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11-month-old Tongan dies after falling into water race in Rolleston

By
Kaniva Staff
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by Tom Kitchin, Stuff

An 11-month-old Tongan child has drowned after falling into a water race in Rolleston, south of Christchurch.

Eleven-month-old Samuel Taufaeteau​ managed to crawl from the front door of the home in Tennyson St and all the way to the front of the garden before tumbling into the shallow water way.

He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition but died a few hours later on the afternoon of September 30.

Samuel’s aunt, Lola Tupou, told Stuff the front door was unlocked.

The child was found by relatives a short time later and was taken to Christchurch Hospital in a critical condition, but later died.

“One of the kids opened [the door], he crawled all the way there.

“We’re just so sad at the moment. We’re trying to move from this house, we don’t want to stay here anymore.”

Barriers have since been put up by the water race to make the area safer, and Tupou said the door would remain locked from now on.

Samuel was buried on Friday and his death has been referred to the coroner.

Selwyn District Council chief executive David Ward declined to comment on the cost of fencing or restricting access to water races.

Four people have drowned on the South Island in recent weeks.

Parl’t protocol in question after Members’ travel at taxpayers’ expense revealed

By
Kalino Latu
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The Tongan Parliament’s protocol has been questioned after revelations this morning that about TP$200,000 of taxpayers’ money would be used to pay non-Cabinet MPs and Parliament staff to travel to New Zealand to watch Mate Ma’a test play the Kangaroos.

Some Ministers believed the procedure which was used to approve the decision should be reviewed.

Kaniva news can now reveal that the decision for the money was not discussed in Parliament in the normal way where all MPs were allowed to have their say on the agendas.

Rather, it was made through a circular being circulated by the Acting Speaker Lord Tu’ilakepa to the MPs in which he let them know there was an invitation from the League Committee for the House to attend the Mate Ma’a Tonga test match in Auckland.

One of the Ministers said the process was legal.

However, he said: “I think the concern is why it was circulated and not brought to parliament as the House has been opened since September 18. It’s like hiding it. Otherwise it was legal, but the prudence of the decision is being questioned.”

The circular did not have to be circulated to all MPs, implying it could be sent to the majority of them, some Ministers said, but they did not want to be named because they did not receive the circular.

Normally the Speaker, and in this case, the Acting Speaker, would then propose what he thought the MPs should do in response to the invitation, the Ministers said.

Part of this proposal was that if the receiving MPs agreed with the proposal they would have to sign the circular and returned it to the Acting Speaker.

In this case it is believed there was a proposal from the Acting Speaker to allow 10 non-cabinet MPs and four Parliament staff to travel to New Zealand for the match.

As Kaniva news reported this morning, an executive box in the Mt Smart stadium has been also paid for, along with the MPs’ travelling allowances and accommodation in New Zealand.

It appeared that majority of the recipients agreed with the proposal and the Acting Speaker had the final say to approve the decision so it was not have to be taken to the House to be debated and discussed.

A reliable source told us the House approved TP$80,000 for the travel.

However, as Kaniva news reported this morning, the son of the Prime Minister, Siaosi Pohiva slammed the decision and in his letter to the Speaker on October 10, he claimed the amount was more than TP$200,000.

Reactions

The majority of reaction by the public on social media this morning to the news has been negative.

Some said the MPs  should pay their travel and other expenses from their pockets.

Former MP ‘Isileli Pulu named the decision as unwise “fakavalevale”.

Some commenters  said the Mate Ma’a Tonga team players had sacrificed their pay and time so that the plan for test match could go ahead, but the MPs did not show the same spirit.

Kaniva’s story this morning was also run by Radio New Zealand and editor Kalino Latu was interviewed by Newshub.

The Speaker of Parliament was contacted for a comment through the Chief Clerk.

The main points

  • The Tongan Parliament’s protocol has been questioned after revelations this morning that about TP$200,000 of taxpayers’ money would be used to pay non-Cabinet MPs and Parliament staff to travel to New Zealand to watch Mate Ma’a test play the Kangaroos.
  • Kaniva news can now reveal that the decision for the money was not discussed in Parliament in the normal way where all MPs were allowed to have their say on the agendas.

For more information

VIDEO: 5000 fans greet Tongan team, but five times as many will see them at Mt Smart stadium

PM’s son slams approval of TP$200,000 to pay MPs to fly to NZ for Mate Ma‘a Tonga test

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Prime Minister’s son, Siaosi Pohiva, has criticised Parliament’s decision to use taxpayers’ money  to pay for 14 non-cabinet MPs and  staff to fly to New Zealand for the Mate Ma’a Tonga test match against the Kangaroos this Saturday.

Kaniva news understands the decision was made after Acting Speaker Lord Tu’ilakepa sent a circular informing only some of the MPs about a letter from the Rugby League Committee inviting Parliament to attend the match.

An executive box in the Mt Smart stadium has been also paid for, along with the MPs’ travelling allowances and accommodation in New Zealand.

Kaniva news has contacted the Speaker through Parliament’s Chief Clerk for a comment.

A reliable source told us the House approved TP$80,000 for the travel.

However, in his letter to the Speaker on October 10, which has been seen by Kaniva news, Siaosi claimed the amount was more than TP$200,000.

Siaosi, the editor and publisher of Kele’a newspaper, blasted the move and described it in Tongan as extravagant and unloving.

He reminded Speaker Lord Fakafanua about discussions in Parliament about requests from different factions of the public who asked for help with their financial difficulties.

He said the government was trying to allocate money from a tight budget prudently, yet at the same time the House had decided to spend a large amount of money on MPs’ travel.

Siaosi told the Speaker it would have been more appropriate if he and one member each from the nobility and the people’s MPs attended the match to represent the House.

Siaosi suggested the Speaker reconsider the decision.

He said the decision was not proper in a country which was regarded as religious and educated.

Meanwhile, Parliament has also agreed with the government to share the TP$20,000 cost of live streaming the match on Tonga Broadcasting Commission and Television.

The king, Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva and Deputy Prime Minister Semisi Sika will attend the match.

Fans prepare

Meanwhile in Auckland, Tongan flags and Mate Ma’a logos have begun appearing all over the city on vehicles, houses and other buildings as fans prepare for Saturday’s game.

A Mate Ma’a Tonga Fan Day will be held at the Mt Smart Stadium from 3.30-5.30pm this Wednesday.

Fans will be able to watch the MMT team train. There will be live entertainment, interviews with the coach and players, and an opportunity for the team to meet fans.

“Kainga this is free and open to all ages,” Tagata Pasifika’s Tongan correspondent John Pulu has announced on Facebook.

The main points

  • The Prime Minister’s son, Siaosi Pohiva, has criticised Parliament’s decision to use taxpayers’ money to pay for 14 non-cabinet MPs and  staff to fly to New Zealand for the Mate Ma’a Tonga test match against the Kangaroos this Saturday.
  • He said it would have been more appropriate if the Speaker of the House and one member each from the nobility and the people’s MPs attended the match to represent the House.

For more information

VIDEO: 5000 fans greet Tongan team, but five times as many will see them at Mt Smart stadium

 

Police find car linked to Sosiua Ula homicide investigation

By
Kalino Latu
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Police have found the silver Mazda RX8 they were looking for in relation to the homicide investigation into Sosiua Helotu Ula’s death in Porirua.

They believed Mr Ula was a passenger in the car before getting into a black Mercedes which police are still looking for.

Mr Ula, 19, died after falling from the Mercedes.

The driver of the Mazda is someone the Police want to speak to urgently. They have released a CCTV photo of the man police believe was driving the Mazda in Porirua in the days after the incident.

Ula was found with critical injuries after falling out of a Mercedes on Warspite Rd on Sunday, October 7.

The Tongan man was found just after 4pm that day and taken to Wellington Hospital, but died on Tuesday night.

The driver of the Mazda is someone the Police wish to speak to urgently.

Police need to identify the person in the attached CCTV who police believe was driving the Mazda in Porirua in the days after the incident.

Anyone who has any information about this vehicle, its driver, the identity of the person in the CCTV, or any of the circumstances surrounding Mr Ula’s death, is urged to get in touch with Police.

If you can help, please call Wellington Police Crime Squad on (04) 381 2000.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Convicted rapist appears in court for alleged sodomy in Hu‘atolitoli

By
Kalino Latu
-

A convicted rapist has appeared in a Nuku’alofa court for allegedly sexually abusing another male prisoner in Hu’atolitoli prison.

Saimone Vaka was charged with forcible sodomy and assault.

Vaka allegedly covered the victim’s mouth before sodomizing him, Taimi ‘O Tonga newspaper has reported.

The incident occurred in February or March and the charges were made after the victim complaint to a prison officer.

The victim was in custody after Police charged him with burglary, the paper said.

It is not Vaka’s first time facing sexual assault charges.

As Kaniva news reported last year Vaka was found guilty of raping a woman in ʻAnanā

He is currently serving his own jail term for that rape.

In that case, the court was told Mr. Vaka persuaded the victim to drive with him to a bush area in ‘Ananā where he had non-consensual sexual intercourse with her in the front passenger seat of his car.

When they arrived at the scene, Mr. Vaka parked the car near a lagoon and began assaulting the victim.

After surgery, Junior Fa looking for knockout victory in the ring before end of the year

By
Philip Cass
-

Junior Fa is looking for a warm-up match by the end of the year after surgery.

Fa, is currently ranked 12th in the World Boxing Organisation World heavyweight rankings, had surgery after gastric surgery and biopsies for cancer.

While Fa had maintained his winning streak, he found himself exhausted after his fights.

He scored unanimous points wins over Luis Pascual and Craig Lewis, but his fights were sluggish.

His mid-year victory over Mexican champion Luis Pascual in Auckland was described as “uninspiring.”

“He should have bowled over the limited Pascual but never looked capable of it,” one report said.

His performance against Pascual was a complete contrast to his earlier fight against Fred Latham when he knocked out his opponent in the first round.

Unknown to anybody – including his manager – Fa, who represented Tonga at the Oceania Championships, had been suffering from fatigue.

Tests showed he was suffering from low iron and haemoglobin levels in his blood, which meant he was not getting enough oxygen.

However, he was cleared him of cancer.

After going public with his health scare and comments about his recent performance in the ring, Fa said he would need another knockout win at his next match.

The main points

  • Junior Fa is looking for a warm-up match by the end of the year after surgery.
  • Fa, is currently ranked 12th in the World Boxing Organisation World heavyweight rankings, had surgery after gastric surgery and biopsies for cancer.

For more information

Heavyweight contender Junior Fa reveals health scare almost ended career

Tongan convicted of indecent assault will be deported despite ‘anguish’ it will cause family

By
Philip Cass
-

The Immigration and Protection Tribunal has rejected an appeal against deportation by a Tongan man.

However, it has ordered that his deportation be delayed by several months so that he can put his affairs in order. It also ordered the removal of a ban on him re-entering New Zealand.

The man’s liability for deportation arose from his conviction in February 2017, on two charges of indecent assault of his adopted daughter.

The 50-year-old Tongan citizen, who became a New Zealand resident in 2012, said the victim and her family had forgiven him after a traditional Tongan process of forgiveness.

The primary issue of the appeal was whether the man, identified only as ‘BO’ had exceptional humanitarian circumstances arising from his, and his family’s, attachment to New Zealand, the educational needs of his young son and the challenges of providing for his family in Tonga.

The Tribunal heard that the man was relied upon by the extended family for money and accommodation.

He has been an important figure in the life of his niece and her family, providing financial support and guidance through difficult times and her children view him as a de facto grandfather.

He was a regular provider of financial support to his and his wife’s immediate family members in Tonga.

The man and his wife were granted residence and came to New Zealand in 2012. The man had two children by other women in Tonga.

He works in the construction industry and supports family members in Tonga and his extended family in New Zealand.

His wife testified that she had not decided whether to accompany him to Tonga and may remain in New Zealand with their son.

‘BO’ said he would like to take his son to Tonga, but was not unsure whether his wife would agree.

The Tribunal accepted that his deportation would cause sadness and anguish among members of his wider family.

However, it found that immediate family members would have an opportunity to adjust to the changed circumstances.

After considering all the evidence, the Tribunal decided there were no exceptional circumstances of a humanitarian nature that would cause it overturn the deportation order.

New Zealand Immigration Tribunal grants appeal for Tongan family to remain

By
Philip Cass
-

The Immigration and Protection Tribunal has granted an appeal to a Tongan family to stay in New Zealand.

The family, which has only been identified as ‘BN’, consists of  a 34-year-old husband and a 31-year-old wife, who are citizens of Tonga.

The appeals included their three children, two sons, aged five and three years, and a daughter, aged 18 months.

The husband and wife were born in Tonga. The wife arrived in New Zealand in November 2006 when she was 19. Her visa expired the following month and she had been unlawfully in New Zealand since then.

The husband arrived in New Zealand in October 2008 on a visitor visa, which was renewed until April 2009. He had been unlawfully in New Zealand since then. The couple married in 2010 and have three children together.

The husband has been working illegally in New Zealand, most recently operating his own construction company which he incorporated in 2017.

He has been supporting his immediate family in New Zealand and family members who live in Tonga through the income he receives from this business.

The wife no longer has any immediate family members living in Tonga. She has extended family relatives living in New Zealand as permanent residents.

The husband has one sister living in New Zealand as a permanent resident with her family.

The Tribunal found that there were exceptional humanitarian circumstances, particularly their children’s best interests, that would make it unjust or unduly harsh for them to be deported from New Zealand.

The Tribunal also found that it would not be contrary to the public interest to allow the family to remain in New Zealand.

Allowing them to stay would promote family unity and enable the husband to lawfully contribute to the economy through the construction industry, in addition to the ability of the family to contribute to the community through their involvement in church and schools.

The main points

  • The Immigration and Protection Tribunal has granted an appeal to a Tongan family to stay in New Zealand.
  • The family consists of a 34-year-old husband and a 31-year-old wife, who are citizens of Tonga and their three children.

Men accused of raping 53-yo woman in east Tongatapu appear in court

By
Kalino Latu
-

The men charged with raping of a 53 year-old woman in Holonga in July have been warned of their trespass order and told to stay away from the victim .

Heneli Valeli and Timote Kaufusi appeared in the Mu’a Magistrate court on October 8.

They have been charged with indecent assault and burglary, Taimi ‘O Tonga newspaper has reported.

The court was told the duo had been drinking before they went looking for more alcohol, the paper said.

They allegedly broke into a retail shop before they escaped with goods.

They broke into the shop’s next door neighbour and allegedly raping the victim.

The victim was home alone when the incident occurred.

The accused are expected to reappear at the Supreme Court, the paper said.

Security guard pleads not guilty in relation to the death of Sione Feo

By
Kalino Latu
-

A security guard has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in relation to the death of Sione Lau’i Feo.

‘Atonio Moeaki appeared in Nuku’alofa Supreme Court on September 27, where his counsel entered not guilty pleas on behalf of his client for three charges: murder, manslaughter and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, Taimi ‘O Tonga newspaper has reported.

Moeaki has elected a trial by jury and will reappear in court next year, the paper said.

Feo died in Vaiola Hospital on February 16, seven days after he was found unconscious outside Nauti Ruby nightclub by police on February 9.

As Kaniva news reported at the time, Feo, who was believed to be in his 20s,  was a dentist at Vaiola dental care services after returning from the University of the South Pacific in December 2017.

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