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Hamstring injury forces Filimone out, supporters say he wins gold

By
Alpha Latu
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Siueni Filimone was unable to compete at the 100 metres dash at the Rio Olympics after a hamstring injury forced him out of Sunday’s event.

His condition was unknown but photos uploaded to Facebook showed he was limping out of the field with the help of a supporter. He was also seen being pushed on a wheelchair.

His supporters, however, took to Facebook to congratulate and told Filimone he has won a gold medal for Tonga after he became second in the preliminary 100m in 10.76 seconds.

Meanwhile it has been reported that there were two Tongan referees at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Lata Kaumatule, 31, and Tevita Makasini, 39, were both assistant referees in Olympic Soccer competition.

Tonga has won one Olympic medal, a silver won in 1996 by boxer Paea Wolfgramm. The nation has seven athletes in Rio, competing in archery, track, swimming and taekwondo.

READ MORE:

Siueni Filimone – another rising star

Tonga Govt. defends deal with Ngati Tahu Ngati Whaoa Trust

By
Kalino Latu
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“The Government of the Kingdom of Tonga would like to respond to issues raised by the media in regards to the investment agreement recently executed by the Tongan Government and the Ngati Tahu Ngati Whaoa Trust (‘the Trust’) from New Zealand.

“In respect of the judgment made by the New Zealand High Court against the current Chairman of the Trust, this was a private matter which does not in any shape or form relate to, or affect the Agreement that exists between the Trust and the Tongan Government.

“The Tongan Government understands that the members of the Trust have full confidence in the current Chairman and his leadership and managerial abilities, and so the Tongan Government will continue to respect the office holders of the Trust.

“The Trust has committed to the terms and conditions of the Agreement.

“The Tongan Government is confident that its interests under the Agreement are protected, and that both parties have rights to remedies if required.

“The Tongan Government is also confident with the level of due diligence that it carried out before executing the agreement with the Trust, and it sees no justifiable basis to change that position now.”

-Press Release

Maori trust to own Tonga forests, company renamed as Aotearoa-Tonga Forest

Parliament’s only female MP sworn in

By
Kalino Latu
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MP Akosita Lavulavu, the only female Member of Parliament of Tonga was officially sworn in at a special ceremony in Parliament this morning.

The 32-year-old won the Vavaʻu 16 constituency by-election last month.

“I am pretty excited and confident to start this new job knowing I have the support of my constituency,” she told the Parliament’s news.

She is prepared for her duty.

“Whether you are male or female MP, I am confident to perform my duties focusing on helping my electorates and the people in general,” she said.

AKOSITA LAVULAVU
MP Akosita Lavulavu

The Speaker of Parliament, Lord Tu’ivakano warmly welcomed the first woman to be democratically elected to Parliament since Tonga’s new political system came into force in 2010.

The former principal of ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute was elected after her husband ‘Etuate Lavulavu was disqualified as an MP and former government minister by a court decision for bribery during his 2014 election campaign.

Lavulavu holds a Bachelor in Information System from Brigham Young University (BYU), Hawaii in 2007 and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of the South Pacific (USP) in 2012.

Reserve Bank says shutting down Pacific International was in best interests of Tonga

By
Philip Cass
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The National Reserve Bank of Tonga says its decision to revoke the license of the Chinese-backed Pacific International Commercial Bank was in the best interests of the public.

The Reserve Bank said it had re-commenced paying out claims by PICB creditors and depositors.

The PCIB began legal action against the Reserve Bank, but the Supreme Court has now given the bank permission to withdraw its application for an injunction against the Reserve Bank.

Tonga’s Reserve Bank revoked the PICB’s license at the end of last month.

Radio New Zealand reported Reserve Bank, Ngongo Kioa as saying the PCIB had failed to fulfil a promise to provide a niche product that would bring $100 million US dollars into the country for the purpose of loans.

The Bank had been trying to force Pacific International into liquidation for several months.

The Chinese-Tongan venture was started in 2014, with Tonga’s Princess Pilolevu as a minority shareholder. The major shareholder was Hu Jianhua, who held 51,000 out of 100,000 shares.

A spokesman for the princess told Kaniva News that she owned eight percent of the shares.

However, investigative journalist Micheal Field has reported that once the PCIB’s license was withdrawn the bulk of the bank’s shares – 90,000 – were transferred to the Princess, making her the majority shareholder.

The main points 

  • The National Reserve Bank of Tonga says its decision to revoke the license of the Pacific International Commercial Bank was in the best interests of the public.
  • The Reserve Bank said it had re-commenced paying out claims by PICB creditors and depositors.
  • The Chinese-Tongan venture was started in 2014, with Princess Pilolevu as a shareholder.

Tongan appointed acting district court judge in New Zealand

By
Kalino Latu
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Manukau barrister and solicitor Soana Moala has been appointed an Acting District Court Judge with a jury warrant to be based in Manukau, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson has announced this week.

Ms Moala was admitted to the bar in 2002 and was a Crown prosecutor at Meredith Connell from that year until 2012.

During that time she prosecuted a significant number of criminal trials in both the District Court and High Court, including serious violence, sexual abuse and drug crime trials.

She established the partnership Moala Merrick in 2012, specialising in criminal defence law.

Ms Moala is also on the prosecution panel for the Manukau Crown Solicitors.

Judge Moala will be sworn in on 2 September 2016 in Manukau.

Soana Moala
Soana Moala

“We as Pasifika people have an amazing start. We’ve had solid grounding from our parents and our families, but it’s time to step up. I didn’t place any limits on myself in my abilities and what I could achieve as a student”, she was quoted by the University of Auckland website as saying.

“Pasifika people can see life from different angles – we’re multidimensional. Study and get the best grades so that you’re able to get the best jobs. Don’t be average, be great instead.

“There are a significant number of Pasifika people coming through the court system, both as victims and as offenders. As a Crown Prosecutor, from South Auckland, I have empathy, am able to speak and relate to them in a way that makes them feel included and understood.

“It is important for our people to have a representative of their community on the side of the law, to help them understand the law. In return, it gives the law legitimacy.”

Airport memorial service for victims as ACC promises to help pay for funeral costs

By
Kalino Latu
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New Zealand’s Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) will pay up to $6000 for the funeral costs of the four Tongans killed in a horror car crash in Katikati on August 2.

The news was applauded by the Tongan-Auckland based Recognised Seasonal Employer Liaison Officer Sefita hao’uli.

When the RSE programme began in 2007 Hao’uli recommended to the then Tongan Labour and Commerce Minister Lisiate ‘Akolo that they set up an insurance scheme for the Tongan workers.

The Tongan workers were insured in the first year of RSE for medical costs and doctors’ visits.

The next year all the other countries involved in the scheme followed suit and it became compulsory for everyone, Hao’uli said.

“Our workers also pay for ACC – which is a deduction that every NZ workers pays – and many have benefited from this through injuries at work and while playing football during the weekend,” Hao’uli said.

“There was a tendency for workers to complain about insurance, but they’ve come to appreciate why it is important.”

Victims arrived home

Meanwhile the caskets of four of the victims have arrived in Tonga.

Sitiveni Vaipulu, 44, his son Koli Vaipulu, 21, Sione Teulaka, 21, Halani Fine, 29, and Samuela Taukatelata, 28, all died instantly when the car they were in collided with a logging truck in New Zealand’s third most dangerous highway.

Fine, a New Zealand resident was buried on Thursday in Northshore, New Zealand.

The bodies of the four victims were welcomed with a memorial service at the airport this morning. The occasion was described on social media as heart-breaking and distressing.

This was the first time the families of the victims in Tonga had seen their bodies since they died more than a week ago.

The service was attended by the Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva, along with some cabinet members and the New Zealand High Commissioner, Her Excellency Sarah Walsh.

Hon. Pohiva and Walsh laid wreaths in front of the victims’ caskets.

A commenter on Facebook, Patimiosi Ngungutau, who attended the service, said he thought he had the courage to hold back his tears. But when he saw some of the victims’ children crying while the Police band played he could not compose himself.

Everyone at the airport cried when the caskets arrived, another commenter wrote.

Following the memorial service the victims were taken home by their various families.

The main points

  • New Zealand’s Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) will pay up to $6000 for the funeral costs of the four Tongans killed in a horror car crash in Katikati on August 2.
  • Meanwhile the caskets of four of the victims arrived in Tonga this morning.
  • Sitiveni Vaipulu, 44, his son Koli Vaipulu, 21, Sione Teulaka, 21, Halani Fine, 29, and Samuela Taukatelata, 28, all died instantly when the car they were in collided with a logging truck in New Zealand’s third most dangerous highway.
  • The service was attended by the Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva, along with some cabinet members and the New Zealand High Commissioner, Her Excellency Sarah Walsh.

For more information

Aongatete final goodbyes, crash victims’ caskets arrive in Auckland

Sombre vigil: Aucklanders text to send their love to victims, Tongan leader Tāmeifuna says

Skateboarding, Tongan Style

By
Todd Henry
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The village of Puke is the home of Tonga’s first purpose-built skateboard ramp, thanks to the efforts of Chris and Ashley Paquette who added it as one of the main features of their non-profit organisation, One Love Inc. The ramp was funded through the help of an online fundraiser, as well as the generosity of several local Tongan business owners who offered discounts on building materials.

Chris and Ashley relocated from the United States to Tonga with their three children in 2012. Chris, a master builder, grew up skateboarding and constructing skateboard parks with his brother in their home state of Massachusetts. Naturally, he brought his skateboards to Tonga, even though he was unsure if he would find any suitable places to go skateboarding. It didn’t take long, however, for Chris to become known for his willingness to share his skateboards with local kids, and neighbours were soon paying him frequent visits to go skateboarding. By appearance, the new skateboard ramp is a fitting addition to the Paquette property, as the colourful family home has become sort of a landmark in the area. Chris designed and constructed the unique dwelling completely out of locally sourced materials that he collected from various locations and stockpiled over a period of time.

Skateboarding originated in the United States in the 1950’s, but over the past two decades the worldwide popularity of the sport has grown exponentially. In recent years, skateboarding facilities have been built in several developing nations such as Afghanistan, Cambodia, Uganda, and Palestine as part of youth sport, education and empowerment programmes. Tonga appears to be one of the first Pacific Island nations to have a programme that utilises skateboarding for the purposes of enhancing the lives of young people.

The writer of this story Todd Henry is a photographer and writer currently based in Auckland, New Zealand.  He is a Pacific Correspondent for Kaniva Pacific, covering stories from around the Pacific.

You can read more stories from him on this link: https://culturesofoblivion.com

Empowering and educating the Tongan youth through skateboarding is exactly what Chris and Ashley plan to do through One Love Inc., and so far the ramp has been very popular with local children who are often initially drawn to the ramp out of pure curiosity. Ashley says “The kids are amazing at skateboarding, both the boys and the girls. I’ve had the privilege of watching the kids progress, they are quick learners”, adding that skateboarding “gives these kids hope that they can do more than they think.” There are already plans in place to expand the existing ramp into a full-fledged skatepark as additional funding for the project becomes available.

As there are no stores in Tonga that stock the professional quality skateboard decks and other goods needed for ramp skating, all of these products must be imported from overseas. Ashley explains “We started out with two skateboards and 15 kids, and now we have 12 skateboards thanks to a few people who donated boards”. More skateboards will be needed as interest in skateboarding grows, and as the existing skateboards are worn down from the heavy use that they are currently receiving.

The ramp is the ideal size for beginners to learn the basics, and the Paquettes are open to helping anyone who is interested to learn how to skate. The ramp is only off limits when nobody is home, or when it is wet because the surface becomes slippery and dangerous. In addition, the parents of children who want to use the ramp must sign waivers to acknowledge that skateboarding is a potentially dangerous activity (Although statistically, skateboarding is safer than many traditional sports). Ashley says there are plans to do more fundraising for helmets and pads in order to reduce the overall risk of injuries, especially with beginners.

It is clear that the Paquettes have big plans for the future of skateboarding in Tonga.  “We have four years to get these Tongan kids ready” says Chris on the topic of the recent decision to include skateboarding in the 2020 Summer Olympics. In addition to the plan to construct a larger skatepark in Tonga, Chris and Ashley also want to conduct skill-based workshops specifically designed for Tongan youth. Once these programmes are up and running in Tonga, the Paquettes plan to spearhead more skateboarding-based educational initiatives in other Pacific Island nations.

For now, the Paquettes will continue to promote skateboarding in Tonga with their new ramp. Ashley explains how they are encouraged by the positive feedback they have received from locals, “They are so happy something is being done for the kids in Tonga. They ask how much we are charging for the kids to skate, and I always reassure them it’s free. It’s something positive for the youth of Tonga, and no one is trying to profit from it.”

PM warns some officers could undermine Police Commissioner as Tonga battles crime

By
Kalino Latu
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Tongan Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva says Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell is striving to do his job honestly, but warned that his efforts could be undermined by the actions of some Tongan Police officers.

Hon. Pōhiva said there were high profile criminal cases the Force struggled to deal with and the commissioner’s post was of vital importance in handling such investigations.

He said Tonga was facing a major problem with drugs being trafficked through the kingdom to Asia and Australia.

The Prime Minister said allegations had also been made that the previous government had continued selling Tongan Diplomatic passports.

Hon Pōhiva said the government was inclined (“hehema”) to appoint a palagi to head the Tongan Police force because they believed he would be more independent and honest with the job.

“There is a belief the palagi (commissioner) is more honest than a Tongan (commissioner),” Hon. Pōhiva said in Tongan.

“The post is important, fragile and it requires a person who is independent to investigate any crimes, especially in cases where the people at the top level such as the nobility and us (leaders) are investigated,” he said.

But there was a problem because the palagi had to rely on the Tongan Police officers, Hon Pohiva said. He could not do the job by himself.

“If he relies on the Tongan officers and they do not do the work properly and lie to the palagi that would cause some problems”, Hon. Pōhiva said.

Passport and drugs

Hon. Pōhiva said drugs and the sale of the Tongan passport were huge problems for the government.

He said he thought the court case in which he took the government to court 30 years ago for illegally selling Tongan passports to Asians had ended the sale, but it had been alleged that the previous governments continued selling them.

Hon. Pōhiva said he often met with the Police Commissioner about matters related to the status of the current passport investigation.

Hon. Pōhiva said one of the biggest problems his government was facing was drug abuse.

He said people had called on the government to do something as they had found it difficult to deal with problems emanated from drugs abuse.

“Too many incidents occurred,” he said.

He said the current situation was not easy to handle and he believed Tonga was one of the small nations used by drug dealers as a channel for trafficking drugs.

He said the drugs came from South America through Tonga to Asia and Australia.

“What is happening in our small nation is so dangerous”, Hon Pohiva said.

He said he believed a number of recent fatalities in Tonga had involved drugs.

He said he was referring to those incidents to show how his government struggled in searching for ways to reduce the problem.

Hon. Pohiva said it would be worse if some inside the government were involved with drug dealings and abuse.

Support

Stephen Caldwell took up the position of Police Commissioner in 2015 after 17 years as an Area Commander in New Zealand and postings in the Solomon Islands, East Timor and Bougainville.

The level of support expressed for Caldwell by the Prime Minister is in direct contrast with the way Caldwell’s two predecessors, Grant O’Fee and Chris Kelly were treated.

Both were experienced New Zealand policemen and it is believed that both were pushed out of their jobs for trying to reform a police force with a reputation for corruption and brutality.

However, Hon. Pohiva said there was “a problem” with O’Fee, but did not elaborate

Kaniva News reported in 2014 that O’Fee was leaving his post eight months before the end of his contract. It is understood he resigned.

The main points

  • Tongan Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva says Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell is striving to do his job honestly, but warned that his efforts could be undermined by the actions of some Tongan Police officers.
  • Pōhiva said there were high profile criminal cases the Force struggled to deal with and the commissioner’s post was of vital importance in handling such investigations.
  • He said Tonga was facing a major problem with drugs being trafficked through the kingdom to Asia and Australia.
  • The Prime Minister said allegations had also been made that the previous government had continued selling Tongan Diplomatic passports.

For more information

Tonga’s police commissioner reinforces basics

Aongatete final goodbyes, crash victims’ caskets arrive in Auckland

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Aongatete Coolstore staff and workers  said their last goodbyes this morning to their former workmates who were victims of the tragic crash in Katikati.

The tragedy was still so fresh in the hearts and minds of the Aongatete workers as they came and paid their respects before the funeral cortege left Katikati on a two-hour travel for Auckland airport awaiting the final trip home to Tonga tomorrow morning.

The co-workers, who were visibly devastated, followed the funeral cortege along the driveway as it passed slowly through Aongatete workplace into the State High Way 2 where the victims were all killed on Tuesday 2.

The funeral cortege arrived in Auckland at 4pm.

Sitiveni Vaipulu, 44, his son Koli Vaipulu, 21, Sione Teulaka, 21, Halani Fine, 29, and Samuela Taukatelata, 28, all died instantly when the car they were in collided with a logging truck in New Zealand’s third most dangerous highway.

Fine’s body had been laid to his resting place in Northshore, New Zealand today.

The travellers from New Zealand to Tonga will be led by Rev Fono ‘Ahio. The flight will depart Auckland tomorrow morning at 6.45am on Air New Zealand flight NZ0270.

Sefita Haoʻuli who is coordinating the Tongan RSE workers in New Zealand said the Tongan government has organised a memorial service for the deceased at the Fuʻamotu international airport before their various families will accompany them homes.

Canadian wife buried at ‘Ahomatafolau

By
Kalino Latu
-

The body of the 56-year-old Canadian woman who was found dead in a yacht in Vavaʻu in June was buried at ‘Ahomatafolau Cemetery in Neiafu on July 29.

Tongan authority allowed the funeral services to proceed after a post mortem examination was completed in Nuku’alofa.

Two sisters of the deceased and their husbands arrived in Tonga from Canada and attended the services, Vava’u Police Superintendent Netane Falakiseni said.

The deceased’s husband from Florida, United States has been charged with the manslaughter of his wife and remains in Police custody.

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