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Only coastal waters affected as Cyclone Pola moves away from Tonga

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Radio New Zealand

A hurricane warning remains in force for Tele-Ki-Tonga and Tele-Ki-Tokelau coastal waters.

While it is now a category 4 storm, the Tongan Met Service says it will not affect any of the land areas of Tonga.

The strong wind warning for Tongatapu and ‘Eua land areas and coastal waters has now been cancelled.

However, a heavy damaging swell warning remains in force for Tongatapu, ‘Eua, Tele-Ki-Tonga and Tele-Ki-Tokelau coastal waters, but is now cancelled for Ha’apai coastal waters.

Tropical Cyclone Pola is moving south at 18km/hr and the maximum winds near its centre are about 165 km/hr, with momentary gust up to 205km/hr.

On its current track, tropical cyclone pola is expected to lie at about 230km south south-east of Tele-Ki-Tonga, 285km south south-east of Tele-Ki-Tokelau, 615km south south-west of Nuku’alofa, 600km south south-west of ‘Eua at 1.00pm today.

The director of Tonga’s National Emergency Management Office, Mafua Maka, said yesterday, there had been no reports of damage from the cyclone in Tonga.

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

Island rugby chiefs slam proposed World League that would bar Tonga, Samoa and Fiji

By
Philip Cass
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Pacific Islands rugby chiefs have reacted angrily to a proposed World Rugby League tournament that would lock out the three Pacific champions – Tonga, Fiji and Samoa.

The 12-team World League would sign up teams from the Rugby Championship and Six Nations as well as the United States and Japan for a dozen years.

Island teams would be effectively barred from participating.

There are reports that an unnamed broadcaster has offered to back the concept in a deal that would provide up to NZ$14m for each nation every season.

Under the new arrangement the 12 teams would meet once  a year, with finals conducted at the end of each year.

Aayden Clarke, chief executive officer of Pacific Rugby Players, said that during discussions with other heads of rugby in the Pacific, one of them described the World League as meaning “the death of Pacific Island Rugby.”

He told New Zealand media players would be forced to opt to play in overseas teams because it would give them more opportunities than playing for their home side.

“There are 18-year-old young Samoans, Tongans and Fijians now who will now be looking at ‘who do I make myself eligible for’ because if I play for my home country I will never play in the bright lights of Twickenham and possibly will never have the opportunity to play the All Blacks or Australia,” Clarke said.

“We’re going to see players withdrawing from test rugby and signing three to four year deals with French or UK clubs, quite happy to step down from international rugby because, no disrespect, but they don’t value test matches against the likes of Spain, Russia and Uruguay as high as playing against top nations.”

And Samoan captain Chris Vui told the New Zealand Herald: “For countries in this bracket and for Pacific Islanders in particular, our biggest issue has always been the ‘club versus country’ factor.

“We feel that a 12-year deal is not workable, particularly when it presents no hope of advancement during that period.

“This will have a dangerous knock-on effect of luring senior players away from their countries and more towards the clubs, which is the exact opposite of what we’re all trying to achieve.”

Leading rugby players from around the world have condemned the idea of a World League and raised concerns that under the new arrangement there would be no real opportunity for tier two teams like Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, to progress.

The New Zealand Herald said the new deal meant that the Pacific Island teams were effectively being told to “to give up – they will never have a seat at the top table.”

According to the Pacific Rugby Players website, hundreds of Pacific Islanders play the game across the globe.

The main points

  • Pacific Islands rugby chiefs have reacted angrily to a proposed World Rugby League tournament that would lock out the three Pacific champions – Tonga, Fiji and Samoa.
  • The 12-team World League would sign up teams from the Rugby Championship and Six Nations as well as the United States and Japan for a dozen years.

For more information

‘The death of Pacific Island rugby’: World Rugby blasted over World League

Speed, alcohol factors in Tongatapu fatal crash

By
Kalino Latu
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Speed and alcohol are thought to have contributed to a crash which killed a 26-year-old Nukunuku man this morning at around 1.35am on Hihifo road, police have said.

Family members and friends have named the victim on Facebook as Tēvita Tāufa.

Polie said the deceased was with friends on a night out, drinking alcohol in Nuku’alofa last night.

Police said they returned to Nukunuku from Nuku’alofa at about 1am in two cars.

On their way back, the other car was travelling in front while it was followed by the car where the deceased was riding at the front passenger seat.

The fatal incident occurred when the vehicle where the deceased was in had swayed and gone off the road to the left and as it bounced back, it hit the other vehicle.

The impact had caused both vehicles to slide to the right where the vehicle with the deceased crashed into an electric pole on the right side of the road.

The force of the accident broke the pole in two.

The car where the deceased was in was driven by a 28 year old man from Nukunuku, with another 28 year old male passenger, also from Nukunuku.

“All three were rushed to the Vaiola Hospital where the 26 year old passed away and the driver and the other passenger sustain serious injuries and are still in Vaiola Hospital,” Chief Inspector Sofilisi Fifita has said.  

The driver and passenger in the other vehicle escaped with no injuries.

“Speed and alcohol were contributing factors to this fatal crash,” he said.

Fifita urged “youth, drivers and road users to act responsibly as there is only one life.”

“Make sure you do not drink and drive.  Either arrange for a sober driver or catch a taxi home.  Everyone should be safe and considerate on the road.”   

This is the first road fatality for this year 2019. 

Investigation into the crash continues. 

Read more:

Man killed in Tongatapu crash

 

Man killed in Tongatapu crash

By
Kalino Latu
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A man has died following a fatal crash in Fatai this morning.

Reports on social media claimed the victim was from Nukunuku.

They also claimed he was in the car with other friends.

…this is breaking news. More to come

Tonga ombudsman investigating public enterprises

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Radio New Zealand

Tonga’s ombudsman has announced an inquiry into allegations of poor administration by the boards of public enterprises.

At the end of last year, local media reported some board members were spending excessively, taking loans, being paid thousands in bonuses and overtime and travelling to Europe.

The Ombudsman of Tonga, Aisea Taumoepeau, said he was now carrying out what he calls an Own Motion Investigation into the allegations.

He said his office and the Ministry of Public Enterprises have agreed to work in partnership and the investigation should not be taken as a negative reflection on the ministry.

He says the probe’s being carried out in the public interest and he has requested relevant information from the ministry.

“I see this as a query into whether these allegations are substantiated or otherwise,” Aisea Taumoepeau said.

“Either way, it will be for the benefit of the Ministry to remedy any shortfall in the Public Enterprises concerned, or be assured there is no undesirable maladministration in the operation of Public Enterprises”.

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

Lealeifuaneva Moala guilty of giving unlawful immigration advice

By
Kaniva Staff
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An Auckland woman from the Tongan community has been sentenced to 250 hours community work after pleading guilty to charges of unlawful immigration advice that involved deceiving family members and friends.

The Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) charged Lealeifuaneva Linda Moala under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 with two counts of asking for, or receiving a fee or reward for, immigration advice when neither licenced nor exempt, while knowing she was required to be.

The further charge under the Crimes Act 1961 was for obtaining payment by deception. 

Moala, who is Samoan and married to a Tongan man, appeared before Manukau District Court earlier this month for sentencing after pleading guilty to all charges laid against her by the IAA in March 2018.

The offending included taking payment from four of her family members and friends in the Tongan Community.

Moala had worked at Immigration New Zealand (INZ) as a contracted employee for short periods prior to offending.

When talking to victims, Moala claimed she was an immigration officer and that through her contacts could arrange a ‘free-pass’ with support from workers inside INZ.

The Registrar of Immigration Advisers, Andrew Galloway, says “We would like to remind people, especially among the Pacific community, that to provide immigration advice a person must be licensed or exempt”.

“Unfortunately we hear of cases where even trusted friends or family have been recommended to help a person out with immigration advice, and it turns out they aren’t licensed.

Even if you are recommended by a person or know them, you should check whether they are actually allowed to give immigration advice”.

Immigration Advisers must be licensed by the IAA, a New Zealand government body set up to protect individuals and families looking for immigration advice, or be an exempt person, such as a New Zealand lawyer.

“The result for people using unlicensed advice can result in a range of negative outcomes including having your visa application returned. People should be particularly wary of claims of special access, or people claiming to have contacts within INZ that can help them with an immigration matter,” says Mr Galloway.

“The IAA takes this type of offending very seriously and we will continue to actively investigate and prosecute instances of unlicensed advice”.

The IAA’s online register of licensed advisers is available for those who want to search for a licensed immigration adviser. More information on the IAA can be found atwww.iaa.govt.nz.      

The IAA looks into all complaints made by the public about unlicensed immigration advice. Individuals found breaking the law can face up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to NZD$100,000.

Cyclone Pola upgraded to category 3

By
Kaniva Staff
-

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
-

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.

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