Home Blog Page 716

NZ adviser to meet Fisheries CEO during Business Council visit

By
Philip Cass
-

A fisheries adviser will meet with Tonga’s CEO of the Ministry of Fisheries and the National Fisheries Council during the New Zealand Tonga Business Council’s visit to Tonga this week.

The New Zealand High Commission in Nuku’alofa said Vaughan Wilkinson, a fisheries adviser accompanying Ambassador Shane Jones, would meet with the CEO of the Ministry of Fisheries, Dr Tu’ikolongahau Halafihi, and the National Fisheries Council to discuss areas of interest for the Tonga fisheries sector.

CEO of Ministry of Customs and Revenue Kulu Anisi Bloomfield said this week fishing was the most directly important sector for the kingdom’s economic development.

Bloomfield also has a fishing business on his own in Tonga which sells to the local markets and Hawai’i.

A 30-strong New Zealand Business Council delegation flew to Nuku’aofa on Wednesday (February 15).

The delegation includes people from a wide range of industries, including infrastructure, renewable energy, energy storage, education, health care, the NZ Government, tourism and consumer goods.

The fishing industry in Tonga faces a number of challenges.

Complaints raised in Parliament include high port fees, taxes and competition from Asian heavily-subsided fishing vessels.

According to the Tonga Fisheries Sector Plan 2016-24 fishing is a key element to securing food security for Tonga.

The report said the ocean around Tonga  did not  appear  to  support  a significant fishery.

It said that if viable tuna processing operations could be developed, preferably based on increased catches landed by Tongan ships, the bycatch and non-exported products could expand local market supplies.

Aquaculture involving cockles and clams could provide a much needed increase in supplies.

The main points

  • A fisheries adviser will meet with Tonga’s CEO of the Ministry of Fisheries and the National Fisheries Council during the New Zealand Tonga Business Council’s visit to Tonga this week.
  • The New Zealand High Commission in Nuku’alofa said Vaughan Wilkinson, a fisheries adviser accompanying Ambassador Shane Jones, would meet with the CEO of the Ministry of Fisheries, Dr Tu’ikolongahau Halafihi, and the National Fisheries Council to discuss areas of interest for the Tonga fisheries sector.
  • According to the Tonga Fisheries Sector Plan 2016-24 fishing is a key element to securing food security for Tonga.
  • A 30-strong New Zealand Business Council delegation flew to Nuku’aofa on Wednesday (February 15).

For more information

Tonga’s fishing industry gets a regional profile

Tonga Fisheries Sector Plan 2016–2024

For more information

http://nzkanivapacific.co.nz/2017/02/tonga-untapped-potential-says-business-council-leader/

Tonga has untapped potential, says Business Council leader

Tonga’s fishing industry gets a regional profile

Tonga Fisheries Sector Plan 2016–2024

Three Tongans arrested in Sydney after immigration raid

By
Kalino Latu
-

Three Tongans were arrested this morning in Merrylands, Western Sydney following an immigration enforcement raid.

One of the trio was later released while the other two were still in detention.

They were arrested while sleeping in a garage.

A man at the residence told Kaniva News they were awaken at 5am this morning  by immigration enforcement officers surrounding their house and forcing everyone to show their ID.

He said about 30 officers were at the scene.

He said they hoped the duo could be released on bail.

“I suspect someone or some people probably Tongans have reported to Immigration that people staying here were committing immigration offences”, said the man, who wished not to be identified.

When asked how he came up with that idea, he said: “They (officers) had a warrant to search so obviously someone told on them”.

He said normally in arrests like this the suspects were taken to the city to be processed before  they were taken  to Villa Wood Detention centre.

“A fantastic tale of adventure” available in Tongan for the first time

By
Philip Cass
-

After nearly half a century, the first Tongan translation of a classic 19th century book about the life of an Englsh by who was adopted by a Tongan warlord, has been completed.

The book, Ko Fïnau ‘Ulukälala ‘i Feletoa, ko e Talanoa ‘a Toki Ukamea (The Story of Fïnau ‘Ulukälala: Told by Iron Axe) was presented to Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tuku’aho, High Commissioner of Tonga to Australia at the Tonga High Commission in Canberra last Friday.

The translator, Dr Nigel Stathan, has spent almost 50 years turning the book into Tongan in collaboration with his Tongan wife Melanaite.

The book is a Tongan translation of An Account of the Natives of the Friendly Islands by John Martin and William Mariner.

The book first appeared 200 years ago and has been regarded as a classic of its kind, but this is the first time it has been available in the language of the people among whom the story is set.

Mariner’s story has been called “a fantastic tale of adventure” about an English boy who was marooned in Tonga in 1807 when he was only 15.

Mariner, who quickly became fluent in Tongan, was adopted as the son of a high chiefly contender for the overlordship of Tonga,  Fïnau ‘Ulukälala, and was named by him ‘Iron Axe.’

The book is essentially an account of the life, intrigues and the wars of his adoptive father, in which Mariner played a significant role for the four years he was in Tonga. Hence the Tongan title of the book, Ko Fïnau ‘Ulukälala ‘i Feletoa, ko e Talanoa ‘a Toki Ukamea (The Story of Fïnau ‘Ulukälala: Told by Iron Axe)

The foreword was written by the Princess and the first copy off the press was presented to her in gratitude by Dr Statham.

The book has an introduction and extensive genealogical, sociological and ethnological footnotes by Pacific historian Dorothy Crozier, composed in collaboration with Her Majesty Queen Sälote Tupou III of Tonga.

The original English edition of Mariner’s story was first published in 1817 with the help of Dr John Martin, who was acknowledged to have been dedicated to scrupulously meticulous and sustained research.

A French translation appeared in Paris in the same year as the first English edition. Another French translation was published in 1819, a German translation in Weimar in 1819 and the next year an American edition was published in Boston. In 1818 and 1827 new English editions were published with revisions and in Stockholm in 1828 an abbreviated Swedish version appeared in a published collection of voyages.

Lord Byron based his poem ‘The Island’ on a traditional tale recorded by Mariner about a young Tongan chief who hid his lover, who had been forbidden to him, in an undersea cavern. In 1953 the Australian poet Robert D. Fitzgerald published as a book an extended poetic rendering of Mariner‘s story, Between Two Tides. In 1957 James Michener published a version of Mariner’s story in his book Rogues in Paradise.

While Mariner’s book is an adventure story, it has long been regarded for its scholarly value as well. It was dedicated to Captain Cook’s companion, Sir Joseph Banks “as a small, yet appropriate tribute of respect”’ and it has been used as one of the most reliable primary historical sources for the period by almost every major publication on Tongan history, anthropology and ethnology.

The main points

  • After nearly half a century of work, the first Tongan translation of a classic 19th century book about the life of an English by who was adopted by a Tongan warlord, has been completed.
  • The book, Ko Fïnau ‘Ulukälala ‘i Feletoa, ko e Talanoa ‘a Toki Ukamea (The Story of Fïnau ‘Ulukälala: Told by Iron Axe) was presented to Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tuku’aho, High Commissioner of Tonga to Australia at the Tongan High Commission in Canberra last Friday.
  • The translator, Dr Nigel Stathan, has spent almost 50 years turning the book into Tongan in collaboration with his Tongan wife Melanaite.
  • The book is a Tongan translation of An Account of the Natives of the Friendly Islands by John Martin and William Mariner.

For more information

An Account of the Natives of the Friendly Islands (downloadable pdf in English from the University of Michigan))

https://archive.org/stream/anaccountnative01martgoog#page/n28/mode/2up

Online changes for Kaniva News

By
Philip Cass
-

Kaniva News is moving to a different domain, kanivatonga.co.nz

This will mean that we will no longer be using our existing domain, nzkanivapacific.nz

We are marking the change with a new website theme.

We expect to have completed the move this week.

Kanivatonga.nz was our original name.

We have chosen to go back to it to underline our commitment to being the best online Tongan news service.

We will continue reporting on Tongan news in New Zealand, the kingdom and around the world.

Kaniva is the only Tongan news website that run news seven days a week.

We are the most engaged Tongan news website on social media. Our Facebook page has more likes than any of our competitors.

We pride ourselves on following up every stage of current events in the Tongan community covering stage by stage as the events develop.

We also take pride in providing a Tongan perspective to news

Kaniva News has been serving the Tongan community in Auckland since 2009 and reaching a global audience since we went online in 2010.

We are a respected and trusted source of information, with our stories being picked up by local and international media.

We have considerable reach into the Kingdom of Tonga and Tongan communities in other countries.

After a short break, Kaniva News will resume its Tongan translation service.

This is in response to the high demand from our Tongan readers.

We will translate English news and stories into Tongan on our new website and new domain

Gun, drugs, cash and ammo found in vehicle search in Foʻui

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Tokomololo couple will appear in court this Thursday after Police found in their possession a gun, ammunition,  cash and drugs during the search of their vehicle in Foʻui on February 9.

The couple in their mid-20s were arrested and had been charged with possession of illicit drugs, with additional charges against the husband on possession of firearm and ammunition without a license, Police said.

Two Police Officers got suspicious when a car with a taxi registration plate and tinted windows was speeding on Hihifo Road in Kolovai. The Officers chased and managed to stop the car at Foʻui.

They searched the car and found 26 packets of cannabis (248.57grams), 1 pistol, 2 (.22) bullets and more than $500 cash.

“The swift and timely response by these two Police Officers has helped to ensure public safety, and it`s great that further drugs and illegal firearm have been removed from our community where they may cause harm to others otherwise,” said Deputy Commissioner Vaisuai.

“In order to make our streets and homes safe we need to rid our Communities of illegal firearms and drugs.”

While Police are taking proactive and active measures to address the issues relating to illegal firearms and drugs, members of the public are asked to contact Police if they observe any suspicious or unusual behaviour in their communities.

Both accused are remanded in custody to appear in the Magistrate Court on Thursday 16 February 2017.

PNG commits TP$34 million to help Tonga Host 2019 Pacific Games

By
Kalino Latu
-

Papua New Guinean Sport Minister has confirmed an estimate of TP$34 million ($49 million kina) has been set aside to support Tonga in their preparation to host the 2019 Pacific Games.

In an EM TV report on Friday Hon. Justin Tkatchenko quoted Prime Minister Peter O’Neil as well as the National Executive Council as saying they had been presented with an overall costing of expenses for Tonga’s project.

“With an estimated K49 million set aside for this purpose, the Minister for Sport, Justin Tkatchenko, has said that, with the PNG economy in a downturn, and with the elections on the horizon, the commitment at the moment was domestic, but that they would still offer assistance to the Pacific Island nation”, it said.

As Kaniva reported in early last year Tonga’s former Sports Minister Fe’ao Vakata said PNG has indicated it could donate US$35 million ($82.04 pa’anga)  to assist Tonga’s preparation.

Now the PNG Sports Minister has confirmed it was  TP$34 million Tongan pa’anga not US dollars.

READ MORE

Supreme Court tells Pohiva to leave Sevele in place and pay his wages until judicial review

Thieves caught on camera; Tongan business in south Auckland robbed for second time

By
Kalino Latu
-

Police were on the lookout for two men and a woman in connection with robbery at the Go Pacific cargo and freight services in South Auckland on Sunday 12.

The director of the company Sam Fainga’a Paea said six truck batteries he purchased for $250 each had all gone.

He has been left devastated after his warehouse at 20 Weka Street in Otahuhu was robbed for the second time in three months.

He claimed the thieves also stole batteries from his neighbours’ vehicles.

The incident came  after one of his vans was stolen in December. Police were still investigating that case, he said.

Paea could not confirm whether these suspects caught on camera had any connection with the December robbery.

The video showed a dark green Subaru Legacy Brighton station wagon with registration plate number BLA575  was parking up at the driveway in front of the business while the two men were outside.

The woman also got out and tried to pull a sub woof speaker with the help of one of the men but they later abandoned it.

Paea said the speaker was left outside because it was damaged.

After a while the car pulled up into the warehouse and on its way back it stopped before the thieves got out again by the gate before they left.

Now Paea was hoping the clear pictures will help Police catch the thieves.

Community reacts to Lauaki’s death; concerns grow as kidney failure affects some Tongan players

By
Kalino Latu
-

Sione Lauaki’s death has rocked the Tongan community with concerns mounting as he is the latest Pacific Island rugby player to be affected by kidney disease.

Unlike Jonah Lomu, who died after suffering from a rare kidney disorder, Lauaki’s kidney failure issue was not widely known to many Tongans.

His death yesterday at 35 came as a huge shock.

Tongan All Blacks trialist and former ‘Ikaletahi chief coach Manakaetau ‘Otai said he was concerned that kidney failure problems appeared to have affected some Pacific Island players.

He said Lauaki’s death was “tragic news.”

‘Otai said Lauaki’s rugby talent was marred by his sickness which was discovered while he was playing in France.

He said Lomu and Lauaki were victims of the disease.

Lomu’s kidney problem was widely publicised while he was with the All Blacks.

Former All Black and Counties Manukau legend Joeli Vitiri was treated for kidney problems in 2015 and is currently receiving dialysis treatment.

Vidiri had one of his kidneys transplanted in Auckland City Hospital in 2015.

‘Ikaletahi player Sione Vaiomo’unga was suffering from life-threatening kidney failure and was reportedly treated in Romania in 2015.

L-R: Manakaetau ʻOtai, ʻEmosi Koloto, Feʻao Vunipola and William Sinali Latu

All Blacks

Lauaki played 17 games with the All Blacks from 2005-2008 and scored three tries.

He made his All Blacks debut against Fiji in 2005 and was part of the All Blacks team that went to France to contest  the 2007 World Cup.

His last game with the All Blacks was against Samoa in 2008.

He played for several domestic teams including the Chiefs and the Waitemata Rugby Football and Sports Club. He racked up 70 caps for the team, having scored 14 tries during his Super Rugby career.

Lauaki, who came to New Zealand from Tonga when he was eight, went to France and played for the ASM Clermont Auvergne in 2010 before moving to Aviron Bayonnais.

It was while playing with Bayonnais that he was diagnosed with renal failure and cardiovascular problems, causing the club to sign him off for the rest of the season.

He returned to New Zealand and played for club Waitemata again, as recently as 2014.

Colourful

Lauaki’s rugby career was a colourful one.

Apart from being banned from the field several times for incidents including dangerous high and lifting tackles he had appeared in court several times.

In 2006 he was offered police diversion after admitting assaulting a Hamilton security officer.

In 2007 he underwent an anger management course after appearing in court for damaging an Auckland motel unit.

However in 2005 his refusal to allow a Tongan criminal to hide behind his name showed he was a man with morality.

A Tongan man Toma Lauaki appeared in court for a hammer attack on a truck driver.

Toma fought to have his name suppressed, arguing he was a close blood relation of Lauaki and that revealing his name would affect his upcoming All Blacks games.

But Lauaki went public and said he was not related to Toma.

Community mourns

Lauaki’s death has been felt most deeply in his Tongan community.

New Zealand–Tongan former rugby league and rugby union footballer Emosi Koloto, who represented the New Zealand Kiwis five times during 1991, remembered Lauaki.

“We are deeply saddened at Lauaki’s death,” Koloto said.

“His involvement with our annual Siutaka rugby tournament was an inspiration not only to us organisers but for our Tongan talented rugby players who vied to get to All Blacks.”

He said he tried to bring Tongan rugby players who played for the All Blacks to talk or help with their tournament and it was fortunate Lauaki was one of them.

The three-times former Tongan World Cup rugby player for Japan, Viliami Sinalī Lātū, who is currently living in Japan said he bragged about how tough Lauaki was when he was in the All Blacks to his friends in Japan when they asked whether he was Tongan or Samoan.

Lātū said Lauaki’s death was a huge loss to the rugby community. Athough he did not know him personally he was proud of him because he was one of the few Tongans who played for the world’s best rugby union team.

Former ‘Ikaletahi captain and Chair of Tonga Rugby Union, Fe’ao Vunipola, said he regarded Lauaki as a “hero” in the field of rugby union.

He said any loss of life in family, friends and rugby colleagues was poignant.

He said he sympathised with Lauaki’s family and was praying for them.

Lauaki is survived by wife Stephanie and two children. They had married in 2014 in Rarotonga,  the place they had made home.

The main points

  • Sione Lauaki’s death has rocked the Tongan community with concerns mounting as he is the latest Pacific Island rugby player to be affected by kidney disease.
  • The announcement of Lauaki’s death at age 35 yesterday came as a huge shock.
  • Lauaki played 17 games with the All Blacks from 2005-2008 and scored three tries.
  • Former ‘Ikaletahi chief coach Manakaetau ‘Otai said he was concerned that kidney failure problems appeared to have affected a number of Pacific Island players.

For more information

Ex-All Black Sione Lauaki has died

Rugby world mourns Sione Lauaki

Government cautious over medical assistance for former Ikale Tahi flanker in Romania

Tongan convert to Islam in Sydney court on terrorist charges

By
Philip Cass
-

A 19 year-old Tongan convert to Islam will appear in court in Sydney next month on charges of planning a terrorist attack.

Alo-Bridget Namoa and her husband Sameh Bayda appeared in Sydney’s central Local Court last week.

They had been in custody over terrorism related charges, but these were upgraded.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that court documents showed they were allegedly planning to carry out a knife attack.

The charge is based on allegations levelled at them when they were arrested early last year.

Bayda has already been accused of collecting documents in Arabic containing instructions on how to make an improvised explosive device and how to carry out a stabbing attack.

Namoa  is accused of recklessly possessing a hunting knife and Islamic flag, as well as instructions in Arabic on how to make a detonator for an improvised explosive device.

They have been held since the beginning of 2016.

Namoa was also previously convicted for refusing to answer questions about her husband’s charges in the NSW Crime Commission.

The Guardian reported that Namoa’s solicitor had argued she was  a “terrified young woman” who refused to answer questions because she was scared.

In September, a court was told Namoa was infatuated with violence and could watch beheadings “all day.”

The Australian media has reported that Namoa referred to themselves as the ‘Islamic Bonnie and Clyde,’ a reference to a notorious American gangster couple.

According to court documents, she was also asked about Islamic State propaganda, whether her husband gave her a knife, and whether he was planning to carry out a suicide operation.

New South Wales police said the couple had their charges upgraded as part of an ongoing investigation known as Operation Chillon.

The charge carries a penalty of life imprisonment.

Bayda and Namoa will return to court on March 15.

The main points

  • A 19 year-old Tongan convert to Islam will appear in court in Sydney next month on charges of planning a terrorist attack.
  • Alo-Bridget Namoa and her husband Sameh Bayda appeared in Sydney’s central Local Court last week.
  • They had been in custody over terrorism related charges, but these were upgraded.
  • The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that court documents showed they were allegedly planning to carry out a knife attack.

For more information

Teenagers to face court over charges of planning terrorist attack in Sydney

Islamic ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ face Sydney court charged with planning a terrorist attack

PM Pōhiva given chance to respond against his vote of no confidence motion

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva could respond to the vote of no confidence submitted against him between now and next Monday when the vote will be dealt with.

This has been confirmed in a notice of vote of no confidence distributed by the Speaker Lord Tuʻivakano in Parliament before the House closed today.

It said:

The Notice for a Motion for a Vote of No Confidence in the Prime Minister, Motion for a Vote of No Confidence in the Prime Minister, and supporting documents were distributed to Members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga today upon direction from the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, Lord Tu’ivakano. This direction was issued upon completion of the vetting of the motion by the Standing Committee on Privileges to ensure it complies with the requirements of the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga.

The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly has advised that the motion will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Monday 20th February 2017. According to the Rule of Procedure of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, the motion shall be balloted within 5 working days from the date it was first tabled in the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. As such, the motion shall be balloted by end of business on Monday 27 February 2917.

Details on Members of the Legislative Assembly who signed the motion will be released when the motion is read in the Legislative Assembly

The Prime Minister was not in Parliament while the notice was handed out.

As Kaniva reported, Pōhiva had asked the House to schedule the  vote of no confidence against him.

Hon. Pōhiva said he wanted to make sure the vote did not clash with his upcoming meetings planned for overseas.

Lord Tu’ivakano said the actual vote of no confidence will have to take place by the end of Monday February 27.

READ MORE

Noble MPs vow to topple government with no confidence motion when Parliament resumes

kanivatonga.co.nz/2016/08/noble-mps-vow-topple-government-no-confidence-motion-parliament-resumes/

1...715716717...951Page 716 of 951