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Japan hosts Tonga, Fiji matches ahead of Rugby World Cup 2019

By
Kalino Latu
-

• Japan will host two Pacific Nations Cup 2019 matches in preparation for Rugby World Cup
• Brave Blossoms play Fiji in Kamaishi and Tonga in Hanazono, both Rugby World Cup venues
• All six participating teams qualified for Rugby World Cup and ranked in world top 20
• Fiji are reigning champions and highest ranked team following recent victory over France
• Played across three rounds on 27 July, 3 August and 9-10 August with matches also taking place in Fiji, Samoa and USA
• Fiji to host World Rugby Pacific Challenge from 8-16 March, an annual U23 development competition involving Fiji Warriors, Tonga A, Samoa A and Junior Japan 

World Rugby has announced that Japan will host two Pacific Nations Cup 2019 matches as part of a readiness programme for Rugby World Cup 2019.

With Rugby World Cup fever sweeping across the nation, fans in Japan will have the opportunity to see the Brave Blossoms play two test matches against Fiji in Kamaishi and Tonga in Hanazono.

The selection of Kamaishi and Hanazono, who will host Fiji and Tonga respectively during Rugby World Cup 2019, provides the opportunity for the cities and fans to build an affinity with teams, while delivering the hosts with an important operational testing platform.

In addition to Japan, Fiji and Tonga, the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup 2019 will be contested by Rugby World Cup teams Canada, Samoa and USA over three rounds on 27 July, 3 August and 9-10 August 2019 with matches also played in Fiji, Samoa and USA. 

View the Pacific Nations Cup match schedule here >>

Anticipation of a high-quality competition is high with reigning champions Fiji currently eighth in the World Rugby Rankings, Japan 11th, USA a record 12th, Tonga 14th, Samoa 16th and Canada 20th. 

World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: “With all roads leading to Rugby World Cup 2019, it is exciting to announce that six participating unions, Canada, Fiji, hosts Japan, Samoa, Tonga and USA will feature in the World Rugby Pacific Cup 2019 line-up.

“This announcement reflects our commitment to provide a strong preparation platform for these unions immediately prior to our showcase event, to build excitement in two host cities and deliver an important programme of testing and readiness ahead of Asia’s first Rugby World Cup.” 

Japan Rugby Football Union Chairman Noriyuki Sakamoto said: “It is with great pleasure that two Pacific Nations Cup 2019 matches will be held in Japan, just two months before Rugby World Cup 2019 commences. We look forward to welcoming Fiji and Tonga to the match venues of Rugby World Cup 2019, Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium in Iwate and the Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka, respectively.” 

Prior to the Pacific Nations Cup, Fiji will host the Pacific Challenge which is an annual World Rugby high performance strategic investment tournament designed to provide high quality competition for development teams featuring players aged 23 and under.

Fiji Warriors have claimed the Pacific Challenge title on the past three occasions and will be looking to continue their winning streak on home soil against Tonga A, Samoa A and Junior Japan. The matches will take place in Suva on 8, 12 and 16 March 2019.

View the Pacific Challenge match schedule here >>

Fiji Airways Flying Fijians Head Coach John McKee said: “The World Rugby Pacific Challenge is a key tournament for Fiji in terms of providing a pathway step for our most talented young players from Fiji’s Academy and U20 programmes in their quest to achieve higher honours representing the Flying Fijians.”

Following the Pacific Challenge, the second edition of the ‘World Rugby Pacific Combine’ will take place in Suva, Fiji on 17-24 March 2019 building on the success of its inaugural year in 2018. The World Rugby Pacific Combine is designed to accelerate rugby development in the Pacific, paving the way for the region’s best and brightest rugby talent to thrive on the international stage.

The 2018 edition featured 30 players under the age of 23 from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, who impressed during the World Rugby Pacific Challenge. The Combine features a dedicated education and preparation camp, aimed at developing the next generation of test stars for professional rugby. Of the 30 participants in the inaugural edition, 12 have already gained professional contracts within Drua, Mitre 10, NRC and Super Rugby.

View video of World Rugby Pacific Combine here >>

Rugby World Cup 2019 takes place in Japan from 20 September to 2 November 2019. Rugby World Cup 2019 tickets are back on sale on 19 January. In the meantime, Official Supporter Tour and Hospitality packages can be purchased. Full details for the complete range of ticketing options can be found at www.rugbyworldcup.com/tickets.

-https://www.rugbyworldcup.com

“Ultimate fight” may be in offing for Jnr Fa after Saturday night’s victory in Christchurch

By
Philip Cass
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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 comes 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.

Parker topped the bill on Saturday night’s boxing tournament in Christchurch,defeating Alexander Flores with a knockout in the third round.

Fa, who became New Zealand’s new heavyweight champion last year, knocked out Argentine boxer Rogelio Omar Rossi in round one during their weekend bout.

It was Fa’s 16th straight win.

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

Fa and Wilder recently trained together and are both promoted by American Lou di Bella.

Fa’s manager Mark Keddell was quoted as saying after Saturday night’s tournament: “We’renegotiating a big fight at the moment so we’ll see how that goes.

“We’re talking the ultimate of the ultimate – and we’re getting pretty close.”

The main points

  • 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.”
  • Fa, who became New Zealand’s new heavyweight champion last year, knocked out Argentine boxer Rogelio Omar Rossi in round one during their bout in Christchurch on Saturday night.

For more information

Junior Fa new New Zealand heavyweight champion

Tonga’s Prime Minister’s wife Neomai dies

By
Kalino Latu
-

Neomai Pōhiva, the wife of Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva has died in Tongatapu today. She was 70. 

It is understood Neomai died after long fight with cancer. 

The Minister of Police, the Prime Minister’s son in law has confirmed her death to Kaniva news this evening.

…More soon

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Samoa PM’s son is CEO of Finance Ministry

By
Kaniva Staff
-

SAMOA OBSERVER -The Samoan Cabinet has approved the appointment of Oscar Thomas Malielegaoi as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance. 

He is the son of Samoa’s Prime MinisterTuilaepa Dr Sa’ilele Malielegaoi and will assume the role on January 1, 2019,replacing Tupa’imatuna Iulai Lavea, who has been the CEO. the last nine years and is retiring.

Ministry of Finance staff said the new appointment was announced last Friday by the Minister of Finance Sili EpaTuioti during an official function. 

The outgoing CEO was at the helm of the Ministry in critical junctures in Samoa’s history, playing key roles to steer the Government through the global economic crisis and the 2009 tsunami and 2012 Cyclone Evan.

Tupa’imatuna was also instrumental in Samoa’s graduation from least developed country status to developing country. 

The newly appointed CEO.was a director’s advisor at the Asian Development Bank, and is currently the deputy director for the Ministry of Finance and assistant public trustee.  Repeated efforts by the Samoa Observer to get comments from Sili have been unsuccessful

Pōhiva says he has successor in mind to take over as Democracy Party leader

By
Kalino Latu
-

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva says he has a person in mind who could replace him as party leader when he steps 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 MotuAnga’ofa (the Democracy Party).

“I know him,” Pōhiva said.

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.

The Prime Minister said he was happy with how the Party was currently operating and the support it attracted from Tongans overseas.

He said the Party was buoyed by its victory in last year’s snap election after the king dissolved Parliament.

New Zealand supporters

The Prime Minister said he had been invited to south Auckland to attend an event organised by the Party’s supporters in New Zealand.

The supporters were members of the PTOA New Zealand society under the leadership of business man Sione Foaki Fifita.

Hon. Pōhiva marvelled at the number of women who had joined the group.

“A group was setup by democratic supporters from Tongans in New Zealand for the democratic movement in Tonga, but they were mostly men,” he said.

“I was surprised to see a number of women came forward and showed their support for the movement in Tonga by joining the group.”

Hon. Pōhiva said he believed his increasingly strong support from Tongans in New Zealand was triggered by a feud on social media between Facebook groups created by conservative and democratic supporters.

While political parties were not part of Tonga’s political system, for the last three decades the PTOA has been seen as a platform for democrats who want to become Members of Parliament. It is Tonga’s largest and longest serving political party.

Other political parties in Tonga include the new Action for the Poor Party,or Langafonua ‘a e Masiva, which was formed by current and former politicians who had been defected from the PTOA.

In the past, these parties have been set up purely to support certain politicians who were dissatisfied with Hon.Pōhiva and wanted to run in general elections.

The main points

  • Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva says he has a person in mind who could replace him asparty leader when he would step 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).

For more information

Tonga in a new political order

https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/tonga-in-a-new-political-order.pdf

Father encouraged passion for problem solving that led her to internship with engineering firm

By
Philip Cass
-

Tongan engineering student Sela Maka hopes to be the first female Pacific student to gain a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours from Massey University.

She was the first recipient of the King Tupou VI Coronation scholarship.

Maka is the second youngest of five children and comes from the village of Lotoha’api Ha’ateiho.

She spent part of her childhood in Fiji.

Maka said her parents had worked hard and made sacrifices to help her better herself.

Her late father was a commercial farmer and in the holidays she would go back to Tonga to help him sell his crops.

She said helping her father helped her see the importance of resource management in the region as well as developing her passion for problem solving.

“I developed a zing for problem solving while in high school,” she said.

“It became more evident in subjects like calculus, physics and chemistry,” she said.

She was Dux of Tonga High School in 2016.

“My dad showed me how agriculture plays a big role in Tonga and other Pacific countries,”she said.

She said if Tonga found ways to manage its food, water and energy more efficiently, it could become more secure.

Maka is one of this year’s Pacific Co-operation Foundation internees.

She is doing her internship with global engineering consultancy GHD.

“This will allow me to be learn how the New Zealand engineering field formulate solutions towards sustainability, and then I will be able to apply what I learn here, in Tonga”

“Because I come from a small country and a small village, this internship is my proudest achievement so far,” she said.

Maka said she hoped she would inspire other Pacific women to study STEM subjects – science,technology, engineering and maths – and work in those areas.

A recent UNESCO study said STEM fields were crucial for sustainable development because they helped find solutions to climate change, global health epidemics, and increased income inequality.

However, the report said that female students were more likely to study science rather than mathematics and that the percentage of female engineers in an Asia-Pacific survey was extremely low.

The main points

  • Tongan engineering student Sela Maka hopes to be the first female Pacific student to gain a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours from Massey University.
  • Makas is the second youngest of five children and comes from the village of Lotoha’api Ha’ateiho.
  • Maka is one of this year’s Pacific Co-operation Foundation internees, working with  global engineering consultancy GHD.

For more information

Stemming the flow

Older Pasifika migrants more resilient to mental illness

By
Kaniva Staff
-


by Indira Stewart, RNZ PACIFIC 

Pacific people who migrated to New Zealand as adults are more resilient to mental health issues than other Pasifika, figures show.

Those born in New Zealand have double the rate of mental disorders than those who moved to New Zealand after the age of 18, found the Te Kaveinga report released by the Health Promotion Agency earlier this year.

The number of Pacific people migrating to New Zealand has grown rapidly since the mid 1950s.

Many came to meet local labour force demands and others arrived hoping for better opportunities for their families.

Now about two thirds of the the country’s Pasifika are New Zealand born and more than half of Pasifika are under the age of 25. The Pasifika population has a higher proportion of young people than any other ethnic groups in the country.

But while migration has had many benefits, Pacific people now have the highest risk of mental distress.

Dr Karlo Mila has worked in the area of Pacific health, research and policy for 15 years and has studied suicide risk factors for Pacific people.

She said young Pasifika now carry a higher burden of mental health issues than others.

“What I found is that less than half of our Pacific people here in Aotearoa who are born here and raised here, actually did feel accepted by members of their own culture and by others, which is a little bit damning and kind of suggests that on some level it’s not exactly a super positive environment to grow up in.”

Dr Mila surveyed 1000 New Zealand-born Pasifika for her PhD research and found those who didn’t feel accepted by their own community were most at risk.

It’s an experience that Tongan Aucklander ‘Amanaki-Lelei Prescott is familiar with.

“I always felt like I was never good enough. And then always trying to figure out am I ok?” she said.

‘Amanaki said mental illness is a significant problem in New Zealand but many Pasifika don’t understand mental health.

“No one would want to communicate or express their feelings. Especially if you’re being mocked about it. Like, your feelings are your own feelings. You can’t help if you feel that way.

“But people just don’t get it and it’s sucha joke to them. Especially Pacific Islanders. It’s because they don’t believe in mental health. They believe in getting hidings.”

The Tongan Methodist Association’s Reverend Tevita Finau said Pacific elders struggled to grasp the concept of depression.

“When I grew up in Tonga there were no talks of depression. There were talk of people exhausted, fatigued but there was no word for depression that I could think of or could recall. Except people just saying that people have overworked or stress themselves out and not depressed.”

Dr Mila agreed and said cultural differences remained.

“It’s very new to have mental health symptoms like institutionalised or medicalised and we have like, a lack of comfort with all kinds of institutions here. I mean they’re very palangi structures.”

Rev Tevita said the church has had to work hard to help some elders understand mental health issues better.

“Most of the parents grew up overseas in Tonga then coming here to New Zealand. And some of them are struggling to make changes and to be able to listen more to the kids and to be able to recognise signs of when young people are unhappy.”

The mental health report – Te Kaveinga -noted Pacific secondary students were more likely to report self-harm than other ethnic groups and three times more likely to report a suicide attempt in the previous 12 months.

A number of recent suicides among the Tongan church community was a wake up call for many, Rev Tevita said.

“Some were not well prepared and congregations were struggling and also church leaders were struggling as well.And of course some did not understand and some took it wrongly. Some of them thought it’s the will of God. But we had to work – God does not want anyone to take the life of anyone else or his or her own life, you know to bring harm to himself or herself.”

He was hopeful that elders would begin to change for the sake of younger members of the community.

“A lot of them are still learning and of course a lot will not unlearn what they’ve grown up with, their understanding,” said Rev Tevita

“But they need to learn more about depression and also being stressful here. Being lonely. Because in Tonga, you are hardly lonely.”

The government’s mental health inquiry report, released last week, said New Zealand’s mental health system didn’t work for Pacific people.

They found it “hostile, coercive, culturally incompetent, individualistic, cold and clinical”, the report said.

Pacific people were now calling for the mental health system to be transformed and for more ‘Pacific centred’ ways to be adopted.

For now, Dr Mila said the community could help people.

“It’s a hard time to grow up for Pacific young people and if we can accept that and accept them. Come as you are, [and]just try and create loving relationships. That’s the best suicide prevention really,” Dr Mila said.

This story appears on PACNEWS. Kaniva news has a content sharing arrangement with PACNEWS. 

Toddler killed after being hit by reversing vehicle in Nuku‘alofa

By
Kalino Latu
-

A toddler has tragically died after she was struck by a reversing car being driven by an elderly man.

The driver, a 70-year-old man had been charged with manslaughter by negligence.

The one-year-old girl was playing at her residence when she was hit by the reversing vehicle in Ngele’ia.

The girl was taken to Vaiola Hospital in a serious condition on Tuesday evening but she was pronounced dead a short time later.

Police reportedly believed the driver was unaware that the deceased was behind the vehicle.

Police investigations were continuing.  

Tax profits from shipping, ports and airports will go towards range of transport projects

By
Philip Cass
-

Part of the profits from Tonga’s combined publicly owned transport sector will be used to improve port, air and shipping facilities.

The combined transport sector has met its annual target of a net profit before tax of TP$8million.

The Ports Authority Tonga, Tonga Airports Limited and the Friendly Islands Shipping Agency produced a net profit of TP$6 million after tax.

Chairman of the Shared Transport Sector Board of Directors, Dr Sione Ngongo Kioa, said  the Shared Transport Sector Public Enterprises returned $TP3.5 million to the shareholders and the public during the 2017-18 financial year.

A total of 75% of net profits after taxes will contribute to improving and developing port facilities, international and inter-island air and ferry transport services.

Planned port developments  include the purchase of  capital equipment, tar sealing of the Port of Nuku’alofa international wharf surface and acquisition of a second-hand tug boat.

Projected work to improve air services include  the extension of the Fua’amotu international terminal, upgrading of domestic terminals, provision of a water reservoir for Fua’amotu Airport and work at Lupepau’u airport.

Funding for shipping services will go to building up funds for vessel replacement,improving Vava’u wharf and refurbishing the shipping agency’s domestic offices.

Several major transport projects were completed during the 2017-18 financial year.

The Taufa’ahau Tupou IV Domestic Wharf was commissioned.

The Nuku’alofa Port infrastructure was upgraded and the hard stand by the Queen Sālote International Wharf Hardstand completed.

The navigational aid and airfield ground lightings at Fua’amotu international airport were upgraded.

A Jet A1 fuel station was built at Lupepau’u airport by TAL and putting into operation the newly purchased MV Tongiaki by FISA.

The newly purchased MV Tongiaki was put into service.

The main points

  • Part of the profits from Tonga’s combined publicly owned transport sector will be used to improve port, air and shipping facilities.
  • The Ports Authority Tonga, Tonga Airports Limited and the Friendly Islands Shipping Agency produced a net profit of TP$6 million after tax.

Foreign national charged with possession after police operation leads to 23 arrests

By
Philip Cass
-

Tongan police have arrested a foreign man and charged him with possession of methamphetamine.

The foreign national was one of 23 people arrested during a 10-hour police operation on Saturday 8 targeting suspects of housebreaking and thefts with links to drug offending and those with outstanding bench warrants.

He was among three suspects arrested for possession of illicit drugs.

Acting Chief Superintendent Tevita Vailea said the 54 year old man was arrested at his home,the former Good Samaritan Inn at Kolovai.

The arrest and search were made by the Police Drugs Enforcement Taskforce and the Criminal Investigation Unit.

Police seized a pack of methamphetamine, drugs paraphernalia, electronic devices and cash from the suspect’s residence.

The suspect has been charged with possession of illicit drugs and released on bail.

On Monday New Zealand television reported that methamphetamine use was rife in Tonga and being driven by Tongans deported to the kingdom from the United States and Australia.

As Kaniva News reported on Monday, about 30 Tongan nationals are deported from the United States each year.

Many of the deportees have been engaged in gang activity since childhood.

Last year a 2016 Transnational Organised Crime Assessment said methamphetamine was one of the main threats to law and order in the region.

In April this year Radio Australia said the kingdom was facing a rising tide of methamphetamine abuse.

“It only takes one call to disrupt the supply of drugs in your community and we encourage anyone who can provide information of drug dealing to contact Police,” Acting Chief Superintendent Tevita Vailea said.

The main points

  • Tongan police have arrested a foreign man and charged him with possession of methamphetamine.
  • The foreign national was one of 23 people arrested during a 10-hour police operation targeting suspects of housebreaking and thefts with links to drug offending and those with outstanding bench warrants.

For more information

Gangs smuggle guns into Tonga as kingdom faces a “tsunami” of methamphetamine

Gangs smuggle guns into Tonga as kingdom faces a “tsunami” of methamphetamine
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