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Heartbreaking reunion for the deceased’s family

By
Kalino Latu
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Dozens of Tongan seasonal workers in Hawkes Bay were joined by the late Siosifa Havili’s close family members in a moving and emotional vigil and family service for the deceased in Hastings last night.

The service was attended by about 80 Tongan seasonal workers and members of the growing Tongan community in Hastings and surrounds.

Siosifa, aged 46,  was in New Zealand as a seasonal worker but died of a heart attack earlier this week, a month and a half following a routine heart operation in Wellington Hospital.

Siosifa’s eldest brother, Tavite Havili flew over from Australia and was joined by his sister Mrs Lotolua Sharkey and her daughter Vika, who live in Auckland before heading down to Hastings.

Also attending were senior management and staff of employers of Thornhill Horticultural Contracting Ltd and Mr Apple Ltd, who employed Siosifa for many years.

Mr Sefita Hao’uli and Mr Tevita Niulata who look after the seasonal workers from Tonga while they’re in New Zealand were also at the service.

Mr Alistair Jamieson, who is the seasonal labour manager for Mr Apple gave a warm and tearful tribute and spoke of a group leader who was a valued employee for New Zealand’s largest apple exporter.

Thornhill Contracting owner also acknowledged Siosifa’s services on behalf of the company and his staff.

In representing the New Zealand government, Immigration New Zealand Pacific labour and skills manager George Rarere  referred to his recent visit to Tonga where he met with Prime Minister, Mr Akilisi Pohiva who gave an undertaking that Tonga is obliged to send a senior government official to accompany the deceased home and he understood that this will be standard practice.

Siosifa came to New Zealand in February and worked for Mr Apple before he moved to Thornhill Contracting company on a joint ATR in May.

He was the leader of a group of 12 workers, most of whom are from Ma’ufanga

Arrangements have been made to repatriate Siosifa on Thursday for burial in Tonga next weekend.

Cabinet members’ cost of living pay rise condemned by PSA

By
Philip Cass
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Cabinet members have been awarded their first pay rise since 2015.

Their pay rise excludes any back pay for the past two years.

The five percent cost of living allowance (COLA) pay increase was agreed last week and was deemed to have come into effect on July 1.

According to a press release from the Prime Minister’s office, the decision to award the pay increase was prompted by the increase in the income tax imposed on Cabinet Minister’s annual salary by 24%, from July 1 this year.

In 2015, Cabinet resolved that only civil servants would be awarded with a five percent cost of living allowance.

The Ministers’ entitlements were put on hold for now two years.

In 2005, civil servants were awarded a range of salary adjustment of between 60 and 80 percent.

This was followed by another 10% cost of living allowance in 2009, a six percent increase in 2014 and five percent in 2015.

Tonga Public Service Association secretary Mele ‘Amanaki condemned the pay rise and called on cabinet to rescind their pay rise and give a five percent pay rise to public servants.

The PSA has been fighting with the government over cost of living allowances and the implementation of new public service salary structures.

The current Crown Employees (Public Service – Salaries 2016) Award expired on  June 30, 2017.

“Have the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice forgotten what we fought for in 2005? Fair distribution of benefits in government?” ‘Amanaki asked.

She said the Association had fought for pay increases for workers at the lower end of the pay scale.

Pay rises at the bottom of the pay scale would be “peanuts” compared with the cost of cabinet salaries.

“How greedy can one be?” Ananaki  said.

“’Alu atu e Kapineti, moe me’a tatau.”

The main points

  • Cabinet members have been awarded their first pay rise since 2015.
  • Their pay rise excludes any back pay for the past two years.
  • Tonga Public Service Association secretary Mele Ananaki condemned the pay rise and called on cabinet to rescind their pay rise and give a five percent pay rise to public servants.
  • She said the Association had fought for pay increases for workers at the lower end of the pay scale.

For more information 

Public Service Association

Exclusive: Bristol make Charles Piutau the world’s highest paid player with TOP$2.7 million per season deal

By
International Media
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Charles Piutau is to become the highest paid player in world rugby next year after Championship side Bristol smashed Premiership records by signing the former All Black on a sensational £1 million per season deal, Telegraph Sport can reveal.

Piutau, the utility back who won 16 caps for the All Blacks before joining Irish province Ulster via a dazzling season at Wasps, is to join the south west club at the start of the 2018/19 season having signed a two-year deal that will shock waves across English rugby.

Bristol saw off strong competition from leading clubs in France to secure the deal – well beyond Ulster’s financial means – and had to pay above the odds because of their current status outside of England’s top flight.

Bristol, who were relegated from the Premiership last season, had already set a new Premiership record by signing Piutau’s former Auckland Blues and All Blacks team-mate Steven Lautau this season on a deal understood to be worth £650,000 per season.

The Piatau deal however last night described by Pat Lam, Bristol’s new director of rugby, “one of the biggest coups in the club’s history” and underscores the south west club’s ambitions – bankrolled by billionaire owner Stephen Lansdown – to become not only the top force in England but also Europe.

Both players are understood to be signed as one of the two “marquee” players allowed by Premiership Rugby salary cap regulations, where the club can pay an unlimited salary to two designated players.

Piatau will remain with Ulster for the new season to see out his current contract before moving to England next year, when he will eclipse former All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter as the highest club player on the world stage.

Carter’s current deal with French Top 14 club Racing 92, which is thought to be around 1.2million euros per season, is due to expire at the end of the new season.

It is understood Piatau’s deal will still go through even if Bristol do not win promotion back to the Premiership at the end of the new season and he will join his brother Siale at his new club.

“I feel blessed to have been given the opportunities I have in rugby,” Piatau told Telegraph Sport.

“If I am able to play a central role in delivering the vision that Pat has outlined for Bristol, then the challenge of playing for this club will be an achievement that I will be able to look back on, with immense pride.

“Even more appealing, is the opportunity to do this along side my brother Siale, my best friend Steven (Lautau) and the rest of the squad that Bristol is putting together.

“Signing for Ulster was the start of my journey outside of New Zealand and I will forever be grateful for this opportunity. And as we enter an exciting new format in the Pro 14, my sole focus for this season will be to do whatever I can to make this a successful season for Ulster and its supporters.”

Ryan Constable, a director of Esportif International, the agency that struck the deal with Bristol, refused to comment on the figures of the deal but admitted that rugby union was moving further towards a business model where players are signed not only to perform on the pitch but also boost the club’s profile and commercial value.

“Obviously it would be entirely inappropriate to comment on the specifics of any individual contract negotiation but generally speaking, there is no doubt that we are seeing the emergence of an American style “franchise player” phenomenon in rugby, where certain clubs are prepared to invest in particular players for more than just their playing attributes,” said Constable, the former Saracens and Ulster centre who was capped by Australia in 1994.

“These players are central to the commercial and community engagement programs of the clubs and their ability to attract supporters. We have seen evidence of significant spikes in both season ticket purchases and replica jersey sales following high profile announcements at European Clubs.

“The ‘excluded player’ dispensations from salary cap restrictions in the Aviva Premiership allow these English clubs to compete in the wider marketplace for this marquee talent which, would otherwise gravitate towards the French Top 14 or Japanese Top League due to their superior financial muscle.

“Let’s not forget, not only is there competition between clubs within their competition, there is also competition between competitions to attract the best talent.   This impacts on TV audiences and therefore impacts broadcast revenue along with sponsorship opportunities and ticket sales.”

Piutau, who can play full back, wing or centre, made 23 appearances for Ulster and was their joint-top try scorer with nine tries last season and was named the Pro 12 players’ player of the season. During his spell with Wasps in 2016, Piutau was also nominated for the Aviva Premiership player of the season and was named in the team of the season.

“We’re thrilled to have an individual of his immense quality and experience to add to our ranks. As somebody who has worked with Charles previously, I know what an influential player he is on and off the field,” said Lam.

US military plans B-1 Bomber strike on North Korea missile sites

By
International Media
-

The American military is ready with a plan to strike North Korean missile sites in a preemptive attack if Donald Trump decides to do so.

The plan involves flying a B-1B heavy bomber from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam accompanied by satellites, drones, higher jets, and aerial refuelling warplanes. Training for the mission has been ongoing, and there have been 11 practice runs for a similar mission since May when the training was accelerated.

“Of the military options … [President Trump] could consider, this would be one of the two or three that would at least have the possibility of not escalating the situation,” retired Admiral James Stavridis, the former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told NBC.

There are six B-1B bombers positioned in Guam, about 2,100 miles by air to North Korea. The bombers have been heavily used in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and have been updated since then.

The news of the potential operations comes as the relationship between the US and North Korea has become very strained. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Mr Trump have engaged in a heated back and forth of threats. Recently, Mr Trump promised “fire and fury” if Mr Kim didn’t stop threatening the United States. In response, Mr Kim’s government signaled they were considering an attack on Guam if Mr Trump didn’t cool his tough talk.

Both countries appear to be more than willing to push the other further and further with the threats, however, in spite of assurance from US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who has said that Americans have no reason to worry about an impending war.

Should Mr Trump choose the attack plan that includes the B-1B bomber, they would be targeting  approximately two dozen North Korean missile-launch sites, test grounds and other facilities, sources told NBC.

Defense Secretary James Mattis, following the exchange of threats, released a statement saying that the Pentagon was prepared for any escalation to violence including an offensive attack or a defensive, retaliatory attack.

“While our State Department is making every effort to resolve this global threat through diplomatic means,“ the statement said, ”it must be noted that the combined allied militaries now possess the most precise, rehearsed and robust defensive and offensive capabilities on Earth.”

More cows damage plantations in Vava’u as bill rushed to Parliament

By
Kalino Latu
-

More cows have been found damaging a plantation in Vava’u at the same time as a private bill to toughen laws controlling livestock is being rushed to Parliament

Holonga resident Mausa Lilo uploaded photos of cows wandering in his plantation on Wednesday.

He posted a photo of himself with a rifle warning farmers to control their cows or he would shoot them if he found them on his plantation again.

The most recent damage came after Kaniva News reported seven cows were shot dead while damaging a watermelon garden in ‘Utui.

Tonga Broadcasting Commission has reported that three cows belonging to a livestock farmer of Pangaimotu were shot recently after they wandered onto a tax allotment.

The private bill to control livestock will be submitted by Vava’u 16 MP ‘Akosita Lavulavu. It is intended to increase fines for those whose animals damage plantations from TP$100 and $TP200 to $4000 and $5000.

Hon. Lavulavu told Kaniva News Holonga was in her electorate and she was aware of the incident at Lilo’s plantation.

If it becomes law, the bill will require owners of animals which cause damages to pay an on the spot fine or go to court.

The bill would also give power to plantation owners to impound animals which cause damage for seven days, as long as they inform the town officer. If no one claims the animals after seven days the plantation owner can keep them.

If the owner of the animal comes forward to claim them within seven days they will have to pay TP$400 to the victims.

The bill would also make it an offence for people who owned animals such as cows, horses and pigs not to keep them in an enclosure.

Hon. Lavulavu said her bill was urgent and the Minister of Justice had urged her to work on it.

She said the bill would help to protect the animals and keep the peace in the community.

The shooting of the seven cows in ‘Utui triggered huge debates on social  media, with many people claiming this was a huge and long standing problem in Vava’u.

Some stood by the shooter while some said his actions went too far as the animals became victims because of the owners’ disregard for their safety.

One source said the cows damaged more than 1000 water melons in the ‘Utui plantation.

Fehoko Bloomfield ‘Okusitino of Kameli, who now lives in Australia, said herds of cows roamed the tax allotments and residential areas in Neiafu and Kameli, particularly in the evening and early in the morning.

Vava’u 14 MP and Minister of Health Saia Piukala said he understood this was a huge problem in his constituency.

His constituents had raised the issue with him and he asked the owners of animals to make sure they could control their animals.

He believed the problems would not be resolved soon so he advised his constituents the best thing for them to do was to put their animals into enclosures.

The main points

  • More cows have been found damaging a plantation in Vava’u at the same time as a private bill is being rushed to Parliament to toughen laws that control animals.
  • Holonga resident Mausa Lilo has uploaded photos of cows wandering in his plantation on Wednesday.
  • He posted a photo of him with a rifle warning farmers to control their cows or he would shoot them if he found them on his plantation again.
  • A private bill will be submitted by Vava’u 16 MP ‘Akosita Lavulavu. It is intended to increase fines for those whose animals damage plantations from TP$100 and $TP200 to $4000 and $5000.

Tongan man guilty of murdering neighbour with a smashed beer bottle

By
International Media
-

A Tongan man who killed his neighbour with a smashed beer bottle during an attack which lasted less than 15 seconds has been found guilty of murder.

The victim, Kelly Ventigadoo, who’d been farewelling his parents outside his home, bled to death in five minutes, Fairfax Media reported.

Sateki Siale, 26, had admitted causing the death of Mr Ventigadoo but pleaded not guilty to murdering him early on October 11, 2015, at Lakemba in Sydney’s southwest.

He claimed to have no memory of the attack and his barrister argued he was too drunk to form an intention to kill.

But a NSW Supreme Court jury on Friday found Siale guilty of murder after less than three days of deliberations.

Jurors had been told Mr Ventigadoo and his parents were talking a little loudly outside his home because his father was hearing impaired, when a drunken Siale approached them.

It was claimed Siale asked why they were talking so loudly and stated “this is my street” before fatally stabbing Mr Ventigadoo.

Siale pleaded guilty to assault causing death while intoxicated but denied murdering Mr Ventigadoo, claiming he never intended to kill him.

Mr Ventigadoo’s mother, Cynthia, told the jury she actually put a hand on Siale’s chest telling him to go home as they were leaving.

Ms Ventigadoo said the man was “angry” and “talking in a big voice” when he approached them.

“He took the broken bottle and … smashed my son,” she said.

She started to cry when recalling how her son “dropped” after being slashed across the neck with the broken beer bottle.

“When he fell he was holding his left ear because he was bleeding everywhere.”

When the victim got back up and asked Siale “why did you do that?” Siale hit him again and this time Kelly didn’t get up.

His father, James Ventigadoo, said the whole incident took 10 to 15 seconds.

Siale later told police he had had a “big night” before attacking Mr Ventigadoo about 12.30am.

Clinical forensic pharmacologist John Farrar estimated Siale had been drinking for more than six hours and would have had a blood alcohol content of between 0.23 and 0.36 when he attacked his victim.

Mr Farrar said if this was correct, Siale would have had to have consumed up to 17 bottles of beer and half a bottle of bourbon.

Five in custody after robbery at Henderson superette

By
Kaniva Staff
-

(New Zealand) Waitemata Police have arrested five people following the robbery of a shop in West Auckland this morning.

Police were called to a superette on Henderson Valley Rd just after 7.15am.

Five males, disguised with scarves and face masks, entered the premises brandishing batons and bars, Senior Sergeant Tony Miller said.

Four of the offenders took cigarettes and the till, with money in it.

A fifth offender allegedly pointed an imitation firearm at the shop owner, who was subsequently kicked in the face.

While the victim was injured, fortunately he did not require treatment by paramedics.

A speedy response from Police to the scene and a rapid investigation by the Tactical Crime Unit has resulted in the arrest of five people and the seizure of a vehicle.

This was a solid piece of Police work, which included a foot chase by officers.

The five males, one 18-year-old, three aged 17, and one 14-year-old, appeared in court this afternoon, where Police opposed bail.

Police will not tolerate this type of crime, which targets people providing a vital service to our communities.

Tongan fruit picker dead after suspected heart attack in van at Hastings parking lot

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Tongan man has died of a suspected heart attack in a parking lot in Hastings, New Zealand after authorities were alerted by a member of the public.

Siosifa Havili, 46, was found slumped over the wheel of the van he had been driving on Gordon Road last night Wednesday 9 at about 10pm, Tongan government RSE liaison officer Sefita Haoʻuli told Kaniva News this morning.

Havili’s death appeared to be medical but would be referred to the Coroner, Hao’uli said.

He said the deceased was admitted to Wellington Hospital six weeks ago where he received four stents.

He also had Type 1 diabetes and had regularly visited his doctor.

Hao’uli said the employer had checked the GPS of the vehicle and could tell Havili arrived at Gordon Road at 6.40 pm, and was found by a member of the public, at around 10 pm.

Havili’s employer was working with authorities to arrange for his insurance cover and organise flight so his body could be sent back to Tonga.

Havili came to New Zealand in February and worked for Mr Apple before he moved to Thornhill Contracting company on a joint ATR in May.

He was the leader of a group of 12 boys.

AG defends report that exposed fraud and financial disarray in ministries as “independent”

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s former Auditor General, Hon. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, said the report which exposed fraud and financial disarray in government ministries was “independent”.

The report by the current Auditor General’s office revealed some tools belonging to the Ministry of Infrastructure in Vava’u had been sold in secret, while book-keeping at the Ministry of Justice created opportunities for staff to steal money.

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva welcomed the report and said it showed there was huge disarray in the government’s ministries and how they took care of the government’s possessions.

In Tongan he said: “…mahalo ko e lea ko ē ‘oku totonu ke ngāue’aki ki ai fu’u felekeu lahi pehē ‘a e anga ‘etau fakahoko hotau ngaahi fatongia mo e ‘ikai ke tau tokanga ki he koloa ‘a e Pule’anga”.

The Prime Minister told Parliament this was the first time the House had seen a thorough and very transparent report by the Auditor General.

Former Finance Minister ‘Aisake Eke said the report suggested ways for the government to improve the performance of ministries.

He told the House the “weaknesses” reported by the auditor should not be reported again after this financial year 2017/18.

Former Minister of Internal Affairs and Niuas MP Fe’ao Vakata said most of the problems reported by the auditor occurred due to “due process”.

Vakata was concerned at the amount of corruption the auditor had referred to in his report which occurred in the Ministry of Infrastructure in Vava’u.

He said the report should be followed closely by all MPs as it was designed to protect all of them, not just the government.

The report recorded failings in a number of ministries, ranging from records of revenue collected not being kept, over payment of daily allowances and delays in banking revenue.

Dr Eke said he was concerned that the Water Board directors were paid in advance and that the disorganised way the Ministry of Justice kept its record meant staff could easily steal the money it corrected from birth, death and marriage certificates.

He suggested the report should be passed on to the Finance Committee so it could pinpoint the issues the government most needed to improve.

He said in that way the report would then be make used practically and effectively.

The Prime Minister told the House the Ministers should take the Auditor General’s report back to their Ministries and resolve the problems with their CEOs and staff.

However, Lord Nuku argued the report had reported that there were “wrongdoings” and they should be addressed through the proper Parliamentary procedures.

He said it was wrong for the Prime Minister to tell his ministers to go back and try to correct the problems.

The Prime Ministers said the House could decide whether to pass the report to the Finance Committee.

He said it was important for the Ministers to do something about the problems so they did not happen again.

The history

Former Auditor General Hon. Pohiva Tu’ionetoa, who is now the Minister of Customs and Revenue and Labour and Commerce, told Kaniva News when he became Auditor General he was accountable to the Prime Minister, according to the law.

This meant no full report was made available to Parliament because the auditor’s report was made as part of the Prime Minister’s office annual report to the House.

This meant the Prime Minister had full control of what the auditor could put in the report, Hon. Tu’i’onetoa said.

He said as a professional auditor who had worked in the office of the New Zealand’s General Auditor office he wanted the auditor to work independently.

It was a difficult task because there were some cultural and traditional beliefs that had influenced how the auditor should be controlled, he said.

When ‘Akilisi Pohiva began pushing for a change to democracy he thought it was the right time for him to  push for the auditor general to be independent.

In 1984 the government passed a bill he submitted to change  the auditor’s title from Auditor for Government into Auditor General.

However, the government rejected his proposal to remove the auditor from the control of the Prime Minister and the cabinet and attach the post to the Speaker of Parliament.

In 2007 the Parliament finally passed a law to allow the Auditor General to come under the Speaker of the House.

In 2012 the House called a special meeting to sack him for allegedly making a false report regarding funding from Australia and New Zealand for Tonga’s political reform in 2010.

Parliament cleared Hon. Tu’ionetoa when it became clear his report was correct. This led to a demand from New Zealand and Australia for the Tongan government to pay back the amount of money the auditor said was unaccounted for.

Hon. Tu’ionetoa said at the time he submitted a private bill through Dr Eke to remove the Auditor General from the Prime Minister and cabinet and bring him under the Speaker so he could do his job independently.

Parliament voted unanimously for the bill with great support from ‘Akilis Pohiva and the Democrats, he said.

“Therefore the independent report by the Auditor today, was the result of what I have explained above. If Eke and ‘Akilisi Pohiva and the Democrats had not supported the bill we could not have reached this stage of good governance where we see the Auditor had performed regarding auditing”, Hon. Tu’i’onetoa said.

In Tongans he said: “Koia ko e lipooti tau’ataina a e Atita ‘I he ‘aho ni, ko e ola ia ‘o e ngaahi liliu kuo u lave kiai ‘I ‘olunga. Kapau na’e ‘ikai kau kiai a e Minisita Pa’anga Malolo, mo e poupou ‘a Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva, e ‘ikai te tau a’usia a e tau’ataina ‘o e Good Governance ‘o e ‘aho ni, felave’i mo e ngaue faka’atita.”

The main points

  • Tonga’s former Auditor General, Hon. Pohiva Tu’I’onetoa, said the report which exposed fraud and financial disarray in government ministries was “independent”.
  • The report by the current Auditor General’s office revealed some tools belonging to the Ministry of Infrastructure in Vava’u had been sold in secret.
  • It said book-keeping practices at the Ministry of Justice created opportunities for staff to steal money.
  • Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva welcomed the report and said it showed there was huge disarray in the government’s ministries and how they took of the government’s possessions.

Baby kidnapped in Auckland

By
Kaniva Staff
-

At approximately 7am this morning Police received a report that an 11-day-old baby had been kidnapped from a residential address in Epsom.

Police launched an investigation and a large team have been making numerous enquiries throughout the day.

Police are pleased to advise that we have located the baby and she is safe and well.  She was returned to her parents at approximately 1.30pm this afternoon.

“The baby’s parents are obviously very distraught and have been through a terrible ordeal and they are currently with their baby.

“This has been an extremely harrowing time for the new parents of a very young baby.  We are relieved and thankful that the baby was not harmed and has been reunited with her parents,” said Detective Inspector Scott Beard.

Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances around the kidnapping, however Police are talking to two people who are helping with enquiries and no further details are available at this early stage.

The baby’s parents have requested privacy as they come to terms with the ordeal they have endured.

An update will be issued shortly.

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