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World LDS president dies almost 50 years after he organised first stake in Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
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The LDS church in Tonga has expressed its condolences over the death of Mormon president Thomas S. Monson.

A senior leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  in Tonga, Elder ‘Aisake Tukuafu, released a heartfelt message in Tongan on behalf of his church community:

“‘Oku lomekina kimautolu ‘e he ongo’i ‘ofa, hounga’ia, faka’apa’apa  mo e fie kaungamamahi mo’oni fakataha mo e kaingalotu ‘o e Siasi ‘i Tonga ni mo e ‘Elia Pasifiki kotoa ‘i he pekia ‘a Palesiteni Tomasi S. Monisoni.”

This translates as: “We have been deluged with feelings of true love, appreciation, respects and condolences together with church members in Tonga and in all the Pacific areas after the death of President Thomas S. Monson.”

Monson, who was 90, died on January 2.

Monson became president in 2008. According to the New York Times he made it possible for more women to become missionaries, but refused to ordain female priests or change church opposition to same-sex marriage.

Tongan mission

Monson came to Tonga with Elder Howard W. Hunter when they were members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostle, the second highest governing body in the Mormon church,  in September 1968 to organise the first stake in the kingdom. The Mormon Church in Tonga has grown to 19 stakes and two districts.

The church claims that 60 percent of Tongans are Mormons,  but the US state Department says the figure is closer to 17 percent.

Elder Tukuafu told Kaniva News President Monson’s funeral services would be held next week and televised live to LDS stakes in Tonga.

He said there was no plan to hold memorial services in Tonga or any other LDS churches in the Pacific because of the live broadcasts.

Funeral service

A public viewing will be open to the public on Thursday, January 11 from 9am until 8pm in the Conference Centre on Temple Square, in Salt Lake City, capital of Utah and headquarters of the Mormon church..

It is believed that about a quarter of all Tongans in the United States live in Utah.

The funeral services for President Monson will start at midday on January 12.

The Salt Lake Tribune said this evening he would be buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in a private service.

President Monson was the 16th president in the 187-year history of the Church and served as its president since February 3, 2008.

It is believed the church has about 16 million followers around the world.

Church members around the globe can view the services live via MormonNewsroom.org, mormontabernaclechoir.org, LDS.org (English, Spanish, and Portuguese), KSL TV, the KSL TV app, BYUtv, BYUtv Global, KBYUtv Eleven, BYUtv International, Mormon Channel, Canal Mormón (Spanish) and on the Church satellite system. In addition, audio broadcasts will air on KSL Radio and BYU Radio.

The main points

  • The LDS church in Tonga has expressed its condolences over the death of Mormon president Thomas S. Monson.
  • Monson, who was 90, died on January 3.
  • He came to Tonga in 1968 Monson came to help organise the first stake in the kingdom.
  • Monson’s funeral services will be held next week and televised live to LDS stakes in Tonga.

Mangere man William Soane wanted by New Zealand Police

By
Kaniva Staff
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Police were seeking William Soane of Mangere, he was wanted for arrest in relation to two aggravated robberies.

Soane is 20-year-old and was actively avoiding Police.

He has ‘Tonga’ tattooed on the outside of his right calf.

Any sightings of Soane should be reported to Police immediately and he should not be approached.

Information on Soane’s current whereabouts can be shared with Constable Daniel Ross of the Glen Innes Criminal Investigation Branch on 04 212 3534.

Alternatively information can be shared anonymously via CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva submits his cabinet lineup to the king

By
Kalino Latu
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A businessman, Dr. Tu’i Uata, who was not elected by voters to Parliament has been elected by Hon. ‘Akilisi Pōhiva as his Minister of Labour and Commerce, according to a lineup list leaked to local news media. 

The Prime Minister may appoint no more than four cabinet ministers from outside Parliament, according to the constitution.

Hon. Pōhiva has chosen Tongatapu 2 MP Sēmisi Lafu Sika as Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister when his lineup was submitted to the palace office yesterday.

Appointment of Prime Minister

The submission was made after King Tupou VI appointed Pōhiva as Tonga’s Prime Minister until 2021 after the November snap election resulted in a decisive win for Pōhiva’s Democrats.

“In accordance with Clause 50A of the Constitution of Tonga, His Majesty King Tupou VI has appointed the Prime Minister-Designate, Honourable Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva, as the Prime Minister of Tonga, with effect from 2 January, 2018,” the Prime Minister’s office said in a statement.

The Prime Minister has the power to nominate his cabinet lineup before recommending the king to appoint them, according to the constitution.

Defence moved to PM

Lord Ma’afu has been re-elected from the nobility by Hon. Pōhiva to be his Minister of Lands and Survey.

The Ministry of Defence, a portfolio the noble held in the Pōhiva government before the November snap election, has been removed and brought under the control of the Prime Minister.

The Ministry of Custom and Revenues has been brought under the control of the Minister of Police Māteni Tapueluelu.

Four of Hon. Pōhiva’s Democratic Party team who had been elected after the snap election on November 16 did not have portfolios.

They were Tongatapu 5 MP Losaline Mā’asi, Ha’apai 12 MP Mo’ale Fīnau, Ha’apai 13 MP Veivosa Taka and Niua 17 MP Vātau Hui.

Legislation changed

The Minister of Justice Hon. Vuna Fā’otusia has confirmed the lineup list obtained by Kaniva News this morning.

He said it has yet to be officially announced because it was being submitted to the king.

Hon Fā’otusia said some of the legislation regarding government portfolios have to be changed to allow movements of some of the ministries such as Sports and Information.

The Ministry of Sports which is currently under the control of the Minister of Internal Affairs was planned to be returned to the control of the Minister of Education.

The Ministry of Information was also intended to be attached to the Prime Minster’s portfolios.

Hon. Fā’otusia alleged corruption existed in the Ministry of Custom and Revenues and that was why the portfolio was being given to the Minister of Police.

The new lineup

  1. Samuela Akilisi  Pōhiva – Prime Minister of Tonga; Minister of Defence and Foreign Affairs

2. Sēmisi Sika – Deputy Prime Minister; Minister of Tourism and Infrastructure

3. SÄ“misi Fakahau – Minister of Agriculture & Forestry and Food

4. Dr. Pōhiva Tuionetoa – Minisiter of Finance and National Planning

5. Penisimani Fifita – Minisiter of Education

6. Poasi Tei –  Minister of Energy, Environment, Information and Climate Change (MEIDEEC)

7. ‘Akosita H. Lavulavu – Minister of Internal Affairs and Sports

8. Dr. Tu’i Uata – Minisiter of Labour and Commerce

9. Dr. Saia Piukala – Minisiter of Health and Public Enterprises

10. Lord Ma’afu – Minister of Lands and Survey

11. Sione Vuna Fā’otusia – Minister of Justice and Prisons

12. Māteni Tapueluelu – Minister of Police & Fire Services; Customs and Revenue

Jubilee reminds faithful of struggles to establish Catholicism in Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

Roman Catholics in Tonga have celebrated the 175th jubilee of their church’s founding in the kingdom in 1842.

A mass was celebrated by Cardinal Paini Mafi in Pangaimotu island, which is about 13 kilometres north of Tongatapu  on July 2, 2017 to commemorate the historical event.

However, the main cultural and celebratory activities were postponed until last week in Pea to allow visitors from overseas to join while they were in the country for their Christmas holidays.

A mass celebrated by Cardinal Mafi on 27 December 2017, was followed by a wreath laying at Ha’atoka and Māhola cemeteries as well as the Catholic church known as Ma’ananga.

Some of the first priests who brought Catholicism to Tonga were buried in Ha’atoka.

Lavaka, the noble of Pea and Moeakihi’atu and Lady Lata-‘I-Holeva, chiefs who welcomed the Catholic church, were buried at Māhola.

The memorial celebrations were attended by Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Tuku’aho. She was the guest of honour.

Missionaries

In 1842 French missionaries, including  Fr Sevelo, Bishop Soane Patita (Jean Baptiste) Pompallier and Brother Atalo as well as some Tongans, travelled from Wallis to Tonga on the Santa Maria, according to a report by the Catholic church newspaper Taumu’a Lelei.

They held their first mass in Tonga in the island of Pangaimotu on July 2 on the same year.

The paper quoted Cardinal Mafi as saying the high chiefs of Pea at the time, especially Lavaka, Moeakihi’atu and Lady Lata-‘i-Holeva also known as ‘Aloisia Fie’ota’anga welcomed the church to be established in Pea.

The contacts made between the Catholic missionaries and the Pea chiefs were led by Petelō Tonga and Siale Pā’utu.

“We are lucky today to be here because it was accepted,” the Cardinal said in Tongan.

Conversion

Lavaka and Moeakihi’atu as well as ‘Aloisia Fie’ota’anga converted to Catholicism.

Moeakihi’atu was described as a victor who was respected by the people because he loved them and always tried to make sure people lived in harmony and that the nation was at peace.

It said when King Tupou I, who was described as the Maker of the Modern Tonga, became king in 1845, the Catholic church had already been established in the towns of Pea, Houma, Holonga and Kotongo.

The Catholic church in Hahake was opened in 1845.

The chiefs in Hahake who belonged to Protestant churches protested against the establishment of the church and there were fears among Catholics there. However, the construction of the church was completed and it was launched by Fr. Sevelo.

Fr. Sevelo also built a church in Holonga which was on fire on October 17, 1847. He and church members suspected the members of the Protestant churches were responsible.

The highlight of Fr. Sevelo’s conversion campaign was the conversion of Laufilitonga, the last king of the Tu’i Tonga line ,who lived in Mu’a.

Laufilitonga was baptised a Catholic by Bishop ‘Enosi on October 31, 1851.

War and famine 

The Taumu’a Lelei newspaper quoted a person by the name Sotele Leha who lived when the Pea war began in 1852.

The war was proclaimed by Nukumovaha’i, a Pea chief who succeeded Lavaka Palenapa when he died. Nukumovaha’i was described by Leha as violent and cruel.

When the Peans declared war, quarrels erupted among the Catholics and the Protestant church members in Pea, with each other arguing the war was declared to suppress an attempted revolution by the Catholics while the Catholics accused the Protestants of starting the war to persecute the Catholics.

However, the war was in fact a battle between the Pea chiefs and the newly appointed King George Tupou I, of the Kanokupolu line, the paper said.

The king fought the Pea chiefs in 1840 but was defeated.

The Pea chiefs were eventually defeated by King Tupou after his warriors captured the exterior of the fort and took control of the Peans’ plantation.

Leha was quoted by the paper as saying the approach by King Tupou’s warriors was successful as the Pea chiefs and warriors as well as their people were dying of hunger inside the fort.

They finally surrendered to the king.

King Tupou had about 6000 warriors, including from all over Tonga, the Niuas, Vava’u, Ha’apai, ‘Eua, Hahake and Hihifo, the paper said.

The only town that helped the Peans was Houma.

The main points

  • Roman Catholics in Tonga have celebrated the 175th jubilee of their church’s founding in the kingdom in 1842.
  • A mass was celebrated by Cardinal Paini Mafi in Pangaimotu island on July 2, 2017 to commemorate the historical event.
  • But the main cultural and celebratory activities were postponed until last week in Pea to allow visitors from overseas to join while they were in the country for their Christmas holidays.
  • A Mass celebrated by Cardinal Mafi on December 2017, was followed by a wreath laying at Ha’atoka and Mahola cemeteries as well as the Catholic church known as Ma’ananga.

Bus company charged over crash which killed three Tongans in New Zealand

By
Kalino Latu
-

New Zealand bus company Ritchies Transport Holdings Ltd (Ritchies Coachlines) has been charged with breaches of the Bus Safety Act.

One of its buses was carrying 53 members of the brass band from Mailefihi Siuʻilikutapu college in Tonga when it plunged down an embankment at State Highway 2, south of Gisborne.

It is believed the bus went through a barrier at Wharerata and crashed down the bank about 10.30pm on December 24

The band had been touring New Zealand to raise funds for the college’s 70th anniversary in December 2016.

New Zealand Herald report said the charges were laid by WorkSafe at the Waitakere District Court on December 21, just days before the one-year anniversary of the crash.

Deceased

An 11-year-old student Sione Taumalolo and Talita Fifita ,33, died in the crash.

Former head tutor for girls at the College, Leotisia Malakai ,55, who has been described as a much-loved and highly-respected teacher, died in Waikato Hospital on January 1.

She suffered head and internal injuries in the crash.

Tevita Lokotui, a prefect at the college who played tuba in the school band, also lost his left leg at the knee as a result of the crash.

Most of the passengers were taken to hospital for medical attention and treatments for injuries.

Pleaded guilty

The driver of the bus, Talakai ‘Aholelei, 65, has pleaded guilty in June 2017 to three charges of careless driving causing death in the Auckland District Court.

He admitted to 27 counts of careless driving causing injury and three counts of careless driving causing death.

Ritchies’ depot manager for its West Auckland division, Tim Briscoe, told the Herald he was aware of the charge but wouldn’t comment about the case while it was before the courts.

King’s second son’s rights to noble hereditary title Ata announced on Tonga gazette

By
Kalino Latu
-

King Tupou VI’s second son is the lawful successor to the hereditary noble title and estate of Ata, it has been announced in the government of Tonga gazette.

It said Viliami ‘Unuaki-‘o-Tonga Mumui Lalaka-mo e-‘Eiki Tuku’aho was entitled to the hereditary estate belonging “to the title to which he has succeeded together with the rents and profits thereof and all other rights and privileges attached to the title as from 25 September 2006.”

The king’s order comes after he sent former Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakanō and some royal guards to intervene in a baptism ceremony that would have made Prince Ata a Mormon three years ago.

The Prince drew back, but a year later he was baptised as a Mormon in Hawai‘i.

As Kaniva News reported at the time, an unconfirmed report said His Majesty later warned Prince Ata he could have some of his princely privileges revoked if he was baptised into the Mormon church.

It is believed he was the first Prince of Tonga to become a Mormon after his aunt late Princess ‘Elisiva Fusipala Vaha’i became the first member of the royal family to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1980s.

The Tongan constitution does not say that successors’ rights to the throne will be affected by their religious beliefs.

The royal family are members of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga.

It was unclear why the announcement was published on November 23, 2017 more than 11 years after the 29-year-old Prince was appointed in 2006.

Estates 

Prince Ata is fourth in line to the throne. The noble title was previously held by his father.

In 2006 the Palace office announced the late King George V had appointed him to the noble title Ata.

It said the appointment was to be effective from September 25, 2006.

Ata’s hereditary estates are Kolovai in Tongatapu and the island of ‘Atatā, 10 kilometres North-West of Nuku‘alofa.

As we reported last year, Prince Ata had joined Mormon church leaders who held the first Sunday prayer service for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the island of ‘Atatā.

The service marked a milestone in the history of the Mormon church on the island.

In the past they have had to make a 30 minute crossing to Tongatapu, the main island of Tonga, to attend Sunday services and church meetings there.

The Gazette

The announcement by His Majesty’s Lord Privy Seal Tēvita Malolo is published verbatim below.

“In Exercise of the powers conferred by Section 38 of the Land Act, His Majesty King Tupou VI hereby Orders to be published in the Gazette that:

Viliami ‘Unuaki-‘o-Tonga Mumui Lalaka-mo e-‘Eiki Tuku’aho is the lawful successor to the hereditary noble title and estate of: ATA and shall possess and enjoy the hereditary estate appurtenant to the title to which he has succeeded together with the rents and profits thereof and all other rights and privileges attached to the title as from 25 September 2006.”

The Land Act

The relevant provision of the Land Act says:

“King to publish name of lawful successor (1) Upon the death of a holder of an hereditary estate or upon being convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to imprisonment for more than two years or upon his being certified as insane or imbecile by a medical officer,

His Land Act CAP. 46.02 Section 39 to 2016 Revised Edition Page 25 Majesty shall cause the name of the lawful successor to the title of such holder to be published in the Gazette together with the date of his succession thereto which shall be the day following that on which the death of the holder took place or on which the holder was convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to imprisonment for more than two years or was certified by a medical officer as insane or imbecile.

25 (2) On a convenient day not more than 6 months after the date of such publication, or, where the lawful successor is on such date a minor, 6 months after the day he attains the age of 21 years, His Majesty shall summon the person so named to appear before him in the Privy Council and there to take the oath of allegiance set out in Schedule VII. (3) The clerk of the Privy Council shall keep a roll of all persons holding hereditary estates.”

The main points

  • King Tupou VI’s second son is the lawful successor to the hereditary noble title and estate of Ata, it has been announced in the government of Tonga gazette.
  • It said Viliami ‘Unuaki-‘o-Tonga Mumui Lalaka-mo e-‘Eiki Tuku’aho was entitled to the hereditary estate belonging “to the title to which he has succeeded together with the rents and profits thereof and all other rights and privileges attached to the title as from 25 September 2006.”
  • The king’s order comes after he sent former Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano and some royal guards to intervene in a baptism ceremony that would have made Prince Ata a Mormon three years ago.
  • The Prince drew back, but a year later he was baptised as a Mormon in Hawai‘i.

Serious crash in Hahake as 2017 road toll stands at six

By
Kalino Latu
-

A number of people had been reportedly hospitaliszd after a serious crash in Hahake on Saturday night.

Local reports said two vehicles collided in Hoi.

The details of the crash were still unclear.

Photos purported to show the incident seen by Kaniva News on social media showed men lying face upwards on the grass near the scene of the collision.

Some had been covered and laid on blankets while others were laid at the back of a Police pick up van.

Meanwhile, a 20-year-old Fua’amotu man died in hospital after a car crash in Tofoa on Wednesday morning.

On December 16 Kaniva News came across a car crash in Sia’atoutai.

In that crash a car collided with a van before it crashed into a fence.

Police reportedly said road toll for 2017 stood at 6 – down from 18 in 2016

Tonga one of first Pacific nations to greet New Year

By
Philip Cass
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Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and New Zealand will be the first Pacific nations to welcome the New Year.

However, the French territory of Tahiti, which is an hour ahead, will welcome in 2018 first.

Parts of French Polynesia are even further ahead.

Auckland in New Zealand will be the first major city to mark the New Year.

The fireworks display from the Sky Tower in Auckland will use half a tonne of fireworks this year, according to organisers.

The Sydney fireworks display from the Sydney Harbour Bridge is televised around the world.

It can be seen at 2am Tongan time.

Queensland is the only Australian east coast state not on daylight saving and will mark the new year at 3am Tongan time.

Major fireworks displays around the world usually include Dubai,  but this year it appears the focus will be on a laser and light show in the centre of the city.

London usually hosts a spectacular fireworks display, but revellers will face rain, wind and freezing temperatures outdoors.

By the time Londoners are welcoming in the New Year, it will be 1pm in Tonga.

The last territory  to greet the new year will be American Samoa.

The US territory is only 200km from Samoa, but is on the other side of the international dateline.

Some countries will celebrate New Year twice, once using the western calendar and another using the lunar (13 month) calendar.

The main points

  • Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and New Zealand will be the first Pacific nations to welcome the New Year.
  • Auckland in New Zealand will be the first major city to mark the New Year.
  • The last territory to greet the new year will be American Samoa, which is on the other side of international dateline from Samoa.

Government to build new Siamelie market after talk with landlord, says PM Pōhiva

By
Kalino Latu
-

The government will build new Siamelie market in Ma’ufanga after negotiations with land lord, Lord Fakafanua, said Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva.

Hon. Pōhiva said he talked to the noble, who is also the Speaker of Parliament, early this month about government leasing the land in which Lord Fakafanua agreed.

The Prime Minister said the new market was one of the much-needed projects the government has projected over the next four years.

He said there were too many sellers for Talamahu, Tong’s only national market.

Movements

As Kaniva News reported in 2015, the government moved vendors who used to sell their agricultural produce on footpaths in Maʻufanga to Siamelie open air market.

The market place was described by the government at the time as “temporal”.

Last week Kaniva News visited the Siamelie market and noticed there were no sellers there. The vendors had moved back to the roadsides.

The Prime Minister said works initiated at the time to build the market came to a hold because the government did not own the land.

As we reported at the time,  not all vendors immediately vacated the roadsides after government announced that it was a breach of law if people continued to put their stalls there.

Complaints

Some vendors complaint the roadsides were more convenient, easy for trading and it was free to use.

The government made the decision to shift vendors from the roadsides after it received information from the public citing lack of public toilets, sanitations and road congestion.

Hon. Pōhiva said the new market was planned to meet vendors’ needs.

Father and son killed within days of each other after Lapaha house fire

By
Kalino Latu
-

On Christmas eve a toddler was killed after a house fire in Lapaha.

His father was hospitalized after he was injured in the blaze.

Yesterday Friday 29 the father died in Vaiola hospital as a result of his injuries.

Kaniva News could not be able to confirm the details of the deceased and the incident.

Emergency Service authorities could not be reached for comment.

However, it is understood the father’s name was Siaosi Mo’unga.

A Facebook user who goes by the name Katalina Vahe uploaded photos to Facebook with a caption that read in Tongan:

“Ko ‘emau fakaha’ele ‘eni si’i Siaosi ki fale mate tali ai ki he ka fakaha’ele ke fakaha’ele ai ki Lapaha” (We are taking Siaosi’s body to the mortuary and waiting there for the hearse to take it to Lapaha).

The post was shared more than hundred times.

As Kaniva News reported earlier, a house in Holonga, a town near Lapaha, was gutted by fire just four days before Christmas, destroying everything a young family owned.

In that incident, firefighters were called to the home but they could not be able to save the property.

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