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Israel Folau sacked by Rugby Australia

By
Kaniva Staff
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Wallabies fullback Israel Folau has been sacked by Rugby Australia for his post on social media that said hell awaits “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers” and others.

Folau, a fundamentalist Christian, was found guilty of a high-level breach of Rugby Australia’s (RA) code of conduct by an independent panel earlier this month.

The Wallabies’ only three-times player of the year and Super Rugby’s all-time leading try-scorer has 72 hours to appeal and force the governing body into proceeding with a second code of conduct hearing.

After being formally warned last year for similar anti-gay posts, Folau took to Instragram last year proclaiming homosexuals and other so-called “sinners” were destined for hell unless they repented.

Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle said it was a sad day for Australian rugby but that Folau had left the governing body with no alternative than to seek termination of his contract.

“We want to stress that this outcome is a painful situation for the game,” Castle said on Friday.

“Rugby Australia did not choose to be in this situation, but Rugby Australia’s position remains that Israel, through his actions, left us with no choice but to pursue this course of action.

“This has been an extremely challenging period for Rugby and this issue has created an unwanted distraction in an important year for the sport and for the Wallabies team.

“But our clear message to all Rugby fans today is that we need to stand by our values and the qualities of inclusion, passion, integrity, discipline, respect and teamwork.

“I’ve communicated directly with the players to make it clear that Rugby Australia fully supports their right to their own beliefs and nothing that has happened changes that.

“But when we are talking about inclusiveness in our game, we’re talking about respecting differences as well.

“When we say rugby is a game for all, we mean it. People need to feel safe and welcomed in our game regardless of their gender, race, background, religion, or sexuality.

“We thank the tribunal panel for their decision and we respect the time, consideration and expertise the panel members brought to this process.

“Representing Australia and all Australians on the Rugby field is a privilege.

“Selection is dependent upon a player’s ability to contribute to the Wallabies, and the game of Rugby itself, in a positive and consistent manner both on and off the field.

“When players sign a contract with the Wallabies, they sign up to the values of the team and the sport.”

Castle commended Folau as a “great rugby player”.

“We are disappointed and saddened by the fact that he will not see out his four- year commitment to the Wallabies and Waratahs,” she said.

–RNZ/AAP

Man charged after airport drug smuggling to appear in court

By
Kaniva Staff
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The man charged after the seizure of 1.9 kilograms of methamphetamine at Fua‘amotu International Airport in 2018 will appear at the Supreme Court in October 2019.

 Viliami Mangisi, 59, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of possession of Class A drugs (methamphetamine), attempted export of illicit drugs and failure to make declaration to Customs Officer, local media have reported.

The Tongan-US passport holder allegedly attempted to export the drugs from Tonga to New Zealand on May 8, 2018. Police said the meth had an estimated street value of around $2 million pa’anga.

On a separate note, 10 men arrested in Hofoa during Easter weekend in a drugs operation will appear in court in July 29.

Police had released five of them last week on bail.

The Drug Taskforce seized 30 packs of methamphetamine (24.07 grams), 9 packs of cannabis (2.88 grams), drugs paraphernalia, 4 live .22 bullets and cash during the operation.

Taxpayers have ‘fatongia’ to pay PM, king and nobles’ medical expenses, says government spokesperson

By
Kalino Latu
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Taxpayers have duties (“fatongia”) to pay for the king, Prime Minister, nobles and government officials’ medical expenses, a government spokesperson said.

The money for these payments had been allocated in the government’s annual budget, he said.

“It is the responsibility of the taxpayers and the country to look after their leaders” he said.

The spokesperson was responding after debates on social media erupted recently, with critics asking who was paying for Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva’s medical expenses in New Zealand.

Some questioned whether it was time for Hon Pōhiva, 78, to resign because of his health conditions. However, supporters of the Prime Minister said it was normal for those at his age to receive such routine medical checkups.

King and Lord Fusitu’a treatment

The king was admitted to hospital while he was in New Zealand last month.

It is understood he had surgery on his knee.

Late last year Lord Fusitu’a was sent from Tonga to a New Zealand hospital after he reportedly fell over and broke his leg.

Some of these medical treatments may have cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of Pa’anga.

PM receives second stage treatment

Hon Pōhiva will receive the second stage of medical treatment for a liver complication at an Auckland hospital this week.

He has been undergoing treatment at Mercy Hospital since May 8.

The Prime Minister’s Office said his next procedure was scheduled for Thursday.

While in New Zealand a meeting was held between New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Hon. Pohiva.

Peters offered Hon. Pōhiva his moral support and wished him all the best for his recovery.

It is understood the two also discussed co-operation between the two countries to address the illegal drugs issue and talked about Tonga’s new Parliamentary building which the New Zealand and Australian governments have promised to build.

Former PMs medical expenses

The spokesperson said Prime Minister Pōhiva always preferred being treated at Vaiola hospital when he was sick.

He was only sent to New Zealand when the treatments were not available in Tonga, the spokesperson said.

As Kaniva news reported last year, another government spokesperson said the Prime Minister’s decision to be treated in Tonga rather than New Zealand saved thousands pa’anga of taxpayers’ money.

He said the government would have spent more than TP$100,000 if it had hired a medical aircraft to fly the Prime Minister to New Zealand.

However, Hon Pōhiva, who had felt ill for some time, was later sent to a hospital in Auckland.

Former Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakanō was regularly sent to New Zealand for checkups after he suffered a minor stroke while in New York attending the United Nations General Assembly in 2013.

His medical expenses and flights were paid from taxpayers money.

Kaniva News understands a former Prime Minister who was wheelchair-bound died after spending months in an Auckland hospital. While he was in New Zealand all his expenses, including the staff looking after him, were paid from taxpayers’ money.

A former Minister of Police was flown to New Zealand on a medical flight while he was seriously ill, but died during the fligjht. All expenses were paid from the taxpayers’ coffers.

The main points

  • Taxpayers have duties (“fatongia”) to pay for the king, Prime Minister, nobles and government officials’ medical expenses, a government spokesperson said.
  • The money for these payments had been allocated in the government’s annual budget, he said.
  • The spokesperson was responding after debates on social media erupted recently, with critics asking who was paying for Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s medical expenses in New Zealand.

NBA star Steven Adams understood to have bought $6m property in Wellington

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Ruby Macandrew and Liam Hyslop, stuff.co.nz

NBA basketball superstar Steven Adams is believed to be turning an old trampoline park into his first Kiwi pad – complete with basketball court. 

Adams, the 86th richest athlete on the planet whose $33 million annual salary makes him the country’s richest ever sportsman, is understood to have bought a site on Wellington’s Centennial Highway.

The property, on the Ngauranga Gorge, was purchased for $6.1m in March 2018 by a newly established trust – Vulcan Trustee (NZ) Limited – which was set up less than 20 days before the sale. Adams is expected to turn the property into a base for his training camps.

It’s understood workers refitting the industrial building into a base for the 2.13m star centre have signed non disclosure agreements.

When Stuff visited this week, contractors from Naylor Love were on-site and construction was well under way at the back of the building.

Workers at surrounding businesses, who didn’t want to be named, said the back of the building had been empty for about a year and that they had heard through the grapevine that the sudden activity had something to do with “that basketball dude”.

The trust that bought the property has just one director, Martina Evans, a tax consultant and director of Roberts & Associates in Auckland.

On her online bio, Evans’ clients were said to include “high profile sports persons and entertainers.” Additionally, one of her specialist expertise was listed as “use of special purpose vehicles such as Trusts and other hybrid entities”.

A request for comment went unanswered by Evans.

According to those close to him, the NBA player has long talked about setting up a base in the capital to help mentor and coach young basketballers.

While a request for comment from Adams, via the Oklahoma City Thunder media team, went unanswered, his long-time mentor Kenny McFadden said he had “heard talk of [Adams] trying to put something together”.  

However McFadden, who is currently the chairperson and director of coaching at the New Zealand Basketball Academy, said if Adams’ was planning on setting something up, it would be outside of the academy.

“What he’s tried to do is put something back into the country. Not only with the camps, but he’s going to do whatever it takes to motivate these kids to give them an opportunity.”

Wellington Saints chairman Nick Mills had heard similar murmurings.

“I heard about two years ago that he was going to buy something in Ngauranga and turn it into a basketball court, but I’ve heard nothing about that since.”

Adams is arguably New Zealand’s most famous sportsman, earning a legion of fans around the world for his uncompromising play, wild hair, and down-to-earth sense of humour.

Adams has been a regular sight at basketball camps around New Zealand during the NBA off-season, but the Wellington address would be his first foot in the New Zealand property market.

Last week, Adams raised hopes that he would play for the Tall Blacks, saying he was speaking to team management about playing at the upcoming Fiba World Cup in China.

His OKC Thunder will play the first of their best-of-seven round one series against the Portland Trailblazers on Monday morning.

Two Tongan overstayer in-laws remanded in custody for deportation

By
Kalino Latu
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A Tongan woman, 20, and her brother-in-law, 26, among five people arrested last month in Gisborne for overstaying New Zealand visas have been remanded in custody for deportation.

Four men and a woman were arrested on April 15 during a targeted operation by police and Immigration NZ.

The others are of Indian descent and are aged 22, 23, and 27.

The five appeared together in Gisborne District Court and were represented by duty solicitor Mana Taumaunu, Gisborne Herald has reported.

Judge Charles Blackie, who presided here last week, remanded each of the group to a prison facility for up to 28 days. Their cases will be reviewed on May 10.

All but the Tongan male consented to the custodial remand.

His bail was opposed by Immigration NZ prosecutor Christopher Gullidge, who said the man had overstayed his visa by 13 months and, when found, gave a false name. There was a risk he might abscond again.

The judge directed media not to name the five, citing legal reasons including the potential in some cases for overstayers to apply for refugee status.

Immigration NZ assistant general manager Pete Devoy told the Gisborne Herald the 28-day time frame was standard. It allowed INZ time to obtain an individual’s passport, arrange a flight, organise a police escort and get the necessary clearances and approval from airlines for the detainee to be returned home.

Deportation usually occurred well within the 28 days but sometimes further time was required for which another court appearance was necessary.

In some cases, people caught overstaying their visas can remain in the community on reporting conditions before leaving the country on an agreed date.

Deportation is usually imminent, unless cancelled by Immigration NZ due to international obligations.

Asked about the cost of deporting overstayers, Mr Devoy gave no details but said it depended on a number of circumstances.

National media last year cited a case in which an overstayer was returned to Zambia at a cost of $47,542, of which $43,000 was for costs involved in escorting him.

Hala‘ovave teen convicted for having sex with underage girl

By
Kalino Latu
-

A teenage boy faces jail after being convicted of sex offences against a 12-year-old girl, committed when he was 17.

Sione Pifeleti Maile, now 19, told the girl that if she loved him they should have intercourse and she had agreed.

Maile did not give or call evidence during his trial but made a short dock statement (a practice still available in Tonga) in which he said that he had looked after the girl while they were together and that he did not know having intercourse with her was unlawful.

He was charged with five counts of carnal knowledge of a young person under the age of 15 contrary to sections 121 (2) and 123 of the Criminal Offences Act. He pleaded not guilty and elected trial by Judge alone.

The court was told the girl met the accused on Facebook late in 2017 when she was about 12.

At one stage the girl had an argument late on a Saturday evening with her mother who gave evidence and said she knew nothing about her daughter’s contact with the accused on Facebook.

The argument ended with the girl leaving the house on the Saturday evening and meeting up with the accused at an arranged location in Longolongo.

They finally went to Maile’s house in Hala’ovave, and to a hut located on the property.

The couple kissed after they arrived but the victim refused after Maile initially asked to have intercourse.

The next day, which was a Sunday, they had some food which the Maile had prepared and then walked back to his uncle’s home. Later, they returned to the hut and, although some sexual activities took place initially, the complainant denied intercourse.

However, they finally had sex that evening and the girl said that it hurt. They then went to sleep. They continued to have intercourse later on.

During this period, there was no contact with her mother. The accused would cook meals and, although it would seem members of his family were in the house, the complainant had no contact with them and they may not have known of her presence in the hut.

The next day, police came to the house.

The girl’s mother gave evidence that she had learned where her daughter was from inquiries she had made and advised the police of the address. She had formerly reported her daughter missing to the police.

Maile was later arrested by Police.

Tongan woman co-accused in importing 501kg of meth in Northland, Crown alleges

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Denise Piper, Stuff.co.nz

The activities of an international criminal group, which allegedly imported 501kg of methamphetamine worth up to $150 million, has been outlined in the trial of two defendants at the High Court in Whangārei, New Zealand.

Stevie Norua Cullen, 36, a managing director from central Auckland, and Selaima Fakaosilea, 30, from Auckland’s Beach Haven, are accused of importing methamphetamine into Northland in June 2016 and participating in an organised criminal group.

The trial got underway proper on Thursday, after several delays due to jurors being excused due to personal issues and sickness. Two more jurors were selected, bringing the jury to eight women and four men.

In the Crown’s opening statement, prosecutor Richard Annandale said Cullen and Fakaosilea played roles in the international criminal group.

Annandale said on June 12, 2016, a rigid inflatable boat was found abandoned on Ninety Mile Beach in the Far North.

Later that day, 449kg of methamphetamine was found in a campervan pulled over by police near Mangonui.

An additional 52kg of methamphetamine was found by police on 13 June, buried in sand dunes on Ninety Mile Beach.

If sold in 1kg lots, the 501kg of meth would be worth between $130 million and $150 million.

The Crown alleged Cullen, known by the codename Marvel, was in the Far North from late May to June 12, 2016 to carry out activities for the organised criminal group.

That included duties like researching marine conditions and places to launch a boat from, booking hotel rooms, being present at planning sessions, endeavouring to launch a boat from Shipwreck Bay at the base of Ninety Mile beach on June 9, 2016, and driving members of the group around, Mr Annandale said.

The Crown alleged Fakaosilea, known by the codename Blaze, played a logistics role from Auckland.

That included organising the hiring of vehicles, hiring a campervan, obtaining toolboxes and being a contact person for the arrival of an Asian man from overseas, Mr Annandale said.

Later, Fakaosilea oversaw the distribution of drugs for “buckets” of cash, he said.

Cullen’s defence counsel Annabel Maxwell-Scott said while he was in the Far North with a group at the time, his activities were sightseeing, going out on the town and drinking and travelling in cars.

He was also sick at the time and ended up in hospital.

Throughout that time he used his real name – Stevie or Steve – and “Marvel” was a nickname, she said.

Fakaosilea’s defence counsel Maria Pecotic said Fakaosilea had pleaded not guilty. She urged the jury to focus on Fakaosilea’s intent.

The trial continues Friday and is scheduled for five weeks.

Stuff

Code of conduct panel expected to sack Israel Folau

By
Kaniva Staff
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By JAMIE PANDARAM, The Australian.

There is expected to be unanimous support from the three-person panel to sack Israel Folau over his code of conduct breach, even though termination of a contract can still be enforced on a two-to-one vote.

The panel’s decision is expected to be handed down either tomorrow or Thursday, given that panel chairman John West QC has been travelling overseas, and fellow panel members Kate Eastman SC, and John Boultbee AM are also working on other cases.

The panel does not have to be unanimous in its decision, although given Folau has shown no remorse and given no guarantee he won’t repeat actions that the panel members have already found it to be a high-level breach of Rugby Australia’s professional players’ code of conduct, the trio are all expected to enforce his axing.

Folau said at the weekend that an offer made to him to take down his offensive Instagram post was a deal from Satan, and he would not comply.

The Wallabies star believes the world is nearing an end and wants to continue to spread his Christian messages, and could not guarantee during his hearing that he would refrain from posting further inflammatory material.

The panel has the option of handing Folau a fine or suspension or both, but understands this will put his employer in an impossibly difficult situation.

It’s understood the three panellists are each writing their own judgments, and then will meet together to review all the content and compile a combined final judgment.

The last time there was a high-level breach of the code of conduct was in 2014, when Rugby Australia, then known as the Australian Rugby Union, attempted to have Kurtley Beale sacked for sending a pornographic image to staff member Di Patston.

Boultbee was also on the panel for that case, along with chair Mark Williams SC and ARU barrister Dominic Villa.

That panel had heavily weighed up sacking Beale but in the end, one panel member felt the player was not guilty.

On the basis of a two-to-one vote, they instead resolved to fine Beale $45,000, saving his career. During his hearing, Beale had expressed great remorse for his actions and vowed not to repeat them.

The opposite is true for Folau, leaving his future in tatters.

He gave a church sermon on Sunday saying he is convinced God is stripping him of his material possessions for a greater purpose.

Having rejected a $1 million settlement prior to his hearing, Folau will receive nothing if his contract is terminated.

He and his legal team can appeal, and front a new hearing with three different panel members, and that will continue to drain Folau’s money.

Billionaire Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest is interested in potentially signing Folau for his Global Rapid Rugby tournament next year.

The Tongan rugby league team have also said Folau would be welcome to play for them, although they can’t pay him.

Clubs in Europe and Japan are reluctant to sign Folau because he will not bow to any social media restrictions.

Folau is taking on a lead role at his church, and his netball star wife Maria indicated the couple may be dedicating their lives to that area, suggesting she will retire after this year’s World Cup to focus on areas that are more important than sport.

Air NZ investigates why plane hit runway light

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Radio New Zealand

Air New Zealand is investigating why one of its planes hit a light on the edge of the runway while taking off from Christchurch last month.

The ATR 72 turned back to Christchurch after about 20 minutes so engineers could inspect the plane.

After a similar incident in 2013, the Transport Accident Investigation Commission said hitting the edge lights was a serious but rare type of runway excursion.

It said that when preparing to take off, pilots must make sure they line their aircraft up in the middle of runway.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said pilots did not “intentionally take off on the edge of the runway”.

The investigation would likely focus on why the pilots got confused about their position, the authority said.

“Investigations generally focus on why the perceived reality of the pilots did not match the actual reality of the situation,” it said.

Air New Zealand said it was “conducting an internal investigation and the CAA … will keep abreast of our investigation and review our findings”.

The airline declined to say whether the pilots were stood down following the incident.

The CAA said the airline did not have to release the report publicly, but the authority would “independently monitor and assess this airline’s response to confirm appropriate action has been taken to ensure public safety”.

Christchurch Airport would not respond to RNZ’s questions about the location and height of the lights, citing the investigation.

Meanwhile, the brand new engines on the airline’s latest jets are already having gear box parts replaced amid fears the problem could lead to engines shutting down.

The issue affects the airline’s eight Airbus A320neo and A321neo, the first of which was delivered in November. Neo stands for ‘new engine option’.

The Pratt and Whitney geared turbofan engines, which took 20 years and $US10 billion to develop, were marketed as a game-changer, promising significant reductions in fuel-use, emissions and noise.

But they have been beset by problems, including warped rotor blades and leaky seals since their introduction in 2016.

Air New Zealand said it was replacing the part as a preventative measure and the work should be complete within a fortnight.

“We have not experienced any engine problems in our fleet as a result of this issue and the additional maintenance has not impacted our schedule in any way,” the airline said.

The Civil Aviation Authority said the early failure of the gearbox had led to in-flight engine shutdowns around the world, but “this issue has not to date affected any New Zealand-based aircraft”.

With the parts now being replaced there was no need to restrict the aircraft’s operations, particularly over water, the CAA said.

Republished under Kaniva’s content partnership agreement with Radio New Zealand

Preventing Pacific Worker exploitation in New Zealand

By
Kalino Latu
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The NZ Human Rights Commission and Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) are hosting a workshop on the exploitation of Pacific migrants to New Zealand on May 22, in Auckland.

This is in response to the high number of Pacific migrant workers working in Recognised Seasonal Worker schemes and the increasing number of Pacific Peoples being victims of human trafficking and worker exploitation in New Zealand.

Key speakers at workshop include representatives from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s(MBIE) Trafficking in Persons and Pacifica Labour and Skills team; a New Zealand industry body that employs Pacific workers; Pacific migrant workers; and the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre.

This workshop aims to bring together key government agencies, unions, Pacific leaders and workers and NGO’s to collaboratively discuss how to improve the working conditions for Pacific Peoples in New Zealand including recruitment from the Pacific to New Zealand.

Part of the discussion will include future collaboration to help address Pacific worker exploitation and human trafficking.

The Human Rights Commission’s Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo says migrant worker exploitation and human trafficking are human rights issues that require urgent collective action.

“Pacific workers are valuable to the New Zealand economy, but their vulnerabilities need to be recognised and addressed,” she says.

“Recruitment agencies and employers must ensure that ethical procurement and hiring practices are embedded within their policies and workplaces to protect workers and prevent human rights abuses in their supply chain.”

Pacific peoples, industry representatives that employ seasonal workers and all people interested in improving the working conditions for Pacific Migrant workers in New Zealand are invited to attend the workshop.

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