Thursday, March 26, 2026
Newsletter
Support Kaniva
Home Blog Page 895

Tonga's Attorney General steps down

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Kiliki: heni ke ke lau a e ongoongo ni i he lea faka-Tonga

Tonga's Attorney General, Neil Adsett  said, "I confirm that I am finishing up soon as Attorney General in Tonga. It is the right time now for a Tongan lawyer to take over, especially with important cabinet meetings, parliament sessions and elections later this year".

‘Aminiasi Kefu is well respected and experienced as a lawyer and government adviser, and he will be the Director of Public Prosecutions and Acting Attorney General from 26th June.

It has been a privilege for me to be Tonga’s Attorney General for the last 2 and a half years and to have been involved at times in Tongan law for over 25 years.

I hope in time to continue to work in Tonga, perhaps keeping the laws up to date – and I hope to be living here in Nuku’alofa for part of the year anyway (my wife and I like it here at the house we have at Sopu.

– tongaportal.gov.to.

Inspired by Her Late Father, Graduate Sets Sights on Political Career

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Wellington, New Zealand — 25-year-old Astrid Mataele wants to follow in her late father’s footsteps into a career in politics.

Her father, Joe Tuilatai Mataele, was a Member of Tonga’s Parliament for 20 years.

"I grew up seeing what he did for people. He changed people's lives,” Astrid says.

In November 2008 Astrid’s brother and her four cousins were killed in a car accident.  Less than a year later, in August 2009, her father passed away.

The following January Astrid came to New Zealand to begin her studies.  It was a terrible time for her, she says, but the tragedy of losing her loved ones gave her the determination to just keep going.

Last month she graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a double degree in Political Science and International Relations.

Astrid is a volunteer leader in the young adult program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Wellington. She helps organize social activities and devotionals, and provides leadership to hundreds of other young Latter-day Saints throughout Wellington.

Next Tuesday she will join with other young Latter-day Saints as well as a group of Catholic young people as they assemble personal care kits for men who stay at the Wellington Night Shelter.

The following day the young adults will meet with Prime Minister John Key, several Members of Parliament and other officials at Parliament.

The group will be learning about how the nation is governed as well as discussing the place of faith in New Zealand society, and the role of religious freedom in allowing all people the capacity to live according to their consciences.  

–Press Release, Mormon Newsroom, New Zealand

Party Deputy Chair Isileli Pulu clarifies on candidate list crisis

By
Kalino Latu
-

Kiliki heni ke ke lau ai e ongoongo ni ‘i he lea faka-Tonga

Tongan Democratic Party deputy chairman Isileli Pulu has continued to criticise the party candidate list announced by party leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva last week.

Pulu has also questioned the composition of the select committee that chose the candidates, claimed that candidates were being chosen according to which school they attended and asked who leaked details of the list to the Tongan press.

The list of candidates to contest this year’s election was announced last Thursday, June 12, by party leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva, but was rejected by party secretary Sione Havea Taione and Pulu, who claimed the party had yet to select its official candidate list.

Pohiva said his list was approved at the party meeting on June 12, when new members of the party were also registered.

Pulu claimed the registration of new party members was illegal.

Read more: Near-brawl ends Tonga Demoratic Party meeting

                   Tonga Democratic Party torn by rival claims over election candidate list

“The party is an incorporated entity known as The Friendly Island Democratic Party and the Tongan law stipulates only the existing members can deregister party members or recruit new members,” Pulu said.

“That is why I told Akilisi we have to work smart and work together with our sitting members as we are the legal members.”  

Pulu and MPs Falisi Tupou, Sione Havea Taione and Semisi Tapueluelu, along with Dr Sitiveni Halapua, did not attend the Thursday meeting.

Pohiva said the work of the select committee had been independent and that was the best option the party had for choosing its candidate list.  

Pulu said the select committee was not independent because one of its member, Siale Napa’a Fihaki, was one of the 14 registered members of the Democratic Party.

“With respect to Siale Fihaki, I questioned his involvement because he is one of our active party members,” Pulu said.

“We agreed to ask the Human Rights and Democracy Movement (HRDM) to do the selection for the party so that none of us were involved in the selection. “

He said it was unfair to have Fihaki in the select committee, but none of the party other members.  

He said he and Pohiva were appointed to attend the select committee meeting and to help them in any questions regarding the sitting members.

He said Pohiva had agreed to include Lepolo Taunisila, the deputy chair of the HRDM and Rev Tevita Koloamatangi in the select committee.

Pulu said he waited for Pohiva to come back to him with the members of the select committee, but claimed that he discovered that the party leader had met with the select committee regularly in April without him.

“That did not then really bother me because I trusted they were reliable people and could select the candidate list independently,” Pulu said. 

Suspicious

However, he said he became suspicious about the select committee and Pohiva and determined to go public with his criticism after he learnt that Pohiva’s newspaper Kele’a had published the select committee’s list without the party members seeing it first.

“’Akilisi gave me a list on June 10 and said that was the party official candidates’ list from the select committee,” Pulu said.

“When I looked at it, it was the same list published by Kele’a on June 9. The newspaper said in Tongan: Kele’a received reliable information that the candidate list published by the Kele’a for Tongatapu and ‘Eua was exactly the same list picked by the party.

“How could that happen?”

The same list of candidates was published by Taimi ‘o Tonga, but with a different description. The newspaper said in Tongan: “This newspaper has received information from one of the leaders of the Friendly Island Democratic Party saying they have selected 17 candidates for the party.”

Pulu said he e-mailed Taimi ‘o Tonga publisher Kalafi Moala and asked him to say who had given the paper the party’s candidate list.

According to Pulu, Moala refused to release the information.

Pulu said Akilisi’s newpaper dropped Falisi Tupou from its list and claimed that after he raised the matter with Pohiva the next edition of Kele’a  dropped Fifita and replace him with Falisi Tupou.

Pulu said Akilisi’s newpaper dropped Falisi Tupou from its list and claimed that after he raised the issue with Pohiva, the next issue of Kele’a  reinstated Tupou and dropped Fifita instead.

Pulu has continued to question the composition of the select committee and its decisions.

He asked why the deputy chair of the HRDM, Lepolo Taunisila, had not been appointed to the select committee.

“With respect to Semisi Sika, I questioned why the select committee still chose him as a party candidate,” Pulu said.

“He did not contribute much to the party and the select committee dropped party members who worked hard in parliament, including those who rejected offers to become ministers because of their loyalty to the party.”

School

He said the selection of Rev Simote Vea by the select committee to replace Dr Halapua was questionable because the chair of the select committee, Dr Ungatea Kata, worked  with Rev Vea at Tupou High School.

Kaniva News understands Dr Kata is the principal of the school while Rev Vea is the head tutor.

Pulu said that in the last general election 2010, Vea joined forces with candidates in a party then known as Labour Blue Network, one of the Democratic Party’s fiercest opponents.

The Democrat Party’s deputy chair said it appeared candidates had been selected according to where they went to school.

Pohiva went to Tupou College and Pulu said Penisimani Fifita, an ex-student of Tonga College, was named on Kele’a’s list of May 26. Fifita was replaced on the newspaper’s candidates’ June list by Falisi Tupou, an ex-student of Tupou College.

Sunia Fili, an ex-student of Tonga College and an active member of the party, was dropped and the select committee replaced him with Tevita Lavemaau an ex-student of Tupou College.

Select committee

The select committee’s chair, Dr Ungatea Kata, said the selection had been based on the party’s Memorandum of Understanding, minutes of parliament and assessment of the sitting MPs using what she said in Tongan ‘their experiences in life’.

Dr Kata said she understood their candidates’ list could not satisfy everyone, but that was the best she and the select committee could do.

The main points

  • Tongan Democratic Party deputy chairman Isileli Pulu has continued to criticise the party candidate list announced by party leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva last week.
  • Pulu has also questioned the composition of the select committee that chose the candidates, claimed that candidates were being chosen according to which school they attended and asked who leaked details of the list to the Tongan press.
  • The list of candidates to contest this year’s election the was announced last Thursday, June 12, by party leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva, but was rejected by party secretary Sione Havea Taione and Pulu, who claimed the party had yet to select its official candidate list.
  • Pohiva has continued to defend his list, insisting it was approved at the party meeting on June 12.
  • The select committee’s chair, Dr Ungatea Kata, said she understood their candidates’ list could not satisfy everyone, but that was the best she and the select committee could do.

Tonga Democratic Party torn by rival claims over election candidate list

By
Kalino Latu
-

Kiliki heni: ko e onoongo ko 'eni 'i he lea faka-Tonga.

Tonga’s Democratic Party is being torn by rival claims over different lists of candidates.

Party leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva,  party secretary Sione Havea Taione and the party’s deputy chairman ‘Isileli Pulu have all given Kaniva News different sides of the story.

Leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva has announced a select committee’s list of candidates in a meeting on Thursday, June 12, claiming it was the party’s official list for the November 2014 election.

But party secretary Sione Havea Taione told Kaniva News in a statement on Friday, June 13, that the party had yet to officially select its candidate list.

Pohiva’s list is claimed to be the work of an independent committee consisting of three members of the Human Rights and Democracy Movement (HRDM).

The list promotes five new faces over sitting MPs, including Rev Simote Vea to replace Dr Sitiveni Halapua for Tongatapu 3; Semisi Fakahau to replace Sione Havea Taione for Tongatapu 8 and Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa to replace Semisi Tapueluelu for Tongatapu 10.

Other new members are Sipola Havili for Tongatapu 7 and Salesi Finau (Finauhu’ia) for Tongatapu 6.

Democratic Party deputy chairman ‘Isileli Pulu told Kaniva News the select committee’s list did not reflect the party’s consensus and was therefore invalid.

However, Pohiva said the list he announced on Thursday was the official list for the party.

When asked whether he was aware his deputy and secretary had disowned the select committee’s list and said the party would meet soon to select the party’s candidates list, Pohiva said he stood by the existing list.

“I do not know if they have a list, but the one I announced on Thursday was the official one and I can confirm that to you,” Pohiva said.

“If they sent you any information I have no knowledge about it.”

Pohiva said the party approved asking the Human Rights and Democracy Movement to select the party’s candidates on May 9.

“I think that was the best option the party has made,” Pohiva said.

He said the Movement had existed for more than 20 years and was recognised internationally. The Democratic Party was one of its political divisions.

Pohiva said the party had also approved his and Pulu’s attendance at the HRDM select committee to help them in any question regarding the sitting MPs. 

The chairperson of the HRDM, Dr Ungatea Kata, said they received a request from the Democratic Party in early April asking them to select the party’s candidate list.

The list was completed on June 11. Pohiva announced the contents of the list on the same day.

Deputy Party chairman Pulu strongly criticised the list and said it had to be revoked because the selection of candidates was influenced by Pohiva.

Pohiva adjourned the meeting on Wednesday last week and announced it would reconvene the following day.

Kaniva understands the Thursday meeting was not attended by Parliamentarians Pulu (Tongatapu 4), Dr Sitiveni Halapua (Tongatapu 3), Sione Havea Taione (Tongatapu 8) Falisi Tupou (Tongatapu 9) and  Semisi Tapueluelu (Tongatapu 10).

They sent their apologies to Pohiva.

Pulu said they were working according to the party’s manifesto. He said claims that Halapua, Taione and Tapueluelu had breached the party’s Memorandum of Understanding were incorrect.

“We members met and sorted out all the problems,” Pulu said.

“In regard to the selection of the candidate list, we established five options. One was to let the MPs discuss who we think should be dropped; two, that we let Pohiva select it by himself; three, that we do it by conducting a survey; four, to allow the people to choose our candidates and number five was to let the Human Rights and Democracy members select it.”

Pulu said options one to four had been cancelled and the party members agreed on option 5. However when he learnt the select committee's candidate list was published by Pohiva's newspaper Kele'a on June 9 before it was given to the party he submitted a motion in a party meeting on June 11 to not proceed with option five. Pulu claimed that Pohiva had become angry and said he would stand by the HDRM selection.

“That was why we met last Wednesday to see the candidate’s list from the HRDM, and I went there to tell Pohiva and the meeting I was not satisfied with the list because he had influenced the selection,” he said.

Pohiva said the meeting on Thursday approved the select committee’s list.

Tongatapu 8 MP Sione Taione said the party was an official entity registered in September 2010 with 17 members registered according to the number of constituencies in Tonga. Three members were removed from the registration list, including Sangstar Saulala and  Siosifa Tu’utafaiva, because they defected to the government and the late Kaveinga Fa’anunud. According to Taione, the official members are:

1.

Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva, (TT1) ( Chair )

8.    Sunia Fili         (‘Eua 11)

2.

Semisi Sika    (TT2)

9.  Mo’ale Finau  (HP12)

3.

Dr Sitiveni Halapua (TT3)

10. ‘Uliti Uata        (HP13 )

4.

‘Isileli Pulu (TT4) (Deputy Chair)

11. Siale Fihaki      (TT)

5.

Sione Havea Taione (TT8)

12.  Piveni Piukala  (Vv)

6.

Falisi Tupou (TT9)

13.  Viliami Kaufusi Helu (Vv)

7.

Semisi Tapueluelu (TT10)

14.  Tevita Kaafi Tukufuka  (Vv)

Taione said the official party members would meet soon to select the official candidates.

He said they met last Thursday and agreed to issue a press release saying that the list of candidates announced by Pohiva’s newspaper Kele’a and Taimi o Tonga did not have anything to do with the party. The press release was signed by Pohiva and Taione.

The press release said a clause in the party’s memorandum of understanding said (in Tongan):

 “We are the candidates selected by the Friendly Island Democratic Party, we must adhere to agreements established and approved by the party members, while we do our campaign and while we become members of parliament.”

The press release said the party respected the right of  Kele’a, Taimi ‘o Tonga and the New Zealand Tongan Development Society to publish lists of suggested candidates, but that the decision would be made by the party.

Last Friday Pohiva released a statement saying he wanted to correct the press release he signed and which was released by Taione on Thursday.

Pulu said the party’s release differed from that released by the select committee and Pohiva.

The party’s press release confirmed that the party would meet to select its candidate list, while Pohiva released a candidate list selected by the select committee.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Democratic Party is being torn by rival claims over different lists of candidates.
  • Leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva has announced a select committee’s list of candidates in a meeting on Thursday 12 claiming it was the party’s official list for the November 2014.
  • But party secretary Sione Taione told Kaniva News in a statement on Friday 13 the party had yet to officially select its candidate list.
  • Pohova’s list promotes five new faces over sitting MPs.

Prince Tu'ipelehake dies

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Prince Tu’ipelehake known as Viliami Tupoulahi Mailefihi Tuku’aho, 57, died in Vaiola Hospital at 7.30pm Saturday 14.

The prince was admitted to hospital in a serious condition.

A source has told Kaniva News the prince was diabetic and his condition had deteriorated rapidly.

Prince Tu’ipelehake is first cousin to King Tupou VI.

Late King Tupou IV revoked the prince's rights to the succession as well as his title after he married commoner Mele Vikatolia Faletau in 1983.

They had a duaghter Taone Tukuʻaho and son Sione Ngū Tukuʻaho.

His princely title was restored by King George V in 2009.

He subsequently married former beauty queen Ma’ata Mo’ungaloa in 1996 and then ‘Ene’io Tatafu, whom he has recently divorced.

The prince is survived by his wife Lady Fifita Holeva Tu'iha'angana Tuku'aho.

Near-brawl ends Tonga Democratic Party’s meeting

By
Kalino Latu
-

Kiliki heni ke lau 'a e ongoongo ni 'i he lea faka-Tonga

The Democratic Party’s meeting on Wednesday to announce its candidates for this year’s election  was cancelled after it almost turned into a brawl.

Party Deputy Chairman ‘Isileli Pulu and candidate member  ‘Ipeni  Siale became involved in a heated debate which got so bad that a security guard warned he would call police.

Pulu moved for party leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva, who was chairing the meeting,  to revoke the list. He claimed the selection of candidates was ‘biased,’ ‘dirty,’  ‘unfair’ and ‘fishy.’  

Pohiva has denied the claims.

The candidate list was selected by an independent select committee of three who were not members of the party.

Siale told Kaniva News he pushed for the party to declare its candidate list for Tongatapu now because time was running short and there was a lot to do for the campaign.

Siale returned to Tonga this year to run for Parliament as the Democratic Party’s candidate.  He stands for Vava'u 16.

He won the Vava’u island electorate in 1987, but was debarred from Parliament because he then held a US passport.

Pulu told the meeting, which was held in the Parliamentary conference room,  that a reliable source had told him Pohiva had influenced the committee’s selection.  

He claimed Pohiva dictated to the committee which of the party’s current members of parliament would be replaced and by whom.

Pohiva told Kaniva News this morning he was appointed by the party to help the select committee in clarifying questions that might be faced by the party’s sitting MPs.

He said the select committee’s candidate list was independently picked and he denied he had any involvement. 

“There was a report from the select committee and it has all the details,” Pohiva said.

“I was there only to assist them if there was any queries about the sitting members.”  

The select committee members were Dr ‘Ungatea Kata, Siale Napa’a Fihaki and Tali Makahuniniu.

They are all members of the Tonga’s  Human Rights and Democracy Movement.

Pulu said he was selected by the party as deputy so he could help Pohiva  attend the select committee meetings,  but claimed Pohiva met with the committee  without his knowledge.

Siale said he was disappointed with the way Pulu presented himself in the meeting after he accused him of pushing Pohiva’s Kele’a and the Taimi ‘o Tonga newspapers to release a list of the party’s proposed candidates without the party’s approval.     

The two newspapers said their list of proposed candidates was their own pick and it did not have anything to do with any list proposed by the party.

The select committee’s list dropped party members for Tongatapu 3 MP Dr Sitiveni Halapua, Tongatapu 8 MP Sione Havea Taione and Tongatapu 10 MP Semisi Tapueluelu.

The list is similar to the proposed candidates’ list published by the two newspapers  two weeks ago. This has prompted  suspicion among party members that Pohiva had decided on the party’s candidate list himself and that the establishment of the select committee was only a pretence.  

The only difference in the lists is that the select committee keeps MP Falisi Tupou .

Pulu claimed that putting Tupou on the select committee’s list was a deliberate ploy to deflect suspicion that Pohiva had any involvement in naming the candidates’ list.

“I told ‘Akilisi we have to work smart and watch-out for any new members as we have not known about their history,” he said.

Pulu claimed that some party supporters from Sipa’ila had expressed concerns which had passed on to Pohiva.

He said this was not good for the party’s campaign and could be used  by the party’s opponents.

“That is why I told ‘Akilisi to slow down and let us work together with the candidates we have.”

The main points

  • The Democratic Party’s meeting on Wednesday to announce its candidates for this year’s election  was cancelled after it almost turned into a brawl.
  • Party Deputy Chairman ‘Isileli Pulu and candidate member  ‘Ipeni  Siale became involved in a heated debate which got so bad that a security guard warned he would call police.
  • Pulu said the list should be revoked and said it had been influenced by party leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva.
  • Pohiva has denied the claims.

Police seek men in Sopu robbery and rape

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongan police are searching for a group of up to five men believed to be connected to a rape and house breaking at Sopu Wednesday 11.

Police believed the 47-year-old woman was raped by one of the suspects while others robbed her house at about 3.00am.

Police also believe the suspects are in their early 20s.

Tonga Commissioner of Police Grant O’Fee says in a statement:  “Stolen goods include cash over $2, 000, 2 TV Flat Screen and bottle of liquor”.

O’Fee also said the victim asked for help from her neighbor and contacted the Police.

The victim is working closely with Police to help them with their Investigation.

Anyone who can help with identifying the suspects, or has information regarding the robbery and rape should contact Tonga Police at telephone 8414647 or 23083.

Woman appears in court following Kolofo'ou stabbing

By
Kalino Latu
-

Kiliki heni This news in English ke ke lau 'a e ongoongo ni 'i he lea faka-Tonga

A 33-year-old female suspect appeared at the Nukualofa magistrate court last Wednesday 4  in relation to stabbing of two women from Pea

Taliangi Leveni of Kolofo’ou  has been charged with bodily harm after it was alleged she had knifed sisters Sesilia,37,  and ‘Ofa Tauelangi, 18, from Pea on May 10 at about 12.30am infront of Kalapu ‘Ulutea in Kolofo’ou.

Photos allegedly of one of the victims were uploaded to Facebook and quickly went viral with many claiming the stabbing had been carried out by Tongan deportees from the US who were drunk at the time of the incident.  Information from police, however, did not mention any Tongan deportees from the US had taken part in the incident.

Kaniva News, however, sent the photos from Facebook to Tongan police and asked for confirmation.

In response Sia Adams, Police Communication and Media Officer, confirmed that following police crime unit investigatiion Leveni was arrested and charged.

Adams said: “The victim Sesilia complained that she was stabbed on the nose while the other victim 'Ofa was allegedly stabbed on the upper shoulder”.

It was alleged the duo were walking back home when Leveni assaulted them with the knife.

Tongan woman fakes doctorate award graduation

By
Kalino Latu
-

Kiliki heni ke ke lau This news in Tongan a e ongoongo ni ‘i he lea faka-Tonga.

UPDATED-The University of Sydney has denied a Tongan woman’s claim that she has been awarded a Doctor of Laws.

Lisia Soakai Tupou claimed that she had been awarded a Masters’ degree in Forensic Psychology and a Doctor of Laws (LLD) by the university’s Law School.

However, the University of Sydney said her name was not on the list of LLD recipients, nor on the list of students who had been awarded a doctorate for successfully completing a research thesis in 2014.

According to the university’s website, only a mature scholar would be likely to meet the requirements for the LLD.

The University also said it “does not offer a Master of Forensic Psychology”.

Invitation letters sent out to guests and family members said: “Mr and Mrs Anitelu Soakai and Mr Kelepi Tupou are proud to announce the graduation of their daughter, wife Lisia Mary Caroline Soakai Tupou with a Master of Forensic Psychology & Doctor of Law Degree from the University of Sydney Law School Class of 2014”

“You are invited to Lisia’s Graduation celebration held at 3.00pm, May 31st 2014 at the Tokaikolo Hall, 213 – 215 The Trongate, Granville, NSW.”

Tupou uploaded photos to her Facebook page on which she is shown wearing Tongan attire, holding a bouquet and wearing academic regalia and a cap.

To celebrate her achievement, her family staged a big ceremony at which thousands of dollars and Tongan handicrafts were offered.

Following an exchange of messages through Facebook between Kaniva News and Tupou last Saturday, she removed photos on her page claimed to have been taken on her graduation day.

She also removed a message that said:

“The happiest day of my life.. a double degree, a Master of Forensic Psychology and a Doctor of Laws. I graduated top of my graduating year, including the overall for the scholarship class. I am proud to say that I have a new title and I am now known as Doctor Lisia Soakai Tupou. Thank you to my husband, family & friends, who have supported me through my academic journey.. we did it!!”

Her status attracted 97 likes with friends congratulating her on her achievement.

A woman called Mele Mafi Pua commented: “Grandma would have been so proud…congratz again”.

In response Tupou wrote: “Your comment brought tears to my eyes Mele Mafi Pua I wish she was still here with me to celebrate..xx”

However, an e-mail from the university’s administrator, Christopher Pile, obtained by Kaniva News, said: “The Doctor of Laws (LLD) is an honorary degree which the Faculty of Law and the University of Sydney would bestow only on those who have a pre-eminent career and life-long commitment to law in NSW, Australian, or globally.”

“It might be worthwhile to take some action to save the family from any embarrassment,” Pile added.

Pile also said: “While I cannot speak entirely on behalf of the University’s School of Psychology, a simple search of Psychology’s postgraduate degrees will show that they do not offer a degree called Master of Forensic Psychology. Although I acknowledge Forensic Psychology may well be a topic that students could pursue in a Master of Science, PhD, or Doctor of Clinical Psychology”.

When Tupou was asked to provide her side of the story to Kaniva News, she asked for our contact details and said her lawyer would contact us on Monday (today).

The main points

  • A Tongan woman’s claim that she was awarded a double degree from the University of Sydney last month have turned out to be untrue.
  • Lisia Sokai Tupou claimed she was awarded a Masters’ degree in Forensic Psychology and a Doctorate in Laws (LLD) from the University of Sydney’s Law School.
  • To celebrate her achievement, her family staged a big ceremony at which thousands of dollars and Tongan handicrafts were offered.
  • But the university says the LLD is an honorary degree that is awarded only to those who have a pre-eminent career and life-long commitment to the law.
  • Following an exchanges of messages between Kaniva News and Tupou yesterday, she removed photos claimed to have been taken on her graduation day and a message from her Facebook page.

More information

University of Sydney handbook

Two arrested one student injured

By
Kalino Latu
-

UPDATED 7/06/2014 Police have arrested two men after a brawl broke out yesterday following school marching for the opening of Parliament in Nuku’alofa.

Kaniva news reported yesterday an arrest was made after a fight between Liahona and Tonga College students, according to police. 

Sia Adam, Police Media and Communication officer said, “there was a school fight between the two college Liahona and 'Atele (Tonga College)  and we have arrested 2 boys. They will appear today at the Magistrate Court”.

Today Adams corrected the information and said the two arrested were not students and they were drunk.

She said the fight was between people who are not students of the two colleges and it happened while Tonga College marched along Taufa'ahau road to parliament.

One student injured after he was pelted with an object at the waterfront bus station.

A female teacher at Tonga Colege, however, wrote on Facebook and said there was a brawl between the two colleges.

“So heart breaking seeing my students running as Liahona boys with pamu (iron rod) and maka (stones) chasing and throwing at them,” Rose Tongamohenoa said on Facebook.

Police said investigation continues.

1...894895896...947Page 895 of 947
© Copyright 2026 Kaniva Tonga News & Entertainment