A fundraiser has raised more than US$27,000 for a Tongan family struck by two shootings: one cousin was killed, an 18-year-old twin was fatally shot while attending his funeral, and the surviving twin remains critically injured in hospital.

Vilisoni “Soni” Angilau was fatally shot outside a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kearns, Utah, on Monday, while his twin brother, Vita Angilau, remains in critical condition.

The brothers had travelled from Seattle to Utah to attend the funeral of their 23-year-old cousin, ʻOfaʻatangikivaha Angilau, who was shot dead at a Riverton petrol station on 7 August.

A GoFundMe campaign established for the Angilau family had raised US$27,914 from 311 donations by Friday, approaching its US$30,000 target.

The money will help cover Soni’s funeral, Vita’s medical treatment and the family’s travel expenses while they remain away from home.

“The twins had just graduated from high school, making this loss and crisis even more heartbreaking,” fundraiser organiser Lacie Roth said.

The brothers had recently graduated from Highline High School and were active members of its Pirates football team. They were also part of the Liberty Rugby Club community.

Police said the shooting occurred during a confrontation between members of two families outside the church at about 11.25am.

Witnesses told investigators that Afuhia Masiu “Rocky” Manatau was assaulted in the church car park, leading to a physical fight. During the confrontation, Manatau allegedly pulled out a handgun, which his 17-year-old son then took from him.

Investigators allege the teenager shot the Angilau twins before losing possession of the weapon and being shot himself. He also remained in critical condition following the confrontation.

Manatau, 45, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail, where he faces charges of first-degree felony murder and felony discharge of a firearm. The allegations against him have not yet been proved in court.

A Tongan prisoner who has spent virtually his entire adult life behind bars and murdered two fellow inmates has returned to public attention as a coronial inquest examines how his second victim was placed within his reach.

Siuaki Lisiate murdered Blake Lee in an exercise yard at Auckland Prison in Paremoremo in March 2020.

Lee, a Mongrel Mob affiliate, had arrived from Whanganui Prison only hours before he was attacked by Siuaki, a senior Crips gang member, and other prisoners, RNZ reported.

The inquest before Coroner Alexander Ho is examining Lee’s transfer, placement and death, including whether Corrections properly assessed the danger posed by Siuaki, who already had an extensive record of extreme violence inside prison.

Siuaki has reportedly been involved with the criminal justice system since he was 14 and was first imprisoned at 17. By the time of his sentencing for Lee’s murder in 2021, he had not lived outside prison since 2003 and had accumulated about 25 convictions, many committed while on bail or behind bars.

He was already serving life imprisonment for arranging the 2009 killing of 23-year-old prisoner Tue Faavae when Lee was murdered.

Faavae was strangled with a radio power cord in what the court described as a gang-related revenge killing. Siuaki was sentenced in 2011 to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 18 years.

His violence continued inside Paremoremo.

In May 2018, Siuaki and two other prisoners attacked notorious double murderer Graeme Burton. Siuaki used two improvised knives to stab Burton more than 40 times in the head, face and upper body.

Burton survived but suffered permanent damage to his right eye.

Siuaki pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and was sentenced to preventive detention on 17 March 2020, with a minimum term of five years and two months.

Justice Geoffrey Venning found Siuaki posed a high risk of committing further violence, lacked empathy for those he harmed and had little insight into his offending. His lawyer said Siuaki had become institutionalised after spending most of his life in prison.

Lee was murdered in the same month that Siuaki received the preventive detention sentence.

CCTV footage showed Lee being knocked to the ground before Siuaki repeatedly stabbed him with a makeshift weapon and stomped on his head. Siuaki pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to another term of life imprisonment, with a minimum non-parole period of 20 years.

Justice Simon Moore declined to impose life imprisonment without parole, finding that it would be manifestly unjust because Siuaki was already subject to life imprisonment and preventive detention.

However, the judge acknowledged that the Parole Board might ultimately decide Siuaki should never be released. He will be about 61 when he first becomes eligible to seek parole under the sentence imposed for Lee’s murder.

The current inquest has heard that, despite Siuaki’s history, there was no formal policy in 2020 requiring rival gang members to be kept apart at Paremoremo.

Former prison director David Pattinson accepted during questioning that Siuaki had a history of extreme violence. However, he said Corrections found no evidence that Lee’s murder was gang-related.

That position contrasts with an earlier High Court memorandum in which Siuaki, through his lawyer, said he did not know Lee personally and that the killing arose from continuing gang tensions inside prison.

Lee’s mother, Teresa Absolum, said she wanted Corrections held accountable and rival gang members kept apart.

Current Auckland Prison director Stephen Parr told the inquest that today’s procedures would prevent a newly transferred prisoner from being placed into a mixed exercise yard on the day of arrival.

Parr also acknowledged that screening procedures had not been completed to the required standard on the day Lee was killed. However, he could not say whether proper screening would have detected the weapon Siuaki used.

The inquest continues.

Editorial – The Chief Justice’s recent warning about the prosecution’s handling of a child witness is not merely a courtroom issue. It raises serious concerns about the competence of those entrusted with administering justice on behalf of the people of Tonga.

Lord Chief Justice Malcolm Bishop formally criticised the Crown’s conduct and recommended further training for prosecutors following a case involving a 12-year-old witness whose mother was involved in a road-rage confrontation with an accused from Fātumu.

According to the judgment, the Chief Justice expressed concern about how the vulnerable child was treated while giving evidence about a traumatic incident involving threats, violence and gunfire.

Children and other vulnerable witnesses require particular care within the judicial process, especially when recounting traumatic events before a court. Those standards were not met in this case.

Beyond a single case

If the prosecution cannot properly protect a vulnerable child witness in a case such as this, serious questions must be asked about its readiness to handle cases in which the stakes—and the consequences of failure—are even greater.

The prosecution represents the Crown in criminal proceedings and carries responsibilities extending far beyond securing convictions. Prosecutors must present evidence competently, prepare witnesses appropriately, comply with disclosure and procedural requirements, act fairly, assist the court in achieving justice, and ensure that vulnerable witnesses are properly protected throughout the legal process.

Failures in these responsibilities can have serious consequences, not only for individual cases but for the effectiveness and credibility of the criminal justice system as a whole. Poorly prepared or mishandled prosecutions can weaken otherwise strong cases, waste the considerable public resources invested in criminal investigations and court proceedings, and cause further distress to victims and witnesses.

The Chief Justice’s criticism is not the first judicial warning about prosecutorial shortcomings in Tonga. In previous cases, judges have criticised failures to call important witnesses, accurately present defendants’ criminal histories, explain discrepancies in drug evidence and follow proper procedures. In one serious armed-robbery case, Justice Charles Cato described the handling of the matter as an “unacceptable litany of error”.

More broadly, persistent weaknesses within the prosecution service can undermine deterrence and public confidence. A criminal justice system depends partly on the expectation that offences will be investigated and prosecuted competently. If offenders come to believe that serious cases may fail because prosecutors are poorly prepared or unable to present evidence effectively, that perception risks weakening the deterrent force of the law and, in the worst circumstances, emboldening further offending.

Wider structural concerns

The Chief Justice’s warning comes amid longstanding concerns about the Kingdom’s wider justice system. A 2014 review by constitutional-law consultant Peter Pursglove, which was presented to the King and tabled in Parliament, concluded that aspects of Tonga’s judicial structure were unworkable and incompatible with the principles of constitutional monarchy and democracy.

The review was particularly critical of the fragmentation of responsibility among the Ministry of Justice, the Office of the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney General’s Office. It also raised concerns about the Lord Chancellor’s lack of public accountability and potential conflicts of interest arising from his relationship with the Judicial Appointments and Discipline Panel.

Although Pursglove’s review focused primarily on Tonga’s constitutional and judicial structure, the Chief Justice’s latest criticism points to weaknesses in another crucial part of the justice system—the prosecution service. Together, they reinforce concerns about the poor constitutional framework underpinning Tonga’s justice system and the urgent need for professional training, stronger accountability and meaningful structural reform.

A 23-year-old man charged with the alleged murder of ‘Alai ‘Ahio during a targeted home invasion in Sydney is expected to reappear in court next month.

The man, who was refused bail, is scheduled to appear in Parramatta Local Court on 17 September. He has been charged with murder and two counts of possessing an unauthorised pistol.

Police arrested him at Sydney International Airport at about 6.30pm last month following an investigation into the fatal shooting at a Canley Heights home on 19 May.

Investigators allege that two gunmen entered the house at about 8.20pm and opened fire on five men inside.

Mr ‘Ahio, 28, who reportedly had links to the Australian drill-rap group OneFour, and a 32-year-old man arrived at Liverpool Hospital suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Mr ‘Ahio died shortly after reaching the hospital. The 32-year-old man survived a gunshot wound to his neck.

Two other men, aged 23 and 22, later arrived at Fairfield Hospital with gunshot wounds and received treatment. One had also been shot in the neck.

A fifth man, aged 19, arrived at Liverpool Hospital at about 9.50pm with a gunshot wound to his shoulder.

Police were not called to the Canley Heights property and became aware of the shooting after the wounded men began arriving at hospitals.

NSW Police Detective Superintendent Craig Middleton previously described the shooting as “a very brazen, violent attack”.

Detectives also searched a home in Moorebank on the day of the arrest and allegedly seized about 10 grams of cocaine and several electronic devices.

The investigation by Strike Force Valko is continuing.

Two candidates have withdrawn from the Tongatapu 2 by-election, including one who has stepped aside to support Dr Malakai Koloamatangi.

The Tonga Electoral Commission has scheduled by-elections for Tongatapu 2 and ‘Ongo Niua 17 for 8 October, with candidate nominations taking place on 2 and 3 September.

The two seats became vacant after former Tongatapu 2 MP Sēmisi Sika and former Ongo Niua 17 MP Lataifaingata‘a Tangimana were found guilty by the Supreme Court in Nuku‘alofa of electoral offences arising from the 2025 general election.

Sika was found guilty of failing to report full election expenses, while Tangimana was found guilty of bribery.

Parliament formally unseated the pair on 3 August, disqualifying them from contesting an election for five years.

Soane Patita Vakautafefine Fifita announced this week that he was withdrawing his candidacy and would instead support Dr Koloamatangi’s campaign for the vacant parliamentary seat.

Another candidate, Ringo Fa‘oliu, also announced his withdrawal after meeting with Tonga’s Supervisor of Elections. Fa‘oliu said he was unable to fulfil the requirements for candidacy.

Dr Koloamatangi is the Registrar of Tonga National University and has held several senior academic and management positions in New Zealand.

He previously served as Associate Professor in Pacific Politics and director of the Pasifika Directorate at Massey University. He was also acting assistant vice-chancellor in the university’s Office of the Assistant Vice-Chancellor Māori and Pasifika.

Dr Koloamatangi has served on several advisory boards, including as chair of the Taupulega, the Pacific advisory group to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

A livestreamed video appearing to show a teacher pointing a handgun at a female student, who then tried to grasp his gun hand and push it away as other students watched and reacted in a classroom in Tonga, has prompted sharply divided responses online.

The teacher, dressed in formal vala faka-Tonga, appeared to repeatedly move closer to the girl as she reacted and attempted to push away the hand holding the gun.

The footage circulated widely online, prompting contrasting reactions to the teacher’s conduct and the presence of what appeared to be a firearm in the classroom.

The circumstances surrounding the incident—including whether the handgun was real and why it was displayed before the students—were not immediately clear.

Kaniva News was unable to independently verify the authenticity of the video.

Some Facebook users cautioned against drawing conclusions, suggesting it might have been a toy gun used as part of a lesson.

“Wait! We never know—it might be a demonstration of the disadvantage of using a gun,” one commenter wrote.

Others were unconvinced.

“That’s stupid. No matter what, he cannot do that to students in a classroom,” another commenter wrote.

“Not funny at all. This is foolishness in its ultimate sense,” one commenter wrote.

Others said that even if the incident formed part of a lesson, it should not have been demonstrated in that manner, particularly as the girl appeared to react nervously.

This year’s Tongan Language Week theme in Aotearoa has brought renewed attention to King George Tupou II’s contribution to hiva kakala or kakala songs, an important creative legacy that appears to have received limited scholarly attention compared with that of his daughter, Queen Sālote Tupou III.

The theme, “Ko ʻetau hiva, ko e feʻunu mahuʻinga ia ki he moʻui ʻa e Tonga’—Our music is a vital strand of our Tongan culture,” was chosen as part of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ efforts to preserve and sustain Pacific languages in Aotearoa.

One composition that illustrates the importance of songs as rich repositories of language and artistic creativity is the King’s well-known ʻIseʻisa, also known as Louʻenisolo.

King George Tupou II originally composed the five-verse song with no chorus for his Queen Consort, Queen Lavinia, the mother of Queen Sālote in 1903, a year after Queen Lavinia’s death in 1902.

Its verses express King George Tupou II’s longing for his beloved wife.

Years later, Queen Sālote added a chorus expressing her inability to remember her mother clearly, former Royal Palace Office records keeper Masiu Moala said in an interview.

Queen Lavinia died when Sālote was only two years and one month old.

The chorus read:

While Queen Sālote is widely recognised as Tonga’s greatest punake, ʻIseʻisa also reveals her father’s remarkable creative and musical talent.

This is particularly evident in his skilful transliteration of foreign terms in the lyrics, including moniumēniti from “monument”, tilani from “tillandsia”, and lēveni losa from “raven rose”. He also published his own music booklet.

The king also composed several anthems, including Sikaiona, a transliteration of “scion”—a shoot or twig cut from a plant for propagation—and ʻAlamoti, transliterated from “alamoth”, meaning “maidens”.

ʻIseʻisa reflects the royal household’s important involvement in the genre, while also showing how Queen Sālote inherited and further developed her father’s exceptional musical and lyrical talents.

Its revival during Tongan Language Week highlights both a celebrated composition and the shared musical legacy of King George Tupou II and Queen Sālote.

‘Ise’isa (also known as Lou’enisolo) by King George Tupou II and her daughter Queen Sālote Tupou III

You can listen to the song here:

Reverend Simote Vea, who devoted much of his life to Christian ministry and the advancement of democracy, human rights and political reform in Tonga, has died.

Rev Vea was a prominent member of Tonga’s pro-democracy movement during the decades-long campaign for greater public representation, government accountability and constitutional reform.

He was a founding member of the Human Rights and Democracy Movement and held several senior positions within the organisation, including chairman, general secretary and acting director at different times. He also served for several years as general secretary of the Tonga National Council of Churches.

His political advocacy was particularly visible during the early 2000s, when Tonga remained governed under a system in which the monarch appointed the prime minister and Cabinet and held extensive executive authority.

Following the dismissal by royal command of Police Minister Clive Edwards, Labour and Commerce Minister Masaso Paunga and Justice Minister ʻAisea Taumoepeau in 2004, Rev Vea publicly condemned the manner in which the ministers had been removed.

He described the dismissals as a violation of human rights and an abuse of power, arguing that such action was possible under a political system that vested absolute authority in one person.

Rev Vea also criticised the government’s failure to provide a clear explanation for the dismissals and called on then prime minister Prince ʻUlukālala Lavaka Ata, who was responsible for the government’s information services, to inform the public about the reasons behind the decision.

The Human Rights and Democracy Movement maintained that the three ministers should have been consulted, informed of the allegations against them and given a fair opportunity to respond.

Rev Vea later said a television interview with Edwards had helped clarify some of the unanswered questions surrounding the dismissals. Edwards claimed that tensions had developed over the government’s one-airline policy and the awarding of services to Air Peau, in which the then crown prince reportedly held a major business interest.

Further disagreement reportedly arose after Edwards presented a critical Royal Commission report on the collapse of Royal Tongan Airlines, whose board had been chaired by the prime minister.

Although Rev Vea was a firm critic of the concentration and exercise of political power, he also recognised and welcomed meaningful steps towards reform.

When the Tongan government later presented its own political-reform proposal, departing in several respects from the recommendations of the National Committee for Political Reform, Rev Vea described it as a positive sign of change.

He estimated that the government’s proposal represented between 60 and 70 percent of the reforms sought by the public. He particularly welcomed the proposal for elected members of Parliament to form a majority of Cabinet, describing it as a significant new development for Tonga.

His involvement in the democracy movement was not without personal and institutional opposition. Academic accounts record that Rev Vea and other Free Wesleyan ministers who supported political reform faced criticism from people who regarded their activism as opposition to the monarch, government and established social order.

Despite that resistance, he continued to advocate for social justice, political accountability and the right of the Tongan people to participate more fully in governing their country.

Service to the Free Wesleyan Church

Alongside his public advocacy, Rev Vea devoted much of his life to Christian ministry. He served as a minister and senior leader of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga before retiring from active ministry.

Even in retirement, he remained engaged in church and community affairs. In 2024, he participated in interdenominational meetings in Nukuʻalofa, where he joined other Christian leaders in discussing faith, family life and challenges affecting Tongan young people, including drugs, crime, technology and the prolonged separation of married couples caused by overseas employment.

Rev Vea’s life brought together two forms of service that he regarded as closely connected: Christian ministry and the pursuit of justice. His willingness to challenge political authority distinguished him as one of the church figures who gave moral and religious support to Tonga’s movement for democratic reform.

His death marks the passing of an important figure in Tonga’s modern political and religious history—a church minister who spoke publicly for human rights, accountable government and a more representative political system at a time when doing so attracted considerable opposition.

Details of his age, the circumstances of his death and funeral arrangements were not immediately available.

KEARNS, Utah — Distressing photographs and videos shared on Facebook have captured scenes of horror and devastation as family members reacted to the deadly shooting outside a Tongan funeral at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Utah.

The footage showed a visibly devastated mother crying at the scene, while another grieving person, believed to be a sibling or close relative of one of the victims, fell to his knees and lowered his head to the ground in apparent shock and anguish.

The emotional scenes unfolded after gunfire killed a man and injured others outside the church in Kearns.

A livestream obtained by Kaniva News captured the moments before and after gunshots were heard during the funeral at the Kearns stake centre. Chaos and panic erupted as mourners rushed to safety without knowing what was happening outside.

The video initially showed a woman delivering a eulogy before someone was heard screaming in the background. Seconds later, people inside the church began shouting in alarm and running towards the exits.

As mourners rushed outside, someone was heard shouting, “No! No!” while others yelled, “Get out!” and “Call 911!”

No one inside the church was injured in the shooting or the panic that followed.

Police identified the man killed as 18-year-old Vilisoni Angilau. A 17-year-old and another 18-year-old were critically injured and transported to hospital.

Other livestreamed footage later shared on Facebook captured the immediate aftermath outside the building. A man believed to be Angilau was seen lying on the ground as emergency personnel attempted to treat him.

Further footage showed family members and relatives weeping and visibly overcome with grief.

Afuhia Masiu Manatau, 45, was arrested following the shooting and faces charges of first-degree felony murder and felony discharge of a firearm.

Police alleged that Manatau supplied a gun to his 17-year-old son, who then shot Angilau and the other 18-year-old during an altercation. The teenage suspect was subsequently shot during a struggle for the weapon and remained in critical condition.

The allegations against Manatau and his son have not been proven in court.

A funeral flyer indicated that the service was being held for 23-year-old ʻOfaʻatangikivaha Angilau, who was fatally shot at a Riverton petrol station on August 7.