The Supreme Court has set aside a judgement made against the Governor of Vava’u and the Tongan government.
Lee Latu and ‘Isileli Latu claimed that the governor falsely and negligently represented to them that they would be granted a lease of Hinakauea beach for a tourism business.
As a result they incurred large costs that they sought to recover. In their claim they argued that the government was vicariously liable for the negligence of the first defendant.
On March 14 this year the plaintiffs obtained judgment by default against the defendants with damages to be assessed.
The following month, the governor and the government applied to set the judgment aside.
Documents in support of that application were filed on April 20, setting out the basis of their defence.
In his summary of the case, Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said he was satisfied the defence had set out the grounds for having the judgement set aside.
“The defendants have an arguable defence and deny that any misrepresentation was made to the plaintiffs.” Mr Juistice Paulsen said.
“There is nothing to suggest that the plaintiffs will suffer irreparable harm if the judgment is set aside.”
The Latus were awarded TP$500 costs in regard to the application.
The judge ordered them to file a reply to the defendants’ statement of defence by June 13.
Hamilton’s Fraser High School in New Zealand has allowed vala faka-Tonga as part of its school uniform.
The item was introduced this year in recognition of the school’s Pasifika students – 178 of them – and after much consultation with the school’s Pasifika community, Fairfax media reported.
This means the Fijian sulu, and ie faitaga in Samoa were also part of the offer.
The plan was to keep the item simple and inclusive as there were students who hailed from as far away as Kiribati, Tahiti and Hawaii, among others.
“It helps embrace who we are and our culture. We don’t like being labelled as Pasifika students, like, we’re normal students – but we’re just dressed differently,” senior student Viliami Vea said.
“It’s about being conscious and respectful of different cultures.”
Niua MP Vātau Hui was last week convicted and fined in the Fasi Lower Court after pleading guilty to failing to submit a report of his financial campaign expenses.
Magistrate ‘Elisapeta Langi fined him a total of $300.00.
The court was told an Electoral Commission investigation found MP Hui failed to report his campaign spending and it alerted Police to the offence.
General election candidates can spend up to a maximum of TOP$10,000 on election advertising and this was why they required by law to file a financial report after every election.
MP Hui unseated former MP and Minister of Internal Affairs Fe’ao Vakatā after the 2017 November snap election.
A 17-year-old Auckland man has been arrested in relation to a violent assault that occurred at the Onehunga train station on Saturday 19 May, 2018.
The offender allegedly assaulted the victim who was sitting down waiting for his train and robbed him of his wallet, phone and belt bag.
The victim received serious head injuries as a result of the assault.
Thanks to some good information from the public, Police were able to locate the offender and he was arrested without incident yesterday evening.
Police have also identified two other people who are helping us with our enquiries.
“This arrest is a good example of what can be achieved with assistance from the public. This was a traumatic event for our victim and we would like to thank the community, as the information provided to us in this situation helped hold to account the person responsible for a serious assault.” said Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Armstrong.
Police are continuing to support the victim throughout his recovery. We have also received numerous offers of support for the victim from the local South American community too.
A 17-year-old man has been charged with robbery by assault and aggravated wounding and will appear in the Auckland District Court today.
Former New Zealand and Mate Ma’a Tonga representatives Epalahame Lauaki and Tevita Latu headline the Tonga New Zealand Residents squad named to play Auckland on June 2 at Mount Smart Stadium.
In a decorated 11-year career which saw him play in both the NRL and UK Super League competitions, Lauaki was capped twice by the Kiwis and three times by his birth nation Tonga, while Latu amassed four Test caps between the two nations, with both players appearing at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
Joining the pair in the wider squad for the inaugural Upright Access Mann Cup are a host of players who have come through the Vodafone Warriors’ system, with prop Daniel Palavi, winger Saula Solomona and halfback Eko Malu all bringing vast experience.
Head coach Duane Mann said he had focussed on achieving the right balance with his squad.
“I wanted to make sure we had the right mix of youth and experience,” Mann said.
“Players like Soape Kavaliku, Epalahame Lauaki and Tevita Latu have been around the top scene for a long time and have given a lot back to club league in Auckland, and they join some really talented guys in their early 20s.
“Having those experienced guys around to promote the cultural aspect will also be important. It’s a huge part of this game, and whether it’s a Tongan, Maori or Kiwi team, culture is so important.”
Henderson Cars Tonga New Zealand Residents squad: Ma’afu Briggs (Marist Saints), Nicholas Halalilo (Mangere East Hawks), Richard Holani (Otahuhu Leopards), Soape Kavaliku (Glenora Bears), Tom Kavaliku (Marist Saints), Tevita Latu (Pt Chevalier Pirates), Epalahame Lauaki (Glenora Bears), Francis Leger (Pt Chevalier Pirates), Seiloni Liava’a (Howick Hornets), Sioeli Makaui (Pt Chevalier Pirates), Eko Malu (Northcote Tigers), Paea Manukia (Glenora Bears), Tevita Mikaele (Otahuhu Leopards), Ethan Nukanuka (Otahuhu Leopards), Peter Oliveti (Mt Albert Lions), Koli Oneone (Pt Chevalier Pirates), Daniel Palavi (Pt Chevalier Pirates), Paea Palu (Mt Albert Lions), Cyrus Payne (Marist Saints), Joseph Price (Mt Albert Lions), Troy Pulupaki (Howick Hornets), Trent Schaumkel (Northcote Tigers), Jonah Sofele (Otahuhu Leopards), Saula Solomona (Pt Chevalier Pirates), William Stowers (Papakura Sea Eagles), Dakohta Taimani (Mangere East Hawks), Akuila Tuha (Papakura Sea Eagles), Kruz Tupou (Howick Hornets), Toni Tupouniua (Marist Saints), Sione Tongia (Otahuhu Leopards), Dylan Uate (Otahuhu Leopards), Netane Vi (Mangere East Hawks).
A Tongan woman convicted of fraud in New Zealand has engaged in a war of words after being ridiculed on social media by supporters of Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva.
Neomai Muasika, 55, had previously claimed on social media that the Prime Minister was corrupt and dishonest.
Hon Pōhiva’s supporters began taunting Muasika this week after it was revealed she had been convicted in March at the Dunedin District Court on six charges of dishonestly using a document and one charge of obtaining by deception.
She was sentenced to six months’ home detention (with six months’ post detention conditions) and 200 hours’ community work after she defrauded Inland Revenue and Social Housing of a total amount of $98,964.61.
She was also ordered to pay $10,000 reparation at $20 a week, the level of payments to be reassessed in one year’s time.
Judge Michael Turner described her offending as premeditated and protracted.
“Essentially, what you did was steal from every taxpayer in the country,” Judge Turner said.
In defending herself on Facebook, Muasika said in Tongan: “Tax pe a Neomai kai pe e Neomai ta fkfoki pe e Neomai ikai kau ai tukuhau kakai masiva i Tonga mahino atu.”
This translates into English as: “It was Neomai’s tax Neomai defrauded it Neomai paid it back and it did not involve the poor Tongan taxpayers’ tax is that understood.”
In response a critic wrote: “Hahah hoo mata malohi keke kai e paanga tax e kakai peake tala koho paanga tax..lol”
This translates into English as: “Hahaha how dare you embezzle people’s tax and say it was your tax money..lol”
Another commentator told Muasika he thought when he read the news her husband had died.
In response Muasika said she only did that so she could get money for living, referring to her fraud activities.
Some commenters stood by Muasika and said she should not be criticised as she had been convicted and she would pay for her fine.
Muasika’s offending resulted in her receiving $61,510.32 benefit overpayment. Muasika received a pecuniary advantage in the form of subsidised Income Related Rent for social housing amounting to $37,454.29 resulting in a total overpayment of $98,964.61.
The judge noted Muasika’s explanation to probation services that her husband would return to Tonga without her and the children and that she needed funds to keep the house running.
She said she became accustomed to financial independence.
Tu’imala said the song had seven verses, each of which began with one of the seven letters of her name – Tu’imala.
When pressed about the meaning of the song, she smiled and said it was just typical of Tongan poets and musicians to compose songs about some one they loved, respected, looked up to or they thought were worth singing about.
The song was very popular with Tongan singers and many have recorded it.
Tu’imala said the Late Queen Salote Tupou III, who was regarded as the best poetess of Tongan modern times, had composed many songs about her half-sister, Princess ‘Elisiva Fusipala Tauki’onetuku, who lived from 26 July 1912 to 21 April 1933.
Tu’imala said a number of high chiefs courted Princess Tauki’onetuku. When the Queen was interested in a particular chief and willing him to marry her half-sister, she composed a song for him.
These songs included ‘Eva e Loto ni Hange Ha misi which was composed by the Queen for Toutaiolepo when he courted the princess. Uisa si’i fa, was composed for the Late ‘Ulukalala when he courted the princess. Another was Loto He Kelekele, which Tu’imala said it was composed by the Queen as a song for late Veikune Lala about his courtship with the princess.
The princess never married any of these chiefs. She left for New Zealand and died while studying there.
The Queen also composed songs about her husband, children and the royals.
He could play every style from every Pacific island and what really made him exceptional was that he could make his audience extremely excited by the way he played the uke.
He’d roll over and over on the floor while playing his ukulele behind his head, or with his foot, or his teeth, or almost any part of his body.
‘Āleki became widely known to the Pacific islands after he moved to New Zealand in the early 1980s and played with the late Bill Sevesi of Tonga.
Ta Kuo Te Si’i ‘Au’auhia:
Ta kuo te si’i ‘au’auhia
‘I he ‘ōseni ‘o e li’ekina
Kumi si’i lupe mana’ia
Lose tu’u ‘i he lilifa
‘Uluaki koe ‘i he kolope
Huhulu ‘i he ongo pole
Palanite ‘oku na ulo ma’u pe
‘Āvea ai si’i loto ni ē
‘Ise’isa e he me’a mamahi
Feohi moe ‘Ikale Tahi
Luki tenifa hono tahi
Melemo ai si’i vaivai.
Māhina hopo ‘o fakanonoa
Tēkina ai si’ete ‘ofa
‘amusia pe tavake mo e lofa
Ko au ni kuo mounuvaoa
‘Amusia pe si’i manupuna
‘Oku ne kapa he taua
Ka te si’i nofo ‘o loto mo’ua
Tekina he fisi’inaua
Loka e matapā si’o fale
Ka teu vivili atu pe
Tali fekau kiate koe
Uisa pe teu si’i fēfē
‘Amanaki e ke ta māvae
Ka teu si’i uiui pe
Ho’o to’onga ne malave ma’u pe
Hoto kōfini ki he mate
“Ive just been personally invited by the President of the United Nations to speak at the UN high level opening event. I pray to represent the Pacific and all those whose voices haven’t been heard with pride and strength!” he wrote on Facebook.
The one-day event on May 30 seeks to listen to the ideas, needs and concerns of young people on bridging education and skills training with employment in the 21st century, as well as on the prevention of radicalization.
The event further aims to galvanize the efforts of many global alliances and initiatives that are empowering young people.
In his letter on May 3 the President of the UN seventy-second session General Assembly H. E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák congratulated Taufatofua for the work he has been doing for young people and promoting the Pacific through culture, sport and philanthropy.
“Given our shared interest in youth empowerment, it is my pleasure to invite you to speak in the high level opening segment at 10am at the United Nations.”
Taufatofua has been in the spotlight since walking in the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics all oiled up and muscles bulging. He repeated that for the Pyeongchang opening ceremony on February 9.
