The Tongan government says it will put the troubled MA60 airliner back into service.
The aircraft has been grounded for several years.
A government press release said it intended to have the aircraft back in
operations within six months.
The government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the MA60’s manufacturer following a visit to China.
An aviation expert who spoke to Kaniva
news on the basis of anonymity said it could cost up to TP$8 million to fix
the aircraft.
“The MA60 has a lot of maintenance issues to resolve before it flies
again,” he said.
He said the longer an aircraft was grounded the more servicing it would
need to make it serviceable.
This included the requirement for some certain parts of the aircraft to
be overhauled or replaced, he said.
China gave the aircraft, which is based on a 1960s Soviet design, to
Tonga in 2013.
It started flying domestically in
August of that year.
However the New Zealand government issued a warning to travelers over
safety concerns for the aircraft and called for the aircraft to be certified by
an internationally recognised certification authority.
It also suspended NZ$5 million in aid to the kingdom.
The aircraft is not certified for use in the European Union or the
United states.
The MA60 has been involved in 15 accidents since it was brought in to
operation.
According to a report in the Wall
Street Journal, of the 57 MA60s exported by January 2016, at least 26 were
in storage after safety concerns, maintenance problems or performance issues
and six others had been damaged beyond repair.
Controversial figure Kelekōlio Tapueluelu said he would try to interrupt the demonstrators who are expected to protest against Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa tomorrow in South Auckland.
Tapueluelu, a retired policeman and undercover officer, a staunch supporter of conservative politicians, said he would bring a team of security guards to the United Church of Tonga Taufa’āhau Tupou IV at Grey Street, Māngere where the Tongan community is expected to meet the Prime Minister.
He said in a video posted on Facebook that he had the names of Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (PTOA) activists in New Zealand inluding Sione ‘Eniketi Tāufa, protest organising leader Lihai Lui and others and would pass it to police.
PTOA response
Lui responded in a
Facebook video, giving his telephone number and saying he wanted Tapueluelu to
contact him to arrange a meeting face to
face.
He said he knew
Tapueluelu really well and was surprised
to see his reactions against the PTOA supporters.
He asked Tapueluelu to respect the group and the protests because it would be peaceful.
On Friday the protesters released a statement outlining their cause.
PTOA statement
“We, the Friendly Islands
Democratic Party, (Paati Temokalati Otumotu Angaofa) chapter in New Zealand,
exercise our rights as members of this democratic society to assemble and
peacefully protest the Prime Minister of Tonga’s visit with the Tongan
Community in New Zealand,” it said.
“We condemn this Prime Minister, Hon Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, for betraying the trust of the late ‘Akilisi Pohiva and his own voters in his illegitimate usurping of power and forming a government comprised of a membership of questionable character and conduct, a government comprised of a membership directly opposed to the mandate of democracy, a mandate by which he himself was voted in as a member of the previous PTOA government.”
It said they condemned Hon Tu’i’onetoa for halting reforms and the move to have a full democratic government in Tonga.
It said they vehemently denied statements made by Hon
Tu’i’onetoa “to the effect that PTOA as an organisation is no longer in
existence.”
“We make it known with our presence that PTOA as a political organisation and movement remains robust in both membership and movement.
“We remain defiant in our refusal to be intimidated
into silence as others in Tonga have been silenced, despite threats to infringe
on our rights, freedoms and personal safety should we set foot in Tonga again.
“We stand united today and always for democracy, for
fairness, justice, freedom, equity and accountability in Tonga.
“For
these reasons We reject and abhor absolutely the presence of this Prime
Minister amongst our Tongan community here today.”
Anti-Democrats protests in 2006
Tapueluelu’s challenge to the PTOA came 13 years after a small group of royal supporters led by a church minister met at Pangai Lahi and protested against a large group of PTOA advocates and supporters who gathered at the Pangai Si’i square across the road from Parliament, worried that Parliament would rise for the year without adopting the recommendations of a report by the National Committee for Political Reform.
The committee had spent six months talking to Tongans around the world about how they wanted their country to be governed. The report said that while most Tongans still wanted to hold on to the monarchy and the nobility they were united in their desire for democratic reform.
Members of the two groups began exchanging words and a fight ensued. Some analysts including late Prime Minister ‘Alilisi Pōhiva said this was what provoked the riots that saw the Nuku’alofa capital town burnt down and businesses robbed on November 16, 2006.
PM interview
Meanwhile,
the Prime Minister declined an exclusive interview request from Kaniva news, saying his visit to New
Zealand was organised by somebody else whom he did not identify and he was not
available for a press conference. However he offered Kaniva a possibility for an interview in his next visit.
He
said he will be interviewed by a woman who he again did not identify, and the
record will be aired publicly.
He said there were issues raised by the public on social media which he wanted to clarify in the interview.
A car has crashed into a house in the early hours of the morning in Haveluloto.
An eyewitness said emergency services were called to the house at around 3am on Friday. The car which was heading southbound hit a power pole before ploughing into the side of the house.
The witness said the driver of the car had to be cut from the vehicle by firefighters and was rushed to hospital.
His conditions remain unclear.
It was also unclear whether alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash.
No other cars were involved in the incident and police were investigating the cause of the crash.
Protesters who are expected to take to the streets in South Auckland to demonstrate againstPrime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa next week have sent a strong message to controversial figure Kelekolio Tapueluelu, warning him to avoid interfering in their protests.
The warnings came
after Tapueluelu released a short live Facebook video clip attacking the demonstrators.
The retired policeman and undercover officer, a staunch supporter of conservative politicians, said in Tongan he had just arrived from Tonga to meet the protesters.
He warned that he wanted to meet with the person who made the online
threats against Hon. Tu’i’onetoa last month.
But Tapueluelu, who is also known
as Kēnolo (the Colonel) said the person,
who he referred to as ‘Moana,’ has done this twice to him, but did not explain
what he meant.
Tapueluelu’s online comments provoked strong reactions on internet from the PTOA supporters, with many warning that he would face the consequences if he tried to intervene without being invited.
The organisers said the demonstrations would be peaceful and they had contacted police and Auckland council about their planned action.
The protests are organised by the supporters and activists of Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands in New Zealand, widely known as PTOA.
PTOA spokesperson Lihai Lui told Kaniva news he has responded to Tapueluelu’s comments and warned him to keep away from them.
He said the group held a meeting in Māngere yesterday as part of the preparation for the demonstrations and the turnout was encouraging.
He said a number of church ministers have attended the meeting.
The organisers said New Zealand was a democracy and allowed them to exercise
their freedom and rights to protest.
The protesters said they wanted to show Hon. Tu’i’onetoa they were disappointed that he had been elected to the Tongan Parliament as a PTOA candidate, but then crossed the floor after Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva died.
He and others who crossed the floor sided with the nobility and
independent MPs to take control of the government from the Democrats.
Tapueluelu assaulted in 2017
In 2017 Tapueluelu was attacked after he threatened Hon. Pōhiva during a
press conference in Nuku’alofa.
As Kaniva news reported at the time, Tapueluelu told Hon. Pohiva during the press conference he intended to disturb “fakahoha’asi” him until he changed his mind and reinstated the 2019 Pacific Games which Tonga had been going to host.
He told Hon. Pohiva he was ready to die as long as he achieved his mission.
Following his statements, some PTOA supporters went looking for Tapueluelu
and when they found him an attack ensued. Tapueluelu was reportedly injured
during the attack.
Two men were arrested and charged with assault. The charges were later
dropped after Tapueluelu left for New Zealand and did not return for the court
hearing.
As Kaniva news reported in
January this year, Tapueluelu alleged he had been assaulted during a party in Papatoetoe.
Tapueluelu, who appeared in bloodied clothes and hands in a video clip,
said he wanted to help a friend but another person in the party confronted him.
Complaint
Last month chair of the Tonga
Advisory Council in Auckland, Melino Maska, laid a complaint with police
following threats to kill PM Tu’i’onetoa.
Maka said he took the action after being approached by angry members of the Tongan community.
He told Radio New Zealand there had been bitter criticism at the Prime Minister and one of his advisers, Etuate Lavulavu.
Following an investigation, New Zealand Police said they concluded the
person who made death threats against Tonga’s Prime Minister meant no harm.
Tonga’s Ministry of Health is investigating reports that details of a patient’s records were posted on Facebook.
A nurse in Ha’apai is at the
centre of the investigation after information about a patient from Fotua was
apparently posted on Facebook, the Kakalu
‘O Tonga newspaper reported this week.
The Kakalu quoted the Ministry’s CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola, as saying the
case could be taken up with Police.
It is understood the person
under investigation has deactivated her Facebook page and apologised to the patient’s
family.
The Kakalu said the family of the patient was disappointed after they
heard that medical information had been posted online.
Dr ‘Akau’ola reportedly said
the investigation could be hindered by legal issues because the leak was made
on social media.
He said if laws had been
breached the nurse could be dismissed.
The Ministry’s head office in Tongatapu has treated the breach seriously and demanded its Ha’apai main office conduct an urgent investigation, the paper said.
A recent report on the state of
the Tongan health system’s information systems by the Asian Development Bank
said the kingdom’s legal, policy, and strategic framework did not reflect
current technology developments.
The ADB said the kingdom needed
a legal framework to safeguard sensitive patient data from unauthorised access,
use or disclosure.
The ADB said the Public Health
Act (1992) and the Births, Deaths, Marriages Registration Act 1926 needed to be
updated and new laws drafted.
Standards
In 2016 RNZ reported the then Chief of Nursing Dr ‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu as saying
70 percent of nurses were yet to reach the national professional standard.
It quoted Dr Tu’ipulotu, who is
now Minister of Health as saying a survey showed an urgent need to improve
nursing standards.
The report infuriated the nurse
community in Tonga.
However, the then Minister for Health, Hon. Saia Piukala, told Kaniva Newsat the time he was certain Dr Tu’ipulotu, did not intend to insult members of the profession.
Tonga’s garbage collection service must protect its workers better and buy proper garbage trucks, the Ombudsman has recommended.
Following an investigation into safety concerns , Ombudsman ‘Aisea Taumopeau said Waste Authority Ltd should buy proper compactor trucks and equipment tailor-made for waste collection suitable for Tonga’s environment.
WAL should also provide its garbage
collectors with proper protective gear suitable for Tonga’s weather and make
sure it was used.
The CEO of WAL should report back to
the Ombudsman by the end of January.
The Ombudsman said he launched the investigation into the
health and safety of WAL workers after seeing WAL workers collecting rubbish
with limited protective gear and riding on top of open rubbish trucks.
Taumopeau asked WAL to provide information on its waste collection processes, equipment used and any financial issues and information on safety policies.
The investigation found most WAL
workers worked six days a week for a total of 60 hours.
The Ombudsman said WAL could not
afford to buy proper equipment.
He said the Authority should review
its monthly fees which had not been changed since 2008.
The Aurora Home-based Childcare Services in South Auckland have announced a dramatic progress in their operations since their establishment.
The Tongan-owned and Otara-based services now have more than 100 children enrolled and there is a waiting list.
Last year the school
enrolled 90 school children.
The development comes three years after the school was
established. Students are mostly Tongan children and a number of children with
Maori and other ethnic backgrounds.
Directors Siale Heitonga and Hulita Kaati Tangitau Heitonga hosted a Christmas farewell party with multi-cultural entertainment to send off with the children and their parents this afternoon at the Wiri Community Hall.
The celebration began with
a prayer led by Rev. Kelemeni ‘Otuhouma before the children performed cultural
activities. They were presented with Christmas gifts followed by lunch prepared
by the host and a closing speech by Siale.
Siale revealed new educators will begin working at the Aurora next year and talks were underway to recruit more of them.
” We are currently undertaking restructuring to better meet the demands of a growing organisation,” Siale said.
Helping each other and working together with the Aurora community and stakeholders helped ease barriers, which Siale described as normal in any school operations.
He said Aurora has followed its strategic vision which was set until 2021.
Parents and children during Aurora X-mas party. Photo/Kalino Lātū
The vision included the
organisation striving to become a provider of high-quality home-based early childhood
education services that were inclusive, culturally competent, flexible, and
responsive to the needs of the children and their families.
It also undertook to allow
greater participation and involvement of families and whanau to share and
contribute their knowledges and skills.
The school also embraced and promoted cultural diversity, facilitated multi-cultural learning and made educational opportunities equally available to everyone.
Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (PTOA) activists have urged their supporters to demonstrate peacefully next Monday, December 16, during a meeting with Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa in Auckland.
A large
turnout is expected and organisers want the pro-democracy demonstration to show
Tu’i’onetoa the movement still has strong momentum.
Banners are expected to be displayed outside the hall of the United Church of Tonga Taufa’ahau Tupou IV at Grey St and the group’s supporters are expected to ask tough questions during the meeting in Mangere
The
group members were unhappy after Hon. Tu’i’onetoa and some party MPs crossed
the floor in September and formed the new People’s Party before they won the
premier election.
Hon
Tu’i’onetoa defeated Hon Semisi Sika of the PTOA Party, who the late leader,
‘Akilisi Pohiva, wanted to succeed him as Prime Minister.
The Party members were also disappointed after Tu’i’onetoa publicly announced that the PTOA Party was no longer active after leader Pohiva died in September.
Tu’i’onetoa also claimed the Party belonged to the Pohiva family and questioned why was it not registered as a lawful body with government.
One of the group’s activists, Lihai Lui, appeared in a live Facebook video this morning and urged their members to make sure they demonstrated legally and peacefully.
The clip was shared on PTOA Facebook pages and groups and it was widely supported by members.
A by-election for the seat left vacant by the death of Pohiva has been won last month by his son, Siaosi Pohiva.
For the PTOA party, the win is a life-line for the party’s future, after it lost the premiership election.
Last week Hon. Tu’ionetoa and New Zealand Deputy PM Winston Peters signed a Statement of Partnership between Tonga and New Zealand in Wellington.
The details of the agreement have not been revealed, but Peters said the agreement set out joint priorities for cooperation out to 2023.
“We welcomed Prime Minister Tu‘i‘onetoa on his first visit to New Zealand as Prime Minister,” Peters said.
“Tonga is one of our closest neighbours and we look forward to working with Prime Minster Tu‘i‘onetoa and his new government
“We discussed a range of
bilateral issues including security co-operation, economic development, health
and education, as well as regional and global challenges such as
climate change.”
The
planned demonstration came after New Zealand Police investigated threats
against Tu’i’onetoa on Facebook after a member of the public laid a criminal
complaint.
In a
recent statement, police said they spoke to the person involved and found they
were “remorseful and meant no harm.”
A
police spokesperson said threatening a person was a serious crime that could
result in prosecution.
“This
is true regardless of who is making the threat or what medium they use. Making
these threats can cause serious harm to the victims, whether it is acted upon
or not,” police said.
Three men were killed in a single-car
crash early Saturday morning on Highway 24 in Orinda when their red 2009 Nissan
Versa slammed into a tree, California media have quoted the California Highway
Patrol as saying.
Siaki ‘Ete’aki, a paternal uncle of one of the victims, has confirmed to Kaniva news these men were Tongans.
Siaki has identified the men as his nephew Molomona ‘Ete’aki, 31, Sione Vaitafa (age still unknown) and Mauni Pāhulu, 22.
Siaki said the trio were returning home on Highway 24 after a kava party in Concord.
The agency reportedly said the car veered off into a tree-covered hillside north of the highway.
The car then crashed into a tree, killing the three men inside, it said.
Officers arrived to the scene at about 3.07 am and pronounced the three men dead, the agency said on Facebook.
Anyone with information is asked to call the CHP in Martinez at 925-646-4980.
