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Police name man accused of stealing thousands

By
Kalino Latu
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Police named the man arrested in connection to an office burglary in Nuku’alofa on January 6.

Tēvita Fifita, 25, of Fo’ui was accused of stealing more than $10,000 pa’anga from the Office Equipment.

Police arrested Fifita from a bush allotment in Tatakamotonga on February 2.

He has been charged with housebreaking and theft and was remanded in
Police custody.

As Kaniva News reported, a CCTV video which captured the incident was released to Police and social media after the money went missing from the Fatafehi road office.

A search of the place where the suspect was arrested found clothes which match those worn by the person who appeared in the security footage, Police said.

Tonga treatment saved thousands; PM thanks Princess Mata’aho for visit

By
Kalino Latu
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The Prime Minister’s decision to be treated in Tonga rather than New Zealand saved thousands pa’anga of taxpayers’ money, a government spokesperson said.

He said the government would have spent more than $100,000 if it had hired a medical aircraft to fly the Prime Minister to New Zealand.

Hon. Pōhiva, 76, was admitted to Vaiola hospital’s intensive care unit last month, but he recovered and was discharged about a week later.

The Prime Minister told Kaniva News he was hospitalised because he had not taken care of himself properly, even though he had felt ill for some time.

The Prime Minister is in Auckland on leave and for a regular medical check-up.

Meetings with king

Hon. Pōhiva told Kaniva News this week Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Halaevalu Mata’aho Tuku’aho, the only daughter of the king, visited him while he was at Vaiola hospital.

He said he “deeply appreciated” the royal visit and he was “hugely grateful for the Princess.”

Hon. Pōhiva said he had two meetings with the king before he left for New Zealand.

Asked about the meetings he said they were “wonderful.”

“The king wanted us to move forward. He wanted us to work very closely. That was my interpretation of how His Majesty talked while we met,” Hon. Pōhiva said.

“I was really happy with the meetings.

“His Majesty urged me to look after my health, take a leave and come back to Tonga to do our work.”

He said he planned to return to Tonga this Friday, but because the queen was arriving in Auckland this week he planned to visit her before leaving for the kingdom.

Government policy

The government spokesperson said Health authorities prepared to transfer the Prime Minister to a New Zealand hospital after he was admitted, but he wanted to stay in Tonga.

The spokesperson said the authorities acted according to the government policy which gave them the power to do their utmost to look after the leaders of the nation including the royals.

He said if the Prime Minister had agreed to transfer him to New Zealand the government would have paid more than TP$100,000.

Hon. Pōhiva, who faced criticisms of alleged nepotism in 2015, said the cost was cheap when he travelled to New Zealand on leave and visited his doctor there at the same time. He paid for his expenses, including his medical check-up while in New Zealand.

He rented a house at the ‘Atalanga residence in Epsom and motels in Auckland for his stays.

The Tongan consul at ‘Atalanga, Stafford ‘Aho, confirmed to Kaniva News this evening the Prime Minister paid the rent for all bookings  the consulate has made for him including the house in ‘Atalanga while he was in New Zealand.

Kaniva News understands a former Prime Minister who was wheelchair-bound died after spending months in an Auckland hospital. While he was in New Zealand all his expenses including people who were looking after him were paid from taxpayers’ money.

A former Minister of Police was medically transferred from Tonga to New Zealand while he was seriously ill. He died in the aircraft before his body arrived in Auckland. All expenses were paid from the taxpayers’ coffer.

For more information

King officially dissolves Parliament, new election in November, Crown law website says

Pōhiva denies claims of nepotism, says ministers have vowed to put sexual misdeeds behind them

Taufatofua steals the limelight again, but faces a tough challenge from top athletes

By
Philip Cass
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Tongan athlete Pita Taufatofua, who qualified for the Winter Olympics at the last minute after several failed attempts, is facing a tough challenge in Pyeongchang.

Taufatofua will be competing in the cross country where victory, according to one world champion, goes to whoever is strongest on the day.

Despite the challenges and despite apparently promising to dress sensibly, Taufatofua once again stole the attention of the world’s press by striding into the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in the same uniform he wore at the summer Games in Rio.

Temperatures were -1C and it is open to question whether the coconut oil with which he slathered his upper body would have kept him warm.

Taufatofua is the only Tongan athlete competing in the south Korean Games.

He will represent Tonga in cross-country skiing, which begins tomorrow with a skiathlon.

Having previously competed in taekwondo in the Rio Games, he managed to qualify for the Winter Olympics by the skin of his teeth.

He has only been training for the sport for about a year and has been attempting to qualify on borrowed skis. In Australia he had practiced on grass, rather than snow.

After seven failed attempts in Europe, which saw him scrambling from country in search of a qualifying event, he finally managed to win a place at the Olympics in Japan on January 20.

He is only the second Tongan to compete in the Winter Olympics. Bruno Banani completed in the luge at Sochi.

Taufatofua is the first person to compete for Tonga at both the summer and winter Games.

Cross country

Canadian champion cross country skier Alex Harvey has described the sport as “gruelling,” that makes great demands on a competitor’s athletic ability.

Harvey, who has been training since he was 16,  said the keys to winning were athletic ability and the right equipment.

“It comes down to who is strongest on the day, mainly,” he said.

“There’s no substitute for training, and working hard.

“Your skis are also absolutely vital. You can blow a race because of bad equipment.”

The men’s cross country events at PyeongChang 2018 consists of the men’s skiathlon (February 11), individual sprint classic (February 13), 15km freestyle (February 16), 4 x 10km relay (February 18), team sprint freestyle (February 21) and the 50km mass start classic.

The main points

  • Tongan athlete Pita Taufatofua, who qualified for the Winter Olympics at the last minute after seven failed attempts, is facing a tough challenge in PyeongChang.
  • Taufatofua will be competing in the cross country where victory, according to one world champion, goes to whoever is strongest on the day.
  • Despite the challenges and despite apparently promising to dress sensibly, Taufatofua once again stole the attention of the world’s press by striding into the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in the same uniform he wore at the summer Games in Rio.

For more information 

Winter Olympics 2018: Pita Taufatofua appears topless at opening ceremony as Tonga’s only athlete in Pyeongchang

Alex Harvey’s guide to cross-country skiing at PyeongChang 2018

Hihifo murder accused in court

By
Kalino Latu
-

A magistrate has ordered Hateni Kaufusi to be transferred into the custody of Hu’atolitoli prison authorities as his case has been adjourned until February 15.

The 33-year-old was charged with murder after the body of Tolifili Tualau was found near a road between the towns of Fatai and Nukunuku on Sunday.

Kaufusi has made his first appearance in court yesterday February 8.

As Kaniva News reported yesterday, a 32-year-old man has been arrested after a 27-year-old man was killed and his body was found near a road in Fatai on Sunday evening.

The victim had been stabbed and was declared dead on arrival at Vaiola hospital.

Police said the suspect and the deceased were drinking alcohol at a place in Te’ekiu before the fatal incident occurred.

Tongan man jailed in New Zealand for sex with teen

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Tongan rugby player in New Zealand has been jailed after having sex with a 15-year-old relative of a family he was living with.

Wesley Lataimuli Palavi, of Geraldine, who was 21 at the time of the offending, was convicted in the Timaru District Court of unlawful sexual connection with a young person.

The Court heard how Palavi began meeting and grooming the girl by sending messages to her on Facebook.

This progressed to full sexual intercourse on July 4, 2016 when Palavi and the complainant were walking to Palavi’s rugby training at Ruakapuka Recreation Reserve.

“On the way to the reserve they walked through Kennedy Park in Geraldine, where they engaged in full sexual intercourse,” Fairfax Media reports.

The overstayer was sentenced to 15 months jail for unlawful sexual connection.

Defence Lawyer Quentin Hix said Palavi had come from Tonga to New Zealand to play rugby.

“At the time of the offending, Palavi had been based in Ashburton and had travelled down to Geraldine, where he lived in a sleepout with two other Fijian rugby players,” the report says.

Palavi had also been due to leave the country a few weeks after the incident occurred, however a stop had been put on Palavi’s visa by police preventing him from leaving.

He had therefore been forced to stay in New Zealand beyond the terms of his visa against his will.

Government asks Asian Development Bank to fund bridge from Nuku’alofa to Folaha

By
Philip Cass
-

The Tongan government has asked the Asian Development Bank to fund a bridge to connect Nuku’alofa to the centre of Tongatapu.

The ADB is studying the viability of the project.

Kaniva News understands the estimate cost of the project is $40 million.

If built, the new harbour bridge is expected to cross from the town of Folaha in Tongatapu 8 to ‘Umusi in Ma’ufanga in Tongatapu 4.

The ADB is working with Government to ensure due diligence.

This includes community consultation with those affected on the landing sites on both sides.

A preliminary design cost of the bridge has been estimated and a traffic model is being worked on.

It is expected that the government will be able to indicate whether the project is viable by the second half of the year.

The Tongan government first raised the possibility of a bridge in 2015.

As Kaniva News reported at the time, the former Minister of Infrastructure ‘Etuate Lavulavu said a plan for the bridge was one of his ministry’s strategic and action plan 2015.

The following year Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni said a new bridge would cut down travel costs and help evacuate the city in case of emergencies.

“Going from the capital to the airport is about 40 minutes, but if you have this bridge you probably can do it in about 10 minutes from the capital so there are other socio-economic benefits,” he said.

He said  a bridge would also help the economy by cutting the travel time to the old capital of Lapaha.

The main points

  • The Tongan government has asked the Asian Development Bank to fund a bridge to connect Nuku’alofa to the centre of Tongatapu.
  • The ADB is studying the viability of the project.
  • Kaniva News understands the estimate cost of the project is $40 million.

Unlicensed woman charged with asking for fee for immigration advice

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A 31-year-old Auckland woman appeared today in the Manukau District Court charged with unlawfully asking for a fee for immigration advice and taking payment from four family members and friends in the Tongan community.

Lealeifuaneva Linda Moala, has been charged by the Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) with two charges under the Immigration Advisers Licencing Act 2007.

The IAA alleges Ms Moala, not being licensed nor exempt from the requirement to be licensed, asked for a fee for the provision of immigration advice knowing she was neither licensed nor exempt.

Ms Moala also faces one charge under the Crimes Act 1961 of obtaining a payment by deception.

She has been remanded on bail to reappear before court in March.

The Registrar of Immigration Advisers, Catherine Albiston, says “The facts alleged by the IAA are another example of someone taking advantage of Tongan and Pacific people who are in a tough spot.

“The IAA continues to raise awareness amongst Pacific communities in New Zealand, as well as in Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, that unlawful immigration advice can cause significant stress and problems for visa applicants.

“If people need help with a visa application, they should only use a licensed immigration adviser or exempt person,” says Catherine.

The IAA’s online register of licensed advisers is available for those who want to search for a licensed immigration adviser. More information on the IAA can be found at www.iaa.govt.nz.

The IAA investigates all complaints made by the public about unlicensed immigration advice. Individuals found breaking the law can face up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to NZD$100,000.

“Anyone can talk to the IAA about their experience without their immigration status being affected,” adds Ms Albiston.

PM ‘Akilisi Pōhiva dismisses rumours of Finance Minister sacking

By
Kalino Latu
-

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva has denied rumours that he has dismissed Minister of Finance Hon. Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa.

The Prime Minister told Kaniva News last night he was surprised when his personal secretary told him he had been contacted by people asking to confirm whether or not it was true Hon. Tu’i’onetoa has been removed from cabinet.

The Minister of Police Māteni Tapueluelu, who was in Auckland on his way to a meeting in Hong Kong,  told us he was surprised when he received text messages from staff at Parliament asking him if he had heard about the alleged dismissal.

“There are a few people who have nothing good to do,” Hon Pōhiva said.

It was not immediately clear where the ‘fake news’ came from.

However, it was widely shared on Facebook by some propagandist Tongan Facebook groups which campaign against the government of Hon. Pōhiva.

The Prime Minister was in Auckland on leave and for a regular medical check up.

Asked about his health, Hon. Pōhiva, who looked happy and active,  said his doctor in Auckland had declared him in “excellent health” after a short illness which caused him to be admitted to Vaiola hospital last month.

He said he is expected to return to Tonga next week.

Read more 

Sacked ministers deny involvement in alleged plot to dissolve Parliament

PM Pōhiva has sacked Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance 

Eke “shocked” by PM’s claims, but says he has no choice but to resign

Revenge threat triggers war of words on Social media after man killed in Hihifo

By
Kalino Latu
-

Police Minister Māteni Tapueluelu has called for the families of the suspect and victim in the Hihifo murder to leave it to the law and the police to do their job.

Speaking to Kaniva News in Auckland tonight, Hon. Tapueluelu said he was aware that threats of revenge had been made on Facebook.

“I appeal to both families of the suspect and the victim with due respect to please keep the peace and be patience,” the Minister said.

“I trust your Ministry of Police will do their best to satisfy all parties and justice will prevail.

“I understand this is a very difficult time but we have obligation to keep the order and respect each other especially the rule of laws.”

As Kaniva News reported yesterday, a 32-year-old man has been arrested after a 24-year-old man was killed and his body was found near a road in Fatai on Sunday evening.

The victim had been stabbed and was declared dead on arrival at Vaiola hospital.

Police have not officially released the deceased’s name.

A brawl broke out on Facebook last night after a relative of the deceased posted a threat to take revenge against the alleged killer.

It is understood the person who made the threat lives in Hawai’i.

The post was accompanied by a photo of a person alleged to be the killer.

Some people have begged with him to forgive the alleged killer and withdraw his post.

“Blood revenge will not solve anything. It will not return to us the life that has been lost,” one person wrote.

Some people who appeared to be supporters of the accused challenged the original post.

The original post has been widely shared by Facebook pages and groups which collected and shared news about Tonga. These groups have thousands of members and viewers.

Minister calls for stronger engagement in local government roles

By
Kalino Latu
-

Minster of Internal Affairs Hon. ‘Akosita Lavulavu has called on town and district officers to work together and help support her new policies.

The call comes during a two-day induction meeting for district and town officers all over Tonga which was held on February 5-6 at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre in Nuku’alofa.

“We have new policies,” she told the meetings in Tongan.

Various stakeholder representatives including CEO for MAFFF Dr Viliami Manu, Director for NEMO Mr Lēveni ‘Aho, Acting Deputy Commissioner Mr Tēvita Vailea, Ministry of Health presented papers during the meetings.

As Kaniva News reported last month, the Minister has put in place some first 100-day goals for the Ministry.

It says every town in Tonga is expected to hold its own community reunions, have sister cities and town and district officers must for the first time work according to a government handbook.

‘Eva Tu’uholoaki, Deputy CEO Local Government and Community Development Division said: “The ultimate purpose the Ministry is organizing this program is to reinforce the working relationships of the line Ministries with the District and Town Officers.

“It is important that the duties of the District and Town Officers outlined on the 1988 amendment Act is reminded in a consultative manner during this program.”

Twenty one District Officers attending the meeting includes seven from Tongatapu, six from Vava’u, six from Ha’apai and two from ‘Eua.  Sixty One Town Officers came from Tongatapu only.

This was an opportunity for the Ministry,  District and Town Officers to discuss and take a relook at their duties as they had been changed over the years since the legislation was developed since 1988, Tu’uholoaki said.

The annual induction meeting was funded by the Ministry.

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