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Tonga netball setting foundations for long-term success

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Radio New Zealand

The new head coach for Tonga Netball is excited by the chance to grow and develop the sport at the grassroots and high performance levels.

Jaqua Heddle returned to New Zealand last year to take up the role General Manager of Netball Taranaki, after 26 years living in Australia.

She spent two decades coaching netball across the Tasman and in 2016 was named Netball New South Wales coach of the year.

Heddle is from a Rarotongan and Tahitian background but said the chance to coach with Tonga was a fantastic opportunity.

“I’m particularly interested in how Tonga netball are trying to establish a high performance programme and, for me, starting at the foundation level and being a part of building that programme with them is really exciting so I’m glad that came about,” she said.

Jaqua Heddle has selected an even mix of players based in Tonga and New Zealand to compete in the Pacific Nations Cup, which gets underway in Auckland on Thursday, which she believes will bode well for their long-term development.

“We have six athletes that are based in Tonga so that’s really exciting for us and the bigger picture of that is to be able to develop athletes that are actually residing in Tonga and the knowledge that they take back and be able to share with their community, which ultimately is going to increase the skill development level in Tonga,” she said.

“The other half of our squad are New Zealand residents so they live here, they’re Tongan athletes…a big part for us is being able to get them to connect as a team so that they’re competitive when they go into competition at the end of the week.”

The Kingdom finished winless at last year’s Oceania World Cup Qualifying tournament but apart from a 35-goal blowout against Cook Islands proved competitive in matches against Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Samoa, where the losing margin ranged from eight to twelve goals.

Heddle believed the team has plenty of room to keep improving on the international stage.

“The short-term plan for us was obviously preparation for athletes having them in camp for the Pacific Nations Cup and just gaining some experience for them playing against some nations that had some skill and it will give them some experience within that space,” she said.

“Then for us leading into the South Pacific Games in July: that’s a really important event for us because there is an opportunity for us to increase our world ranking, which is the ultimate goal, and it’s going to take some time but I think Netball Tonga are on the right pathway for that to happen.”

Tonga squad: Amy Latu, Asinate Kolofo’ou, Bella Cocker-Filikitonga, Chesna Sanders, Kataline Naeata, Lavelua Taulahi, Lavinia Lavea, Mia Jones, Maile Manumu’a, Marie Hansen, Selafina Ah Wong, Senivunga Lafo’ou (c).

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

Hissing, fizzing and burning – how gunpowder rockets (mostly) got the mail through in Tonga

By
Philip Cass
-

Long before Tongasat was dreamed up, rockets were being used to carry mail in Tonga.

While the rocket service was intermittent and may have blown up more letters that ever got through, it produced more solid results than anything that has happened since.

The story of Tonga’s involvement with rocketry began in 1882 when William Travers took over a plantation on Niuafo’ou.

Passing ships were unable to call at the steep-sided island and it was difficult to even land a rowing boat.

According to several versions of the story, Travers asked the Tongan postal authorities to put his mail inside a ship’s biscuit tin and have it thrown overboard from a Union Steamship Company vessel.

The ship’s captain would blow the ship’s siren when the tin went over the side and Travers would send out a swimmer to collect it. Soon he was sending mail out the same way.

However, the reality was that even the strongest swimmer might spend hours fighting strong currents to get to the mail and when the weather was bad it was impossible to swim out to the ship.

It was then that gunpowder-powered rockets were brought into play. Ship’s captains began to fire the rockets at Niuafo’ou.

Unsurprisingly, when fired from the deck of a sailing ship or a steamer batting its way through rough seas, the mail rockets didn’t always travel smoothly.

Hissing and spluttering, they usually hit the island, but contemporary accounts say that sometimes they overshot it altogether and landed in the sea.

Sometimes they landed in the lake or just got lost in the bus and one at least one occasion the mail burst into flames in mid-air.

Whatever the outcome, when the rockets were in the air, everybody stopped work to see what would happen.

Experiments

While the rocket mail was used to cover occasional emergencies, elsewhere in the world serious experiments in carrying mail by rocket continued for many decades.

In India tests were carried out in Calcutta and Darjeeling in the 1930s and the press breathlessly asked whether rocket mail would one day beat air mail, the telephone and radio.

There were experiments in many other places, most spectacularly in the UK when German scientist Gehard Zucker fired two rockets loaded with mail between the Scottish islands of Harris and Scarp. Both rockets exploded, but most of the mail was saved.

The most expensive experiment in rocket mail took place in 1959 when the American submarine USS Barbero fired a cruise missile which had had its nuclear warhead replaced by two Post Office Department mail containers.

Tonga’s space race

Since the days of the Niuafo’ou mail rocket, several schemes have been floated to put Tonga into space. In 1990 US entrepreneur Matt Nilson founded Tongasat, which is now embroiled in lawsuits and, according to the supreme Court, unlikely to be able to pay its court costs.

Later on, there were plans to launch tourists into orbit from a spaceport in the kingdom. In 2003 California company InterOrbital systems claimed it would put tourists into a seven day stay in low orbital.

By 2010 the company had lowered its sights and was claiming it would soon launch  a rocket carrying a 30kg payload a launch site on the king’s estate on the southern tip of ‘Eua this year, with the aim of launching a rocket before the end of 2010.

The proposal for space tourism came to nothing. After 20 years nothing has ever quite matched the hissing, fizzing – and sometimes burning – Niuafo’ou rocket mail.

The main points

  • Long before Tongasat was dreamed up, rockets were being used to carry mail  in Tonga.
  • While the rocket service was intermittent and may have blown up more letters that ever got through, it produced more solid results than anything that has happened since.
  • The story of Tonga’s involvement with rocketry began in 1882 when William Travers took over a plantation on Niuafo’ou.

For more information

Space travel to be Tonga’s new money spinner

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=1291673

Interorbital Planning Launch Facility in Tonga

Interorbital Planning Launch Facility in Tonga

Space rockets seen as weapons

https://matangitonga.to/tag/space-rockets?page=1

Space Cover of the Week, Week 210 (April 21, 2013)

http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum20/HTML/000870.html

The story of Tin Can Mail

http://www.bettybillingham.co.uk/TCM.html

Acting Speaker Tu‘ilakepa’s comments about the quality of English at Tupou College sparks online outrage

By
Kalino Latu
-

Lord Tu’ilakepa’s derogatory remarks about the standard of English at Tupou College has sparked an outrage online.

The Acting Speaker said he went to Liahona High school, an English compulsory speaking high school in Tonga and English there was great while in Toloa –  another name for Tupou College  – the standard was  “faka’ofa” (poor).

In Tongan he said: “‘Oku ke mea’i e ako ko eni ‘a Liahona, na’a ku ako aí, ko e fu’u ako lea fakapālangi ia.   Ko e Minisitā Laó pē na’e ako ‘i Toloa, ko e faka’ofa atu e lea fakapālangí ia ai.”

He was reacting to the Minister of Law who, he said, had studied at Tupou College.

The king’s noble made the disparaging comment during a heated debate yesterday after the Minister of Education attempted to clarify to the Acting Speaker the meaning of the word “certify” as it appeared on clause 131 of the law.

As Kaniva Tonga news reported yesterday, there has been uproar in the House since Monday 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 currently before it 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 wanted the government to meet face to face with the public to consult with them on the new legislation, but the government disagreed.

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. 

Acting Speaker reacted

Lord Tu’ilakepa accused the government bench of regularly belittling his educational background and often referring to his being a high school dropout.

The MPs were arguing after a letter by the Prime Minister supporting the urgency of the law was rejected by Lord Tu’ilakepa.

The government maintained that the law only required the Prime Minister to certify that the Bills were urgent without giving any reasons.

Acting Speaker not keeping to role – PM

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has accused the Acting Speaker for not keeping to his role as a Chair of the House and not becoming  involved in the MPs debates.

However, Lord Tu’ilakepa continued arguing with the Cabinet Ministers and maintained he was trying to clarify his side of the government’s accusation against him.

Legal advice and impeachment

Policer Minister Mateni Tapueluelu told the House the Cabinet Ministers had a meeting the night before and sought advice from the Solicitor General and Acting Attorney General who concluded that the Speaker’s interpretation of the word certify and the law it included was wrong.

Hon. Tapueluelu told Lord Tu’ilakepa he could be impeached if he had made a wrong decision.

The Acting Speaker said he had been advised by legal experts.

He asked the Minister not to threaten him.

He told the Minister to go ahead and impeach him.

The Bills have still not been tabled because the Acting Speaker is adamant that the government must submit the reasons why the Bills are considered urgent.

Online outrage

Lord Tu’ilakepa’s comments about Tupou College have attracted an outrage from Tupou College ex-students as far away as the United States.

An ex-student in US who goes by the name  Manu Hasata Mafua Tuivai said on a livestreamed video yesterday the noble’s comment was low and belittling.

He said the noble have to be careful of what he says and respect the college.

“Ouaaaaaa teke ue’i ae ‘Uga e Tuilakepa, teke taelata he nofo i Toga,” Tu’ivai also wrote on Facebook.

This translate into Tongan as: “Do not mess with the ‘unga Tu’ilakepa because it will cause you to feel uneasy while staying in Tonga.”

One Facebook group known as My Tongan Online Community which has 18,000 followers has shared the noble’s comment.

It has 131 shares and received 161 comments and 525 reactions.

The comments in Tongan have included threats and abuse.

Some questioned Lord Tu’ilakepa’s educational qualifications and whether this might affect his functioning in his present role.

Some recalled that  in 2010 he was accused of being bribed to sponsor a Colombian drug boss to enter Tonga.

However, some commenters stood by the noble and asked the other commentators to give him a break.

Some said the noble was correct in the way he interpreted the law.

The main points

  • Lord Tu’ilakepa’s derogatory remarks about the standard of English at Tupou has sparked an outrage online.
  • The Acting Speaker said he went to Liahona High school, an English compulsory speaking high school in Tonga and English there was great while in Toloa –  another name for Tupou  – the standard was  “faka’ofa” (poor).
  • There has been uproar in the House since Mondaywhen 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 currently before it were urgent.

For more information

Acting Speaker shuts down discussion on new Bills, tells House to come back the next day

Acting Speaker shuts down discussion on new Bills, tells House to come back the next day

Tonga Parliament holds minute’s silence for Christchurch racist murder victims

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Members of Parliament in Tonga took part in a one minute silence on Monday morning to pay respects and supports for the victims of Christchurch’s terror attack.

Acting Speaker Lord Tu’ilakepa opened proceedings and orchestrated the silence.

He said the minute was in respect for the memory of those killed and hurt in the attack on Friday, which left 50 dead and at least 50 injured

Lord Tu’ilakepa said in Tongan: “Oku ou fie ‘oatu ‘a e fie kaungā mamahi ‘a e Fale Alea ‘o Tongá mo e kakai ‘o Nu’usilá, ‘oku ‘oatu heni ha faka’apa’apa, mo e fiekaungā mamahi mo’oni ‘a e Fale Alea ‘o Tonga, mo e kakai ‘o Nu’usila koe’uhi ko e pulonga kuo tō he fonuá, tupu mei he fakapō ta’e’amanekina, ne hoko ‘i Christchurch, ‘i he ‘aho Falaite 15 ‘o Mā’asi, 2019.”

Meanwhile, New Zealand Police Commissioner said this morning in a live-streamed press conference that Police were working relentlessly to complete formal identifications of the victims.

“Today as part of my regular updates I want to talk to the process of returning the victim’s bodies to their loved ones,” Bush said.

His statement is published verbatim below:

Specifically I want to talk about the process of identifying and returning victims’ bodies to their loved ones.

Firstly I expect to be able to return the majority of the bodies to the families by this evening.

As of last night 21 victims have been identified and are available for release to their families.

We expect 27 to have been identified by midday

It was our intention to have this process complete by Wednesday, but some the bodies will take longer to identify.

Victims of are our priority but we also have important obligations.

We must work on behalf of the Coroner to ensure we have the correct identification.

It would be unforgivable to return the wrong body to a family.

Secondly correct identification is required as part of the investigation and is necessary to prove a charge of murder.

I want to again reassure you that we are working relentlessly, doing everything in our power to complete the formal identification processes as quickly as possible.

I have over 100 specialists and experts including Police, DVI, NZDF pathologists, odonatologists and overseas assistance.

Additionally we have excellent support from Coroners, nationally.

Finally I want to clarify one thing around the time it took to apprehend the offender.

I have previously said the offender was in our custody within 36 minutes.

I have now been made aware that, while we had the offender in custody at the Justice Precinct within 36 minutes, it in fact only took 21 minutes from the first 111 call for the offender to be apprehended at the roadside by the two officers.

Referee who quit after receiving death threats from Mate Ma’a Tonga supporters to return to NRL field

By
Kalino Latu
-

The NRL referee who quit after receiving thousands of death threats from Mate Ma’a Tonga fans will return to the NRL field this weekend.

Long-serving Australian rugby league referee Matt Cecchin was criticized after he disallowed a try that would have helped Tonga beat England in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup

Six months after leaving Australia as a result of death threats, Cecchin has been named to take charge of Saturday’s clash between Manly and Sydney Roosters at Lottoland.

Cecchin denied Andrew Fifita a try which would have sent the Tongans into the final against Australia, prompting some fans to bombard him on social media.

Cecchin’s decision to not award the try was later endorsed as correct.

He had planned to head to the English Super League in 2019 however a visa hiccup scuppered those plans.

He returned to Australia and oversaw a NSW Cup game last weekend before being asked to step up to first-grade once again this weekend.

For more information:

“Vile abuse” and death threats to family after Tongan-UK game drive referee to retire

Acting Speaker shuts down discussion on new Bills, tells House to come back the next day

By
Kalino Latu
-

Parliament was in uproar again yesterday, Monday 18, as the acting speaker, Lord Tu’ilakepa, appeared to be deliberately using his powers to slow the passage of the governments six new  Bills through the House.

In an act that some people might interpret as retaliation against the government for not allowing more public consultation on its proposed new laws,  Lord Tu’ilakepa demanded the government give reasons why it considered the new Bills were urgent.

The Minister of Police, Mateni Tapueluelu, told Lord Tu’ilakepa he believed he had breached Parliament’s rules.

Lord Tu’ilakepa walked out of Parliament last week along with his noble colleagues after a row with the commoner-led government over the bills. The government has been using talk back radio to gauge public feelings about the legislation.

He returned to the House yesterday with the rest of the nobles.

Lord Tu’ilakepa’s demand came despite clarification by the government benches that the law does not require any reasons to explain why a Bill is considered urgent.

The Acting Speaker cited a letter submitted to the House in February by the Prime Minister.

The letter told the House the government needed to table an Investment bill urgently because it wanted the release of TP$30 million in budget support.

Request to resubmit PM’s letter

MP Mo’ale Finau asked Lord Tu’ilakepa whether he would allow Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva to resubmit his letter the following day with the reasons for the urgency, but the Acting Speaker did not give a specific reply.

The Prime Minister had already submitted a letter certifying the Bills were urgent, as required by law.

Lord Tu’ilakepa did not accept this.

Reasons for urgency

The Prime Minister told the House the Bills were urgent because most of the government policies were governed by laws that related to the Bills and amendments. He said the government could do nothing because these laws had “ha’iha’i” (tied) them.

The Minister of Justice said there were a number of financial requirements for the government so it could  deal with some of the changes to the court system including a salary of TP$600,000. He said if a Supreme Judge retired this year two Tongan Supreme judges may be appointed.

“…ko e fatongia fakapa’anga eni.  ‘Oku lahi ‘a e ‘u me’a fakapa’anga, ‘e kau ‘i he liliu ko eni.  Ko e ‘uhinga ia ‘emau kole atu, ke tali eni kimu’a ‘i he Patiseti,” the Minister of Justice said in Tongan.

This translates into English as: “these are financial obligations. There are too many financial matters, which relate to these amendments. That’s why we asked you to approve this before the new budget.”

Lord Tu’ilakepa’s response

After heated debates between the noble and the government bench, Lord Tu’ilakepa told the House it had to close for the day and said the Bills were not urgent.

He repeatedly warned the House that MPs could say what they liked, but that he must have the last word. 

The Acting speaker continued to disregard the way in which the government benches interpreted clause 131, which requires the Prime Minister to certify the urgency of the Bills and kept citing the letter written by the Prime Minister in February as an example of what he thought was required.

Lord Tu’ilakepa said that when the Prime Minister certified that the six new Bills were urgent, he should have explained why were they urgent.

However, Minister of Police Mateni Tapueluelu corrected Lord Tu’ilakepa and told him the law only required the Prime Minister to certify that the bills were urgent.

Hon. Tapueluelu said the law did not require the Prime Minister to give the reasons why the Bills were urgent.

Clause 131

Clause 131 of the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga says:

“The Legislative Assembly shall not proceed upon a Bill after its first reading for a period of two weeks or such longer time that the Assembly decides is needed to allow members to scrutinise the Bill, and for the public to make submissions, but this shall not apply to –

(a) Appropriation Bills; and

(b) Bills certified by the Prime Minister to be urgent.”

MP Mo’ale Finau asked the Acting Speaker whether he would accept Hon. Pohiva rewriting  his letter the following day to include the reasons why the government wanted the Bills and the amendments to be passed urgently.

However, Lord Tu’ilakepa did not agree. He said he had the Prime Minister’s letter with him but he was just wanted to question why these Bills were urgent.

MP Finau said he thought Lord Tu’ilakepa wanted the Prime Minister to write the same kind of letter as the one submitted with the urgent Investment Bills. He said Hon. Pohiva could do that and submitted the following day.

In Tongan the noble replied: “ ‘Ikai, ko e me’a pē ia ‘a e ‘Eiki Palēmia kae ‘ikai ke pehē ia keu fakavavevave, kuo ‘osi ‘etau taimi ‘atautolu.”

Time is up

This translates into English as: “No, it is up to the Prime Minister but that does not mean I am in a hurry, our time is up.”

Lord Tu’ilakepa told the House it was better for them to come the next day and continue discussion.

He said he did not want Members to be disappointed with him and how he conducted the House.

He asked Members to pray and asked the Lord to lead them the right way in the House the following day.

He said that was the only reason why he wanted the House to postpone its business until the following day.

For more information

Nobles and Cabinet meeting deadlocked as gov’t blocks decision for another public consultation on new Bills

Nobles and Cabinet meeting deadlocked as gov’t blocks decision for another public consultation on new Bills

Auckland’s Pasifika Festival cancelled after Christchurch racist murders

By
Kalino Latu
-

The racist murder in Christchurch has forced the cancellation of the Pasifika festival 2019.

In a statement this morning  Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development’s General Manager Destination, Steve Armitage said police must prioritise resourcing to ensure public safety.

He said they have today decided to cancel the Pasifika Festival for the coming weekend, 23 and 24 March.

Initial discussions with New Zealand Police gave us hope that through the festival we would be able to bring Auckland’s communities together at this time of national mourning.

However, given the unprecedented nature of what has happened, we appreciate and respect that the New Zealand Police must prioritise resourcing to ensure the safety of all our communities across Tāmaki Makaurau.

Pasifika Festival will return bigger and brighter than ever in 2020

Fiji community shaken with loss of three in Christchurch mosque attacks

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Johnny Blades of RNZ Pacific

New Zealand’s Fijian community is reeling after three people from Fiji were killed in Friday’s mosque attacks in Christchurch.

The terrorist attacks, which killed at least 50 people and injured 50 more, have also been deeply felt in Fiji itself.

Among those killed in the attacks were Hafiz Musa Patel, an imam from Lautoka, and Ashraf Ali, who had moved to New Zealand from Fiji several years ago.

Imam Hafiz Musa Patel … an imam from Lautoka, Fiji, among the victims. Image: FBC

Another man who died, Ashraf Ali Razat, was in New Zealand on holiday, staying with relatives in Christchurch.

A long time member of Christchurch’s Fijian community, Ravi Prasad, said with the attack so fresh in their minds, people were deeply traumatised.

“People are troubled. Even at homes [they worry] something might happen. So the fear is there,” he said.

“Especially now, we don’t know, when we’re going to worship, you know how we feel about going to churches or mosques or the temples. It wouldn’t be the same as what we were before. Fear will be there.”

Mass outpouring
He said his community appreciated the mass outpouring of support from other New Zealanders.

“A lot of New Zealand, our prime minister [Jacinda Ardern] was just excellent. And they’re all behind us. So at least we can lay down and think we are one, and we do carry… everyone.

“It took just one guy to spoil the whole thing but we are in New Zealand, we are lucky to be in New Zealand, and I think we still believe New Zealand is the best country.”

In Fiji, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama spoke of the need to openly confront hate.

Saying the attacks felt close to home, Bainimarama expressed love and support for the victims and the wider Muslim community.

He called for people to be aware that acts of extreme violence often begin with hateful words and divisive ways of thinking.

“That is why I call on all Fijians across all backgrounds and faiths to join me in making this pledge. And the pledge is: where ever you encounter someone who says something racist and hateful, whether it is online or in person, say something.

‘Have courage’
“Do something, have the courage to call them out, and counter their hatred with vision. Be the voice of love. Be the voice of change.”

Echoing this message of tolerance was New Zealand’s High Commissioner in Fiji Jonathan Curr who attended prayers at Toorak Jame mosque in Suva the previous day.

“In leading our prayers, the Imam spoke words of true grace. He urged us all to be people of peace, regardless of the anger, sorrow, shock and devastation that we feel, we must not open the gates to hatred.”

Meanwhile, the Fiji High Commission in New Zealand has visited families of the three people killed, and is providing consular assistance to the affected community.

A spokesman from the commission summed it up when he said the Fiji community in Christchurch is shaken but resilient, and is taking the opportunity to come together, across all religious and ethnic lines.

The Fiji community in Christchurch will hold a vigil tomorrow at 7pm.

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

19 people arrested: multiple drug busts keep Police busy until Sunday

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongatapu police have been kept busy over the weekend with 19 people including one woman were arrested with illicit drugs, cash and ammo.  .

Police officers from the Drug Enforcement Taskforce with the assistance of the Tactical Response Group (TRG) and the Dog Unit, executed search warrants at various locations in Tongatapu.

Police arrested  nine men and the woman with 3.96 grams of cannabis, 44 ammunition and cash on Friday 15.

On Saturday 16 Police arrested seven men with 14.14 grams of cannabis, 5 ammunition and cash.

A 40-year-old-man of Lapaha was arrested at Ngele’ia with 21 pack of methamphetamine (14.06 grams) yesterday Sunday 18. A 32-year-old-man from Vaini was also arrested yesterday with 1.17 grams of cannabis.

All suspects are in police custody while investigation continues.

Deputy Commissioner Pelenatita Vaisuai said that Police are committed to disrupt and detect the supply of drugs and hold those responsible to account.

“Police, Partner Agencies and Community together will win this war against drugs and safeguard our children and the future of Tonga from its ill effects,” a Police statement said.

“We encourage anyone who may have information about drug related offending to contact their nearest Police station, or ring 23417 or 922.”

Tongans in New Zealand show solidarity with Muslims after racist murders in Christchurch

By
Philip Cass
-

Tongans living in New Zealand have been asked to wear black this week as a sign of support for the country’s Muslim community.

One News reported this evening that Tongan community leaders have also asked Tongans to meet in Aotea Square this Sunday at 2pm for a Love Aotearoa Hate Racism hui.

Tongan church groups have been holding special prayer sessions for the cessation of terrorism.

On Sunday the brass band from the Pulela’a Methodist Church in New Lynn played outside  an Auckland mosque. Church members prayed and laid flowers.

Religious communities throughout New Zealand have responded with similar support.

Commissioner Andy Westrupp, Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa condemned what he called  “an unprecedented act of violence in Christchurch towards people who were peacefully at worship”

“The horror of these attacks reminds us of our shared humanity and the urgent need to stand for love and peace. Everyone will do that in their own way, but regardless of religious belief, caring is a response that we can all share.”

New Zealand’s Catholics bishops have expressed their solidarity with the country’s Muslim community after mass shootings at two mosques killed nearly 50 people on Friday morning.

In a statement, the heads of New Zealand’s six Catholic dioceses said they wished the Muslim community to “be aware of our solidarity with you in the face of such violence.”

Friday’s massacre has touched some Tongans in personal ways.

In Lower Hutt, Tongan mother Pesi Vaioleti said she was heart broken to see the events in Christchurch.

She said the hatred was affecting the country’s children.

Her son attends a Muslim kindergarten next to the town’s mosque, which has been closed on police advice.

Vaioleti is a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints, but said she wanted her son to accept all cultures and religions.

Latest developments

In the latest developments, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has promised that reforms of gun laws will be announced within 10 days.

According to Al Jazeera, the government’s rapid response on gun control has bewildered some Americans, who are used to their government expressing sympathy to the victims of the country’s frequent shootings, but never actually doing anything to control guns.

Internet providers in New Zealanders are working to deny access to the footage streamed by the gunman during the attack. Facebook has been heavily criticised for carrying the footage.

In Australia, the focus has shifted to angry responses to statements by Queensland Senator Fraser Anning, who appeared to blame the victims for the massacre.

In the UK, several people have been arrested for threatening taxi drivers that they would “do a Christchurch” on them. In some parts of the UK, taxi drivers are predominantly Muslim.

And in the US, Reuters has reported that mosques have increased security since the shootings. The Council on American-Islamic Relations said CAIR, the largest Muslim rights group in the United States, said Muslims and other minority groups had faced a surge in bigotry since Donald Trump won the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

A CAIR statement blamed this in part on what it described as “Islamophobic, white supremacist and racist Trump administration policies and appointments.”

Reuters said the man accused of Friday’s massacre posted a manifesto online which praised Trump as “a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose.” The White House did not respond to a request for comment. 

The main points

  • Tongans living in New Zealand have been asked to wear black this week as a sign of support for the country’s Muslim community.
  • One News reported this evening that Tongan community leaders have also asked Tongans to meet in Aotea Square this Sunday at 2pm for a Love Aotearoa Hate Racism hui.
  • Tongan church groups have been holding special prayer sessions for the cessation of terrorism.

For more information

Lower Hutt Muslim kindergarten closed after Christchurch mosque shootings

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/111362177/lower-hutt-muslim-kindergarten-closed-after-christchurch-mosque-shootings

Gun law reforms to be announced ‘within 10 days’ of the attack – PM says

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/live-gun-law-reforms-announced-within-10-days-pm-says

Call for love and peace – Salvation Army response to Christchurch mosque shootings

https://www.salvationarmy.org.nz/news/call-love-and-peace-salvation-army-response-christchurch-mosque-shootings

Catholic leaders condemn attack on New Zealand mosques

Catholic leaders condemn attack on New Zealand mosques

U.S. mosques increase security after New Zealand attack

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-newzealand-shootout-reaction-usa/u-s-mosques-increase-security-after-new-zealand-attack-idUSKCN1QW2E4
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