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It’s a “family issue” and it’s been sorted out with Police, Lauaki family claim

By
Kalino Latu
-

Australian police have confirmed a report published in Kaniva News yesterday that the king’s matāpule ma’utofi’a (herald), Sione Lauaki, was wanted by police in Victoria.

An e-mail from Victoria Police to Radio 531 PI this morning seen by Kaniva said that that Lauaki had been arrested and the warrant against him cleared.

Lauaki was charged with recklessly causing injury during an incident in 2014, but failed to appear in court.

After our story appeared,  a family member claimed that it was a family issue and had been sorted out with Victorian Police.

Fuifuilupe Manuha’apai said there was a family incident in 2014 after which Lauaki was meant to appear in court in Australia, but did not. She said this was because Lauaki was travelling to Tonga at the time.

Victorian Police have yet to make available the details of the incident and the charges against Lauaki.

As we reported, the Australian Star Weekly published a photo of the king’s matāpule (herald), saying he had been “charged with recklessly causing injury.”

“He was due to front court on May 28, 2014, and never showed up. Lauaki remains at large and an active warrant for arrest remains in existence,” the Star Weekly said.

Manuha’apai said his tuonga’ane’s (brother’s) name was put on the most wanted list to “warrant” that he had to return to court and faced his charges.

An e-mail from Victoria Police this morning has confirmed the report.

Fuifuilupe Manuha’apai says it was a family issue. Photo/Facebook

“The information published by the Star Weekly is correct and was provided by police. However the warrant has since been cleared, which means he was arrested,” the email read.

Reactions

The news has divided the public on social media.

Many were astonished, while some who appeared to be family, friends and residents of the king’s hereditary estate holder did not want to accept the news.

Some supporters of Lauaki called on Kaniva to pull down the story depicting it as “fake news”.

Some of them threatened Kaniva with physical attacks.

Some family members insisted the Sione Lauaki named in the story was not Lauaki, the matāpule ma’utofi’a.

Some swore on Kaniva’s Facebook pages, saying we should have not published it because it tarnished Lauaki’s reputation.

None of these disgruntled supporters and family members denied that Lauaki was the person in the photo released by the Victorian Police to the Star Weekly.

In response to negative comments against the news Kaniva Tonga moderators on our Facebook pages deleted these comments and told the writers to contact us directly and raise their concerns.

Our policy restricted our moderators from responding directly on Facebook to any complaints against our news. We urge complainants to contact Kaniva directly as in that way we can tell how genuine the complaint is and the complaint can be handled professionally.

None of those who complained about the story contacted us.

Other writers lashed out at these critics saying they were demented with emotion and worry.

Some said Kaniva was doing its job and reporting a notice given by the Victorian Police to the Star Weekly.

Manuha’apai took to Facebook this morning and apologised to the family and anyone who was affected by the incident.

She confirmed Kaniva was correct when it referred to Lauaki in the Star Weekly, as the king’s top matāpule.

She wrote that Lauaki was her brother and is also known as Kavakilo’amanu, who serves His Majesty King Tupou VI and the fonua (nation).

Her post in Tongan on Facebook is written verbatim below:

“Malo hoomou Lelei pea tau Fakafetai ihe etau kei mataa ae Moui…Kole fzkamolemole atu kihe taha kotoape oku uesia ihe ISSUE KO ENI…….

KO LAUAKI pe ko Kavakiloamanu Kohoku Tuonga’ane kakoe Mataapule (LAUAKI )Mautofi’a FAKAHOKO FATONGIA Kiheene ‘ Afio Tupou 6 moe Fonua o Tonga(Talafoou )

FEKAUAKI MOE Star Weekly Australia KOE ISSUE FKFAMILI PE AMAUTOLU IHE 2014 NAE HOKO AI ihe Taimi koia nae fiemau mai Mei he COURT Oku lolotonga Folau ia ki Tonga o fkhoko fatogia ai pea koe MOST WANTED ke warrant ke foki ange o SORT OUT AE ISSUE PEA KOIA AI KAINGA KUO OSI SORT E ISSUE PEA MOE KAU POLISI IA….koe mea mahuinga koetau feiloaki FIEFIA IHE MOUI FEMAATAAKI KIHE MEDIA ni….OKU IKAI KOHA HIA MAMAFA MO FAKALILIFU KE FAI HA SIO KIAI pe nae mole ha moui ai koe ISSUE FAKAFAMILY PE AMAUTOLU PEA KUO LAVA LELEI HONO SOLOVA. …Fakamalo atu kihe Media moe taha kotoape hoomou TOKONI MOE HUFAKI MOE OFA ki hoku tuongaane LAUAKI pehee Kia moutolu kotoape family and friends kotoape I he KOLOPE. ..

OFA LAHI ATU MOE HUFAKI MOE FAKAAPAAPA ATU MEIHE FUNGAFAITE TALA A FAFINE. …

Tau FIEFIA MO FAKAFETAI IHE MEA KOTOA PE.

OFAATU MOE HUFAKI”.

Below is a screenshot of Fuifuilupe Manuhaʻapai’s post on Facebook

The main points

  • Australian police have confirmed a report published in Kaniva News yesterday that the king’s matapule ma’utofi’a (herald), Sione Lauaki, was wanted by police in Victoria.
  • Victoria Police told Kaniva News this morning that Lauaki had been arrested and the warrant against him cleared.
  • Lauaki was charged with recklessly causing injury during an incident in 2014.
  • He failed to appear in court.

For more information

King’s leading chief, Lauaki, on most wanted fugitives in Australia

Murder charge laid as family of accused apologise for their son’s action

By
Kalino Latu
-

The family of the man who was accused in connection with the death of Keuli Malakai in Ma’ufanga had formally apologised to the deceased’s family for their son’s actions.

It is understood the family arrived at the victim’s family home early this week with a hala which included Tongan handicrafts, soft sweet food and drinks.

It followed with a matāpule formally asking Malakai’s family to forgive their son.

Police have charged the 25-year-old suspect with murder.

Malakai, 51, worked as a custom officer at the Ministry of Customs.

Some of the Ministry’s staff wrote on Facebook saying they were with the deceased at one of the night clubs before the incident happened.

The accused remains in custody after he turned himself in to police on Saturday morning shortly after the incident on July 8.

He will appear at the Fasi Magistrate’s Court on Monday, July 17, Police said.

Naked, pedigreed and determined – Tongan players in the All Blacks-Lions clash

By
Philip Cass
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One of them posed nude for an American sports magazine, two of them have pedigrees as  sons of Tongan internationals and one of them returned to the game he played as a boy to make it into the All Blacks.

They are the four Tongans who represented the All Blacks and the British and Irish Lions in last week’s final clash, which in ended in a 15-all draw.

And, except for a shoulder injury, there could have been a fifth Tongan player on the field.

The presence of the four Tongans split support for the home team and the visitors among Tongan rugby fans.

After a controversial start to the year with allegations and denials surrounding a rugby match in Tonga, Malakai Fekitoa helped focus support for the All Blacks among at least some members of Tonga’s rugby community during their clash with the Lions.

As Kaniva News reported earlier this year, Fekitoa was embroiled in a controversy over a rugby match he organised in the kingdom.

He has kept himself in the spotlight by posing nude for an American sporting magazine and signing to a French club.

Fekitoa, who was born in Ha’apai, has continued to gain publicity for other reasons, including agreeing to pose naked for ESPN The Magazine.

He is believed to be the first athlete from New Zealand – and only the second rugby player poses to have shed their clothes for the sports magazine.

He signed a contract with French club Toulon after not making the original cut for the All Blacks. However he was called in for the third test and there have been questions in the media about whether he will now try to get out of his contract.

Joining Fekitoa in the New Zealand line-up was midfielder Ngani Laumape. Laumape,  who has just signed a two year contract with the Hurricanes, made his debut for the New Zealanders against the Lions.

He has a quieter image than Fekitoa, and has drawn attention as a former schoolboy union player who switched codes and then came back to his original game with a dream of one day being selected for the All Blacks.

When he was told he had been selected to play against the Lions, he couldn’t quite believe he had made it.

Meanwhile, other Tongan rugby fans, backed the Lions because of the presence of Toby Faletau and Mako Vunipola.

Faletau was born in Tofoa and is the son of Tongan international Kuli Faletau.

Faletau senior played for the kingdom in the 1991 Rugby World Cup and moved to Wales in 1987 to join Ebbw Vale.

Toby Faletau was a successful junior player, being named player of the year during his time at Filton College’s rugby academy.

He now plays for Bath and Wales.

Mako Vunipola, who plays for the Saracens and England, had already been capped for the Lions twice before the recent tour.

Born in Sydney, he moved to Wales with his family as a child.

Chief among Vunipola‘s supporters in Tonga was his father, Tonga Rugby Union Chief Executive Fe’ao Vunipola.

Fe’ao and uncles Manu and ‘Elisi all played for the ‘Ikale Tahi.

Radio New Zealand reported that Mako, 26, would almost certainly have been joined by his younger brother Billy in the test squad, but he had to withdraw because of a shoulder injury.

The main points

  • Tongan rugby fans were divided in their support during the All Blacks-Lions clash because of the presence of Tongan players on both sides.
  • Lining up for New Zealand were Malakai Fekitoa and Ngani Laumape.
  • Playing for the Lions were two sons of Tongan internationals, Toby Faletau and Mako Vunipola.
  • Vunipola‘s father is Tonga Rugby Union Chief Executive Fe’ao Vunipola.

For more information

Ngani Laumape has taken a slightly unconventional route to the All Blacks jumper

Ex-All Black Malakai Fekitoa bares all in hot ESPN shoot

Malakai Fekitoa having second thoughts on overseas move

Player profiles of the 41 Lions 

Tonga Rugby CEO all in for Lions

King’s leading chief, Lauaki, on most wanted fugitives in Australia

By
Kalino Latu
-

A top matāpule of the king of Tonga has been listed as one of the most wanted fugitives in Australia.

The Australian Star Weekly has listed Sione Lauaki, born in 1958, as one of the fugitives most wanted by the Wyndham Police.

The website said Lauaki “was charged with recklessly causing injury”.

“He was due to front court on May 28, 2014, and never showed up. Lauaki remains at large and an active warrant for arrest remains in existence”, it said.

Lauaki, the person in the photo published by the Star Weekly,  is the royal undertaker and he is the head of the Kau Ma’u.

He is one of the king’s few heralds who holds and owns hereditary estates in Tonga.

Wyndham is known as the oldest and northernmost town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, located on the Great Northern Highway 2,210 kilometres northeast of Perth.

According to the 2006 census it has a population of 669.

This is the photo of Lauaki published by the Star Weekly

There is also the City of Wyndham, a local government area in Victoria, Australia in the outer south-western suburbs of Melbourne. It has a population of 209,847 according to the 2015 census.

If you have any information relating to the whereabouts of Lauaki, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or contact your local police.

For more information 

Wyndham’s Most Wanted: June 14, 2017

Pacific advisory panel meets

By
Philip Cass
-

Auckland Council’s Pacific People’s Advisory Panel will meet publicly for the first time next week (July 19)

The meeting will be held from 5.30-8.30pm in the level two reception lounge at Auckland town hall.

The panel was set up to offer advice to the council on regional policies, plans and strategies and matters of interest to the various members and aspects of the Pacific community.

The meeting will discuss the Auckland Refresh Plan, an initiative to re-think the Auckland development plan put forward by the previous council.

This was intended to coordinate and align land use and infrastructure planning and provision to cope with the rapid growth in Auckland.

Auckland Council lists the following  people as members of the Pacific Advisory Panel: Afa’ese Kitiona Manoa, Caroline Ligi Harris, Cedric Eddie Tuiavii, Helen Tau’au-Filisi, Jordan Knightley, Pat Masina, Leaupepe Taala Ralph Elika, Sefita Alofi Hao’uli, Tammy Kingi,  Cr Alf Filipaina and Cr Cathy Casey.

For more information 

Pacific People’s Advisory panel

Tauhi Vā lelei counselling is “life changing” and “informative”, say participants

By
Kalino Latu
-

A counselling programme run by Tongan counsellors in Onehunga, New Zealand is life changing and had provided useful information, according to parents who attended some of the sessions.

Some parents said they found out during the programme, Tauhi Vā Lelei, that they mostly ran into problems at home because they ignored basic skills such as listening and positive thinking.

Kaniva News visited the programme at the Onehunga Community Library at Church street recently.

Some of the women attending said they learnt it was important to listen to their husbands and asked for clarification if they did not understand what their hubbies were talking about or wanted them to do.

One woman said she sometimes talked back to her husband while he was trying to explain to her something to do for their family.

She said during the programme she could reflect on her attitudes and agreed with the counsellors that one of them must listen carefully while the other was talking no matter what the situation was.

“These are some of the things I never realised and I have no time to go back to the classroom to learn. But we are lucky we have this programme to learn it,” she said.

Another woman said she also learnt to be positive whenever she did not really understand unusual behaviour of his husband. She had to prepare herself for the right time to talk it over with her husband.

One of the husbands at the programme agreed that the programme was interesting and helpful in their relationships with their wives.

“I sometimes felt very angry with my wife and did not want to talk to her for a day or two,” one man said.

“But what I learned from the programme was interesting because I could see maybe I was wrong in what I was thinking of my wife.

“Talking, listening and understanding each other and how they should be applied were some of the things we learnt a lot from this programme.”

The counselling programme, Tauhi Vā Lelei, was adapted to a Tongan context.

Counsellor Tēvita Kātoa said  it was adapted to help provide professional assistance and guidance to resolve personal or psychological problems their Tongan clients encountered.

“It must focus on the relationship of the person seeking counselling and others to whom their problems were related,” Kātoa said.

He said the programme covered parents, youth and children who had been referred to them by the Ministry of Social Development.

It was opened to anyone who wanted to learn to share with them their experiences.

“Some of our clients were children who had been removed from their parents because they had been neglected,” Kātoa said.

Asked to give a number of Tongan clients they were working with, Kātoa said according to their record, young Tongans outnumbered Maori youth who ended up at the Ministry because of problems at home.

Kātoa said they designed the programme to make sure it covered what they thought would resolve most of the problems faced by many Tongan families in New Zealand.

“The main problem was that our parents and some of the children grew up in Tonga in an environment that was Tongan,” he said.

“When they relocated here into New Zealand it was a totally different environment.

“The New Zealand environment is based on western ideas. The laws and policies of this country were western.

“So there must be conflict if we Tongans are not careful enough to learn as quickly as we can to adapt and acculturate to the new environment.”

Kātoa said the Tongan practice which required children to listen and accept whatever parents wanted them to do without questioning, no matter whether they were right or wrong, had contributed to some of the problems faced by the Tongan youth who ended up in his office.

“When the children, especially the teenagers, were not given the opportunity at home to speak openly and share their opinions and what they thought of their parents’ attitudes towards them they mostly leave and find a place that will accept them,” Kātoa said.

He said the problem was that some children ended up using drugs and got involved in some criminal activities because they missed the good advice that only their parents were available to give them to avoid such difficulties.

Those who will be interested could contact the office at (09) 636 3449, Tēvita at 021 1681471 or Tina at 021 0334799.

The main points

  • A counselling programme run by Tongan counsellors in Onehunga, New Zealand is life changing and has provided useful information, according to parents who attended some of the sessions.
  • Some parents said they found out during the programme that they ran into problems at home because they ignored basic skills such as listening and positive thinking.
  • Some of the women attending said they learnt it was important to listen to their husbands and asked for clarification if they did not understand what they wanted.
  • One of the husbands at the programme agreed that the programme was interesting and helpful in their relationships with their wives.

Tributes flowing for man killed after an alleged assault in Ma’ufanga

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Family and friends of a man killed after he was allegedly assaulted on a road in Ma’ufanga have paid tribute to him.

Police have arrested a 25-year-old man after the incident.

Keuli Malakai, 51, was assaulted near ‘Ahopanilolo Technical College, at around 1:00am, July 8.

Family and friends on Facebook are devastated by his death and shared their feelings online.

His family said no words could describe what Keuli meant to them.

“Keuli had a massive heart and a smile that lit up the lives of those he knew,” wrote a family member on Facebook.

“He will live in our hearts forever.”

“From yesterday wearing black for our dear uncle that was taken away from us so soon … We love you Keuli Malakai … May you rest in our Heavenly Fathers hands”, a relative wrote on Facebook.

“I still just can’t blieve this. Unforgettable friend”, another wrote.

“Rest peacefully Kerry…if you could count the many tears that’s being shed for you.. you will know for sure you were truly loved by almost anyone who comes to know your life full of joy Ofa atu”.

Tongan students chosen for latest PCF internships

By
Philip Cass
-

Three Tongan students have been chosen for this year’s Pacific Cooperation Foundation scholarship.

They are Maria Mafi, who is studying a Masters of Professional Accounting at Victoria University; Taiala Fulivai, who is studying a Bachelor Commerce (Accounting and Finance) at Victoria University and Salote Faupula, who is studying a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance and Management) at the University of Otago.

They are among 24 students chosen from 60 applicants for the 2017-18 programme.

PCF Programme Development Manager Leaupepe Taala Ralph Elika said the students would spend 10 weeks with host agencies.

“We hope the professional skills and practical experience will help them find employment in their home country,” Elika said.

As part of the criteria of MFAT’s NZ Scholarships, scholars are bonded to their home country for two years following the completion of their degree.

Elika said the scholarships helped the host organisations form relationships with the Pacific.

The Summer Internship commences on November 20, 2017 and concludes February 16, 2018.

Of the other inters, one is from Fiji, five from the Solomon Islands, four from PNG, six from Samoa, two from Vanuatu and three from Timor Leste.

The main points

  • Three Tongan students have been chosen for this year’s Pacific Cooperation Foundation scholarship.
  • They are Maria Mafi and Taiala Fulivai (both at Victoria University) and Salote Faupula, (University of Otago.)

For more information 

Internee wants to take lessons learned back to Tonga

Young Tongans “going crazy” for skateboarding

By
Philip Cass
-

An American skateboarder who moved to Tonga and built a backyard ramp has kickstarted a mini skateboard craze in the kingdom.

Chris Paquette built the ramp in his back garden in Puke for local youth to use.

Regular Kaniva News contributor and photographer Todd Henry told Vice magazine young locals were “going crazy” for the sport using shared boards provided  by Paquette.

“The kids have kind of built a little skate scene,” Henry said.

“Last time I was there, about a month ago, I saw some kids skating the street actually in Nuku’alofa, which I’ve never seen before.”

Henry said the sport was unheard of when he first visited the kingdom in 2007.

A skateboarder himself, he took his equipment to Tonga and drew the attention of local children.

As Kaniva News reported last year, the skate ramp was paid for by an online fundraiser, as well as donations from island-based businesses.

“We started out with two skateboards and 15 kids, and now we have 12 skateboards thanks to a few people who donated boards,” Paquette told Kaniva News.

For more information 

You can find Henry’s photos of the skateboarding scene in Tonga here

Todd Henry’s website

Time to change attitudes towards disabled says Queen’s award winner

By
Philip Cass
-

It is time to change the way people in Tonga think about those with disabilities, according to the winner of the Queen’s Award for Young Leaders.

Elizabeth Kite was one of four young Pacific women to win an award.

Now in their third year, the awards celebrate exceptional people aged 18 to 29 from across the Commonwealth.

Kite was picked for her work on educational initiatives with youth and disabled people.

She teaches a braille class to students who are visually impaired.

Radio New Zealand quoted her as saying there was a need to change people’s perceptions.

“There is quite a demand because there are quite a few people living with visual impairment,” Kite said.

“Not many people did know about it [services for visually impaired] and I think a lot of it has to do with just also the taboo and just the attitude towards people with disabilities in general.

“They’re kind of just disregarded as capable human beings, so they don’t really see the need to educate them.”

The other Pacific winners included Papua New Guinean Johnetta Lilui, who works with people ion the Carteret Islands affected by climate change.

Theresa Gizoria, also from PNG, was given an award for helping young mothers in tertiary education.

Solomon Islander Karrie Jionisi was made an award for her work helping unemployed girls and single mothers to learn new skills to help them find jobs.

The Pacific women joined other award winners for a three day programme at the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Continuing Education before meeting Her Majesty.

The main points

  • A young Tongan is one of four Pacific women to be awarded the prestigious Queen’s Young Leaders award.
  • Elizabeth Kite has received the award for her work on educational initiatives with youth and disabled people.
  • She teaches a braille class to students who are visually impaired.

For more information 

Queen’s Young Leaders

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