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Young patient’s father thanks NZ Miss Heilala beauty contestants for visit

By
Kalino Latu
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The father of a young patient at Vaiola hospital has thanked two Miss Heilala beauty contestants from New Zealand for visiting his son.

Miss Tuitui Fashion 2018, Cecilia Viliamu and Miss Brilliant star, Nāomi Fotofili visited  Peletisasa Mo’ungaloa while he was recovering from an illness in hosital.

His father Agustine Mo’ungaloa told Kaniva News he was thankful the two contestants have visited the patients.

Tuitui Fashion owner Tuitui Folauhola Tonobor said the visit was part of a mission for her two contestants while they were in Tonga to join the Miss Heilala beauty pageant 2018.

Last year two beauty contestants from New Zealand took the top prizes after reigning Miss Heilala Ophelia Kitiliti Kava was crowned Miss Heilala 2017.

The first runner up was Miss Tuitui Fashion, Titania Tiara Matekuolava while the third runner up was awarded to Miss SAS US Store, Linga Tamo’ua.

Sixteen contestants have been registered to compete for the Miss Heilala 2018 crown.

They made their first public appearance on June 27, at Tanoa International Dateline Hotel in Nuku’alofa.

Contestants

  1. Miss Langakali ‘o e Vai ko Puna, Primrose Malekamu
  2. Miss Villa Ishadora, Mele Lupe Vete
  3. Miss Tuitui Fashion, Cecilia Viliamu
  4. Miss Brilliant Star, Naomi Fotofili
  5. Miss Apraxus NZ2018, Lilieta Fisi’ihoi
  6. Miss Apraxus Tonga NZ, Kalo Funganitao
  7. Miss Bou’s Fashion, Luana Fifita
  8. Miss S&SUSAStore, ‘Ailini Vakalahi
  9. Miss Ha’apai, Ivon Tohi
  10. Miss Fangailupe Tonga Australia, Luseane ‘Akau’ola
  11. Miss ‘Eua 2018, Mo’ui Fo’ou Tahifote
  12. Miss Lady Maria Australia, ‘Olita Tu’ipulotu
  13. Miss Ha’ano, Manu Ma’ake
  14. Miss Tonga Tourism, Ane ‘Ofa Pulu
  15. Miss Havelu Rugby, Tenisia Fau’ese
  16. Miss Whale Watching, Sia Tu’ipulotu

Fatal crash causes delays on Auckland’s northwestern motorway

By
Kaniva Staff
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A motorcyclist has died following a crash on the Northwestern Motorway in Auckland this morning.

The crash occurred at 6.40am between the St Lukes off-ramp and on-ramp.

The motorway is going to be closed for some time this morning at the crash scene.

There is already significant traffic congestion on the motorway and motorists are advised to expect lengthy delays.

Motorists are asked to take alternative routes or delay travel wherever possible

Photos show rainbows appeared during Princess Tāone’s burial service

By
Kalino Latu
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Mourners at Princess Tāone’s burial service said they felt she smiled down on them when rainbows were spotted above Hāngaitokelau’s royal cemetery in Tokomolo on Saturday.

Princess Lavinia Mata ‘o Tāone Ma’afu, 66, died on Friday 24 of undisclosed causes in Auckland, New Zealand. She was laid to rest at Hāngaitokelau on June 30.

The phenomenon appeared on a day which was mostly sunny and partly cloudy.

Photos of the rainbows were shared on Facebook by radio FM 87.5.

Some commenters said the rainbows must have sent a message about the Princess’s good character.



Rainbows appear above Hāngaitokelau cemetery during Princess Tāone’s burial service. In picture: Radio Broadcaster Director and Producer Katalina Tohi (L) and broadcaster Luseane Vaea (R). Photo/Broadcom Broadcast FM 87.5

Alleged Tongatapu burglar steals funeral mats while family mourn loss of father

By
Kalino Latu
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A preparation for a funeral wake was burgled while a family mourned the loss of their father in Mataika, Tongatapu on Friday night.

The family were alerted about the burglary while they were preparing a property for the funeral’s wake.

Mats, rolls of kie and ngatus were left outside while the family were inside a house, a spokesperson for the family told Kaniva News.

An eyewitness opened a window and caught the heartless burglar in the act.

The burglar allegedly took with him some of the mats and the rolls of kie before he fled the scene.

He also attempted to take with him a ngatu.

The alleged burglary had been reported to Police.

The deceased was Sēkope Siale and he was laid to rest on Saturday afternoon.

Death exposes deepest respect between the composer and the Princess

By
Kalino Latu
-

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
-

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
-

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
-

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.”

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