The Wallabies former number eight Toutai Kefu is ‘highly likely’ Tonga’s new rugby union head coach, a reliable source who wished not to be identified told Kaniva News this evening.
We undertand the selection of Kefu was confirmed in a Tonga Rugby Union meeting this evening.
It is understood TRU and Kefu are in the final stage of their negotiation before signing the contract.
In 2011 Kefu was Tonga’s assistant coach in preparation for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Kefu is Tongan and he has won 60 caps playing at number eight for the Australian rugby union side.
A Tongan science student has been awarded one of Massey University’s top honours.
Siaosi Koloamatangi was named a Massey Scholar when he graduated in Auckland last week with a Bachelor of Science.
The title ‘Massey Scholar’ is awarded only to the top 5% of students and provides funding for further study.
Siaosi says science wasn’t his first love. “At school I was into english and history but everyone in my family is into that so I decided to try something different in my final year and switch to science. It was hard at first put I’ve really grown to enjoy it.” Going to University was always on the cards for Siaosi whose father is well known academic Associate Professor Malakai Koloamatangi, Pasifika Director at Massey. “Mum and Dad didn’t pressure me but they did encourage me to create my own pathway.”
After high school at St Thomas of Canterbury College in Christchurch, Siaosi started his Bachelor of Science at Canterbury University, but switched to Massey University after moving to Auckland.
The change in University also led him to move from biochemistry to genetics, a field he’s now thriving in.
Very few of his fellow students are Pasifika or Māori and that’s something he’d like to see change. He helps tutor at homework centres in South Auckland where he encourages students to try science. “I think there are misconceptions about science. Kids think it’s too hard without really knowing much about it.” Siaosi also believes some Pasifika people may worry that science conflicts with their religious beliefs. “I think it can strengthen your faith especially when you see there are still things that can’t be explained by science”.
Siaosi is continuing his studies with an honours year at Massey University where he’s looking into specific proteins that could be useful in cancer research a field he hopes to continue to work in.
Apparently stung by media criticism of his part in the suspension of Tonga Broadcasting Commission journalist Viola Ulakai, Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s office said today his action was not an attack on media freedom.
In a statement released this afternoon, the Prime Minister’s office said media operators inside the kingdom and abroad had levelled ill-informed criticism at Hon. Pohiva for expressing his disappointment at Mrs Ulakai’s claim that she was asking for a press conference on behalf of the Tonga Media Council.
“The TMC has denied Mrs Ulakai’s claims, noting serious misconduct and breach of the ethical code of basic journalism,” the Prime Minister’s office said.
It said the Media Council had confirmed that the Tonga Broadcasting Commission was not a financial member of the TMC, and therefore Mrs Ulakai’s claim that she was a Director of the TMC is false.
“It is a universally accepted principle that journalists must not obtain or seek to obtain information through misrepresentation or subterfuge,” the statement from the office said.
“Deception in journalism is unprofessional and morally wrong.”
It is believed Mrs Ulakai’s suspension followed a recommendation to the board by the Minister of Public Enterprises, Hon. Poasi Tei, who in turn was acting on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
Earlier this month Hon. Pohiva said he suspected Ulakai of acting as a mouthpiece for his political opponents.
It is understood the government believes Ulakai’s style of interview and requests for press conferences were aimed at discrediting the government and not producing fair and impartial news reports.
However, yesterday Mrs Ulakai told Radio New Zealand International that she had not been suspended and that she remained a Radio Tonga and Television manager.
She continued to claim that she was acting as a member of the Media Council.
“I haven’t done anything wrong. Everything that I did was in the law and also according to our policy,” she told RNZI.
Criticism of the Prime Minister has come from across the Pacific.
The Samoan Observer quoted veteran local journalist Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia as saying Hon. Pohiva’s actions were surprising given that the Prime Minister had once been jailed for leaking information to the media.
Tongan publisher Kalafi Moala took the same line, declaring that Hon. Pohiva had breached media freedom.
However, not all Tongan media have been so critical of Hon. Pohiva’s actions.
Kaniva News has argued that many people will see the TBC and Mrs Ulakai as having politicised their jobs and these are serious matters that need to be dealt with. We have argued that the TBC needs to recognise and deal with the often very negative public perceptions of bias in its news and current affairs reporting.
The Nuku’alofa Times said the Tongan media needs to shape up and be on par with the rest of the media in the region and the world at large.
“What transpired between the Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva and long-time Tonga Broadcasting Commission journalist Viola Ulakai must be a lesson for everyone in the media industry in Tonga,” an opinion piece written by Ileisi Tora said.
“The Tongan media needs to shape up and practise to be fair, factual and balanced.”
The main points
Apparently stung by media criticism of his part in the suspension of Tonga Broadcasting Commission journalist Viola Ulakai, Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s office said today his action was not an attack on media freedom.
The Prime Minister’s office said media operators inside the kingdom and abroad had levelled ill-informed criticism at Hon. Pohiva for expressing his disappointment at Mrs Ulakai’s claim that she was asking for a press conference on behalf of the Tonga Media Council.
“The TMC has denied Mrs Ulakai’s claims, noting serious misconduct and breach of the ethical code of basic journalism,” the Prime Minister’s office said.
“It is a universally accepted principle that journalists must not obtain or seek to obtain information through misrepresentation or subterfuge,” the statement from the office said.
Mele Lokalesia Fifita hated dancing when she was growing up, but it has helped put her through university and now she is performing as part of the Living Legends show that opens in Auckland tonight.
Fifita, whose mother comes from Matahau and whose father is from Kolovai and Fo’ui, grew up in California.
Her mother lived in Auckland for a while before her family moved her to Long Beach, California. Her grandmother was raising her children on her own and the move was for a better life.
She is a Communications major specialising in public relations at Brigham Young University in Utah.
It is the third time the 20 year-old has been in New Zealand.
“I love New Zealand,” Fifita said.
“It’s nice to be surrounded by Polynesians. It’s nice to be able to see family and also the land, it’s so beautiful.
“California’s full of buildings and dirt but the land here is green and very beautiful.”
Fifita has been back to Tonga for the past three years and her brother served in the kingdom as a Mormon missionary.
Mele Lokalesia Fifita. Photo/Kaniva News
Being part of Living Legends has made her appreciate her culture.
“Growing up I hated dancing and every family function my Mom would make me do a ta’uolunga and I never really appreciated it until I joined the group,” she said.
By joining this group, she had been able to show people the importance of the grace and beauty of the ta’uolunga.
“It’s just nice to share my culture and have the rest of the world appreciate our grace and beauty more,” she said.
“I love my culture and I hope that our people take pride in it and use it as motivation to continue doing their best in life.”
But the dancing has also become a second life for her.
“People ask me to tau’olunga and that’s how I pay for my books,” she said.
“It’s funny, people don’t think you can do anything but I’ve been paying for my schooling by doing a tauʻolunga.”
Living Legends opens in Auckland tonight
Living Legends, a performance of Polynesian, indigenous American and Latin American dance opens a two night run in Auckland tonight.
Featuring students from Brigham Young University in Utah, Living Legends will be held at Holy Trinity cathedral in Parnell tonight (April 28) at 7pm and at the BNZ theatre at 7pm at the Vodafone Events centre tomorrow night (April 29).
“Each year, hundreds of BYU students audition for the opportunity to pay tribute to their ancestors through music and dancing,” a statement from the promoters said.
“The audition process is competitive, accepting only the best singers and dancers, but all Living Legends members are of Native American, Latin American, or Polynesian heritage.
“This year’s Living Legends performance reflects the cycle of civilizations through the portrayal of changing seasons and weaves together legends of the past with the reality of today.”
Last year the show toured British Columbia in Canada, Alaska and New Mexico. It previously toured Guatemala and Nicaragua.
Apart from New Zealand, this year Living Legends will also tour Samoa and Tonga.
Living Legends originates in the Department of Dance, College of Fine Arts and Communications, at Brigham Young University, which is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
The main points
Mele Lokalesia Fifita hated dancing when she was growing up, but it has helped put her through university and now she is performing as part of the Living Legends show that opens in Auckland tonight.
Living Legends is a performance of Polynesian, indigenous American and Latin American dance featuring students from Brigham Young University in Utah.
“Growing up I hated dancing and every family function my Mom would make me do a ta’uolunga and I never really appreciated it until I joined the group,” Fifita said.
Fifita, whose mother comes from Matahau and whose father is from Kolovai and Fo’ui, grew up in California.
Two flats at ‘Apifoʻou College were not burnt to the ground but the interiors were completely gutted after the building was engulfed in flames on Wednesday afternoon.
It is understood the teachers at the school were at Teufaiva Park to attend the four-day intercollegiate atheletic competition which began yesterday.
No report of injuries and the cause of the fire is still unknown.
Tonga Airport Ltd (TAL) celebrated yesterday to mark siginicant improvements it has reached while expanding and upgrading the kingdom’s airport services.
Air New Zealand began flying its Boeing 777-300 between Tonga and Auckland early this month, the largest aircraft to service the Friendly Islands internationally.
The international flight was reopened at Vava’u International Airport with the arrival of Fiji Airways two weeks ago.
There were new developments in the airport’s navigation facilities and services the company said were major occasions in its history of services.
Named as the “Air Transport Development Tribute”, the marking ceremony “included a site tour of the upgraded runway and the new fire station at Fua’amotu International airport”.
“Continuous upgrading of the airports offers improved customer facilities while ensuring full compliance with all international regulations. In doing so, we aim to encourage increased passenger traffic and aircraft movements and contribute to the growth and development of the nation”, a statement from the company said.
The celebration was attended by Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva.
A Tongan student who won the secondary school essay competition to mark a World War 1 100th anniversary  will attend the memorial event in France in September.
Miss Anna Jane Vea was announced the winner on ANZAC Day and she will “join a New Zealand delegation comprising winners from Niue, Samoa and Cook Islands in France…”.
The essay competition for the Tongan students was run by the New Zealand High Commission in Tonga to mark 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme in the First World War.
‘Ana Jane Vea. Photo/Supplied
The competitors were encouraged “to develop a greater understanding of the impact of the First World War on both Tonga and New Zealandâ€.
A statement from the New Zealand High Commission said: “Miss Vea’s winning essay spoke about what the sacrifices made by Tongan and Allied troops in the First World War and what it meant to her. Aimed at preserving the World War I legacy in Tonga, the competition has increased understanding among youth of the Pacific contribution to the war effort and to their sense of identity todayâ€.
“New Zealand High Commissioner Sarah Walsh announced the winners of the essay competition on ANZAC Day. Stephaney Lakai of Vava’u won second place, and Sailosi Bloomfield and Malia Ekuasi received prizes for their highly commended entries.
“The competition has demonstrated the writing talents of Tonga’s young people and provided an opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of the important contribution made during World War I by Tongan soldiers and other Pacific Islanders,†said New Zealand High Commissioner Sarah Walsh.
Prayer, determination and five years of picking berries led young Tongan barrister Eleanor Manu to graduate from the University of Waikato earlier this month and to be admitted to the High Court of New Zealand.
Lawyer Eleanor Manu
Manu graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a BA in Social Science, majoring in Political Science.
Elleanor began by studying Health Sciences at Auckland University, but did not do well in her first year.
However, she had passed a law paper and after praying, decided this was what she was meant to do.
She decided to enrol in law, but because she had done badly in her Health Science course, she was not eligible for any financial support and was faced with having to find $6000 for her first year’s fees.
After a lot of thought and prayer, she suggested to her parents that she could raise the money by going fruit picking.
Her mother Nanuma was hesitant because this was what she and her husband Vili had done when they first came to New Zealand and she remembered how back breaking the work was.
However, she found her daughter a place on a strawberry farm in Morrinsville, Hamilton.
The whole family joined her and spent three months picking.
“We started with strawberries for the first month, crawling from 4am to 4pm,” Nanuma said.
“As much as I didn’t want my daughter going through the agony of what I worked for when I first came to New Zealand, I was encouraged by her motivation and determination to strive for success.
“For three long months picking and packing strawberries, we finally managed to make enough to fund Noa’s first year of her Law degree and also were able to pay for my other five children’s educational studies.
In 2010 Elleanor enrolled in her first year of law at Auckland University. Later she decided to transfer from Auckland University to Waikato University’s Law School as a means to keep funding her studies through berry picking.
Nanuma said that for five years the family used berry picking as the main income to fund Elleanor’s education and that of her five younger children.
“We have done this as a family annually and it has been a blessing in disguise for me seeing the hand of God move in our life.
“The last and final picking season was just before Elleanor’s admission to the High Courts.
“I think it’s safe to say that Noa finally achieved what she set out to do and we can only hope that she will leave a long lasting impression that God is a God of possibility.”
Dr Mo’ale ‘Otunuku, who advised the family on Elleanor’s studies, said her success was the result of talking to her parents about her ambitions and their support for her.
“Students should get assistance from parents in the same way they get assistance from teachers,” Dr ‘Otunuku said.
“The parents must know their responsibility and do the best they can do to assist their children’s studies.
“The children should agree with their parents of what field of education they should pursue and make sure it is within the child’s capability.
“Some parents want their children to become a lawyer, but the children do not have any interest in law.
“Sometimes children choose their subjects just because their peers are doing them, but these courses are beyond their capabilities.”
The main points
Prayer, determination and five years of picking berries led young Tongan barrister Elleanor Manu to graduate from the University of Waikato earlier this month and to be admitted to the High Court of New Zealand.
Manu graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a BA in Social Science, majoring in Political Science.
Because she had failed her earlier course in Health Science she had to fund her law studies and with the help of her family, paid her way through university by picking berries.
The last and final picking season was just before her admission to the High Court.
The Tongan Supreme Court has turned down an application for legal guardianship of a child by a Tongan family living in New Zealand.
In his ruling Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said that his overriding concern when considering the application was whether transferring guardianship was in the child’s best interests.
However, he said he had to consider whether or not the child would be better off if she was taken from Tonga to New Zealand, as the prospective guardians believed.
The applicants were relatives of the child’s natural parents and the Lord Chief Justice said he recognised that they genuinely loved the child.
The couple making the application did not have children of their own.
There was no evidence that the child would be allowed by New Zealand Immigration to travel and live in New Zealand on the strength of a Legal Guardianship Order.
The couple who applied for guardianship said they would apply to formally adopt the child under New Zealand law if granted guardianship.
“The applicants make this application for a Legal Guardianship Order as they have been unable to have a child of their own and wish to raise the child in New Zealand where they believe she will have greater educational opportunities and ultimately a better life,” Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said.
“They say in addition that if she grows up in New Zealand she will in time be able to provide financially for her family here in Tonga.”
In his ruling the Judge said the Court of Appeal had stated plainly that where the granting of Letters of Adoption would remove a child from Tonga, such an order should only be issued where all other means of caring for a child in Tonga have been exhausted.
The Supreme Court had applied the same principle to applications for the grant of Legal Guardianship Orders.
“On the evidence presented to me, there are perfectly suitable means to care for the child here in Tonga with her own family and I am of the clear view that that it would not be in the child’s best interests to make the Legal Guardianship Order,” Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said.
“The child has lived with her natural parents and four older siblings for the entirety of her life and shares a close relationships with all her brothers and sisters.”
He said he believed the child would experience significant dislocation if she were to move to New Zealand with the applicants, particularly in terms of language and schooling, and without the strong familial connections that she has with her parents and siblings to support her.
The Judge said he said he was not satisfied the child would do better being raised by the applicants than with her family here in Tonga. The child had lived with her natural parents and four siblings for the entirety of her life and had clearly been suitably cared for.
“It appears to me that her family circumstances are better than are enjoyed by many in Tonga,” the judge said.
“It is clear in my view that the child’s best interests are served by remaining in Tonga with her family.”
The main points
The Tongan Supreme Court has turned down an application for legal guardianship of a child by a Tongan family living in New Zealand.
In his ruling, Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said that his overriding concern when considering the application was whether transferring guardianship was in the child’s best interests.
However, he said he had to consider whether or not the child would be better off if she was taken from Tonga to New Zealand.
He said the applicants loved the child, but it would be in her best interests if she stayed in Tonga.
