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Biblical text written to mark 40th anniversary of the appearance of mysterious cross at Pangai

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Biblical and theological analysis has been written to mark the 40th anniversary of the appearance of a mysterious cross at the Pangai, Ha’apai’s Free Wesleyan church compound on  October 26,1975.

The document, a Biblical and theological exegesis of Mystery (mysterium Deo) in presenting the Mystery Cross at Pangai, Ha’apai, was written by Rev Dr Mohenoa Puloka.

It was accompanied by a Langimana ‘o e Kolosi Ne Hā Fakamisiteli, a song for the mysterious cross that is said to have danced.

Rev Puloka told Kaniva News the Langimana ‘o e Kolosi Fakamisiteli was performed at the Royal Palace when they performed the fakatakatōfā – the song or faiva (group dance) performed to awake the king early in the morning – during the coronation celebrations in July.

According to Rev Puloka, on the day the cross appeared, the Minister in Charge of Young People and Evangelism Ministries, Rev Kalavite ‘Uhila, was on his way to the church for a preaching service at about 5am when he saw a bright light in the church grounds.

Rev ‘Uhila braved himself by walking straight toward the light, which he discerned  as a cross lying on the ground to the east of the church.

After the early service, Rev ‘Uhila revealed the existence of the mysterious cross to the senior pastor, Rev. Vili Fatai Koli, Rev. Haitini Fīnau, the Principal of Taufaʻāhau and Pilolevu College, and the congregation.

“They all went outside and confirmed the presence of the mystery cross,” Rev Puloka told Kaniva News.

“By then the light had gone out, but the outline of this mystery cross was permanently embedded on the ground and the grass turned deep yellowish green.”

The cross was 30 feet and eight inches (10 metres and 20 cm) long and 23 feet four inches (seven metres and 10 cm) along the crossbar. The long part of the cross was three feet and four inches (one  metre) wide.

It is understood the outline of the mysterious cross was later cemented to maintain its original shape.

Rev Dr Puloka said he believed: “The mystery cross is the only known and confirmed imprimatur cross delivered by angelic hosts from heaven.”

“The instance was quickly relayed to the President of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, the Rev. Dr. Sione ‘Amanaki Havea, at Nukuʻalofa.

“After confirming the existence of the cross, Rev. Dr. Havea duly informed his Majesty, King Taufaʻāhau Tupou IV. About a week later, His Majesty paid a visit to the mystery cross at Pangai, Haʻapai.”

After the king confirmed for himself the presence of the cross he held a brief press conference and said the mystery cross found its home at the hereditary home of King Taufaʻāhau Tupou I.

His Majesty said the magical cross appeared on the same ground where Taufaʻāhau knelt for baptism by the Rev. John Thomas on August 7, 1831.

”This cross is God’s confirmation of that 1839 covenant in which King Taufaʻāhau Tupou I offered the people and the land of Tonga to God: God and Tonga are my heritage,” Rev Dr Puloka said.

The main points

  • A Biblical and theological analysis is being written to mark the 40th anniversary of the appearance of a mysterious cross at the Pangai, Ha’apai’s Free Wesleyan church compound on October 26,1975.
  • The document was written by Rev Dr Mohenoa Puloka.
  • Rev Dr Puloka said he believed: “The mystery cross is the only known and confirmed imprimatur cross delivered by angelic hosts from heaven.”
  • His Majesty said the magical cross appeared on the same ground where King Taufa’ahau Tupou I knelt for baptism by the Rev. John Thomas on August 7, 1831.

Former Education Ministry CEO leads call to oust Hon. Pohiva as Education Minister

By
Kalino Latu
-

In picture: Emily Moala Pouvalu Former Ministry of Education CEO wanted Hon Akilisi Pohiva and Acting Minister of Education Hon. Lavulavu dismissed.

Former Ministry of Education CEO Emily Moala Pouvalu is trying to have Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva dismissed from his position as Education Minister.

Pouvalu launched the petition, which claims  Pohiva is no longer fit to lead the Ministry, after a meeting at the Basilica of St Anthony of Padua in Nuku’alofa on Monday.

The petition, which is also aimed at Acting Minister of Education, Hon. ‘Etuate Lavulavu, will be sent to the king.

Pouvalu and her supporters claimed Hon. Pohiva’s leadership had caused a lot of dissatisfaction among senior officials in the ministry.

They said they were also concerned the Acting Minister of Education, Hon. ‘Etuate Lavulavu, who is also the Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism, had damaged the Ministry during the time in the position.

However, in a story on a Tongan local radio station some high school directors were reported as still supporting Pohiva and Lavulavu in their roles in the ministry.

Pouvalu’s contract as CEO of the Ministry of Education ended in May 2015. The position was re-advertised until May 5 and interviewing of applicants began in June 3.

Pouvalu applied for the job and in August she appeared in the media, voicing her concerns about how the Tonga  Public Service Commission had not released the results.

Meanwhile, rumours had spread among the public about who had been given the post.

In an interview with Nepituno News outlet in August, she said she lost interest in the job when she heard the rumours.

She said she was more concerned at how the process of recruitment was followed and how confidential information about the interviewees was leaked.

Pouvalu said the recruitment procedure was unreliable.

She also denied allegations that she complained when she heard rumours that someone else has got the job. She said she only lodged a letter of inquiry on July 28 raising her concern about the delay in announcing the result of the interview.

She said soon after allegations began to circulate that she had  complained.  She said perhaps the person who spread the story did not know the difference between “complaint” and “inquiry.”

Pouvalu also talked about her concerns about the mark standardisation saga that triggered threats of legal action from the Prime Minister’s son after he was accused of having been involved in a computer software project that would see the system for the computerisation of the students’ marks be changed.

She said she was concerned the change from using the standardisation method to raw marks could lead to a situation overseas institutions would refuse to accept Tongan students’ marks.

Pouvalu said the decision to use raw marks was based on a vote by high school principals at a meeting in Nuku’alofa.

She said the decision should have been made by experts in the field.

The main points

  • Former Ministry of Education CEO Emily Moala Pouvalu is trying to have Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva dismissed from his position as Education Minister.
  • Pouvalu launched the petition, which claims Pohiva is no longer fit to lead the Ministry, after a meeting at the Basilica of Anthony Padua in Nuku’alofa on Monday.
  • The petition, which is also aimed at Acting Minister of Education, Hon. ‘Etuate Lavulavu, will be sent to the king.
  • Pouvalu and her supporters claimed Hon. Pohiva’s leadership had caused a lot of dissatisfaction among senior officials in the ministry.

Mr Apple claims Tongan employees face few problems, says most “working really well”

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Labour Manager of one of New Zealand’s largest fruit growing companies said last week Tongan seasonal workers employed by his company faced very few problems.

Mr Apple’s Labour Manager Alistair Jamieson told Kaniva News Tongans working under Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme visas at his Hawke’s Bay company earned good money and “most of them are working really well.”

The Tongan media has regularly reported on problems faced by seasonal workers.

In the past, mainstream media has also reported on problems, with  TVNZ current affairs show Close Up reporting on complaints by workers of poor accommodation.

When asked whether or not the social problems regularly raised on local Tongan media had been an issue with his Tongan workers, he said: “Not at all” and claimed that if there were any problems, they were very low level.

However, Jamieson, who was addressing a meeting in Auckland,  said he was aware of cases involving seasonal workers had been heard in court.

This had not affected the value of the work done by the other employees.

He said he had the power to send any workers home if they caused trouble.

Jamieson said the 350 Tongans employed by the company were hard working people and “physical men.”

He said the company’s Tongan workers were financially aware and knew how to calculate their pay and raise concerns if they were not satisfied.

He said the average wage was NZ$1200/TP$1766 a week, which came to NZ$800/TP$1177 after taxes.

Most of the money went to Tonga every week. He said he understood the workers’ families in the kingdom looked forward to receiving the money.

Jamieson was speaking to Tongan media in Auckland before flying to the kingdom to recruit more workers.

He said the regional workers visa scheme would remain open to Tongans and other Pacific islanders because New Zealand horticulture could not do without it. He said New Zealanders could not provide that many labourers needed by the horticultures.

According to the Mr Apple website, the company is the largest “vertically integrated apple grower, packer, shipper and exporter in New Zealand” and sells 97% of its apples on the international market.

“We control 25% of New Zealand’s total apple crop,” the website claims.

“One out of every four apples exported from NZ is exported by Mr Apple.”

Sefita Hao’uli, the RSE Tongan agent in Auckland, said they had 36 employers from Kerikeri to Christchurch who were working for growers producing lemons and oranges, strawberries, vegetables. Kiwifruit, apples, mixed fruit (pears, berries, and other pip fruit) and grapes (wine).

Most of their workers were employed in the apple sector doing the harvest and packhouse work, followed by kiwifruit and then the rest.

“Except for 2007 when we had only 600 workers, in the past eight years we have brought average of 1600 workers here each season,” Hao’uli said.

“About 75 percent of our workers each year are rehires, i.e they return to the same employer and the remaining 30 percent are people who are hired to replace those who have decided to opt out of the scheme or who have been replaced by the employer for one reason or another.

“We are required to distribute the opportunities for work throughout the kingdom and to those who do not have regular employment.”

Most of the workers are from Tongatapu and, in descending order, from Vava’u, Eua and then Haapai and a group of about 20 or so from the two Niuas.

The New Zealand government caps the number of RSE permits at 9000 for workers from the Pacific each season. Most are from Vanuatu, then Tonga (around 1800 or so this season) and then Samoa and smaller numbers from other island nations.

The main points

  • The Labour Manager of one of New Zealand’s largest fruit growing companies said last week Tongan seasonal workers employed by his company faced very few problems.
  • Mr Apple’s Labour Manager told Kaniva News Tongans working under Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme visas at his Hawke’s Bay company earned good money and “most of them are working really well.”
  • The Tongan media has regularly reported on problems faced by seasonal workers.
  • Alistair Jamieson was speaking to Tongan media in Auckland before flying to the kingdom to recruit more workers.

Search called off for Niuatoputapu missing fishermen as rescuers find capsized boat

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The search for two Niuatoputapu missing fishermen has been called off after the discovery of their fishing boat, Tongan Police reported.

The fishermen, aged 58 and 48, were reported missing after they did not return to shore from a  fishing trip on Tuesday 6. .

Police said that HMAF’s petrol vessel Voea Savea reported the recovered boat was found capsized about 22kms off shore and there was no sign of the missing men.

Vavaʻu Police Superindentend Netane Falakiseni said reports on social media that the two men were found in Fiji yesterday were not true.

He said they have contacted Fiji Police to confirm the authenticity of reports that two fishermen from Tonga came to shore in the island of Taveuni and were taken to hospital and the response confirmed they were untrue.

Police called on the public and social media users to refrain from making false reports especially when it comes to sensitive cases like that of the missing fishermen.

“Best paid ever” ‘Ikale Tahi failed to perform as expected, rugby boss says after three losses

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga Rugby Union Chair ‘Epeli Taione said he took full responsibility for the ‘Ikale Tahi team’s failure to perform at this year’s Rugby World Cup.

Taione said the team had failed to perform to expectations  and this would continue to affect him and the TRU for a long time.

His comments came after a string of defeats suffered by the Tongan team.

He said this was by far the best prepared and paid team Tonga had ever fielded, but their  performance was not good enough.

He apologised to the nation and said he could not accept the situation. He said the team’s failure was unacceptable.

Taione made the comments after Tonga lost to Georgia, Argentina and before the team lost again to New Zealand. The losses caused great disappointment in the kingdom and triggered strong criticisms from many of the Tongan ‘Ikale Tahi supporters.

Tongan die hard supporters found the loss to Georgia the most tragic experience as they thought it should have been a no-brainer, given the outcome of the last match between the two countries in November 2014 when Georgia was defeated.

Many of the team’s supporters pointed fingers at the coach and the TRU. Some claimed  the team’s members were too old to play, an accusation that was also made about the South African team after its defeat by Japan.

Tonga pulled out of this year’s Rugby World Cup  after its team  lost to Georgia by 17 – 10,  Argentina 45-6 and  to the mighty All Blacks by 47-9 . Georgia has now qualified for the 2019 World Cup.

Many ‘Ikale Tahi supporters still regard the national team as their number one and said the boys did their best, even if they lost.

After the weekend’s loss to the All Blacks the Tongan supporters took to Facebook to show their appreciation and gratitude to the team.

Jenny Latu Salesa, the Tongan New Zealand Member of Parliament, wrote: “[We] are also die hard All Blacks supporters, however when they play against Tonga, we will support Tonga first, ABs are the world champs and they should have displayed more on the field today against a much lower ranked team. Overall, Tonga played really well against the ABs and I’m proud of their performance.”

“Well Tonga is still having floats and marching in the streets after their last game. We are proud of our boys and proud how they represented the country on the field!”, Josephine Latu Sanft wrote.

“Great game Tonga, awesome supporters, and in depth post match analysis.” another commentator wrote.

“Still proud of you Tonga,” John Nicholas Pulu wrote.

In a strongly worded message received by Kaniva News through Facebook Taione said: “This is not how we want to end the [competition], we are quite gutted and it will haunt [us] for a long time. I want to say thank you to everyone for their love and support. I took full responsibility for the team performance, thanks to the team and management but most importantly our fans. Ofa atu.

“We have no excuses, this is by far best prepared and paid team ever. Not good enough and we have to be brutally honest as a Board and management about performances. A full enquiry to be followed, and tough question will be asked. We cannot accept mediocre, and our performance is a big failure and it is unacceptable. Am sorry.”

The main points

  • Tonga Rugby Union Chair ‘Epeli Taione said today he took full responsibility for the ‘Ikale Tahi team’s failure to perform at this year’s Rugby Wold Cup.
  • Taione said the team had failed to perform to expectations and this would continue to affect him and the TRU for a long time.
  • His comments came after a string of defeats suffered by the Tongan team.
  • He said there would be a full enquiry into the team’s performance.

Young couple wed in Vaiola Hospital despite groom’s leg injuries leaving him bedridden

By
Kalino Latu
-

A young couple married in Vaiola Hospital yesterday despite the groom being hospitalised and confined to bed after surviving a car accident that almost cost his life.

Hospital staff member Sharon Fiu told Kaniva News they were the first people to be married in the hospital’s chapel.

She said it was the first time a patient had been married while still hospitalised.

“May God bless this new family and heal the groom soon,” Fiu wrote on Facebook.

A person close to the family with whom groom was staying, whom we have chosen not to name for cultural reasons, said the groom was Tavake ʻO Vailahi Losiki and the bride was Lavinia Vaitohi.

Losiki was from Haʻalaufuli, Vavaʻu, but was staying with his relatives at the Niuvākai residence in Pea.

She said the groom’s legs were dislocated during the accident and he was bedridden.

The woman said the wedding was planned for this week with the practice of fakalelea (bridegroom’s family visiting the bride’s house on the night before the wedding) to be held on Wednesday, but the groom had the accident on Tuesday.

She said Vaitohi was from Australia and she was befriended by the groom when he was employed there as a seasonal worker.

Photos from the wedding were uploaded to Facebook yesterday and have gone viral.

Many commentators said the wedding reflected true love between the couple.

Some said they felt like crying when they looked at the photos and read about the wedding knowing the future of the groom’s injuries were uncertain.

“What a loving woman,” one commentator wrote.

Unconfirmed reports said Losiki was driving a van when it was involved in a collision with a bus on Tuesday morning at Pea near the house where he was staying.

It is understood eight passengers of the bus were injured, including the bus driver.

The main points

  • A young couple married in Vaiola Hospital yesterday despite the groom being hospitalised and confined to bed after surviving a vehicle accident that almost cost his life.
  • Hospital staff member Sharon Fiu told Kaniva News they were the first people to be married in the hospital’s chapel.
  • The groom has been identified as Tavake ʻO Vailahi Losiki and the bride as Lavinia Vaitohi.
  • She said Vaitohi was from Australia and she was befriended by the groom when he was employed there as a seasonal worker.
  • The couple met in Australia while Losiki was there as a seasonal worker.

Tens of thousands of pa’anga raised for ʻIkale Tahi by Aoniu is yet to be paid to players

By
Kalino Latu
-

‘Epeli Taione, the Chair of Tonga Rugby Union and also one of the organisers of the Aoniu Fundrasing. Photo/Facebook

Tonga’s Rugby World Cup team players are yet to receive any of the money raised in Tonga as a donation for their representing the kingdom.

The Aoniu Fundraising Committee said the money must be paid to the ʻIkale Tahi team members as soon as possible.

However, it has been revealed that not all donations promised to the fundraising committee have been paid.

The Committee announced in the weeks ahead of the tournament that they would organise a dinner to raise money to help the boys and their families while they were in England.

A function was held at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall on September 11, with 10 seat tables going for TP$500, or TP$1000 if they were hosted by a member of the royal family or a former ʻIkale Tahi player.

READ MORE:

But Tonga Rugby Union Chair ʻEpeli Taione revealed to Kaniva News yesterday the money had not yet been paid to the players.

The money was set to be given as a bonus after the ʻIkale Tahi’s match with Argentina or New Zealand, but “since we blew out, we will probably give it this week as a thank you sweetener,” Taione said.

Some people who had promised to donate to the  fundraising dinner by either attending it or buying tables had yet to pay up.

“There is (sic) people who haven’t pay (sic) up their tables but they will give out this week and they are the most credible people I know,” Taione said.

After the fundraising Taione wrote on his Facebook page that the Aoniu Fundraising Committee had raised TP$75,919 (US$34,645.64/NZ$52,431.42). He then divided the money by 32, the number of the ʻIkale Tahi players and said each one should get TP$2380 each.

It was not clear whether the TP$75,919 reported by Taione was cash collected before and on the night of the fundraising dinner or whether it included the money that had been promised, but not yet paid.

The ʻIkale Tahi coach Mana ‘Otai  said he did not know whether or not the money had been paid to the boys because the arrangement was that the money would be paid directly to each player’s bank account.

Team captain Nili Latu was reluctant to respond to Kaniva News’ questions about the Aoniu donation. He said he needed time to talk to all the players before he could comment on whether or not they got the money.

Another fundraising event was held in Auckland to raise money for the Tongan team in the first week of September. It was organised by a group of Tongan ʻIkale Tahi supporters led by Kite Tuʻakalau, Melino Maka and ʻEseta Finau.

They raised more than NZ$20,000  and according to Tuʻakalau they had already paid the money to the ʻIkale Tahis, with each player receiving TP$800.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Rugby World Cup team players have not received any of the money raised in Tonga as a donation for their representing the kingdom.
  • The Aoniu Fundraising Committee said the money must be paid to the ‘Ikale Tahi team members as soon as possible.
  • Tonga Rugby Union Chair ʻEpeli Taione revealed to Kaniva News yesterday the money had not yet been paid to the players.
  • The money was set to be given as a bonus after the ʻIkale Tahiʻs match with Argentina or New Zealand, but “since we blew out, we will probably give it this week as a thank you sweetener,” Taione said.

The Princess, the PSA, Pohiva and the Chinese millions set to go back to court

By
Kalino Latu
-

The millions of dollars transferred to Princess Pilolevu’s Tongasat company look set to come under scrutiny in the courts again.

In the latest episode in the long running legal battle between veteran Tongan politician ‘Akilisi Pohiva and the Princess, the Court of Appeal quashed a Supreme Court order ordering the plaintiffs in a previous case brought by Pohiva to each pay TP$20,000 as a surety before the case continued.

Now Pohiva’s co-plaintiff, Tongan Public Service Association General Secretary Mele ʻAmanaki, has told Kaniva News that they were waiting for the court to set a hearing date for their civil action against the Princess, her Tongasat company and others.

Pohiva, who is now Prime Minister, filed a criminal action against the Princess when he was Leader of the Opposition following revelations that her private company had been paid millions of dollars from a Chinese government grant in 2011.

The money was transferred to Tongasat by the previous government. It came from a US$49.9  million aid grant that was described as being to help the “economic and technical developments” of the country.

Documents seen by Kaniva News show the Princess requested that the money be transferred to help revive her Tongasat company.

Pohiva first went to the magistrate’s court in 2013 and accused the Princess, Tongasat, former Minister of Justice Hon. Clive Edward and Former Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano of committing crimes of larceny and receiving stolen property.

The Democratic Party founder claimed the accused were involved in the illegal transfer to Tongasat of US$25 million (TP$54.87 million) from the Chinese grant.

The lower court quashed Pohiva’s action, but he appealed the magistrate’s decision before Chief Justice Michael Scott in the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Lower Court, saying the magistrate made the right decision after he found Pohiva had failed to provide concrete evidence that could prove beyond doubt the accused committed the alleged crime.

Pohiva then acted together with the Public Service Association and hired his long-time lawyer from New Zealand, Dr Rodney Harrison, in July 2014 to take the defendants back to court through a civil action.

Tongasat’s legal team then appealed that the plaintiffs paid a surety before the civil action was allowed to proceed.

The four judges in the Court of Appeal ruled that Mr Justice Scott made an error in his exercise of discretion against the plaintiffs.

The Appeal judges said the Chief Justice considered the financial positions of the plaintiffs as part of his decision before allowing their action to be heard in court on the grounds that they might not be able to pay costs in favour of the respondents.

The Appeal Court said the respondents alleged the PSA was insolvent which could mean it would be unable to pay costs. However, the Appeal judges said the Tongasat legal team had failed to provide evidence to prove their claim in this regard.

Tongasat also set out to show that Tonga’s Democratic Party in which Pohiva was leader had no funds and that he would be unable to pay costs if they were set against him.

“But they overlooked the fact Pohiva had made himself personally responsible for any costs,” the Appeal judges said.

“His personal assets, such as they may be, are available. The Supreme Court was given by the respondent no information on his personal position. The respondents also did not suggest to the court that he personally was not good for costs,” the Appeal court said.

The main points

  • The millions of dollars transferred to Princess Pilolevu’s Tongasat company look set to come under scrutiny in the courts again.
  • In the latest episode in the long running legal battle between veteran Tongan politician ‘Akilisi Pohiva and the Princess, the Court of Appeal quashed a Supreme Court order ordering the plaintiffs in a previous case brought by Pohiva to each pay TP$20,000 as a surety before the case continued.
  • Now Pohiva’s co-plaintiff, Tongan Public Service Association General Secretary Mele ʻAmanaki, has told Kaniva News that they were waiting for the court to notify them when they could file their civil action against the Princess, her Tongasat company and others.
  • Pohiva began a series of legal actions against the Princess in 2012 following revelations that her private company had been paid millions of dollars from a Chinese government grant.

Two fishermen missing off Niuatoputapu coast

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Picture: The Tongan patrol craft VOEA Savea

Two fishermen were missing since Tuesday 6 in a small boat somewhere between Niuatoputapu and its surrounding islands.

Police said the 58 and 49-year-old men were known to go out fishing on their own on one of the reefs around the island.

A search and rescue effort is underway to find the duo.

The incident happened on the same day the New Zealand P-3K2 Orion located the Tongan fishing vessel Pacific Sunrise this week after it had issued a distress signal due to no power and flat batteries on board.

“The Orion successfully dropped a spare VHF radio to the vessel enabling the crew to re-establish essential communication and coordinate a rendezvous with another vessel”.

Reptile found in Tonga’s Parliament

By
Kaniva Staff
-

In Picture: A reptile found in Tonga’s Parliament. Photo/Tonga Daily News

Security guards at Tonga’s Parliament have found what appeared to be a snake outside Parliament this morning.

The reptile which has yet to be officially identified for its type has caused public concerns  since land snakes do not exist in the kingdom.

Radio FM 87.5 report says Police have confiscated the reptile.

It was not immediately clear how it ended up at the Parliament’s door and some claimed it could be a type of land snake that might have arrived in Tonga through shipping containers from overseas.

The Tongan authorities could not be reached for comment.

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