Tonga will honour its Invitational XIII rugby league team with a public holiday on Friday, November 15.
The team claimed a slice of history when they stunned world No.1 Australia 16-12 in a pulsating test at Eden Park on Saturday night.
The players are expected to arrive in Tonga next week.
It
is understood the cabinet has approved the decision yesterday.
This morning the Prime Minister officially
congratulated the team.
“Such, is the spirit of immense joy, felicitations, and
thankfulness conveyed, on behalf of His Majesty The King Tupou VI, The
Government and the People of the Kingdom of Tonga, to the Captain, the Manager,
the officials and the Head Coach of the Winning Warriors Tonga Team
respectively, for the outstanding, awe inspiring, and unique triumph of the
Tonga Rugby League Invitational XIII over the reigning Australian and British
Rugby League Teams,” a statement said.
The victory comes a week after Tonga upset Great Britain, and
two years after they also knocked off New Zealand during their fairytale run in
the 2017 World Cup.
“Tonga fell one game short of the final that year, and are now
dreaming of lifting the trophy altogether when the tournament moves to England
in two years time,” NZ Newshub has reported.
Consumers
will continue to pay the old rate for electricity for the next two months, the
government has announced.
The
government will bear the costs of the increase in electricity prices for the next two months.
The
old tariff is TP$0.7990 per kWh. The recently announced new price is TP$0.8316
per kWh, a difference of $0.0326 per kWh.
The
new price was announced on November 1.
Prime
Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa said the
government would incur costs of about TP$360,000 in holding down the tariff for
November and December.
The
Prime Minister said Tonga Power Ltd has been ordered to bring in accountants
Price Waterhouse Cooper to carry out an independent audit of the company’s
pricing structure and the reason for the price increase.
The
audit was expected to clarify the effect of the Renewal Energy Campaign, which
was intended to bring down the price of electricity, not increase it, Hon.
Tu’i’onetoa said.
He
said the campaign had been intended to reduce the cost of electricity by 20-30%
once half of the kingdom’s electricity was produced from renewable energy
sources.
If
no clear picture emerged, the government would have to redesign the strategy,
because the 50% renewable target by 2020 had nearly been reached.
Renewable energy
The
change in energy production has been marked in the past six years.
In
2013 the New Zealand Institute for Pacific Research reported that more than
half of Tonga’s national energy needs were
met by imported
petrol and diesel. The outer islands sometimes run out.
At
that stage solar panels produced
less than 4%
of the total
energy used. in
2013, although rapid
expansion has changed that figure.
The
Asian Development Bank is administering $44 million in aid money to fund
renewable projects, including the construction of the Pacific’s largest solar
energy farm.
Samoa
plans to be 100% renewable by 2025 and Fiji 90% by 2030.
The
main points
Consumers will continue to pay the old rate for electricity for the next two months, the government has announced.
The government will bear the costs of the increase in electricity prices for the next two months.
Fakamatala fakaTonga ki he ongoongo’ ni:
Kuo fakahā ‘e he Pule’anga’ te ne fu’a ‘a e fakamole ki he hiki fakafokifā ‘i he totongi ‘o e ‘uhila’ ki he māhina ‘e ua ka hoko’ Nōvema-Tīsema 2019, ‘a ia ‘oku fakafuofua ki he $360,000 fakakātoa. Kuo tu’utu’uni ai ke ‘omai ‘a e Kautaha Price Waterhouse Cooper mei Nu’u Sila ke nau ‘ātita’i ‘a e makatu’unga ‘a hono hiki ko eni ‘o e totongi ‘uhila’. Lolotonga hono totongi ‘e he pule’anga’ ‘a e hiki’ ni ‘e kei totongi ‘uhila pe ‘a e kakai’ ‘o fakatatau ki he founga motu’a ne fika’i ‘aki ‘enau totongi ‘uhila’. ‘E ‘ikai foki ke kau a e kau totongi ‘uhila’ ‘i hono totongi e fakamole ‘a e Kautaha ‘Atita Price Waterhouse Cooper. Ko e ola eni ‘o e fakataha ‘a e ‘Eiki Palēmia’ ka ko e Minisita ki he Ngaahi Pisinisi ‘a e Pule’anga mo e Minisita Pa’anga pehe ki he ‘Ofisa Pule Ngaue (CEO) ‘o e Potungaue ki he Ngaahi Pisinisi ‘a e Pule’anga ‘i Novema 4 mo e Pule le’ole’o mo e timi ki he Tafa’aki fakalele ngaue ‘a e Kautaha Tonga Power Ltd ke fakapapau’i ‘a e hiki ko eni ‘a ia na’e fakaha ‘i Novema 1 2019.
A new backhoe loader is expected to be in Niua Fo’ou by the end of next week, which will come as welcome news for the northern island’s residents who have been calling for more action on their roads for years.
Niua Fo’ou needed concrete roads and nine pallets of more than 400 cement sacks were included in shipments from the Ministry of Infrastructure which departed Nuku’alofa for the northern islands yesterday, Hon Akosita Lavulavu told Kaniva news.
More cements and road building materials are expected to arrive in the Niuas before the completion of the project, she said.
A driver from Niua Fo’ou was trained in Tongatapu for the job.
Five road
engineers and staff would lead the work.
It was planned that after the Niua Fo’ou roads project the workers and the machinery will be shipped and continuing the same work in Niua Toputapu.
The
minister said it was expected that building and repairing of roads for the
Niuas could be completed within the next two years.
The road maintenance for ‘Eua island was planned to start in January next year.
The first phase of the government’s multi-million pa’anga road construction programme is now well underway in Vava’u 16, Vava’u 15 and Tongatapu 10.
As Kaniva news reported previously, Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa said, his government would focus on sealing all public roads with tar and filling roads to plantations, beaches and tax allotments with rocks.
He expected 50 percent of this project to be completed within their two years in office and leave the rest for the next two years.
Cooperative Development Policy
The government has initiated a cooperative development policy in order to solicit supports from the community through donation and assistance for its road construction programme.
Hon Lavulavu said the People’s Party members would help oversee the projects while community members could help with the maintenance and construction works.
She said there was a plan to ask
Tongan families overseas to donate one drum of tar for each of their families in
Tonga.
The government would help families who have no family members overseas and in the case of some constituencies like in Vava’u where kava plants were their major source of income, people could trade in kava for their tar, she said.
Fakamatala fakaTonga nounou ‘o e ongoongo’ ni
Fakafolau atu e misini
pekihou fo’ou ki hono ngaahi mo tanu e hala o Niuafo’ou pea ‘e hoko hake ai ki
Niuatoputapu. Ne fakafolau atu ‘eni ‘aneafi fakataha mo e palati sima ‘e hiva
mo e uaea mesi ke kamata’aki ‘a e ngaue. E hokohoko atu pe hono fetuku atu o e
naunau ki he tanu ni ‘i he vaka kotoa e folau atu ki he ongo motu’ kae oleva
kuo kakato ‘a e ngāue’ ni fakafuofua ‘i loto ‘i he ta’u ‘e ua ka hoko mai. Oku
lolotonga lele ‘a e ngaue tanu hala foki ‘i Vava’u 16, Vava’u 15 mo Tongatapu
10. Kuo fokotu’u ‘e he pule’anga ‘ene cooperative development policy pe fokotu’utu’u
ngāue ken a fengāue’aki ai mo e komiunitii’ ke fefua’aki e mamafa ‘o e ngāue ko
eni ki hono tanu makamaka’i mo valitā kotoa ‘a e ngaahi hala ‘o Tonga’. ‘Oku
kau heni ‘a e ‘amanaki kole ki he ngaahi fāmili ‘i muli ke nau taki taha ‘a e
talamu valitā ma’a honau ngaahi fāmili ‘i Tonga’. Ko kinautolu ‘ikai hanau
fāmili ‘i muli’ ‘e tokonia kinautolu ‘e he pule’anga’. ‘E ‘atā mo e fakafetongi
koloa hangē ko Vava’u ‘e lava ke ‘oange kava ki he pule’anga’ kae kumi ‘e he
pule’anga ia ‘a e talamu valitaa’.
Guests in rapture as Mate Ma’a Tonga defeats the Kangaroos 16-12. Video / Leima Tu’atonga
Guests at a wedding celebration in Sydney erupted in cheering and dancing on Saturday as Tonga Invitational XIII rugby league team triumphed 16-12 over Australia in their final match in Auckland.
The victory was
certainly a celebration for all Tongan fans and supporters. But the Kau To’a, as the invitational team was
also known in Tongan, have become more than just a Tongan team,
with people across New Zealand celebrating the first tier two team to
have beaten world’s best.
It was also the first
time the Kangaroos have been beaten by anybody except New Zealand or the UK
since succumbing to France in 1978.
The historical triumph has also silenced the critics after some Tongans led by Tonga National Rugby League interim board have dismissed the Invitational side as a palagi team established by the palagi authorities at the Rugby League International.
They also said the Tongan players were born in New Zealand and Australia like Andrew Fifita and Jason Taumalolo.
Because of the bitter dispute that has wracked rugby league in Tonga, the Tonga team played under the banner of Tongan invitation XIII, not the Mate Ma’a, a solution brokered by the international rugby league authorities.
Majority of people who spoke to Kaniva news said they still supported the Tongan team and rejected the interim board and what they saw as its attempts to discredit the Tongan players
The drug dealer who attempted to export 1.9 kilograms of methamphetamine to New Zealand was found guilty and will be sentenced next week.
Viliami Mangisi, 59,
was convicted of two counts relating to
the seizure of the methamphetamine in May 2018.
The Tongan-US passport
holder attempted to export the drugs from Tonga to New Zealand. Police said the
meth had an estimated street value of around $2 million pa’anga.
The court heard Mangisi arranged with an airport cleaner, Samuela Fonua, to smuggle the illicit drugs into the airport and conceal it at the departure lounge. Mangisi would pick it up later on his way to the plane.
The plan was unfolded after a shift leader at the airport spotted Fonua acting suspiciously at the entrance to the security area, the court was told.
Asked what he was doing
Fonua told the woman it was something for Mangisi to come and pick up later.
The shift leader reported
the incident to the manager and police were called.
Police arrived and Fonua was
arrested and interviewed. The court was told Police advised Fonua to go ahead
with the plan so they can have a chance to arrest Mangisi.
Fonua pleaded guilty
while Mangisi pleaded not guilty.
Mangisi will be sentenced on November 15 after he was convicted by jury.
Jason
Taumalolo said this week he would not be satisfied until Tonga had defeated all
of international rugby’s “big three.”
After
tonight the Tongan co-captain should well and truly satisfied.
In
a hard fought game that saw the action pressed right up against the try line,
the Tonga Kau To’a (Tonga Invitational XIII) defeated Australia 16-12.
Tonga
would have needed to defeat the Kangaroos by 22 points to secure the Oceania
Cup Trophy.
However,
tonight’s win will be another huge boost for Tonga’s ambition to be recognised
as a team worthy of respect and regular Tier One competition.
The
New Zealand Herald described the
outcome of tonight’s clash as “a truly historic win” and a night for Tonga to
cherish.
“They
turned in a truly brilliant performance to topple the World Champions.”
The
official NRL site said tonight’s Tongan victory ushered in a new era of
international rugby league.
This
is the first time Australia has been beaten by a Tier Two team. It was also the
first time the Kangaroos have been beaten by anybody except New Zealand or the
UK since succumbing to France in 1978.
Tonga
kicked off the game and was soon fighting back hard against the Australian
assault.
Tonight’s
match was harder fought than the fight with the British Lions last week as the
Kangaroos poured it on from the beginning.
With
a lead behind them, Australia could have opened up a bigger lead, but failed to
score in the second half.
Instead,
Tonga fought back to a four point lead.
In
the last minutes of the game Australia tried repeatedly to break through what
has been described as Tonga’s brick
wall.
Victories
Before
today’s match Kangaroo’s coach Mal Meninga warned that the Tongan player’s
desire to represent the kingdom made them a threat.
“They’ve
got that passion, that drive and desire to put on their jerseys so I mean,
that’s dangerous,” Meninga said.
Tonight
Meninga’s warning was proved all too true.
Both
teams ran onto the field tonight
victories behind them.
While
Tongans were buoyed by their win over
the British Lions, the Kangaroos defeat New Zealand on Wednesday in a game
Taumalolo described as “typical Australian
footy, grinding out teams and putting them to the sword.”
Last
year, the Kangaroos defeated Mate Ma’a Tonga 34-16 and Tonga would have been
hoping for revenge.
Earlier
today in the triple header sat Eden Park, Fiji beat Samoa 44-18 and the British
Lions suffered their second defeat in a week, going down to New Zealand 12-8.
The
main points
Jason Taumalolo said this week he would not be satisfied
until Tonga had defeated all of international rugby’s big three.
After tonight, the Tongan co-captain he should well and truly satisfied.
The Tonga International XIII go into tomorrow night’s match with a
victory against the British Lions under their belt, but as they know from their
last encounter, Australia will provide tough opposition.
When they last met, Mate Ma’a Tonga went down 34-16.
However, the level of fan support has blossomed since the victory in
Hamilton and the team has been thanked by His Majesty King Tupou VI and Prime
Minister Dr. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa for their efforts.
As this story was being written, Tongan fans were gathering, waving
flags and circling round in their vehicles with flags to show their supports in
Otahuhu Great South Road shopping centre.
Coach Kristian Woolf and co-captain Jason Taumalolo have both spoken to
the media about how positive they feel ahead of tomorrow night’s game.
And Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has cautioned his players not to
underestimate the Tongan International XIII.
Taumalolo said he was buouyed by the turnout at supporters events at the
Mangere East Rugby League Club this week.
He told RNZ it was a sign of what was to come when they play Australia at
Eden Park in the Oceana Cup Test match on Saturday night.
“If today is anything to go by, I think this weekend is going to be
even more crazier than what it is today so that can only mean a good thing for
us. You know, they really turned out in numbers today,” he said.
Taumalolo said he would not be satisfied until Tonga had defeated all of
international rugby’s big three.
On Wednesday night the Tongan team watched Australia defeat New Zealand
26-4.
“They played a typical Australian style of footy, grinding out teams and
putting them to the sword,” Taumalolo said.
“There’s a lot of factors at play in this weekend’s game. They have
strike power all over the field, but I’m confident we do too. I’ll back my
players and I’m sure they’ll go out and rise to the occasion on Saturday
night.”
The Tongan squad has been extended, with the inclusion of Broncos trio
Tevita Pangai Jr, Joe Ofahengaue and Kotoni Staggs.
Australia
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga said they could not afford to be
over-confident.
“I think you always go into games, particularly at this level, with
a fear of failure,” Meninga told the official NRL website.
“That has been a common theme with the Kangaroos for a long time.
“Our mental preparation and physicality has to be good to play against
the Tongans. They were extraordinarily good last week and played with so much
passion. We have to prepare really well to match the Tongans tomorrow
night.”
Earlier, Kangaroos player David Klemmer said Tonga had “an explosive
forward pack.”
“If we can keep the ball in play and tire them out somehow and hold the
football, we’ll have some fun around the ruck there.”
Divisions
As Kaniva news reported last weekend, Taumalolo was equally confident ahead of the British Lions game, despite the upheavals surrounding the team.
Some people calling for the Invitational XIII to be boycotted because they weren’t the Mate Ma’a
Tonga or even a ‘real’ Tongan team.
However, the Invitational XIII’s performance in a hard, tight fought
game should put those claims to rest once and for all.
“I’m confident that they’ll turn out in numbers this weekend,”
Taumalolo said.
“I’m sure after last week’s result a lot more fans will be turning out
to this weekend’s game.”
The main points
The Tonga International XIII go into tomorrow night’s
match with a victory against the British Lions under their belt, but as they
know from their last encounter, Australia will provide tough opposition.
Co-captain Jason Taumalolo is optimistic about the
outcome of tomorrow night’s game.
For more information
PM congratulates Tongan Invitational XIII ahead of match with Australia
on Saturday
Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa said a decision by his cabinet to hold a public consultation on a proposal to plant hemp in the kingdom should never happen.
There was a shortfall and the move has caused public outrage, he told Broadcomm FM Broadcasting livestream updates.
“As a prime minister” that would be stopped and discontinued, he said.
Hon Tu’i’onetoa who returned to office this week after attending meetings overseas was expected to revoke the decision in Cabinet today, Wednesday 30.
He said the wording of the cabinet decision, which was leaked to Kaniva news and other media, was vague when it said it was “approved” and then it followed with the words “as amended.”
It should either said it was “deferred” or “not approved.”
He said the cabinet should have contacted him for a comment on the proposal while he was away.
As we reported last week, a Cabinet
document provided to us date October 17 appears to show Cabinet approved the
application from an entity identified as ‘the Brown group,’ subject to a public
consultation organised by the Attorney
General’s office.
The document does not specifically say the
plant is to be grown for medical purposes.
As we reported in June, a group of
lobbyists failed in an attempt to discuss the possibility of legalising
marijuana for medical reasons.
Chief Secretary Edgar Cocker said at the
time he was unaware of any “submission – but hemp is illegal as per the Tonga
Drugs Act.”
A Ministry of Health spokesperson said
Tonga was too small to allow marijuana to be used in any form.
There has been interest in growing medical
marijuana in Vanuatu, but no licences had been issued yet.
The Australian Parliament has passed
legislation to allow for the cultivation of marijuana for medical or scientific
purposes.
There has been public concern over the
legalisation of cannabis cultivation in Tonga.
Despite Deputy Prime Minister Vuna
Fa’otusia explaining the difference between hemp and marijuana, some people
have remained suspicious that this would lead to an easing off in the war
against illicit drugs.
Hemp and cannabis
Hemp and cannabis are variants of cannabis. Cannabis contains the drug tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which gets people high. Hemp is used to make clothes, rope and other items.
In 2018 President Trump signed a Farm Bill which classified hemp as an agricultural product in the United States. Under the Bill, any cannabis plant with less then 0.3% THC is considered hemp, not marijuana.
Marijuana also contains Cannabidiol (CBD) which is legal in New Zealand. It is described as having potential therapeutic value, with little or no psychoactive properties.
The New Zealand Ministry of Health was developing a plan to enable domestic commercial cultivation and manufacture of medicinal cannabis. The plan is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2020.
