The gang’s national vice president was arrested in the Auckland suburb of Howick yesterday.
The 36-year-old was charged over an investigation into the importation of methamphetamine at the Port of Tauranga last December, and the importation of cocaine into the country earlier this year.
“It will be alleged that this man played a significant role in working across transnational organised criminal groups with these importations,” Police Assistant Commissioner: investigations Paul Basham said.
Every member of the gang’s leadership is now facing serious charges, he said.
“This is a significant milestone and represents years of relentless investigative work to disrupt and hold the Comancheros to account for criminal activity.
“There is no doubt that this sustained enforcement activity has had considerable impact on the gang’s ability to conduct their offending.”
Yesterday’s arrest follows the three major investigations which culminated late last year.
Basham acknowledged the staff in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty who worked on the investigation.
“We have not wavered in enforcing the law with gangs and organised criminal groups who are causing a high level of harm in communities right across this country.”
The man was set to appear in the Auckland District Court today charged with importing methamphetamine, attempted possession of cocaine for supply, and participating in an organised criminal group.
A Vava‘u student’s decision to wear sunglasses during a 100m race has sparked curiosity, but it’s far from a first in the world of elite athletics.
When a student from Vava’u sprinted the 100m in sunglasses, Tongan spectators took notice—was it a fashion statement or a performance tactic?
Olympic middle-distance star Josh Kerr famously donned shades while winning the 1500m at the 2023 World Championships, proving that eyewear can be as much about focus as flair.
As Kerr eyes Paris gold, could Tonga’s up-and-coming runners be taking inspiration from the pros?
Is Tonga’s next generation of runners taking notes from the best?
The 2025 Tonga Secondary Schools Athletics Competition began yesterday, 8 April, at Nuku’alofa’s Teufaiva Stadium.
This is the 98th edition of the event.
The Vava’u student Sōsefo Po’oi turned heads at the Tonga Secondary Schools Athletics Competition by racing the 100m in sunglasses, a move that left many spectators baffled. He won his heat.
“This is weird,” one onlooker remarked, while others admitted they’d “never seen anything like this before.”
But what seemed like an odd fashion choice in Tonga might actually be a tactical inspiration from elite runners like Kerr, who famously wore shades.
Student athletes from across Tongatapu and the outer islands gathered on Tuesday to compete, with the first event being the Junior Girls’ 1500m race (three laps of the track).
However, the race ended in confusion when the apparent winner, a Mo‘unga ‘Olive College student, stopped at the finish line after two laps, mistakenly believing she had completed the race.
Track officials confirmed she had one lap remaining, nullifying her lead. ‘Apifo‘ou College was later declared the official winner of the event.
As Kaniva News reported, the Tonga Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (TASANOC) has conducted workshops ahead of this year’s competition to educate students on the importance of competing free from illicit drugs.
With Tonga currently facing a drug crisis, Tonga Health is supporting secondary schools in emphasising a healthy, drug-free environment at the 2025 Tonga Secondary Schools Athletics Competition.
The event at Nuku’alofa’s Teufaiva Stadium runs for four days until Friday, 11 April.
Former Wallabies star Israel Folau has expressed his frustration after Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh confirmed he is ineligible for a shock return against the British and Irish Lions next year, reigniting tensions over his controversial 2019 sacking.
Folau, who was axed over anti-gay social media posts before reaching a confidential settlement with RA, said he was ‘very disappointed’ by the decision, marking the latest clash in their long-running feud.
Waugh has emphatically ruled out Folau’s potential return, declaring the controversial star’s comeback was “never discussed” due to his switch of international allegiance to Tonga.
The decision sparked a sharp response from Folau, who called the exclusion “very disappointing” and claimed he would not have spoken publicly about a return if he didn’t believe RA supported his bid, reigniting tensions from his 2019 sacking.
“Folau later received an apology – and confidential settlement payment – from Rugby Australia after initially seeking up to $14million in damages”, the Mail reported.
In a recent Instagram post, Folau, who is now based in Japan, said the decision is “very disappointing” adding that he wouldn’t have spoken publicly if he did not believe RA supported his return.
“I just wanted to address a couple of things in regards to a few media articles that have been floating around the past week in relation to me playing in this Anzac v Lions game later this year and how this all came about,” Folau said on Instagram.
“I was contacted last week by Jamie Pandaram, who is a journalist from Sydney, and he was in conversations with Phil Waugh, and Phil had told him that he was open to the idea of me being involved in this game if I was interested in that.
“And so Jamie reached out to a good friend of mine – [former Wallaby] Sekope Kepu – and told him the same thing and made the connection between myself and Jamie.
In 2020, World Rugby made a decision that allowed players to switch their international allegiance after a three-year break.
Subsequently, Folau announced that he would represent Tonga’s national team, ‘Ikale Tahi, which was at the time coached by former Wallabies star Toutai Kefu.
Folau, who is of Tongan heritage, switched allegiance in 2022 in order to represent Tonga.
1News can reveal that a National Party MP is part of a religious group embroiled in alleged child abuse being investigated in New Zealand, Australia, and the USA.
The sect has no official name or buildings. (Source: Getty)
Ilam MP Hamish Campbell said while he’s been made aware of the historical allegations through the media, he has no personal knowledge of the individuals involved.
The church, which has no official name, has been called the ‘Two By Twos’ and ‘The Truth’. It’s estimated there are 2500 members in New Zealand and thousands more overseas.
Campbell said the church was “a non-denominational Christian group just trying to live the best way possible”.
“I have an association through my family. I’ve also been a scientist for the last 20 years, so I have quite a broad view socially liberal.”
Police have recently contacted current and former members about alleged sexual offending, and Campbell said the force was the best place to deal with any concerns.
“Allegations of sexual abuse, or any other serious misconduct, must be thoroughly investigated and addressed with full accountability. I acknowledge the organisation’s statement that it will fully cooperate with the police,” he said.
“While I have been made aware of these historical allegations through the media, I have no personal knowledge of the individuals involved.”
Where to get help for sexual violence. (Source: 1News)
Support group Brave Truth Australia New Zealand said it has been told about 50 perpetrators in New Zealand alone. The church and police did not respond when asked about the number.
Religious historian Peter Lineham has studied the church for decades and said it has a hierarchical system.
“I think one of the fascinating aspects of this whole story is the way in which minority closed groups become totally at risk,” said Lineham.
“Even though they may go to ordinary schools and mingle with people, they’re not allowed to have real social connections with anybody outside the sect and therefore they’re completely at risk of abusive behaviour that traps them in dreadful stuff.”
The church leader in New Zealand is known as the ‘overseer’, which is currently Wayne Dean.
Reporting to him as the so-called ‘preachers’ who act like ministers. They each look after regions areas known as ‘fields’.
‘Saints’ make up everyone else in the church.
In a statement, Dean told 1News they will fully cooperate with police.
“Regarding members of our fellowship, past or present, we recognise and respect that each individual has their own experience and perspective and are at liberty to share this as they wish.
National MP part of secretive religious sect
The group has no official name but has been dubbed the ‘Two By Two’ or ‘The Truth’.
https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.692.0_en.html#fid=goog_1538779115Play Video
National MP part of secretive religious sect2:59
The group has no official name but has been dubbed the ‘Two By Two’ or ‘The Truth’. (Source: 1News)
He pointed to a website that displays its child safety policy and the “workers” (members) code of conduct.
The document said the church has zero tolerance for abuse and is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for children, while also encouraging parents to report any suspected abuse to authorities.
The group is reviewing its policy around raising awareness of child sexual abuse, supporting victims/survivors of child sexual abuse, and developing a child-safe culture.
Claims that the Eke government intends to petition Parliament to overturn the 2010 reforms and reinstate the King’s former powers have been vehemently denied.
Minister for Customs and Revenue, Mateni Tapueluelu, dismissed the allegations, stating that he had not heard of any such proposal in Cabinet.
He told Setita Miller of RTTI that he was unaware of any Cabinet petition.
The Minister’s response is the latest development in the ongoing concerns pertaining to the democratic status in Tonga.
It follows Teisa Cokanasiga, the daughter of the late Tongan Defender of Democracy title holder, Akilisi Pohiva, who stated that the government must prioritize implementing further democratic reforms during last month’s national summit in Nuku’alofa.
The summit sought people’s feedback and proposals for the next 10-year government plan.
Cokanasiga told the meeting that Tonga could continue pursuing its development plans; however, at some point, these efforts would stall due to constitutional limitations—an argument advocated by her father.
While Tonga’s 2010 transition to democracy was a significant step toward political reform, it encountered serious structural and constitutional challenges.
The reforms initiated after King George V agreed to cede most of his executive powers to create a more representative government, with most parliamentary seats elected by the people.
However, the first democratically elected government under Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakanō (2010–2014) quickly discovered flaws in the new system.
They hired constitutional lawyer Peter Pursglove, who criticized the reforms poorly implemented, leading to governance difficulties, including unclear separation of powers and legislative inefficiencies.
According to the Peter Pursglove report:
Tonga’s 2010 constitution does not uphold democracy
The Privy Council lacks any democratic composition or accountability
The judiciary lacks accountability and transparency.
Changes to the judiciary are inefficient, ineffective, unaffordable and possibly illegal.
No public discussions were held regarding the reforms to the judiciary or why they were considered necessary.
“The present Constitution of Tonga can lay claim to being the most poorly structured and drafted Constitution of any Country in the Commonwealth,” the report says.
Officials Urge Stricter Anti-Doping Measures as Student Athlete Safety Comes Under Scrutiny
Tonga’s Police Minister made a surprise appearance at the opening of the 98th Inter-Collegiate Sports Competition in Nuku’alofa this morning, as concerns over doping and student-athlete safety took centre stage.
The high-profile visit comes amid growing calls from officials for stricter anti-doping measures, with fears that performance-enhancing drugs could jeopardize the integrity of the games and the well-being of young competitors.
Tonga is grappling with a growing methamphetamine crisis, with its devastating impact on children and families becoming increasingly evident.
Police have intensified crackdowns on drug networks—ranging from individual parents to organized crime groups like the Comancheros—as reports of drug sales near schools spark public outrage.
Authorities warn that the scourge of meth is not only fueling crime but also putting youth at risk, prompting calls for urgent action to protect vulnerable communities.
Approximately 100 police officers have been deployed to Teufaiva National Stadium to oversee and monitor the sporting events.
Anti-Doping workshops
Last week, the Tonga Sports Association and National Olympic Committee (TASANOC) conducted Safeguarding and Anti-Doping workshops for high school students across Tongatapu, preparing them for the annual intercollegiate sports competition.
Participating schools included Apifo’ou College, Liahona High School, Tonga High School, and Queen Salote College, with the initiative to promote athlete welfare and sporting integrity.
“This workshop equips students with the knowledge to uphold safety and well-being in sports,” TASANOC reportedly said.
“Protecting our athletes is a top priority.”
At Apifo’ou College, officials praised students and staff for their active engagement, noting that the sessions “reinforced the importance of clean sports, fair play, and safeguarding young athletes.”
TASANOC emphasized that the program is part of broader efforts to educate athletes on the dangers of doping and ethical sporting conduct.
TASANOC pledged to continue supporting schools to ensure a “safe and fair environment for all competitors.”
Previous workshops
Last year, Tonga Police’s Drug Team partnered with the Salvation Army and the Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC) to lead drug awareness programs in local villages.
The campaigns aimed to educate youth and communities about the harsh realities of Tonga’s current drug crisis, with a strong message: “Drug Awareness – Know What’s Happening Right Now in Tonga.”
Through lived experiences and eyewitness testimonies, the program revealed how children’s lives have been devastated by illicit drug abuse. Many participants described the sessions as “an eye-opener and scary,” highlighting the urgent need for action.
Security and hygiene measures will be implemented at the Fāua fish sale spot to allow fishers to temporarily return to the trading area.
It follows complaints from fishermen abruptly barred from their usual selling spot due to congestion and sanitation concerns.
The temporary approval comes with strict hygiene measures, including prohibiting the placing of fish on the ground and increasing security to ensure cleanliness.
This arrangement will remain in place until the new small vessel port at Popua is operational.
This evening, the Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga announced his appreciation on Facebook for the Ports Board and the Minister of Public Enterprises.
He acknowledged their decision to permit fishers from Hahake, Eua, and the outer islands to continue selling their catch at Faua Wharf.
A recent directive from the Ports Authority of Tonga (PAT) prohibited fish sales at the spot.
The fishermen disagreed with the new directive and reportedly expressed dissatisfaction on social media.
PAT chief executive ‘Alo Maileseni reportedly said the fishermen were informed beforehand about the restrictions.
He said that the designated area is meant for vessels to load and unload cargo and passengers, not for selling fish.
Maileseni said trading in this zone contributes to operational congestion and unsanitary conditions.
National and New Zealand First are on the rise in the latest 1News Verian poll, with the coalition having the numbers to again form a government.
Neither of the two main party leaders’ ratings are high, but it is a better result for National’s Christopher Luxon than Labour’s Chris Hipkins. (Source: 1News)
Labour on the other hand has fallen by 1% in the poll, which surveyed 1000 eligible voters and ran from March 29 to April 2.
If an election were to be held today, the right bloc of National, ACT and New Zealand First would have 64 seats, enough to form a coalition, while the left bloc of Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori would have 58 seats.
That’s a turnaround on February’s poll, which put Labour and the left bloc in the driving seat.
(Source: 1News)
National is up 2% to 36% today compared to their February result, while Labour has slipped 1% to 32%.
New Zealand First hits new heights – up 2% to 7%. This is the highest the party has been in our polls since September of 2017.
The Greens and ACT are steady on 10% and 9% respectively.
Te Pāti Māori continue to slide, down by a further 1% to 3%. As recently as December they were on 7%.
The public also appears to be feeling a bit better about the economy.
Economic optimism is up by 3% to 39% on our last poll, while economic pessimism has gone down from 25% to 21%.
(Source: 1News)
Today’s numbers mean National would have 44 seats in Parliament, down 5 on their current allocation, Labour would have 40, up 6, The Greens would have 12, down 2, ACT would have 11, the same number as they have at present.
New Zealand First would have 9, up 1, and Te Pāti Māori would also have 6, as they do at present. There would be an extra two seats in a 122-seat Parliament as a result of an overhang, assuming that Te Pāti Māori held on to their six electorate seats.
‘Making good progress’
Luxon responded to the results, saying: “There’s a lot of polls. I don’t comment on them. I’m focused very much on making sure I get things done and deliver for New Zealanders. We’re making some good progress. We’re turning the corner. It’s good to see economic growth coming back. But there’s a lot more for us to do.”
Hipkins said polls “bounce around at this point in the electoral cycle”. He added: “We’ve still got a lot of water to flow under the bridge before the next election. We’re only halfway through the Parliamentary term.
“The polls are showing that Labour’s support is rebounding from the last election, but we know we’ve got more work to do. We haven’t started announcing major policies yet. We will be doing more of that, certainly in the second half of this year and heading into next year.”
Meanwhile, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said, “I never talk about polls because I don’t trust them.” He added that “real” polls to him were the packed public meetings that his party held.
Te Pāti Māori leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said: “Our polling, we always say this, is actually out on the ground. Our polling is who turns up to support kaupapa. How it is that advising and interacting with us, whether it be at the marae or whether it be on social media.”
Luxon and Hipkins trending up
(Source: 1News)
In the preferred prime minister stakes, neither Christopher Luxon or Chris Hipkins are particularly popular, but both are trending in the right direction.
Luxon is up by 1% to 23%, while Hipkins has climbed 3% to 20%.
Winston Peters is now the third preferred option, going up 2% to 7%, in line with his party’s numbers.
Chlöe Swarbrick has fallen from 6% to 4% and the public seems to be going cold on David Seymour too. He’s down from 6% to 3%.
Rounding out the honourable mentions on 1% are former PM Jacinda Ardern, Te Pāti Māori’s Hana Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, Finance Minister Nicola Willis, Education Minister Erica Stanford, Labour’s Kieran McAnulty and a new entrant – Health Minister Simeon Brown.
ACT leader Seymour reacted to today’s numbers, saying: “When we were down, I said people are voting on the economy today. I think the economy is just starting to cautiously improve, and maybe these polls reflect that as well.”
On his preferred PM rating he added: “I suspect it’s what they call statistical noise … If Chris Hipkins has gone up, I’d say that’s probably the voters taking pity on him.”
Green co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said: “I’ve said, since time immemorial, since I first became a politician, that our job is not to watch the polls, but to realise that we are the polls, to do absolutely everything that we can, to mobilise our communities to claim power so that we get an economy that works for people and planet, as opposed to exploiting and exhausting both.”
India trip, school lunch troubles
The poll comes after the Prime Minister’s trip to India, where negotiations began in another attempt to secure a free trade deal, and the Government’s school lunch programme remained prominent after one of the providers went into liquidation.
More recently, the story of Green MP Benjamin Doyle’s alternative social media account that was criticised by NZ First Leader Winston Peters made headlines.
One factor not captured in the poll is the effect of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs announcement last week, which has had a negative impact on the markets worldwide and came after this survey was carried out.
Between March 29 and April 2 2025, 1000 eligible voters were polled by mobile phone (500) and online, using online panels (500). The maximum sampling error is approximately ±3.1%-points at the 95% confidence level. Party support percentages have been rounded up or down to whole numbers, except those less than 4.5%, which are reported to one decimal place. The data has been weighted to align with Stats NZ population counts for age, gender, region, ethnic identification and education level. The sample for mobile phones is selected by random dialling using probability sampling, and the online sample is collected using an online panel. Undecided voters, non-voters and those who refused to answer are excluded from the data on party support. The results are a snapshot in time of party support, and not a prediction.
A Samoan national has been sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay $4,000 in reparations after admitting to multiple immigration and exploitation offences in Auckland District Court today.
The individual, whose name remains suppressed, pleaded guilty to five representative charges of aiding and abetting visa breaches, six counts of exploiting unlawful migrants, and one representative charge of corrupting a public official.
The defendant is scheduled to reappear in court next month to determine her application for permanent name suppression. She is currently in prison after being sentenced last week.
The crimes took place between 2014 and 2021, when the defendant, with the help of an associate, illegally employed Samoan nationals in New Zealand and facilitated visa breaches.
The offending also involved bribing an Immigration New Zealand (INZ) official in Samoa to secure visas and preferential treatment for workers.
The scheme exploited vulnerable migrants, who were paid below minimum wage, denied employment rights, and forced to remain in the country unlawfully after their visas expired.
Michael Carley, Acting General Manager Immigration Compliance & Investigation says the individual would frequently travel to Samoa to recruit people to their painting business.
“Workers were lured to New Zealand under the offer to make money that they can send to their families in Samoa,” he says.
“The individual would then either directly or indirectly through extended family or friends, sponsor a worker’s visitor visa and manage the process of applying for visas through Immigration New Zealand. Even paying for related visa fees and airfares”.
The individual would also direct employees, while in Samoa, to place cash in papers when attending the Samoa Immigration New Zealand office, in order to influence their treatment by officials.
The individual knew the workers were not lawfully entitled to work in New Zealand and some employees would also remain unlawfully in New Zealand at the expiry of their visitor visa.
The individuals’ employees would regularly work more than 40 hours per week and were paid a daily rate of NZD $100, less than the adult minimum wage. They did not pay their workers holiday or sick pay entitlements and failed to provide them with payslips or an individual employment agreement.
The individual provided monetary payment to the associate for providing accommodation for many of their workers and assisted with applying for the visitor visas of at least two people by sponsoring some of them at the individual’s direction. The associate knew these visas did not allow the recipient to work in New Zealand and knew that the purpose of their entry was to work for the individual illegally.
When the individual travelled out of New Zealand to Samoa, they would also transfer money to the associate and direct them on how much to pay the workers.
This sentencing concludes a 5-year Immigration investigation, initiated in 2020 after being alerted to the individuals offending following a complaint received through Crimestoppers.
Mr. Carley says this sentencing sends a clear message that Immigration fraud, migrant exploitation and corruption will not be tolerated.
“The callous exploitation of vulnerable migrants and the corruption of public officials, is not just unethical – it’s criminal and we will work with our partner agencies both onshore and offshore to take all necessary action to hold those responsible to account” he says.
“Maintaining and protecting the integrity of our Immigration system is critical to protecting both migrants and the wider public. Therefore, we expect applicants to be honest about their intentions when entering New Zealand and follow the conditions of their visa”.
“I’m also incredibly proud of our investigations team who undertook a lengthy and complex investigation, working closely across Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and Immigration New Zealand (INZ) Integrity teams, to bring these serious charges before the court”.
MBIE places significant emphasis on the integrity and professional standards expected from our staff and any subsequent breach to the Immigration system by officials will be investigated thoroughly.
We encourage anyone with any knowledge of Immigration fraud or exploitation to come forward. To make a report, contact the MBIE reporting line on 0800 200 088. To report an issue anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Moana Pasifika loose forward Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa celebrates his try with captain Ardie Savea. (Source: Photosport)
Coach Dan McKellar is lamenting his “bored” players after the NSW Waratahs produced another embarrassing defensive display to suffer a 45-28 Super Rugby Pacific capitulation to Moana Pasifika in Auckland.
An attacking masterclass from Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii had the Waratahs on track for an elusive first away win of the season before the hosts piled on 38 second-half points to run away with victory yesterday.
McKellar was unable to hide his frustrations after the Tahs defied his orders to man up in defence after a similar surrender last week in a 57-12 loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington.
“A very poor second half, it’s as simple as that,” McKellar said.
“I thought at the halftime break we’d executed our plan nicely and it builds a lead.
“The second half, we just we fell away.”
After taking a 21-7 lead to the interval, then again stretching their advantage to 14 points with a Teddy Wilson try, the Waratahs collapsed at North Harbour Stadium.
The Pasifika ran in five tries in a devastating 15-minute spell, with prop Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou completing his hat-trick before flyhalf Patrick Pellegrini, fullback William Havili and replacement Fine Inisi added to the Waratahs’ humiliation.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is brought down by Moana Pasifika. (Source: Photosport)
With powerhouse prop Taniela Tupou also failing to deliver at set piece after being dropped to the bench and thrust into the fray in the second half, McKellar conceded the Waratahs had plenty of “work-ons” ahead of their next game.
“Just executing what was working (in the first half) and not getting bored with it,” the coach said of his team’s plan for a turnaround after three losses on the road to go with an unbeaten four-match start in Sydney.
“That’s the reality. We’ve got a couple of tidy-ups in and around line out there.
“We had a nice centre-field scrum that we got penalised for collapsing, so there’s the set piece to start with.
“Then just not going away from what we’re good at. That’s the challenge for us at the moment.
“We’re producing it for periods, but we’ve got to produce it for 80 minutes.”
The defensive abomination overshadowed another eye-catching performance from Suaalii, who looked to have inspired the Waratahs with three telling touches.
All three ended in tries, with winger Triston Reilly bagging a double and halfback Wilson also benefiting from the cross-code superstar’s silky skills.
Returning to fullback after making his comeback from a foot injury last week in the centres, Suaalii’s decisive contributions earned the Waratahs their handy halftime lead.
When he burst through to set up Wilson in the 57th minute to go up 28-14, the Waratahs appeared odds-on to claim their first win away from Sydney in 2025.
But then they crumbled.
McKellar’s charges have now conceded 105 points in their past two starts.
Moana Pasifika, on the other hand, are celebrating back-to-back Super Rugby Pacific wins for the first time after also putting 45 points on the Crusaders in Christchurch last week.
Coach Tana Umaga said he couldn’t be prouder.
“It’s just about the actions and, as we saw, those actions were all over the show today,” he said.
“We were having a bit of cramp and injuries and people lying on the ground but everyone just kept getting back up.
“There were a lot of deep breaths, but they could see what was happening and just kept getting back up for each other – and that’s all you can ask for.”
