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“No room for second airline” says CEO as Tonga Airways customers fly on Real Tonga aircraft

By
Kalino Latu
-

The CEO of the Real Tonga airline said for the government to approve another passenger service for the kingdom was too much for the local market.

Tevita Palu’s comments came after Tonga Airways was refused an operating license and its passengers had to fly on Real Tonga’s aircraft.

Palu said they carried about 200 passengers who had bought tickets from Tonga Airways this week.

Palu, who is now a member of the Tourism Board of Authority chaired by Minister of Civil Aviation, Hon. Semisi Sika, said a report by World Bank had recommended only one airline to serve Tonga’s domestic flight services can financially survive.

“There is no room for a second airline”, he told Kaniva News.

The Real Tonga CEO said his airline operated five aircraft, which was more than what was required to serve the Tongan market.

He said Real Tonga provided an average of 20 flights a day to six airports. Yesterday (December 21) they operated 30 flights.

Tonga Airways

Hon. Sika declined Tonga Airways’ license application last week.

His action agitated Tonga Airways’ chairman, former Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu.

Last year Vaipulu got into an altercation with the former minister responsible for Civil Aviation, Hon. ‘Etuate Lavulavu over an application for a license for Royal Tonga airline.

Kaniva News reported in August last year that Police were called to remove Vaipulu from the Hon. Lavulavu’s house.

We also reported that in an earlier incident, Vaipulu had reportedly hit a table, walked out and slammed the door of the minister’s office.

Vaipulu was one of five shareholders in Royal Tonga Airline, but he later pulled out and started Tonga Airways.

After Tonga Airways’ application was turned down he approached Real Tonga this week to take their customers.

Real Tonga said Tonga Airways paid for some of the customers’ new air tickets, while some paid for their own.

Attempts to contact Tonga Airways were unsuccessful.

Vaipulu said his airline aimed at providing cheaper airfares than Real Tonga.

He said it was disappointing that Hon. Sika chose not to grant approval for Tonga Airways to start its domestic service using chartered Fiji Airways aircraft.

Vaipulu told Radio New Zealand this week his company would keep pressing the government to approve its services.

“Enjoy Christmas and then we will look at it opening of New Year,” Vaipulu said.

Government subsidy

Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva said the government could have subsidised Real Tonga’s Chinese MA60 aircraft if Samoa and Fiji accepted its services.

The aircraft is significant to the airline’s services because of its bigger size, but it met regional criticism since its arrival in Tonga because of the many accidents in which the aircraft has been involved in other countries.

Hon. Pohiva recently told us the Samoan and Fijian governments were members of the Pacific Aviation Safety Office and they could not approve the Chinese aircraft which it failed to comply with its certification process.

The Prime Minister said the government believed Real Tonga could make money if the aircraft could fly to the two neighborhood countries and that could justify government funding.

Palu said Fiji and Samoa had made it clear they would not issue the Chinese MA60 with an Air Operation Certificate because of New Zealand’s stance against the aircraft.

He said the Tongan government has indicated it would subsidise Real Tonga, but so far they had not received any money.

READ MORE:

MA60 resumes operations despite failed negotiation with government over funding

Police called in after aviation Minister claims MP Vaipulu attacked him and swore at him

The main points

  • The CEO of Real Tonga airline said for the government to approve another passenger service for the kingdom was too much for the local market.
  • Tevita Palu’s comments came after Tonga Airways was refused an operating license and its passengers had to fly on Real Tonga’s aircraft.
  • Palu said they carried about 200 passengers who had bought tickets from Tonga Airways this week.
  • “There is no room for a second airline”, Palu he told Kaniva News.

For more information

Tonga Airways still intent on getting service off the ground

Police called in after aviation Minister claims MP Vaipulu attacked him and swore at him

Family plead for prayer as daughter fights for life in hospital in Australia

By
Kalino Latu
-

The family of a Tongan father and his daughter who were in hospital in Australia have asked for prayer as the daughter is fighting for her life in hospital.

An unconfirmed information said she was in life support while her father was in stable condition.

Tēvita Tupou and his daughter Māʻata Tupou of Houma, Tongatapu were on their way back to Melbourne from Sydney on Wednesday 21 when their twin-double cab ute collided with another vehicle.

Emergency services were responding to a serious crash on the Sturt Highway between Hay and Narrandera, NSW media reported.

The crash, which occurred about 9am involved a heavy vehicle and a passenger vehicle.

Police said two persons trapped in the passenger vehicle.

Tēvita’s aunty Moetoto Fa’asolo Tupou told Kaniva News they received the sad news yesterday evening after Tēvita and Māʻata left their home in the morning.

Tēvita’s sister Silipa Kavai, who is currently in New Zealand, said she was trying to fly to Australia to be with her brother and niece.

She has posted an emotional status on Facebook last night saying she wished she can just drive down on her vehicle to Australia to see them when she got the bad news.

She also posted a photo of Tēvita and her daughter.

Moetoto has pleaded for prayer on Facebook for Tēvita and Māʻata.

READ MORE

Family plead for prayer as daughter fights for life in hospital in Australia

Tongan father and daughter in hospital in Australia after serious car crash

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Tongan father and his daughter were in Australian hospitals after their Mitsubishi double cab ute got involved in a serious crash on the Sturt Highway between Hay and Narrandera, NSW.

Sydney’s Area News report says the crash, which occurred at about 9am Wednesday 21 involved a heavy vehicle and a passenger vehicle.

Police said two persons were got trapped in the passenger vehicle but have yet to identify them.

However a family member, who we choose not to name,  has told Kaniva News the victims were Tongans.

She said the daughter was in serious condition.

–  UPDATED  Thursday 22/12/2016

Tongan father and daughter in hospital in Australia after serious car crash

WATCH: Good Samaritans visiting Vavaʻu wipe away tears of desperate Talihau business women

By
Kalino Latu
-

Scroll down to watch the video

A group of business women in Talihau, Vavaʻu were in tears after they were paid more than TP$20,000 by a couple for their koloa faka-Tonga after a previous deal was canceled by their Australian business partners.

The Talihau group was trading with Tongans in Australia and had a verbal agreement that the Australians would buy their Tongan traditional handicrafts this December.

But in November, after the Vava’uans had spent months  producing work to meet the expectations of their customers, they were told the Australians were canceling the deal.

The last-minute cancellation hit the small Vavaʻuan community really hard.

Tongan-based Australian couple Houma and his wife Moa Liavaʻa Koloamatangi visited Vavaʻu this week and heard about the Talihau episode.

Houma told Kaniva News he really felt for the women as he understood the situation and how it would have affected them with their families during the Christmas and the New Year.

Houma and Moa Koloamatangi.

“I just told my wife let’s go there and see if she wants anything and ask to buy it”,  Houma said.

When they got there and talked to the women they decided to buy all their handicrafts which were different types of Tongan precious mats.

She said the women gave them a good deal and they bought all their goods for more than TP$20,000.

The Koloamatangis are running personal loan finances for the Tongan communities in Tonga and Australia.

In a video posted to Facebook by Houma, a woman who appeared to be the leader of the group can be heard tearfully saying they were thankful for the Koloamatangis for their kindness.

She said that if they had not bought their goods they would not have been able to shop this Christmas.

She said their children would not have school materials and school fees for the new year.

They had relied on the deal with the Tongans in Australia and it was really sad they cancelled when they had already produced  the mats.

Some members of the group managed to ship their goods to Tongatapu, Tonga’s mainland, while others stayed on the island with their koloa.

Trading  

This type of informal trading among Tongan women in the kingdom and overseas happens in December before Christmas.

According to the protocol the trading can be by individual or in groups. A woman from Tonga or from overseas has to first look for a partner to trade with.

When they agree they discuss the requirements. A partner in the United States may, for instance, want five 20 feet mats (fala toka 20) and the Tongan woman can tell her partner she can give them to her for, say, TP$5,000.

When they agree they can then decide a day in December when the overseas partner will come to Tonga for the exchange.

This is known as kātoanga fakafetongi koloa faka-Tonga or a celebration at which the trade and exchange takes place.

The exchange is sometimes associated with exchanges of extra gifts. For instance the overseas partner might add an important blanket with an extra TP$500 as a gift, while the Tongan partner gifts her with a fala toka 10.

The production of mats is not an easy task especially after the processing of the lou’akau.

Women have to pay for weavers to help them because of the trading demand.

Abuse

Although this is meant to be a time to celebrate there can be problems.

There have been reports of people abusing the trade and exchange business.

Some Tongan overseas partners have told their Tongan partners to ship them the goods when it comes to the celebration day in Tonga because they have an urgent function for one of their children.

She said she would send her the money after the function. The Tongan partner trusted her and sent the goods but that was the end of it. The money was never paid.

On one occasion a woman in Tonga was reported telling her partner overseas when the celebration day was near to send her the money to pay for her bills, some church and family duties as well as other urgent needs.

She said she would still provide the promised goods in December. The money was then transferred to Tonga, but when the overseas partner arrived in Tonga she could never find her business partner.

It has been estimated that the trade and celebration business can bring more than TP$1 million a year to the kingdom.

The following video was recorded on the day  the goods were purchased.

The main points

  • A group of business women in Talihau, Vavaʻu were in tears after they were paid more than TP$20,000 by a couple for their koloa faka-Tonga after a previous deal was canceled by their Australian business partners.
  • The Talihau group was trading with Tongans in Australia and had a verbal agreement that the Australians would buy their Tongan traditional handicrafts this December.
  • Tongan-based Australian couple Houma and his wife Moa Liavaʻa Koloamatangi visited Vavaʻu this week and heard about the Talihau episode.
  • After talking to the women they bought all their goods for more than TP$20,000.

Tourism Minister acted unlawfully in dismissing four directors, Supreme Court rules

By
Philip Cass
-

The Tourism Minister has been told he was wrong to dismiss four members of the Board of   the Tonga Tourism Authority on the grounds that their contracts had expired.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen told the Supreme Court that four people, Tomifa Paea, Simana Kami, Finau Uata and Kisione Pakalani were appointed by Cabinet as directors  of the board under the Tonga Tourism Authority Act  2012.

Their appointments were confirmed for a period of up to three years by the then minister. Hon. ‘Etuate   Lavulavu.

On June 17 2016 the new Tourism Minister, Hon. Semisi Sika, wrote to them, saying they had only been appointed for  the  balance  of the term of a resigning director who they had replaced and that their appointments had expired.

Paea, Kami, UIata and Pakalani  argued they had been unlawfully terminated and asked the Supreme Court to declare the Minister’s decision was wrong and an order setting it aside. Alternatively, they sought  damages.

Hon. Sika argued that regardless of whether the directors were told they had there year appointments, they had replaced resigning directors and their appointments could only be for the remainder of that director’s term.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said the four directors had been appointed by Cabinet on October 2, 2015, following the recommendation of Hon. Lavulavu. Neither Cabinet nor the Minister said they were replacing resigning directors.

On January  26 this year, Hon.  Lavulavu  wrote  to  the  plaintiffs and confirmed their appointments  to the  Board.  His  letter referred to their appointments as being for a period of up to three years.

Hon. Sika became the Tourism Minister on April 18. It appeared that in early June he met with the four directors and told them their appointments were only for the term of resigning directors. On June 17 he wrote to them saying that their terms ended “effective today.”

The directors kept performing their duties, but on July 21 received a letter from the Acting Chief  Executive Officer of Tourism telling them to leave the authority premises.

“I consider  that  the  Minister  did  not  follow  the  law  because  he  was wrong   that   the   plaintiffs   were   appointed   to  fill   positions  that   had become vacant  through  the  resignation  of directors,” Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said.

He said the Board had not until that time appointed the number of directors required by the Act and that there were always two vacancies.

Any director  appointed  to  fill  those  vacancies  would  be entitled  to  serve  a term  of three  years  under section. It was now impossible to determine which of the plaintiffs had been appointed to fill those vacancies.

“It  must  therefore  be  the  case  that  at  least  two  of  the  plaintiffs  were appointed  to  fill  positions  on  the  Board  that  had  always  been  vacant and  that  they  were  entitled  to  serve  for  three  years,” the judge said.

“The  Minister was  not entitled  to  regard their  appointments  as  having expired  by  17 June   2016,   just   seven   months   after   their appointment.

“The  Minister  has  made  fundamental  mistakes.   He was  mistaken  in his belief that all the plaintiffs  were  replacements  for  retiring directors. He was mistaken when he considered that all the plaintiffs’ engagements had expired.”

The judge said the Minister acted unlawfully  when  he advised  the   plaintiffs  that  their  appointments   on  the   Board  of  the Authority  had ended.

He said the plaintiffs had asked the court to order the Minister to return them to the board or to pay them damages. However, he would reserve his decision on this until he had met with legal counsel for the Minister and the plaintiffs.

The  main points

  • The Tourism Minister has been told he was wrong to dismiss four members of the Board of the Tonga Tourism Authority on the grounds that their contracts had expired.
  • Tomifa Paea, Simana Kami, Finau Uata and Kisione Pakalanai were appointed by Cabinet as directors on the
  • On June 17 Tourism Minister Semisi Sika wrote to them saying they had been appointed only for  the  balance  of the term of a resigning director who they had replaced and that their appointments had expired.
  • However, Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said the Minister had acted unlawfully.

READO MORE:

Legal threats after minister sacks tourism board of authority

Tourism board dismissal justified, new board members elected, Dr Palenitina says

Senior church member shares heartbreaking account of Te‘ekiu tragedy

By
Kalino Latu
-

A senior church member has shared the horrifying moment when he saw his colleague died at sea in Teʻekiu last week.

Sioseti Sunia Koluse who was in his 30s died while trying to save a 13-year-old boy after he got into difficulties while swimming at Fotua beach in Kalaʻau on Wednesday 14.

His body was shortly recovered and brought to shore by a boat.

According to a news release by the Mormon Church news website for the Pacific, Koluse was serving as a volunteer youth leader in Teʻekiu for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It said the deceased has served in many lay positions in the Church including as bishop of a Vainī ward.

Bishop ‘Asaeli Fifita was reportedly emotional while sharing what he saw that day.

“At low tide, some of our group were fishing. All of a sudden the boys were yelling.  One of the young men that was swimming was caught in a whirlpool and immediately Brother Koluse jumped in to help him”, Bishop Fifita told the website.

He said: “Both Brother Koluse and the young man were being pulled down in the whirlpool. When the current brought them back up, I witnessed Brother Koluse lift the young man over his head and threw him out away from the whirlpool. In a split second, again the whirlpool pulled Brother Koluse, and this time, when the current brought him back up, I could see that there was a problem.”

Police said Another 36 year old man who was at the beach saw what happened and swam out to assist them.

Police in Nukunuku were called but when their boat arrived it was too late.

The deceased is survived by his wife Kalolaine and their daughter Melemanu Koluse.

Dead American yachtie named, body to be buried in Vavaʻu

By
Kalino Latu
-

The name of the 74-year-old American man found dead in Vaipua, Vavaʻu on December 14 is Stephen Bohne, Police have confirmed.

His body is expected to be buried at Matafolau cemetery in Neiafu this week.

As Kaniva reported on Friday 16 Health authority at Ngū hospital confirmed the deceased died from heart attack after he was found on the deck of his yacht, the Eagle Wings.

Tongan authority contacted the US Embassy in Fiji, Vavaʻu Police said.

The deceased arrived in Vavaʻu in October 2015 and his visa expired in November this year, Vavaʻu Police Superintendent Nētane Falakiseni said.

Largest group of Chinese tourists visits kingdom on cruise ship

By
Philip Cass
-

About 2000 Chinese tourists arrived in Tonga last week on the cruise ship Costa-Atlantica.

They were the first large group of Chinese tourists to visits the kingdom since the two countries agreed to allow visitors to obtain 30 day visas on arrival.

The visitors were welcomed by a Tongan delegation including HRH Prince Ulukalala, Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva and Tourism Minister Hon. Semisi Sik .

His Royal Highness welcomed the tourist group at the wharf and wished them Happy New Year in Mandarin.

The Police Brass Band played for the group and there was a display of traditional dancing.

The Chinese Ambassador to Tonga, His Excellency Huang Huaguang,  accompanied Prince Ulukalala during a tour of the ship.

Ambassador Huang said this was the first time such a large group of Chinese tourists had visited the kingdom. He said more than 120 million Chinese travelled overseas each year.

Prime Minister Pohiva said the visit would promote the improvement of tourism infrastructure, quality of service, sustainable development of tourism and protection of Tonga’s culture and environment.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on tourism was signed in Tonga in July 2015 by the Chinese and Tongan governments.

Chinese turists can obtain a 30 day entry visa on arrival in the Kingdom and vice-versa.

Chinese investors have expressed an interest in developing five star resorts and hotels and alternative air travel routes.

According to a World Travel and Tourism Council report on Tonga for 2015, the total contribution to Tonga’s GDP in 2014 was TP$143.9m, or 17.% of GDP.

In 2014, travel and tourism’s  contribution to employment, including jobs indirectly supported by the industry, was estimated at 6000, or 17.4 of total employment.

About 50,000 inbound travellers were registered in Tonga in the same period.

For more information

First big group of Chinese tourists arrived in Tonga

Travel and Tourism Economic Impact Tonga 2015

Optimistic outlook for Tong-Chinese tourism development

Tongan wedding in Sydney turns violent, mass brawl erupts

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Tongan wedding reception at Riverwood reception centre in Sydney on Sunday morning has turned violent with a brawl resulting in a 22-year-old man severely injured.

The man was in semi-conscious when Police arrived and he was taken to hospital with another man, Sydney media reported.

The incident also saw a passing motorist’s car window being shattered because of the brawl.

7News reported that it was the wedding reception of Teisa Fifita and Junior Taʻane Tupola.

The Leader report said at about 12am a fight broke out between 25-30 people outside the Belmore Road centre, which was hosting a wedding reception.

Police said witnesses at the scene refused to cooperate  so they are appealing to the public for any information that may help them in their investigation.

They have seized security footage from the function centre as investigations continue.

Friends and relatives offered their sympathy for the couple on social media and criticised the violent behaviour of the guests.

One of the users called the wedding reception ceremony “beautiful” although it turned violent and ended in an unexpected manner, 7 News reported.

Brawls in Tongatapu spill over to street

By
Kalino Latu
-

Police arrived at the Nukuʻalofa bus station after a brawl broke out in Tongatapu this afternoon Monday 19.

It is understood Police dispersed the fighters and no one was arrested.

A fight erupted in front of Tonga College on Saturday had spilled over to the street.

The fight was stopped after some of the bystanders tried to intervene. No one was injured, our correspondent in Tonga said.

It has yet to be confirmed whether or not there was a link between the two fights.

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