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Sione Sisifā is Tonga's solicitor general

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The lawyer who was instrumental in putting murderers behind bars for the man slaughter of the New Zealand Police officer Kali Fungavaka has been appointed as Tonga’s Solicitor General.

Sione Sisifā, a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of Fiji was appointed to the post on 31 October 2014, a position he currently holds, Crown Law office says.

It says the Solicitor General is responsible for all legal matters referred by the Government and the Cabinet to the Crown Law Department and has appeared on behalf of the Government in a wide range of legal cases.

However, the main areas of practice that the Solicitor General has been involved with has been in the areas of public law, criminal law, commercial law and international law.

Sisifa, 39, joined the Crown Law Department in 2000, after having graduated with an LLB from the University of the South Pacific.

'Īkale-Tahi train under Jake White

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Tonga’s national rugby team trained at the University of Central Lancashire on Friday 31 under their new technical adviser, Jake White.

The ‘Īkale-Tahi team are in England as part of their End of Year Tour to Europe where they will perform three test matches.

Mana Ōtai, the head coach, was hopeful this tour will be different after they received a massive opportunity to work  closely with the professionals and got feed back from coaching staff at the university.

Mana said  it was a great blessing for the ʻĪkale-Tahi to have Jake White with them during the tour.

White, who guided South Africa to the 2007 World Cup, was pictured training with ʻĪkale-Tahi players in Lancashire.

The ‘Ikale-Tahi, keen for a fresh start after the New Zealand’s Chief prop Ben Tameifuna withdrew from Tonga’s tour to fight in a charity boxing bout with rugby league player Willie Mason in December, have just arrived in Tbilisi, Georgia on Monday.

The Tongan team  will play Georgia on Saturday 8 November, The USA on Saturday 15 November and Scotland on Saturday 22 November.

New government funding pays allowance for ‘Īkale-Tahi players

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Tonga’s national rugby team, ‘Īkale-Tahi , are set to benefit from TP$124,000.00 funding donated by government last week to help pay for the players’ allowance.

The rugby  funding will be paid out to Īkale-Tahi players while  playing three test matches in Europe starting this Saturday 8.

The money was reportedly given to Tonga Rugby Union’s interim CEO, Fuka Kitekei’aho through the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Sports Department .

Lomu and Dagg referred to Police over Election Day social media  

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Jonah Lomu and Israel Dagg were among 26 commentators Election Commission have yesterday referred to Police in response to complaints about social media content on Election Day.

This compares to five referrals for similar matters after the 2011 general election.

24 of the incidents involve people publishing or distributing statements likely to influence voters on Election Day in breach of section 197 of the Electoral Act 1993, including:

  • Seven incidents involving people publishing material indicating how they voted and/or publishing statements likely to influence voters: these include comments posted by high profile sports personalities, Israel Dagg, Jonah Lomu and Eric Murray.
  • Two incidents where a person posted a photograph of a completed ballot paper together with a statement that could influence voters.
  • Thirteen incidents involving people sharing on Election Day a video featuring John Key and a ‘vote National Party’ Message posted on the Young Nats Facebook page after the close of advance voting on Friday 19 September.
  • Two incidents involving people sharing on Election Day a ‘vote for Nikki Kaye National Party candidate, Auckland Central’ message posted on her Facebook page on Friday 19 September.
  • An additional two incidents have been referred to Police for further investigation involving individuals who posted online that they intended to vote more than once. Voting more than once is an offence under section 215 of the Electoral Act.

Mr Dagg’s tweet read: “Just voted for @johnkeypm and the National party all the best for tonight #blueallday #National.” Dagg later replaced his tweet with an apology saying he “doesn’t read the fine print”, which has also since been deleted.

Mr Lomu tweeted: “@johnkeypm All the best for Tonight Get in there everyone YOUR last chance to vote and grow NZ Go “National”#vote2014nz #vote2014nz.” The post has since been deleted.

As these matters are now with the Police, the Electoral Commission will not be commenting further.

Obama wishes Tonga a warm independence day  

By
Kaniva Pacific
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US Secretary of State John Kerry has passed on President Barack “warmest wishes” to Tonga on Independence Day.

Mr Kerry said: “On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I send my warmest wishes to the people of the Kingdom of Tonga on your national day this November 4”.

“The United States and Tonga share a history of close partnership rooted in our commitment to international security and environmental conservation”.

“We hope to strengthen our relationship in the future through continued promotion of open and transparent governance and cooperation on issues of mutual concern like climate change and natural resource management.

“As you celebrate your national day, know that the United States remains a partner and friend to your country. We wish you and the people of Tonga peace and prosperity in the years to come”.

Princess Lātūfuipeka to receive Christmas card and marriage proposal from Lord Malupoo’s son

By
Kalino Latu
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The King of Tonga’s only daughter, Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Napua ‘Okalani Tuku’aho, 30, will receive a marriage proposal next March from Lord Malupoo’s son, Hon. Makahokovalu.

News of the marriage proposal was confirmed to Kaniva News by Lord Malupoo’s herald in Auckland, Angakehe.

First, however, he will present her with a Christmas card just before Christmas.

Asked to give the details of what they will present with the Christmas card Angakehe, an authority on Tongan culture, explained what a Christmas card means in Tongan.

In Tongan a Christmas card is called a Kaati Kilisimasi.

However, when a suitor presents the Kaati Kilisimasi to a woman it is called “ Kaati” (card, which refers to Christmas card) or “ʻAve Kaati” (presenting the card to the woman).

It is the same idea used by westerners to present a Christmas card on Christmas eve but in the Tongan way when it is presented by a suitor to a lover it has a completely different significance.

The family of the suitor present koloa (fine mats and tapa cloth), ngāue (kava and hogs) and a sila (envelope full of money). They will also organize for entertainment to be presented.

The amount of koloa , ngāue and the sila presented is significant as it is meant to reflect the social status of the suitor, his wealth and to show how deep is his love for the woman.

Angakehe said Makahokovalu’s kaati to the Princess would be a formal Tongan presentation which would include a huge amount of  koloa, ngāue and sila.

They would also perform a faiva (group dance).

Angakehe will lead Malupo’s kāinga to the Palace on the day,  either on December 23 or 24.

“There will be no reference at this stage to the marriage proposal when I will address the king’s family through his herald about Hon. Makahokovalu’s Kaati,” the herald said.

“We will just present it and will come back as the princess’s family, on the New Year’s eve, will perform the custom of Tali (presenting gifts as a response to what had been presented by Makahokovalu’s kāinga).”

In February Lord Nuku’s son, Hon. Faka’osifono, presented his marriage proposal to the Princess.

The king will decide who he wants to marry his daughter according to the rules laid down by the Tongan constitution.

About Princess Angelika

Princess Angelika is the kingdom’s High Commissioner to Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Singapore. She is also ambassador to Indonesia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines.

She is also a member of the Young Tongan Traditional Leaders group  (YTTL) and patron of the Tongan National Leadership Development Forum, the governing body of the YTTL.

High Commissioner is the term used to describe ambassadors accredited to other Commonwealth countries.

The main points

  • The King of Tonga’s only daughter, Princess Angelica Latufuipeka Napua ‘Okalani Tuku’aho, 30, will receive a marriage proposal next March from Lord Malupoo’s son, Hon. Makahokovalu.
  • Makahokovalu will first present her with a Christmas card just before Christmas.
  • In February Lord Nuku’s son, Hon. Faka’osifono, presented his marriage proposal to the Princess.
  • The king will decide who he wants to marry his daughter according to the rules laid down by the Tongan constitution.

US fugitive wins appeal to remain in Tonga

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Tonga’s Court of Appeal in Nukuʻalofa on October 31 has quashed a Supreme Court decision upholding the extradition of an American man who was wanted by US authorities for counts of wire fraud and other illegal activities.

The Tongan government will not officially hand over Antone Thomas Pedras, 62, to the United States at the request of the FBI  after the Court of Appeal decided that the ground of his removal order was legally invalid.

The FBI investigated after the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) served public administrative proceedings against Pedras.

In a release on June 18, 2014 SEC says that after an investigation, its Division of Enforcement alleges that Christopher A.T. Pedras was known as Chris Pedras and he was also known as Antone Thomas Pedras, 62.

Pedras arrived in Tonga in January this year and according to SEC document he lived in Turlock, California and Auckland in New Zealand.

Pedras is married to a Tongan.

Magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit Tonga

By
Kaniva Pacific
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An earthquake, confirmed to have hit near Tonga early this morning, was questioned on social media whether it was widely felt or not.

The earthquake  had a magnitude of 6.9  and it struck at 7.57am in the South Pacific on Sunday, 186 miles (300 km) west-northwest of Tonga, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

There was no immediate tsunami alert following the quake, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre.

The quake was 259 miles (417 km) deep, according to USGS.

On Facebook, ‘Isileli Latu Tangulu said: “A little quake in Tonga about just now. Wonder if anybody else noticing it or just me”.

Noelita Julienne Angianga said: “Earthquake [in] Tonga. Lolz”. 

Ben Tāmeifuna changes his mind and pullout of Tonga tour

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Chiefs prop Ben Tāmeifuna has withdrawn his pledge to represent Tonga in the ʻĪkale-Tahi’s End of Year tour and says he won’t make a decision on which national team he will play for in 2015 World Cup  until April.

Tāmeifuna, 23, declared last month he would play for the Tongan team when they will play against Georgia, Scotland and the United States this month.

He  said the change of heart came about after he agreed to fight rugby league figure Willie Mason in December’s Fight for Life.

“I pulled out of the tour so I was eligible to play for the All Blacks but who knows what will happen after April next year,” Tāmeifuna told TVNZ.

This means if he isn’t in the All Blacks plan by April he will instead represent Tonga at next year’s Rugby World Cup.

“I want to play the World Cup next year,” he said. “Whether it’s the black jersey or red jersey.”

Pahu man gets suspended sentence for stabbing cousin

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

A man from Pahu who stabbed his cousin with a knife – which lodged into his buttock – has received a suspended sentence in Nuku’alofa last week.

Fakaʻānaua ʻAlatini had pleaded guilty to one count of recklessly causing injury after he jokingly struck a knife on 23-year-old Viliami Koloamatangi’s butt during an incident  on July 5.

The Magistrate Court was told the accused was consuming alcohol with the victim when they heard a disturbance from a party nearby.

Koloamatangi then went to his house and returned with a knife.

A party-goer intervened and tried to take away the knife from him at the same time ʻAlatini came from the back and knocked Koloamatangi to the ground.

ʻAlatini then jokingly struck the knife on Koloamatangi’s buttock but it accidentally injured the victim.

ʻAlatini asked the judge to have mercy on him saying he has 11 children to take care of, the court heard.

Koloamatangi told the judge he has forgiven ʻAlatini and that he has just found out later they were cousins.

Judge Mafi sentenced ʻAlatini to three months imprisonment.

Judge Mafi suspended that sentence upon ʻAlatini entering a two-year good behaviour jail sentence.

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