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Government struggles to deal with overstayers in Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

The government of Tonga is struggling to deal with overstayers.

Fijian and Chinese labourers are among the biggest offenders.

Now a Fijian community leader has asked for an amnesty and the Tongan government says it is considering changing the current policy for migrant workers and asking the Fijian authorities to make sure Fijian workers go home when their contracts expire.

The secretary of Tongaʻs Ministry of Foreign Affairs,  Vaʻinga Tōnē, said there were 300 Fijian overstayers in Tonga.

There are also hundreds of  Chinese overstayers in Tonga as well as people from other countries who have remained in the kingdom after their visas ran out.

Vaʻinga said there was a huge problem with Fijians who worked as domestic labourers.

He did not go into details, but said the government was finding the problem hard to deal with.

Some of the Fijians who overstayed their visas did not want to return to Fiji, he said.

Vaʻinga said the problem was that if the government granted an amnesty to the Fijian, other nationalities, including the Chinese, must be given the same opportunity.

Complaints

Kaniva News reported in January this year that the Fijian government was investigating claims by Fijian workers in Tonga who said they were being mistreated, bullied and intimidated.

The Fijians claimed they were falsely promised certain jobs in the kingdom, but that did not happen when they arrived there.

The investigation was launched after Fiji’s minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Semi Koroilavesau told Fiji media he received “an electronic mail on Tuesday night stating the alleged current working conditions that Fijians are facing in the island kingdom.”

Tongan overstayers

But while Fijian and Chinese overstayers are a problem in Tonga, overstayers from the kingdom are a problem in New Zealand.

Last week the Tongan community in Auckland raised the issue of overstayers with Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva during his state visit.

Some concerned Tongan-Aucklanders told the Prime Minister they wanted him to urge the New Zealand government to legalise the Tongan overstayers in New Zealand.

According to estimates published by the New Zealand Government’s Immigration Department, there were 2,381 Tongan overstayers living in New Zealand in January.

Tongan overstayers made up the largest number of overstayers in New Zealand closely followed by Samoans (2,124 overstayers), the Chinese with 1,226 overstayers, and Indians with 763 overstayers.

However, Hon. Pōhiva said it was difficult for the Tongan Government  to ask to New Zealand to legalise the Tongan overstayers.

“If we ask them to legalise the overstayers they would ask us something in return which we would find it more difficult to deal with” Hon Pohiva said.

However he agreed with the suggestion that the Tongan government should talk to New Zealand authorities about including overstayers from the kingdom in the Pacific Quota Category.

A total of 250 Tongan citizens are allowed each year to register for a ballot to come to New Zealand.

If their name is drawn from the ballot, they can apply for a resident’s visa, will allow them to work, live, and study in New Zealand indefinitely.

Hon. Pohiva said his government would talk to the New Zealand authorities to consider those Tongan overstayers who have particular skills and are well settled.

According to Radio New Zealand, the overall number of people who stayed in the country after their visa expired has almost halved in the past 15 years, from an estimated 20,657 in 2000 to 10,848 in January, 2016.

Immigration New Zealand told RNZ it had negotiated the voluntary departure of many overstayers rather than formally deporting them. It said more than over 1200 people left New Zealand voluntarily in the 2014-2015 financial year.

The main points

  • The government of Tonga is struggling to deal with overstayers.
  • Fijian and Chinese labourers are among the biggest offenders.
  • The Tongan government says it is considering changing the current policy for migrant workers.
  • However, while Fijian and Chinese overstayers are a problem in Tonga, overstayers from the kingdom are a problem in New Zealand.

For more information

In Tonga: Fijians ‘Mistreated’ (Fiji Sun)

Show compassion to overstayers, Immigration NZ urged (Radio New Zealand)

Arrest after Tongan shot dead in Sacramento, United States

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Shortly after midnight Monday, Chris Moran crawled out of bed to accompany his brother in dealing with a raucous party around the corner from the south Sacramento home they shared.

Within the hour, Moran found himself frantically using blankets and duct tape to try to stop the blood from escaping from the three holes in his brother’s chest.

Tuesday, the Sacramento police arrested his neighbor Mario Junior Garcia, 19, for fatally shooting Talanoa Feinga, 27.

Moran said he watched as Feinga was shot three times in the chest outside of their Valley Hi home on the 8300 block of Anton Way.

“They took such a beautiful person away from us,” said Moran, Feinga’s half brother. Feinga worked with Moran at Feinga’s father’s contracting and roofing business. He was a father of two school-aged kids and recently started his own handyman business.

Moran, who lived at the duplex with his brother and his family, said on several occasions they sought law enforcement help to quell out-of-control parties. On July 16, he said they reported that gunfire stuck their home.

“We were finding shell cases everywhere,” Moran said of the previous incident. “They (the police) showed no interest in caring about the situation.”

Sometime after midnight on Monday, Moran said his sister-in-law woke him and said Feinga went to Garcia’s residence in an attempt to get a vehicle moved from his property. Moran said he joined his brother.

Feinga was successful in getting someone to move the car, but soon Garcia came out of the house with as many as 20 people and confronted Feinga. Over the still blaring music, the two exchanged words, Moran said. But when Feinga moved closer to hear what Garcia said, Moran said the teen pulled a gun and fired three times.

Garcia dropped the gun as Moran and Feinga gave chase, but within a few steps Moran said he noticed his brother was no longer by his side. Bleeding from the chest, Feinga made it back to his yard. Moran turned back, he said, and used a blanket and duct tape to try to stop the bleeding.

“He lost too much blood. He probably didn’t realize he was shot,” Moran said.

Matthew McPhail, a police spokesman, said officers were already en route in response to an anonymous noise complaint when the call was upgraded to shots fired.

McPhail said he didn’t immediately have information about previous calls for service related to the victim or suspect. When police arrived at 12:45 a.m. Monday, they found Feinga suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

In a news release, police called the shooting a “tragic and unnecessary act of violence.”

McPhail said Garcia’s booking photo would not be released.

–sacbee

Tongan archers and swimmer take the lead for kingdom in Rio Olympic Games competition

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga’s athletes have begun competing at the Rio Olympics in the archery events with archers Arne Jensen and Lusitania Tatafu and swimmer Amini Fonua leading the way.

Arne Jensen ranked 61st out of 64 after the first ranking.

In the subsequent round of 64 he scored three against seven by Sjef Vandenberg of the Netherlands.

Jensen is a student from Nuku’alofa TGA. He is coached  by  Benjamin Ipsen and made his international debut in 2010.

In the  women’s individual archery, Lusitania Tatafu ranked 63rd out of 64 in the ranking round. She will compete against Chang Hye-Jin of South Korea in the round of 64 tomorrow (Wednesday, august 10).

Tatafu has competed at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanking and last year took silver at the New Zealand Nationals.

Amini Fonua competed in the 100 metres breastroke, with a time of 1:06:04, coming fifth in the first heat. He is ranked 45th.

New Zealand-born Fonua competed in the London Olympics and is one of only two openly gay swimmers at the Rio Games.

Irene Prescott is scheduled to compete in the women’s 50 metre freestyle this Saturday, August 13.

Born in Australia, Prescott competed in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Prescott.

Taina Halasima is set to compete in the women’s 100 metres on August 13.

Her appearance in Rio follows her representing Tonga in last year’s South Pacific games in Port Moresby.

Siueni Filimone is expected to run in the men’s 100 metres this Sunday, August 14.

The sprinter scored a personal best in the 60 metres at the World Indoor Games in Portland earlier this year.

Pita Taufatofua is scheduled to compete in the men’s over 80 kg taekwondo on Sunday, August 21.

Taufatofua continues to draw attention from the media, with revelations that he had been training at the South Peace Taekwondo centre in Auckland before the Olympics.

And he has been quoted by the Chicago Tribune as saying that his extremely shiny appearance during the opening ceremony was due to an over-enthusiastic assistant.

“It was being applied to me while I was holding the flag by a lovely lady behind me. She was just lathering it on and I had to ask her to stop because my shoes were starting to slip off and it was dripping down,” Taufatofua said.

Taufatofua has also found himself being asked to pose with a number of female admirers. Including President George Bush Jnr’s daughter.

The main points

  • Tonga’s athletes have begun competing at the Rio Olympics in the archery events with archers Arne Jensen and Lusitania Tatafu and swimmer Amini Fonua leading the way.
  • In the round of 64 Jensen scored three against seven by Sjef Vandenberg of the Netherlands.
  • Tatafu will compete against Chang Hye-Jin of South Korea in the round of 64 tomorrow (Wednesday, August 10).
  • Fonua competed in the 100 metres breastroke, with a time of 1:06:04, coming fifth in the first heat.

For more information

Arne Jensen (World Archery)

Youth Olympian TAFAFU wins silver for Tonga at New Zealand nationals (World Archery)

Olympic swimmer loves wearing ‘gay & lesbian’ on his swimsuit

 

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

By
Kaniva Staff
-

by Kalino Latu & Sefita Haoʻuli

Tongan leader Ika Tāmeifuna told  a sombre vigil at the Katikati War Memorial Hall tonight the Tongans in Auckland texted and ask him to send their loves to four of the Tongans victims who were killed on a crash Tuesday 2.

Tāmeifuna, who headed the NZ Immigration service in Tonga when the RSE programme started in 2007 recalled the efforts both New Zealand and the Tongan governments took to make sure that workers were made aware of the benefits as well as the risks in their new working environment.

“No one envisaged that we would be here in Katikati tonight to farewell four young men under these tragic circumstances”, he told the gathering.

He was part of a delegation of Auckland residents representing the Pacific Leadership Group who came to Katikati to pay their respects and to pass on funds which were raised by a Tongan construction company in Auckland for the victims’ families.

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 3rd most dangerous highway.

Putu2

Fine’s body had been taken by his family to Northshore, New Zealand where he was expected to be buried on Thursday.

Families and loved ones of the victims will observe the Tongan ‘āpō’ or night vigil until dawn when the cortege will return to Tauranga awaiting transit to Auckland for the final trip home to Tonga on Friday morning.

Earlier tonight more than 50 workers from the Aongatete Coolstores where the deceased worked visited to pay tribute and farewelled their former workmates in a moving ceremony and were led by the RSE Coordinator Mr Clive Exelby.

Church leaders from the Siasi Tonga Hou’eiki, the Latter Day Saints as well as the Siasi Tonga Tau’ataina came to offer prayers as is customary for Tongan funerals.

The venue is on the main street of this small township and although it has a growing Tongan community of around 300 their numbers have swelled to more than a thousand over the last few days.

A Tongan vigil is a night of continuous solemn songs of praise and as Tāmeifuna observed, on this cold winters night in rural Katikati, one could have easily be in Lavengatonga, Ahau or Navutoka where the deceased all hail from.

Suspect intruder carrying knife at NZ HC premise; Tongan Police investigate

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongan police are investigating following a report of a break in at one of the New Zealand High Commission premises, Monday 8 at 10.30am.

Police said the burglar was described as a young male in his late teens. He was wearing knee length black shorts, black and white t-shirt and his head was covered with a black cloth.

The suspect was also alleged to be carrying a kitchen knife.

Police are making positive inquiries and believe the incident to be part of a number of daylight burglaries that have been occurring in that area for several weeks.

Deputy Commissioner Pelenatita Fe’ao Vaisuai, says there has been a recent increase in burglaries in Fangaloto and neighbouring villages with items targeted including cash, jewelry, mobile phones, laptops, and Tongan mats.

Given this recent activity Police would like to remind property owners to ensure their homes as well as any garages, sheds or out buildings are securely locked up.

Police would like to remind the community should they see suspicious behaviour they need to call 922 or 26494 immediately.

Tongan school dropouts have chance to study at MIT, PM Pōhiva says

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva said the school dropouts in Tonga can have a chance to study courses provided by the Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT).

Hon Pōhiva made the comment during a visit to the Institute’s Pasifika Community Centre last week as part of his first official visit to New Zealand.

He was welcomed to the centre by Peter Quigg,  Acting CEO, Dr Stuart Middleton, MIT Director of External Affairs, ‘Iani Nemani, Co-Chair Pacific Community Advisory Board, and Senior Lecturers, ‘Ikani Fifita and Anna Cullen. Other faculty members and some of the Pasifika staff and students also joined the celebration.

After the opening prayer and other formalities, the Hon. Prime Minister along with his delegation had a tour of the MIT Pasifika Centre. This was followed by an informal discussion relating to Pasifika and Tongan students at MIT, and MIT’s on-going activity in Tonga.

The Hon. Prime Minister was accompanied by Hon. Tevita Lavemaau, Minister for Revenue and Customs, Hon. Poase Tei, Minister of Public Enterprises, Lord Vaea, Member of Parliament and Nobles Representative, a delegation of Tongan Government officials, and Sarah Walsh, New Zealand  High Commissioner to Tonga.

MIT

“At MIT, we have a strong commitment to Pasifika and to enabling Pasifika to succeed as Pasifika,” says Dr Middleton, “Building the MIT Pasifika Community in Otara is an integral part of this strategy.”

MIT has recently developed a partnership with support from the Tonga Institute of
Science of Technology (TIST), and the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide trades training in Tonga.  Monte Payne, Senior Lecturer and Tongan Technical Advisor is working very close with Dr Middleton and TIST said “The trades training is running very well in Tonga and this is a great opportunity for Tongan students and the Tongan communities, “Parents are showing great interests and understanding of the benefits for their children in joining the programme”.

“Over the past three years, we’ve implemented a programme to train young people in Tonga in vocational and technical trades. It’s been a very effective, for the individuals and for the wider community,” says Dr Middleton.

In 2015, more than 200 fifteen year old students in Tonga graduated through the partnership.

PSA seeks Supreme Court injunction and judicial review to delay new gov’t pay scales

By
Philip Cass
-

The Tongan Public Service Association claims the decision to implement a new government pay structure was unlawful.

It has sought an injunction with the Supreme Court to stop the government implementing its new salary structure.

The PSA lodged the injunction on Friday (August 7). It wants a judicial review of Cabinet’s decision to bring in the new pay scales, claiming that more than 800 grievances from government employees had not been addressed.

The PSA has named the government, the Public Service Commission and the  Remuneration Authority in its claim

It said 90 percent of chief executive officers in the government had waned the new structure deferred.

Despite many written requests to the Public Service Commission and Cabinet and a petition to the King in June,  Cabinet approved the new salary structure on July 1.

The PSA claimed that Cabinet’s ruling that public servants had to submit any appeals about the new salary structures to the PSC was unlawful.  According to the Public Service Act, appeals should have been made  to the Public Service Tribunal.

The Commission had also failed to follow the grievances procedures in the Public Service (Grievances & Dispute Procedures) Regulations, it claimed.

The PSA and the Government have been at loggerheads over the new salary scales for months.

In June Kaniva News reported that the PSA wanted the government to delay the new salary scheme for public servants until next January so that its members’ concerns could be addressed.

PSA General Secretary Mele ‘Amanaki said at the time the PSA fully supported the new pay scales, but wanted to ensure that the review was done properly.

She said this would avoid to avoid the strikes that ocurred in 2005.

“The PSA will strive to keep their promise to the People of Tonga that there will be no more strikes and they will negotiate through consultation,” she said.

The main points

  • The Tongan Public Service Association claims the decision to implement a new government pay structure was unlawful.
  • It has sought an injunction with the Supreme Court to stop the government implementing its new salary structure.
  • The PSA lodged the injunction on Friday (August 7). It wants a judicial review of Cabinet’s decision to bring in the new pay scales.
  • The PSA and the Government have been at loggerheads over the new salary scales for months.

For more information

PSA says workers’ concerns must be heard before proposed new pay scales can go ahead (Kaniva News)

Tongan forestry deal centres on controversial businessman; PM laments lack of due diligence

By
Philip Cass
-

The Tongan government has signed a multi-million dollar deal with a New Zealand iwi headed by a businessman the High Court said had committed a fraudulent breach of trust just three years ago.

As Kaniva News reported last month, the deal means the  North Island iwi, Tahu Whaoa, will  take control of the government-owned Tonga Forest Products Ltd for at least 50 years, with an option to extend the agreement for another 25.

The iwi is headed by Roger Pikia, who, the New Zealand High Court heard, took $438,000 out of his grandmother’s account without her permission to buy a pig farm.

Justice Geoffrey Venning described Pikia as “an unconvincing witness” and ordered him to return the land and pay back moneys that were owed.

Pikia is also at the centre of a battle with members of another Maori group over the financial management of the Te Arawa River Iwi Trust, which will get tens of millions of dollars of taxpayer funding over the next two decades.

The trust is chaired by Pikia.

Roger
Roger Pikia. Photo/One News

The Te Arawa leaders have told the New Zealand government  they believe there are potential conflicts of interest with the trust and Pikia’s personal business dealings.

An investigation by Radio New Zealand and TV3’s The Hui appeared to show that the River Trust’s investment arm had invested more than $770,000 in a private company of which Pikia was a director.

The company which owns the Tongan forest shares, Ngati Tahu Ngati Whaoa Runanga Ltd, is registered in Vanuatu, a well-known tax haven.

Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva, who is visiting New Zealand, said he was disappointed more due diligence had not been done by his Government before the deal was signed.

He said he would raise the issue with Cabinet when he returned to Tonga.

However, a statement from the Tongan Ministry of Private Enterprise said Tonga Forest Products Ltd, had been granted “a new lease on life.”

The statement said that at the end of the term of the agreement, the Trust would return the assets and business to the Government, together with any new improvements or additional assets and businesses that had been established during the term of the Agreement.

Public Enterprise Minister, Hon. Poasi Tei, told the Tongan Parliament Tonga Forest Products Ltd,  was recently given more than $400,000 to prop it up. It had also borrowed millions from the Tonga Development Bank.

Radio New Zealand reported last month that Ngati Tahu Ngati Whaoa Runanga Ltd had agreed to pay more than US$4.4 million for management rights.

One News reported this week that the  Maori investors had taken responsibility for a $NZ2.6 million government debt and had agreed to pay $NZ3.5 million in return for the control and management of the forest company for 50 years.

The privately managed company will operate as Aotearoa-Tonga Forest Products Limited with leases over the 700 acre ‘Eua Forest Reserve, Vaitaki Sawmilling Site and Mataliku Forest Plant.

At last month’s ceremony to sign over the forestry group, Pikia said Aotearoa-Tonga Forest Products would launch “a very aggressive replanting programme in Eua” in the coming months.

“I have spoken to the Minister from Eua and asked him to ensure that everyone who is employable on Eua will come to work for the company to replant the island,” he said.

The main points

  • The Tongan government has signed a multi-million dollar forestry deal with a New Zealand iwi headed by a businessman the High Court said had committed a fraudulent breach of trust just three years ago.
  • The man, Roger Pikia is also at the centre of a battle with members of another Maori group over the financial management of the Te Arawa River Iwi Trust.
  • Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva said he was disappointed more due diligence had not been done before the deal was signed.
  • However, the Tongan Ministry of Private Enterprise said Tonga Forest Products Ltd had been granted “a new lease on life.”

For more information

Maori trust to own Tonga forests, company renamed as Aotearoa-Tonga Forest (Kaniva News)

Tonga forestry deal with North Island iwi causes growing concern (One News)

Trust’s chairman hits back at iwi leaders

Maori trust to control Tongan forests

Tonga Forest Products Ltd Granted New Lease of Life (Ministry of Information and Communication)

Tongan flagbearer explodes over the internet as kingdom’s seven member team marches in Rio

By
Philip Cass
-

Tongan flagbearer Pita Taufatofua stole the show at today’s Olympic opening in Rio.

The part time model appeared in a traditional vala ngatu and a lot of Tongan made oil, causing something of a sensation on the internet, with media outlets all over the world picking up on his appearance.

Taufatofua is the kingdom’s first taekwondo competitor at Olympic level.

When not working as a model he is a youth counsellor in Brisbane.

Born in Australia to a Tongan father and Australia mother, he moved to the island kingdom as an infant. He could have represented either country, but chose to compete for Tonga.

He qualified for the Games in April, after failing to make the grade twice before.

The Fiji Times said that while pursuing his dream of competing in the Olympics he broke six bones, tore three ligaments, spent three months in a wheelchair, a year and a half on crutches and hundreds of hours of physiotherapy.

Since his appearance at the opening ceremony, his new fans have wasted no time in posting photographs of him.

Taufatofua seems to be no stranger to posting photographs of himself as the number of topless shots of him that have suddenly been reproduced on social media appear to testify.

He will compete in the men’s +80kg division on August 20.

Tonga’s only Olympic medal was won by boxer Paea Wolfgramm in the Men’s Super Heavyweight division at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

He is one of seven athletes competing for Tonga in Rio.

The other members of the team are Amini Fonua (swimming), Siueni Filimone (athletics), Arne Jensen (archery), Taina Halasim (USA Today)a (athletics), Irene Prescott (swimming) and Lusitania Tatafu (archery).

They marched fully clothed.

The main points

  • Tongan flagbearer Pita Taufatofua stole the show at today’s Olympic opening in Rio.
  • The part time model appeared in a traditional taʻovala and a lot of baby oil, causing something of a sensation on the internet, with media outlets all over the world picking up on his appearance.
  • Taufatofua is the kingdom’s first taekwondo competitor at Olympic level.
  • He is one of seven athletes competing for Tonga in Rio.

For more information

Opening Ceremony: Who is Tonga’s bare-chested flag bearer?

Introducing the Tonga flagbearer who glistened during Rio Olympic opening ceremony (USA Today)

Ashika tragedy: Tonga does not have money to pursue legal action, says PM

By
Kalino Latu
-

Seven years after the MV Princess Ashika sank, Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva says there is still time to bring those responsible to justice, but the government does not have the money to pursue the case.

The Prime Minister said it was a criminal case and there was no time limit on when the government could proceed with legal action.

“I believe we can still proceed with it if we have the money,” he said in Auckland on Tuesday.

Hon. Pohiva said there was enough evidence to file a lawsuit. The government had spent a lot of money on the case.

A great deal of information from inquiries and investigation had already been recorded.

The Prime Minister said his government wanted to reopen the case, but the government’s present commitments meant they were too busy to take legal action immediately.

“This prosecution could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Hon. Pohiva said.

He said any such prosecution might require two lawyers.

Hon. Pohiva was responding to a question from a concerned Tonga at a meeting in South Auckland who asked whether the government could bring those responsible to justice.

Seven years ago today, on August 5, 2009, the ill-fated vessel sank north of Nuku’alofa, claiming 74 lives.

There were 54 survivors.

The ship sank just before midnight. Eyewitnesses said it capsized in a few minutes after water started seeping into the lower decks.

Neither the bodies nor the vessel could be recovered, although the searchers were able to locate them and took video footages and digital photographs.

The government later announced it would halt further attempts to salvage the ship because it would cost up to $TP1 million.  

The dead passengers included all the women and children on board. Of the victims, 13 were aged under 10 and three were infants. The oldest victim, Fifita Taufo’ou, was 77.

Some people were charged and jailed after the tragedy, including the captain of the vessel Makahokovalu Tuputupu, Acting Director of Marine and Ports Viliami Tu’ipulotu and John Jonesse the Managing Director  of the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd, which owned the vessel,  

Critics said the prosecution should have brought to justice everybody involved including the then Prime Minister Lord Sevele who was accused of being instrumental in bringing the doomed vessel to Tonga.

Lord Sevele was reported as saying he didn’t think the vessel’s seaworthiness was responsible for its sinking.

The Royal Commission into the sinking said the Tongan government failed to have independent due diligence conducted and that the former Minister of Transport made inaccurate and unsubstantiated statements to a number of authorities, which resulted in the purchase in June 2009 of the ship, which  was described in evidence as a “rust bucket.”

According to the report, the government allowed the ferry to sail despite it being clearly unseaworthy, with questions about its seaworthiness having been raised as far back as 1985.

“It was scandalous that such a maritime disaster could ever have been allowed to occur. It was a result of systemic and individual failures,” the report said.

The main points

  • Seven years after the MV Princess Ashika sank, Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva says there is still time to bring those responsible to justice, but the government does not have the money to pursue the case.
  • The Prime Minister said because it was a criminal case and there was no time limit on when the government could proceed with legal action.
  • “I believe we can still proceed with it if we have the money,” he said in Auckland on Tuesday.
  • Seven years ago today, on August 5, 2009, the ill-fated vessel sank north of Nuku’alofa, claiming 74 lives.

For more information

Princess Ashika sinking (Tagata Pasifika)

Royal Commission Report

Special Report: Why the Ashika tragedy is shaking the Sevele Government to its core

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