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Cyclone Pola upgraded to category 3

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Radio New Zealand

Tropical Cyclone Pola has been upgraded to a severe category 3 system as it continues to move south southwest between Tonga and Fiji.

No caption

Photo: Fijimetservice

The Tonga Met Service says a storm force wind warning remains in force for Tele-Ki-Tonga and Tele-Ki-Tokelau.

A gale warning remains in force for Ha’apai, Tongatapu and ‘Eua but is now canceled for Vava’u.

A strong wind warning remains inforce for the Niuas and is now inforce for Vava’u.

A heavy rain warning and flash flood advisory remains in force for Vava’u, Ha’apai, Tongatapu and ‘Eua.

A heavy damaging swell warning remains inforce for all of Tonga’s coastal waters.

At 7pm on Wednesday, the category 3 cyclone was 275km west northwest of Nuku’alofa, moving south-southwest at 20km/hr.

Near its centre, the cyclone was packing wind speeds of 120 km/hr gusting up to 170km/hr.

It was forecast to be 270km west of Nuku’alofa, at 1am on Thursday morning.

Cyclone Pola tracking map, 6pm, 27 February.

Cyclone Pola tracking map, 6pm, 27 February. Photo: Tonga Met Service

At 5pm on Wednesday, the director of the service, ‘Ofa Fa’anunu, said the cyclone was veering away from Tonga’s main islands.

Several tropical depressions have come close to Tonga during this cyclone season so Mr Fa’anunu said people should be prepared.

“This is the seventh tropical disturbance that we’ve worked on this season. This is the fifth for the month of February,” he said.

“All of the systems have tracked a similar track as Cyclone Pola so I’m confident people are ready for this system.”

Fiji’s Lau group of islands is the most likely to be affected by the cyclone on its current track.

RNZ Pacific will be broadcasting cyclone warnings from the Tonga Met Service throughout the night.

People have been advised to monitor local radio broadcasts for the latest information.

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

Tongans urged to bin fruit before travel to NZ

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Radio New Zealand

Tongan travellers to New Zealand are being reminded not to bring any fresh produce with them after the facialis fruit fly was discovered in Auckland.

Two of the fruit flies were caught in traps this month in the suburb of Otara, where restrictions on moving fresh produce were enforced and disposal bins set up for some fruit and vegetables.

Catherine Duthie of the Ministry for Primary Industries said the species was native to Tonga, where it causes damage to chilli and capsicum crops and can also spoil mangoes and citrus fruit.

Tongans are being asked not to fly with fruit vegetables, she said.

“People shouldn’t be bringing any fresh fruit or vegetables in from Tonga,” Dr Duthie said.

“If in doubt just leave it out of the luggage, don’t bring it in. The biosecurity inspectors in Tonga are very good at picking these things up, as are our inspectors at the border.”

Dr Duthie has urged people to contact her ministry if they find evidence of the fruit fly in New Zealand.

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

Two men arrested after shooting of Tongan man in Māngere Bridge

By
Kalino Latu
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Two men have been arrested after a shooting incident in south Auckland which left one man in a serious condition and another with moderate facial injuries

One of the injured men has been confirmed to be Tongan, Mēsake Piula Mataele.

His father Liti Matele told Kaniva news Mēsake was still receiving medical treatment in hospital.

The arrest came following an investigation into the shooting in Mangere Bridge on 17 February, 2019.

A 28-year-old man will appear in the Manukau District Court on Tuesday afternoon, while a 25-year-old man will appear in court at a later date.

Inspector Jarred Pirett says Police have been committed to finding the alleged offenders responsible and holding them to account.

“This was a senseless act of violence that caused significant harm to the victim and his family and caused alarm in the community.

“I want to thank the members of the public who came forward with information which helped us identify those allegedly responsible.

“Our priority is to ensure that our community feels safe and we are committed to making Counties Manukau a safer place by working with our partners and the wider community.”

The 28-year-old male has been charged with Wounding with a Firearm and will be appearing in the Manukau District Court this afternoon.

The 25-year-old male will be appearing in court at a later date to face charges relating to possession of ammunition and being an accessory after the fact.

Cyclone Pola to pass near Tonga

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Radio New Zealand

A category one cyclone has formed just north east of Fiji and has been named Pola just after midnight by Fiji MetService.

The cyclone is travelling south and will pass between Tonga and Fiji within the next 48 hours with Tonga expected to take most of the impact.

A gale warning is in force for all of Tonga.

Fiji cyclone forecaster Stephen Meke said the system was intensifying rapidly.

“So we expect it later today to at least intensify to a category two. Though the centre is expected to lie over open waters we expect some gale force winds to possibly affect the main island of Tonga,” Mr Meke said.

RNZ Pacific will be broadcasting cyclone warnings via the Tonga MetService throughout the day as they come in.

The public is advised to monitor local radio broadcasts for the latest information and advisories.

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

New CEO appointed for Internal Affairs

By
Kalino Latu
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Dr Fotu Kuohiko Valeli Fisi’iahi has been appointed as the new chief executive for Ministry of Internal Affairs.

He would lead the day to day operations of the Ministry in a four-year contract starting on February 25, 2019.

Dr Fisi’iahi previously worked as a civil servant for 21 years in Tonga before he resigned and relocated with his family to New Zealand in 2006.

The Public Service Commission is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Fotu Kuohiko Valeli Fisi’iahi of Niutoua, Tongatapu as Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Internal Affairs with effect from 25th February, 2019 for a period of four (4) years.

Dr Fisi’iahi holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Development Economics) (2007), a Master of Commerce (Industrial Relations) (2000) and a Bachelor of Arts (Industrial Relations) (1999) all from the University Of Wollongong, Australia.

Dr Fisi’iahi’s career in the public service began in 1985 when he was appointed as a Junior Clerk for the then Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Industries, followed by senior positions in the same Ministry including Senior Executive Officer, Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary.

In 2006, Dr Fisi’iahi opted for voluntary redundancy and migrated overseas where he was employed by Auckland University of Technology as Senior Research Officer from 2007 to 2009. He was then employed by the UNITEC Institute of Technology as Post Graduate Lecturer/Academic Advisor for the Faculty of Business as from 2010 to 2016.

Dr Fisi’iahi has been working as an Independent Consultant and operate a family business known as Pro Recruit Ltd in Auckland New Zealand, prior to taking up his appointment as Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

“The Public Service Commission welcomes Dr Fotu Kuohiko Valeli Fisi’iahi’s appointment as the CEO for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and wishes him success in his term in Office.”

Cyclone warning for Fiji and Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
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By Radio New Zealand

Fiji’s weather service is warning that a cyclone is forming which will affect Fiji and Tonga over the next 24 hours.

It says Tropical Depression 11F will be named as a Cyclone at about midnight local time.

Forecaster Samisoni Waqavakatoga says at 3pm on Tuesday the depression was 65 kilometres north-west of Niuafo’ou in Tonga.

Mr Waqavakatoga says it’s travelling south-southwest at 14km/h.

Between 6pm on Tuesday and 6am on Wednesday the system is predicted to track between Fiji’s Lau and Tonga’s Ha’apai groups.

Mr Waqavakatoga says winds will be gusting to 90km/h at that point.

He says the cyclone may intensify in the following 12 hours as it tracks between Ono-i-Lau in Fiji and Tonga’s main island Tongatapu.

This story is republished under Kaniva’s partnership content agreement with Radio New Zealand

Chamber wants better say on legislation, more support for locally-owned business, House told

By
Philip Cass
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The Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry wants to sign an MOU with the government to improve consultation between the business community and relevant ministries.

The Chamber wants to sign a memorandum to formalise discussion on pressing issues affecting business, like the Foreign Investment Bill which is before Parliament.

The Chamber said the Bill would have a significant impact on Tongan-owned businesses and wants the government to support local industries that could replace imports.

It also said government neglect had led to the death of the traditional village store.

The Chamber’s comments on the need for consultation were read out in Parliament as part of a report on the Bill 2019.

The Chamber said it believed an effective and regular process of consultation would go a long way in smoothing the growth of business in Tonga.

They also suggested that consultation on business related legislation must be given sufficient time to consider and prepare written submission on pending legislation.

During the debate on the issue last week, Lord Fusitu’a asked that a letter from some businesses which claimed there had been no public consultation on the bill, be read out.

Minister of Labour, Hon. Tu’i Uata denied the allegation and this week told the House the Chamber had  apologised for claiming there was no public consultation.

Drawback

Despite its criticism, the Chamber said the bill was “on the whole…good.”

“Its main drawback is that there is no mechanism in the Bill to ensure that there is ongoing and regular consultation with the Tonga business community on whom the effects of foreign investment will be most felt,” the Chamber said.

The Chamber said it understood that passing the bill would lead to the release of $35 Million in budget support by aid donors.

It said the government should use part of the funds support import substituting business that have operated successfully, such as those in the manufacturing g sector

The Chamber said that when the bill became law it would a significant affect on Tongan-owned businesses.

“The disappearance or death of the ‘village falekoloa’ is a direct result of the government – over the past 20 years – not taking appropriate measures to assist and to protect the Tongan falekoloa,” it said.

The main points

  • The Tonga Chamber of Commerce wants to sign an MOU with the government to improve consultation between the business community and relevant ministries.
  • The Chamber wants a to sign a memorandum to formalise discussion on pressing issues affecting business.

For more information

Report on the foreign investment bill 2016 read in Parliament

Report on the foreign investment bill 2016 read in Parliament

Tongan man arrested after Tongan elderly woman killed in US fire

By
Kaniva Staff
-

SAN MATEO (KRON) — Police in San Mateo have made an arrest in connection to a fire that left an elderly woman dead last week.

Authorities say the fire may have been a targeted gang-related attack. 

Fifita Tau, of East Palo Alto, was arrested Friday evening after the San Mateo Police Department’s SWAT team served search warrants at a home on the 2300 block of Oakwood Drive in East Palo Alto.

Detectives say they questioned several individuals at the home — and ultimately determined Tau as the person responsible for the fire. He’s been arrested on arson and murder charges as well as a gang enhancement charge and is now being held without bail at the San Mateo County Jail. 

Tau is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. 

The deadly house fire occurred Feb. 19 around 4:30 a.m. on the 100 block of South Humboldt Street. The 85-year-old grandmother, identified by police as Susana Tonga, died at the scene. 

Second Queensland fruit fly discovered in Auckland suburb of Northcote

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Radio New Zealand

In total, five fruit flies have been found – three Queensland fruit flies and two Facialis fruit flies, which are native to Tonga, have been found in Ōtara.

The latest find was in what is known as Zone A and was 113 metres from where the first Queensland fruit fly was found, Biosecurity New Zealand said in a statement.

A significant trapping programme has been in operation on Auckland’s North Shore since the first Queensland fruit fly was discovered in Devonport on 14 February.

All traps on the North Shore have been checked. The traps in Zone A are checked daily for the first seven days after the find.

“This latest detection is further evidence that our surveillance programme is working and it is pleasing we still have no indication of an established breeding population,” Biosecurity New Zealand spokesperson Dr Catherine Duthie said.

She said the three Queensland fruitflies, which were all males, could have come from the same piece of discarded fruit and the focus would now be on checking fruit for a breeding population.

“Our trapping and surveillance has been enhanced and this programme will find any further flies in the area.”

Biosecurity New Zealand has 140 staff, contractors and industry partners working on the response.

In addition to the trapping, they are collecting fruit from backyards in Zone A and checking it for larvae. More than 300kg of fruit have been inspected in a mobile laboratory, with no detections to date.

As the movement of fruit and vegetables from Zones A and B is restricted, staff and contractors are continuing to collect disposal bins for processing. Nearly three tonnes of fruit and vegetable waste has been collected from the three suburbs affected – the normal amount of fruit and vegetable waste in these areas.

Instead of putting waste in rubbish bins to be disposed of normally, the waste is being put into the special response bins for Biosecurity New Zealand to dispose of securely.

At the weekend, Biosecurity had a strong presence at the Ōtara Market, supported by community leaders, educating the public about the facialis fruit fly found in the suburb.

“The response and support from the public there was amazing, as it has been in Devonport and Northcote too,” said Dr Duthie.

“This is critical as we need the whole community to pull together on this type of biosecurity response.”

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

Accused to serve six months after court suspends most of sentence for reckless driving

By
Philip Cass
-

The Supreme Court has sentenced Vainiaku ‘Aisea, 38, on a charge of reckless driving causing death and reckless driving causing grievous harm.

‘Aisea was sentenced to two years and three months in prison on the first charge and one year and six  months imprisonment on the second charge to be served at the same time.

The last 21 months of his sentence have been suspended on probation on condition that he not commit any imprisonable offence and that he obey the directives of the probation service.

He has been disqualified from driving for 12 months.

The court was told that on July 14 last year ‘Aisea was driving west on the By-Pass Road heading towards Teufavia Park to attend a parade. The speed limit is 40kph, but he was travelling between 50-70 kph.  

‘Aisea was following two vehicles and attempted to pass them. There were vehicles coming in the opposite direction and one of those vehicles, a truck, attempted to pass vehicles in front of it.

Fearing a head on collision, the accused veered to the right and drove off the road into the corner of an intersection where Hinemoa Mahoni, 12, and her sister Katalina Mahoni, 20, were waiting for a bus.

Hinemoa was crushed between a gate and electric post. Katalina suffered injuries to her arm and was released. Hinemoa never regained consciousness and died the next day.

The victims’ father came to Court to support Mr.  ‘Aisea and ask that the Court exercise leniency on his behalf.

“This is a terribly sad case,” Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said.

“One cannot but have considerable sympathy primarily for the victims and their family, but also for Mr. ‘Aisea who has the burden of living with the guilt of what he has done.”

The judge said ‘Aisea had provided money and goods in the traditional Tongan manner to the victims’ family and had been forgiven.

“This is not a case where I can find that Mr. ‘Aisea’s moral culpability was low  nor was the accident the result of a momentary lapse of attention,” the judge said.

“To fully suspend his sentence would fail to recognise that a human life was lost and another person seriously in jured. It would also  fail  to  deter  others  from  taking unnecessary risk on  the road in similar  circumstances.

“I do however consider that a  substantial  suspension  of  the  sentence  is justified.”

The main points

  • The Supreme Court has sentenced Vainiaku ‘Aisea, 38, on a charge of reckless driving causing death and reckless drivingv causing grievous harm.
  • ‘Aisea was sentenced to two years and three months in prison on the first charge and one year and six  months imprisonment on the second charge to be served at the same time. The last 21 months of his sentence have been suspended.
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