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Lord ‘Akau‘ola presents credentials in Abu Dhabi, leads ambassadors thanks to Sheikh

By
Philip Cass
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Tonga’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Lord ‘Akau’ola, has officially presented his credentials to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai.

Hon. ‘Akau’ola made the presentation along with a number of other diplomats at the Qasr al Watan palace in Abu Dhabi.

He is Tonga’s first ambassador to the Gulf state.

Other ambassadors present included representatives of Switzerland, Slovakia, Cyprus, Niger, Sri Lanka, the European Union, Northern Macedonia, Italy, Latvia, Rwanda and Angola.

After the presentation of credentials by the other representatives, Hon ‘Akau’ola gave the official vote of thanks.

Members of the UAE Cabinet were at the ceremony.

The Tongan diplomatic mission has been established with the assistance of the UAE.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the king had ordered Hon. ‘Akau’ola to establish the embassy without placing any financial burden on the government of Tonga.

“Due to the close relationship between the two royal households Hon. ‘Akau’ola has managed to achieve this,” the Ministry said.

Hon. ‘Akau’ola is supported in the Tongan embassy by First Secretary Sione Sonata Tupou.

The embassy serves as the official headquarters of Tonga for Expo 2020.

A website is  being developed that will provide information on the royal household, the government, tourism, trade investment and consular services.

Tonga’s new embassy in Abu Dhabi is located on Level 26 , Tower 3, Etihad Towers.

Hon. ‘Akau’ola

In an article on November 9 about the opening of the Tongan embassy in the UAE, we made reference to Hon. ‘Akau’ola’s personal financial situation.

On November 15, following the provision of updated information by the ambassador’s representatives, we were happy to correct our original story and to inform readers that all of his financial obligations had been met.

In our article of November 9 we also made certain statements about the nature of diplomatic positions which caused Hon. ‘Akau’ola concern.

Kaniva news apologises to Hon. ‘Akau’ola for any distress we may have caused.

The story on our website has been removed.

The main points

  • Tonga’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Lord ‘Akau’ola, has officially presented his credentials to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai.
  • Hon. ‘Akau’ola made the presentation along with a number of other diplomats at the Qasr al Watan palace in Abu Dhabi.

For more information

Tonga expands to the Middle East

Tonga expands to the Middle East

Air NZ cancels dozens of international flights including Tonga over Dreamliner engine woes

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Radio New Zealand International  

Air New Zealand has cancelled some of its international flights due to ongoing issues with its Rolls-Royce engines.

The national carrier says maintenance requirements has forced it to cancel some 82 flights, affecting 14,000 customers travelling between 10 December and 5 January.

Most of the cancelled flights were between Christchurch and Perth, as well as Auckland and Sydney, with limited disruption between Auckland and Tonga.

The airline said it would begin processing changes to customer bookings this week and then contact affected passengers.

Air New Zealand spokesperson Dave Wilson said the airline had been performing regular checks on the engines since April and had been doing all it could to fast-track the required maintenance from Rolls-Royce, but there was a significant wait for repair services.

The airline warned there may be further cancellations.

The affected engines are installed on the airline’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

In a statement, Air NZ said: “Rolls-Royce requires operators of its Trent 1000 TEN model engines to carry out more frequent maintenance due to an issue with the engine’s high-pressure turbine blades. Rolls-Royce does not have any replacement engines available while maintenance work is undertaken and has advised Air New Zealand there’s significant wait for repair services.

“Air New Zealand has 10 Trent 1000 TEN engines fitted to its 787-9 fleet and has been working to minimise disruption but schedule changes are now unavoidable. Further changes may also be required as the airline progresses the engine checks.”

The most affected route is Air NZ’s twice-weekly seasonal Christchurch-Perth service, resulting in the cancellation of 62 flights.

Air NZ said it would cancel its second daily Auckland-Perth service from 10 December 2019 until 5 January 2020, but continue to operate its 11.10am Auckland-Perth and 6.50pm Perth-Auckland services as scheduled.

Outside the Perth route, a limited number of international cancellations would also take place from 10 December-2 January, it said.

Last year Air NZ engineers announced a strike notice that would have disrupted travel for 120,000 customers in the lead up to Christmas.

Engineers and logistics workers had threatened industrial action on 21, 22 and 23 December in the dispute over pay and conditions. However, the strike was called off a week in advance.

PM Tu‘i‘onetoa ‘recommends’ three TBC journalists be suspended pending investigation

By
Kalino Latu
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Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa has advised Tonga Broadcasting Commission chair Piveni Piukala to investigate three journalists after he received complaints from the public against them.

The Commission’s Studio Manager Setita Tu’i’onetoa, television anchors Vilisoni Tu’iniua and Salamo Fulivai are the subject of the investigation.

Hon. Pōhiva 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.

Piukala said he will update us when he returns to Tonga this morning.

The complaints included one which was lodged by ousted cabinet minister ‘Etuate Lavulavu.

As we reported last month, Lavulavu wrote to TBC General Manager Solomone Finau demanding he suspends his news room staff and station manager.

Lavulavu wanted to investigate information he described in Tongan as falsified, incomplete, untruthful and invalid.

He accused the national radio and television service of not giving him a chance to respond to accusations against him. He said the rules of natural justice had not been followed.

Lavulavu claimed an incriminating audio recording of him, parts of which were broadcast on Television Tonga’s news, was doctored and twisted to discredit him.

The TBC news story, which was also carried by Setita on her Facebook page, alleged that  Lavulavu manipulated members of parliament before  the People’s Party won the premiership election and formed the government.

It also alleged that Lavulavu had requested the government to reward him, for his part in establishing the People’s Party and to approve an application to lease the plot of land on which the government flat he is renting is situated.

Lavulavu vehemently denied the allegations and said he did not make any requests to the government for rewards for the advice he gave the coalition parties before they won the premiership election and formed the new government.

As Kaniva news has also reported, Setita has described Lavulavu’s complaint using the Tongan word “fakanāfala”- a word coined from cricket for the hit made by a batsman who has not made sure of his target.

She told us TBC has consulted two lawyers before she released the news.

“We are not prepared to agree to the terms of Lavulavu’s offer and if Lavulavu files proceedings, we will defend ourselves,” she said.

“The news was clear of breaking any laws of the government of Tonga and the news did not breach any of TBC’s policies and regulations.”

For more information

Lavulavu wants TBC to investigate staff over allegedly defamatory reports; broadcaster says it “was clear of breaking any laws”
Lavulavu claims incriminating audio doctored, threatened to sue Tonga Broadcasting Commission and others

Rugby League Invitational XIII showed what is possible when unity prevails, King tells players

By
Philip Cass
-

Players were the heroes who inspired young people, King Tupou VI told members of the Rugby Invitational XIII this week.

Speaking at  ceremony at his residence, His Majesty said players provide inspiration for young people.

“Sport in Tonga has never been about divisions,” the king said.

“It has been about unity and peace; putting aside divisions and uniting under the banner of sport.

“We can do more if we are united as this rugby league team has shown us and the world in the recent past.”

The king said sport was about putting aside divisions, seeing the larger picture and doing the right thing.

“Imagine what we could do if we were all united and pulling in the same direction,” he said.

After his speech, His Majesty bestowed the Most Illustrious Order of Queen Salote to a number of players.

Yesterday, Friday 25, was declared a public holiday to celebrate the Invitational XIII’s wins over the British Lions and the Kangaroos.

A parade of 21 vehicles was scheduled to take the players to the Teufaiva Sport Stadium.

Determination

The team’s victories have reinforced the determination of the players to refuse to have anything to do with the Tongan Rugby National League.

A bitter dispute broke out  between the players and the game’s administration after coach Kristian Woolf was sacked. He was later re-installed at the insistence of the game’s international ruling body.

Jason Taumalolo told the NRL’s official website: “We will not reconcile nor play under the current board members.”

“The attempts to publicly discredit the players and the staff of the group that represented the Tonga Invitational XIII means that is out of the question.”

The  main points

  • Players were the heroes who inspired young people, King Tupou VI told members of the Rugby Invitational XIII this week.
  • Speaking at  ceremony at his residence, His Majesty said players provide inspiration for young people.

For more information

Tonga’s rugby league celebrations to continue

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/403338/sport-tonga-s-rugby-league-celebrations-to-continue

Stars call for new Tongan administration amid wild celebrations

https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/11/14/stars-call-for-new-tongan-administration-amid-wild-celebrations/

Watch hilarious moment women push each other as they try to kiss Taumālolo; van runs over foot of one of them

By
Kalino Latu
-

A woman’s left foot was apparently run over by the front left wheel of a red vehicle during welcoming celebrations for the Tonga Invitational XIII team.

It was not immediately clear whether the woman was injured or not.

“Holomui! Holomui! Holomui!” the woman yelled at the driver pleading with them to reverse.

The woman was one of  several women shown in a video footage shared online this evening.

The 15-second video clip shows Taumālolo wearing vala ngatu while he was apparently led out of a building.

Some of the women kissed and hugged Taumālolo.

Kaniva news was unable to verify where exactly the incident occurred.

The celebrations came after Tonga defeated the world rugby league champion.

“Tonga have claimed arguably the biggest scalp in rugby league history as they defeated the World Champion Australian side,” the New Zealand Herald reported.

Thousands of diehard Kau To’a fans dressed in red and paraded from the Nuku’alofa waterfront to the Central Business District yesterday Friday 15.

On Thursday the league stars were welcomed at the royal villa in Tufumāhina by Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u.

The king urged the players, the officials and all related parties to put aside their differences and unite in peace.

Upheavals surrounding the team which emerged months earlier before their historic victory last month had reached global media.

Tonga National Rugby League interim board called for the Invitational XIII to be  boycotted because they weren’t the Mate Ma’a Tonga or even a ‘real’ Tongan team.

The national league body was eventually suspended by the Rugby League International.

Because of the bitter dispute, the Tongan team played under the name, Tongan invitational XIII and not Mate Ma’a Tonga, a solution brokered  by the international rugby league authorities.

Lord ‘Akau‘ola has repaid all monies owing to Bank of South Pacific, lawyer tells Kaniva

By
Philip Cass
-

Lord ‘Akau’ola has paid all moneys owing to the Bank of South Pacific Tonga Ltd.

As Kaniva news previously reported, the Noble had been the subject of a Supreme Court order in 2018 allowing the bank, formerly Westpac, to recover nearly one million pa’anga.

That sum was the amount owing plus interest.

As we pointed out in a recent story, it has been unclear whether that amount has been paid.

This evening his lawyer, Auckland-based Harry Waalkens QC, wrote to us saying that the amount had been paid in full.

He provided a copy of a letter from Stephenson Associates dates June 25 last year to the Supreme Court saying:

“We act for Bank of South Pacific Tonga Limited, the judgement creditor in the above referenced matter.

“The Bank have instructed is that the judgement debt in tis matter has now been settled by the Judgement Debtor to their satisfaction. The Court’s records may (and should) of course be updated to reflect this.

“As such we accordingly withdraw the Bank’s application for an Order Appointing a Receiver under Order 33 of the Supreme Court Rules 2007, the hearing for which matter had previously been scheduled by the Lord Chief Justice for 17 July at 9am.”

Kaniva news is happy to clarify the situation.

Lord ‘Akau’ola has been appointed Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

He presented his letter of credentials to Zaki Nusseibeh, the UAE Minister of State at Abu Dhabi on July 25.

Dealing drugs in vehicles leads to arrest of men and a woman in Nuku‘alofa

By
Kalino Latu
-

Police have seized 144.98 grams of methamphetamine, 43.59 grams of cocaine and 12.76 grams of cannabis in vehicles parked in Nuku’aofa on Tuesday.

They also arrested a woman, 22,  and a man, 50, who were in the vehicles.

Police also seized 85.91 grams of cannabis and drug utensils while searching the accused’s residence in Fangaloto.

Another man from Hauloto arrived at the residence during the search and police arrested him after they found a pack of methamphetamine 0.35 grams  inside his vehicle.

All accused have been charged with unlawful possession of illicit drugs.

They remain in police custody while investigation continues.

Anyone with information can contact police on 22784 or the nearest police station to you. 

Cabinet cancels ‘direction’ by former gov’t to appoint Piukala to lead e-gov’t process

By
Kalino Latu
-

A direction by the late ‘Akilisi Pōhiva government to appoint computer expert Piveni Piukala to lead its electronic government reform process has been revoked.

The Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa’s cabinet said today “the proposed appointment of Mr Piveni Piukala was handpicked and without proper due processes.”

It said there was “no agreed Terms of Reference in place,” a cabinet statement said.  

“Mr Piukala did not meet the set criteria of the World Bank, the funding agency for the project i.e. the educational and professional work achievements stipulated by the World Bank policy that the Lead Consultant should have.”

The cabinet decision to revoke the proposal was made yesterday 13 November 2019.

Piukala was proposed on 30 January 2019 to lead a “Reform Technical Task Force for Planning, Budgeting and Aid at the Ministry of Finance.”

The reform process included e-government and digitization planning across government, it said.

“The present Government regretted that this proposed appointment has to be rescinded in this way, but this World Bank project is so important for the government and the future of Tonga, and this decision has to be regularized.”

Piukala, who is also the Director of Tonga Cable, was employed by the former government in a number of projects including reforming the education system’s student marking assessment format.

The standardized marks system introduced in 2002 was reviewed under this reform and was terminated before the raw marks marking system was introduced in 2015.

The change was protested by some leading scholars in Tonga.

A leaked government report in 2016 on what had been described as the “rushed reform of Tonga’s education system” in 2015 revealed “confusion and concern within the Ministry and points to serious systemic failures that will take years to sort out.”

Four years later, and as Kaniva news reported earlier this year, the Ministry of Education Assessment unit said this year’s results were the highest since the new examination assessment system was adopted in 2015.

The former Prime Minister’s son Siaosi Pōhiva attributed the success and improvement to the new raw marks assessment system.

Measles outbreak forces Tonga primary schools to close until November 25

By
Kalino Latu
-

Primary schools in Tonga will be closed tomorrow November 14 until November 25 after a number of measles cases has climbed to 177.

“The closure date can be extended pending advice from the Ministry of Health,” a statement said.

The high schools will continue to operate as normal while a vaccination programme will be put into place as part of the battle to contain the measles outbreak.

The programme started with form 1 to form 4 and continuing to form 5 to 7 when their exams are completed by Monday 18.

The non government schools were consulted and have been informed of the government’s intent and they supported the measures recommended by Ministry of Health and will issue their own communication folio for their schools, the statement said.  

Parents are advised to keep their children at home during this temporally closure to limit their contact with other students who may be affected.

The students are asked not to return to the outer islands during the break as they may spread the disease.

Dr Reynold Ofanoa said contact tracing and history taking from measles patients revealed the virus was spread from New Zealand.

“Majority of the cases that we had initially were members of a national rugby team,” Dr Ofanoa told TVNZ.

“Players visited New Zealand from our schools to play some games during the month of September, and then the first case contracted the disease while in New Zealand.”

Since an outbreak was declared in New Zealand, it’s travelled to Fiji, Tonga and claimed at least four lives in Samoa. 

Gov’t denies engaging ousted league body in organising Kau To‘a’s welcoming event following public outrage

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Ministry of Sports said a reconciliation process had been initiated to bring together rugby league players and officials after the bitter feud that marred Tonga’s participation in the 2019 Oceania Cup.

CEO Fotu Fisi’iahi said the process would not be part of this Friday’s celebrations, a day which has been officially declared as a public holiday in Tonga to celebrate the historic Test triumph over the Kangaroos. .

He said it was important for all parties to reconcile because of the future of the rugby league and they are expected to return to the negotiation table after the celebrations.

Tonga was the first two-tier nation to defeat Australia.

Thirty six members of the successful team together with their wives and officials began arriving in Tonga this week.

The government has offered to pay for their travel and accommodation expenses.

Photos circulated on social media showed fans have painted some of the players’ images on vehicles.

It has been reported that tomorrow Thursday 14 the team are expected to attend a reception at the royal villa in Tufumahina.

Friday’s celebrations are expected to include a parade from Tu’imatamoana waterfront to Teufaiva National Stadium.

Fisi’iahi denied claims the government met and arranged with the Tonga National Rugby League interim board to organise the welcoming event.

Dr Fisi’iahi responded after an outrage erupted online last week with rugby league fans supporting threats from the players that they would not come to Tonga this Friday if it was true the World League’s suspended Tonga interim board took part in organising the event.

Tonga’s National Rugby League interim board has been suspended by the international governing body after Tonga’s top players such as Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita initially threatened to boycott the Oceania Cup unless action was taken against the TNRL.

The feud escalated after the TNRL sacked popular coach Kristian Woolf over disagreements around control and finances.

The newly established league body Tonga Ma’a Tonga is now the legal body authorised by the government and World Rugby League to take care of the sport in Tonga.

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