese.
Their spokeswoman, Lyndsay Freer, said in a statement that Raass left the priesthood by his own choice and the formal laicisation process was underway.
She said once the diocese learned of the allegations, they had asked Raass to take leave from his parish, notified the principals of both schools in the parish, told parishioners he was on leave and co-operated with police. She said parishioners were never formally told of the reason for Raass’ departure.
Freer said she understood the complainant was not a parishioner, but from overseas and visiting family locally.
Marist College principal Raechelle Taulu said she was unaware of Raass and the offending was “before her time” at the school. However, she said she was sure the diocese would have been open and transparent with the school at the time.
-Stuff
The man who married Princess Pilolevu Tuita’s eldest daughter has been accused of dealing illicit drugs, according to reports.
‘Epeli Taione, 40, was reportedly arrested after police executed a search warrant and took several people into custody in Tongatapu last week, reports said.
The former ‘Ikale Tahi player and former chair of the national rugby union board, was held in custody and was expected to appear in court on Monday.
The revelation came after Police released a statement on Tuesday saying they arrested four men on Saturday, January 25, with illicit drugs from a mechanic’s workshop at Umusī.
Police said this was part of an “ongoing drugs operation targeting drug dealers and suppliers.”
Police seized two packs of cocaine weighing 1.04 grams, 1.43 grams of cannabis, two live .22 bullets and over TOP$5000 in cash.
The four arrested included a 40-year-old man from Kolomotu’a, 40-year-old man from Kolofo’ou, 49-year-old man from Fangaloto and 41-year-old man from Vainī.
Police did not formally identify Taione as one of those arrested, but his arrest has been widely reported on social media since Monday.
Kakalu ‘O Tonga newspaper reported in its Thursday editions that Taione and his lawyer unsuccessully applied to bail him out after the arrest.
‘Epeli is the husband of Hon Lupepau’u Taione. She is a niece of King Tupou VI.
The revelation came after Sione Filipe Jr was expected to appear in court next week. Filipe married Princess Pilolevu and Lord Tuita’s second youngest daughter, Hon. Frederica Fatafehi ‘O Lapaha, who is another niece of king Tupou VI.
As Kaniva News reported last week, Filipe, 34, faces counts of illicit drug importation, possession of firearms and ammunition without a license and making a false declaration on arrival card.
Filipe was charged after Quarantine Officers at Fua’amotu International Airport intercepted 242.22 grams of cannabis seeds and an execution of a search warrant at his residence in Tofoa.
The main points
For more information
Trial date set for Sione Filipe Jr and co-accused in illicit drug cases
The animal that had been butchered and stolen last week had been the latest in a number of similar cases occurred in Houma recently.
While the death of the cattle is a financial loss, the family of Lu’isa and Livai Fe’ao have difficulty in coming to term with the situation after they previously lost a cow to stock thieves.
Their daughter ‘Ana Halatoa has appealed on Facebook to the public for information to help get these ruthless rustlers.
She told Kaniva News Livai went to his allotment on Monday morning and found the skin and the intestine of the cattle.
She said a formal complaint had been lodged with police.
As we reported in July 2017, a cow had been butchered and removed leaving its head and intestine behind in a tax allotment in Houma.
One of the three passers-by who came across the incident said they also found the cow’s rope lead still attached to a coconut tree by the scene.
By 9News Staff
Police are appealing for help from the public to locate a missing baby in need of urgent medical attention.
The one-year-old girl was admitted to hospital with a serious burn on her foot and is believed to be with her parents who were last seen with her at a hospital in Concord.
Police are urging the baby’s father, Sifa Talakai, 35 and her mother, Heilala Sulunga, 33 to contact authorities immediately, or take the child to the nearest hospital to prevent the foot from becoming infected.
The Tongan family may also be travelling with another five-year-old child.
It is unclear whether they are using a private vehicle or public transport but police urge anyone who knows their whereabouts to contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.
By AAP
Israel Folau will be considered for Tonga selection if he performs well for Catalan Dragons, according to coach Kristian Woolf.
The former Wallabies fullback, who has not played since being sacked by Rugby Australia for making homophobic comments on social media, has signed a one-year contract with the Super League club.
Folau is due to arrive in France next week, and the 30-year-old could make his debut for the Dragons against Wakefield in round two on Sunday week.
Woolf, who also coaches St Helens, says Folau is passionate about his Tongan heritage.
“Israel is a real professional and in any meetings or dealings I have had with him he has been really good,” Woolf told NRL.com.
“If he is playing footy that warrants picking him in the side, he will be considered along with everyone else.
“He wouldn’t get selected because of who is, he would only be selected because he is the best player.”
However, Woolf also admits there will always be a reason to stay loyal to the players who have performed so well in recent years.Latest NRL VideosFolau signs with Catalans00:23Holmes’ transition training from NFL to NRL01:25Folau linked with New York move00:19
Tonga, who beat Australia and Great Britain last year, are scheduled to meet New Zealand and Fiji in the Oceania Cup later this year, with dates and venues yet to be confirmed for the tournament.
Woolf says Tonga are in regular discussions with Samoa over a Test match between the countries, which could potentially see Folau facing off against Toronto Wolfpack’s star signing Sonny Bill Williams.
“I’m not sure what Sonny’s interest is in playing for Samoa but he would have a very good influence on them both internally and the team.”
