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Tonga draws Group D in Rugby League World Cup; will face Cook Islands, PNG and Wales

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tonga has drawn Group D in the 2021 Rugby League World cup.

Tonga has been described as one of the world’s best four rugby teams alongside England, Australia and New Zealand.

The kingdom’s team will  be grouped with fellow Pacific teams, the Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea as well as Wales.

The groups were announced by Prince Harry, who revealed the women’s and wheelchair tournament groups at Buckingham Palace.

Prince Harry is patron of the Rugby Football League, but it is not known how long he will continue in the role.

Ahead of this event, Prince Harry also introduced a new initiative to champion the importance of mental health for those who play rugby.

Tonga was represented at  Buckingham Palace  by Konrad Hurrell, who currently plays for Leeds Rhinos in the English Superleague.

Group A will include England, Samoa, France and Greece.

Australia, Fiji, Scotland and Italy will make up Group B.

Group C will include New Zealand, Lebanon, Jamaica and Ireland.

Fixtures dates for the tournament have yet to be announced, but English Premier League football grounds including Old Trafford (Manchester United), Anfield (Liverpool) and Emirates Stadium (Arsenal) will be used.

The main points

  • Tonga has drawn Group D in the 2021 Rugby League World cup.
  • Tonga has been described as one of the world’s best four rugby teams alongside England, Australia and New Zealand.

For more information

Rugby League World Cup 2021

Tongan mother killed in south Auckland “person of good character and loving others”

By
Kalino Latu
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FAVONA,NZ: Counties Manukau Police have named the victim of an apparent shooting incident at Favona as 57-year-old Meliame Fisi’ihoi.

Mrs Fisi’ihoi was located deceased at a property on Calthorp Close in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Search for her killer continues.

Police said they have since completed a thorough scene examination at the address.

A post-mortem examination has also been completed.

The victim’s identity was officially released this afternoon after police launched a homicide investigation following a report of a person hearing what they believed was a gunshot noise near the address.

Police previously said it’s too early to speculate whether this incident is linked to another shooting on the same street last month on December 4, where a man was left critically injured.

Acting Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers said there was no doubt that the incident is of concern to residents in Favona and wider community.

“In recent days our Communities staff have been speaking with key partners in the community to address any concerns they may have.

“Our team of detectives are continuing their work and will be following a number of lines of enquiry in the coming days.

“At this stage of our enquiry we are still unable to speculate whether an earlier incident on Calthorp Close is connected to this investigation or not.”

A friend of the deceased told Kaniva news Mrs Fisi’ihoi and her family lived in Gisborne before they moved to south Auckland.

Fine Lātū, who was shocked by the news, said Mrs Fisi’ihoi was a person of good character and loving others.

She said Mrs Fisi’ihoi helped Tongans who came to New Zealand to find jobs for them.

Tongan seasonal workers admit sex offence, abduction

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Rob Kidd, https://www.odt.co.nz/

OTAGO, NZ: A pair of orchard workers laughed as they sexually violated a woman they had dragged down to Lake Dunstan, a court has heard.

Suliasi Fangatua (30) and Taniela Siale (22) pleaded guilty to abduction and sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection almost a year after the incident when they appeared before the Dunedin District Court yesterday.

The orchard workers, from Tonga, were understood to be nearing the end of their seasonal stint when they turned up to Cromwell’s Victoria Arms Hotel early on February 3.

Eight minutes later CCTV showed them leaving the bar.

The victim, a 35-year-old woman, could be seen talking to Siale outside the establishment.

Moments later, she was captured walking across the road to a car park with two men.

She had been told she could get a ride home.

Instead the pair dragged her over a grass bank, towards the lake, and her ordeal, which would last more than an hour, began.

The next day, a police sweep of the scene showed the path the group took.

The victim’s shoes were found in the car park, her jeans in some bushes, togs on a gravel path closer to the lake and her phone was in the water, metres from the shore.

As she was being hauled into the darkness by the burly men, she managed to call her partner.

He later retrieved the message and heard her repeatedly saying “help”.

Siale and Fangatua restrained her, one grabbing her upper body, the other her lower half.

Closer to the lake, further from any prospect of help, the defendants pinned her down on her back and removed her clothes.

“The victim was naked, but she continued to kick out, fight and scream,” the court heard.

Fangatua positioned himself by her head and put his hand over the victim’s mouth to stifle her calls for assistance.

Siale, meanwhile, violated the woman.

Fangatua only removed his hand from her mouth so he could kiss her.

“The defendants conversed in a foreign language and laughed together before continuing to sexually violate the victim in the same way for a period of time.”

Worried her life was in danger, the woman took a different approach.

She stopped fighting back, the court heard, and told the men she was not going to tell anyone about what they had done.

Siale handed over his grey hoodie when she said she was cold.

He had no idea at that point that it would provide crucial evidence in the case against them.

The victim bolted back up the path, made it back to the hotel and managed to rouse the publican.

Siale and Fangatua walked back to their accommodation.

Forensic analysis of the hoodie turned up DNA from both defendants as well as the victim.

A swab taken from the woman’s genitalia provided a match with Siale.

While the men refused to admit their involvement at the time, they were convicted following their guilty pleas yesterday and Judge Dominic Flatley gave them each a first-strike warning under the three-strikes legislation.

They will be sentenced in April.

Small boat owners told to stay on shore as tropical cyclone alert remains in force

By
Kaniva Staff
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Owners of small fishing boats have been warned not to  put to sea in the Niuas coastal waters  because of heavy damaging swells.

A tropical cyclone alert remains in force for Tonga and there will be poor visibility due to heavy rain and thunderstorms.

A gale alert remains in force for the Niuas.

A heavy rain warning and flash flood advisory remain in force for the Niuas land areas.

At 4pm this afternoon tropical depression 04f was located 1135km west northwest of Niuafo’ou, 1335km west northwest of Niuatoputapu, 1450km west northwest of Neiafu, Vava’u, 1485km northwest of Pangai, Ha’apai, 1515km northwest of Nuku’alofa and 1555km northwest of ‘Eua.

The depression is moving east at 12 knots (24km/hr). The maximum winds near its centre are about 25-30 knots (50-60km/hr). By 1pm tomorrow the depression is expected to lie about 630km west northwest of Niuafo’ou at 1pm tomorrow. 

For the Niua, winds are expected to strengthen by tomorrow morning then gradually increase to gale force winds 35-45 knots (70-90km/hr) by tomorrow night.

There is a possibility of flash flooding  in low lying areas.

For Ha’apai and Vava’u winds will be light to moderate, rising to 20-25 knots at times tomorrow afternoon. There will be cloudy periods with occasional showers.

Seas will be moderate to rough sea.

For Tongatapu, ‘Eua, Tele-ki-tonga and Tele-ki-tokelau winds will be light to moderate, rising to 20 knot.

There will be moderate easterly swell of up to two meters.

The main points

  • Owners of small fishing boats have been warned not to  put to sea in the Niuas coastal waters  because of heavy damaging swells.
  • A tropical cyclone alert remains in force for Tonga remains in force and there will poor visibility due to heavy rain and thunderstorms.

Loupua Kulī appointed magistrate amid concerns over courts increasing workload

By
Kalino Latu
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The president of Tonga’s Law Society Loupua Kiola Kulī has been appointed senior magistrate of Tonga’s lower courts.

The appointment came as the Ministry of Justice moved to recruit more judges to help manage the lower courts increasing workload.

As Kaniva news reported recently, processing of court cases had been repeatedly delayed and the Office of the Attorney General were overloaded and understaffed, Lawyer William Clive Edwards Snr had claimed during a televised radio programme late last year.  

Tonga’s Magistrate Courts experienced a shortage of magistrates with their number dropping to four in 2010.

Kulī is the third female magistrate after ‘Elisapeta Langi and Vūsenga Helu.

Kulī was presented with a gold medal during the USP 2010 graduation as part of her LLB qualification awards. In 2016 she was graduated with a Master Of Laws.

She is the daughter of Mafi Kiola of Houma, Tongatapu, and Sūlia Kiola of Ha’afeva, Ha’apai.

Kulī is married to Ma’afu Kulī of Lapaha and they have two children.

Three Tonga Broadcasting Commission journalists suspended, reports say

By
Kalino Latu
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Reports said the Tonga Broadcasting Commission’s Station Manager Sētita Tu’i’onetoa, television anchors Vilisoni Tu’iniua and Salamo Fulivai have been suspended this morning.

Tu’iniua reported their suspension in a Facebook chat group, seen by Kaniva news, but he did not respond to our request for confirmation.

He told the group they were looking for a lawyer.

He alleged a new PTOA (Democrats) party special TV programme launched on Television Tonga yesterday may have contributed to the reasons for their suspension. The programme was hosted by Mrs Sētita, Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa’s sister-in-law.

During the more than 20 minutes show Mrs Sētita mentioned to former Acting Prime Minister Sēmisi Sika, the chair of the party, a status he posted on Facebook against the government’s multi-million New Road Project Policy.

They discussed the status during the show.

The status on January 12 read: ” The two CEOs , Infrastructure and Finance, must step up and advise baldly. Ringo [and] Balwyn […..] take action. We are at a crossroads in this community road project. A crucial decision must be made before this turns into a national crisis. We fully support upgrading roads and to move and act quickly on it but it must be delivered wisely.”

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Former Police Minister Māteni Tapueluelu told the host the party was challenged by the Prime Minister to hold a debate on why Hon Tu’i’onetoa defected the party and joined the nobility.

MP Tapueluelu said he had contacted the Prime Minister after the party assigned him for the debate but had yet to receive a response.

When asked for comment this afternoon, the Chief Secretary Edgar Cocker told us to contact TBC general manager Solomone Finau.

Attempts to contact TBC authorities were unsuccessful. The details of the journalists’ suspension are still unknown.

As Kaniva news reported last year, the Prime Minister has advised TBC former chair Piveni Piukala to investigate the journalists after he received complaints from the public against them.

At the time, Hon. Tu’i’onetoa said the part of the investigation process which was taken by his office against one of the trio had been nearly completed.

The Prime Minister said he believed the process could take longer than expected, but he did not explain why.

He said it was the duty of Piukala to process the complaints after they were lodged with the government, the main shareholder of TBC.

“If he did not do that than that’s another issue to be addressed,” Hon Pōhiva told Kaniva news in Tongan.

The government finally terminated Piukala’s contract in November last year.

An official statement sent to media outlets read: “The grounds for the termination are incompetence; failure to assist the Public Enterprises to act accordingly with its principal objective; acting in bad faith, and failure to follow the due process in appointing of CEO for Tonga Broadcasting Commission.”

One dead, two injured after boat capsizes in Auckland’s Manukau Harbour

By
Kalino Latu
-

One person has died following a boating incident at Manukau Heads, Auckland, this evening.

Two others were transported to Middlemore Hospital with minor injuries.

Police were alerted around 9.05pm.

Initial indications suggest the boat overturned, Police said.

The deceased died at the scene.

Police are working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

MV Onemato’s ramp seen open and hanging in water near Nāfanua wharf; details still unclear

By
Kalino Latu
-

Photos circulated on social media appeared to show the MV Onemato’s loading ramp open and hanging in the sea near the Nafanua wharf at ‘Eua.

The details of the incident are still unknown.

However, comments on Facebook said the ramp accidentally fell open just before the ferry was about to drop anchor on Tuesday.

A source familiar with ferries and how they docked said the incident happened because the crew sometime open the ramp while the ferry is sailing close to the wharf and do not wait until it has arrived at the wharf’s ramping area.

He said this was to avoid the ferry having to manouvre around at the wharf if the ramp dropped too long or too short at the boat ramp.

The source told Kaniva news the ferry might have had electrical problems, but that the ramp should still have been locked

He said it appeared the ramp did not have safety cables.

It is understood the ferry had just returned from Fiji after maintenance.

In September last year, the ferry was taken out of service because of technical faults.

At the time the TBC quoted ‘Eua Government Representative as saying he was concerned about the financial management of the ‘Eua Sea Transportation Council because more than TP$100,000 had  been spent on the MV ‘Onemato while it was in Fiji.

The TBC did not report any details of his concern.

The ‘Eua Sea Transportation Council could not be reached for comment.

In February last year MV ‘Onemato’s captain denied reports that the vessel had gone aground  at  Nafanua harbour.

‘Eua government representative Sūnia Havea made the claim to TBC based on what two passengers told him.

Gunshot sound led police to body in a house in south Auckland

By
Kaniva Staff
-

[New Zealand] Counties Manukau Police have launched a homicide investigation following the death of a person in the suburb of Favona overnight.

At approximately 2.50am, Police received of a report of a person hearing what they believed was a gunshot noise near an address in Calthorp Close.

Police responded to the property and located a person inside the address deceased.

Police enquiries are underway to establish what has occurred at the address.

A cordon is in place around the property and a scene examination has commenced which will take place throughout the day.

A post-mortem examination and victim identification processes are still to be carried out.

“The community can be reassured that a number of detectives are now working on this investigation.

Police have also increased frontline patrols in the wider area,” Acting Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers says.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward and contact Counties Manukau Crime Squad on 09 261 1321.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

There is no further information available at this stage, however we expect to be able to provide a further update this afternoon.

Tonga pays outstanding UN dues after stripped of vote

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Tonga’s Chief Secretary said “Tonga has paid off its debts to the United Nations, a day after it was stripped of its voting rights.”

Edgar Cocker told PMN News the government failed to pay the money after “a mix-up.”

The report came after Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa said his government was working urgently to pay Tonga’s  outstanding dues it owes the international body after it lost voting privileges because it was behind on payments, TBC reported yesterday.

As Kaniva news reported last night, Tonga needs to find US$16,444 to regain its right to vote at the United Nations.

The amount, equivalent to TP$ 37,751.60, is needed to reduce the amount Tonga owes to the international body to an acceptable level.

Tonga is one of seven countries that have lost their voting rights.

The others are Venezuela, Lebanon, Central African Republic, Gambia, Lesotho and Yemen.

Comoros, Sao Tome and Principe, and Somalia are also in arrears but UN said it will keep their voting rights until September.

Details of the kingdom’s full debt have not been released.

Countries whose debt to the UN equals or exceeds the amount of the contributions due from it for the preceding two full years lose their vote.

Only 146 of the 193 member states paid their dues in full for the 2019 budget.

Last October UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the organisation was facing a serious financial crisis.

King Tupou VI addressed the UN General Assembly last year and said the kingdom looked to the Security Council to provide protection from threats to international peace and security.

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