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An assassin, a beast and a winning player

By
Philip Cass
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He’s been called an assassin and a beast, but for Tongan loose forward Vaea Fifita’s team mates, these are words of praise.

Fifita has won praise for his performance during the All Blacks game against Argentina in Chicago.

He scored a try with only 30 minutes left in the game, drawing praise for his 30 metre dash to the line.

The All Blacks won 39-22.

The team’s coach, Steve Hansen, nicknamed him ‘The Silent Assassin.’

Fifita made his mark playing for the Hurricanes in their first Super Rugby win.

Hurricanes team-mate Milner-Skudder described him as “an absolute beast.”

“He had some barnstorming carries in that first half as well and to see him finish a try like that – and that second try he nearly set up for Damian [McKenzie] afterwards – yeah, he’s a bit of a freak and it’s awesome just to see him get an opportunity at this level and just to do his thing,” Milner-Skudder said.

Fifita is from Vava’u. He was selected for the Tonga Schools side tour of New Zealand.

His performance on the tour led to a rugby scholarship to Tamaki College.

Fifita made his debut with the all Blacks against Samoa in Auckland.

During the match he scored a try.

The  main points

  • He’s been called an assassin and a beast, but for Tongan loose forward Vaea Fifita’s team mates, these are words of praise.
  • Fifita has won praise for his performance during the All Blacks game against Argentina in Chicago.
  • He scored a try with only 30 minutes left in the game, drawing praise for his 30 metre dash to the line.
  • The All Blacks won 39-22.

Speaker denies Pōhiva’s claims Sovaleni, Lavemaau, knew about advice to king

By
Philip Cass
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Lord Tu’ivakanō has denied claims that the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister knew in advance about the plan to dismiss Parliament.

Hon. Tu’ivakanō, who is the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and a former Prime Minister, described the claims as “false, unfounded and utterly untrue.”

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva alleged that the former Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni, and former Minister of Finance and National Planning, Hon. Tēvita Lavemaau were involved in, and knew about, the advice the Speaker had given to His Majesty, King Tupou VI.

The Speaker said they had nothing to do with the advice which led to the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga.

The king dismissed Parliament on August 24.

Hon. Pōhiva sacked the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance before he left for Samoa to attend the Pacific Leaders forum.

As Kaniva News reported earlier this month, the Prime Minister alleged they knew about the plan to dissolve Parliament, but did not warn him because they held a grudge against him.

Hon. Pōhiva said Hon. Sovaleni and Hon. Lavemaau should have warmed him about the dissolution.

He implied that if he had been warned of the plan to dissolve the House he might have approached the king first.

It appears Hon. Pōhiva did not approach Hon. Lavemaau and Hon. Sovaleni about their dismissals.

The Prime Minister did not say whether he had proof the ministers knew about plan to dissolve Parliament.

The two dismissed cabinet members reportedly said they knew nothing about their dismissals.

Friends contact Tongan students in Cuba on Facebook as Irma left country with trail of destruction

By
Kalino Latu
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Friends of Tongan students in Cuba have taken to social media hoping to hear from their loved ones after Cyclone Irma left the country with trail of destruction.

Category 5 hurricane Irma had caused catastrophic damage across the Caribbean as it swept across islands including St Martin, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the British and US Virgin Islands last week.

Irma, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the Atlantic basin, had killed nearly 40 people – at least 10 of them in Cuba – before turning its fury on Florida..

A total of 5.6 million people, or 25 percent of the population of the state of Florida in US, were ordered to evacuate the state, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

Tongan Facebook users have tagged some names on Facebook including the names of Rachael Faiva’ilo, Initai Olie and Roxy Latavao.

According to their individual Facebook account Latavao said she lived in Vedado, La Habana, Cuba. ‘Olie said she studied medicines at Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina in Cuba while Rachael Faiva’ilo wrote under her profile that she studied MD, Medicine at Universidad de Ciencias Médicas, Cienfuegos.

Some of their friends wished they were safe and urging them to keep in touch.

“Hope you all OK”, a commentator wrote on Facebook.

“Love you all”, another wrote.

On Wednesday Latavao took to Facebook and wrote.

“Getting ready for cyclone Irma…….Dear God pliz (sic) have mercy on us n (sic) send da (sic) cyclone far from here.”

About a dozen Tongans were currently studying in Cuba as medical students.

Kaniva News has contacted the students and Tongan ambassador to Cuba, Mahe’uli’uli Tupouniua for comment.

Tongan extinct musical instruments revived as Language Week ends

By
Kalino Latu
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Four extinct Tongan musical instruments were revived during a performance organised as part of the Tongan Language week in Glen Innes, Auckland on Saturday.

Professor Hūfanga ‘Ōkusitino Māhina, the Master of Ceremonies, said the Tongan ifi fangufangu (nose flute) was on the verge of extinction.

He said tuki pitu (bamboo beating), ‘utete (jaw harp) and mimiha (pan pipes) had been lost for some 200 years, but they had been able to bring them back to life again.

He said a new Fangufangu Mīnoa ‘o Tonga traditional group had been established and tasked with reviving these instruments.

The group’s music director, Tu’ifonualava Kaivelata, said the instruments they used for the performances were his own creations using kofe (bamboos) and papa (timber).

Tuʻifonualava said Professor Māhina, a founding member of the Fangufangu Minoa went to Europe recently to research in libraries about ancient Tongan instruments.

He discovered that European voyagers, including Captain Cook, who first arrived in Tonga in 1773 had pictures and accounts of these extinct instruments which were played to them when they arrived in the kingdom.

The performances on the last day of the Tongan Language week were conducted by the Kanokupolu cultural performance group and members of the Fangufangu Mīnoa led by Tuʻifonualava, Taniela Kaivelata, and Prof. Māhina.

An atmosphere of vela māfana was felt at the Te Oro studio while the performers entertained the guests with the instruments.

A nafa was beaten followed by the accompaniment of the mimihas and the fangufangu played by Taniela Kaivelata and three children. It was followed by a vocal accompaniment by the langitu’a, or singers who performed the songs led by Tu’ifonulava, while the musicians played according to the tune and lyrics of the music.

They performed the ‘O Lātū Lātū e, a part of a song from the Tongan ancient dance, me’etu’upaki or paddle dance.

In the last part of the performance Tu’ifonualava played the ‘utete. It was new to modern Tongan audiences and the listeners were surprised by its sound.

The performance drew some strong reactions from the audience with many calling out “mālie” (excellence).

The performance was implemented in the Tongan way of fakatautauelangi or stirring up the mālie spirit stage by stage from the beginning so when it reached the climax both the performers and the audience were in a euphoric mood or tau e langí.

The performance at the Glen Innes Te Oro centre also included mā’ulu’ulu, me’etu’upaki and solo dances led by choreographer Tukia and the Kanokupolu cultural group.

Homicide investigation launched following death of Kevini Maka

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga Police were investigating how Kevini Maka ended up dead in a waterway in Popua last week.

Police have treated the death as suspicious after the body of the 22-year-old was pulled from the newly constructed waterway at 12.45pm Monday 5.

Acting Police Supt Tevita Vailea reportedly said they had enough information to launch the investigation while Police were still awaiting an autopsy report.

The post-modem was completed on Friday but the deceased’s body was still at hospital. No arrests had been made.

As Kaniva News reported, Maka was a resident of Pātangata a village situated next to Popua.

The deceased’s friends and relatives were shocked by the news of his death.

A Facebook user who goes by the name Fiufeinga ki he Lelei Taha lamented Maka’s death and wrote that if he was still staying with them in Talafo’ou he was still alive.

Another Facebook user wrote she was devastated after she found out the body Police were seeking help to identify yesterday was that of Maka.

One commentator has described him as “always smiling” and “enjoyed playing with kids”.

Guilty beyond reasonable doubt on all charges

By
Philip Cass
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A man has been found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of four charges of rape and one of indecent assault.

Faka’anaua Ki Late Niutupuivaha appeared before Mr Justice Cato on charges dating back to  2006.

The charges were brought against him by two women who gave evidence of repeated sexual assaults over several years.

Mr Justice Cato described Niutupuivaha’s behaviour as “predatory.”

He said the accused had taken advantage of very young women by entering their rooms, strangling them to keep them from crying out it and assaulting them.

He said he had no hesitation in accepting the women’s testimony.

Mr Justice Cato did not record a sentence in his report of the case.

Supreme Court reduces sentence for grievous bodily harm after plea

By
Philip Cass
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The Supreme Court has reduced a prisoners’ sentence after hearing a claim for mitigation from his counsel.

Moale Vi  had pleaded guilty to a charge of grievous bodily harm after hitting Penisimani Fifita on the head with an iron bar and fracturing his skull.

The incident took place at the fire station in Longolongo on December 22, 2016.

Mr Justice Cato said that Vi’s counsel had provided information that indicated that Vi had been involved in a conflict with his fellow fire officers are retraining to the station drunk.

During the struggle to restrain him Fifita  kicked Vi repeatedly in the head.

Some time after the prisoner was taken away by police, he returned to the station and struck Fifita with an iron bar while he slept.

“I  conclude  that  the  prisoner  was  drunk  and  unruly at the station,” the judge said.

“I accept and  it  was  confirmed  by  Officer Paulo  Kolo in  his evidence that this  was out  of character  for  him.  I find that, although the officers were entitled to take reasonable  steps to restrain  and  subdue  the  prisoner  who  had  plainly become a nuisance and prevent  any  violence,  Officer  Fifita  did  use excessive force when kicking him several times to the head  area.”

The judge said that he considered the matter as a mitigating factor in sentencing the prisoner, although not a significant one.

He therefore reduced the starting pint of the sentence by six months.

In further mitigation, he accepted that Vi had pleaded guilty at  an early stage, had been co-operative, probably  was remorseful, and had lost a job of which he was very fond.

He therefore reduced his sentence further to three years, with the last 12 months suspended on condition that he not commit any offence punishable by imprisonment and undertake courses in drug and alcohol abuse and anger management with the Salvation Army.

Tsunami warning for Tonga cancelled after 8.2 Mexico earthquake

By
Kaniva Staff
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A Tsunami warning for Tonga has been cancelled.

Tonga Met Service office said the beach and marine threat had now passed.

“Tsunami Marine Warning Cancellation Summary (Only Warnings issued by the Tonga Meteorological Service represent the official warning status for Tonga) Based on tide gauge readings, a tsunami wave of less than 0.1M was recorded at Nuku’alofa Tide gauge at about 08:15am this morning”, the Office said.

“Due to the tsunami wave being less than one foot it is expected that this tsunami no longer poses a threat to Tonga.

“Therefore, the Tsunami Marine Warning previously in force for Tonga is NOW CANCELLED. Ocean currents however around Marine Coastal Areas may be strong and erratic and special caution should be exercised.

This will be the last bulletin issued from the Fua’amotu Tsunami Warning Centre on this event.”

The number of people killed by a powerful earthquake off the southern coast of Mexico has risen to at least 61, officials say.

A huge rescue operation is under way in the worst-hit states of Tabasco, Oaxaca and Chiapas where people are feared trapped under rubble.

President Enrique Peña Nieto says at least 200 people have been injured.

The 8.1-magnitude quake, which hit late on Thursday, was the strongest to hit the region in a century.

Tsunami warning for Tonga after powerful earthquake hit Mexico

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Tonga Met Service has issued a tsunami warning following an 8.2 quake that rocked Mexico this evening.

It was the most powerful earthquake to hit the country in 32 years and sparked widespread panic.

“It was so strong that it could be felt significantly in Mexico City, 650 miles away from the epicentre and caused a 2.3ft tsunami. In Salina Cruz another tsunami wave measuring 3.3ft was recorded”, International media reports said.

Six people have been killed including two children.

“Based on preliminary earthquake information above, tide gauge readings and advise from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC), a tsunami wave of up to 1M is expected to arrive at Tonga’s coastline at about 6:15am tomorrow”, Tonga Met service said.

“Public are warned to keep away from marine coastal areas and beaches. Marine Coastal Areas means 30km from the shoreline high tide mark or any reef out to open sea.

The next bulletin will be issued as soon as new information is received.”

Tongan religious leaders of different faiths unite to “advance” their community in New Zealand

By
Kalino Latu
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Tongan religious leaders of different faiths in Auckland have joined hands to help resolve social and economic challenges facing Tongan community in New Zealand.

Fifteen religious leaders made the move for the first time in the 50-year history of Tongan migration to New Zealand.

“We have been in operation for over a year now, but we have just got our network established legally,” says Chairperson Rev Tevita Finau.

“Tongans face many socio-economic challenges but we have come together to counter these issues and help our people take ownership and leadership of their future,” says Secretary Sione Tu’itahi, representative of the Baha’i Faith to the network.

“We will collaborate with Tongan leaders in other fields such education, health, work and income in order to navigate pathways forward,” the secretary adds. “We acknowledge the challenges, but we focus on the strengths and aspirations of our people.”

Some 15 denominations and faiths are members. They include the: Tongan parish of the Methodist Church, The Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, The Tongan Catholic Community, The Seventh Day Adventist, The Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-Day Saints, Siasi ‘o Tonga Tau’ataina, Siasi Fakatahataha ‘a e Kakai Tonga, Siasi ‘o Tonga, Siasi Konisitutone Tau’ataina ‘o Tonga ‘i Nu’usila, The Assemblies of God, The Anglican Church, Tongan Wesleyan Church of New Zealand (Upper Room Centre),  the Baha’i Faith, Amatakiloa Gospel Church, Blessed Hope Christian Centre, and the Pacific Island Evangelical & Missionary Network.

“Tongan denominations or faith-based organisations that are yet to be members are warmly welcome to join. Our aim is to collaborate for our collective good and wellbeing,” the secretary says.

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