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‘Vaka e Masiva’ for the Niuas  to be launched

By
Kalino Latu
-

A trimaran designed to meet the needs of poor and isolated people in the outer Tongan islands will be launched in Auckland next week.

The wind powered double hulled canoe is the first of its kind to be designed by the North American Boat Designers Hall of Fame member Dick Newick.

The project is informally called ‘Vaka e Masiva’ or The Poor’s Boat.

It was built in Pipiroa, near Thames in the Coromandel Peninsula and will be launched on November 21.

It is currently in Auckland at Half Moon bay to be fitted with its sails and mast .

The trimaran has an engine which is only used when it docks at Niuafoʻou because the island has no wharf.

Dr. Sitiveni Halapua, who is monitoring the boat project, said the running and operating costs for a boat to the Niuas were the key factors behind the project.

Dr. Halapua, whose father was from Niuatoputapu, came up with the idea while he was visiting the outer islands of Tonga during his political career in the kingdom in mid 2000.

He saw how the people of Niuafoʻou and  Niuatoputapu struggled to make ends meet because there was no regular boat service to transport goods from mainland Tongatapu to the Niuas.

Dr. Halapua discovered the Tongan government could not schedule a regular shipping travel to the Niuas because it would cost taxpayers about TP$60,000 for one travel.

The cost meant there was no way the government could recover that amount of money because the Niuan travellers were few and their need for supplies was marginal.

According to Tongaʻs census in 2006 there were about 700 people living in Niuafoʻou and 1000 people living in Niuatoputapu.

The trimaran can carry 12 passengers with enough shipments.

Ideas

The cost of the NZ$600,000 trimaran has been donated by the Niuans living overseas.

Dr. Halapua said when he asked Newick to design a boat for the poor he responded that there was no such thing as boat for the poor.

He told Halapua the boats he designed were for rich people because only the rich could afford them.

But Halapua persisted and Newick agreed to undertake the project when he told him this could be the first time he designed such a boat .

“While we were in Australia to raise funds for the project one woman said she was concerned that the Niuans were regarded as poor and that they were raising money because there was poverty in the Niuas,” Dr. Halapua said.

The woman thought the label let the people of Niua down.

Some people even wanted to cancel the boat project and raise money for a mobile mortuary, which they said was more important.

Dr. Halapua said he explained to the people he understood Niuans overseas had money, but the situation in Niua could not be improved because there was no boat to reach them with the good things they wanted to send them.

Halapua said he named the project ‘Vaka e Masiva’ because the main reason the people of Niuans suffered was that goods could not reach them.

“There was a project for the Niuans to grow vanilla, but the project was cancelled because there was no boat to take the fruits to Tongatapu or Vavaʻu for processing and marketing,” Dr Hapaua said.

“A group of people travelled from overseas to Tongatapu to travel to Niua for a funeral and they could not make it to Niua after they arrived in Tonga because there was no ferry to take them there

“A Niuan rugby league player in Australia sent money to her sister in Niua to run a small retail shop

“He later called to check on the business and he was a bit worried when he was told the shop was defunct because there was no boat to keep supplying goods for the shop from Tonga or Vavau”.

Technology 

Dr. Halapua said people made positive fun of the project and said Niua was going backward because they created  a boat  powered by wind.

But Halapua said it was better to have the wind powered boat than nothing.

He said if they built a motorised vessel it would not last long because the Niuans would not be able to maintain it financially.

Halapua said that would decide how often the Vaka e Masiva’  sailed to The Niuas after they took it to Tonga.

It has been built in Pipiroa, near Thames in the Coromandel Peninsula, and it will be launched on November 21.

It was currently in Auckland at Half Moon bay to be fit with its sails and mast before continuing on to Tonga and being delivered to the Niua Island communities.

The main points

  • A trimaran designed to meet the needs of poor and isolated people in the outer Tongan islands will be launched in Auckland next week.
  • The project is informally called ‘Vaka e Masiva’ or The Poor’s Boat.
  • Sitiveni Halapua, who is monitoring the boat project, said the running and operating costs for a boat to the Niuas were the key factors behind the project.
  • Halapua, whose father was from Niuafoʻou, came up with the idea while he was visiting the outer islands of Tonga during his political career in the kingdom in early 2000.

For more information

Sustainable shipping in remote Tongan islands (Pacific Cooperation Foundation)

Looking for a new spaceship captain? Try the skipper of the Niuafoʻou ferry

Young  bride faces the nightmare of a mother-in-law’s fakalotoloto

Tongan family’s heartbreak after father dies and is buried before they arrive to say goodbye

Gunshot leads to seizure of illegal cannabis worth TP$200,000 and firearm in ‘Eua

By
Kalino Latu
-

A gunshot fired in a bush in ‘Eua led Police to seize 458 cannabis plants and arrested two men this week.

Police said they raided the area after a member of the public heard the shot and launched a complaint.

One of the men who did not hold a firearms licence had been charged with possession of a .22 rifle.

The other man had been charged with possession of illicit drugs.

Police said the illegal cannabis plants had a total estimated street value of TP$200,000.

Chief Superintendent Tevita Fifita said eleven Police officers from the Nuku’alofa Tactical Response Unit and the Police Drug Squad  were sent to ‘Eua on Tuesday afternoon to investigate and worked on the case.

“Tonga Police are committed to disrupting the supply of drugs and preventing the harm this illegal activity supports. It only takes one call to Police to stop crime and the availability of drugs in your community,” CS Fifita.

Police investigations continue and more information were expected to be released once they become available, it said.

Pride in identity, Tongan royals and celebrity at Disney movie premiere

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongan royals and a celebrity attended the celebration of  the premiere of Disney’s Moana in Los Angeles on Monday.

The 3D computer-animated musical fantasy adventure film was about the tale of a South Pacific island teenager who sails off on an adventure to save her village.

King of Tonga’s niece Hon Frederica Filipe wore her Tongan vala “with pride” during the function.

She described her Tongan traditional wear on social media  as  kie and black pearls belonged to her mother Princess Pilolevu Tuita.


Hon. Frederica said she was representing all the Pacific Islanders at the premiere.

Tongan beauty pageant Diamond Langi who was crowned as Face of Beauty International 2013 also attended the function.

She tweeted the experience she came through during the celebration “was magical”.

It was a precious moment for Hon. Frederica to meet and chatted with  Miss Langi and Auli’i Cravalho who is playing Moana in the movie.

Prince Tungi and Hon. ‘Etani Tuku’aho also attended at the famed El Capitan Theatre.

Before the blue carpet opened, attendees were treated to a short performance by the film’s stars Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho, along with songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda and an array of Polynesian dancers.

Johnson who is playing Maui in the movie has a Samoan heritage and appeared in photos with the royals.

Cravalho was born in Oahu, Hawaii and she was an American singer.

The movie opens in theatres across the United States on 23 November.

The NZ premiere will be held at Auckland’s Hoyts Cinemas, at Sylvia Park, on December 13 – about two weeks before the movie is due to be released in cinemas around the country on Boxing Day.

Controversial

Disney’s Moana was accused of cultural appropriation and has been attacked on social media for selling zip-up kid-sized Maui costumes featuring the “demigod’s signature tattoos, rope necklace and island-style skirt.

In September Disney said it would no longer sell a boy’s costume for a Polynesian character that some Pacific Islanders have compared to blackface, it said of the movie.

READ MORE:

Disney withdraws Moana costumes as film sails into another storm of criticism

Haʻalalo machete attack sends woman to Vaiola hospital

By
Kalino Latu
-

A woman was allegedly attacked with a machete in Haʻalalo yesterday.

She was being treated at Vaiola hospital.

Kaniva has attempted to reach those involved and Ministry of Health authority for comment and have not heard back.

Two weeks ago in Nukuʻalofa, bar bouncers and a non-uniform Police officer had fought off a machete-wielding man outside a bar shortly after a fight broke out in the bar  Saturday 5.

Meanwhile four men accused in relation to the death of ʻAiveni Teisina, 36,  were in court after a machete attack in a parking lot in Vaini on October 23.

Pacific tuna stock depleted as result of illegal fishing, Moala tells Chinese company

By
Kalino Latu
-

Leaders of China’s Guangzhou Pelagic Fishery company have been warned Pacific tuna stocks have been depleted by illegal fishing.

Deputy Chair of the Pacific Media Association and editor of Taimi ‘o Tonga Kalafi Moala said the Pacific’s  Exclusive Economic Zone had been violated by foreign fishing fleets.

Moala told the Chinese during a recent meeting with Pacific journalists in Guangzhou that Pacific countries were trying to develop legislation to stop illegal fishing activities and help make tuna fishing sustainable.

“We are ocean people and all the product we have are ocean goods,” Moala said.

“If it is done wrongly and not sustainably we suffer because we live in that area.”

According to a report by the Pew Charitable Trusts in May this year, the total catch in the Pacific Ocean was worth US$22 billion in 2014.

The report said tuna was a vital source of revenue to fishing communities, particularly in the Pacific Islands.

The report said tuna stocks were severely depleted.

kalafi-moala
Kalafi Moala. Photo/Kalino Lātū

Moala said the information the Chinese provided during the meeting was promising and  favourable to the Pacific countries in their attempts to stop illegal fishing.

Guangzhou Pelagic Fishery

The Guangzhou Pelagic Fishery Company has an annual turnover of RMB10 billion and sells 210,000 tonnes of fish each year.  It is a state-owned enterprise under the Guangzhou Aquatic Group Co. Ltd.

Founded in July 1989 it  is the only major enterprise in Guanzhou to attain the qualification of the Ocean and Pelagic Fishery production approved by the National Ministry of Aquaculture.

It engages in a wide range of business including ocean fishing, aquatic products breeding, processing, acquisition and sale.

Company spokesman Tan Yi Guan said they abided strictly by the local laws and regulation of the local areas and waters.

The company operates 10 long line fishing boats optimised for tuna in Fiji and Kiribati.

They said they monitored their fleet 24 hour a day and required daily reports.

The Chinese said they had fished in Fijian waters for more than 10 years.

“We have a very good relationship with our partner in Fiji,” Tan said.

He said captains of their fishing vessels were expected to follow the company’s strict rules and follow the law.

The company claimed they represented “the spirit of co-operation” in China.

The Company had worked on ocean fishing projects in West Africa, Colombia, Indonesia, the Maldives, Fiji and Kiribati.

The Chinese told the meeting they believed in keeping ocean fishing sustainable. They planned to extend their operation in Fiji to local processing companies and fishing factories.

Apart from the Chinese domestic market, most of the company’s tuna catch is sold in the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the European Union.

About Guangzhou

Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong and is known as the South Gate of China. It is located in the north Pearl River Delta adjacent to Hong Kong  and Macao. It is the communication and transportation hub of South China and has a population of 16 million.

In 2015 the city’s  GDP reached US$291.3 billion. It is twinned with 59 cities in 43 countries and hosts consulates from 53 countries.

Dongguan, the sister city of Ha’apai in the Kingdom of Tonga, is one of the cities of Guangdong province.

The main points

  • Leaders of China’s Guangzhou Pelagic Fishery company have been warned Pacific tuna stocks have been depleted by illegal fishing..
  • Deputy Chair of the Pacific Media Association and editor of Taimi ‘o Tonga Kalafi Moala said the Pacific’s Exclusive Economic Zone had been violated by foreign fishing fleets.
  • Moala told the Chinese during a recent meeting with Pacific journalists in Guangzhou that Pacific countries were trying to develop legislation to stop illegal fishing activities and help make tuna fishing sustainable.
  • According to a report by the Pew Charitable Trusts in May this year, the total catch in the Pacific Ocean was worth US$22 billion in 2014.

For more information

Overfishing puts $42bn tuna industry at risk of collapse

Netting Billions: A Global Valuation of Tuna

Fijian Tuna Processing In China

Earthquake felt in Tonga no tsunami alert

By
Kalino Latu
-

A 5.6 magnitude earthquake 152 km from Pangai, Ha’apai and Tongatapu was felt in capital city Nuku’alofa this afternoon.

It had a depth of 10km and struck at 12.30pm (Tongan time), earthquaketrack said.

There was no tsunami alert released but Facebook users said they felt it.

“Little earthquake”, Mele ‘Amanaki posted on Facebook. Some commenters on her post said they also felt the shocks.

The quake comes while New Zealand where more than 60,000 Tongan residents stay was still in severe shock after a 7.8 earthquake rocked the country claiming two lives and left the city of Kaikoura and its surrounding suburbs in great devastation.




Tēvita Mafi Filo cleared of murder by reason of insanity

By
Kalino Latu
-

Auckland: The Tongan man who killed mother of two at the suburb of Remuera is now a free man after being cleared of murder on the grounds of insanity.

Tevita Mafi Filo, 25, was suffering from a “complex delusional system” when he attacked jogger Joanne Pert on January 7.

Local residents found the body of the 41-year-old on their lawn about 11am.

A suppression order has prevented publication of  how Pert died.

Filo will be detained indefinitely as a special patient at the Mason Clinic, a secure psychiatric unit.

He has schizophrenia and also suffers from end stage renal failure and completes dialysis three times a week.

The court heard on Thurday  Filo didn’t believe he had killed “a real live person”.

He believed he lived in an “alternate world” governed by a controller.

“He didn’t believe the individual was dead.”

READ MORE:

Tevita Filo stopped by police night before killing Remuera mother-of-two Jo Pert

Joanne Pert’s killer Tevita Filo not guilty by reason of insanity

Tongan patient taken by air ambulance as Christchurch welcome visitors after deadly earthquake

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongan patient Heneli Tupou has been transferred to Christchurch hospital this afternoon as authority declared the city a safe haven after the deadly 7.5 earthquake hit its surrounding districts on Monday morning.

Tupou, of Tatakamotonga, was in New Zealand on the Regional Seasonal Employment programme.

He was admitted to Nelson hospital last weekend in a serious health condition.

Kaniva News understands Tupou was expected to arrive at Christchurch Hospital, 2 Riccarton Avenue, Christchurch Central at 5pm this evening.

Specialists at the hospital were expected to make a final decision over an operation required for Tupou.

The epicentre of the historical earthquake was northeast of Christchurch, near  Kaikoura district which has been cut off by landslides.

There are believed to be up to 1,000 tourists stranded in the town.

Military helicopters and a navy ship are being sent to evacuate them and others from Kaikoura.

Heneli Tupou has been transfered to Christchurch Hospital
Heneli Tupou has been transfered to Christchurch Hospital

Newsbub has reported that following the earthquake the main north line between Picton and Christchurch has “significant damage”, particularly around Kaikoura, which aerial footage shot earlier today shows is covered in slips.

Christchurch Hospital’s health board has announced that “All Canterbury District Health Board facilities are fully operational and services are operating as normal”.

“The infrastructure in Christchurch has come through this week’s earthquakes well”, it said.

“There are no issues with drinking water in Christchurch or Banks Peninsula and there is no need to boil water.

“All the city’s pump stations have remained operational, and no water pressure was lost at any stage overnight”.

Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism chief executive Vic Allen said “they are encouraging people to keep their plans to come to Christchurch”.

If you are finding it hard to cope and need support you can ring the Canterbury Support Line on 0800 777 846 24/7.

Latest updates (newshub) 

What we know

  • GeoNet says the initial magnitude 7.5 quake may actually have been two quakes, based on aftershocks being felt in two separate locations.
  • Two deaths have been confirmed – one in Kaikoura and one in Mt Lyford, east of Hanmer Springs.
  • The tsunami warning has now been downgraded to a marine and beach threat, which remains in place from Napier to north of Dunedin and Chatham Island – find your local evacuation zone hereand your local Civil Defence group here.
  • A large 6.3 aftershock hit north of Cheviot this afternoon, and more measuring almost 6 rocked Seddon after 8pm.
  • Some train services in both the North and South Islands have resumed, but there still significant disruptions – particularly around Kaikoura and Wellington.
  • The Education Ministry is advising schools from north Canterbury to Wellington not to open until the buildings can be checked.
  • All airports are open.
  • State Highway 1 from Seddon to Cheviot is currently closed, but it has reopened between Picton and Blenheim/Seddon.
  • The full extent of the damage to transport systems is still unfolding with extensive damage caused to parts of State Highway 1 in the South Island.
  • The first earthquake struck near Hanmer Springs just after midnight.
  • All shops are closed in Kaikoura and there is no water supply or sewerage. Residents are advised to conserve water.

Nelson struck by earthquake as hospitalised Tupou awaits confirmation of diagnosis

Pacific leaders meet in Wellington even as earthquake struck capital begins clean-up

By
Philip Cass
-

Pacific Parliamentarians visiting New Zealand for a political leaders’ forum are still meeting in Wellington despite Monday’s earthquake.

About 40 politicians are in New Zealand to attend the Pacific Parliamentarians’ Forum.

Tongan delegates include Penisimani Fifita, Akosita Lavulavu and Veivosa Taka.

In Wellington the group will visit Parliament and take part in debates on Pacific issues.

Parliament sat at 2pm yesterday and the sitting continued even after a 5.6 magnitude aftershock rattled the chamber.

The leadership group began their visit to New Zealand with two days in Auckland hosted by the Pacific Cooperation Foundation.

They met with Auckland-based Pacific Members of Parliament, including Jenny Salesa (Manukau East), Su’a William Sio (Mangere), Carmel Sepuloni (Kelston) and Alfred Ngaro (Te Atatu).

They also met with Pacific community groups including Healthy Families, Pacific Homecare, Vaka Tautua, Pasifika Futures, Pacific Trade and Invest, VECTOR and Watercare.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has described the Forum as an opportunity for NZ leaders to hear about issues and concerns in the region, and look at ways NZ might be able to assist its Pacific neighbours.

During their initial visit in 2013, the Pacific leaders discussed topics including regional leadership, democracy, climate change, health issues, gender equality, media and the importance of Parliaments to communities, business development and jobs.

They agreed to encourage more women to enter Parliament, to rely more heavily on renewable energy, to foster free media to promote democracy, improve technology, prioritise healthcare and disease prevention and facilitate sustainable trade and investment.

The main points

  • Pacific Parliamentarians visiting New Zealand for a political leaders’ forum are still meeting in Wellington despite Monday’s earthquake.
  • About 40 politicians are in New Zealand to attend the Pacific Parliamentarians’ Forum.
  • Tongan delegates include Penisimani Fefita, Akosita Lavulavu and Veivosa Taka.
  • In Wellington the group will visit Parliament and take part in debates on Pacific issues.
  • Parliament sat at 2pm yesterday and the sitting continued even after a 5.6 magnitude aftershock rattled the chamber.

For  more information

Pacific Parliamentary Forum, November 14-19, 2016

Watch: Earthquake interrupts Parliament

Nelson struck by earthquake as hospitalised Tupou awaits confirmation of diagnosis

By
Philip Cass
-

Nelson, where Tongan fruit picker Heneli Tupou is hospitalised in a serious condition, was hit  by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake this afternoon.

Tupou, of Tatakamotonga, was in New Zealand on the Regional Seasonal Employment programme.

Kaniva News understands that specialists were expected to confirm their diagnosis today (November 14).

As we reported yesterday, his wife ‘Asinate has been sending him messages of encouragement via Facebook.

The Nelson Mail quoted Nelson Marlborough Health acting chief executive Peter Bramley as saying hospital facilities across Nelson and Blenheim were still open.

Bramley said staff had worked through the night to ensure all patients were safe.

Radio New Zealand quoted the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board saying that inspections had shown that hospitals in Nelson and Wairau were safe and services running normally,

The 6.2 earthquake struck 30km north of Cheviot at a depth of 50km, at 1.34pm.

The Mail quoted one residents as saying the quake “seemed to go on forever.”

The Nelson City Council lists the chimney stack, boiler house and coal bunker at Nelson Hospital as earthquake prone.

The main points

  • Nelson, where Tongan fruit picker Heneli Tupou is hospitalised in a serious condition, was hit by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake this afternoon.
  • Kaniva News understands that specialists were expected to confirm their diagnosis today (November 14).
  • As we reported yesterday, his wife ‘Asinate has been sending him messages of encouragement via Facebook.
  • Nelson Marlborough District Health Board says hospitals in Nelson and Wairau are safe and operating normally.

For more information

‘Severe’ 6.2 magnitude aftershock hits Nelson as region counts cost of quake

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/86419252/nelson-tasman-schools-early-learning-centres-closed-for-earthquake-checks

List of Earthquake Prone Buildings

http://nelson.govt.nz/building-and-property/commercial-building-information/earthquake-prone-building-information/list-of-earthquake-prone-buildings/

Earthquake: What you need to know (RNZ)

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/318005/earthquake-what-you-need-to-know

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