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Police search for sick two-day-old baby taken from Middlemore Hospital

By
Kaniva Staff
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Police are seeking the public’s help to locate a missing two-day-old baby boy who is believed to be with his mother, Dorothy Opetaia (pictured).

Police are concerned for the wellbeing of the infant, who was removed from Middlemore Hospital but requires urgent medical assistance.

Police believe the baby is with his mother Dorothy Opetaia and they are likely to be in the South Auckland area.

“I have serious concerns for the wellbeing of the baby boy who desperately requires medical care.

Someone in the Opetaia family will know where he is,” says Detective Senior Sergeant Hassall.

“I’m appealing for Dorothy or any family members to take the baby to any hospital straight away, delaying medical attention could cause him to become seriously ill.” 

Anyone with information can contact Counties Manukau Police immediately on 09 261 1321.

Tonga signs medical referral deal with Indian hospital group

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Radio New Zealand.

Tongans with serious medical conditions could be eligible for treatment in India after the signing of a deal between Tonga’s Health Ministry and a private Indian hospital group.

The chief executive of Tonga’s Ministry of Health says the Apollo hospital group has been receiving referrals from Fiji for the past six years and from Samoa over the last year.

Dr Siale ‘Akauola said a Tongan medical team visited the hospital in India before the new agreement was signed.

He said the deal was an affordable option for Tonga.

“So far we have sent some patients already and we have looked at the initial reactions from the patients and we were very pleased with what they had experienced. We were a bit concerned about the long trip because it involves stop overs, so we select patients who can go there based on their ability to travel long hours on the plane,” he said.

Dr ‘Akauola said so far patients needing neurosurgery, cardiac surgery and cancer treatment had gone to India.

This article is republished under Kaniva’s content partnership with Radio New Zealand.

NZ bus company pleads guilty over crash that killed Tongans

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Radio New Zealand.

New Zealand bus company Ritchies has pleaded guilty to a health and safety charge laid over the 2016 Christmas Eve bus crash near Gisborne that left three people dead.

The bus was carrying members of a school brass band that was on a four-week fundraising tour from Tonga.

The band was on its way to Gisborne to perform at a church on Christmas Day, when the bus plunged down a steep bank.

Three people were killed and many others were injured.

The crash killed 11-year-old Sione Taumololo and a 33-year-old Talita Fifita.

Leotisia Malakai, 55, died later from her injuries at Waikato Hospital.

In the Waitakere District Court this morning, Ritchies entered a guilty plea through its lawyer to an amended charge laid by WorkSafe, for failing to ensure the health and safety of other people was not put at risk.

Talakai Aholelei who was driving the bus which crashed near Gisborne on Christmas Eve.

Talakai Aholelei who was driving the bus which crashed near Gisborne on Christmas Eve. Photo: supplied

Last year, the driver of the bus, Talakai Aholelei, was sentenced to five-and-a-half months’ home detention and had his license suspended for two years.

He pleaded guilty to three charges of careless driving causing death and 27 charges of careless driving causing injury.

He also had to pay $36,000 in reparations.

This article is republished under Kaniva’s content partnership with Radio New Zealand.

Gov’t takes legal action after Acting Speaker blocks six new bills it said were urgent

By
Kalino Latu
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The Pohiva government says it has lodged an application for a judicial review of the decision to block six new bills it says urgently need to be tabled.

The decision was made by Lord Tu’ilakepa when he was Acting Speaker last month.

The Minister of Police, Mateni Tapueluelu, said that based on legal advice the government has formally proceeded with a judicial review.

In his response, Lord Tu’ilakepa said in Parliament he welcomed the move.

The Prime Minister wrote to the Speaker of the House last month and told him the Bills were urgent.

According to the House procedure, when Bills are labelled as urgent, it means there is no need for the House to discuss whether these bills needed public consultation or not. The House has to table them immediately.

However, as Kaniva Tonga news reported last month, there was uproar in the House  when Lord Tu’ilakepa said the Prime Minister was obliged to tell the House in a letter the reasons why the government considered the six Bills before him were urgent.

The government disagreed and said certifying in a letter the bills were urgent only required the Prime Minister to say they were urgent and to sign the letter.

Lord Tu’ilakepa and seven other Noble MPs, along with three independent MPs,  wanted the government to meet face to face with the public to consult with them on the new legislation.

The government said it had already done the public consultation process over a radio talk back show led by the Acting Attorney General, ‘Aminiasi Kefu.

As Kaniva news reported recently, the king had ordered that the petitions against his government should be investigated by the office of the Director of Prosecutions.

However, Hon. Pōhiva said the office did not exit.

“The Bill to amend the Constitution so that the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions can be established is one of those six Bills that I had submitted to the Legislative Assembly to be treated as urgent,” the Prime Minister said.

“It is unfortunate that its passage has been held up due to differences in interpretation of the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Assembly.”

The main points

  • The Pohiva government said it had lodged an application for a judicial review of the decision to block six new bills it says urgently need to be tabled.
  • The decision was made by Lord Tu’ilakepa when he was Acting Speaker last month.

For more information

Seven noble MPs vow not to return to Parliament unless motion is tabled, but independents return to Househttps://kanivatonga.co.nz/2019/03/seven-noble-mps-vow-not-to-return-to-parliament-unless-motion-is-tabled-but-independents-return-to-house/

Video shows man attacked inside kava club over alleged dancing with tou‘a stunt

By
Kalino Latu
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A Tongan man has been caught on camera attacking an old Tongan man inside a fale kalapu (kava club)

According to sources, the men in the video were relatives and the incident occurred in the US early this week.

The attacker can be heard telling the victim, who was the president of the club, to stop hulohula (dancing)  inside the house.

The old man responded and said it was not the appropriate time and place for them to sort out the attacker’s concern.

The attacker threatened to kick out the club from his property. He said he could do whatever he wanted as it was his property.

He said he was unhappy with the victim and other members of the club for dancing with the tou’a – the woman who was serving the kava at the club.

He said he saw on Facebook it was the victim who was allegedly dancing with the tou’a.

The attacker told the victim his action embarrassed him as owner of the property  as he was a member of a church.

The video has been widely shared and reposted online. One post was shared more than 80 times and viewed more than 38,350. It received 317 reactions and attracted more than 270 comments.

Breaching of taboo

It is understood the episode erupted after what appeared to be a breach of the taboo of kava sessions.

The incident came after another video clip was previously shared online.

In that video, a woman and a man in a fale kalapu were slow dancing while the club’s acoustic band was playing.

The video showed the woman and his dancing partner covered their faces with a white piece of cloth while dancing.

You can follow this link to watch the videos

Editorial comments

Culturally, there are certain taboos kava drinkers and the woman who is serving kava (tou’a) must follow. This including the tou’a having to wear a Tongan formal attire especially with a ta’ovala. She also has to sit in the faite style in which both legs have to be closed to the left or the right.

The brothers and male cousins of the tou’a must not attend the kava session.

The tou’a must (fakamolumalu) behave respectfully and discipline herself with appropriate manners including stopping the kava drinkers from touching her or trying to kiss her in an attempt to create a stunt or joke. 

The main points

  • A Tongan man has been caught on camera attacking an old Tongan man inside a fale kalapu (kava club).
  • According to sources, the men in the video were relatives and the incident occurred in the US early this week.

Israel Folau to be sacked by Rugby Australia

By
Kaniva Staff
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By ABC. This story appears on Radio New Zealand news website.

Rugby Australia has announced it intends to terminate Israel Folau’s contract following his latest online comments that homosexuals and other “sinners” will go to hell.

Wallabies international Folau, one of Australia’s top players and most marketable athletes, wrote on Instagram that gays would be condemned to “hell” if they failed to “repent”.

New South Wales Waratahs player Folau, an evangelical Christian, made similar comments last April.

Rugby Australia and New South Wales Rugby Union said they had made attempts to contact Folau “both directly and via his representatives” since last night, but the star had failed to communicate directly with either organisation.

“Whilst Israel is entitled to his religious beliefs, the way in which he has expressed these beliefs is inconsistent with the values of the sport,” a Rugby Australia statement read.

“We want to make it clear that he does not speak for the game with his recent social media posts.

“Israel has failed to understand that the expectation of him as a Rugby Australia and NSW Waratahs employee is that he cannot share material on social media that condemns, vilifies or discriminates against people on the basis of their sexuality.”

It said rugby is a sport that continuously works to unite people, and they wanted everyone to feel safe in the game.

“And welcome in our game, and no vilification based on race, gender, religion or sexuality is acceptable and no language that isolates, divides or insults people based on any of those factors can be tolerated.

“As a code we have made it clear to Israel formally and repeatedly that any social media posts or commentary that is in any way disrespectful to people because of their sexuality will result in disciplinary action.

“In the absence of compelling mitigating factors, it is our intention to terminate his contract.”

The sport’s governing body said in a statement on Wednesday the content within the post was unacceptable.

“It does not represent the values of the sport and is disrespectful to members of the rugby community.

“The Rugby Australia Integrity Unit has been engaged on the matter tonight.”

Qantas, a major sponsor of Rugby Australia, has labelled the comments disappointing.

Earlier, it said it was awaiting the results of Rugby Australia’s investigation but the comments didn’t reflect the spirit of inclusion and diversity that the airline supports.

Folau was contracted to Rugby Australia and the Waratahs through to the end of the 2022 season.

Row breaks out between king’s nobles as Lord Ma‘afu scolds Lord Tu‘ilakepa over ‘Atele lease petition

By
Kalino Latu
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A debate after a petition by Tonga College ex-students was tabled in Parliament has divided the king’s nobles, with Lord Ma’afu telling Lord Tu’ilakepa he was “ta’emahino” (misunderstanding).

Lord Ma’afu said he had been trying repeatedly to tell the noble the land about which the petition complained belonged to the government, but the noble appeared to ignore it.

Lord Ma’afu, who is also the Minister of Lands, Survey and Natural Resources, told Lord Tu’ilakepa to check the quarry on his estate, which he often talked about, and see whether it was still in use or had run out of rocks.

Lord Tu’ilakepa told Lord Ma’afu to stop being personal.  

“’Oua te ke fakafo’ituitui. ‘Oua te ke fakafo’utuitui,” Lord Tu’ilakepa warned in Tongan.  

The petition

The nobles’ row came after the petitioners complained that 15 acres of land at Tonga College, ‘Atele which the government recently leased to the Tonga Football Association should be returned to the college.

The petition was backed by most Noble MPs and the Independent MPs.  

Lord Ma’afu told parliament two weeks ago that the late King Tupou IV decided to lease part of Tonga College’s lands for the establishment of a Football Association centre in Tonga.

Lord Ma’afu said the size for the land the king wanted for the centre was big, but as far as he understood FIFA, which was funding the centre, could only afford 15 acres of the land.

He said the Football Association recently asked for more land and he had given them another 15 acres.

He said the petition was based on that additional 15 acres.

The noble said the Football Association was entitled to more land, but he thought that was enough.

He said the Football Association’s lease was legal and went through his Ministry’s procedures.

Against

The Niuas MP Vatau Hui, who was an ex-student of Tonga College and whose son is studying at the college, insisted that the Minister should return the additional 15 acres to the college.

He said the value of a child being taught at the college was more important than the benefits the Football Association could bring.

Lord Ma’afu asked the MP why they did not submit a petition when the University of the South Pacific and the Tonga Communication Corporations leased parts of the land.

Hon. Hui argued that the land being given to the Football Association was fertile and therefore important for the College’s agriculture.

Lord Ma’afu said about TP$4 million every year came through football and was being spent on young people.

He said Tonga College had 186 acres of land to use.

The main points

  • A debate after a petition by Tonga College ex-students was tabled in Parliament has divided the king’s nobles, with Lord Ma’afu telling Lord Tu’ilakepa he was “ta’emahino” (misunderstanding).
  • The nobles’ row came after the petitioners complained that 15 acres of land at Tonga College which the government recently leased to the Tonga Football Association should be returned to the college.

Israel Folau’s latest anti-gay comments ‘unacceptable’

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Radio New Zealand

Fullback Israel Folau’s latest anti-gay comments on social media are “unacceptable” and its integrity unit will look into the matter, Rugby Australia (RA) says.

Wallabies international Folau, one of Australia’s top players and most marketable athletes, wrote on Instagram that gays would be condemned to “hell” if they failed to “repent”.

New South Wales Waratahs player Folau, an evangelical Christian, made similar comments last April.

“Rugby Australia is aware of a post made by Israel Folau on his Instagram account this afternoon,” Australian rugby’s governing body said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The content within the post is unacceptable. It does not represent the values of the sport and is disrespectful to members of the rugby community.

“The Rugby Australia Integrity Unit has been engaged on the matter tonight.”

Folau, 30, also condemned in Twitter post a landmark decision on Wednesday by the Australian state of Tasmania to make it legally optional to list gender on birth certificates.

In February, Folau extended his Wallabies deal until 2022 ahead of this year’s World Cup, although contract negotiations were complicated by his conservative religious views.

Folau faced no sanctions in April last year for anti-gay comments after RA said it accepted his position that he did not mean to harm the game.

Folau had offered to walk away from the sport if RA found itself in an untenable position with sponsors and fans.

This article is republished under Kaniva’s content partnership with Radio New Zealand.

Participating in beauty pageant helped overcome shyness, learn about Tongan dancing, competitor Salome Vaiangina says

By
Kalino Latu
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A 21-year-old New Zealand-born Tongan beauty contestant said joining Miss Apraxus 2019 helped her overcame her nervousness and shyness. 

Miss Salome Liekina He Ofa Vaiangina is representing the Nasita Production in the competition.

She said she had learnt a lot from what she had gone through since the competition began last month. Each of the five contestants has staged a fundraising night to help fund their involvement and participation.

Miss Vaiangina said she was proud of her Tongan culture and the competition was a good chance for her to learn more about how to perform Tongan dancing.

She is studying tourism and pursuing her dream of becoming a flight attendant.

Her hobbies are singing and dancing.

She said she felt proud after she was invited to take part in the competition. The winner and the rest of the competitors will travel to Tonga to compete at the Miss Heilala 2019 contest.

 “I was happy at first knowing that someone has sponsored me,” she told Kaniva news.

“I learn a lot like confidence.”

She said when the competition began and when it came to her turn to have her fundraising night she started to feel the heat knowing many people would watch her while performing on stage.

“I was very nervous. I just wanted to hold a smile,” she said.

Miss Vaiangina said she was glad to represent the Nasita Production and would like to promote its services.

The company had been serving the Pacific community in New Zealand for about five years designing T-shirts and providing video recording services. 

Vaiangina, who is from Manaunga He Lotu and Talafo’ou in Tonga, came from a family of 11 siblings.

Her father Tongo Fionoa Vaiangina died in 2015, but Miss Vaiangina never forgot how he was proud of her.

She was tearful and repeatedly tried to compose herself during the interview when she was talking about her father.

Her mother Lile, who was attending the interview, said her kāinga recalled how Tongo Fionoa was proud of his children and they said it could have been a different story if he was still alive to see his daughter joining the competition.

Tongo Fionoa was instrumental in establishing the Church of Tonga in Papakura which celebrates its 10 anniversary this year.

The main points

  • A 21-year-old New Zealand-born Tongan beauty contestant said joining Miss Apraxus 2019 helped her overcame her nervousness and shyness. 
  • Miss Salome Liekina He Ofa Vaiangina is representing the Nasita Production in the competition.

Argument over cow and dispute with Port Master lead Ministers to Magistrate’s court

By
Kaniva Staff
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Two government ministers will appear in the magistrate’s court next week.

Both appeared in court yesterday, but have had their cases deferred.

Minister of Justice Vuna Fa’otusia was charged with wrongful interference with the course of justice and using threatening language to police officers in a dispute over an allegedly stolen cow.

Hon. Fa’otusia originally appeared in the Fasi Magistrate’s Court on April 1 and had his case adjourned to April 8.

The case stems from an incident on January 12 this year.

The Minister faces two counts of wrongful interference with the course of justice and using threatening language to police during an incident that occurred on January 12, 2019.

His lawyer, Tomasi Fakahua, asked  Chief Magistrate Salesi Mafi to defer the case until next week so they could prepare their response.

The Minister of Trade and Economic Development,  Dr. Tu’i Uata and his brother ‘Etuate Uata appeared before the bench on a charge of disobeying directions given  by the Port master.

It is understood the charge arose over the mooring of the MV Pulupaki and the MV Punalei.

The case was set aside until April 15.

The main points

  • Two government ministers will appear in the magistrate’s court next week.
  • Both appeared in court yesterday, but have had their cases deferred.

For more information

Minister of Justice appears at Magistrate Court

Minister of Justice appears at Magistrate Court
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