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King, PM visit ‘Ovaka and Lape as celebration weeks continue in Vava’u

By
Kalino Latu
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The King of Tonga His Majesty King Tupou VI visited the island of ‘Ovaka in Vava’u while the Prime Minister arrived in the island of Lape this week.

The king and the Prime Minister were in Vava’u as thousands celebrate His Majesty’s 58th birthday.

The island of Ovaka is one of the islands the Ministry of Fisheries has labelled as Special Management Areas (SMA).

The project is being applauded for its success in helping the community to protect their fishing zone from outside fishermen giving an opportunity for the reef and marine creatures in these areas to recover.

The King and his entourage including the Minister of Health and MP for Ovaka were welcomed into a royal luncheon by the Ovaka kāinga.

The residents also performed some Tongan faivas for the king.

The four-days celebration of His Majesty’s birthday began on 4 July in Neiafu following the Free Wesleyan Church annual conference which ended on July 3.

Meanwhile the Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva visited the small island of Lape.

He was accompanied by Vavaʻu 16 MP ‘Akosita Havili Lavulavu and some of the cabinet ministers.

There are only six households in the island.

Presentation of gifts

During the royal celebrations all Vavaʻu three constituencies including Vava’u 14, Vava’u 15 and Vava’u 16 presented gifts to the king.

There were also various presentations of gifts by His Majesty’s immediate kāinga, churches and social groups.

The cultural practice was formally presented to His Majesty through the fakatū’uta of puaka toho (hog), ngatu lau nima, Tongan handicrafts and envelopes full of money.

The MP for Vava’u 16 said on Facebook four towns in her constituency including Leimātu’a, Holonga, Mataika and Feletoa were instructed by the district officer to also collect TP$500 each for their presentation.

King names second new ferry for ‘Eua : MV Maui

By
Kaniva Staff
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His Majesty King Tupou VI has chosen MV Maui as the name of the second new ferry for ‘Eua.

The US$800,000 ferry will arrive in Tonga from New Zealand before the ‘Eua Agricultural  Show in the last week of July.

“The king is expected to launch it during the show”, the Chairman of the ‘Eua Sea Transport Council Sunia Fili said.

The new inter-island vessel comes four years after the Council launched the MV ‘Onemato in 2013.

It was its first project to provide sea transport services for the people of ‘Eua.

The details of the new vessel were not available.

Warning over fake 50 pa’anga notes

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tonga National Reserve Bank has found $50 notes this week, prompting a public warning.

The bank has received $50 paánga notes of the new design currency (King Tupou VI series) confirmed to be counterfeit notes.

The Reserve Bank is concerned that there could be more of such $50 counterfeit notes in circulation.

These counterfeit notes lack the following security features present in every genuine $50 pa’anga note:

1. the watermark of the King’s effigy which can be clearly seen when it is held up to the light;

2. a shiny silver thread shows as a window on the front of the note but as a more solid silver on the back of the note, showing images of the national medal.

The public is hereby advised to check all notes particularly the $50 new design note before accepting them. Counterfeit notes carry zero value and will not be accepted by the banks or the Reserve Bank.

The Public is urged to take any counterfeit notes to the National Reserve Bank of Tonga for further examination and further appropriate action. Makers and distributors of counterfeits are breaking Section 59 and 61 of the Criminal Offences Act CAP 18 and Section 29 of the NRBT Amendment Act (2014).

NZ top lawyer assists Tonga as PGC takes action following Games host cancellation

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga’s cabinet has passed a resolution to engage New Zealand barrister Dr Rodney Harrison in its ongoing dispute with the Pacific Games council (PGC) which is now heading to court, the Prime Minister said in Nuku’alofa.

It has been revealed the cabinet had sought legal advice from the barrister before its decision to withdraw from hosting the Games.

The PGC has formally terminated its host agreement with Tonga for the 2019 Pacific Games, after the deadline passed for the government to recommit its support, according to Radio New Zealand.

“The Pacific Games Council has begun legal proceedings against the Tonga government, following its decision to pull the plug on hosting the 2019 Games.”

It is understood the cabinet’s decision was made last month after the PGC leaders met with the Prime Minister in Nuku’alofa in their last attempt to keep the Games in the kingdom.

Hon. Pohiva said he decided to cancel hosting the Games because his government has other priorities for the nation.

Dr Harrison, who has extensive trial and appellate experience in leading cases in Tonga, was a long-time friend and supporter of Hon. Pohiva since 1990s.

Tongan mother shares heartbreak over her son’s death online

By
Kalino Latu
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The mother of a Tongan man who died in an accident which involved a car and a ute in Wellington, New Zealand on Sunday morning has shared her grief on social media.

Sione Palei “Bah” Tuiano was killed in the crash, according to Police. It happened just north of Silverstream just before 4am, New Zealand Police said.

Another person was transported to hospital by helicopter in a critical condition.

Two others in the car suffered injuries with one was in a serious condition while the other was minor.

Two people in the ute suffered moderate to minor injuries.

Tuiano’s mother ‘Asinate Hopoi took to Facebook and shared how she struggled to accept that his son has died.

She only found out in hospital his son was killed in the collision.

She said she could not sleep in the early hours of Sunday morning even though she was advised by doctors and nurses to take a rest.

She said three of her children including Tuiano went with her to celebrate her 3-year-old moko’s birthday.

Hopoi revealed how devastating she was when the doctor asked to meet with her in the hospital.

“I know what has happened”, she said.

The doctor wanted to tell her that his son has died.

She said Tuiano was healthy and fit and she thought he could survive the tragedy.

“I thought your fit n strong why dont you fight for your life”, the heartbroken mother wrote.

Tuiano is survived by his wife and two children.

Controversial Jonah from Tonga axed from Maori Television after board became aware of show

By
Kaniva Staff
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Chris Lilley’s mockumentary Jonah From Tonga has been axed from New Zealand indigenous broadcaster Maori Television after the board deemed it to be culturally inappropriate.

But a ‘disappointed’ leading Tongan advocate in New Zealand has described the decision as a victory for a vocal minority.

Chair of the Maori Television board, Georgina te Heuheu, said in a statement that once the full board became aware that the show was screening on Thursday, a decision was made to pull the show off the airwaves.

‘We are a Maori media outlet with our own standards, and a mandate to protect and promote the Maori language and culture,’ she said.

New Zealand’s Minister for Pacific Peoples, Alfred Ngaro, had earlier said the series perpetuates negative stereotypes of Pacific people.

Announcing the decision Georgina te Heuheu said ‘as a leading indigenous broadcaster we have a responsibility to present all cultures with a degree of respect and aroha [love] not least those of our Pacific whanaunga [relatives].

She added that  a replacement show, Te Taumata Kapahaka, will replace Jonah From Tonga next Thursday.

The head of the New Zealand Tonga Advisory Council, Melino Maka, expressed disappointment in the decision, telling Radio New Zealand the board had buckled to a vocal minority.

Melino acknowledged Jonah From Tonga ‘may not be to everybody’s taste, but when I talk to some of the young Tongans, they think it’s funny. They can relate.’

‘I’m just really disappointed in Māori TV.’

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Chris Lilley for comment.

A spin-off from Chris’s critically lauded Summer Heights High, Jonah From Tonga follows the antics of Jonah Takalua, a rebellious 14-year-old Australian of Tongan descent.

Chris played the title character in the show, which courted controversy when it first aired due to the comedian’s use of ‘blackface’ and the perpetuation of what some claimed were negative stereotypes about Tongans.

Speaking to news.com.au in 2014, then SBS Tongan program presenter Meliame Fifita slammed the show as reinforcing stereotypes.

‘It’s quite concerning that it’s going to create a stereotype of Tongans as troublemakers, and the younger ones will think that’s the way to behave,’ she said.

ABC TV head of comedy defended the show to the publication arguing that it was not racist.

‘Jonah from Tonga plays with stereotypes, but it’s doing so to make an observation about the narrow-minded attitudes expressed by some of its characters, including Jonah’s own,’ he said.

He added that aside from Jonah’s character, ‘every other Tongan or Islander character in the series is presented as a well-rounded, believable person without comic traits’.

-Daily Mail

Two girls discharged from hospital following Hihifo road accident

By
Kalino Latu
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Two girls who had been injured after a crash that involved a bus and another two vehicles on Hihifo road in Siaʻatoutai Friday 30 June have been discharged from hospital.

One of the girls suffered serious face injuries and she underwent surgery at Vaiola hospital.

She was released from hospital about two days later, a hospital spokesperson said.

The other girl suffered a musculoskeletal injury and she was discharged yesterday Sunday 2 after receiving medical treatment.

Reports said the accident happened at around 11pm.

“Regarding the said MVA, there were only two young females needing admissions to Surgical Ward. One had superficial facial lacerations and was discharged within 24hrs”. the spokesperson said.

“The second young female was admitted for musculoskeletal injury of the right thigh, however, there were no fracture and was thus discharged yesterday. Both will be followed up at the surgical special clinic”.

Church minister denies allegations against him following arrest and deportation of Tongan couple

By
Kalino Latu
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The video is also published at the bottom of this story

A Tongan church minister in Auckland has denied allegations he reported a couple in his church who overstayed their visas to Immigration New Zealand.

Viliami and Pakileti Tutone were deported to Tonga last month after immigration officers raided the house they were living in and arrested them.

The couple were members of the Free Church of Tonga in Manukau and it has been claimed they were in New Zealand for 18 years before their deportation.

The community quickly took to Facebook and alleged the Minister who is in charge of the church Rev. Siaosi Siosifa had reported the Tutones.

But Rev. Siosifa has strongly denied the allegations.

He told Kakalu ‘o Tonga Newspaper he knew he was accused for reporting the couple but that was not true.

According to the paper, a person by a Facebook name Simote Funaki claimed he found out it was Rev Siosifa who reported the Tutones.

Siosifa told Kakalu he knew about a person who alleged and accused him on Facebook for reporting the couple to INZ.

Rev. Siosifa said he met the person and asked him for his source of information but the person just kept silent and did not say anything.

The raid on the couple was caught on camera and uploaded to Facebook last month.

The video shows a female immigration officer standing outside a house while Viliami was heard saying farewell in Tongan and waving to people in the room next door.

The immigration officer was seen waiting outside for Pakileti.

The video has been widely shared on Facebook by Tongan groups and community pages which have more than 10,000 members and likes.

Many commentators were outraged after they have learnt the arrest was made after a report to INZ by some members of the Tongan community.

The video has also been posted to Facebook by Olivia Tutone on Friday 23.

Her post received 1,300 reactions, 72 comments and 700 shares.

One commentator on her post said: “So sad! Ofa atu sis xx”.

‘Olivia replied: “I know sis we were just standing around since 5am and they finally went to the airport at 12 ?? ofa atu sis ??? xx”

“So sad, can’t believe our own people would do such thing,” another commentator wrote.

“The number of people who’ve stayed in the country after their visa expired has almost halved in the past 15 years, from an estimated 20,657 in 2000 to 10,848 in January this year”, Radio New Zealand reported.

Immigration New Zealand said it had negotiated the voluntary departure of many more overstayers rather than formally deporting them. More than over 1200 people left New Zealand voluntarily in the 2014-2015 financial year.

The video:

Tonga beat Samoa 30-26

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The ʻIkale Tahis have beaten Manu Samoa 30-26 in their Pacific Nations Cup Test in Teufaiva.

Talofa aircraft expected to touch down in Tonga this morning

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Samoan airline has sent its first flight to Tonga this morning and it was expected to arrived at the Fua’amotu International airport at 9.20am.

Talofa Airways’ CEO Toleafoa Jeffrey Hunter, reportedly said their first flight will return the same day through Pago Pago.

“The airline will have four flights a week to Tonga, two originate from Fagalii and two flights begin from Pago”, Talanei online reported.

It said for the Tonga service,” the aircraft is a comfortable and fast way to travel between the two island nations with only 1 hour 50 minutes flight time”.

Radio New Zealand report said the airline’s “core customers are Tongan and Samoan travellers between those three locations, including members of expatriate communities there who want to visit home for a short vacation”.

The airline would explore Niue, Wallis and Futuna and Pukapuka in the northern Cooks as possible future destinations.

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