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Death exposes deepest respect between the composer and the Princess

By
Kalino Latu
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The death of Princess Lavinia Mata ‘O Tāone has revealed how a composer of a song maintained her friendship with the princess in the deepest Tongan cultural form of respect.

The late Lavinia ‘Alofaki Fīnau Tupetaiki was “a very best friend” of the Princess.

Tupetaiki composed a love song for the Princess.

The song was called ‘Ēseni e Vaomapa’.

The song expressed the respect and love Tupetaiki had for the Princess she deeply adored and cherished.

It was first sung and recorded in Australia by Tongan prominent singer Nanisē Lomu.

Tupetaiki’s first cousin, Augustine Mo’ungaloa, said he was once sent  by Tupetaiki with an uncle to deliver a letter to the Princess in Nuku’alofa.

Before he went he was closely instructed by Tupetaiki in the way how he should behave when he greeted the Princess.

This included sitting down and greeting the Princess from the ground.

“If the Princess told me to stand up Tupetaiki told me I have to remain sitting,” Mo’ungaloa said.

When Mo’ungaloa reached the Princess’s residence he did exactly what he had been told to do.

But the Princess forced him to stand up. When Mo’ungaloa insisted that he was told to remain sitting, the Princess told him to tell Tupetaiki that she could be in charge in her house, but when it came to the Princess’s house, it was Tāone who was going to make decision.

The Princess successfully asked Moungaloa to stand up and she told two of her servants to prepare a breakfast for him.

They sat with Mo’ungaloa at a round table and while Mo’ungaloa was eating his breakfast the Princess wrote a letter of reply to Tupetaiki.

When the Princess finished writing the letter and Mo’ungaloa finished his breakfast the Princess told the servants to give two cans of breakfast crackers to Mo’ungaloa.

When Mo’ungaloa arrived back home he was asked by Tupetaiki to explain about his meeting with the Princess.

The report went well after explaining how he remained seated while he was greeted by the Princess, but when it came to gift of cans of breakfast crackers, Tupetaiki became furious.

She told young Mo’ungaloa to move closer to her before she repeatedly slapped his face and scolded him.

Tupetaiki told Mo’ungaloa it was culturally disrespected of him to take food from the Princess.

This is the notion of the commoners culturally having the duty to prepare and provide food for the royals and it was a taboo for them to eat any food from the house of the royals.

Tupetaiki told Augustine’s father to go and return the cans of crackers to the Princess’ servants and never let the Princess knew about it.

Mo’ungaloa laughed when he shared his story with Kaniva News, saying he was honoured to be slapped in his face by his aunty’s daughter or ‘eiki maama, a position which is culturally regarded as a woman with the highest social status.

Mo’ungaloa said he remembered the Princess as a woman with a good character.

Her father Lūpeti Fīnau was a very best friend of the Princess’ uncle, Late King Tupou IV and they went to school in Newington College in New South Wales.

As Kaniva News reported, Princess Tāone died in Auckland on Friday, June 24. She was laid to rest in Tokomololo this afternoon.

The song ‘Eseni e Vaomapa:

Tongan man in United States says a stray bullet could have killed his wife

By
Kalino Latu
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A Tongan man in the United States said a stray bullet could have killed his wife after it hit his son’s van on Tuesday.

The bullet went right through the window of the van and hit the driver’s seat.

Sione Vaha’i of San Bruno believed if some one was sitting on the driver’s seat when the bullet struck it could have gone straight through that person’s chest.

Vaha’i said his wife returned from work at about 9pm. She parked the van before she went inside their house.

Two hours later the stray bullet hit the vehicle.

He said Police knew where the bullet came from and they were investigating.

Vaha’i claimed the shooting came after gunfire was exchanged between a neighbour and a shooter.

He claimed the neighbour was trying to hide by his van before the bullet hit.

Vaha’i said the van was not targeted during the incident.

Cause of fire that destroyed house, vehicles under investigation

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga firefighters are investigating the cause of a fire which destroyed a house and vehicles in Kahoua on Sunday 24.

One person had a minor injury when trying to escape from the burning house, Deputy Fire Commissioner Viliami Tu’ihalamaka told Kaniva News.

Tu’ihalamaka estimated 5 percent of a car, 5 percent of a truck and 50 percent of a tractor were also damaged by the blaze.

The fire has caused $120,000 in loss while two big houses were saved with an estimated value of $50,000, he said.

As Kaniva News reported earlier this week, one dwelling house,one bus and an eight-seater new van had been fully destroyed.

The owner of the house, Sela Pale Na’a, told us, the dwelling house which had been destroyed left them with nothing.

The cause of the fire has been deemed “undetermined.”

Tu’ihalamaka said the crews were dispatched to the scene after they received a call reporting the fire at 4.08am.

Tu’ihalamaka said the fire was first reported to Police at 922 before the reporter was told to report it to 999, the number for the Fire and Emergency Services.

He said fire engines and crews had been also dispatched from Longolongo and Lapaha.

He said the person who reported the fire told the 999 dispatcher they were driving passed the scene and seeing the fire has engulfed the property.

Further information:

Tongatapu fire destroys house, bus and a van

Church members await assignments of church ministers

By
Kalino Latu
-

The members of the Free Wesleyan church are waiting for its Conference 95 to announce the assignments and reshuffle of its church ministers.

Former news editor and member of the Kolonga Free Wesleyan Church Faka’osi Maama told Kaniva News the church members are keen to hear about the results.

He said the Kolonga former church minister, late Rev Muli Fā died last year and they were expecting a replacement.

All church ministers were elected and appointed during the church’s conference each year.

The Conference has re-elected Rev Dr ‘Ahio to a 9th term as the president of the church on Thursday, June 28 in Pangai, Ha’apai with 306 votes.

The church general secretary Rev Dr Tēvita Koloa’ia Havea was also re-elected with 294 votes.

King Tupou VI in His capacity as head of the church opened the Conference shortly before the elections.

Prayer vigil held for Princess Mata ‘O Tāone Ma’afu

By
Kaniva Staff
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A vigil was being held since last night for Princess Lavinia Mata ‘O Tāone Ma’afu.

The royal family organised and held the vigil at the royal villa at Matatoa.

About 14 churches across Tongatapu came together to join the event.

One of the organisers said people were keen to come together and share their thoughts, prayers and memories of the Princess.

They sang hymns and holy songs and church leaders made emotional speeches in memory of Her Royal Highness.

The vigil began shortly after the Princess’ body arrived at the Fua’amotu International airport from Auckland yesterday Friday 29.

Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u returned from Ha’apai yesterday morning to welcome the arrival of the cortege.

The king’s first cousin will be laid to rest in Tokomolo at the Langi ko Huelo ‘o Hangai Tokelau.

Tokomololo is one of Lord Ma’afu’s estates.

Princess Tāone, 66, married to Lord Ma’afu and they had two children.

She spent most of her life in Auckland before she died on Friday 22.

Goods seized by bailiffs were taken from wrong people, Supreme Court rules

By
Philip Cass
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The Supreme Court has ruled that bailiffs working for the Tongan Development Bank seized goods belonging to the wrong people.

The case had its origins in 2016 when the bank obtained a judgment against the Young Farmers Federation Ltd, Talosia Seluini and Siosifa Koloti Seluini for TP$86,526.19 along with interest and costs.

Last November the Supreme Court issued a writ of distress commanding the bailiffs to seize any property of the judgment debtors and to sell the same by public auction. The total amount to be levied was TP$87,733.19.

On March 9 this year bailiffs raided a property in Kolomotu’a where the Seluinis live.

They seized furniture, a refrigerator and a gas stove.

On March 20 Crystaline Seluini, Daniel Seluini, Tupou Seluini and Manavahe Seluini gave notice under the Bailiffs Act claiming ownership of the  goods seized.

The claimants are all children of Talosia Seluini and Siosifa Koloti Seluini, but have no responsibility for the judgment debt.

Prior to the hearing the claimants provided documents to support their claim to ownership of the goods.

Crystaline Seluini gave evidence on behalf of the claimants. She identified each item seized as owned by the claimants and explained how and when it was acquired.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said he  found  Miss. Seluini to be  an entirely honest and plausible witness.

“I am satisfied to the require standard that the claimants, and not the judgment debtors, own all of the items seized,” Mr Justice Paulsen said.

“There shall be a  declaration that they  are  the owners of the goods seized on 9 March 2018 pursuant to writ of distress 11 of 2017.

“The bailiffs special seizure of the goods along with the third judgment debtor’s undertaking  are  discharged.”

Tongan man overturns debt collector, Auckland Transport’s fine demand

By
Kalino Latu
-

A young man whom Auckland Transport and Baycorp debt collector repeatedly scared with a payment demand has persuaded them to back off.

Petelō Lātū, 22, was fined $200 dollars and told to pay it within 28 days or face further action.

After disputing the fine, seeking advice from police and checking the law, Lātū has received a letter saying he does not have to pay anything.

The fine came after Lātū received an infringement notice on January 27 this year after he parked his Mitsubishi Galant car on Walters Rd, Kingsland.

The notice claimed Lātū, as the owner of the car, contravened the Land Transport Act 1998 by using a vehicle on a road when there was not affixed to it and displayed in the manner prescribed the registration plates issued to the vehicle.

After checking the Land Transport Act section 242 (1) Lātū believed the Auckland Transport wronged him.

Dispute

He and his sister Malia contacted Auckland Transport and disputed the notice. They argued that there was nothing wrong with the registration plates as they were affixed to the front and behind bumpers when the Auckland Transport staff ticketed  the car.

A woman who answered the phone insisted Lātū breached the law because the front registration plate was placed at the left side of the bumper and not at the centre.

The woman was told there was no section in the registration plate Acts that obliged the owner of the vehicles to put the registration plates in the centre of the front and behind of the vehicle.

The woman disagreed and told Lātū to pay the fine or face the consequences.

On May 7 Lātū received a “final demand” letter for his fine but this time, it came from Baycorp debt collection agency.

“Important Message Regarding Vehicle Registration JAB715. Auckland Transport has engaged Baycorp to collect payment for your overdue infringement fee on its behalf. You have ignored our previous request for payment.

“Payment of the debt is required in full immediately to avoid any further action being taken.

“If you do not pay the full amount within 10 days from the date of this letter. Baycorp will attempt to contact you at this address and any other known address or phone number.

“We strongly advise you to act promptly and settle this matter to avoid the need for further action,” the letter read.

“Do not ignore this notice

“Your payment is overdue and Auckland Transport intends to take further action without notice.”

Further action 

The Baycorp letter also said: “If unpaid, this account will be referred to the Ministry of Justice by Auckland Transport – for legal action up to and including enforcement proceedings. Further enforcement proceedings can include:

“Additional costs being added to the original fine, ordering your employer to deduct payments from your wages and seizing your property and selling it to pay your outstanding fines.

“Clamping your car until you resolve this debt, issuing a community service, imposing restrictions on overseas travel and releasing your fines information to credit reporting agencies.”

Second dispute

At this stage Lātū recalled he had been driving through a number of Police checkpoints with his  front registration plate being affixed on the left hand side, the same position it had when the Auckland Transport staff issued the controversial fine.

Police officers who inspected the car in those checkpoints did not warn him about the position of his registration plates.

Lātū then sought advice from other Police officers and he was told placing the registration plate on the sides of the bumpers did not contravene the Transport registration plate Acts.

Lātū again contacted the Auckland Transport, but he was told the opportunity for him to launch a second dispute against his infringement notice had expired.

After going through the Auckland Transport website Lātū noticed he could still lodge a second dispute.

This time he told the Auckland Transport about the advice he got from Police officers, the number of checkpoints he had gone through and said Police did not fine or warn him regarding the position of the registration plate.

He also wrote that there was no section in the Land Transport Act section 242 (1) which obliged the owner of the vehicle to place the registration plate in the middle of the bumpers.

He also told Auckland Transport he was planning to take legal action if it insisted that he has to pay the fine.

Apology

On May 24 Lātū received a letter from the Auckland Transport saying that the authority had reviewed its decision on his infringement notice and decided to cancel the notice.

“No payment is required,” the letter read.

“Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

High Commissioner Fane Tupouvava’u Kaho meets Queen Elizabeth II

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Hon Titilupe Fanetupouvava’u Kaho has met Queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham palace today.

The Queen held an audience with Her Excellency on her appointment as Tonga High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

On Monday the Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific Foreign and Commonwealth Office and MP for the cities of London and Westminster, Mark Field welcomed Hon Kaho to the court of St. James.

Hon Kaho wore a ta’ovala and black attire during the audience to honour the deaths of her aunt HRH Princess Taone Tuku’aho and uncle Siale ‘Ataongo Puloka.

Hon Kaho’s father, Lord Tuita, was Tonga High Commissioner to the UK from 1989 – 1992.

Tulikaki appeals his jail sentence in New South Wales, Australia

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A Tongan hotel bouncer has launched an appeal after he was given a seven-month jail sentence on Friday.

He was released on bail later in the day and is expected to reappear at the Orange District Court.

Joseph Tulikaki, 21, of Newport Street, appeared in Orange Local Court where he was given the jail sentence, which included a three-month non-parole period, for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, the Central Western Daily reported.

The charges were laid after Tulikaki, who was employed at a Summer Street hotel as a responsible service of alcohol (RSA) marshal, pushed a patron down three stairs resulting in them breaking their wrist.

According to a police report, the victim had been banned from the hotel after a previous altercation, in which Tulikaki was the victim, and one of the victim’s relatives was charged.

However, the victim was not told he was banned and when Tulikaki told him to leave about 1am on October 21, he reacted angrily and protested the ban saying he was being punished for his relative’s offence.

Although the victim slowly walked backwards towards the door he continued to protest the removal and yelled personal abuse at Tulikaki and threatened to fight.

When they got to a set of three stairs, Tulikaki grabbed the victim and pushed him down.

The victim put out his right hand as he fell and broke his wrist, and when he got up was marched out the door.

The victim’s right distal radius was broken and required surgery, he had to have plates and screws installed and was told he’d be unfit for work for six months.

Tulikaki’s solicitor Mason Manwaring said his client was only 20 years old at the time of the offence and his reaction was out of character.

“He says the abuse that was directed at him got to him,” Mr Manwaring said.

Tulikaki had a clean criminal record and positive references including from members of the Rural Fire Service and junior sport he volunteers with.

However, magistrate David Day said because he breached the trust of his position and severely injured the victim, the offence should incur a custodial sentence.

“People speak very highly of him and he has ambitions to end up being a paramedic,” Mr Day said.

He said a need for general deterrence also required a jail sentence.

“In my career on the bench your client is the second and second only RSA marshal that’s come before me [as an offender],” Mr Day said to Mr Manwaring.

Vava’u family say man allegedly commit suicide after embarrassing video went viral

By
Kalino Latu
-

A family member said his cousin allegedly committed suicide after an embarrassing video surreptitiously taken of him in a kava drinking party went viral and led to him being bullied online.

We can now reveal the deceased’s name as Sione Vaikele Fifita.

According to the video which was uploaded to Facebook a week before Fifita died, a man was seen pelting an object at another man.

The thrower was later identified as Fifita.

Fifita was also seen walking to the man and apparently slapping him with his hand.

Some commenters on social media criticised and condemned Fifita’s action.

A friend who used to drink kava with Fifita said he was outgoing and outspoken and that his death came as a huge shock.

Relatives and friends of the deceased described him on social media as a family man.

Another described him as a man with a quality of character and nobility of soul.

It is understood Police have confiscated a gun following Fifita’s death.

Police are not looking for anyone else in connection to the incident.

Neiafu Town Officer Vava Lapota earlier told Kaniva News an inquest was expected to be held to look into the causes and circumstances around Fifita’s death.

For further information

Man dies in suspicious circumstances in Vava’u

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