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Australian Volunteers urged to learn Tongan culture and history

By
Kaniva Staff
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Four Australian Volunteers arrived in Tonga last week had been urged to learn more about Tongan culture and history.

The volunteers will work at some of the government’s public services including Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forestry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Justice, Tonga Netball Association and Ministry of Revenue and Customs for six to twelve months.

They were part of the  Australian Volunteers  International Development (AVID) program, an Australian Government initiative funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which provides an opportunity for Australians to contribute to the development of Tonga.

The volunteers met with the Australian High Commissioner, His Excellency Andrew Ford.

“I’m delighted to welcome these exemplary Australians to Tonga,” HE Andrew Ford said. “I also strongly encourage them to make the most of the opportunity to learn more about the culture and history of one of our closest neighbours.”

The volunteers were taking induction program before commencing their assignments later this month.

Traditional medicine practitioner charged with rape and sexual touching

By
Kaniva Staff
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A traditional medicine practitioner from Fāhefa was arrested and charged with rape and sexual touching it has been reported today. He appeared in court last Friday.

Tonga Police said the complainant was a 30-year-old woman from Pahu who sought medical assistance from the male practitioner.

Police said the accused sexually assaulted the victim in a gardening allotment.

The accused provided traditional medicine treatments to a number of Tongans, Nukuʻalofa Central Police Superintendent Tēvita Fifita told Radio Tonga news.

He said Police have not received any further complaints from the public since the accused was arrested.

Police have yet to obtain the man’s personal records including whether he was married or not, Fifita said.

The accused  remained in police custody and he appeared in court last Friday 26. He was then bailed out to reappear in court next week.

Police investigation continues.

Tonga navy boat arrives in Fiji with relief supplies

By
Kaniva Staff
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His Majesty’s Armed Forces’ petrol boat VOEA Pangai has arrived in Fiji with relief supplies from Tonga after Cyclone Winston ripped through the South Pacific country last month, Fiji Sun said.

The VOEA was about to unload 200 tents, 1500 litres of drinking water, six tonnes of flour, four tonnes of rice, two tonnes of sugar and a desalination machine in Vanuabalavu in Lau Group today.

Meanwhile Fiji government said some schools opened this week while officials were working closely with the Education Ministry to put in place plans to get all students back into classrooms.

One report said 134 schools have been destroyed, severely damaged or are being used as evacuation centres. The death toll remains at 43.

According to United Nations Children’s Fund tens of thousands of people in Fiji are living in evacuation centres.

“There are still some pieces of the picture missing but we do know that approximately 7.2% (62,400) of Fiji’s population are in 875 evacuation centres, with many staying with relatives or in other places away from home,” Unicef New Zealand’s executive director, Vivien Maidaborn, said in a statement.

Tonga becomes member of ILO

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga has become the 187th member state of the International Labour Organization (ILO) effective from February 24, 2016.

ILO said it received a letter from the Kingdom saying it “formally accepts the obligations of the Constitution of the ILO”.

Tonga is the eighth Pacific island nation to join the Organization in the past 15 years.

“The ILO was founded in 1919 and is a tripartite structured Organization which gives equal voice to workers, employers and government, to ensure that the views of the social partners are closely reflected in labour standards and in shaping policies and programmes”, a statement from Tonga government said.

It said Tonga now is in the process of consultation with its key stakeholders before ratifying the convention.

“By becoming a member of the ILO, Tonga is indicating its commitment to decent work principles and the progressive realization of international labour standards.  Through this work agenda, Tonga commits to encouraging decent employment opportunities, enhancing social protection and strengthening dialogue on work-related issues”.

First ever Tongan taekwondo athlete qualifies for the Rio Olympics

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Kingdom of Tonga will be represented at the Rio Olympic in August by Pita Nikolas Taufatofua who has become the first Tongan taekwondo athlete to be qualified after he won a gold medal in the Taekwondo Oceania Olympic Qualification Tournament.

The 33-year-old’s golden achievement was the largest upset during last month’s  Oceania qualifier tournament in Port Moresby on Saturday 27 at the final of the men’s +80kg where he defeated New Zealand’s Dafydd Sanders in the finals.

Taufatofua’s success was welcomed by friends and family on social media.

“amazing work Pita!!! Go hard!” wrote Shannon Small on Facebook.  

“Congrats bro!……Good job well done!…God is good!” Ilisapeti Milika Feleti Lono. 

 

“I can do all things through Him who gives me strength” Phillipians 4:13A lifetime of pain but it was worth every moment!! 󾌸󾌸We qualified to Rio I Am An Olympian!#DreamsDoComeTrue #TaekwondoTonga

Posted by Pita Taufatofua on Saturday, February 27, 2016

New committee to boost Vavaʻu tourism

By
Kaniva Staff
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A new committee known as Vavaʻu Cruise Boat Steering Committee has been elected to improve and encourage Vavaʻu tourism.

As the Fiji new air services are expected to give Vavaʻu tourism a substantial lift starting next month, the new steering committee has been given the duty of finding ways to increase the number of cruise ships coming to Vavaʻu.

Chairman of Tonga Tourism Authority Tomifa Paea said: “The Cruise Boat arrival into Vava’u has declined in the last 3 years as no such committee was in charge to make sure the Cruise Boat arrival is secure, safe, clean” and visitors are warmly welcomed.

He said Tonga Tourism Authority  (TTA) has planned that for the next two to three years any cruise ships coming to Tongatapu would have to call at Vavaʻu.

This year only eight cruise liners out of 19 scheduled for Nukuʻalofa would visit Neiafu.

VV!
Meeting to select Vavaʻu Cruise Boat Steering Committee. Photo/Supplied

Paea said he “was happy to see the energy and enthusiasm from the operator wanting to do something to help build tourism in Vava’u”.

“With the Fiji Airways new international flight route Nadi/Vava’u this opens up Vavaʻu  to the rest of the world”, he said.

The newly elected Vava’u Tourism Association Executive Officers:

1.  President –  Mr. Calvin  Schumaker ( Aquarium  Cafe )
2.  Vice  Pres. –  Ms. Amber  Bowe ( Mounu  Resort )
3.  Secretary  –  Mrs. Beth  Black  ( Mafana  Island  Beach  BPkers. )
4.  Treasurer  –  Mrs. Caryl  Jones ( Jones  Business  Services )

Other  members
1.  Mrs. Sandy  Cieslinski ( Vava’u  Adventures )
2.  Mrs. Vaasi  Kupu ( Hill-top  Hotel )
3.  Charles  ( South  Pacific  Sea  Adventures )
4.  Mrs. Tupou  Tua ( ‘Utulei  my  Tongan  home )
5.  Mrs. Brenda  Cox. ( Endangered  Encounters )
6.  Mrs.  Setima  Hanif ( C’scape  Adventures )
7.  Mr. Allan Morey ( Vava’u  Boat-yard )

Cowra festival showcases Tongan food and entertainments

By
Kaniva Staff
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Bookings are now available through telephone calls for those who would like to take part in celebrating the 2016 Festival of International Understanding in Cowra in which Tonga was chosen as the guest country.

The next week’s events give members of the New South Wales community the opportunity to taste Tongan food and enjoy Tongan entertainments.

Kaniva News has been reliably told Princess Angelika Tukuʻaho held a meeting with Tongans in NSW early this week as part of the preparation for the festival.

“To learn about this colourful island Kingdom, come to the Senior Citizens’ Centre in Railway Lane on Thursday, March 10 at 11am. A typical island welcome awaits you”, Cowra Guardian said.

Known as U3A it said it is “the world-first virtual U3A operating exclusively online” providing “short courses for older people who enjoy learning but prefer the freedom to study where and when they choose”.

Cowra is located at Central West region of New South Wales with a population of 9,730.

“The members of Cowra U3A are preparing their contributions to the 2016 Festival of International Understanding, the guest country this year being the Kingdom of Tonga”, the paper said.

UA3 has invited the public to join them and participate in “an Island feast at the same venue on Tuesday, March 15 at 12.30pm”.

“The cost is $12.50 per person and bookings are essential on 6342 2806 or 6341 1030 by Friday, March 11. The optional dress for the feast is grass skirt with lei – we might even be able to loan you one, but we will certainly have leis for you”.

Tonga Police call school brawls ‘absurd’, sports could be cancelled

By
Kaniva Staff
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Police in Tonga say school brawls that continued in Nuku’alofa last weekend were absurd and they could lead to cancellation of this year’s intercollegiate sports competition.

In the most recent violence, videos were uploaded to Facebook last week which show fighting between students wearing Tonga College and Liahona High School’s school uniforms while some did not.

Local media reports said Police tried in vain to stop a brawl between college students last weekend.

The Nuku’alofa Central Police Superindentend Tevita Fifita told Radio Tonga he could submit a report to the Police Minister and Police Commissioner to cancel this year’s sports if school students continued doing this ‘absurdity’.

A massage was also posted to Facebook last week claiming the brawls started by ex-students of the schools.

A Liahona student is seen in one of the videos led out from the brawl with his face almost covered with blood.

Another video shows a brawl took place in Nuku’alofa but this time the youth involved did not wear school uniforms.

In that video a group of youth attacked one male adult and a voice is heard saying the group from Liahona students was attacking a Tonga College student.

Tonga’s intercollegiate sports would be held early next month.

Posted by Kakalu O Tonga on Friday, February 26, 2016

Mele Hifo Fīnau loses battle to cancer, dies at 52

By
Kaniva Staff
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A prominent Tongan radio broadcaster and producer diagnosed with cancer has died at 52.

Mele Hifo Finau was the Chief Executive Producer and broadcaster at Vākē Tali Folau internet radio station based in the United States.

It is the first and largest internet radio for the Tongan international community.

Fīnau’s  family have announced her death on Facebook last night.

“On behalf of My mother and sisters as well as the husband Sione Tutulu Finau and their children, With the outmost pain in our heart I humbly inform relatives and friends of Mele Hifo Makahili Finau that the Good Lord have gain the most beautiful angel but a biggest loss for our family”, the message read.

“She sweetly left us on Tuesday night the 1st of March 2016 at 11:15pm to be with her Lord.

“We would like to express our deepest appreciation and gratitude for all your support, prayers and above all your Love during the most difficult time.

“Ofa lahi atu Ateli Vailahi, Sione Tualau Makahili and all my sisters from the house of Vake Tali Folau of Fasi mo e Afi o Tungi”.

READ MORE:

PM Pōhiva surprises cancer-stricken broadcaster by paying her a visit

Tourists dance with local entertainers in Tonga

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tourists arriving in Tonga last week from Australia and New Zealand apparently all enjoyed welcoming music and entertainments at Vuna wharf.

But Tongan music and dancing were exhilarating that they could draw some of the tourists to cheer and dance along with local entertainers.

Two groups of entertainer were performing  at the wharf as part of Tonga Tourism’s policy of welcoming and entertaining tourists who arrived in  Tonga. The groups were the  ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute and Royal Tonga Police Brass Band.

Two palangi women were spotted leaving the cruise ship and as they came close to the entertainers who were performing by the walkway they started dancing and showing off to other tourists how they can perform the hakas (hand movements).

The tourists were passengers of the Black Watch which arrived in Nuku’alofa at dawn on Saturday, February 24, 2016.

Unuaki
Talented entertainers from Unuaki o Tonga group. Photos/Courtesy of Akosita Lavulavu

The 28,613-tonne liner carries 820 passengers with 330 crew.

The Director of the ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute Akosita Lavulavu said some of the tourists told her the welcoming entertainments they received in Tonga were the best they came across in the Pacific.

Unuaki 2
Akosita Lavulavu (L) with girls from Unuaki ‘o Tonga entertainment group. Photo/Courtesy of Akosita Lavulavu

She said they “displayed” various Tongan attires including what Tongans formally wear on wedding and funeral as well as to church and hu louifi event.

Lavulavu said it was “the way we greet them and welcome them, they feel very welcome in the Kingdom”.

Unuaki 6

On February 27 the Pacific Pearl liner also arrived in Nuku’alofa after it rerouted to skip its scheduled ports in Fiji because of the widespread destruction caused by Cyclone Winston.

Unaki 1
Two of the tourists enjoyed the dancing and singing performed by the Unuaki ‘o Tonga entertainment group. Photo/Courtesy of Akosita Lavulavu
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