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Serious assault against female police officer in Ōtāhuhu, Police praise Tonga-Lebanon crowd

By
Kalino Latu
-

Counties Manukau Police were investigating a serious assault against a police officer last night, which occurred while staff were dealing with disorder in Ōtāhuhu.

The female officer was taken to hospital with a head and arm injury after being knocked unconscious by an unknown man from behind.

Inspector Rod Honan said Police wish to speak to anyone who has information which may help with enquiries.

“Someone knows exactly who committed this cowardly act and we urge the offender, or anyone with information, to come forward,” he says.

“We know a number of people would have seen the offender.

“Police staff work tirelessly every day to keep our community safe and violent acts like this against our officers are unacceptable.

“The officer has been discharged from hospital today and will continue to receive support while she recovers at home,” says Inspector Honan.

Information should be shared with Counties Manukau Crime Squad on 09 261 1321.

Alternatively, information may be shared anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

No arrests at Tonga-Lebanon match

Meanwhile, Police have praised the crowd at last night’s Rugby League World Cup 2017 quarter final between Tonga and Lebanon at Christchurch Stadium.

Canterbury District Metro Area Commander Superintendent Lane Todd said there were no incidents of concern and no arrests.

Police evicted one person for intoxication, but the level of alcohol consumption was low.

“It’s been really good.

The crowd was really well behaved with no issues with alcohol.”

Forward commander at the ground, Senior Sergeant Matt Emery, said the vocal and vibrant crowd had created a great atmosphere.

“We had no issues whatsoever.

The crowd was awesome.”

He said Police would continue to keep a strong presence in the central city throughout the evening.

Miss Heilala runner up to represent Tonga in world competition

By
Kalino Latu
-

Sponsored

Miss Heilala 2017 first runner up Titania Tiara Monic Matekuolava was set to compete in Supermodel International World final in Thailand next year.

The 22-year-old Tongan – New Zealand resident will represent Tonga after she was crowned as Miss International Supermodel Tonga 2018.

Matekuolava was elected after she represented Tuitui Fashions during New Zealand’s Face of Beauty International Ltd’s Super Model competitions at the  Panmure’s Imperial Palace Event Centre in Auckland early this month.

Tuitui Folauhola Tonobar, the Director of Tuitui Fashions Show said the result has inspired her in many ways.

Ms Tonobar said Matekuolava was picked by the New Zealand company after it followed her during the Miss Heilala 2017 beauty pageant contest.

Matekuolava was sponsored by Tuitui Fashions Show for Miss Heilala 2017.

She became second to Ophelia Kitiliti Kava who was crowned Miss Heilala 2017.

Matekuolava’s attempt to win the Heilala competition’s Miss Talent was unsuccessful and she could not make it to the top 4.

A spokesperson for the New Zealand’s Face of Beauty International Ltd said the company will pay for Matekuolava’s accomodation, meals and travel expenses in Thailand.

Matekuolava has to pay for her flight tickets and entry fee, she said.

The spokesperson said their company, which has been registered in New Zealand and International Company to host international events, has registered Matekuolava as a permanent model in its Face Of Beauty International show.

Fourth win in a row for Tonga, but margin of victory over Lebanon was slim

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga’s defeat of Lebanon last night was the narrowest win in the Rugby League World Cup
so far.

Tonga defeated Lebanon 24-22.

It was Tonga’s fourth in a row after defeating Scotland, Samoa and New Zealand.

Mate Ma’a Tonga’s margin of victory has narrowed since its first match in the competition
when it demolished Scotland 50-4.

In the next two games Tonga defeated Samoa 32-18 and New Zealand 28-22.

Last night’s win makes Tonga equal favourite with the top tier nations for a place in the final in Brisbane.

Both sides scored four tries, but Mate Ma’a led on penalty points.

Tonga fielded a virtually unchanged line-up to the side that overthrew the Kiwis 28-22.

The one exception was the return of centre Michael Jennings.

The Cedars went up against Tonga with several injured players.

It was the first time the two sides had met and the first time either side has progressed past the group stages of a World Cup.

Tuimoala Lolohea scored the first try of the game in the third minute, followed by a
successful conversion by Ata Hingano.

Four minutes later Adam Doueihi scored for Lebanon, with a conversion by Mitchell Moses.

David Fusitua scored for Tonga in the 19 th minute, with Ata Hingano converting again.

Four minutes later Will Hopoate scored another try for Mate Mea, with Hingano converting.

Cedars Centre James Elias scored in the 29 th minute with a conversion by Mitchell Moses.

David Fusitua scored in the 32 nd minute, with Hingano putting the ball over the bars.

Abbas Miski scored for Lebanon in the 39 th minute with a conversion my Mitchell Moses.

Miski scored the final try of the match in the 68 th minute, with a conversion by Moses.

The Mate Mea will play in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals at Mt Smart stadium in
Auckland next Saturday.

Auckland airport

However, Auckland airport has warned that Tongan supporters will not be allowed to gather
at the airport to welcome back the team.

An airport spokeswoman said there was not enough room in the domestic terminal for a
large number of fans to greet the team without causing disruption to other passengers and
airport operations.

Tongan Advisory Council chair Malino Maka said banning Tongan fans was a double
standard, with other team's supporters welcome at the airport.

He said the airport did not consult with the Tongan community about ways it could manage
fans before announcing the ban.

“They should at least share with us their concerns so we can work out a way so that we can
achieve their objective and also achieve our objective.”

Other matches

In other cup games, Samoa went down 46-0 to Australia in Sydney yesterday.

But the Pacific struck back when Fiji downed New Zealand 4-2 in Wellington last night.

England face off against Papua New Guinea in Melbourne this afternoon at 4pm local time.

Video: Mate Ma’a Tonga fans in Vava‘u kept cool in the heat of victory over New Zealand

By
Kaniva Staff
-

 

Source: Kaniva Tonga News
 

Mate Ma’a Tonga fans in Vava’u were splashed with water to help them cope with the heat as they celebrated Tonga’s victory over New Zealand.

A truck carrying a large tank of water drove slowly along the road in central Neiafu while a man hosed the die hard supporters who were dancing and parading on the road.

Kaniva News editor Kalino Latu, who is in Tonga to cover the kingdom’s snap elections was on the scene taking pictures and videos last Saturday.

He described the celebrations in Neiafu as “huge.”

We were unable to upload the videos and photos taken at the scene immediately due to bad internet connection in the islands.

Vava’u fans brought traffic to a halt several times in central Neiafu during the celebrations.

Hundreds of supporters came to Neiafu from the surrounding towns and villages to celebrate after the Tongans stormed back in the second half to beat New Zealand for the first time, 28-22.

Police urged locals to be cautious as they struggled to dealing with surging crowds.

“People are going crazy after the match,” Mr. Latu reported.

“Neighbours are yelling at each other to show their jubilation.”

He said cars were blowing their horns in Kameli.

Tonga vs Lebanon

Tonga and Lebanon will clash in the quarterfinal of the Rugby League World Cup in
Christchurch, New Zealand tomorrow (November 18).

Michael Jennings has joined the team after he was replaced by Mahe Fonua last week.

Tonga squad: 1. Will Hopoate 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Michael Jennings 4. Konrad Hurrell 5. David Fusitu’a 6. Tui Lolohea 7. Ata Hingano 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Sione Katoa 10. Sio Siua Taukeiaho 11. Manu Ma’u 12. Sika Manu (c) 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Siliva Havili 15. Sam Moa 16. Tevita Pangai Jnr. 17. Ben Murdoch-Masila 18. Ukama Ta’ai 19. Joe Ofahengaue 20. Mahe Fonua 21. Samisoni Langi

Lebanon squad: 1. Anthony Layoun 2. Travis Robinson 3. James Elias 4. Adam Doueihi 5. Abbas Miski 6. Mitchell Moses 7. Robbie Farah (c) 8. Tim Mannah 9. Michael Lichaa 10. Alex Twal 11. Nick Kassis 12. Ahmad Ellaz 13. Jamie Clark 14. Mitchell Mamary 15. Ray Moujalli 16. Elias Sukkar 17. Jason Wehbe 18. Andrew Kazzi 19. Chris Saab 20. Bilal Maarbani.

Pōhiva rebuts claims that he wanted to take away commoners’ land and seize royal power

By
Kalino Latu
-

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva told his supporters that if he had really wanted to take away
people’s land and the royal powers he would have made himself Minister of Defence and
Minister of Land at the last election.

Hon. Pōhiva made the revelation on Tuesday night when he spoke in front of hundreds of his Tongatapu 1 constituents at the Uaiselē Hall at Sipu Road in Kolomotu’a.

He was rebutting claims by his political opponents that he had a secret agenda to take away people’s rights to their land and give it to the nobles.

Kaniva News was unable to publish anything on his speech immediately because of Tonga’s
electoral law which prohibited the publication of any material that could promote a candidate within 24 hours of Thursday’s elections.

In his speech, the Prime Minister said he struggled in 2014 to choose a Minister for the Ministry of Land and His Majesty’s Arm Forces.

Hon. Pōhiva, who was re-elected to Parliament in yesterday’s snap election, said he lay down at home at night and “thought deeply” about the problem.

He said he knew how “very fragile” the future of land and the defence services seemed to some people’s minds, especially the nobility and the royals while he, a man who had called for significant changes to the status quo in the past 30 years, was leading the country.

He finally made up his mind to appoint Lord Ma’afu from the nobility to the posts.

He thought the noble’s appointment could show the nation his ambition to bring about reforms that could bring more stability to Tonga.

He said politicians who campaigned against him during the snap election misled the people by telling them he was trying to unnecessary remove the king’s power.

“That was not right,” Pōhiva said.

Protect His Majesty

Hon. Pōhiva, whose critics accused him of wanting to become king, said he understood the way he wanted to protect the king put him and his government in a delicate situation.

The Prime Minister was referring to submissions from Cabinet to amend the constitution,
including a proposal to reinstate the former Privy Council structure in which the king met with cabinet ministers in Privy Council.

The move was described by the Minister of Justice Vuna Fā’otusia as an attempt to make sure the king was directly informed first hand about government matters by the Ministers because they were the ones who did government’s administration works.

Hon. Fā’otusia said the current structure was not secure because the Privy Council was filled with people who were not elected by the people and were not accountable to the public.

Hon. Pōhiva said they explained that amending the law would benefit the king and the people, but unfortunately his critics had twisted and demonised their intentions.

Dirty Politics

He described it as “dirty politics” and thanked his followers for helping defeat his rivals in the three decades he had been involved in Tongan politics.

Tuesday night’s meeting was repeatedly interrupted by applause and yells of support from the audience.

As Kaniva News reported last night, Hon. Pōhiva and his Democratic Party won 14 parliamentary seats which enabled them to form the next government without needing the help of the nobility or the independents.

It is understood Hon. Pōhiva and his cabinet are due to meet today, although the line-up of the cabinet has not been announced yet.

  • The main points
    Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva told his supporters that if he had really wanted to take
    away people’s land and the royal powers he would have made himself Minister of
    Defence and Minister of Land at the last election.
  • Hon. Pōhiva made the revelation on Tuesday night when he spoke in front of hundreds
    of his Tongatapu 1 constituents at the Uaisele Hall at Sipu Road in Kolomotu’a.
  • He was rebutting claims by his political opponents that he had a secret agenda to take
    away people’s rights to their land and give it to the nobles.
  • He said politicians who campaigned against him during the snap election misled the
    people by telling them he was trying to unnecessary remove the king’s power.

Democrats have numbers to form government on their own after final count

By
Philip Cass
-

The Democrats have won 14 seats in today’s election, giving them enough seats in
Parliament to form the next government without needing the support of independents.

Kaniva News editor Kalino Latu, who is covering the elections from Tonga, reports that
supervisor of Elections Pita Vuki confirmed a moment ago that the Democrats had added
five more seats to their tally.

Democrats had won two seats in Ha’apai, two in Vava’u and one in Niua, according to Vuki’s announcement.

The Democrat Party had already won a landslide victory in Tongatapu in today’s elections.

The only seat they lost is Tongatapu 3, which was won by former Deputy Prime Minister
Siaosi Sovaleni who was re-elected as an independent.

The final official results

Tongatapu 1 – ‘Akilisi Pohiva

Tongatapu 2 – Semisi Lafu Sika

Tongatapu 3 – Siaosi Sovaleni (Independent MP)

Tongatapu 4 – Mateni Tapueluelu

Tongatapu 5 – Losaline Ma’asi

Tongatapu 6 – Poasi Tei

Tongatapu 7 – Sione Vuna Fa’otusia

Tongatapu 8 – Semisi Fakahau

Tongatapu 9 – Penisimani Fifita

Tongatapu 10 – Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa

‘Eua 11 – Tevita Lavemaau (Independent)

Ha’apai 12 – Mo’ale Finau

Ha’apai 13 – Veivosa Taka

Vava’u 14 – Dr Saia Piukala

Vava’u 15 – Samiu Vaipulu (Independent)

Vava’u 16 – Akosita Lavulavu

Niua 17 – Vavatau Hui

There has been huge personal support for Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva.

Hon. Pohiva won despite being challenged by 10 candidates.

A total of 86 candidates stood today, including 15 women, for 17 open seats.

About 146 police officers were assigned to polling stations today

As Kaniva News reported earlier today, all but two of the Noble’s Representatives in Tonga’s parliament have been re-elected.

Lord Vaha’i took the third Tongatapu seat after winning a coin toss with Lord Vaea.

Massey University director of Pasifika Malakai Koloamatangi told Radio New Zealand the
importance of the vote could not be overstated.

“The first election was okay, 2010, it was testing the waters and so forth. 2014 was to see whether the mechanisms and machinery was in place,” he said.

“But this election, I think more than the others, even before 2010, will be the real litmus.”

The main points

  • An unofficial count made a few moments ago gives the Democrat Party 14 seats,
    enough to form the next government without needing the support of independents.
  • Kaniva News editor Kalino Latu, who is covering the elections from Tonga, reports
    that the unofficial count gives the Democrats five more seats, bringing them to 14.
  • Indications are that the Democrats have won two seats in Ha’apai, two in Vava’u and
    one in Niua.
  • The Democrat Party won a landslide in Tongatapu in today’s elections.

Lord Vaha’i wins after coin toss as Democrats lead in Tongatapu early election results

By
Kalino Latu
-

A coin toss was used to decide whether Lord Vaea or Lord Vaha’i won the third seat of members of the nobility to Parliament.

Lord Vaha’i won the seat.

Meanwhile, Losaline Ma’asi of the Democratic Party was leading the Tongatapu 5 race by 971 – 908 votes against sitting MP Dr. ‘Aisake Eke. The provisional results from ‘Atatā electorate have yet to be announced to give Tongatapu 5 outcome.

Dr. Eke had secured the seat in the last two elections in provisional early results.

Other Democratic Party candidates were leading the race in their Tongatapu constituencies.

They were current Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva (Tt1), SÄ“misi Lafu Sika (Tt2), Māteni Tapueluelu (Tt4), Poasi Tei (Tt6), Vuna Fā’otusia (Tt7), SÄ“misi Fakahau (Tt8), Penisimani Fifita (Tt9) and Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa (Tt10)

Former Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni has been reelected by Tongatapu 3.

The king’s 33 nobles reelected seven nobles to Parliament including the Speaker Lord Tu’ivakano and a Minister in Prime Minister’s ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s government Lord Ma’afu.

Vava’u, Niuas, Ha’apai and ‘Eua people election results have yet to be announced.

Noble’s Representatives 2017

Tongatapu

1. Lord Tu’ivakano 12 votes

2. Lord Ma’afu 11 votes

3. Lord Vaha’i 7 votes

Vava’u

1. Lord Tu’ilakepa 6 votes

2. Lord Tu’i’afitu 5 votes

Ha’apai

1. Lord Tui’ha’angana 5 votes

2. Lord Fakafanua 3 votes

‘Eua

1. Lord Nuku 10 votes

Ongo Niua

1. Lord Fusitu’a 3 votes

Reserve Bank names Speaker in list of “suspicious” money transfers

By
Kalino Latu
-

Speaker of Parliament Lord Tu’ivakanō and his wife Joyce Robin Kaho have been listed by the Tonga National Reserve bank as being involved in suspicious money transfers.

The list comprises 15 people who have transferred money overseas, including former Acting Chief Secretary to Cabinet ‘Aholotu Palu and former female Police Inspector ‘Ileana Taulua who worked at the immigration department.

Lord Tu’ivakanō and his wife’s names were first on the list.

The Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva gave copies of the list to local media in a press conference last week.

Hon. Pōhiva said the names on the list were people suspected of money laundering.

The Governor of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga, Dr Ngongo Kioa, did not respond to a request for comment by Kaniva News.

However, he confirmed the authenticity of the list to Talaki Newspaper.

Dr. Kioa said he was surprised when he found out the list had been leaked to media.

He said the document was confidential and only the bank and Police had it in their possession.

Dr Kioa told the paper the list had been created after the bank noticed these people transferred huge amounts of money overseas.

He said the bank was “suspicious” of the amounts of money transferred by these people.

Dr. Kioa said the bank has yet to prove there were illegal activities involved with these people’s money transfers.

The revelation came after a former parliamentary legal advisor Seinimili Tu’i’onetoa Fonua alleged there were financial and other irregularities involving Lord Tuʻivakanō and parliamentary staff.

Fonua claimed Lord Tuʻivakanō and parliamentary staff were involved in improperly sending money overseas. Sums of up to TP$20,000 at a time were involved.

The Speaker has dismissed Fonua’s accusations.

The list

  1. Siale ‘Ataongo Kaho (Honourable Tu’ivakanō)
  2. Joyce Robyn Kaho
  3. Sien Lee (Anthony Lee)
  4. Yung Huang Lee (Angela Lee)
  5. ‘Aholotu Palu (‘Aholotu Saafi)
  6. Heleni Makoni Palu
  7. David Lavulo Edwards
  8. ‘Isapela Saiatua Tu’akoi (Satua Tu’akoi)
  9. Salote Halaevalu Tupoulahi
  10. Sioeli Kivalu Heleta
  11. Na Li
  12. Nai Yan Cheuing (Lawrence Cheuing)
  13. Mia Wang (Orlandoni Wang)
  14. Tony Chen
  15. Ileana Suliana Taulua  (‘Ileana Taulua)
  • The main points
    Speaker of Parliament Lord Tu’ivakanō and his wife Joyce Robin Kaho have been listed by  the Tonga National Reserve bank as being involved in suspicious money transfers.
  • The list comprises 15 people who have transferred money overseas, including former Acting Chief Secretary to Cabinet ‘Aholotu Palu.
  • Lord Tu’ivakanō and his wife’s names were first on the list.
  • The Prime Minister gave a copy of the list to Kaniva News last night.

Overseas observers will report to government after elections, says Pita Vuki

By
Kalino Latu
-

The  Commonwealth Observer Group which is in Tonga to monitor tomorrow’s election will report what they see during the elections to the government, the  Supervisor of Elections Pita Vuki said.

The report could include anything including any suspected irregularities, Vuki said.

He said all the work for the election process had been completed under the leadership of the Election Commission office.

Vuki said work his office did during July to try to register more voters in Tongatapu had been interrupted by the sudden dissolution of parliament.

He said at the last election voter turnout was 79 percent but they were trying to increase that number.

According to the law 24 hours before the election day all posters and any material that tended to promote candidates must be pulled down, he said.

“The spirit of the law is to give voters time to rest their minds from the challenges of the campaigns and that they will not be disturbed by candidates in that particular time,” Vuki told Kaniva News.

The Commonwealth Observer Group was invited to observe the elections by the Tongan government.

As Kaniva News reported earlier this week, observers from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the US Embassy in Suva will also be watching the election.

Meanwhile, Minister of Finance Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa said the ‘Akilisi Pohiva caretaker government would continue in its role until the new Prime Minister is elected.

Tu’i’onetoa said after the election tomorrow King Tupou VI would appoint an interim Speaker of Parliament.

That person would be responsible for the process of handing over power from the care taker government to the new government, he said.

Polling booths will open at 9am and close at 4pm tomorrow.

The main points

  • The Commonwealth Observer Group which is in Tonga to monitor tomorrow’s election will report what they see during the elections to the government, the  Supervisor of Elections Pita Vuki said.
  • The report could include anything including any suspected irregularities, Vuki said.
  • He said all the work for the election process had been completed under the leadership of the Election Commission office.
  • Vuki said work his office did during July to try to register more voters in Tongatapu had been interrupted by the sudden dissolution of parliament.

For more information  

Elections crucial, Commonwealth head says as observer team readies for Thursday’s poll

10 things you need to know about the Tongan election

By
Kaniva Staff
-

While rugby league and the prospect of a Tongan team taking the World Cup is currently gripping Tongans around the world, in the Kingdom there is an election to be won on Thursday.

Massey University Pasifika Director Associate Professor Malakai Kolamatangi will be an observer at the election and says this is what you need to know ahead of the vote.

  1. The election is a year early after King George Tupou the sixth dismissed the country’s scandal-ridden Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva and dissolved parliament in August and called for a fresh election.
  2. The Government was dissolved on the advice of the Speaker of the House Lord Tu’ivakano and the Tongan Privy Council. It follows a series of Government controversies including the dismissal of three cabinet ministers including one convicted of bribery, the creation of a golf course at the Popua wetland and heritage area, a decision to part privatise the National Broadcaster and the decision to pull out of hosting the Pacific Games.
  3. This is only the third time Tongans have gone to the polls since a new electoral system was introduced in 2010.  Tongan is the only constitutional monarchy in the Pacific.
  4. Voters get to vote for 17 of the 26 Legislative Assembly of Tonga seats. Nine seats are held by members of the nobility who elect representatives amongst themselves and the PM can choose to appoint up to 4 people non-elected people to his cabinet.
  5. Former New Zealand cabinet minister and speaker of the house Margaret Wilson, is leading the first ever Commonwealth Observer team to observe the Tongan elections.
  6. Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva was the first commoner to be elected prime minister in 2014 and his will be the most hotly contested seat with 11 candidates running
  7. 59,000 people are registered to vote in the election up 8000 on last election when voter turnout was 79%
  8. The swiftness of the election has caught out some potential politicians living off shore because in order to be eligible candidates must have lived in Tonga for the previous three months to an election.
  9. The country’s only elected woman MP Akosita Havili Lavulavu, won her seat in a by election in 2016 but in this election, there are 15 women candidates running – the highest number ever.
  10. Tonga’s 170 islands are spread over nearly 700,000 square kilometres. Polling from the outer islands have to be called in by polling supervisors to the Electoral Commission on the main island Tongatapu and results are expected before 11pm
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