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Christchurch mosque attacks: Brenton Tarrant pleads not guilty to all charges

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Anneke Smith, RNZ court reporter@aneksmithanneke.smith@rnz.co.nz

The man accused of the Christchurch terror attacks has pleaded not guilty to all the 92 charges laid against him and will face trial in May next year.

Brenton Tarrant, the man charged in relation to the mosque shootings in Christchurch, in the dock at Christchurch District Court for his first appearance on 16 March.
Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 28, at his first court appearance in the Christchurch District Court in March. Photo: Supplied / Pool

Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 28, appeared by video link at the High Court in Christchurch this morning, where his not guilty pleas were entered.

The accused, in a white concrete room at Paremoremo prison, was wearing a light grey jumper, and appeared expressionless throughout most of the hearing; looking at the screen and occasionally glancing up at the camera.

He appeared before Justice Mander in the High Court at Christchurch just after 9am.

Justice Mander said mental health reports showed there were no mental health issues.

“The court has received Section 38 reports and mental health assessment of Mr Tarrant have been complete. No issues arise regarding the defendant’s fitness to plea, instruct counsel and stand trial. Therefore a fitness hearing is not required.”

The accused appeared to smile as one of his lawyers entered the not guilty pleas on his behalf.

He has denied 51 charges of murder, 40 charges of attempted murder and one terrorism charge through his lawyers.

The pleas were met with quiet gasps from the victims and their families, who packed the public gallery in the back of the courtroom.

About 80 people, who sat behind senior police officers in court, were still and quiet for the remainder of the hearing.

Crown prosecutor Mark Zarifeh told the court today one attempted murder charge was to be ammended to a murder charge after the victim died in the Christchurch Hospital.

The Crown also added two additional attempted murder charges and one charge under the Terrorism Supppression Act.

The charge – laid after consultation between police, Crown Law and the Christchurch Crown Solicitor’s Office – alleges a terrorist act was carried out on 15 March.

Justice Mander said the suppression of the names of the attempted murder victims had now lapsed.

Justice Mander set a trial date of 4 May next year.

At this stage the Crown estimates it will take six weeks.

The accused will next appear for a case-review hearing in August.

Major New Zealand news organisations, including RNZ, have agreed to protocols for covering the trial of the person charged for the Christchurch mosque attacks.

Today is the first time RNZ has published an unpixelated court photograph of the accused gunman’s face.

Media applications to film and photograph the defendant were granted at his first court appearance on the basis the man’s face was blurred but this suppression order lapsed last week.

New international airline for Tonga through Nauru partnership

By
Kaniva Staff
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Nauru Airlines and Real Tonga Limited have announced they have entered into an aircraft wet lease arrangement under which Nauru Airlines will provide Real Tonga with crewed aircraft for flights from Tonga to Fiji and New Zealand.

Real Tonga offers domestic flights throughout the Tongan islands, while Nauru Airlines, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in February, currently services seven countries across the Pacific with its fleet of five aircraft.

Managing Director of Real Tonga Tevita Palu said the new arrangement introduces the commencement of international operations which to date have been serviced by foreign carriers.

“This will be the first time in recent years a local carrier will be able to provide these much needed services, and we expect this will provide an enormous benefit to the Tongan community by providing better connectivity and more capacity,” he explained.

“These new services will benefit tourism and create new employment opportunities for the local community.”

The initial flight schedule will include twice weekly return flights from Nukuʻalofa, Tonga to Nadi, Fiji and Auckland, New Zealand, with the intention of increasing services to three times per week as soon as possible.

Subject to obtaining all necessary government and regulatory approvals, the airlines anticipate that services will commence in November 2019.

Chairman of Nauru Airlines Trevor Jensen said the agreement is testimony to the reputation of Nauru Airlines which is now considered one of the leading carriers in the Pacific.

“We are incredibly excited about this new endeavour and the benefits it will bring to the people of Nauru, Tonga and the Pacific.”

He said plans are already underway to develop services for Real Tonga to other locations including Brisbane and other Australian cities.

The airlines are also working collaboratively towards implementing a closer long-term alliance. 

Wife-beater saved from deporting to Tonga for the sake of ‘family’s welfare’

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Brittany Keogh, stuff.co.nz

A violent man has been spared deportation for the sake of his family’s welfare – despite having been convicted of assaulting his wife.

The 40-year-old Tongan citizen and New Zealand resident assaulted his spouse during an argument in September 2012, according to a recently-released Immigration and Protection Tribunal decision. 

He pleaded guilty to male assaults female and using threatening language and was sentenced to nine months’ supervision with special conditions.

The following June, the then-immigration minister sent the man a notice saying he was liable for deportation but the minister suspended his deportation for five years on the condition that he didn’t reoffend. 

But he has now been saved from deportation for a second time after assaulting two men, documents said.

The incident happened in March 2018, just before the five-year suspension finished. 

He had been drinking and caught a taxi to pick up some friends from church but could not find them. When he asked the taxi driver to try somewhere else, the driver demanded he pay in advance.

The man and the driver began arguing and another taxi driver came over. The man was alleged to have assaulted both drivers and that July was convicted of two charges of common assault.

The judge sentenced the man to 100 hours of community work and one year’s supervision and ordered him to pay each of his victims $150 in reparations.

Because the man had reoffended, he faced deportation again. His residency visa was cancelled.

The man appealed the decision to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal.

At a tribunal hearing in Auckland in March, his lawyer argued that there were exceptional humanitarian circumstances in the case. 

The man’s wife, who had been a New Zealand resident since 2006, was deeply connected to her local community, and their New Zealand-citizen children, aged 9, 7, and 3, were well settled in the New Zealand education system.

For that reason, the children’s mother would not move them to Tonga if the man was deported and the couple’s marriage would “inevitably come to an end”, the decision said.

The man had been a good father to his children, whom he was close to and looked after while his wife worked.

The loss of emotional and financial support of their father and husband would cripple the family, the decision said.

The man’s offending had been at the lower end of the scale, his lawyer said, and he had been under the influence of alcohol when he committed all of the offences.

According to evidence submitted from his GP, the man had been sober since the March 2018 and attended a drug and alcohol treatment programme.

“He is also acutely aware that his violence whilst intoxicated has jeopardised his family’s security and does not want to further risk this in the future with continued alcohol use.”

The tribunal adjudicator was satisfied that deporting the man and permanently separating him from his children would severely impact their well-being and development.

“It would also bring to an end a decade-old marriage, causing significant distress and anguish to the appellant’s wife, and to the appellant himself,” the decision said.

The adjudicator found deporting the man would be “unjust or unduly harsh” and reinstated his residency visa.

Man allegedly sells drugs to kids at Tu‘atākilangi, report says

By
Kalino Latu
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A man reportedly sold what appeared to be illicit drugs to kids at Tu’atākilangi on Tuesday.

The man in a vehicle allegedly approached the kids on Hihifo road.

Tonga Broadcasting news report said concerned residents complaint to Police who arrived at the scene and handled the situation.

The details of how Police dealt with the man was unknown, it said.

Acting Speaker says he could resign as gov’t sends question on lawfulness of Lord Tu‘ilakepa’s appointment to its legal adviser

By
Kalino Latu
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Acting Speaker Lord Tu’ilakepa said in Parliament he was prepared to resign if the government bench no longer wanted him.

Lord Tu’ilakepa was reluctant to step in and replace Speaker Lord Fakafanua on Tuesday’s afternoon sessions after Kaniva news published a report last week quoting the Police Minister  as saying it appeared his position was unconstitutional.

The king’s noble said an act of impeachment against him was being processed.

He told the House some cabinet ministers did not want him to continue in the position.

He moved the House postpone the session if legal action was being taken against him.

Cabinet position

The Minister of Police, Hon. Tapueluelu, confirmed in Parliament that cabinet had passed a resolution to take legal action on the appointment of the Acting Speaker.

He said it was an “opinion” of the government that the Noble’s appointment was illegal and cabinet had asked the government’s legal adviser to begin work on the issue.

Lord Tu’ilakepa attempted to counter the claim and asked the Minister if the Acting Speaker was different from the position of Deputy Prime Minister.

Hon. Tapueluelu said they were different according to the Constitution, but he did not provide the details.

The Chair of the Whole House Committee, Veivosa Taka, told Lord Tu’ilakepa he could continue as Acting Speaker until the courts made a ruling on the issue.

Lord Tu’ilakepa agreed to the suggestion.

Speaker Lord Fakafanua said this morning the Acting Speaker was appointed according to Parliament’s law book.

He asked Parliament MPs to avoid any further discussion on the matter.

Attack on Kaniva news

The Speaker has come forward and clarified Parliament’s position on the issue after his Chief Secretary Gloria Pole’o attacked Kaniva news after we reported the case last week.

We were quite clearly reporting what the Police Minister told Television Tonga  about how the government and its legal adviser in New Zealand interpreted the Constitution and its relation to the rules on Parliamentary procedures.

In our story we said: “Lord Tu’ilakepa’s appointment as Acting Speaker may have been unconstitutional, the Police Minister has claimed.”

Our story was published about two weeks after the story was originally carried by Television Tonga.

However, the Chief Clerk did not mention the Minister of Police or Television Tonga when she attempted to refute our story.

She said: “The Office of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga refutes the claim published on the website Kaniva Tonga that “the Lord Tu’ilakepa’s appointment as Acting Speaker may have been unconstitutional according to Clause 61(4) of the Constitution.”

Tonga Broadcasting Commission, which owns Television Tonga, has published the Chief Secretary’s statement on its news website without saying that the story was originally carried by its television channel.

The main points

  • Acting Speaker Lord Tu’ilakapa said in Parliament he was prepared to resign if the government bench no longer wanted him.
  • Lord Tu’ilakepa was reluctant to step in and replace Speaker Lord Fakafanua on Tuesday’s afternoon sessions after Kaniva news published a report last week quoting the Police Minister  as saying it appeared his position was unconstitutional.

For more information

Parliament denies Kaniva’s report on Police Minister’s claims about Acting Speaker
Appointment of Acting Speaker who blocked bills may have been unconstitutional, Minister claims

One high profile drug case ends in Tonga while another begins

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Radio New Zealand International

Tonga’s Supreme Court has dismissed a high profile drug case on the grounds that the accused is in ill health.

Tiuke Mahoni of Ma’ufanga had been charged with possession of methamphetamine and cannabis, as well as attempting to distribute them.

But according to a plea from prosecutors, which was also endorsed by outgoing Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu, the 55-year-old is too ill to stand trial.

Justice Charles Cato dismissed the case and Mr Mahoni has returned to the United States to continue treatment.

Meanwhile, two high ranking Customs officials have been arrested on drugs charges and are awaiting trial.

In addition, a Ngele’ia man, alleged to be one of the main drug dealers in Tonga, has also been arrested.

Over the past month, the street value of drugs seized by police has surpassed $US4.3 million.

Israel Folau offers lifeline with Tonga rugby

By
Kaniva Staff
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(News.au.com) Israel Folau may still have a future in rugby even if he loses his legal battle with Rugby Australia.

It has emerged that Tonga coach and former Wallaby Toutai Kefu has broached the notion of Folau joining the island nation for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, after his brother John does so this year in Japan.

The ex-Wallabies No. 8 said that contact has been made with Folau about playing for Tonga following the dual international’s sacking by Rugby Australia for breaching his contract.

“We’d love to have him — the next World Cup he’d be available for us hopefully.” Kefu told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“It’s a long time away, so we’ll let the dust settle a bit after his most recent issues.

Rugby Union: Waratahs assistant coach Steve Tandy says it is time for the Tahs to move on from …

“We don’t even know if he’s going to play again. He hasn’t indicated where he is going, so we’ll wait until the dust settles and then look at those options.

“He’d have to sit out three years and then even after that we’d have to re-qualify him through a sevens Olympic qualifying tournament.”

Given Folau has already represented Australia, he cannot switch immediately and play for another country. However, once he sits out three years he could then qualify for Tonga by playing in a sevens tournament that doubles as an Olympic qualifying event.

Super Rugby: Rod Kafer rips into Israel Folau for damaging the game as the ugly off-field saga …

Meanwhile, Folau’s brother John is in line to qualify for Tonga at this year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan, after parting ways with the Waratahs following his sibling’s sacking.

The plan is for John Folau to feature at the Pacific Nations Cup, which begins next month, with Tonga facing Samoa, Japan and Canada.

“He’s definitely on our radar and we’ve already spoken to him,” Kefu said.

“I’ve actually never seen him play but I’ve got a playing history of him.

“We’re going to look at him and even may take him to the PNC because we’ve got some holes in our squad, especially out wide in the backs. There’s a good chance he will be part of that squad.

“You look at what he has done; he’s played in the NRL for a couple of years and he’s been on the fringe of Super Rugby for a couple of years. He definitely qualifies because he’s got a Tongan passport.

“If he’s played in those competitions before he’s certainly good enough to have a trial for us and then we can see whether he is good enough to be part of that Rugby World Cup squad.”

The latest twist in Folau’s ongoing battle with Rugby Australia came at the weekend when he accused them of leaking confidential information pertaining to his Code of Conduct hearing, as the relationship between the former star and the governing body got even uglier.

Originally published as Israel Folau offered rugby lifeline

Convicted fraudster ordered to pay back TP$8200 after prison sentence suspended

By
Philip Cass
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The Supreme Court has sentenced a man to a two year suspended sentence and ordered him to pay back thousands of pa’anga on a series of fraud and forgery charges.

Sepuloni Mateo appeared before Judge L.M.Niu for sentencing.

The court was told Mateo was working for Pacific Forum Line and had begun drinking heavily with his friends.

Niu said when Raymond Yu enquired about purchasing  an empty container, Mateo saw a way to cheat him by selling him a container that was not his or his employer’s.

He planned to keep the money for himself to fund his drinking.

The court was told Mateo had earlier pleaded guilty to the following charges:

  • Obtaining money by false pretences by obtaining TP$8200 from Raymond Yu by representing  to him  that  Pacific  Forum  Line  was  selling him a particular container when the container did not belong to Pacific Forum Line.
  • Forgery in that he created a false invoice for $8250 purporting to be issued by Pacific Forum Line in order that Raymond Yu would act on it as a genuine invoice.
  • Knowingly dealing with a forged document in that he gave the forged invoice to Raymond Yu as if it was a genuine invoice of   Pacific Forum Line.
  • Forgery in that he created a false receipt for $4200 as having been issued by Pacific Forum Line in order that Raymond Yu would act on it as a genuine receipt of Pacific Forum Line.
  • Knowingly dealing with a forged document in that he gave the forged receipt for $4200 to Raymond Yu as a genuine receipt of Pacific Forum Line.
  • Forgery in that he created a false receipt for $4000 as having been issued by Pacific Forum Line in order that Raymond Yu would act on it as a genuine receipt of Pacific Forum Line.
  • Knowingly dealing with a forged document in that he gave the forged receipt for $4000 to Raymond Yu as a genuine receipt of  Pacific Forum Line.

Mateo was sentenced to two years in jail on the first count, one year for the second charge, six months on the third charge, one year on the fourth count, six months on the fifth count, one year on the sixth charge and six months on the seventh count.

All sentences were to be served concurrently, but were suspended

Judge Finau said a suspended  sentence would hang over Mateo as an assurance that if he committed another offence he would go to prison and serve his sentence in full.

“It will also serve to discipline you to pay your indebtedness and to teach you indelibly that you must not do this ever again and thereby make yourself a better young man,” the judge said.

“But most importantly you will not have money to spare and to use for drinking, the folly which had led you into this mess.”

Mateo was ordered to pay Yu TP$100 no later than 6pm of every Friday until a total sum of TP$8200 had been paid.

The main points

  • The Supreme Court has sentenced a man to a two year suspended sentence and ordered him to pay back TP$8200 restitution on a series of fraud and forgery charge.
  • Sepuloni Mateo appeared before Judge L.M.Niu for sentencing.

Jason Taumalolo, Andrew Fifita to lead strong Mate Ma’a Tonga team into clash with Kiwis

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Radio New Zealand International

Tonga rugby league coach Krisitian Woolf has named five potential debutants in his 22 man squad for the upcoming international against New Zealand on 22 June.

The new faces in the squad include North Queensland utility John Asiata who has already played two internationals for Samoa.

The other players who could don the Mate Ma’a Tonga jersey for the first time are Manly’s Manase Fainu, Brisbane centre Kotoni Staggs, Gold Coast Titans’ prop Moeaki Fotuaika and Sydney Rooster Sitili Tupouniua.

While the majority of the squad ply their trade in Australia’s NRL, half Tuimoala Lolohea, will travel from his British club Leeds to take part in the Auckland test.

World Cup representatives Ata Hingano and Mahe Fonua were unavailable through injury. Team stalwart and former captain Sika Manu has also retired from international play.

Brisbane’s Joe Ofahengaue and Ben Murdoch Masila of the Warrington Wolves played in the historic test against Australia last year but are not in the squad.

However, Kristian Woolf said he was pleased with the squad he has been able to assemble.

“We have had a good core of players for Mate Ma’a Tonga team since the 2017 World Cup and we have been able to add some more depth this year,” he said.

The final squad will be named after this weekend’s NRL round.

The match will be the first time Tonga and New Zealand have met since the MMT upset the Kiwis 28-22 at the World Cup in Hamilton.

Last year Tonga travelled to Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium to take on the world champion Australians, eventually going down 34-16.

Tonga’s Andrew Fifita and Tevita Pangai Junior celebrate their upset win over the Kiwis at the 2017 World Cup. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Mate Ma’a Tonga team:

John Asiata (North Queensland Cowboys)

Manase Fainu (Manly Sea Eagles)

Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)

Addin Fonua-Blake (Manly Sea Eagles)

Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans)

David Fusitu’a (NZ Warriors)

Siliva Havili (Canberra Raiders)

Tuimoala Lolohea (Leeds Rhinos)

Will Hopoate (Canterbury Bulldogs)

Michael Jennings (Parramatta Eels)

Robert Jennings (Wests Tigers)

Solomone Kata (NZ Warriors)

Sione Katoa (Penrith Panthers)

Manu Ma’u (Parramatta Eels)

Tevita Pangai Junior (Brisbane Broncos)

Kotoni Staggs (Brisbane Broncos)

Tevita Tatola (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Siosiua Taukeiaho (Sydney Roosters)

Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys)

Peni Terepo (Parramatta Eels)

Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters)

Sitili Tupouniua (Sydney Roosters)

The Pope wants to visit Iraq next year in what would be the first papal trip there

By
Kaniva Staff
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By JAMES GANT FOR MAILONLINE and REUTERS

Pope Francis has said he wants to travel to Iraq next year, which would be the first ever papal trip there.

The pontiff made the improvised remark in an address to members of a group of charities that help Christians in the Middle East and other areas.

He said: ‘A constant thought accompanies me when I think of Iraq. Where I have the will to go next year.’

Wars and conflicts have led to an exodus of Christians in Iraq and some other countries in the Middle East.

Iraq’s small Christian population of several hundred thousand suffered particular hardships when Islamic State controlled large parts of the country, but have recovered freedoms since the jihadists were pushed out.

Iraq is home to many different eastern rite churches, both Catholic and Orthodox.

In 2000, the late Pope John Paul wanted to visit the ancient Iraqi city of Ur, traditionally held to be the birthplace of Abraham. 

It was to have been the first leg of a three-step pilgrimage to Iraq, Egypt and Israel.

But negotiations with the government of then Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein broke down and he was unable to go.

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