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Hakulā league players take ‘huge pride’ in joining Mate Ma‘a Tonga, says Fusitu‘a’s dad

By
Kalino Latu
-

Mate Ma’a Tonga player David Fusitu’a’s father said he was happy that about half of Tonga’s National Rugby League team were players from the Tongan-based New Zealand Hakulā League club.

Speaking exclusively to Kaniva news in South Auckland recently, Edwin said they did not expect the effort and support they gave for the Hakulā club would one day end in having a key role in Tonga’s international rugby league competitions.

He described the move as a seed they sowed that became fruitful.

Edwin Fusitu’a said the players mostly grew up in New Zealand and it was a matter of pride for them to wear the Mate Ma’a Tonga red jerseys.

He said Tongan parents wanted their children to join Hakulā with the intention of them having a chance to play for the Kiwi Rugby League.

Edwin said his son played for Hakulā in 2011 as an under 11 year old player while Tu’imoala Lolohea was under 10.

Other Hakulā players at the time included Mafoa’aeata Hingano, who was under nine and Siliva Havili and Jason Taumālolo, who were under 12.

Siua Taukei’aho and Ben Murdoch Māsila were also at Hakulā.

He said there was no intention for these players at Hakulā to represent Tonga.

“I mean that’s how we normally do it here in New Zealand,” Edwin said.

“If you have the talent to play rugby union your goal is that one day you play for the  All Blacks.

“It was the same idea when it came to Hakulā.”

Most of the players at Hakulā played for Kiwi.

“Somewhere along the line the seed that we sowed at Hakulā changed and our children chose to play for Tonga,” he said.

Edwin said he and other parents were happy that Hakulā had become a useful tool for Mate Ma’a Tonga.

Before the 2017 Rugby World Cup Taumālolo dropped a selection bombshell only three weeks from the start of the tournament by choosing to play for Tonga instead of New Zealand.

Three other players who joined Taumālolo were David Fusitu’a, Siosiua Taukeiaho and Manu Ma’u.

These players began their rugby league career at Hakulā.

Taumālolo’s  move caused a heated debate in the rugby league world, especially among Kiwi supporters.

At the time Taumālolo released a statement saying it was out of a desire to help the development of Tongan rugby league.

“I really enjoyed my time within the Tongan World Cup squad last time and have had a long time association with Tongan Coach Kristian Woolf,” Taumālolo said.

The main points

  • Mate Ma’a Tonga player David Fusitu’a’s father said he was happy that about half of Tonga’s National Rugby League team were players from the Tongan-based New Zealand Hakulā League club.
  • He described the move as a seed they sowed that became fruitful.

For more information 

“Outstanding” says Tongan rugby coach as top players line up for kingdom

Speaker denies impeachment motion reports as Parliament resumes sitting tomorrow

By
Kalino Latu
-

Speaker Lord Fakafanua has denied reports that a motion to impeach seven cabinet ministers including the Prime Minister has been scheduled to be discussed in the House.

He also denied “false information” being circulated on social and news media that Members of Parliament will immediately be impeached as a result of a vote on the Auditor General’s Special Report.

The House will reconvene at 10:00am tomorrow Thursday 8 and there was no agenda to debate on any impeachment as alleged, a statement said.

“The Office of the Speaker wishes to clarify that, to date, it has not received any motion for impeachment of any of the Members of Parliament, including the Prime Minister or any of his Cabinet Ministers,” it said.

“There are requirements in the Rules and Standing orders of the Legislative that needs to be fulfilled before submitting any motion to impeach any Member of Parliament.

“Such a motion must be according to Clause 75 of the Constitution and Clause 87 of the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga.”

It said a report after a Press Conference with the Prime Minister said “that the final decision for the House to proceed and impeach the Prime Minister and six Cabinet Ministers rested with the Speaker of the House, Lord Fakafanua.”

“Again the office wishes to reiterate that this is incorrect as there has been no motion for impeachment and any outcome of the debate on the Auditor’s Report will not automatically result in the impeachment of Members of Parliament.”

Tongan man dies in Western Australia, reports say

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Tongan man has reportedly died in Canarvon, Western Australia last week.

The man allegedly died at a hospital from an injury.

A Tongan woman who identified herself on a video shared on Facebook this week as Joanna V. Matangi claimed the deceased was Siosifa Kaufusi.

Matangi also alleged the deceased’s death came after an altercation which involved another Tongan man.

It is understood the deceased was in Australia to join the Tongan Seasonal Workers.

According to a west.com.au report Police are investigating the death of a man in his 20s in Carnarvon.

St John Ambulance were called to a property in Morgantown Thursday afternoon and took the man to Carnarvon Regional Hospital, the report said.

It said the man died on November 2.

PSA’s former lawyer cites client confidentiality as Prime Minister’s PA and  ‘Amanaki trade accusations over withdrawal

By
Kalino Latu
-

Prominent New Zealand lawyer Dr Rodney Harrison has refused to be drawn into a dispute between former clients the Tongan Public Service Association (PSA) and Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s office.

PSA head Mele ‘Amanaki, and the Prime Minister’s PA, Po’oi Pōhiva, have issued conflicting claims about the reason for Dr Harrison withdrawing his services from the PSA.

Dr Harrison was invited to comment on the conflicting claims, but declined to do so on the grounds of client confidentiality.

While respecting Dr Harrison’s decision, it should be noted that both ‘Amanaki and Po’oi have chosen to air conflicting versions of what would normally be confidential matters.

We report them as a matter of public interest.

It should also be noted that ‘Amanaki has attacked Kaniva news’s reporting of the issue. While that is her right in a democratic society, we stand by our reporting.

On November 1 we reported that we had learned of a dispute which caused Dr Harrison to stop representing the PSA.

We reported that ‘Amanaki questioned Dr Harrison over lawyer Laki Niu’s legal fees. We also reported that we understood he withdrew his services after she continued to argue with him about the issue.

Our story followed an exclusive interview with Prime Minister Pōhiva and Po’oi Pōhiva in Auckland.

Dr Harrison will still represent Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva in an upcoming appeal case lodged by Tongasat.

It is understood he will also represent former Kele’a newspaper editor Māteni Tapueluelu and former Kele’a publisher Lautala Tapueluelu and two staff from  Kele’a newspaper in a related matter.

The Supreme Court ruled in favour of Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva and the Public Service Association (PSA) which had fought a five year battle against Tongasat over what it claimed were illegal payments of TP$90 million to the company.

The lawyer for the plaintiffs was Dr Harrison.

As Kaniva news reported earlier, the plaintiffs owed TP$7,025.55 to Niu in legal fees.

The fees stemmed from court cases in 2014 and 2015 in which Niu acted for the PSA.

‘Amanaki told Kaniva news in June that the PSA had planned to ask Dr Harrison to include Niu’s and the PSA’s costs when he negotiated his legal fees with the defendants in the cases. The defendants paid Dr Harrison in 2016.

‘Amanaki claimed Niu submitted his invoice late in 2017, by which time the defendants had paid Dr Harrison’s fees, but not Niu or the PSA’s costs.

Po’oi claims

Po’oi claimed ‘Amanaki wanted Dr Harrison to include Niu’s costs when he negotiated his legal fees with the defendants.

Po’oi claimed ‘Amanaki was “insistent” in the way she argued with Dr Harrison.

He also claimed Dr Harrison argued that ‘Amanaki should have settled the issue herself.

We asked ‘Amanaki on Thursday, November 1, if it was true this was the reason why Dr Harrison withdrew.  She did not respond until Sunday night, November 4.

‘Amanaki’s  denial

‘Amanaki denied Po’oi Pōhiva’s claim and claimed Harrison withdrew his services because of a dispute over a court case she referred to as CV64.

She claimed the real reason the PSA no longer wanted Dr Harrison to represent them in the  Tongasat appeal was because he said he would no longer represent them in another court case, CV49.

‘Amanaki claimed this was because the PSA and ‘Amanaki did not apply to the court to appoint a receiver to collect the costs from Tongasat on court case CV64.

This case stemmed from a lawsuit by Tongasat against PSA, Kele’a newspaper and four staff of the newspaper.

‘Amanaki said Tongasat eventually withdrew its lawsuit and the court ruled in March 31, 2016 that Tongasat should pay costs of TP$41,232.12 to the defendants.

She claimed Tongasat had yet to pay the costs awarded by the court.

She said Dr Harrison suggested they apply to the court to appoint a receiver to force Tongasat to pay their costs and they agreed.

She claimed she suggested that Minister of Police Māteni Tapueluelu process the application and if he refused, they would jointly processed the application.

‘Amanaki claimed that instead, Dr Harrison insisted that PSA do it.

She claimed Dr Harrison said if the PSA refused to lodge the receivership application he would no longer represent them.

‘Amanaki claimed she and PSA pleaded with Dr Harrison to rethink his decision as this was the first time they had hired him to represent them in court.

‘Amanaki claimed Dr Harrison told Prime Minister Pōhiva and Po’oi he would no longer represent PSA and ‘Amanaki on court case CV48 as they had had a falling out.

‘Amanaki claimed she replied to Dr Harrison’s e-mail and let ‘Akilisi and Po’oi know about the dispute.

She claimed she, Prime Minister Pōhiva and Po’oi pleaded with Dr Harrison to change his mind and represented them on court case CV49, but to no avail.

She claimed she and the PSA then told Dr Harrison he would not represent them on court case CV48.

Po’oi’s statement

Kaniva news recorded Po’oi’s statement which is transcribed in Tongan below:

Po’oi made his statement after we asked Prime Minister Pohiva if he was aware that Dr Harrison had decided to no longer represent the PSA and ‘Amanaki in the Tongasat appeal case. Hon. Pohiva said he was unaware of it.

Po’oi than said he did not let the Prime Minister know about the dispute because he did not want him to be worried by such issues.

Po’oi claimed the real reason Dr Harrison pulled out was because of the way ‘Amanaki argued with him about lawyer Laki Niu’s legal fees.

In Tongan Po’oi said:

“Na’e pehe ‘e Mele ia na’e totonu ke hanga ‘e Rodney ‘o fakahu ia ‘i he’ene cost.Ka na’e pehe ‘e Rodney ia na’e ‘ikai ‘oange ha me’a pehe ia ki ai. Pehe ‘e Rodney ia kapau ko ha ‘isiu ia na’e totonu ke settle  pe ia ‘e Mele mea fekau’aki mo e me’a ‘a Laki . Lahi ko e hono push atu ko ‘e Mele ‘u me’a ko ia ko e tala mai ‘e Rodney ia ko ‘ene ‘osi  ai pee ia he’ikai te ne toe hanga ‘e ia ia ‘o fakafofonga’i ia ‘e ia ia. Ne fu’u lahi pe ne fu’u malohi pe pe ‘ene (Mele) insistence. Ko e malo pe ‘ofa mai ‘a [Rodney] ia  ‘o ‘omai ‘ene service he ‘oku quality ia. He ko hono mo’oni pe ‘o na ia. He’ikai fie mole hono taimi ‘ona ia he fakafekiki holo mo e fanga ki’i me’a ko ‘eni ‘oku fele mo e ‘u keisi ia ‘e ma’u ai ‘ene pa’anga ia ‘ana. ‘A ia ko e me’a ia ko e ‘oku pehe ai ko e ‘a Rodney…ko e fo’i ‘isiu pe ko e ‘a Laki. He ne insist atu foki ‘a Mele ia ne totonu ke to’o ia mei he me’a kae tala mai ‘e he palangi ia ko e fe pa’anga ko e na’a mou collect ‘o taumu’a ki he me’a ko ‘eni.”

This translates into English as:

“Mele said Rodney should have included it when he negotiated his cost. Rodney said Mele should have settled Laki’s legal fees herself.  The more Mele pushed for it…. Rodney said he would no longer represent her. Mele was being insistent too much. It was thankful that [Dr Harrison] offered his service because it was high quality. The palagi asked where was the fundraising they collected money from to cover for the costs of these court cases.”

The main points

  • Prominent New Zealand lawyer Dr Rodney Harrison has refused to be drawn into a dispute between former clients the Tongan Public Service Association and Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s office.
  • Dr Harrison declined to comment on the dispute on the grounds of client confidentiality.
  • While respecting Dr Harrison’s decision, it should be noted that both ‘Amanaki and Pohiva have chosen to air conflicting versions of what would normally be confidential matters.

For more information 

Lawyer pulls out of Tongasat appeal as Pōhiva asks: where is money raised for legal fees?

Pacific workers for RSE increased by 1,750 to 12,850

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme cap will increase by 1,750 to 12,850, providing much-needed labour for the horticulture and viticulture industries in New Zealand, say Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni and Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway.

“New Zealand’s RSE scheme is a ground-breaking initiative introduced by the previous Labour Government in 2007, helping meet labour shortages in some of New Zealand’s most important industries while providing economic support to our Pacific neighbours,” says Iain Lees-Galloway.

“The horticulture and viticulture industries have experienced significant growth in recent years. Industry reports say that since 2015, apple and kiwifruit orchards have increased in value by around 70 per cent each, and the 2018 wine vintage was 2.6 percent larger than the previous year.

“However this growth has been accompanied by prominent labour shortages across industries and regions, notably in the past year. This is expected to continue, with growers forecasting 2600 more workers are needed to help support the industry.”

Minister of Social Development Carmel Sepuloni says that while it’s important the industry is able to access RSE workers in peak season it’s equally important they keep their commitment to employing New Zealanders.

“There are some horticulture employers like Turners & Growers (T&G) in Hawkes Bay that’ve hired thousands of New Zealanders and MSD clients over the years. Through its industry partnership with MSD, T&G is able to offer flexible work hours and pastoral care for clients. The model is a hit with workers and business is booming for the Hawkes Bay grower.

“The Ministry will continue to grow industry partnerships with Horticulture businesses that’re committed to providing training and jobs for New Zealanders and grow a more skilled domestic workforce,” Carmel Sepuloni said.

Iain Lees-Galloway recently issued four challenges to RSE Employers at their annual conference:

  • “One: Make the industry more attractive to New Zealand workers, by providing better wages and conditions;
  • “Two: Build more accommodation for workers to alleviate local accommodation pressures;
  • “Three: Take greater responsibility for supply chains and labour contractors to help stamp out migrant exploitation; and
  • “Four: transform the horticulture and viticulture industries from low cost industries to industries based on quality, productivity, and high value products.

“The commitments from employers and industry will be supported by ongoing monitoring and compliance activity undertaken by Immigration New Zealand and the Labour Inspectorate.

“The Government will be conducting a comprehensive review of the RSE scheme in 2019 to ensure it delivers improvements while remaining consistent with the original intent of the scheme,” says Iain Lees-Galloway.

The Recognised Seasonal Employer

  • The Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme was announced in October 2006 and came into effect in April 2007.
  • The policy allows the horticulture and viticulture industries to recruit workers from overseas for seasonal work when there are not enough New Zealand workers.
  • RSE workers are mostly from Pacific nations, benefitting from income and training opportunities offered by the scheme. It is expected that the participating Pacific Island countries will welcome the increased cap.
  • There is an administrative limit or cap on the number of RSE places that can be taken up in any one year. 
  • The number of available places varies each year depending on the forecast of New Zealanders available and industry demand. 
  • The 2018 RSE Monitoring Survey shows that since 2007, 95 per cent of RSE employers surveyed have expanded their area under cultivation
  • According to the Ministry for Primary Industries, the industry generated $5.15bn in export revenue in 2017, with exports forecast to reach $5.5bn in 2018.

More information on the RSE scheme can be found here.

Supreme Court finds man guilty in rape case; judge praises victim’s mother for her testimony

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The Supreme Court has found Filipo ‘Amanaki Lelei Tu’ifua guilty of raping a woman after she had passed out.

Summarising the case, Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said it had been proven beyond reasonable doubt that Tu’ifua “had sexual intercourse with the woman knowing that she was in a state of insensibility.”

The sexual assault occurred following a drinking session which began on November 11 last year.

The victim had been with a group of people she knew and after a night of consuming alcohol she was taken to a hut by the accused.

Eventually she passed out.

When she did not return home her mother went looking for her. She found the hut and saw the accused having sex with her daughter.

The mother called out to the accused who eventually came out of the room. She tried to revive her daughter, but she remained unconscious and did not wake up until the Monday night.

The next day she and her daughter went to the police and lodged a complaint of rape.

“There is no doubt that at all times the victim was rendered insensible by reason of intoxication and that the accused must have been aware of  this,” the judge said.

“I am therefore satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the accused was engaged in sexual activity with the victim while she was insensible.”

He said he found the victim’s mother to be a credible and truthful witness.

“Nothing leads me to doubt her evidence that she saw the accused have intercourse with her daughter.”

The main points

  • The Supreme Court has found Filipo ‘Amanaki Lelei Tu’ifua guilty of raping a woman while she was drunk and asleep.
  • Summarising the case, Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said it had been proven beyond reasonable doubt that Tu’ifuaa “had sexual intercourse with the woman knowing that she was in a state of insensibility.”

Protecting young people from risks in cyberspace is focus of this year’s law week

By
Philip Cass
-

This year’s Tongan law week will focus on the law and cyber space.

Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu said young people and children needed to become more aware of the risks in cyberspace.

He said they needed to learn to protect themselves themselves from these risks by themselves and with adult help.

Hon. Kefu said cyberspace and the use of computers and mobile devices offered challenges as well as benefits and people needed to know the law.

Law week will run from November 4-9 and will begin with a church service this Sunday at the Centenary Church of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga in Nuku’alofa.

Law Week will involve daily radio talkback shows from Radio FM 90 of Radioa Tonga at 5pm to 6.30pm from Monday, November 5 to Friday, November 9.

Minister for Information and CommunicationsPoasi Tei will launch an open day for Government Primary School students from the Eastern and Western Districts of Tongatapu.

The students will be presented with information from the Attorney General’s Office, Tonga Police, Tonga Communications Corporation, Digicel, CERT Tonga and other organisations which support the safe use of cyberspace.

This will also include special activities and competitions for the students.

Radio FM 90 of Radioa Tonga will broadcast daily radio talkback shows from at 5pm to 6.30pm during law week.

This is the 11thyear the Attorney General’s Office has delivered Law Week.

Law week is part of the celebrations of the granting of the Constitution by King George Tupou I on November4, 1875.

The main points

  • This year’s law week will focus on the law and cyber space.
  • Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu said young people and children needed to become more aware of the risks in cyberspace.
  • Law week will run from November 4-9.

For more information

Attorney General’s office

Disease studies should stop gathering dust and be put to use says Commerce Ministry CEO

By
Philip Cass
-

UNDP studies on non communicable diseases in the Pacific should be put to some practical use according to a senior Tongan official.

Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Commerce, Consumer, Innovation, Trade and Labour, Edgar Cocker, said it was time the studies stopped gathering dust.

Cocker said the studies conducted by the UNDP and various international institutions seemed to be  consultancy driven.

“I want these studies to stop collecting dust,” Cocker said.

“We need to set up a national and regional programme that has clear mandates and responsibilities.”

He said the Fiji-based Secretariat of the Pacific Community should take responsibility for the project.

The Pacific has some of the highest NCD rates with cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes and cancers accounting for more than 80 percent of deaths.

Earlier this year Tonga’s Minister of Health, Dr Saia Piukala, was appointed to an independent global commission on non-communicable diseases.

Dr Piukala said Tonga had taken some positive steps to reduce the burden of NCDs, but much more needed to be done.

Statistics also showed that approximately one in five Tongans has diabetes.

Tonga’s own Sustainable Development Goals call for a one-third reduction in NCDs by 2030.

Almost every Tongan adult is at medium or high risk of developing a non-communicable disease.

The kingdom is one of the most at-risk populations in the world, with diabetes and heart disease a serious threat.

Many young Tongans are overweight, levels of smoking continue to be high and a majority of young people have tried alcohol by age 14.

The main points

  • UNDP studies on non communicable diseases in the Pacific should be put to some practical use according to a senior Tongan official.
  • Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Commerce, Consumer, Innovation, Trade and Labour, Edgar Cocker, said it was time the studies stopped gathering dust.

For more information

Tonga’s health minister appointed to global NCD commission

Lawyer pulls out of Tongasat appeal as Pōhiva asks: where is money raised for legal fees?

By
Kalino Latu
-

New Zealand barrister Dr Rodney Harrison QC will no longer represent the PSA and its head Mele ‘Amanaki in its legal battle with Tongasat.

Dr Harrison withdrew his services over what ‘Amanaki has described as “a minor dispute.”

Kaniva news has learned the dispute arose after ‘Amanaki questioned Dr Harrison over lawyer Laki Niu’s legal fees.

As Kaniva news reported earlier, the plaintiffs owed TP$7,025.55 to lawyer Niu as legal fees.

The fees stemmed from court cases in 2014 and 2015 in which Niu acted for the PSA.

‘Amanaki told us in an interview in June the PSA had planned to ask Dr Harrison to include Niu’s and PSA’s costs when he negotiated his legal fees with the defendants. The defendants paid Dr Harrison in 2016.

‘Amanaki claimed Niu submitted his invoice late in 2017, by which time the defendants had paid Dr Harrison’s fees, which did not include Niu and PSA’s costs.

Kaniva news understands ‘Amanaki continued to argue with Dr Harrison over the issue, which caused him to pull out.

Appeal

Dr Harrison will still represent Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva in an upcoming appeal case lodged by Tongasat.

It is understood he will also represent former Kele’a newspaper editor Māteni Tapueluelu and former Kele’a publisher Lautala Tapueluelu and two staff from  Kele’a newspaper in a related matter.

As Kaniva news reported recently, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva and the Public Service Association (PSA) which had fought a five year battle against Tongasat over what it claimed were illegal payments of TP$90 million to the company.

The lawyer for the plaintiffs was Dr Harrison.

‘Amanaki said on Facebook last week that Dr Harrison no longer represented her and the Public Service Association:

“Over a minor dispute between Dr. Harrison and the PSA in the last three weeks in the process to recover our costs & disbursement for CV64 (after Tongasat withdrew its charges against PSA & Kele’a staff in 2016), Dr. Harrison informed us last Tuesday that he will no longer represent PSA in CV49 (a legal proceeding against PSA by Tu’ivakano & Clive Edwards).

“As CV49 was called again in the Supreme Court last Friday, the PSA advised the Supreme Court of the termination of all the services by Dr. Harrison in all our legal proceedings (CV48, CV49 & CV64).

“The PSA is grateful and appreciate Dr. Harrison’s services since 2014 until last Friday.”

Tongasat lodged an appeal with the Court of Appeal last Wednesday (October 16) on the Supreme Court’s decision.

‘Amanaki said she as Secretary General of PSA would represent PSA in court, but a lawyer may be appointed.

The appeal on the Supreme Court’s decision may be heard in the first half of 2019.

Public funding

Meanwhile, Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva has told Kaniva news he will find out what happened to the tens of thousands of pa’anga raised by the public in 2014 to help pay for the legal fees of the cases involving him and the PSA against Tongasat.

He said the fundraising was led by the People’s Committee (Komiti ‘A e Kakai) and PSA and the money was deposited into a Trust bank account.

Kaniva news has asked ‘Amanaki for an update on the funds, but she told us to contact the Committee chairman.

The main points

  • New Zealand barrister Dr Rodney Harrison QC will no longer represent the PSA and its head Mele ‘Amanaki in its legal battle with Tongasat.
  • Dr Harrison withdrew his services over what ‘Amanaki has described as “a minor dispute”.
  • Kaniva news has learned the dispute arose after ‘Amanaki questioned Dr Harrison over lawyer Laki Niu’s legal fees.

For more information

PSA head rebuts Kele’a newspaper’s attacks as petition to investigate Cabinet submitted

Tongasat’s appeal aimed at hindering suing former PMs, says Pōhiva

Auditor’s English report names minister who took government assets as Kakalu apologises

By
Kalino Latu
-

The former Minister who took two vehicles and a refrigerator unlawfully from the Ministry of Revenue and Customs was MP Tēvita Lavemaau, the Auditor General’s English version of the report said.

The report, which has been seen by Kaniva news, said the Auditor found that two vehicles, registration MORC01 and MORC2 were taken by Lavemaau when he was moved to the Ministry of Finance and became the Minister.

The report said Lavemaau also took a stainless steel refrigerator.

The Auditor General then recommended that “these assets should be relocated to the Ministry’s compound immediately” and be kept there at all times.

However the Auditor General did not identify the Minister personally in the Tongan version of the report.

It just referred to him as the former Minister of Revenue.

In the Tongan version the Auditor General also recommended that Ministers must obtain permission through a letter from the government’s Asset Committee before they took ministry assets.

As Kaniva news reported recently, Kakalu ‘O Tonga newspaper alleged that it was former Minister of Revenue and Customs Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa who took the assets.

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa denied the allegation and demanded a front-page retraction. The paper  apologised in this week’s edition.

The paper retracted the allegation on its front-page and apologised to the Minister, his family and those who were affected by its false news.

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa told the House this week the paper’s fake news had caused a great deal of damage to his reputation after it was shared on social media.

He asked the Speaker to allow the Auditor General to declare in the House the name of the former Minister to whom he was referring.

The Speaker agreed and told Hon. Tu’i’onetoa he has told the clerk to process his request.

The main points

  • The former Minister who took two vehicles and a refrigerator unlawfully from the Ministry of Revenue and Customs was former MP Tevita Lavemaau, the Auditor General’s English version of the report said.
  • The report said Lavemaau also took a stainless steel refrigerator.

For more information

Prime Minister cleared of prostate cancer, gov’t denies newspaper report

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