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Sea search in Haʻapai for boat, one baby, 2 women, 5 children and 3 men aboard

By
Kalino Latu
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A sea search is carried out in Tonga for a boat, one baby girl, four boys, two women, and three men aboard after they failed to arrive at Fonoifua, Haʻapai at around 2am last night.

The 40ft fishing boat was powered by a 75hp outboard engine and it carried the 11 passengers from Nuku’alofa yesterday afternoon, Monday 27 June.

Deputy Police Commissioner Pelenatita Feʻao said the New Zealand P3 Orion aircraft joined the search this afternoon at 2pm.

She said they suspected the missing boat could have suffered mechanical failure.

Police search boat, the ʻAlotolu,  HMAF VOEA Pangai which is currently in Haʻapai taking government officers for the town and district officers election tomorrow and a local boat from Fonoifua were assisting the search since the missing boat was reported this morning.

Feʻao said it was reported from Fonoifua that the missing boat was last seen by another boat bound for the island last night saying the boat overtook them on the way.

Wife of Tongan victim could not attend services, but funeral unites parents

By
Kalino Latu
-

The funeral service for Taʻelata Mōleni, the father of 10 children who died in Mt Wellington last week will be held in Auckland today.

He will be buried tomorrow.

Three of his children with his wife will arrive in Auckland tonight (Tuesday, June 28).

He had six children with his wife.

His partner and their four children arrived in Auckland from Tonga on Saturday (June 25).

Taʻelata’s parents separated while he and his siblings were still young and they each married their new spouses, his brother Talāsinga Mōleni said.

Speaking from Tonga, Talāsinga said his parents contacted each other to discuss arrangements for their son’s funeral.

Taʻelata visited Auckland in the past two months to see his father, who he had not seen for a decade.

Talāsinga and his family will accompany Taʻelata’s three children and his wife to Auckland.

The dead man, who was 42, was involved in an altercation with four young men in the early hours of June 18.

He was walking home from a kava fundraising arranged by the Tongan kava drinkers in the area to raise money for him.

He had been due to leave for Tonga on June 21.

A 21-year-old man and a 16-year-old male appeared in court on Monday 20 charged with assault.

Both were from Otahuhu.

Police said further charges are possible as they are still working to identify others involved in the attack.

The main points

  • The funeral service for Taʻelata Moleni, the father of 10 children who died in Mt Wellington last week will be held in Auckland today.
  • He will be buried tomorrow.
  • The dead man, who was 42, was involved in an altercation with four young men in the early hours of June 18.
  • A 21-year-old man and a 16-year-old male appeared in court on June 20 charged with assault.

For more information

Last picture, Mōleni may have been mistaken for gang member

Body of Mōleni to be buried in Auckland, two appear in court (Kaniva News)

Body of Mōleni to be buried in Auckland, two appear in court

 

 

 

Court imposes TP$9000 fine in counterfeit case

By
Philip Cass
-

A Chinese businessman has been fined TP$9000 for importing counterfeit goods into the kingdom.

And Tonga’s Supreme Court was told that counterfeiting was becoming more common.

It is believed to be the first case of its kind to be heard.

Xiao Long Fang pleaded guilty to the charge before the Hon. Justice Cato in the Supreme Court.

In his report on the case, the judge said Xiao had imported a large number of exercise books which purported to have been printed by Croxley Stationary Limited.

The cost of printing the real exercise books would be about TP$40,000. However, the books imported by Xiao were made much more cheaply in China.

“Potentially Croxley and other suppliers could have been very seriously  affected had the  defendant  succeeded  in  his  object,  but  Customs  seized the product  on  delivery  in Tongatapu  and  hence  the  defendant was not able to sell them,” Hon. Justice Cato said.

This kind of fraud could seriously harm retailers   who   bought goods through  legitimate  channels, he said.

The main points

  • A Chinese businessman has been fined TP$9000 for importing counterfeit goods into the kingdom.
  • And Tonga’s Supreme Court was told that counterfeiting was becoming more common.
  • It is believed to be the first case of its kind to be heard.
  • Xiao Long Fang pleaded guilty to the charge before the Hon. Justice Cato in the Supreme Court.

Neiafu competitions support government’s keep Tonga clean policy

By
Kalino Latu
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The Neiafu Cleanest Competitions will be held in Vavaʻu next month to support the government’s policy to keep the country clean and beautiful.

Tomifā Paea, Chair of Tonga Tourism Authority, said the Prime Minister visited the islands recently and he told the Vavaʻuans “to keep Vavaʻu clean”.

“It is a beautification programme to support Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva and his message to Vava’u on his last visit”, Paea said.

A meeting held in Vavaʻu last week confirmed the competitions will begin on Monday 11 to Friday 15.

The meeting was attended by Mele Fīnau from the Ministry of Environment as well as a Japanese Peace Corps Volunteer.

The meeting was chaired by the Governor’s Secretary and attended by some of Neiafu’s town officers and district officers.

The competition items  will include inspection of churches, schools, villages, homes and tourism sites to see which is the cleanest.

The villagers were encouraged to grow ornamental gardens for the competition.

The winners will be awarded cash prizes of TP$300 for the first prizes and TP$200 and TP$100 for the second and third prizes.

Paea said he has offered to sponsor all the prizes.

Money falls from sky, late Baron Vaea first Tongan pilot remembered

By
Kalino Latu
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Thousands of dollars worth of two  and twenty paʻanga banknotes which were thrown from a plane during the 150 anniversary celebration of Tupou College was made to remember the college’s ex-students who worked in the aviation industry.

The Master of Ceremonies announced the event was organised to mark the first Tongan to become a pilot in New Zealand, Late Baron Vaea and another ex-student, Kelepi Tu’ipulotu who worked as a pilot in the United States and is currently employed by the Real Tonga Airline.

They are both ex-students of Tupou College.

Vaea, a former Prime Minister of Tonga, was also believed to be the first Pacific Islander to enlist with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, operating No 6 Squadron Catalina planes in the Pacific during the Second World War.

Tuʻipulotu went to Tupou College from 1981 to 1987.

The Tongan paʻanga notes were carried by the winds and scattered through the college’s compound for several minutes and some had ended up at the surrounding bushes and cattle farms.

The organisers of the event were Tupou College ex-students in the United States.

Representatives of the Tupou College alumni in New Zealand said many abandoned the marquees and tents they were in in order to get their hands on the notes blowing down the school.

READ MORE:

Preparations for 150th anniversary “brings the curtain down” on church and school rivalries

Land Court orders expulsion from land after judge rules against defendant’s claims

By
Philip Cass
-

The Land Court has ordered a defendant to vacate a block of land in Ma’ufanga known as  Kape within 30 days after dismissing his claim that he could not be removed.

In his judgement, the president of the Lands Court, Mr Justice Paulsen, said Peauafi Filimoehala had completely failed to prove his entitlement to remain on the land.

An earlier challenge to an eviction notice by Fotofili Filimoehala had been withdrawn after an agreement was reached with the land’s owner, Peni Toloa Filimoehala.

Peni Toloa Filimoehala launched an action to evict the first and second defendants and their respective families from the land and damages for loss of use of the  land since he obtained his registration in 2011 in the sum of $50,000 along with interest and  costs.

Mr Justice Paulsen said It had  been  established  in  a hearing ion 2015 that Peni Toloa Filimoehala  was lawfully registered as the holder of Kape.

The land was originally in the possession of Penisimani Filimoehala, who  applied for Kape as his town allotment. For reasons that are not clear Penisimani did not receive his deed of grant for Kape until  1982.

Penisimani Filimoehala married twice. His eldest son with his first  wife was Uatesoni Toloamoelama Filimoehala (Toloa). Toloa’s eldest legitimate son is Peni Toloa Filimoehala. When Penisimani died Kape was claimed by his second wife, Vasitai Filimoehala, as  her widow’s estate. Toloa predeceased Vasitai. When Vasitai died Kape was claimed by Peni Toloa as Penisimani’s heir. Kape was registered in his name in April  2011.      Peauafi Filimoehala is Penisimani’s  first  son  of  his second  marriage  to Vasitai.

Peauafi moved  off  the  land  and  left  Tonga   permanently   in  1982.    He moved  to  the  United  States  and  obtained  citizenship  there  and he  still  has  a  home  there.

The judge rejected claims that Penisimani had promised that Peauafi would not be removed from the land and a series of claims about who had originally owned the land and who was entitled to it.

In his ruling on the 2015 hearing, the judge described Peauafi as an unconvincing witness and evasive.

“His  evidence  was   largely founded  on  an  understanding  of  events  that  occurred  when  he  was very  young  and  of  which  he  could  not  in  my  view  have  any  accurate recollection,” Mr Justice Paulsen said.

“In important  respects what  he said  occurred,  including  in relation  to  the  circumstances  under  which  his  family  moved  to  Kape, was  implausible  and  inconsistent  with  the  conduct  of  the  parties  and contemporaneous  documents.

“He  took  positions  which  he  must  have known  were   plainly  wrong,  such  as  his  evidence  that   he  has  had possession of Kape for  63 years  when  in fact  he has lived in the  United States  since   1982.”

In his latest ruling the judge reconfirmed that Peauafi had no right to the land.

“Peni Toloa is entitled to possession of Kape and Peauafi had to vacate the land within  one month of the date of this ruling,” Mr Justice Paulsen said.

However, the judge did not order compensation to be paid because there was no evidence of financial loss.

The main points

  • The Land Court has ordered a defendant to vacate a block of land in Ma’ufanga known as Kape within 30 days after dismissing his claim that he could not be removed.
  • In his judgement, the president of the Lands Court, Mr Justice Paulsen, said Peauafi Filimoehala had completely failed to prove his entitlement to remain on the land.
  • Mr Justice Paulsen said It had been established  in  an earlier court case that Peni Toloa Filimoehala  was lawfully registered as the holder of Kape.
  • An earlier challenge to an eviction notice by Fotofili Filimoehala was withdrawn.

Tongaliuaki engages to his fiancée in Auckland

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongaliuaki Aleamotu’a is engaging to his  fiancée Maketalena ‘Akau’ola of Lapaha in New Zealand tomorrow Saturday 25.

Aleamotu’a was the rightful heir to the title Lord Fielakepa after his father died in 2007 but King Tupou VI conferred the title on his uncle Tongapo’uli Aleamotu’a.

TASANOC elections face legal challenge as anti-Pohiva candidates elected to committee

By
Philip Cass
-

Kaniva News has learned that TASANOC’s former acting president, ‘Ahongalu Fusimālohi, is considering legal action over last week’s elections of TASANOC officers.

Fusimālohi, interim CEO ‘Emeline Tuita and 10 other candidates were disqualified by the Elections Commission.

Kaniva News understands that:

  • Fusimālohi believes the elections were illegal because they were held outside the 30 day warning period mandated by the National Olympic Committee constitution.
  • The candidates who were not allowed to stand were disqualified on the grounds of conflict of interest. It is understood they wanted a review of the process.
  • Some candidates claimed the nomination forms were incomplete and did not contain all the criteria for the position.

Internal e-mails seen by Kaniva News shows that Fusimālohi tried to stop the election on June 16 and have it postponed until June 23.

Before the meeting he wrote to committee members saying that he had given members incorrect advice at the annual general meeting about when an electoral assembly could be held.

“I take full responsibility that I and the Secretary General have misled the AGM with the wrong advice.”

But a letter to the NOC from the International Olympic Committee seen by Kaniva News shows that while it was aware of the irregularities of the election process, it allowed the meeting to proceed because they had been approved by TASANOC’s annual general meeting.

The IOC, which has been at loggerheads with the government over Lord Sevele’s dismissal, confirmed that the meeting was being held without the 30 day notice required by the National Olympic Committee’s constitution.

However, the IOC said it appeared the date of the general assembly to vote for members had been approved at the NOC’s last general assembly.

Several committee wrote to the IOC expressing their concern at the early date of the meeting.

“We expect that all those involved in the meeting will act fairly and responsibly to avoid any unnecessary disputes and to make sure that, after years of unproductive conflict, the situation of the NOC can be normalised in the interest of the Olympic movement and the athletes of your country,” the IOC said.

Instead, what looks like open rebellion against Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has broken out in TASANOC, with the election of Lord Sevele and Viola Ulakai.

Lord Sevele, was dismissed by the government from his position as head of the kingdom’s Olympic committee over alleged failings and delays in preparation for the Pacific Games which Tonga is hosting in 2019.

Ulakai was stood down from her job as head of news at the Tongan Broadcasting Commission after infuriating the Prime Minister during an interview.

Also elected, as chair of the committee, was William Edwards, who is believed to have been associated with Lord Sevele’s legal action against his dismissal.

The election meeting was attended by IOC observer Vihdya Lahkan, who has been regarded as supporting Lord Sevele in his dispute with the government.

Earlier this year Lahkan threatened the Prime Minister that the kingdom could lose the Games.

The main points

  • Kaniva News has learned that TASANOC’s former acting president, ‘Ahongalu Fusimālohi, is considering legal action over last week’s elections of TASANOC officers.
  • Fusimālohi believes the elections were illegal because they were held outside the 30 day warning period mandated by the National Olympic Committee constitution.
  • Internal e-mails seen by Kaniva News shows that Fusimaholi tried to stop the election on June 16 and have it postponed until June 23.
  • Lord Sevele and Viola Ulakai, who have publicly cashed with Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva, were elected.

For more information

Pacific Games Council’s warning to PM latest twist in troubled preparations for tournament

TASANOC proposes compromise to end deadlock over removal of Lord Sevele

Dr Halafihi new fisheries department CEO

By
Alpha Latu
-

Tonga’s Fisheries Department has appointed Dr Tu’ikolongahau Halafihi as its new Chief Executive Officer.

He is employed for a period of three years with effect from June 17, 2016.

Dr. Halafihi holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology (2015) from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand and a Master of Science in Chemistry (2008), Postgraduate Diploma in Chemistry (2002) and a Bachelor of Science (1995) – all from the University of the South Pacific, Fiji.

He began serving the Tongan government on July 11,  1995 as an Assistant Teacher (Graduate) at Ministry of Education.

Dr T
Dr Tu’ikolongahau Halafihi

Dr. Halafihi then moved and became a Senior Fisheries Officer in the Ministry of Fisheries in 2005.

Since then, he took up  a number of  senior positions within the Fisheries Department including becoming  the Manager of the Tu’imatamoana Fish Market, Principal Fisheries Officer, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Acting CEO for Fisheries.

The Public Service Commission welcomes Dr. Tu’ikolongahau Halafihi’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer for the Fisheries Department and wishes him all the best in his professional careers.

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

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Maori trust from New Zealand has secured rights to operate and control the Tonga Forest Products Limited for at least 50 years.

The new company will be known as Aotearoa-Tonga Forest Products Limited.

It will take control of the ‘Eua Forest Reserve, Vaitaki Sawmilling Site and Mataliku Forest Plant.

The Tongan government said “the Trust has agreed to pay TOP $9,737,795.00 in return for the control and management of the company for 50 years, with the option to renew for a further 25 years”.

“At the end of the term of the agreement, the Trust will return the assets and business to the Government, together with any new improvements or additional assets and businesses that the Trust has established during the term of the Agreement.

This was the first time the trust invested in the Pacific it said.

The Trust will conduct replanting scheme at  ‘Eua Forest Reserve in the first 10 years.

Hon Poasi Tei/Photo (Facebook)
Hon Poasi Tei/Photo (Facebook)

The current employees at the Tongan company will still be employed by the Trust and for those who wanted to leave will be offered severance packages.

“The Chief Executive Officer of Tonga Forest Products limited was excited about the potential growth of the company under the management of the Trust, and in particular the expertise which the Trust brings in the forestry industry.  He saw the Agreement as an opportunity for employees in Tonga Forest Products Limited to learn from their New Zealand counterparts, and to build local capacity for the future.

The Board of Directors of Tonga Forest Products Limited are fully supportive of the Agreement between the Government of Tonga and the Trust.

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