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Fiji airline chases Tonga Rugby League after it issues worthless cheque for TP$38,488.60

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s National Rugby League is in trouble again after issuing a bad cheque of TP$38,488.60 to Fiji Airways to pay for a bill.

It is understood the airline had been chasing TNRL Board former members for the bad cheque since August 2018.

The Fiji Airways agent in Tonga, Lavili Maka, confirmed to Kaniva news yesterday the debt was still outstanding. 

“I haven’t received anything or been paid. I’m still trying but to no avail and no luck,” she said in an email.

The lack of responses from the Board members following the incident has drawn in Tonga’s Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu and TNRL President Semisi Sika.

As Kaniva news reported on Tuesday, the Supreme Court had dissolved TNRL Board and ordered a special meeting to elect new members this month or next month.

The Court has appointed Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu as Amicus Curiae.

Kefu’s responsibility is to make sure a new Board is elected, then hand over all TNRL property to the new board directors.

Both Kefu and Hon. Sika have no executive powers over the organisation since the dissolution, according to the Acting Attorney General.

This means they cannot make a decision regarding payment of the debt owed and the debt can only be resolved once a new board is set up, according to an e-mail seen by Kaniva news.

Kefu blamed former Chair Stan Moheloa and former General Secretary Tavake Fangupō for the situation regarding the cheque.

President Sika said Fangupō had the responsibility to make sure there was sufficient money in the bank before issuing any cheque.

Warning against bank balance

The Acting Attorney General wanted to know if the TNRL had any money in the bank.

Fangupō responded in an email that TNRL had a balance of about TP$40,000 in its account with ANZ bank.

But President Sika warned the money belonged to the Mate Ma’a Tonga players.

Hon. Sika said the money was collected from sponsors during the Mate Ma’a Tonga – Kangaroos and Kiwi tournament in October to be given to the players as bonus.

He said Fangupō should have known this because he was the Board’s former General Secretary.

Hon. Sika said the sponsorship money was deposited in the bank after he planned to approach the government for more funding to add to each players’ share.

He said he was ready to distribute the money.  

Contact with TNRL Board

Maka said she had had no recent communication from former TNRL chair Moheloa over the debt.

Kaniva news has contacted Moheloa and Fangupō for comment.

There was no response from Moheloa. However, Fangupō sent us a number of former Board members contacts and asked us to contact them for clarifications.

“All I have been doing is to help Lavi at Fiji Airways resolve all this because no one from board responded or bothered to contact her directly regarding outstanding payment,” Fanguipō said.

“It’s sad to hear when things like this come up and everyone starts pointing fingers to blame someone for other people’s mistakes.”

Fiji Airways

Maka said TNRL has been a good customer of Fiji Airways and she trusted Hon. Sika for being upfront with any payment.

In Tongan she said: “Koe taimi ‘o Semisi Sika na’e ‘ikai ha to nounou he na’ane totongi ‘e ia pea na’aku pehe pe ‘e tatau pe ka kuo ki’I tonounou ‘eni ia.”

This translates into English as: “In Semisi Sika’s time there was no shortfalls because he paid it and I thought the same thing would have happened, but this time it was in trouble.”

In response to Maka’s comments, Hon. Sika said he had personally paid all the expenses for TNRL travels before and settled any arranged debts, but this time he would not do it.

He claimed there were people who were trying to take over the organisation and leadership. He told Maka to ask those people to pay the debt.

In a previous interview, Hon Sika said TNRL Board still owed him tens of thousands of pa’anga.

Editor’s comments:

When Kaniva news asked Maka for a comment from the Airline she pleaded with us not to publish the story.

While we understand that she had concerns about the story going public, we believe this is a matter of public interest.

Rugby League in Tonga has become a sport well supported by Tongan fans all over the world.

The government has regularly funded it using public money, but the trouble within the TNRL Board appears to have lasted for a long time.

In 2016, the Supreme Court said there were hundreds of thousands of pa’anga unaccounted for in the TNRL. It said accounts had remained unaudited for years, the board’s constitution had been violated, fraudulent elections had been held and court orders ignored.

As Kaniva news reported at the time, these unaudited accounts included those for the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 financial years.

In late 2016, the Supreme Court dismissed the Board and ordered the TNRL to make sure it held a new Board election on July 15.

The main points

  • Tonga’s National Rugby League is in trouble again after issuing a bad cheque of TP$38,488.60 to Fiji Airways to pay for a bill.
  • It is understood the airline had been chasing TNRL Board former members for the bad cheque since August 2018.
  • The Fiji Airways agent in Tonga, Lavili Maka, confirmed to Kaniva news yesterday the debt was still outstanding. 

Read more

Hon Sika to leave Rugby League, saying the Sport is at its best in kingdom
Supreme Court dismisses rugby league board; orders election of new members

Prayer service held in Auckland for missing Tongatapu man

By
Kalino Latu
-

The family of Viliami Vaka’uta, who went missing at Laulea beach at Fātumu on Christmas day, have held a prayer service for him in Auckland yesterday.

It is understood a family member was travelling from Auckland to Tonga to join the family there at “this very difficult time.”

The searches for the 24-year-old had been called off after he was presumed drowned following an attempt to rescue his wife at one of Tonga’s most dangerous places to go swimming.

Police divers’ search had been stopped on December 27 but the family continued searching until this week, Police reportedly said.

The wife of the deceased and a palagi man, who helped in the attempts to save her life, were rescued.

Laulea beach is a dangerous swimming spot. It is famed for its powerful currents and treacherous rips.

In 2017 Soane Tangipa ʻAtaʻata died while he was swimming at the beach.

In 2015  ‘Inoke Mapaleve Mo’unga, 32,  of Kolonga drowned at the beach while visiting there with his wife and friends.

In 2012   Catholic priest, Father Mikaele Mateo , 37, died at Laulea Beach while helping to rescue his five young nephews who were swept out to open sea by strong currents

Supreme Court dismisses rugby league board; orders election of new members

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s Supreme Court has dissolved the Tonga National Rugby League (TNRL) board and ordered an election of new board members.

The sacked board members included Chairman Stan Moheloa, General Secretary Tavake Fangupō, Board Director Siu Fangupō,  Board Director Pita Vakautakakala, and Board Director Mātani Nifofā.

It is understood the Supreme Court was dissatisfied with the former board members’ performance.

While there is no board at present to oversee rugby league in Tonga, Deputy Prime Minister Semisi Sika has continued as President of the organisation.

The Court has appointed Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu as Amicus Curiae.

Kefu’s responsibility is to make sure a new Board is elected, then hand over all TNRL property to the new board directors.

The Supreme Court expects Kefu to report back to it on Thursday 3 January and to clarify legal issues for electing the new Board of Directors. 

A meeting to elect the new Board is expected to be held in January or February

This will be the normal Annual General meeting held to elect the new Board according to the TNRL Constitution.

Reasons for dissolution

The reasons why the board was dissolved have not been officially released, but Kaniva news understands this was because the former board members allegedly failed to implement the Board’s policy and rules.

It is understood Hon. Sika was not happy with the former board members.

He accused the former General Secretary Tavake Fangupō of not looking after the office administration.  

Fangupō did not deny what Hon. Sika has claimed against him.

He said: “It’s sad to hear when things like this come up and everyone starts pointing fingers to blame someone for other people’s mistakes.”

The future of Hon Sika

Hon. Sika told Kaniva news in a previous interview he wanted to end his involvement with League in Tonga this year.

However, after the recent dissolution of the Board Hon. Sika said it would depend on the rugby league clubs and the government if they would still want him to continue on with TNRL.

Read more

Tonga National Rugby League “dysfunctional for years” says Supreme Court judge
Court orders Tonga’s national rugby league committee to hold election

Tropical cyclone alert remains in force for Tonga with gale and heavy seas warnings

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga is bracing for gale force winds and heavy seas on the first day of the New Year.

The Fua’amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre said this evening that at 5pm a tropical depression was located 1080km west- northwest of Niuafo’ou and moving east-southeast at 16 knots/30kph.

It said tropical depression is now enforced for Vava’u land areas.

A heavy rain warning and flash flood advisory remains in force for Ha’apai and is now in force for the Niuas, Vava’u , Tongatapu and ‘Eua land areas. 

Strong wind warning is now in force for Ha’apai.

On its present course it is expected to turn into a tropical cyclone by tomorrow.

There is a gale warning for Niuafo’ou and Niuatoputapu. Warnings of  gale force winds and heavy damaging swell remains in force for the Niuas coastal waters.

Heavy rain and flash flood warnings have been made for Ha’apai, the Niuas, Vava’u , Tongatapu and ‘Eua.           

In the Niuas winds are expected to reach 35-40 knots (60-70 kph) with gusts of up to 48 knots (90kph) from tonight and tomorrow morning.

For Vava’u and Ha’apai, winds are expected to reach 20-25 knots (35-45 kph) by tomorrow morning.

For Tongatapu and ‘Eua winds are expected to be 20-25 knots (35-45 kph) by tomorrow afternoon.

The next cyclone warning will be issued at 1am tomorrow.

Cyclones in 2018

Last year Tonga was affected by three cyclones.

Gita, which struck Tonga on was the worst.

Two people died during the category four cyclone, including an elderly woman who was in her house when it was blown away.

Police also confirmed three major injuries and 30 minor injuries on Tongatapu as a result of Gita.

Gita flattened Parliament House, brought down power lines and caused widespread destruction in the kingdom. In March Tonga was also affected by category one cyclone Josie. In April the kingdom was affected by category three cyclone Keni.

Both cyclones caused about $5 million damage in Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga.

The main points

  • Tongan residents have been warned to prepare for gale force winds and heavy seas as a tropical depression moves towards the kingdom.
  • The Fua’amotu tropical cyclone warning centre said this evening that at 5pm the depression was located 1080km west- northwest of Niuafo’ou and moving east-southeast at 16 knots/30kph.
  • On its present course it is expected to turn into a tropical cyclone by tomorrow.

For more information

Fiji Met service

http://www.met.gov.to/

Family “devastated” as shoreline search for missing Tongan swimmer called off

By
Kalino Latu
-

New Zealand: A shoreline search for a Tongan teenager missing off a remote Auckland beach has been suspended, but aerial searches were continuing on Sunday.

The 16-year-old boy went missing at Whatipu beach in Huia, West Auckland, about 1.30pm on Saturday.

A relative told Kaniva news he felt for the boy’s mother.

Reports on social media said the missing boy was Sam Leka.

A commentator said the family was so devastated. He was at the beach during yesterday’s search.

“Sam Leka please come back so that we return home together. We love you so much,” he wrote on Facebook in Tongan.

The victim was in the water at Whatipu Beach with two others when they got into trouble.

Two women made it back to shore, but the police, Coastguard and search and rescue volunteers were still looking for the boy.

Police said “they continue to perform periodic aerial searches with EAGLE helicopter.”

“Surf Life Saving will continue to perform sweeps of the beach area in the coming days, supported by Police staff,” it said.

A local reportedly said swimming at the beach was not recommended due to the wild nature of the waves.

Police also said they were focusing on continuing to provide support to the family of the missing swimmer.

Large sinkhole closes Ha‘apai main road after heavy rain

By
Kalino Latu
-

A large sink hole has closed a main road in Lifuka, Ha’apai and could cause difficulties for commuters and motorists heading to Houmale’eia beach for end of year picnics.  

The sink hole has opened up on the Holopeka road following Saturday’s heavy rainfall at the Ha’apai main island.

The size of the sink hole was unknown but pictures of it shared on Facebook appear to show it looks huge.

It was not immediately clear whether the closure will remain in place during the week and whether any repair work was underway.

National Emergency and Management Office (NEMO) has warned motorists and commuters about the incident.

It said the Fangale’ounga and Fuhu roads were submerged with water.

Rugby madness and royal visit brought out the red and white in Tonga and New Zealand

By
Philip Cass
-

October – 2018 round-up

That game

October will be remembered for the almost incessant build-up to the Mata Ma’a-Kangaroos game in Auckland.

In the end Tonga lost 34-16, but the result wasn’t the reason the game will be remembered.

It was the game Tongan fans felt should have been theirs in the World Cup and the ones where they proved they were good enough to take on a tier one team.

King Tupou VI spoke directly to the team at a private reception at Atalanga. He told them Topou I had prepared his warriors for battle during the civil war in Tonga.

After the game,  Tongan captain Sika Manu  told the thousands of supporters at the Mt Smart stadium: “The boys gave everything.” 

Mate Ma’a Tonga united Tongans everywhere, with fans from Tonga, Australia and the United States flying in to watch.

Princess Angelika said Mate Ma’a Tonga  reinforced pride in the kingdom’s virtues.

The Guardian described Tonga as “terrific in their energy and work rate” and said that for large periods of the match they had kept the Kangaroos “absolutely scrambling.”

The New Zealand Herald said that despite losing, Tonga had made the case for playing more international matches.

Read more: January 2018 round-up, April 2018 round-up, June 2018 round- up

Royal visit

October ended with a royal visit that made a tremendous impression on the kingdom.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle flew into Tonga on October 25 and were met by Princess Angelika.

They wore the colours of Tonga during their visit, with Meghan Merkle in a red dress and Prince Harry in a light weight white suit.

They attended a private audience with King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipauʻu followed by an official reception and dinner at Consular House.

On October 26 they met with Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva..

On a visit to Tupou College they dedicated two forest reserves to the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy.

The royal couple were entertained by students from the college with a song about mosquitos that had them in stitches.

During other performances Princess Angelika could be seen explaining what was happening.

The Princess accompanied the royals on a tour of the Fa’onelua Centre, where they visited an exhibition celebrating Tongan handicrafts and products.

This was their first visit to Tonga.

Quarantine

Passengers taking ‘umu and fish on flights from Tonga to New Zealand benefitted from a new agreement with Biosecurity New Zealand that allows them to get through quarantine faster.

The Ministry of Agriculture has signed a memorandum of understanding that covers the quarantine certification of food taken into New Zealand.

Head of Biosecurity New Zealand Roger Smith said the agreement meant Tongan passengers would bypass long queues in quarantine when they landed in New Zealand.

He said Tonga posed a low biosecurity risk to New Zealand.

Toxic lagoon

The Ministry of Fisheries declared the largest inland lagoon in Tongatapu was toxic in October.

Fanga’uta lagoon was declared a marine reserve in 1974, but has been in a poor state for some years.

A range of factors have been blamed for its condition, including pollution from sewage and pesticides.

Hon. Fifita, whose constituency was part of Fanga’uta lagoon, said the water was polluted by plastic bags and rotting metal.

Lord Tu’ikepa  said the public should be notified that they should not fish in that area.

November

Dialysis basis of visa decision

The New Zealand Immigration and Protection Tribunal has granted a Tongan man and his son resident visas, partly because of the lack of dialysis facilities in the kingdom.

The Tribunal ruled that Peniola ‘Ahofono and his son had exceptional circumstances of a humanitarian nature that would make it unjust or unduly harsh for them to be deported from New Zealand.

‘Ahofono’s wife and adult daughter are New Zealand residents.  

He arrived in New Zealand in February 2008 and was joined by his wife and children in March 2009.

For the past decade he worked as a baker for a company that manufactures pies and held a series of Essential Skills work visas.

His wife held a series of work visas until December 2013 when she was unable to obtain further temporary visas because of her chronic kidney disease.

The Tribunal said the wife had end-stage renal failure secondary to diabetic nephropathy. She receives  dialysis  at  a  community  dialysis  centre,  three  times  a   week.

The appeals were based on the need for the wife to remain in New Zealand as she had been receiving dialysis for four years and such treatment was not available in Tonga.

‘Amanaki’s allegations mostly untrue

Auditor General Sefita Tangi has found most of the allegations raised by PSA head Mele ‘Amanaki’s petition against seven Ministers, including the Prime Minister, to be untrue.

He said the issues raised were caused by procedural shortfalls.

The Auditor did not report any breach of the constitution or any misappropriation of public funds as alleged in ‘Amanaki’s the petition.

The Auditor General recommended that the government should refer some of the complaints to the Public Service Commission.

Most of the allegation fell outside the Auditor General’s remit. He could not comment on the government’s financial statements as the matters needed expert legal advice.

‘Amanaki’s petition alleged that International Computer consultant Piveni Piukala’s contract issued by the government in 2015 was illegal, but the Auditor General said he was satisfied that the contract was legal.

The petition alleged that the public funds at the Tonga Tourism Authority  had been abused, but the Auditor General said the Authority had the power to choose an independent auditor.

Help for drop-outs

High school dropout rates in Tonga have reached 20 percent and many young people have no other way of learning new skills that could make them employable.

However, Tonga’s Minister for Internal Affairs, Losaline Ma’asi said a new World Bank programme would help overcome some of the barriers to students finishing high school.

Hon. Ma’asi said the Skills and Employment for Tongans (SET) project would provide financial help for poorer families.

It would also help  improve the quality of courses in areas that were most likely to lead to successful labour migration to Australia and New Zealand.

Saving money

The government has saved more than TP$2 million on the Popua Park and Golf Course project.

An independent report by the Pacific Engineering Consultant Group (PECG) showed the government has spent only TP$648,000  on the project.

The report said if the project had been outsourced to a private company it would have cost TP$.9 million. If it had been done the Ministry of Infrastructure it would have cost TP$1.7 million.

Finance Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa said money had been saved by hiring daily workers at low rates and hiring machinery from the Ministry of Infrastructure and only paying for the petrol.

He said prisoners at Hu’atolitoli had also been employed.

December

PM’s wife dies

Her Majesty Queen Nanasipau’u and the Prime Minister’s family shared a touching moment, as foreign dignitaries turned out to commemorate the life of Tonga’s First Lady.

Neomai Tu’itupou Pōhiva was buried at Telekava 1 community cemetery in Kolomotu’a, Nuku’alofa after a service at  the Free Wesleyan church in Sopu.

The Prime Minister’s 70-year-old wife, died after a long battle with cancer.

Thousands of people took to Facebook to show their respects for the woman most regarded as the “mother of democrats” in Tonga.

She was described as “a kind-hearted lady” who always stood by her husband until the end of her life in his long time fight to bring democracy to Tonga.

Edwards

Former Police Minister and MP lawyer William Clive Edwards Snr called for the king to re-dissolve Parliament and set up an interim government.

He claimed the nation’s political status had deteriorated and an independent commission should be set up to investigate Cabinet ministers.

He said the government had failed to explain what had happened to the TP$74 million  he said the Auditor General claimed was missing.

Edwards, a long-time political enemy of Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva, claimed Tonga was moving towards dictatorship and autocracy.

The Director of the Tonga National Sports Institute, ‘Ikani Taliai, said Edwards’ allegations were only made to discredit the government.

He said that if the king dissolved Parliament again the people would do the same thing they did after last year’s dissolution by re-electing the same people in the current government.

Jnr Fa

New Zealand-born Tongan boxer Uaine Junior Fa may be going up against WBC world champion Deontay Wilder in what is being called the “ultimate fight.”

Speculation about the fight came a month after Fa said a bout with heavyweight champion Joseph Parker was inevitable and something he wanted to happen sooner rather than later.

However, Fa’s manager, Mark Keddell, said there were no immediate plans for Fa to fight Parker.

Fa’s most recent win came in Christchurch where he knocked out Argentine boxer Rogelio Omar Rossi in round one. It was his 16th straight win.

The fight with Wilder is being touted for March or April 2019.

Meth threat

Drug dealers are smuggling guns as well as methamphetamine into the kingdom, according to a New Zealand television report.

Veteran Pacific journalist Barbara Dreaver reported claims by a gang member that guns were being smuggled in from America and China.

“The Chinese people bring them in from China mixed in with imported goods,” the syndicate member said.

The Salvation Army has described the sale of P in the kingdom as a “tsunami” and a police task force has made 96 drug-related arrests since April.

Tongan police said they were not well resourced or prepared to deal with the level of drug dealing and smuggling.

Increasing numbers of criminal deportees from Australia and the US have been blamed for the growing drug trade.

PM’s successor

As the year ended Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva said he had a person in mind who could replace him as party leader when he stepped down.

Speaking exclusively to Kaniva news, the 77-year-old political veteran said he had picked his potential successor after assessing members’ “commitment and sacrifice” to the Paati Temokalati ‘o e ‘Otu Motu Anga’ofa (the Democracy Party).

Asked whether he could release the name of his possible successor, Hon. Pōhiva declined, saying it was not yet time for him to publicly announce the name.

Hon. Pōhiva also declined to confirm whether he would leave politics after his next three years in leading the government.

Pacific Games, Tongasat and failed bank cases dominated Supreme Court proceedings

By
Philip Cass
-

July – 2018 Round-up

Games case goes to court

The legal repercussions of the Tongan government’s shock decision not to host the 2019 Pacific Games reached the Supreme Court.

The Pacific Games Council and Tonga’s own Olympic body, TASANOC, filed a legal claim against the government in May.

However, the government failed to respond within the legally stated period, setting off a chain of claims and counter-claims.

TASANOC and the Games council sought damages over what they said was a legally binding contract to host the Games in 2019.

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva suddenly announced the kingdom would not host the region’s main sporting competition despite previous predictions that Tonga could expect to benefit financially from the Games and the government’s introduction of special taxes to raise funds for the event.

The Pacific Games Council’s Chief Executive, Andrew Minogue said it was seeking damages for the losses that it suffered as a result of the decision not to host the games.

Read more. January round-up 

April 2018 round-up

AIDS

Tonga’s Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola said there were only a few confirmed HIV cases in the kingdom.

However, he said people should be focussing on reducing high risk behaviour rather than focussing on the small number of cases.

His comments come on the same day that the leading UK medical journal, The Lancet, warned that a dangerous complacency in the response to the global HIV pandemic risked a resurgence of the disease.

Dr ‘Akau’ola said attention should be focussed on avoiding risky behaviour that to vulnerable people being exposed to HIV.

The Lancet said HIV infections remained persistent in marginalised groups, younger people, women and in developing countries.

Tongan to head fisheries agency

Tongan lawyer Manumatavai Tupou-Roosen was elected head of the Forum Fisheries Agency in July.

She had worked for the FFA for 13 years and was the agency’s legal advisor.

At the meeting where Tupou-Roosen was elected, the FFA said it would work improving labour standards for all crews.

It said it work to ensure that jobs in the industry were worthwhile and safe, including for Pacific Islanders. 

The agency said human rights were important for retaining access to global markets.

Pacific International Commercial Bank

The Supreme Court dismissed an attempt by the Pacific International Commercial Bank to overturn the revocation of its banking license.

The Court also ordered the PICB to stop calling itself a bank.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said the National Reserve Bank revoked Pacific International’s license in July 2016.

It had been issued on the basis that the PICB had the resources and ability to carry out its duties. The license was also dependent on bank having effective accounting,  internal controls, audit and risk management  systems.

However, the judge said the Reserve Bank  became increasingly concerned with the PIBC as its debts grew to TP$4.5 million and it failed to institute any effective management plan.

He said PICB failed to honour its business plan; failed to have its accounts audited and failed to provide accurate and reliable reports and continued to incur losses.

August

Death threats

The referee who disallowed Tonga’s last minute try in their game against England last year has announced his retirement.

Matt Cecchin told the BBC he had been the target of “vile abuse” and had received “hundreds and hundreds” of death threats.

As Kaniva News reported at the time, Cecchin disallowed a last minute try by Andrew Fifita which would have given Tonga victory and secured their place in the Rugby League World Cup final against Australia.

He ruled that Fifita had lost the ball before regathering and planting it over the try line.

Cecchin said members of his family  had also received death threats.

Prison escape aftermath

Police Superintendent Tu’ungafasi Polelei Falakiseni has escaped being sacked over the escape of American Dean Jay Fletcher, who was being held following the death of his wife.

Falakiseni was reduced to the rank of Chief Inspector of Police instead.

Fletcher was arrested on 9 July 2016 and charged with manslaughter.

He escaped from custody and sailed to American Samoa on his yacht.

The Tongan government requested his extradition, but this was denied. He was then transferred to Hawai’i and another request to have him returned to Tonga was also refused by American authorities.

“The escape has caused huge embarrassment to the Tonga Police, the Government of Tonga and the  Kingdom  of Tonga. Further, the  deceased’s  family is still deprived of the  justice  for  the brutal murder  of their  loved  one, “ the Police Employment Committee said.

Henderson Cars

Henderson Cars in Auckland continued to boost its cultural connection with the Tongan community by providing a free meal and a sponsorship of a major Tongan dancing competition.

The car dealership at 24 Great South Road, Takanini gave away free puaka tunu (roasted pig)  and ‘ota ika (fish mixed with coconut oils and vegetables) to the public every Saturday during August.

Henderson Cars has offered a Nissan Venetta van for Kaniva Tonga news as part of a new collaboration to boost the company’s public relation.

The company also live streamed a group dance of each category of the Miss Tau’olunga Faka-Tonga 2018 every Saturday.

Tongasat

Lord Chief Justice Cato ruled that the payment of millions of dollars of Chinese money to Princess Pilolevu’s satellite company was illegal.

The judge has described the Tongasat case as a “matter of national importance.”

He ruled in favour of Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva and the Public Service Association which had fought a five year battle against Tongasat over what it claimed were illegal payments to the company.

Hon. Pohiva began the case when he was in Opposition.

Tongasat was established to exploit the commercial possibilities of exploiting the right to place satellites in the orbital slot assigned to Tonga by the International Telecommunications Union.

It was 80% owned by Princess Pilolevu.

September

Kangaroos clash

The long awaited clash between Mate Ma’aand the Kangaroos finally became a reality with the announcedmnmet that Tonmg and australia would go head to head in Auckland on October 20.

Tongan star Jason Taumalolo hailed Kangaroos players for accepting arguably the biggest pay cut in rugby league history to stage the game.

Kangaroos players agreed to slash their normal $20,000 match pay to under $5000 for the Auckland match.

Kangaroos players pocketed around $50,000 each for winning last year’s Rugby Union World Cup, while tournament Tonga received only $500 a game.

Taumalolo won Player of the Year awards at the 2018 Players’ Champion accolades ceremony held in Sydney in September.

Australian work visas

Plans by the Australian government to introduce a new work visa for Asians that threatened places for Island workers were put on hold in September.

The Vanuatu Post reported that experts said the proposed visa would jeapordise gains made by Pacific workers.

The proposal would have given Asian workers opportunities now offered to Pacific workers under Australia’s Seasonal Worker Programme.

However, following public opposition to the proposal, the Australian government shelved the proposal.

Tonga now has a 33% share of the Seasonal Worker Programme with 2790 workers. Tonga once dominated Australia’s Seasonal Worker Programme, providing 81% of workers.

According to Tonga’s Minister of Internal Affairs ‘Akosita Lavulavu, the kingdom earns US$45 million a year from season work in the two countries.

NZTBC

The New Zealand Tonga Business Council Trade Mission signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tongan government.

NZTBC Chairman Sione Taufa signed the MOU with Hon. Tevita Tui Uata, Minister of Commerce, Consumer, Trade Innovation and Labour.

The signing took place at the New Zealand High Commission residence in Nuku’alofa.

“We the NZ Tonga Business Council believe that using trade as a vehicle will improve the lives of people of NZ and Tonga,” Taufa said.

Press complaint

Tongan community leaders and top scholars in New Zealand complained to the Human Rights Commission after broadcaster Heather du Plessis-Allan called Pacific islands “leeches.”

Commenting on Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s announcement that she would visit Nauru during the Pacific Island forum leaders’ meeting, Du Plessis-Allan told her listeners: “The Pacific Islands don’t matter. They are nothing but leeches on us.”

She also referred to Nauru as a “hell hole”, and said it was not worth attending the Forum anyway because the Pacific Islands “don’t matter.”

Dr Malaki Koloamatangi of Massey University described du Plessis-Allan’s comments as discriminatory, degrading, disdainful and racist.

Tongan press freedom downgraded; journalists say they must have a voice on climate change

By
Philip Cass
-

April – 2018 Round-up (You can read January round-up here)

Commonwealth Games

Tongan athletes were highly visible in the first week of the Commonwealth Games in Australia, regardless of which flag they are completing under.

Tongan born David Liti won gold in the weightlifting, competing for New Zealand.

Liti, whose family moved to New Zealand when he was six, set a Commonwealth Games record when he won the  gold medal in the 105kg+ division with a combined total of 403kg.

Dame Valerie Adams, who is proud of her Tongan heritage, defended her gold medal in the women’s shot put.

Elsewhere at the Games, members of Tonga’s own team competed steadily with one first, a number of placings and several losses.

In the lawn bowls Women’s Pairs Caroline Dubois and Malia Kioa faced off against Canada, Fiji and New Zealand.

Sateki Langi came 10th in the men’s 150kg weightlifting.

In the first heat of the women’s 50 metre backstroke Charissa Panuve placed fifth with a time of 36:37.

Finau Ohuafi came first in heat one of the men’s 50m freestyle with a time of 26:07.

In the men’s  110m Hurdles Talatala Pooi came eighth with a time of 15:02 in round pone of heat two.

In the men’s boxing 60kg Round of 16 Tuihalangingie Vea took on Jean John Colin of Mauritius.

Midwives

Three Tongan women have become Registered Midwives after completing the Bachelor of Health Science (Midwifery) degree at Auckland University of Technology. 

Valentina Tu’itavuki Kulitapa, Elani Mafi Latu’ila and Helen Schaaf Tameifuna will begin working in South Auckland as self employed lead maternity carer (LMC) midwives.

They will initially work in Counties Manukau Health care area which has the largest number of Pasifika women giving birth.

Hymns

An Australian man said he had solved the mystery of a set of initials that appear in the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga hymn book.

Nigel Statham, who worked as a translator for the church from 1970-82, said he had long  been intrigued  by the initials CPWB that appeared what he called “eight of the most lovely and popular hymns in the book.”

Statham said the mystery was solved when he found the name C.P. Walkden-Brown in the Tupou College 150th Anniversary book and realised he was the author of those hymns.

Isa Lei

It seems the argument over the origins of the Pacific’s most famous tune won’t go away, but in March the Fiji Times quoted a Fijian chief as saying the music did indeed come from Tonga.

However, it quoted Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba as saying he wrote Fijian words for the song.

Tongans believe the song Viola Losehina  was composed by the late Tongan chief Tu’ivakano Polutele. The chief and other sources claimed Polutele composed the song while he was one of the late Tungi Mailefihi’s singing group while the Prince Consort was governor of Vava’u in 1915.

The song was composed after the Prince asked each member of his group to compose a song for his wife-to-be, the late Queen Salote Tupou III. The Fiji Times reported that in 1962 the newspaper interviewed the Tongan Crown Prince and Premier, Prince Tungi who supported claims by Lord Tuivakano that the song originated in Tonga.

The paper said that when Prince Tungi’s father became engaged to Queen Salote, Tuivakano wrote a song of love in honour of the occasion.

It was some time after this that Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba heard the song sung by the Tongan visitors.

The Fiji Times quoted Prince Tungi saying in 1962: “The story as I have heard it, is that Ratu Tevita asked Inoke Sateki, then a forestry assistant, to write Fijian words to the same tune in honour of a young woman of rank who was living in Fiji.”

May

Naval base

In May, claims that China wanted to establish a naval base in Vanuatu revived memories of Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s warning that the Asian super-power might demand similar facilities in Tonga.

In 2013, when he was leader of the Opposition, Hon. Pohiva warned that China might demand Tonga let it open a naval base if the government tried to have its massive debt written off.

Vanuatu owes China a large amount of money and there have been allegations that government may hope to strike a deal with China on the naval base in return for forgiveness of debt; the same threat Hon. Pohiva warned of five years ago.

In April, the Reserve Bank said Tonga would start repaying the principal of its loan from China this year, but did not release any other details.

Tonga and China have had diplomatic relations since 1998.

Pacific rugby

In May we reported that Tongan rugby players could be playing alongside traditional rivals Samoa and Fiji if a proposal for a combined Pacific Islands team went ahead.

The proposed team would would compete in the  Super Rugby competition.

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign affairs and Trade paid $80,000 for a feasibility study into the proposal.

Sceptics have argued that the Pacific could not suppport a combined team in a Super Rugby Franchise.

However, more than a million people live in Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, more than New Zealand’s South Island, which supports two Super Rugby franchises.

Supporters of the idea of a combined Pacific team suggested that the number of supporters could reach  many millions if Papua New Guinea was included.

Environmental journalists

The secretariat of the newly launched Pacific Environment Journalists’ Network  will be based in Tonga.

The announcement was made in Nuku’alofa during the recent Pacific Islands News Association Pacific Media Summit.

Tonga-based media consultant and Former Fiji journalist and now Iliesa Tora was elected PEJN president.

The Pacific Islands will face the worst effects of global warming, with sea rises threatening many countries.

However, many journalists and academics are worried about the amount of local coverage of the issue.

They are also worried that in some countries the message about global warming and other environmental problems have still not reached ordinary people.

PINA election

Viola Ulaki of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission, who was suspended at the behest of the Prime Minister, has been elected as the new Pacific Islands News Association, representing television.

She was elected at the conclusion of PINA’s Fifth Pacific Media Summit in Tonga.

In 2016 Ulaki was suspended from her position as Radio and Television Tonga programmes manager by Minister of Public Enterprises, Poasi Tei.

Her suspension by the TBC board came after Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva alleged she had falsely claimed that a request for a press conference was made on behalf of the Tongan Media Council.

Hon. Pohiva said he suspected her of acting as a mouthpiece for his political opponents.

He was reported to have described the state broadcaster as “an enemy of government.”

Press freedom

Tonga dropped two places in this year’s international press freedom rankings from Reporters Sans frontiers.

It is now listed as 51st out of 180 countries.

This placed it ahead of the two other Pacific nations listed by the RSF: Papua New Guinea, which dropped two places to 53rd and Fiji, which has risen by 10 places to 57th.

The RSF report said the re-election of Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva’s party in November 2017 was accompanied by growing tension between the government and journalists.

Hon. Pohiva has had a tempestuous relationship with the kingdom’s media and his constant clashes with the Tongan Broadcasting Commission have particularly drawn attention

The RSF said some politicians have sued media outlets, exposing them to the risk of heavy damages awards. Some journalists reported they were forced to censor themselves because of the threat of being bankrupted.

In other international rankings, the US-based Freedom House listed the Tongan media as free in 2017. On a scale of one (most free) to 7 (least free) it ranked the kingdom  as 2/7 for political rights and civil liberties.

June

Petition

Public Service Association General Secretary Mele ‘Amanaki submitted a petition to the Speaker of Parliament alleging breaches of the constityion by seven Cabinet ministers.

A copy of the petition was also presented to the Acting Deputy Secretary, Suka ‘Otukolo, at the Palace Office.

In the wake of the submission the editor of Kele’a newpaper, Siaosi Pōhiva, attcked ‘Amanaki in print.

Siaosi Pōhiva is the eldest son of the Prime Minister who operates their family newspaper.

‘Amanaki was an unsuccessful candidate for the Tongatapu 3 electorate.

The petition accused seven ministers of breaching the constitution.

Clive Edwards

Kele’a was also in the news in June when the Supreme Court overturned a 2012 ruling by a magistrate’s court that found the newspaper had not defamed prominent lawyer and former government minister Clive Edwards.

The ruling by Lord Chief Justice Paulsen opened the way for Edwards to apply for a hearing regarding damages against the newspaper and the three defendants – one of whom is Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva.

Edwards brought an action in the Magistrate’s Court in 2012 for damages alleging that he had been defamed by the respondents in an article published in Kele’a in January that year.

 “The sting of the article was that Mr. Edwards was unfit to hold office as a Minister  because he sheltered criminals  and was a law breaker   himself,’ Mr Justice Paulsen said..

In his action Edwards named Kele’a’s publisher, Laucala Pohiva Tapueluelu, the newspaper’s editor, Matemita Tapueluielu, and the newspaper’s founder and author of the article, ‘Akilisi Pohiva.

King’s concern

A Parliamentary letter of response to concerns raised by the king pledged to review legislation to combat Tonga’s drug crisis.  

It said the House would make sure those involved in drug related crimes were punished with the toughest penalties available.

The concerns were raised in the king’s speech to mark the opening of Parliament.

The Parliamentarians also thanked His Majesty for his concerns over the tropical Cyclone Gita recovery process and his call to speed it up, the letter said.

Philanthropist

A Tongan philanthropist who gave away more than TP$1 million and was honoured by the World Health Organisation, has been praised for his humility and prudence.

Former Minister of Health Dr. Sione Tapa, who served the government of Tonga for about 41 years, died in May.

Tongan correspondent and former newspaper editor Faka’osi Maama, who often reported on Dr Tapa, described him as a person who lived a humble, prudent and financially restrained life style.

He said the former Minister had donated TP$160,000 to the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga in memory of his first wife, Tangikina Tapa.

Dr Tapa donated more than TP$1 million to the Tonga Health Promotion Foundation in 2012 to set up a scholarship award for students who wanted to study health.

Airports

Tree branches growing  beside the runway at ‘Eua domestic airport caused Real Tonga to cancel flights.

The airline’s CEO, Tevita Palu, said he decided to cancel the services because he feared the trees could cause an accident to aircraft when they landed.

He said he had met with the Minister of Civil Aviation, Hon. Sēmisi Sika, and was told the Ministry would cut down the branches, but nothing had been done yet.

 ‘Eua is not the only airport where Real Tonga faces problems.

At Ha’apai airport, rolling stones on the runway have caused a lot of damage to the airlines’ aircraft over the past six years.

Palu said he had repeatedly met with the airport’s authorities and had been told they would  work on it, but until now nothing had been done.

Cyclone Gita, tensions between palace and government marked beginning of 2018 

By
Philip Cass
-


January – 2018 Round-up

Outrage

The year began with outrage on social  media after Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva and his caretaker cabinet ministers were reportedly not invited to the king’s 2018 New Year reception.

Kaniva News was reliably informed the proposed Deputy Prime Minister, Semisi Sika, was turned away from the palace by the royal guards.

It is understood Hon. Pōhiva and his ministers have been invited to the King’s party every new year since they took power in 2014 until the January’s incidents.

Relations  between the king and Hon. Pōhiva remained tense after he returned to power in a crisis fuelled election at the end of 2017 after he and the cabinet were dismissed and Parliament dissolved.

The events pitted Hon. Pōhiva and his reformers against the nobility and entrenched power interests in the kingdom, but the people put the democratic reformers back into power.

The Prime Minister had been expected to announce the new cabinet before Christmas, but said he had to delay naming Ministers until he had been officially appointed by the king.

The new government of Hon. Pōhiva became official on January 5, the day the king appointed Hon Pōhiva’s cabinet ministers.

The Prime Minister’s health was a central point of interest during January, with one newspaper claiming he had cancer.

The Ministry of Health denied the reports and said the Prime Minister had been cleared of prostrate cancer.

He had been in the Intensive Care Unit at Vaiola Hospital for observation and monitoring.

Controversial judge retires

A British judge who gained notoriety for sentencing two Tongans to be flogged retired.

Judge Robert Shuster gained international notoriety when he sentenced two teenage boys in Tonga to be whipped.

In 2010 MPs ‘Akilisi Pohiva and ‘Isileli Pulu, moved in Parliament to have Judge Shuster impeached on the grounds that he was incompetent.

Many of his judgements in Tonga were overturned by the Court of Appeal.

Shuster was also the presiding judge at the Royal Commission of Enquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika.

Shuster has been a judge in the Turks and Caicos Islands since March 2015 when he retired from the bench.

February

For Tonga the chief story of February was the assault on the island kingdom by Cyclone Gita.

Two people died during the category four cyclone, including an elderly woman who was in her house when it was blown away.

Police also confirmed three major injuries and 30 minor injuries on Tongatapu as a result of Gita.

Gita flattened Parliament House, brought down power lines and caused widespread destruction in the kingdom.

Electricity lines were downed, roofs were torn off houses by the high winds and crops were destroyed.

Roads were blocked by debris and downed power lines.  

The lack of power also affected water supplies and communication.

The town of Houma in Tongatapu lost its water supply after the their two-tank water supplier was destroyed by the Gita.

The government declared a state of emergency as the cyclone bore down on the kingdom, bringing high seas and destructive winds.

Cyclone Gita had already caused major flooding in Samoa and American Samoa, where there are fears about the spread of dengue.

The storm centre also brought heavy rain to southern Fiji.

Corruption

The Prime Minister launching a stinging attack on government officials he accused of corruption and not liking him.

He told Kaniva News there was no use in the government having good policies while those who were required to implement those policies in the ministries were corrupt.

He said it was clear that in the past two years the only successful projects his government had launched were handled by senior officials who were not corrupt and did not have a political vendetta against him.

Dengue

A dengue outbreak claimed the life of 10 year old Toafei Telefoni from New Zealand, who died in Vaiola hospital.

Medical authorities confirmed there were 19 other cases of the disease.

CEO of Tonga’s Ministry of Health, Dr Siale Akau’ola,  told Kaniva News the influx of returning students and visitors to Tonga during the Christmas Holidays had brought in a large pool of dengue viruses which caused the outbreak.

Dengue is being closely monitored in several Pacific states.

An outbreak of dengue in 2017 killed five people in Samoa and infected 2500 others.

China

Tonga’s often controversial relationship with China came into focus after a report in the Australian newspaper attacked Chinese investment in the Pacific.

The report followed claims the previous month by Australian International Development Minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells that China was funding “roads to nowhere” and “useless buildings.”

In response, the Tongan government said it was “exceedingly grateful” for all Chinese loans and grants.

“The Kingdom of Tonga continues to value deeply and mutually its friendly and strong ties and cordial relations with both the Government of Australia and the Government of the People’s Republic of China,” the government said.

Fashion

A design by a Tonga fashion designer was displayed at Buckingham Palace as part of the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange.

The event was hosted by The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.

Bou Fonua Tanginoa, who designed the work, said the experience was priceless. She said she met some great designers from around the world and had more potential to participate in further events.

She said her design represented the cultural wealth of Tonga.

March

Adern visits Tonga

In March Tonga welcomed New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Adern.

While in the kingdom Adern said New Zealand would provide an extra NZ$10 million for post cyclone reconstruction.

The New Zealand Prime Minister visited the Fasi moe Afi primary school and saw children learning in the tents they have been using since the cyclone destroyed several classrooms.

Girls and rugby

Prime Minister Adern was caught up in a sporting controversy in Tonga when the Ministry of Education and Training told the principal of Tonga High School, a government sponsored institute, that the Director of Education had decided to to ban its girls from participating in rugby and boxing.

The ban did not affect the majority of school girls in Tonga, especially the church and private schools which are attended  by 90 percent of all students in the kingdom.

Ardern, expressed her disapproval of the ban. She said that while New Zealand’s aid support for sports in Tonga would not be threatened, she disagreed with the directive.

“As a school student I played touch rugby and I would encourage all young women to engage in whatever sporting code they are interested in,” she said.

Seasonal workers

Tongans employed in Australia’s Seasonal Workers’ Programme should have access to three year visas.

This was one of the recommendations from an official visit to Australia to investigate the programme led  by Minister for Internal Affairs by Akosita Lavulavu.

A three year visa has been piloted for workers from Kiribati and Nauru.

The Ministry report said a three-year multiple visa would reduce the cost and time of having to do health and police checks every year.

The Ministry’s official report on the  visit also recommended changes in the way Tongans are recruited. It said workers were often ripped off by labour agents. They should avoid using middlemen, contractors or labour hiring agents.

Caldwell

Police Commissioner Steve Caldwell came under sustained attack by the government in March.

Caldwell, who has run an anti-corruption campaign and suspended a number of officers, was criticised by Hon. Māteni Tapueluelu, who openly sided with a number of suspended officers protesting about their treatment.

The Police Commissioner’s position is largely funded by New Zealand.

A Police spokesman said officers had been suspended for “very good reasons.”

“The Commissioner is confined by what he can say publicly on individual criminal and disciplinary cases currently under investigation,” the spokesperson said.

Tonga’s police force has a troubled history of corruption and abuse.

It also has a history of New Zealand police officers working in Tonga being faced with entrenched opposition from police opposed to attempts to clean up the force.

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