A Tongan man gets community work and a fine for the ‘horrific pain’ he inflicted on his dog.
Tavake Sina Mokofisi, 33, was sentenced by Judge Rosemary Riddell in the Hamilton District Court on Thursday to 150 hours of community work, plus pay a fine $350.
He has been banned from owning a fog for five years.
Mokofisi castrated his dog without anaesthetic in August 2015.
He tied his puppy up so he could castrate it with a stanley knife. He later told vets what he did was legal in his native Tonga.
However Mokofisi pleaded guilty for his action before he appeared for sentencing on Thursday.
“You later admitted you had tied the dog’s four legs together with a rope, tied his mouth shut with a cloth and hung him in a tree.”
Without using anaesthetic, Mokofisi castrated the dog using a stanley knife, cutting the scrotal skin, squeezing out the testicle, and then cutting the cord to remove the testicle. The wound was washed with salt water before the dog was set loose.
After about two days he took the dog to a vet, saying it had jumped over a low fence.
The vets were suspicious but gave the dog pain relief and antibiotics before putting it under general anaesthetic the following day.
“Once the dog was under general anaesthetic their suspicions were confirmed,” Riddell said.
The wounds were consistent with a deliberate castration, which Mokofisi then admitted.
Mokofisi came to New Zealand from Tonga six years ago and told the vets it was legal to castrate male dogs there, and he didn’t know it wasn’t the case in New Zealand.
The dog was surrendered to the SPCA.
Defence lawyer Louis Wilkins said Mokofisi’s actions were deeply misguided but he had recognised this fairly promptly.
“It’s not a deliberate attempt to inflict pain for its own sake,” he said.
“It’s misguided, and the priority here is really to prevent this man having animals in the near future.”
Mokofisi should never have done the procedure but it may have been one which he had seen performed in his youth, he said.
Twenty Tongan and American agencies attended a workshop early this month organised by the Nevada National Guard State Partnership Program to combat drug trafficking, human trafficking, piracy and protection of natural resources.
The five-day meeting “focused on drug identification and included two maritime sessions that spotlighted ship embarkment and evidence discovery”.
Ten Tongan agents and 10 American agents were allowed “to share its latest information surrounding drug identification in an allied effort to combat potential drug trafficking in the South Pacific”.
The participating Tongan agencies included His Majesty’s Armed Forces, Customs, Police and Ministry of Infrastructure officials as well as a representative from the Attorney General’s office; the Joint Interagency Task Force West, U.S. Coast Guard, Defense Attache Office and the Nevada Air and Army Guard were the American participants.
“The multi-agency approach to drug identification is the only way to go,” said Tonga Police deputy commissioner Pelenatita Fe’ao Vaisuai. “No one agency can do it all on its own – it must be a cooperative effort.
“It’s all about building effective working relationships and partnerships as well as sharing and teaching others about new information and experiences.”
Record number of agencies on board for Nevada/Tonga drug identification exchange
According to Tonga Armed Forces Lt. Siosiua Ika, the idea for a drug identification exchange stemmed from a recent incident where Tongan officials discovered a ship that had run aground but they couldn’t easily identify the substances aboard the vessel.
“That was a lesson learned. For (Tonga agencies), drug identification training should continue,” Ika said. “We can’t rely on just a few people from each organization to have the training to identify potential drugs; hopefully it can become continuous and all can receive the training.”
With drug identification the top priority of the exchange, Air Guard 2nd Lt. Lewis Roberts, Tech Sgt. Josh Leggett and Staff Sgt. Berenice Domenzain joined Army Sgt. Lars Nielsen to start the exchange with a topical presentation displaying and describing the effects of common illicit drugs in Nevada. Their presentation took place at His Majesty’s Armed Forces Headquarters near the Royal Palace.
“It was the first time for me to view pictures of the different types of marijuana and understand the different varieties,” said Armed Forces Staff Sgt. Ofa Baasi. “It was a good class; I learned from the Nevada personnel.”
Subsequently, exchange participants learned about the latest in maritime law from U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Kevin Bruen before watching a vessel-boarding demonstration by the Coast Guard’s Law Enforcement Detachment at Masefield Naval Base.
The detachment’s availability coincided perfectly with the port visit of the USS Spruance, which was making the first-ever U.S. warship pier-side stop in Tonga’s capital city. The Coast Guard personnel were aboard the USS Spruance preparing to assist the Navy on a 10-day patrol of international fishing waters.
On the ultimate day of the exchange, Vaisuai gave the participants an update in Tongan about the police department’s drug identification issues before the group headed out to Masefield again to learn about the Tongan Armed Force’s naval assets and resources with a tour aboard Pacific Patrol Boat No. P201 and Landing Vessel No. A401. Those two vessels comprise 50 percent of Tonga’s seafaring ships.
As the exchange concluded, Tongan officials said they were grateful the Nevada Guard facilitated the exchange, noting they had made new contacts domestically as well as internationally.
“Often, Tongan agencies work in isolation,” said James Lutui of the Tonga Attorney General’s office. “It was important to join together and learn about policies and issues cooperatively.”
The success of the exchange was noted by the U.S. Department of State in a message from Judith Cefkin, the U.S. Ambassador to Tonga, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu, to the Sailors aboard the USS Spruance.
“The professional military-to-military and community relations events conducted during the Nevada National Guard exchange with the government of Tonga agencies built goodwill toward the United States and served as an important reminder of the U.S. commitment to the region,” she wrote via an electronic message to USS Spruance commanding officer Cmdr. Manuel Hernandez.
The Nevada National Guard’s partnership with Tonga was officially established in April 2014. The State Partnership Program links a state’s National Guard with the armed forces of a partner country in a cooperative, mutually-beneficial relationship.
“The missions succeed because of the hard work of Nevada Guard Soldiers and Airmen,” said Nevada Guard International Affairs Officer Maj. John Brownell, who has made 21 trips to Oceania on behalf of the State Partnership Program in recent years.
The next SPP meeting between the Nevada Guard and His Majesty’s Armed Forces is set for Tonga in August and will emphasize the exchange of search-and-rescue information.
The Tongan delegations to the First World Conference on Tourism in Beijing last week met China’s Head of National Tourism Administration in a special meeting.
Tonga’s Tourism Minister Hon Semisi Sika and Hon Li Jinzao exchanged gifts and discussed China’s interests in Tonga tourism.
The participants from about 100 countries in the world who attended the international meeting engaged in a high level debate on the contribution of tourism to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Organised by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Government of the People’s Republic of China the world leaders met in Beijing at the Hotel China World Summit Wing from May 18 – 21.
L_R: Deputy Secretary Tourism – Sione Moala, Tonga’s Minister of Tourism Hon. Semisi Sika, Chairman of Tonga Tourism – Tomifa Paea, Tonga Ambassador in China – HE. ‘Utuatu Tauaika,
In the special meeting Hon Sika thanked Jinzao for the envoys the Communists Led-Party country sent to Tonga to attend His Majesty King Tupou VI’s coronation last year.
Hon. Sika also acknowledged Hon. Li Jinzao signing the MOU to bring 1000 travel agents to Tonga.
The Tongan delegations who attended the conference were Hon. Semisi Sika, Tonga Ambassador in China HE. ‘Utuatu Tauaika, Chairman of Tonga Tourism – Tomifa Paea and the Tourism Deputy Secretary Sione Moala Mafi.
The Tongan government has reintroduced the Sunday trading ban to stop bakers trading on the Sabbath, but some bakers have admitted that church goers are among their regular customers.
Police Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa said that even though some bakers agreed with the Sunday trading ban, they had had to meet the needs of church customers.
Hon. Tu’i’onetoa said some church ministers bought bread and cakes on Sunday because they had a lukuluku (collection of food or refreshments) for ceremonial receptions at their churches.
Tonga has reinstated its Sunday Trading Ban and announced this week it would ban bakeries from selling bread to the public on the Sabbath, beginning on July 3.
The owner of Tonga’s largest bakery, Alfred Cowley, told Kaniva News this evening the ban would affect about 80 percent of the people of the main island, Tongatapu.
He said every fortnight his bakeries had to serve a large number of customers who were churchgoers who wanted to buy bread for church receptions.
He said the way the government came up with the decision to ban the sale of bread on Sunday was unfair and disregarded the proposal to allow bakeries to open for a limited time on Sundays.
Cowley said that in their meeting with the government, the island’s bakers agreed with the government to sell bread within a fixed time frame on Sundays.
He said the government said it would come back to them with suitable times.
He said most people who took part in the discussions did not support the ban.
Cowley said he was surprised when he heard the Minister of Police announce the ban on the radio without contacting the bakers.
“I am concerned that the ban is not fair,” Cowley said.
“Why do they allow the restaurants to open on Sunday and not bakeries?”
The law of the nation should be equal to everyone no matter what, he said.
Alcohol was sold on Sunday in some of the restaurants which did not provide accommodation to tourists.
Cowley denied claims by the church leaders that only five percent of Tongans would be affected if the sale of bread on Sunday was banned.
“The church minister who said that should look at the Bible to make sure what he said is truthful,” Cowley said.
He said his company had three main bakeries in Tongatapu, in the capital Nuku’alofa, in Nukunuku in the western side and in Mu’a at the eastern side.
He said his bakeries produced the most bread during the week for people to buy on Sunday evening and Monday morning.
“It is obvious 80 to 85 percent of Tongatapu people prepare their traditional food to eat after church on Sunday afternoon and in the evening they look forward to buying bread for their dinner,” Cowley said in Tongan.
Cowley said the government should go with the times in its decision on the trading ban.
Other bakeries including the Ha’amoko Bakery, the Rainbow Bakery and others in Fanga and Veitongo. These bakeries open on Sundays and sell bread on Sunday evenings.
Cowley said he received complaints from a number of concerned bread buyers on Sunday who suggested he should stage a march and present a petition to the king over the ban.
However, he said he did not want to get involved in such move. He hoped the government would return to the negotiation table for further discussion before the ban comes to effect.
The trading ban
Baker Alfred Cowley told Kaniva News the government should go with the times in its decision on the trading ban.
The clear implication of that statement is that times have changed and many Tongans no longer regard buying bread on Sundays as a sin.
What do you think?
Should the trading ban be imposed on bakeries?
Is there anything wrong with buying bread on Sunday?
The main points
The Tongan government has reintroduced the Sunday trading ban to stop bakers trading on the Sabbath, but some bakers have admitted that church goers are among their regular customers.
Police Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa said that even though some bakers agreed with the Sunday trading ban, they had had to meet the needs of church customers.
He said some church ministers bought bread and cakes on Sunday because they had a collection of food for ceremonial receptions at their churches.
The owner of Tonga’s largest bakery, Alfred Cowley, told Kaniva News this evening the ban would affect about 80 percent of the people of the main island, Tongatapu.
A 20-year-old man is due to appear in court on Tuesday 31 charged in connection with an attack on a New Zealand woman at Atenisi compound in Kolomotuʻa Saturday 21.
Tongan Police said the man was charged with causing serious bodily harm on Sunday 22 and is facing further charges.
It said the young woman, who is not known to the suspect was hospitalised as a result of the attack.
“This is a shocking attack but I wish to reassure the community that this is an isolated incident says Commissioner Steve Caldwell and the Police are offering our full support to the victim and her family.”
The accused remains in Police custody until his appearance in court next week.
As the matter is now before the court there will be no further police comments, it said.
A Lower Court in Tonga said last week the editor of Keleʻa Newspaper ‘Ofa Vatikani and publisher Lautala Pōhiva Tapueluelu and the Keleʻa Tonga Ltd defamed a business man ‘Aisea Filihia and as a result they must pay him TP$28,000 in damages and legal fees.
On May 18, 2015 the accused published an article claiming Filihia paid his workers only AUS$33.80 a week and at one stage he demanded AUD$70,000 from them.
The defamatory article claimed Filihia later threatened the 40 employees he hired from Tonga that each of them has to pay $1,400 to him and his business partner.
Filihia was operating a fruit picking and packing services in Australia known as Quality Vine Saver Contractor.
The Magistrate said the accused failed in proving the contents of the said defamatory story.
He rejected the accused in their defence claiming the defamatory piece was a fair comment because the interests of the Tongan fruit pickers were materially affected.
He ruled the accused pay the plaintiff TP$10,000 in damages and TP$18,000 for his legal fees.
A West Auckland school will ensure the spirit of a standout student whose life was tragically cut short will live on with a scholarship in her honour.
Penina Latu, 17, a pupil at Kelston Girls College, was remembered as a humble high-achiever at her funeral on Saturday. The immensely popular Year 13 student died last week after a short illness.
Penina was a school prefect, and had been awarded a $12,000 scholarship to attend university where she planned to study medicine next year.
Her mother, Ofa, said Penina always strived for excellence in everything she did. “As a family we are very proud of her achievements, she really was that sort of girl who always tried to do well.”
Although she is deeply distressed by Penina’s death, Mrs Latu said being able to share her daughter’s life brought her great joy.
“I was able to have a journey with my daughter for 17 years, that was a real blessing.”
Mrs Latu said Penina was special to her as the third daughter of four children, and her two elder sisters and younger brother were struggling.
“It’s very hard for them, it is so hard, because she isn’t here with us any more. It is such a loss.”
Kelston Girls students, teachers, and the Tongan community in Auckland were greatly affected by her daughter’s death, and Mrs Latu was overwhelmed with the messages of support she had received.
“I really wasn’t expecting it, she’s touched a lot of people. I didn’t realise Penina was so popular, that she had reached that level. I’m in shock, people are so caring.”
Touching tributes to Penina had flooded in through social media, and she had received a letter of condolence from the Ministry of Education.
Mrs Latu did not want to discuss Penina’s exact illness. But she said her daughter was “very peaceful” as her short life came to a premature end.
“She accepted what was happening, and she wasn’t frightened. She even said if it’s God’s will, let it be.”
The teenager was deeply spiritual, and Mrs Latu said their family Bible was full of highlighter marks where Penina had picked out her favourite passages. “She printed them out and put them on her walls while she was studying. For her the Lord always came first.”
Despite a constant stream of accolades and success her entire life, Penina remained humble.
“She would say to me ‘Mum, stay low, stay humble’,” Mrs Latu said. “She was always undercover like that, she let her success do the talking.”
Penina’s funeral was held at Wesley Methodist Church, where the New Zealand and Tongan flags were flown at half-mast and students from Wesley College performed a rousing haka to mark their respect.
Kelston Girls College principal Linda Fox said the school was devastated by the tragedy, and had plans to establish a scholarship in Penina’s memory. “It’s really affected the prefects here, they went to school with her for all those years and it’s really had an impact on them.
“Everyone held her in high esteem. She was such a hard worker, she was a true role model and she was always so beautifully presented in her uniform.”
Ms Fox said Penina would be greatly missed.
“Her beautiful smile and gracious manner will always be remembered by students and teachers. She was the sort of girl who would go out of her way to help others.”
A University of the Sunshine Coast researcher hopes to improve the health of Pacific Islanders with the launch of a major research project into tropical fruit production.
Professor of Horticulture Steven Underhill has received a $2.3 million grant from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Development to run a four-year study in conjunction with local researchers in Samoa, Fiji and Tonga.
Professor Underhill said the project aimed to use strategies, from better crop selection to improved market transport, to boost production and reduce losses of papaya, pineapple, mango, citrus and breadfruit.
He said while many people imagined the Pacific Islands to be abundant with tropical fruit, the reality was quite different.
“Fruit production currently makes up a very small proportion of commercial horticulture productivity in many Pacific countries,” he said.
“Locals tend to focus on growing root and cash vegetable crops and don’t tend to spend much effort growing and nurturing tree fruit.
“Fruit trees can often be more labour intensive, more susceptible to natural disasters, and some species are very susceptible to disease. Between those three problems, it’s been challenging for growers.”
The project is based on a research partnership with the University of Queensland, Fiji National University, SPC-Pacific Community and the Agriculture Ministries of Tonga, Fiji and Samoa.
Professor Underhill said with the Pacific region accounting for seven of the world’s top 10 highest obesity rates by country, locals were in desperate need of better access to fresh produce.
“People are told to eat more fruit and vegetables, but that assumes that people have access to that kind of produce,” he said. “In places like Tonga, there is very little domestically-grown fruit for months.
“The move away from the traditional agriculture-based lifestyle in the Pacific has resulted in people relying more on cheap imported products with high sugar and high fat, which has seen some poor consequences for health.
“We’re working on crops that have a better year-round supply and fill that out of season supply void, like citrus and pineapple.”
The Tongan man who was shot dead in Jefferson County in the United States on April 23 has been sent home to Tonga and his body was laid to rest in Nukunuku.
According to a news release from Jefferson County Sheriff’s office, the man was Kimo Salakielu, 31.
Sheriff’s deputies responded at about 1:40 a.m. Saturday to a home on the 5400 block of West Hinsdale Avenue for reports of a family altercation and shots fired.
When they arrived they found Salakielu dead after being shot.
Authorities say there have been no arrests, but the investigation is ongoing.
Kimo is survived by wife Vaisima Kauhalaniua and four children.
The Tonga Tourism had been promoted to more than 80 national tourism boards, accommodation providers, private sector members and hotels from the South Pacific region in Sydney this week.
The kingdom’s local tourism services and products were presented and showcased during the South Pacific Tourism Exchange (SPTE) 2016 which was held at Australia’s iconic Sea World Resort Convention Centre on the Gold Coast from the 20-21 May 2016.
“SPTE 2016 is the only regional tourism exchange where tourism sellers, accommodation providers, the private sector and hotels from the South Pacific will come together to do business with international buyers.”
Tomifa Paea, the chairman of the Tonga Tourism Authority board and Director of SPTO Board said the exposure the kingdom received during the event will see more international visitors travelling to the Friendly Islands.
“As the chairman of Tonga Tourism Authority, [I] was very happy with private sectors attending from Tonga to promote Tonga under their own expenses,” Paea said.
He said the Real Tonga Airline made some good deals during the annual event in an attempt to sell their domestic flight services and to bring more people to Tonga.
He said Real Tonga agent Tele Faletau “believed the SPTE will become the main travel expo to promote Tonga and the South Pacific in the future”.
