Home Blog Page 6

NZ, Australian police announce Colombian base to combat Pacific drug surge

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Kaya Selby, RNZ Pacific journalist, and is republished with permission

Australian and New Zealand police will fund a strike force in Colombia to fight the Pacific drug trade.

Aotearoa’s acting deputy commissioner Mike Johnson said an International Joint Investigations Team is being set up with the aim of gathering evidence on illicit shipments before they enter Pacific waters.

New Zealand will base one liaison officer in Bogota, “allowing us to more effectively identify and respond to specific threats that impact New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific,” he said.

“The role would enhance international law enforcement ties and disrupt money laundering and drug trafficking.”

In a statement, Australian Federal Police (AFP) commissioner Krissy Barrett said they will take “new action” with the help of the New Zealand, United States, Mexican, Colombian, and Pacific authorities, as well as Interpol.

“Coming together with trusted partners is how we will target and frustrate the cartels and other organised criminals,” Barrett said.

Pacific police chiefs, including New Zealand Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, are this week gathered in Fiji’s capital, Suva. Fiji is considered a distribution hub along the Pacific narco highway.

The summit was announced in December of last year, shortly after a massive tranche of Viber message screenshots was uploaded to social media alleged to depict police officers taking money, and orders, from drug dealers.

Both the volume and scale of drug busts regionwide have risen this year, though law enforcement still struggles to keep pace. Separately in January, in the infamous Vatia drug bust, more than US$500 million worth of cocaine was seized, and six people were charged, including four Ecuadorian nationals.

Meanwhile, the US is going all out in the Eastern Pacific, with drone strike footage showing attacks on boats and submarines.

Barrett was full of praise for her Fijian counterpart, Rusiate Tudravu.

“The effect on such small populations is devastating … this is where the leadership of [Tudravu] has come to the fore.”

“He has implored the AFP and other partners to take action to help protect his country and the wider Pacific because Pacific regionalism is about the collective, and nothing underscores this more than the influence of Pacific Island Chiefs of Police.”

The Pacific narco highway

If Australia is the destination on the Pacific narco highway, Colombia is the gateway.

It is widely understood that the islands are a strategic transit corridor, located between two key producers – Southeast Asia and the Americas – and two major consumers – Australia and New Zealand.

Australia is believed to command the highest street-level price in the world, with New Zealand not far behind.

However, Virginia Comolli, an organised crime expert advising leaders at the summit, told RNZ that Pacific Islands have become a drug market in and of themselves.

“Fiji is the most striking case … but this is also happening elsewhere in Tonga, Solomon Islands, PNG, et cetera,” she said.

“But oftentimes the people who end up in court are locals. Normally they are not the masterminds … so it’s so important to look upstream and [go to] where the drugs originate.”

Over time, drugs in transit have fallen into the hands of Pacific Islanders, partially due to cases of corruption among police and customs officials, and the region is now emerging as a market in and of itself.

Comolli said for the police chiefs at the summit, this is a fact that cannot be ignored.

“Of course, these are not comfortable things to bring up, but we just need to read the news from across the Pacific.”

All the same, she felt as though police ministers were fronting up to the responsibility.

“It’s not an elephant in the room that people are not mentioning: quite the opposite, it’s front and centre of the discussion.”

Two arrested at Auckland airport with $2.2m cocaine haul

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Two foreign nationals have been arrested at Auckland International Airport after Customs officers allegedly uncovered cocaine concealed inside their luggage.

The pair, aged 22 and 23, arrived in Auckland on Tuesday, 19 May, after travelling from Chile.

During routine processing, both travellers were referred for a baggage inspection.

Customs officers identified irregularities in the suitcases during X-ray screening, prompting a more detailed examination.

Further inspection revealed each suitcase had a hidden false bottom within the lining.

The concealed compartments contained vacuum-sealed packages filled with a powder-like substance.

Initial testing confirmed the substance to be cocaine.

Authorities estimate the total weight of the drugs at approximately 6.3 kilograms.

The street value of the seized cocaine is estimated at around NZ$2.2 million.

The two individuals were detained and are expected to face charges in court.

Customs Auckland Airport Manager Paul Williams praised the officers involved in the operation.

“This interception highlights the skill, experience, and vigilance of our Customs officers,” Williams said.

He added that officers work daily to prevent illicit drugs from entering the country.

Customs said the seizure was part of ongoing efforts to protect communities from drug-related harm.

Investigations into the case are ongoing.

Officials are also working to determine whether the travellers were part of a wider smuggling network.

The interception adds to a growing number of drug seizures at New Zealand’s borders.

Customs has warned that international trafficking attempts remain persistent.

Authorities continue to urge vigilance as they step up border enforcement efforts.

Tonga budget allocates $3.2m to failing Lulutai Airline despite crisis warning

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s 2026–2027 national budget has allocated $3.2 million to Lulutai Airlines, despite the previous government acknowledging the national carrier’s financial struggles and warning it was on the verge of collapse.

The budget allocation appears to be the first time the government has provided a clear indication that it remains committed to the struggling airline, despite earlier efforts to offload or privatise the business.

Last year, the airline was put up for tender by the former government in an attempt to attract private bidders and reduce the financial burden on taxpayers.

At the time, former Minister of Public Enterprises Piveni Piukala had warned that the airline was facing a critical financial crisis and required urgent government support to continue operating.

He claimed Lulutai Airlines was carrying debts of around $40 million.

Piukala revealed that Lulutai needed approximately TOP$7 million (NZ$5.2 million) to sustain its operations.

He cautioned that without immediate financial intervention, the airline risked collapse.

He said the bailout was intended to keep the airline operational while awaiting a successful bidder to take over.

However, Kaniva News understands that potential bidders later withdrew after determining that the costs and outstanding debts were too substantial to make the business viable.

Questions Over Continued Funding

The government’s latest financial assistance to Lulutai Airlines was revealed as Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua presented the 2026–27 budget, estimated at $929.5 million paʻanga with a projected deficit of $38.1 million.

It signals a continued reliance on public funding to sustain the airline, raising further questions about why the government continues to pour millions into what appears to be a failed project.

Lulutai Airlines’ establishment was controversial from the outset, with many critics believing it was politically motivated by the government of the time.

The move was justified by citing the financial impact of COVID-19 on Real Tonga Airline, which was used as a basis for returning the national carrier to full government ownership.

The King had earlier cautioned the government against operating businesses while neglecting its fundamental duties, including the timely presentation of annual ministerial reports to Parliament.

Tongan father of four earns MBA while pursuing mission to improve Pacific lives

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Auckland-raised graduate James Heimuli has celebrated a major academic milestone, earning his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Otago.

Graduate James Heimuli, pictured with his mother Temaleti Heimuli ahead of the Pacific Breakfast yesterday, has completed a Master of Business Administration.

With strong Tongan roots, Heimuli moved to Dunedin three years ago with his partner and their four children, seeking a quieter lifestyle in Brighton.

Despite the change of pace, life remained busy as he balanced full-time work, family responsibilities, and postgraduate study.

Already holding a Master of Public Health (Hons), Heimuli said the MBA was driven by a desire to better understand how strategic thinking can address complex health and social challenges.

He credited his success to careful planning and strong support from family, colleagues, and classmates.

“A big part of getting through it was having the right support network,” he said.

Heimuli also shared a friendly academic rivalry with his sibling, who recently completed a business master’s degree.

During his studies, he became involved with Startup Dunedin, contributing to projects exploring the experiences of families navigating disability support services.

This work involved engaging directly with families and practitioners to identify practical ways to improve systems.

Heimuli said the programme encouraged critical thinking while maintaining a strong focus on real-world impact.

For him, the journey has been about breaking down complex challenges and creating meaningful change for Pacific communities.

He hopes his achievement will inspire other Pacific and mature students to pursue higher education.

Heimuli plans to continue building on his work, focusing on community-based solutions and innovation in Ōtepoti.

He also acknowledged the support of The Cause Collective and his wider community.

“Thanks, village,” he said, reflecting on the collective effort behind his success.

Globe‑trotting controversy resurfaces: Speaker concerned as Lands Minister misses oath for second time

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Speaker of Tonga’s Legislative Assembly, Lord Vaea, has raised concerns over the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Taniela Fusimālohi, travelling overseas while yet to take his oath as a Minister of the Crown and Member of Parliament — the second time the Minister has missed the opportunity to be sworn in due to official travel.

Lord Vaea. Photo/Kalino Lātū/Kaniva Tonga News

Two Members of Parliament who had not yet taken their oaths—Nobles’ Representative for Tongatapu 3 Lord Tuʻivakanō and People’s MP for Tongatapu 7 Piveni Piukala—were sworn in on Monday.

The Speaker’s remarks revive debate over the Ministry for Land’s overseas travel practices, which have previously attracted public criticism.

A 2024 government-led global consultation tour by the Ministry was widely criticised as costly, with some questioning whether such trips deliver meaningful results or place unnecessary strain on public resources.

Lord Vaea said he would consider strengthening the law to prevent MPs from failing to take their oath as required.

The Speaker’s concerns emerged on the opening day of Parliament’s new session, during which Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua was scheduled to present the government’s 2026–27 budget, estimated at $929.5 million paʻanga and projecting a deficit of $38.1 million.

While it appears Minister Fusimālohi had been formally excused to travel, the Speaker indicated that the situation raised questions about judgement and prioritisation.

He noted that the Minister and the Prime Minister should have been aware of the importance of taking his oath at the earliest possible opportunity, particularly with Parliament now in session.

Under Tonga’s Constitution, Members of Parliament and Ministers must take the prescribed oath before carrying out their official functions in the House.

Although administrative allowances can be made for travel, the expectation remains that newly appointed ministers complete this requirement promptly to ensure full compliance with constitutional processes.

Renewed scrutiny of ministry travel

Minister Fusimālohi is currently conducting meetings with Tongans in Australia to discuss and address land matters and related needs in Tonga.

In January 2024, the former Minister of Lands Lord Tu’i’āfitu came under fire after leading a government delegation on a global tour to consult Tongans living abroad through the Toe Talatalanoa Overseas Programme.

The initiative, which included visits to Australia, the United States and New Zealand, was criticised by some as an unnecessary expense at a time when domestic service delivery concerns remained unresolved.

Critics alleged the programme reflected a pattern of “globe‑trotting” by government officials, with questions raised about the use of travel allowances and the tangible outcomes of such trips.

The Ministry had previously conducted a similar exercise in the 2010s, yet concerns persisted that recommendations from those engagements had not been meaningfully implemented.

Public dissatisfaction with the Ministry has also been longstanding, particularly in relation to land administration delays and disputes.

Complaints from applicants over processing backlogs and the unavailability of senior officials have contributed to a perception that core services are frequently disrupted — sometimes coinciding with overseas travel.

Mother shot dead in Vava’u to be laid to rest

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Vava’u. Tonga — The family of Taiana Oneone Koluse has announced that her funeral will take place on 20 May 2026, following her death in a fatal shooting earlier this month at her home in Utulangivaka, Vava’u.

According to a notice shared by the family on social media, the body of the 43-year-old will be taken from the hospital to Pouono at 8am Thursday, where she will be laid to rest.

Koluse was reportedly shot at the family residence, with police confirming that her 43-year-old husband has since been arrested and remains in custody as investigations continue.

Authorities have also indicated that one of the couple’s daughters was injured during the incident.

The condition of the daughter has not been publicly disclosed.

As Kaniva News reported earlier, tributes flooded social media immediately after the news emerged, with many expressing condolences to both the children and their father.

We also understand that tensions have emerged between the two families, with relatives of the deceased vowing to seek justice, while others have called for restraint, comfort, and the preservation of peace between both parties.

The case has drawn widespread attention and concern, highlighting issues of domestic violence and family safety within the community.

As the family prepares to farewell Oneone, tributes and condolences have continued to be expressed both locally in Vava’u and across Tonga.

Eleven Fijian police officers investigated for ties to Auckland drug trade links

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Kaya Selby, RNZ Pacific journalist, and is republished with permission

A multinational police investigation implicating 11 Fijian police officers in collusion with drug traffickers has been handed over to prosecutors.

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

The Fiji Police Force announced that the investigation, lasting nearly six months, now awaits advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on how to proceed.

On 1 December last year, a social media activist posted more than 100 screenshots of Viber messages between the officers and a member of an Auckland-based organized crime group.

Police personnel depicted in the screenshots ranged from beat cops to Criminal Intelligence Division (CID) officers to the head of the Narcotics Bureau, Fisi Nasario.

The texts purportedly showed Nasario and others demanding a hit be put out on an individual, providing tip-offs about possible locations and movements. They also depicted officers demanding payments, with details of drop zones and pickup arrangements.

Police said that each officers financial histories was investigated.

Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu told local media on 19 December 2025 that Nasario had been placed on leave.

A statement confirmed that Australian and New Zealand authorities “assisted” in the investigation. Tudravu confirmed in a press conference that United States authorities were also involved.

The New Zealand Police they were “in touch” from December onwards.

“Fiji Police is leading the investigation, and New Zealand Police has offered any support that Fiji Police may require,” they said.

On 2 December, Tudravu announced the investigation, with the officers’ phones confiscated shortly after. Police confirmed the investigation concluded last week.

The US Embassy in Wellington, where an FBI office is set up, declined to comment.

Appeal dismissed: Fetuʻu’s life sentence upheld in drug case with Comanchero links

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Nuku’alofa, Tonga — The Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction and life sentence of Tohitongi Fetuʻu, dismissing his appeal in a major methamphetamine importation case involving a network of offenders linked through a local figure associated with the Comanchero gang.

Fetuʻu was convicted in October 2025 of unlawfully importing 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2026.

In its judgment, the Court of Appeal judges Randerson, White and Dalton JJ rejected all grounds of appeal, finding that the evidence against him was compelling and properly accepted at trial.

The case arose from a complex police investigation into a transnational drug operation involving shipments from the United States to Tonga.

The drugs were concealed inside a crate packed with goods and hidden in sacks of rice before arriving in Nuku’alofa in August 2024.

Court evidence showed the shipment was coordinated offshore, with Fetuʻu playing a central role in organising the consignment and directing co-offenders in Tonga.

Electronic communications recovered from mobile phones revealed detailed instructions about the shipment’s packaging, clearance, and collection.

A key figure named in the judgment is ‘Eneasi Tangi Taumoefolau, also known as “Narge,” who received part of the drugs after they were extracted from the shipment.

Taumoefolau’s Comanchero Links

While the Court of Appeal decision itself does not explicitly reference gang affiliations, Taumoefolau has been identified in related proceedings and reporting as a member of the Comanchero motorcycle gang and had previously attempted to establish a chapter of the group in Tonga, though those efforts were unsuccessful.

The court described the evidence against Fetuʻu as strongly corroborated by multiple sources, including surveillance, witness testimony from police informant Joseph Taufa, and intercepted communications.

Messages showed Fetuʻu actively directing how the crate should be handled and how its contents should be retrieved and distributed.

Fetuʻu denied involvement and claimed he had only arranged for household goods to be shipped to Tonga. However, the court rejected his explanation, finding it inconsistent and unsupported by evidence. Judges described his account as “improbable and uncorroborated,” and noted contradictions in his testimony.

The defence also challenged the credibility of the informant and questioned whether the drugs originated from the shipment. The Court of Appeal dismissed these arguments, ruling that there was ample independent evidence demonstrating that the methamphetamine seized by police had been imported through the crate Fetuʻu helped organise.

In dismissing the appeal, the court confirmed that the trial judge was entitled to rely on the evidence presented and to reject the defence case. The conviction and mandatory life sentence therefore remain in force.

The case underscores the growing concern among authorities about the reach of organised drug networks into Tonga, including the involvement of individuals linked to international gangs, even where such connections are not formally central to court findings.

Tonga and Australia sign $10 million Tala Kei Kapa humanitarian partnership

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Tonga’s Minister for Finance, the Honourable Otunuku, and the Australian High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Tonga, His Excellency Brek Batley, have formally signed the Tala Kei Kapa: Prepare, Respond, Recover humanitarian investment, marking a key step in strengthening disaster resilience across the Kingdom.

The Tala Kei Kapa initiative is designed to strengthen disaster preparedness, response, and recovery systems across Tonga. The program aligns with Tonga’s Disaster Risk Management framework and promotes coordinated action across government agencies and local communities and is backed by an AUD 10 million investment from Australia. Photo/Supplied

The Tala Kei Kapa initiative is designed to strengthen disaster preparedness, response, and recovery systems across Tonga. The program aligns with Tonga’s Disaster Risk Management framework and promotes coordinated action across government agencies and local communities.

Backed by an AUD 10 million investment from Australia, Tala Kei Kapa combines direct support to the Government of Tonga with targeted grant funding for civil society organisations.

This dual approach aims to enhance national coordination and institutional capacity while empowering community-led resilience initiatives throughout the Kingdom.

As part of today’s ceremony, four civil society organisations were awarded grants to implement practical programs that will strengthen preparedness and build community resilience.

The recipients include the Tonga Leiti Association, Tonga Red Cross Society, Tonga National Youth Congress, and Live & Learn.

With humanitarian needs increasing globally, Tala Kei Kapa will play a critical role in supporting community preparedness, planning, training, and response capacity.

Tala Kei Kapa reflects the enduring spirit of kaume’a ‘ofi—a close and trusted partnership between Tonga and Australia—focused on building a safer, stronger, and more resilient Tonga.

‘Uncivil Servants’ at 40: How a Tongan poem still mirrors Tonga’s public service failures

By
Kalino Latu
-

Editorial – Forty years after it was first penned, Uncivil Servants remains uncomfortably relevant in Tonga, capturing with eerie precision the same public service failures—from unanswered phones to dismissive frontline staff—that recurring public complaints suggest continue to frustrate many Tongans today, particularly within parts of the frontline public sector.

Konai Helu Thaman

In the poem, the writer Konai Helu Thaman speaks of “civil servants with uncivil thoughts,” officials who thrive on the vulnerability of ordinary people while hiding behind “smiling false faces.”

For many Tongans in 2026, particularly those interacting with some frontline agencies, this description feels intimately familiar. Complaints about poor service, unresponsiveness, and dismissiveness within parts of the public sector continue to surface regularly.

More recently, a woman took to Facebook to express frustration over what was described as bureaucratic indifference at the Police telephone exchange.

The Ministry of Police subsequently apologised and pledged to improve its services after the woman’s Facebook post, in which she described a frightening home invasion. She alleged that an officer spoke over her as she attempted to report the intruder, and that repeated calls to her local police station went unanswered.

The complaint echoes longstanding concerns that have, over time, implicated several government ministries—particularly those providing frontline services, including Police, Lands, Immigration, and Health.

The persistence of these complaints suggests the issue is not merely individual behaviour but a deeper institutional culture where authority is too often insulated from accountability.

Former Minister of Health ‘Ana ‘Akau‘ola previously issued an emotional apology and appealed to the public, stating that continued complaints and allegations of poor service within the Ministry of Health were affecting staff morale.

At a more serious level, the Ministry of Lands is currently undertaking what appears to be a significant and urgent reform process to address over 7,000 backlogged cases, widespread file misplacement, and persistent allegations of corruption and abuse of land rights. All of these point to systemic shortfalls and negligence that were overlooked by previous leadership within the Ministry.

What makes these incidents striking is that they mirror concerns articulated decades earlier in Thaman’s poetry.

In the Tongan context, poetry occupies a significant cultural role through heliaki — a sophisticated form of figurative expression that conveys deeper truths through symbolism, figures of speech, and literary devices. More than artistic ornament, heliaki has long served as a vehicle for social observation, criticism, and moral reflection.


Uncivil Servants by Konai Helu Thaman

Many of my friends 

Are civil servants 

With uncivil thoughts. 

They smile at my weaknesses 

And thrive on my poverty … 

Their bodies though weakening 

From muscular indifference. 

But they cannot erase my existence 

For my plight chimes with the hour 

And my blood they drink at cocktail parties 

Always full of smiling false faces 

Behind which lie authority and private interests. 

Yet if I tell them what I think 

I may go to hell or even lose my scholarship!

Thaman’s poem “Uncivil Servants” offers a sharp and enduring critique of the failure of public officials to uphold their duty to serve the people. Through irony, Thaman exposes how those entrusted with public service often display “uncivil thoughts,” lacking compassion and empathy for the very communities they are meant to support.

The poem highlights a widening social divide, where those in positions of authority are seen to benefit from the struggles of the ordinary people, “thriving” on their poverty while maintaining a façade of respectability. This imbalance reflects deeper concerns about inequality and the exploitation of vulnerable groups within society.

Thaman further suggests a troubling culture of indifference and moral weakness among officials, describing a state of “muscular indifference” where those with the capacity to act choose inaction. Despite this, the voice in the poem asserts resilience, insisting that such systems of power cannot erase the identity and lived realities of the people.

The poet also draws attention to the hypocrisy of the elite class, portraying social spaces such as cocktail parties as environments filled with “smiling false faces,” where authority is exercised not for public good but to advance private interests.

Perhaps most striking is the poem’s reflection on fear and silence. The speaker acknowledges the risks of speaking out, noting that telling the truth could result in personal consequences such as losing opportunities or support. This captures a broader climate in which individuals may feel constrained from criticising those in authority due to fear of reprisal.

Four decades later, Uncivil Servants endures not simply because it is good poetry, but because too many Tongans still recognise the system it describes. Until public service is measured less by status and more by accountability, Thaman’s warning will remain painfully contemporary.

1...567...968Page 6 of 968