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Media: praise for Malakai Fekitoa despite All Blacks defeat

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The New Zealand Herald Sport has hailed Malakai Fekitoa, 22, as the best player in the All Blacks despite losing to Springboks Sunday 5.

“The big winner in the All Blacks’ overseas stint of the Rugby Championship was Malakai Fekitoa,” writes Gregor Paul, a rugby writer for the Herald on Sunday.

Fekitoa was again exceptional in the No12 shirt against the Boks and continues to surprise, Paul added.

This was not the first time the paper praised Fekitoa for his outstanding performance.

After All Blacks beat England 20-15 at Eden Park in June the Herald Sport said Fekitoa was “among the best” players to “beat a very good England team”.

It described Fekitoa as “a player with immense promise” and he was “the most elegant of solutions for Conrad Smith’s back-up”.

Fekitoa scored the first try for All Blacks on Saturday but how he managed to run down Cornal Hendricks after a kick was put over the top and the Boks winger poked it further ahead,  deserved the most praise.

“I was going back to the fall as fast as I could and then I saw the green jersey go past me and I thought I was never going to get him,” says Fekitoa. “I was lucky and I was able to manage to grab the ball and got over the line. It was lucky,” he told Herald.

“It was tough. The lungs were burning and I thought I wouldn’t make it to halftime. I was struggling a bit but I managed to get through it.”

Jury to decide Vaikī Palei's cause of death

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Police said the death of a 20-year-old man from Ta’anea and Neiafu, Vava’u, Tonga, whose family suspected fould play was involved in his death, was still under investigation.

Inspector Tu ‘uta ‘Eliesa from Vava’u Police told Kaniva News Vaikī Palei died in hospital on Saturday 4 at around 4am.

We are still piecing together the information and a jury of five will decide the cause of his death, Eliesa said in Tongan.

Police were aware of allegations made on Facebook in relation to how the incident happened but ‘Eliesa said they would release the details  as soon as they become available.

He said the jury, which will involve a member from Palei’s family, a doctor, a town officer, a district officer and a police officer  will meet shortly to decide Palei’s cause of death.

The deceased’s father is from Ta’anea and his mother is from Neiafu, he said.

World Teachers' Day commemorated as 250 million children do not learn basic skills

By
Kaniva Pacific
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If teachers have “appropriate contracts and salaries” as well as proper resources and training they can manage to address problems that millions of children in the world faced in not knowing the basic education skills, according to a statement that read out to hundreds of teachers and students in Nuku’aofa yesterday.

Marking the World Teacher’s Day, Lady Tuna Fielakepa, a government retired Chief Education Officer, read the statement from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) which says that 250 million children, “over half of whom have spent four years in school”, around the world today do not learn  the basic education skills  because of teachers working “without resources or proper training”.

It says that a“high-quality pre-and in-service training for teachers, based on respect for human rights and the principles of inclusive education; and effective management, including teacher recruitment and deployment” are important to maintain teachers’ willingness and aspiration.

The international body says for the teachers to be efficient and effective in their roles they need necessary and essentials tools.

“Equipping teachers to succeed is therefore a priority. This means rigorous training, better conditions for employment, quality-based teacher recruitment, thoughtful deployment and attracting new teachers and talents, especially young people and women from under-represented communities”, it says.

There are increasing problems Tongan communities around the world face today such as school violence, abortions, youth crimes as well as drugs related crimes and Tongan community leaders are struggling to find a solution that can best resolve them.

UNESCO says, “A good education enables [children], as global citizens, to respond to the challenges of a complex world, and contribute to building peaceful and sustainable communities”.

In central Nuku’alofa yesterday teachers, school children and supporters paraded along Taufa’ahau Rd to Teufaiva Outdoor Stadium where students presented a number of entertainment items to celebrate the historical day.

Tonga’s Minister of Education Dr ‘Ana Maui Taufe’ulungaki led the march which was joined by leaders of schools from churches and government.

Tonga commemorated the 20th anniversary of the World Teachers’ Day two days ahead of the actual date which is October 5. This year’s theme is – Invest in the future, invest in teachers.

Princess Fusipala Vaha'i dies

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Princess ‘Elisiva Fusipala Tauki’onetuku Vaha’i, 65, died in the United States a source close to the family said.

It was understood she was admitted to Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, Burlingame in California few weeks ago.

The King of Tonga’s first cousin was the second of six children born to Late Prince Fatafehi Tu’ipelehake and Princess Melenaite Tukuʻaho.

She married to Late Lord Hahano-ki-Mala’e Kula-‘a Sione Ngū Namoa also known as Lord Vaha’i (1936–2005).

Princess Tauki’onetuku is survived by his two sons, Lord Vahaʻi and Siosifa ‘Alematea Vaha’i as well as two  daughters,  ‘Elisiva Tauki’onetuku Vaha’i Vete and Sinaitakala -‘Ofeina-‘E he-Langi Leanahola Vaha’i.

Tonga chamber of commerce has new president

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) has announced the Director of Pacific Retail company, John Paul Chapman, 33,  as its new head during a meeting on September 29.

The organisation aimed at boosting economic growth by linking members with government and private sectors.

Fostering a friendly atmosphere for networking among members, TCCI also creates learning and training opportunities for business people.

Mr Chapman replaces Aloma Johanson who becomes his assistant.

King gives direction to conduct election

By
Kaniva Pacific
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His Majesty King Tupou VI has given the green light for this year’s General Election.

King Tupou VI has signed the writ directing the Electoral Commission to conduct the General Election on 27 November 2014.

This is the formal authority to run the 2014 election, and enables candidate nominations to open on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 October 2014 from 10am until 3pm.

The writ sets out key constitutional steps in the election process, the dates for candidate nominations to close, election day and the date the writ must be returned showing the successful electorate candidates.

“It is important that all nomination documents are completed by the candidate considering the time available for the registration process to take place”, said Tonga’s Supervisor of Elections, Pita Vuki.

 

Lord Fakafanua, Tonga’s speaker of parliament, to wed commoner

By
Kalino Latu
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One of the wealthiest and most highly ranked nobles in Tonga, Lord Fakafanua, 29, will wed a commoner on October 15.

Lord Fakafanua, Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tuku’aho’s eldest brother, will exchange vows with Fane Kite in Nuku’alofa.

Details of the impending marriage were confirmed to Kaniva News by one of his heralds in Auckland, Kula-‘i-‘Aotealoa.

The bride is the second daughter of the late Sione Kite, former Tongan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and former manager of Princess Pilolevu’s satellite company.

Kula said Fakafanua’s kāinga in Aotearoa will hold a fundraising concert tomorrow in Mangere to raise money that will be donated for the wedding.

Members of the kingdom’s nobility usually seek partners among other noble families or the royal family to ensure their social standing.

The Fakafanua line reached its highest standing connection to the royal family through Lord Fakafanua’s mother, ‘Ofeina-‘E he- Langi Fakafanua.

Lord Fakafanua
Lord Fakafanua

‘Ofeina, the late Fakafehi Tu’ipelehake’s youngest daughter, is King Tupou VI’s first cousin.

Lord Fakafanua was elected Speaker of the Tongan Parliament in 2012 and is the youngest person to hold the position.

His estates include Ma’ufanga, Faleloa in Ha’apai and Nga’akau in Tefisi, Vava’u.

Ma’ufanga is among Nuku’alofa’s wealthiest suburbs, harbouring Tonga’s
main wharf, Kuini Salote and  Faua harbour. It is home to many big businesses, including night clubs, which lease premises from Lord Fakafanua.

Lord Fakafanua’s wedding follows that of his second cousins, Hon. Lupepau’u Tuita Taione and Hon. Frederica Tuita Filipe. Their weddings to commoners in 2012 drew substantial international media attention.

The main points

  • One of the wealthiest and most highly ranked nobles in Tonga, Lord Fakafanua, 29, will wed a commoner on October 15.
  • Lord Fakafanua, Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tuku’aho’s eldest brother, will exchange vows with Fane Kite in Nuku’alofa.
  • The bride is the second daughter of the late Sione Kite, former Tongan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and former manager of Princess Pilolevu’s satellite company.
  • Lord Fakafanua was elected Speaker of the Tongan Parliament in 2012 and is the youngest person to hold the position.

Vava‘u villages receive water supply from Japan

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Three villages in Vavaʻu received new water systems from Japanese government last week.

The water supply, valued at $500,000, was handed over by Japan’s ambassador to Tonga, His Excellency, Dr. Kazuchika Hamuro.

The villages of Ha’alaufuli, Holonga and Feletoa benefits from the water projects.

Desalination units donated to Haʻapai group

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Worries over a lack of drinking water in the Haʻapai group of Tonga have been alleviated after desalination units that can convert seawater into 4000 litres of drinkable water a day arrived last week.

Donated by the New Zealand Red Cross, the portable desalination units are designed to be easily handled and monitored.

“The desalination plants pack into “suitcases” weighing 32 kilogrammes each”, it says.

The New Zealand organisation says that what the units could produce a day would provide enough water for about 300 people.

The islands experienced low rainfall over the past three months resulting in extremely low water levels.

In January category 5 Cyclone Ian hit Haʻapai islands destroying about 90 percent of the buildings and crops.

“Haʻapai is one of the most vulnerable island groups in Tonga, people are already struggling and recovering from Tropical Cyclone Ian. People need clean, safe water to maintain good health and hygiene,” says Tony Paine New Zealand Red Cross Secretary General.

Dean Manderson, an aid worker from the organisation,  arrived in Ha’apai on Saturday and is working with Tonga Red Cross Society to set up the desalination units.

About 40 women diagnosed with breast cancer

By
Kaniva Pacific
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An early detection of breast cancer improves the chances that it can be diagnosed at an early stage and treated successfully, said Lord Tangi, a Tongan Specialist General Surgeon in Nuku’alofa today.

His words of encouragement was made during the launch of the Pink October Breast Cancer Awareness Month which will be opened on October 10.

He said 30 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 while this year 12 breast cancer patients were processed.

Lord Tangi said the best thing to do is for the patients to see their doctors for an early detection of the tumour.

“ All these patients presented to us with palpable lumps of various sizes. We know that any cancer including that of the breast, the malignant changes starting at the cellular level and they multiply from there, it starts very small and by the time the lump is large and palpable, the tumor had been there for three-months even more than a year,” Lord Tangi said.

Lady Si’atukimoana Vaea was the guest of honour.

Tonga Breast Cancer Society successfully held its AGM last month with financial report presented and election of office bearers and Pink October Calendar of Events.

2014 President: Hon. Frederica Tuita Filipe,
Vice President: Tupou Fakakovikaetau,
Secretary: Filomena Liutai
Treasurer: Christine ‘Uta’atu
Committee member: Leta Kami (media)
Auditor: Aloma Johansson

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