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Bills for Tongans to elect the Prime Minister and nobles

Two proposed new Tongan laws allowing voters to elect the Prime Minister and the Nobles have been submitted to Parliament by the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (DPFI)

The bill for the Prime Minister to be elected by the people was signed by MP ‘Aisake Eke and the bill for the voters to elect the nobles' represetatives was signed by MP Mo’ale Finau.

It also proposed to remove clauses in the constitution that allow the Prime Minister to appoint  a minister from outside representatives that elected by voters.

The proposal means the constitution must be amended so that voters could elect all members of Parliament.

It says people will be allowed to vote for the nine nobles to Parliament but the nobles would not be allowed to vote for the people’s representatives nor they would be allowed to run for the people’s candidacy.  

Nobles could only be allowed to vote for the nobles’ nine members to Parliament at the same time people could not be allowed to run for noble’s candidacy, the bill says.

The election of the Prime Minister will take place in two weeks after the election of 9 noble’s representative and 17 people’s representatives.

During these two weeks all elected members of Parliament will nominate candidates for the premiership. Another election would then be publicly announced for the people to vote for the Prime Minister.

Democratic system of government has first been introduced to Tonga three years ago with people's hope that a representative from their elected candidates would be for the first time become the Prime Minister of the country. That was not happen and after the 2010’s parliamentary election people started to realise that the power has only been switched from the king to his nobles and not them, the commoners.

The opposition party said these bills will bring real democracy to Tonga and for the people’s representatives to hold majority of the seats in Parliament.

Tokaikolo Church members defect to new evangelical fellowship

Congregants who were supporters of the outspoken Reverend Faka‘osi Hau of the Tongan Tokaikolo Church in Auckland defected to join the newly established Mo‘ui Fo‘ou 'Ia Kalaisi Fellowship.

The new fellowship will be under the stewardship of Reverend Sione Havili Maile who has been a long time Secretary General of the Tokaikolo Church and a loyal follower of its president, Reverend President Liufau Vailea Saulala.

Reverend Maile told Kaniva News he has yet to submit his resignation to the Tokaikolo Church but he has already decided to leave and establish the new fellowship.

“There have been indications for me to make this move. But I have waited on God. Just yesterday I was told by God to defect and establish this fellowship”,  said Reverend Maile.

“This is the fulfillment of  the mission that has been placed  upon Reverend Senituli Koloi, the founder of the Tokaikolo Church to defect from the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga and lead His people.

God has called me to lead these people who are hungry for freedom”, he told Kaniva news.  

Rev Maile preached in the Tokaikolo Church in Auckland, New Zealand few weeks ago and shocked the church members when he strongly criticised church authorities for what they had done to members who have been known to question the church's management and operations. This move  is very unusual for him because of his long time support and faithfulness  to President Reverend Saulala.

Reverend  Maile  said he will conduct a malanga or a prayer service this coming Sunday 14 here in Auckland to mark the beginning of the new fellowship.

Reverend Hau told Kaniva News he is in full support of Reverend Maile and he and his supporters will follow him.  

The Tokaikolo Church has come under fire as authorities quivered with indignation that Reverend Hau preached about how he thought it was not right for him and the church members to donate money to a Church that  is solely run by President Liufau Saulala without him having  any accountability to the followers.

The church eventually sacked Reverend Hau, a move that saw church members divided. Those who were staying in the church but were found out to have leaked information to Rev Hau were sacked and served with prohibition notices not to enter the Church properties. 

Reverend Hau took the Tokaikolo Church and its leader, President Liufau Vailea Saulala to court in Auckland but his claims were rejected by the court last month. The court ruled in favour of Reverend Saulala but Hau undertook to appeal the court’s decision.

Tokaikolo Church was founded in 1980 by Reverend Senituli Koloi who has been a former minister in the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga.

Kaniva News was unable to obtain a comment from the Tokaikolo Church.

Correction: We corrected this article. We preciously reported that Reverend Sione Maile was a long time Vice President of the Tokaikolo Church. That was not correct. Reverend Sione Havili Maile was the longtime Secretary General of the Tokaikolo Church.

Warning over Tonga's new domestic aircraft

Vistors and passengers in the island of Tonga who wish to take domestic aircraft as a means of transport to the outer islands must get the message right and clear – The aircraft  MA60 that has just been recieved by the government as a gift from China is not safe. Its history shows the model is insecure and unsafe. Check it out: TVNZ

Miss Heilala 2013 runners up

UPDATES: As the winner  of the Miss Heilala 2013,  Miss New Zealand Immigration Appraxus Rosemarie Fili celebrated the remarkable achievement she had,  all seven other contestants and runners up took home at least $1000.

Crowned Miss Heilala 2013 Rosemarie Fili received $3,000 and return tickets for two to Los Angeles. Other cash prizes she received came from her becoming first place in the island creation, talent, sarong and pre-pageant interview competitions..

Miss Victoria-Australia Angelique Iviiti was the first runner up and she received $2,000 cash prize and return tickets for two to Honolulu.

The second runner up went to Miss New Zealand Friendly Island Body Builders Association and Tonga High School Ex-Students, Miss Lita Mary Bloomfield. She was awarded with $1,500 cash prize and two return tickets to Sydney.

Miss Lady Maria Australia Helen Talipeau was the third runner up and she was presented with $1,000 cash prize and two return tickets to Nadi, Fiji.

Each of the other contestants recieved $1,000 each.

Sponsors:

Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano and the Government of Tonga

Tonga Tourist Association President Saia Moehau

Heilala Festival Director Semisi Sika.

Fiji Airways.

Ben Tameifuna issued an off-field yellow card

By SANZAR Communications

Ben Tameifuna of the Chiefs has been issued with an off-field yellow card for contravening Law 10.4 (m) Acts contrary to good sportsmanship. A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship in the playing enclosure – dangerous grabbing on an opponent without the ball.

Tameifuna put his hand over the face and eye area of Crusaders No.1 (Wyatt Crokett) whilst in a maul. The deliberate and sustained grappling head-lock action had potential to cause injury to Crockett’s facial area and was an act contrary to good sportsmanship.

The incident occurred in the 15th minute of the match between the Crusaders and the Chiefs played at AMI Stadium in Christchurch on 5th July 2013.

An Off-Field Yellow Card may be issued by the SANZAR Citing Commissioner for foul play incidents that are very close to, but in his opinion do not meet the Red Card threshold for Citings.

In this case the incident was not acted on by the referee for the match and on further review of the match footage the Citing Commissioner deemed an Off-Field Yellow Card was appropriate.

Featured image: photosport.com

Tonga Research Association holds conference in Auckland

An annual conference with a theme Walking backwards to the future will start tomorrow Sunday 7 at Tuingapapai Church Mangere with a pōlotu or night prayer service and it conitnues on at Auckland University of Technology at Manukau on July 8 – 10.

The phrase, “Walking backward to the future” was coined by Professor ‘Epeli Hau’ofa in his epilogue “Pasts to remember”.

Since the Tonga Research Association (TRA) selected the phrase as its theme for the upcoming conference, it has caused much debate about whether there exist to be something as walking backwards to future or not.

However TRA says skills and knowledge left behind in the traditions and cultures by Tongan ancestors are valuable wealth for Tongans to take advantage of and to make a better future.

The conference aimed to expose the participants to the rich history and culture of Tonga, it said.  

“One of the main things we hope to achieve here is for participants to leave the conference   with the satisfaction of knowing that Tongans have a proud history, have learnt from the lessons of the past and are moving into the future with eyes wide open”,  TRA secretary Manasa Lua told Kaniva News.

It was set to provide an opportunity for  the Tongans from all walks of life to share their experiences as speakers of the conference.

Lua said, “this is not just an academic gathering we have many non-academic speakers” and it was intentionally organised to allow an open forum for discussion that could involve as many community members as possible.

“Some very important issues will also be discussed as you will see including the future of our Children – education and prosperity and general health”, he said.

TRA,  previously known as Tonga History Association was established in 1989 by its first president as Dr Sione Latu Kefu and assisted  by Professor Futa Helu. It was to “preserve, study and discuss Tongan History at a micro-level, from the past right up to the present”.

Click here for the programme in Tongan

Miss Rosemarie Fili crowned winner of Miss Heilala 2013

The Miss Appraxus Immigration New Zealand, Miss Rosemarie Fili has been named as the winner of Tonga's Miss Heilala 2013-2014. The 22-year-old Waikato University graduate of Leimatu'a, Vava'u, Hala'ovave, Tongatapu but now residing in Hamilton, New Zealand  beat 7 competitors to be presented with the crown in Nuku'alofa this evening July 5.

Sione Liavaʻa formally received Queenʻs Service Medal

The retired assistant manager at Radio Tonga- Le'o 'oe 'Otu Motu Anga'ofa, Sione Liavaʻa was awarded with Queen's Service Medal.

The Governor-General, Sir Jerry Mateparae, presented Sione Tupukauvalu Liava'a with the Queen'sHonourary  Service Medal for services to the Tongan Community.

The ceremony was held at Government House Auckland on 5 July 2013.

All six accused against Fungavaka’s death to stand trial, Supreme Court rules

A Supreme Court judge in Nuku’alofa overturned the decision by the magistrate court to release three police officers who had been charged in relation to the death of New Zealand policeman Kali Fungavaka.

The three police constables, Fatai Faletau, Tevita Vakalahi and Manu Tu'ivai, were released in April by Magistrate Salesi Mafi saying he found insufficient evidence against them.

One of the accused charged by the police and upheld by the magistrate court was Police Inspector Hala’ufia. Hala’ufia appealed his prosecution.

Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Cato said, “The respondents are committed for trial and the appeal by Hala’ufia is dismissed,"

All six males, five policemen and a civilian,  were ordered to be bailed out and they will appear in court on August 5 to decide a date for trial.

Mr Fungavaka was in Tonga to attend his grandfather’s funeral. He ended up in one of the restaurant bars in Nuku’alofa where he was arrested and allegedly beaten to death by the six accused.

Tonga High School celebrates two anniversaries

Tonga High School alumni are hosting a formal 65th and 66th celebration in Nuku’alofa this week. The event coincides with the Heilala Week Festival as well as King’s Birthday. The school’s 65th anniversary was postponed since King George V died last year.  The celebration started yesterday 3 with a welcoming reception hosted by 1975 – 1979 ex-students.

Today’s program began with a street parade by all classes behind students carrying signs that designate each class and year. It was followed by a lunch hosted by classes of 1950-1955 and a fundraising for the school cultural events. It continued on to night with a singing competition by all chapters as well as Individual Talent Show.

The event will end on Sunday 7 with a combined Church Services at the Free Wesleyan Church’s Falelotu Senituli  in Nuku’alofa