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UK supplier blamed after Ikale Tahi gear turns up late; CEO hits back in wake of pay saga

By
Kalino Latu
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The ‘Ikale Tahi team players arrived in Fiji for the Pacific Nations Cup to find out they had no shorts to wear during last month’s tournament.

The match shorts did not arrive until the ‘Ikale Tahi’s last game, in which they beat Fiji two weeks ago.

This was despite the fact they were ordered well in advance and were expected to arrive in late May.

Tonga Rugby Union has signed an agreement with UK Mizuno to sponsor the shorts and team kit.

‘Ikale Tahi manager ‘Inoke Afeaki told Kaniva News, the team’s kit arrived in New Zealand late and in several separate deliveries.

He said even the New Zealand Mizuno agent was not sure about the whereabouts of large amounts of missing team kit, not just the match shorts.

“UK Mizuno were very difficult to work with,” Afeaki, a former ‘Ikale Tahi test captain said.

“The service from UK Mizuno sponsor caused us real issue and fortunately we solved the issue with very limited funds.”

UK Mizuno could not be reached for comment.

Afeaki said they approached a sports clothing manufacturer in Suva which provided the team with shorts for the games against Georgia and Samoa.

“We had one piece of luck where we intercepted delivery of match shorts at Nadi airport customs as our team bus travelled from Suva to Lautoka to play our final game against Fiji,” he said.

“We had followed the track and trace numbers very closely throughout its slow journey once the match shorts were found and sent to Fiji.

“Having a clothing sponsor in the Northern Hemisphere is not ideal.

“This is another reoccurring problem to improve the process in future.

“Unfortunately when people ignore their responsibilities, it creates a lot of extra work for others.

Afeaki said he knew Japan Mizuno were very upset with this disaster.

“This is not a TRU error but one from our UK Mizuno Sponsors.

“It would be good to know the agreement that TRU and UK Mizuno have as we received very little as a National Rugby Team, especially one that is in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.”

CEO Fe’ao Vunipola said he would talk to the Mizuno.

“With regards to the shorts, I’ll be meeting Mizuno UK to find out about this issue and review our agreement bearing in mind the 2019 RWC,” Vunipola said.

Players’ pay

Meanwhile, Vunipola has hit back after Bath flyer Cooper Vuna tweeted after the Fiji match that players were still waiting for Vunipola to pay the team and congratulate them on their achievements.

Vunipola said the players were told, together with the board of directors, that the TRU would do its best to seek sponsors or government assistance for a “win bonus.”

He said it was unfortunate the government’s commitment was limited to providing player allowances. He said the TRU was not in a position to assist.

The players were finally paid last month.

Vunipola said: “Lano Fonua, Inoke Afeaki and Toni Alatini were well aware of the circumstances affecting player allowances and the likelihood that it would be directly deposited to players’ accounts a few days late.

“And yet, they did not inform Cooper Vuna and the players. To date, they have received all their allowances.

“The motive was clear and obvious for all to see. Inoke Afeaki was highly critical of the TRU after Cyclone Gita, regarding Teufaiva and possible matches and games allegedly lost due to uncertainties within the Union.

“TRU agreed to ignore his critiques and be the bigger man and forgave his childish outbursts for the benefit of rugby union in Tonga.

“’Ikale Tahi players should learn a lesson from the Mate Ma’a Tonga players.

“There is hardly any complaint coming from their players regarding money, clothes etc. They gave up playing for New Zealand and Australia and sacrificed thousands to represent Tonga.

“One can only look in admiration of them. Our ‘Ikale Tahi is the last resort for most of our players and yet some came in and acted as if Tonga Rugby Union is on the same level as New Zealand, Australia, England, Wales and the other super powers and rich nations of Rugby Union which have millions in financial resources.

“I would urge our ‘Ikale Tahi players that they ought to be grateful and mindful that there were former players who gave everything to represent Tonga for the love of their country and to prove that there is more to life than money.”

‘Ikale Tahi coach Toutai Kefu told RNZ Vunipola was a hard man to track down and the former test front rower has not visited the team or attended any of the ‘Ikale Tahi’s recent matches.

“I haven’t spoken to him for over 18 months. He doesn’t even come to any of the games, there’s no well-wishes,” he said.

For more information

Tonga defeats Fiji 27-19 in Lautoka

People should accept integrity of decision in Miss Heilala contest, says judge

By
Philip Cass
-

If judges of the Miss Heilala Beauty Pageant listened to everybody’s opinion it would take a lifetime to decide the winner, one of the judges said last night.

‘Eleni Levin-Tevi, one of the judges at this year’s event, was responding to criticism of this year’s judging.

“Everyone was supporting a particular girl,” Levin-Tevi said.

“This already makes their judgement biased. If we are to listen and take in everyone else’s view on which of the 15 contestants was to win, do you think we’ll run the Miss Heilala and complete it in one week?

“It’ll take a lifetime because the probability that all 15 groups of supporters would agree to one winner is zero percent.

“That is why we have judges with the credibility to do right by the criteria provided and make the best choice for an ambassador to represent Tonga at the regional level.

“People should be mature enough to take the result as true reflection of the judging criteria.”

This year’s Miss Heilala was Kalolaine Funganitao, Miss Aparaxus Tonga New Zealand, who was crowned in Nuku’alofa on Saturday night.

She said the five judges worked independently and their decisions were passed to the auditors’ desk.

The results were signed off  after the auditors checked that procedures had been completed properly. Only the auditors and the chair knew the result before it was passed to the MC.

Tevi said this year had been a tough competition and the final scores were very close.

“Miss Heilala is not about one person’s own gain of glory and perks, it’s a national responsibility to represent Tonga in many arenas to advocate our issues yet still uphold poise, elegance and beauty,” Levin-Tevi said.

The judging criteria for the Miss Heilala Pagent is aligned to those of the Miss Pacific competition to ensure the contestants were used to the regional procedure and the criteria on which they would be judged.

Tonga is hosting this year’s Miss Pacific competition.

Levin-Tevi said Tonga needed to welcome competitors from neighbouring island countries with a good spirit while supporting the kingdom’s own contestant.

She said Tonga must present itself as a respectful, mature host and not repeat what she described as the poor sportsmanship shown this week.

“We must not expose the people of the Pacific to childish, petty and negative public exchanges,” she said.

For more information

Miss Heilala 2018 has been crowned

Car badly damaged after Tongatapu crash

By
Kalino Latu
-

A car was left badly damaged after being involved in a crash in Ha’ateiho last night at about 10pm.

The cause of the crash and its details were still unknown.

An eyewitness told Kaniva News people who got involved in the crash were taken to hospital but he did not know how many of them.

Sio Kolomalu, a resident of Ha’ateiho who took pictured at the scene alleged one person who was in the car was in critical condition.

He said he arrived at the scene after the injured were already taken to hospital.

Speech during ‘Ha’apai Masani’ reveals Taufa‘āhau’s statement to stop war in Tonga 

By
Kalino Latu
-

A speech by the Ha’apai governor on Wednesday revealed a statement made by the late King Taufa’āhau Tupou I pledging to stop war in Tonga in 1875 after the new constitution was promulgated.

King Taufa’āhau, who was known as the creator of modern Tonga, told the Ha’apaians at Fanga ‘i he Si to tell Vava’u Lahi and Tonga’eiki that there was no more war in Tonga.

The king said if anyone in Tonga still wanted war then they had to get on a boat and leave for Fiji or find somewhere else to live.

The only two things Tongans would do were praying and educating, the king said.

Ha’apai Governor Dr Rev Mohenoa Puloka was speaking during the Ha’apai Educational Day which concluded the Ha’apai Masani festival week.

Dr Puloka told King Tupou VI, who was the guest of honour, that since that day the Ha’apaians had continued to pray and study.

He said the first school in Tonga, which was established in Ha’apai by the Free Wesleyan Church before Tupou College, was Pētani.  The school was still operating today.

He said King Taufa’āhau was educated in that school along with Pita Vi, Tongamohenoa and others.

The Ha’apai Educational Day was held at Lea’aetohi historical sport field.

Governor Puloka claimed Lea’aetohi (which translates as the writing of spoken language) was the place where the first hand writing in the Pacific was written.

He said the first hand writers included King Taufa’āhau, Tongamohenoa and Pita Vī.

“Today that’s the only things we do –praying and educating,” Governor Puloka said.

Ha’apai Masani festival

Ha’apai Masani or Beautiful Ha’apai was an event organized for the Ha’apaians to come together to celebrate King Tupou VI’s 59 birthday.

It ran from June 17 until July 4, the king’s birthday.

The festival consisted of numerous activities including community singing competition, the  Miss Ha’apai Beauty Pageant 2018 and Zumba exercises.

Apart from the Ha’apai Masani, the Ha’apaians also participated in two big events organised by the Free Wesleyan Church (FWC) and the government of Tonga.

These two events were the FWC annual church conference which drew hundreds from overseas and the annual Royal Agricultural, Fisheries and Tonga-Made show organised by the government.

Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u were joined by the King and Queen Maori.

They visited the Ha’apai outer islands of Felemea and ‘Uiha as part of the king’s birthday celebrations.

Tens of thousands worth of Tongan goods, crops and fish were displayed and given away during the festival.

For more information

Ha’apai Masani Festival 2018

Three arrested in separate incidents; meth and cannabis seized in Tongatapu

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga Police have arrested three people for various drug offenses.

The arrests were the result of two separate search warrants.

The first incident occurred after a 48-year-old man from Kolonga was arrested with two small packets of methamphetamine on Monday, July 2 in Nuku’alofa.

He has been charged with possession of the illicit drug after an incident at the E.M. Jones petrol station.

The accused could not be able to pay for his petrol so the petrol station staff called Police.

When Police officers arrived they searched the man’s car and found the methamphetamine.

The accused is expected to appear at the Magistrate’s Court on July 9.

The following day, in a separate incident, Police executed a search warrant at a home in Tofoa in which they seized 102 packets ready for sale.

They also seized around $300 pa’anga cash.

Two accused aged 22 and 20 years were arrested and taken into custody.

Police investigation continues.

Miss Heilala 2018 has been crowned

By
Kalino Latu
-

Kalolaine Funganitao, Miss Appraxus Tonga New Zealand, 23, was crowned Miss Heilala 2018 by former winner Miss Heilala 2017 Ophelia Kava in front of a packed audience in Nuku’alofa on Saturday night.

Her triumph as Tonga’s pageant winner has secured her a place to run for the ultimate beauty crown of Miss Pacific Islands pageant in Nuku’alofa in December.

The first runner up was Miss Villa Ishadora, Mele Lupe Vete.

Miss S&S USA Store ‘Ailini Vakalahi became the second runner up.

Miss Kalolaine won four of the five judging categories including island creation, pre-interview, talent, and sarong wear.

She won a $5,000 cash prize, a return ticket for two to San Francisco and other prizes.

Former winner Miss Heilala 2017 Ophelia Kava and Miss Kalolaine were both sponsored by Sālote Heletā Lilo and Appraxus Tonga New Zealand.

Samoan mother who stole a fine mat and sold it to a Tongan sentenced

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Samoa Times / PACNEWS

A 32-year-old Samoan woman who stole a fine mat (afuelo) from another woman and then sold it to a Tongan individual has been sent to jail in Samoa.

Sauleli’a Amituana’i, also known as Li’a Amituana’i used the $300 she received from the deal to buy food for her children.

She later on tried to bribe a public servant with $200 in an effort to falsely change the ownership of a vehicle for her own benefit.

Chief Justice Michael Kruse sentenced Amituana’i to serve a period of detention of 20 months, as a condition of her 5 -year probation.

The government charged Amituana’i in two separate criminal cases. In the first case, Amituana’i was charged with stealing and embezzlement, both class C felonies. In the second case, she was charged with attempted stealing, attempted fraud, and bribery of a public servant — all class D felonies.

Under a plea agreement with the government, Amituana’i pled guilty to an amended charge in the first case — stealing, a class and count 3 in the second case, bribery of a public servant.

With her guilty plea, Amituana’i, 32, admits that on July 17, 2017, she stole a special fine mat (afuelo) from another woman and then sold it to another for $300. She told police that she needed the money to buy food for her young children.

For the charge of bribery of a public servant, Amituana’i admits that on July 11, 2017, she offered $200 to an employee of the Office of the Motor Vehicles (OMV) in Tafuna in an effort to change the ownership of a vehicle for her own benefit.

Amituana’i, who remains in custody at the TCF, unable to post a $10,000 bond, appeared in court last week for sentencing.

She was represented by Acting Public Defender Michael White, while Woodrow Pengelly of the Attorney General’s Office prosecuted the case.

When given the chance to address the court, Amituana’i apologized to the court for her actions, and asked for a second chance to be with her children who are living with her mother in Australia.

“I promise I’ve learned a lot since I was detained in prison. I feel remorseful for what I did and I want to go back home to be with my children. At this time, both my husband and I are detained in prison, and it’s been 10 months since I have been locked up and separated from my young and beautiful children, who are living with my mother in Australia,” Amituana’i said with tears in her eyes.

Kaniva Tonga news has an arrangement republication with PACNEWS

Tu‘ivakanō court case adjourned for fourth time

By
Kalino Latu
-

Lord Tu’ivakanō and his legal defence team have been granted another adjournment.

This is a court case that was meant to be heard on June 25 and has already been delayed thrice.

The king’s noble and former Prime Minister’s trial was rescheduled to July 30.

The adjournment was requested to allow the Defence more time to prepare for the trial.

The former Speaker has been charged with numerous crimes, including making a false statement for the purpose of obtaining a passport, perjury, acceptance of bribery and money laundering after he was arrested on March 1.

The Tongatapu’s No. 1 Noble’s Representative to Parliament first appeared at the Magistrate court on March 2 where his case was postponed until March 26.

It was again postponed until May 30.

Tongan man died after being tasered by police in Auckland named

By
Kalino Latu
-

Police are now able to name the man who died in custody three days after being tasered multiple times by police.

He was Alo Ngata, a 29-year-old man from Tonga and his death came after he was arrested on Sunday for violently assaulting an elderly man in Freemans Bay, Auckland, New Zealand.

The investigation into his death and the circumstances surrounding the assault of the 76-year-old man are continuing after two police officers were forced to discharge their tasers during the incident.

“Our officers face challenging situations every day and must make extremely quick decisions while considering the safety of themselves and members of the public.

“These incidents are always extremely testing for Police.

They are fast-moving, unpredictable and high pressure situations that require quick judgements.  No officer comes to work wanting to get into these situations,” said Superintendent Karyn Malthus.

“I have no doubt that if our officers had not intervened with the necessary tactical options they would have incurred serious injury themselves,” she said.

“Any death is a tragedy and we are working with, and supporting Mr Ngata’s family, including his parents and wider family who are grieving their loss,” she continued.

The elderly victim is still recovering in hospital and is reported to be doing well.

Police said on Wednesday, Ngata had smashed a car window of a nearby parked car and was observed kicking the victim in the head several times as he lay unconscious.

The police Eagle helicopter had observations of the incident and two police officers arrived at the scene.  The officers were unable to reach the unconscious victim as Ngata was blocking them from attending to him.

The officers instructed him to move out of the way which he refused to do and moved aggressively towards them.

Their repeated commands were ignored and the offender lunged towards them before he was tasered multiple times.  During the arrest process the offender violently struggled which required two more back-up officers to assist to apply necessary restraints and a spit hood.

Once Ngata was restrained, police staff attended to the elderly victim until paramedics arrived and he was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious condition but is recovering from the violent assault.

Ngata was transported to the Auckland Police Custody Unit in an agitated state and continued resisting police efforts to remove restraints.

His condition began to deteriorate while in custody and police were required to perform CPR until an ambulance arrived.  He was taken to hospital where he passed away on Wednesday morning.

Based on the information we have at this time, we do not believe the elderly victim and alleged offender were known to each other, Superintendent Malthus said.

Police are engaged with the deceased’s family and are supporting them as we work to establish the circumstances surrounding what happened that day.

There are several investigations underway to establish the circumstances of the assault and Ngata’s death which includes a Police investigation which will be referred to the Coroner and an Independent Police Conduct Authority investigation.

Worksafe NZ has also been notified.

PICB loses Supreme Court appeal, ordered to stop calling itself a bank

By
Philip Cass
-

The Supreme Court has 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.

The National Reserve Bank revoked Pacific International’s license in July 2016 under the Financial Institutions Act 2004.

The PICB argued that the Reserve Bank failed to give 10 working days’ notice to PICB to submit reasons why the licence should not be revoked.

The Reserve Bank argued that the licence was revoked under Section 37 of the Act and that it was not required to give any notice to PICB of its intention to do so.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen, who presided over the case, said because of the public interest in the case he wanted to provide a full summary of the facts.

“I consider it will provide assurance to the public that banking operations are conducted in the Kingdom on a sound financial basis and subject to the proper supervision of the NRBT,” he said.

PICB was issued with its banking licence on the basis that it 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.

Mr Justice Paulsen said it was an offence to provide false or misleading information in connection with such an application. A license could be revoked if the information supplied was false or misleading.

The PICB’s business plan said it would not rely on local depositors to fund its banking activities; would be funded from its shareholders and foreign investors and would receive very substantial deposits in the first three years of operation.

The bank made healthy financial forecasts including substantial profits in the first three years of operation.

The judge said the business plan played a significant part in the NRBT’s consideration and ultimate approval of PICB’s application for its licence.

He noted that PICB did not commence its operations as a bank until late May 2014. The date set for compliance with pre-operation conditions was  January 1, 2014 but they were not met.

“Following the granting of the licence and through to its revocation on July 26, 2016, the NRBT became increasingly concerned about PICB’s failure to comply with the requirements imposed upon PICB under the Act and in the NRBT’s prudential statements and requirements for the proper management of operation of licensed financial institutions,” the judge said.

The Reserve Bank  became increasingly concerned with the PIBC as its debts grew to TP$4.5 million, it failed to follow directives and its failure to institute any effective management plan.

A draft audit by KPMG heightened the Reserve Bank’s concerns that PICB was conducting unsafe and unsound banking operations that were likely to jeopardise its obligations to its depositors or other creditors or to adversely affect the operation or stability of the financial system.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said Section 36 of the Act recognised  that the Reserve Bank may face circumstances where it had to act swiftly to protect the interests of clients, investors and depositors.

It would therefore defeat the purpose of Section 36 to imply into it a notice requirement.

Pacific International’s license was revoked because it failed to honour its business plan; failed to have its accounts audited; failed to provide accurate and reliable reports to the NRBT and continued to incur losses.

“There is absolutely no prospect that PICB would have been able to comply with its obligations and thereby avoided revocation of its licence had it been given 10 days’ notice,” the judge said.

He ordered PICB to change its name to remove the word Bank.

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