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Correction: Murder accused named over Vava’u head boy’s death

By
Kalino Latu
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In a story January 5 the Vava’u Police erroneously released to Kaniva News the name of the brother of the man accused in relation to the death of Kelana College’s head boy . The accused’s name is Saia Tapueluelu, not Tevita Tapueluelu.

Vava’u Police  have made the correction this morning.

A corrected version of the story is below:

 

A man accused of murder following the death of Kelana College’s head prefect has been named by Police

He was 27-year-old Saia Tapueluelu of Fungamisi, Vavaʻu Police Superintendent Netane Falakiseni said.

He was accused following Kelekolio Fahiua’s death on Saturday morning after joining the college’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Falakiseni said Kelekolio Fahiua’s body was laid to rest yesterday Wednesday 4.

Tapueluelu was a soldier  in His Majesty’s Armed Forces and he confronted Fahiua after he  was trying to break up a fight among the village’s youth when Fahiua appeared with friends.

The soldier confronted him and knocked him down.

Falakiseni said Fahiua was not involved in the fight or have anything to do with it.

The TBC reported that the soldier, who has since been charged with manslaughter, rushed Fahiua to hospital.

The schoolboy was declared dead two hours later.

Fire engulf vacant house in Kolofoʻou

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga fire crews responded to a vacant house fire in Kolofoʻou this morning at around 11am.

Tonga Fire Commander said the building was fully engulfed in flames and eventually collapsed in upon itself.

The blaze was also reported on social media with many saying “it was an old house”.

VIDEO:Revellers at Vava’u school anniversary end celebration with a muddy dance of joy

By
Kalino Latu
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Scroll down to watch the video

The rain came down and the ground turned into mud, but revellers at St Peter Chanel College last week thought it just added to the fun of the school’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

Men and women marched into the mud and danced holding hands.

Soon somebody fell over and decided that sitting and lying in the mud in their formal attire was just the thing.

And then the small boy in every college alumni took over and people began sliding and rolling and wrestling in the mud.

The college’s celebrations in the Neiafu mud were captured on video and show the joyful, if very muddy, conclusion to four days of celebration.

The event attracted alumni and family members from Tonga and overseas.

They were attended by the head of the Catholic church in Tonga, Cardinal Mafi and the Minister of Health, Hon. Saia Piukala, who is an ex-student of the college.

The alumni raised TP$$540,000 during the celebrations.

St Peter Chanel college is also widely known as Kelana college.

Head boy death

However, the celebrations were marred by news of the death of the college’s head boy, Kelekolio Fahiua.

Police described his death as “unexpected”.

The Tongan Broadcasting Commission said Fahiua died on Saturday morning after joining the Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Police Superintendent Netane Falakiseni said a post mortem on Kelekolio Fahiuaʻs body had been completed and his body released to the family.

He said Fahiua was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

They said a Tongan soldier in His Majesty’s Armed Forces in Fungamisi was trying to break up a fight among the village’s youth when Fahiua appeared with friends.

The soldier confronted him and knocked him down.

Falakiseni said Fahiua was not involved in the fight or have anything to do with it.

The TBC reported that the soldier, who has since been charged with manslaughter, rushed Fahiua to hospital.

The schoolboy was declared dead two hours later.

The main points

  • St Peter Chanel College’s 50th anniversary celebrations ended in a joyful romp through the mud.
  • As the rain came down, men and women marched into the mud and danced holding hands.
  • The event attracted alumni and family members from Tonga and overseas.
  • The alumni TP$$540,000 during the celebrations.

For more information

Head Boy of St.Peter Chanel College died over the weekend

Manslaughter charges laid over head boy’s death

Tsunami threat now cancelled for Fiji following 7.2 magnitude earthquake

By
Kalino Latu
-

A tsunami warning issued for Fiji has now been cancelled.

According to Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 occurred   south of the Fiji islands at 21. 53 UTC on Tuesday January 3, 2017.

It said: “based on all available data… the tsunami threat from this earthquake has now passed”.

The earthquake which was later updated into a magnitude of 7.2 has struck 284km off the coast of Fiji.

The quake struck at 10.52am local time, the US Geological Survey said.

Sudoku and a mother’s belief clues to a world of pure mathematics

By
Philip Cass
-

Dr Vaipuna Raass says the best way for non-mathematicians to think of his field of pure mathematics is to envision a filled-in Sudoku puzzle.

Dr Raass, who graduated from Waikato University last month wrote his thesis on Critical Sets of Full Latin Squares.

Dr Raass said Latin squares were used in designing statistical experiments, processor scheduling for computer systems, error-detection in wireless message transmission and cryptography, the encoding and decoding of messages.

”An example of a 9 x 9 Latin square is a filled-in Sudoku puzzle,” Dr Raass said.

“A full Latin square is a generalization of Latin squares where multiple entries are allowed in each cell.

“Like a Sudoku puzzle, a critical set of a full Latin square is a partial structure that completes uniquely to the Latin square containing the numbers 1,2,…,n in each cell.”

Dr Raass’s father was Asaeli Raass, who taught mathematics at Apifo’ou college in Tonga.

After completing his Bachelor’s degree, he was a senior teacher for five years at Api fo’ou college teaching maths, physics and chemistry for years 12 and 13.

He also lectured in first year maths at Waikato.

“Dad was my role model and my aspiration to be like him made me the mathematician that I am today,” Dr Raass said.

However, he also cited his mother as an inspiration.

“Mum was a simple, humble woman who always believed in me – in my eyes, the perfect mother,” Dr Raass said.

“Alongside Dad, their hard-work and sacrifices for us kids will continue to inspire me for the rest of my life.”

Because of his father’s influence all of his siblings did well in maths, but he the only one pursuing a career as a mathematician. His brother, Fr Sateki Raass, is the parish priest at St Mary’s in Mt Albert.

He is looking for work teaching mathematics in a university.

He described his relationship with his doctoral supervisor, Dr Nicholas Cavenagh, as very close and supportive.

He described him as a prominent scholar and researcher in Latin squares and other related combinatorial structures and would like to keep working with him.

The main points

  • Dr Vaipuna Raass says the best way for non-mathematicians to think of his field of pure mathematics is to envision a filled-in Sudoku puzzle.
  • Dr Raass, who graduated from Waikato University last month wrote his thesis on Critical Sets of Full Latin Squares.
  • Dr Raass said Latin squares were used in designing statistical experiments, processor scheduling for computer systems, error-detection in wireless message transmission and cryptography, the encoding and decoding of messages.
  • ”An example of a 9 x 9 Latin square is a filled-in Sudoku puzzle,” Dr Raass said.

For more information

Critical Sets of Full Latin Squares

Birthday celebration remembers accident that could have taken son

By
Philip Cass
-

Athlete Samiuela ‘Ulufonua was praised for his abilities as a student athlete and competed in the 2013 Youth Olympics, but at his 21st birthday this afternoon his parents remembered the incident that could have taken his life.

Samiuela was three when he was hit by a car in Church Street, Otahuhu.

His parents believe it was their dedication to the Wesleyan Church that saved him.

His father, Sinipata Ulufonua is the secretary of the church.

After the accident his parents paid for a fence at the church to make sure children were safe.

His parents said they held a 21st birthday party to show how much they loved a son who could have been killed.

Samiuela’s sporting talents were mentioned during the celebrations this afternoon by family members who spoke at the celebration.

Some said he was saved in the accident because of his sporting talents.

His parents invited all their church members to the birthday celebration this afternoon.

Many important Tongan handicrafts and money were presented.

Members of his paternal and maternal families from Nukunuku, Ma’ufanga, Taoa in Vava’u, Lofanga, Malapo and relatives in New Zealand attended.

His birthday was also celebrated as part of the church’s Uike Lotu, a prayer service conducted by all Free Wesleyan Churches in Tonga and overseas in the first week of every year to bless and dedicate the nation to God.

Samiuela still attends the Lau Tohi Fakasapate (Sunday School) at Kumuni ‘I Loto Wesleyan Church at 59 Church St in Otahuhu.

The main points

  • Athlete Samiuela ‘Ulufonua was praised for his abilities as a student athlete and competed in the 2013 Youth Olympics, but at his 21st birthday today, his parents remembered the incident that could have taken his life.
  • Samiuela was three when he was hit by a car in Church Street.
  • His parents believe it was their dedication to the Wesleyan Church that saved him.
  • His parents said they held a 21st birthday party to show how much they loved a son who could have been killed.

For more information

Samiuela ‘Ulufonua

College Sport: Ulufonua big on sporting talent

Manslaughter charges laid over head boy’s death

By
Philip Cass
-

A 28 year-old man from Fungamisi, Vava’u, has been charged with manslaughter over the death of Kelekolio Fahiua, 17.

Police who arrested the man alleged the two had been involved in a fight.

As Kaniva News reported on December 31, Fahiua was the head boy of Kelana college also known as St. Peter Chanel college.

The news of his death came just after the college had celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The people of Vava’u were already in mourning over the death of  two members of the Mailefihi Siuʻilikutapu College brass band group in a bus crash in  New Zealand.

A third person died from injuries sustained in the crash this week.

For more information

Kelana College head boy dies

 

“I’m out!” says Fekitoa after criticism of confrontation with referee

By
Philip Cass
-

Tongan All Black Malakai Fekitoa said he would not run any more football tournaments in Ha’apai after there had  been “too many hateful comments” on Facebook.

Fekitoa has been accused of interfering with the referee.

He organised a rugby tournament in Ha’apai as part of a family reunion before Christmas.

He hit back at his critics, saying they did not know the truth of what actually happened and claimed that the referee was not behaving properly. He said it was a case of Tongans trying to pull other Tongans down.

“I decided this would be the last for me to run a tournament to help Ha’apai and Tonga,” he wrote.

“I’m out!”

Fekitoa was also been accused of showing disrespect to Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva and the Minister for Tourism by turning up in shorts to a cocktail party to which he had been invited as guest of honour

Wearing short in front of important people is considered offensive and disrespectful in Tonga.

The two incidents have gone viral on Facebook and divided the online Tongan community.

Some have supported the footballer, saying that Tongans could never occupy top positions around the world if they were constantly pulled down by other Tongans. Others have implied that he has become too proud of his All Black status.

His behaviour at the reception has also been criticised, but other people present have been described as having been informally. The Prime Minister was said to have worn trousers and an aloha shirt.

His mother, Meleane, also commented on Facebook in support of Malakai.

“The tournament was organised as part of our family reunion…and Malakai sponsored it to help the youth,” she wrote.

“We did not know it would end up [this way].”

“I feel for him as he is my son.”

She said critics had let her down.

She also commented on the cocktail party

“Malakai did not come with suits or ta’ovala as I was in Ha’apai and I was not there to prepare them for him,” she wrote.

“His head is not swelled and he is never snobbish. To all Ha’apai pardon us if we had made mistake. Love you heaps. And may you have a Happy and blessed New Year from the Fekitoa children’s mother.”

Fekitoa has spoken publicly about his anger management issues,

Earlier this year he posted a statement online saying: “I don’t handle some situations very well on and off the field. I get really angry sometimes and flip out.”

In November he was suspended for a week following a high tackle during a game against Ireland.

The main points

  • Tongan All Black Malakai Fekitoa said he would not run any more football tournaments in Ha’apai after there had been “too many hateful comments” on Facebook.
  • Fekitoa has been accused of interfering with the referee.
  • He hit back at his critics, saying they did not know the truth of what actually happened and claimed that the referee was not behaving properly.
  • “I decided this would be the last for me to run a tournament to help Ha’apai and Tonga,” he wrote.

For more information

All Blacks: Malakai Fekitoa suspended for one week, Sam Cane cleared

‘Ashamed and regretful’ All Black Malakai Fekitoa goes public on his anger issues

Mailefihi Siu’ilikutapu head tutor dies after being injured in Gisborne fatal crash

By
Kalino Latu
-

The head tutor for female students at Mailefihi Siu’ilikutapu college in Vava’u has died in New Zealand today January 1, 2016.

Leotisia Malakai, 55, was seriously injured after a bus she was travelling on with 52 others  plunged down an embankment on December 24, 2016.

The fatal crash now has claimed three lives including student Sione Taumālolo, 11, and wife and mother Talita Moimoi Fifita, 33.

The bodies of Taumalolo and Fifita had been flown back home to Tonga on Saturday morning.

Malakai’s body is understood to be at the Waikato hospital in Hamilton.

A spokesperson for the group at Ponsonby has confirmed the sad news this afternoon.

The passengers were all members of a brass band group which arrived in Auckland  from Vava’u, Tonga, to fundraise for the college’s 70th anniversary next year.

Condolences started pouring in on social media for Malakai.

Her cousin Tufui Fonua Kama wrote: “Fly High Aunty Leotisia Malakai??????God have called you to be one of his guardian angels”.

Gisborne bus wreckage retrieved as survivors prepare to play memorial concert tonight

ACC will provide funeral grant for Gisborne bus crash victims

A wedding, an Olympic medal and now a Dame – could her year have been any better?

By
Philip Cass
-

Olympic gold medallist Valerie Adams began 2016 with a wedding, won silver in the shotput at the Olympic Games in Rio and has ended the year  being made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year’s Honours List.

Adams told Radio New Zealand she hoped she would inspire more women.

“It’s amazing, not only to be a woman, but also to be a Pacific Island woman,” she told the national broadcaster.

The Olympian  was made a Dame for services to athletics.

Her title is the female equivalent of a knighthood.

Adams, 32, was named New Zealand’s first Sports Ambassador to the Pacific in October this year.

She recently returned from Samoa where she had been promoting the country’s Nobesity programme to young people.

As Kaniva News reported last year, Adams has also been honoured in Tonga.

In January 2015 the title Tongitupe-ʻO e-Funga Taua was bestowed on her by Lord Vaea in her mother’s home village of Houma.

The appointment is the highest honour given to commoners in Tongan culture.

Adams won the World Youth Championships in 2001 with a throw of 16.81 metres when she was just 16.

She then became World Junior Champion the following year with a throw of 17.73 metres.

She was the first woman to win four consecutive individual titles at the World Track and Field Championships, achieving gold in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013.

She has won two Olympic gold medals, three Commonwealth Games gold medals and three World Indoor Championship golds.

Adams is one of only nine athletes to win world championships at the youth, junior, and senior level of an athletic event.

She has also won a bronze and four silver medals in international competition.

She holds the New Zealand, Oceanian, Commonwealth and equal World record for a personal best throw of 21.24 metres, which she set in August 2011.

Adams has won 14 New Zealand national women’s shot put titles.

She has received the Halberg Supreme Award, New Zealand’s highest annual sporting honour three times and was named Halberg Sportswoman of the Year for seven consecutive years.

Adams was named on Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2009 New Year’s Honour List.

She was born in Rotorua to a Tongan mother, Liklika Ngauamo, who came from Houma on Tongatapu. She has 18 brothers and sisters.

Her brother Steven Adams earns a multi-million dollar salary with the American basketball team Oklahoma City Thunder.

The main points

  • Olympic gold medallist Valerie Adams began 2016 with a wedding, won silver in the shotput at the Olympic Games in Rio and has ended the year being made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year’s Honours List.
  • Adams told Radio New Zealand she hoped she would inspire more women.
  • “It’s amazing, not only to be a woman, but also to be a Pacific Island woman,” she told the national broadcaster.
  • The Olympian was made a Dame for services to athletics.

For more information

Shot put hero Valerie Adams named Dame Companion of NZ Order of Merit in New Year’s Honours List

Dame Valerie Adams shares a moment with mum

Dame Valerie Adams: ‘I’m a strong wahine’

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