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Bishop Foliaki: Their Majesties lead mourners at funeral

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u Tuku’aho  have led mourners in the Immaculate Conception of Mary’s Cathedral in Ma’ufanga at the funeral of Late Bishop Dr Soane Lilo Foliaki, 80, today Dec 31.  

About thousands paid their last respects at the biggest such occasion for the Diocese of the Catholic Church of Tonga and Niue since the bishop Patelesio Punou ki Hihifo Finau in 1993.

Followed by immediate families and kainga across Tonga and overseas, religious leaders from other denominations and representatives from government, the Royal Corps of Musician led the funeral procession route through Hala Vuna to the Catholic Church's cemetery in Ma'ufanga.

Bishop Soane Patita Mafi led the farewell mass attended by priests from both the Society of Mary and the Diocese of Tonga and Niue.

Bishop Foliaki also known as Bishop Emeritus served as a priest for 54 years.

He died on December 24, 2013. His parents were Soane and Sosefina Foliaki of Ma'ufanga.  Bishop Foliaki has 10 siblings.

The Tonga Health Society in New Zealand set up in 1970s and is now operating the Langimalie Clinics to cater for the Tongan immgrants is attirbuted to the late Dr Leopino Foliaki who was a brother of the late Bishop Foliaki.

Migrants warned to avoid unlicensed immigration advisers

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Unlicensed immigration advisers have similar methods when dealing with migrants, warned the Immigration Advisers Authority.

The Registrar of Immigration Advisers, Barry Smedts, said the Authority had investigated several such advisers in 2013.

Some operated from home like Mt Roskill-based Khadijah Lolohea (also known as Khadijah Piu) who offended against 13 mainly Tongan migrants.

Others operated from rented office space like Tengyu (Nick) Yuan who obtained more than $100,000 from migrants after advertising his services in a Chinese newspaper.

Ashneel Nand and Sunita Devi face 42 charges and eight charges respectively after receiving more than $50,000 from migrants.

Mr Smedts said: “What we have learned is that those operating unlawfully tend to use similar methods. They may ask you to sign a blank visa application form or tell you they are on close terms with Immigration New Zealand workers. Whatever you are told, it pays to follow our five tips when choosing an immigration adviser.”

The Authority’s five tips when choosing an immigration adviser

  1. Choose someone who is licensed by the Authority or exempt.

Licensed advisers are listed on the Authority’s online register at www.iaa.govt.nz. Exempt people include New Zealand lawyers who can be found at www.nzls.org.nz. . 

  1. Stay away from anyone who encourages you to lie on your visa application form.

Lying to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is a criminal offence and dishonesty may affect your future visas or jobs.

  1. Avoid anyone who refuses to put their name on your visa application.

Your visa application form has a section at the end that must be completed and signed by any person who has assisted you. Genuine immigration professionals will always complete this part of the form. People acting unlawfully will avoid including their name because Immigration New Zealand will not accept applications from unlicensed individuals.

  1. Do not sign a visa application form before it has been filled out.

You should never sign a document you don’t understand.

  1. Be wary of anyone who claims they have personal contacts at INZ.

Bogus immigration consultants often make false claims that they work with personal contacts at INZ.

Mr Smedts warned, even those who mean well such as pastors, teachers or community leaders, frequently put individuals at risk and damage migrants’ chances of legitimately gaining a visa.

He said: “Having good intentions is not the same as giving good immigration advice.”

The Immigration Advisers Authority is a government regulator set up to protect people receiving immigration advice. The Authority forms part of Consumer Protection and Standards within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

Unlicensed advisers before the courts in 2013

Richard Martin of Richard Martin Immigration Limited North Shore

three charges of providing immigration advice when neither licensed nor exempt

one charge of receiving a fee or reward for providing immigration advice when neither licensed nor exempt

Charges before the Court

Khadijah Lolohea

(Khadijah Piu)

nine charges of providing immigration advice without a licence following a widespread immigration scam in the Tongan community

convicted

Tengyu Yuan

(Nick Yuan) of Noahark Consultant Limited

six charges of providing immigration advice without a licence and one charge of holding out as an immigration adviser after amassing more than $100,000 from six migrants

convicted

Hakaoro Hakaoro of Hakaoro Immigration Consultancy

six charges of providing immigration advice without a licence and one charge of holding himself out as an immigration adviser

Charges before the Court

Ashneel Nand of Universal Immigration Services (NZ)

42 charges including holding himself out as a licensed immigration adviser knowing he was not licensed, asking for or receiving a fee

for the provision of immigration advice, and providing immigration advice without a licence.

Charges before the Court

Sunita Devi of Universal Immigration Services (NZ)

Eight charges including providing immigration advice without a licence and asking for or receiving a fee for the provision of immigration advice.

Charges before the Court

Tonga team enjoy New Zealand scout jamboree

By
Kalino Latu
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AUCK, NZ: Twelve Tongan scouts are at Fielding in Manawatu to join the 20th New Zealand Scout Jamboree on Saturday 28  until January 6.

The Tongan team are represented by the 'Apifo'ou College scouts led by Viliami Fuapau, the scout contingent leader and his assistant Lesieli Vaohea, both are teachers at Apifo’ou College.

More than 1200 volunteers are also attending the event which is held every three years.

The Tongan Scouts will be joined by scouts and leaders from, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Korea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands and Hong Kong to enjoy nine days of challenges.

While they are there they will eat 360kg bacon, 76,000 slices of bread, 2700 tins of fruit salad, 2200 litres of ice cream, 450kg of sliced ham, 46,000 biscuits and 26,000 bananas.

They will also drink 12,000 litres of milk.

"Jamboree is an event where thousands of Scouts come together from all around New Zealand and further afield and experience being part of a wider community and meeting others with a common interest," said Scouts NZ National Commissioner Kelly Bleakley.

"On top of that, they can take part in a high-quality adventure programme that provides them with new experiences and gets them enjoying the outdoors and challenging themselves."

Mother killed with daughter laid to rest

By
Kalino Latu
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UPDATED: A Tongan mother and her daughter who died in an alleged murder in Fiji have been laid to rest together at Viseisei in Lautoka today.

Sisi Taufa Patolo, 33, and her seven-month- old daughter Sarah Patolo  died after they were fatally stabbed last week.

Twin daughters Fisi'ipeau Patolo, 5, Grace Patolo, 5 and Ana Kaitonua Patolo, 3 were also been injured in the vicious attack.

Fisipeau and ‘Ana attended the memorial service and the burial ceremony of  their deceased mum and sister while twin sister Grace could not make it as she is still in critical condition in hospital.

About a hundred mourners gathered at a joint funeral for the two, who shared the same coffin and buried together in the  family burial grounds of the Sawaieke clan, close to the chiefly burial ground where the past chiefs of the village are buried.

The families and relatives of the accused attended the funeral and asked for forgiveness from the victims' family.

The Tongan pastor and cousin of the deceased, Paea-i-Fulton Taufatofua who conducted the prayer service for the funeral told the accused's family they have forgiven them.

‘Eleni Tevi Tongan community leader in Fiji said the Tongan community and the Tonga High School alumnus were represented in the funeral.

Taufa Patolo was an ex-student of Tonga High School 1993 – 1998.

Twenty-two-year old Priya Darshani, has been charged with two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder after the Wednesday brutal attack.

Darshani was brought to the family to look after the children while the mother, Taufa Patolo worked at night. She was later on had a son with Taufa Patolo's husband, Moeki Patolo,  but still they lived together with Darshani.

Repeated domestic disputes between the deceased mother and the accused because of their relationship with Mr Patolo were alleged to have been the motive behind the fatal attack.

Operation Ghost drugs bust linked to Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
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A Tongan freight company and premises in Auckland were some of the many targets police busted for drugs after more than 260kg of drugs used to cook methamphetamine were found hidden in a shipping container on Dec 15.

Ezi World Cargo Ltd’s director Mosese Uele told Kakalu ‘o Tonga newspaper police searched his premises and office.

They left and his office continued on its normal working hours and no charges laid against him and his company, he said.

It is understood police also searched premises of other Tongans in Auckland during their drug raids.

Through Operation Ghost detectives from the Organised and Financial Crime Agency of New Zealand (OFCANZ), working alongside Customs Officers, intercepted a significant consignment of ContacNT and ephedrine, police statement says.

Police did not say where the shipment came from but Kaniva understands the seizure and the searches made in Auckland had link to other Tongans and Chinese in Tonga.

248 kilograms of Pseudoephedrine commonly referred to as ContacNT and 16 kilograms of pure Ephedrine both of which are Class B Controlled drugs and precursors used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, were discovered when a container ship arrived at Ports of Auckland on Sunday morning Dec 15.

Detective Inspector Bruce Good of OFCANZ said the consignment was big enough to produce methamphetamine with a street value of approximately $72 million.

“The ContacNT was disguised as legitimately imported commercial goods,” Mr Good said.

“The intelligence gathered during Operation Ghost was critical in assisting Police and Customs identify the importation and it’s whereabouts within the consignment.”

Earlier this month OFCANZ began the termination phase of Operation Ghost, an 18 month intensive multi-agency investigation which focused on a group of senior Asian organised crime figures operating in New Zealand.

Prior to the seizure of this 264 kilograms over 330 kilograms of ContacNT, 15.5 ounces of methamphetamine and approximately $1.5 million of cash have already been seized during Operation Ghost. Over $20 million worth of assets have also restrained during the investigation.

In total Operation Ghost has yielded 594 kilograms, or over half a tonne, of pseudoephedrine during the investigation.

“While we were confident our intelligence was accurate it was still a huge relief when we opened the shipping container at the Customs inspection facility and the drugs were discovered,” Mr Good said.

ContacNT is manufactured legally in China but it is a class B controlled drug in New Zealand.

Government approved 5% cost of living adjustment

By
Kalino Latu
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Tongan public servants including casual employees in January 2014 will receive a 5% cost of living adjustment government said this week.

Ministry of Finance CEO Tatafu Moeaki said, it is the responsibility of government “to periodically adjust service staff salaries to the cost of living increases. 

“In this regard, the Ministry’s duly responsibility and contribution to the appropriate COLA is to provide sound and timely advise based on thorough analysis of options to manage Government's affordability of COLA, cost control options of tax payers (public) money i.e. within budget and not undermining other Government priorities, its predictability (fiscal implication) and sustainability of these costs,” he said.

The 5% COLA was announced by the Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu after the cabinet previously approved a 20% adjustment increase for its employees.

The Finance Minister Hon Lisiate Akolo said government has no money to fund the pay rise.

Cabinet however finally agree for the 5% to start with and said that would be reviewed later next year.

Former Catholic bishop dies

By
Kaniva Staff
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Dr Bishop Soane Lilo Foliaki SM, 80,  a former and retired bishop of the diocese of Tonga and Niue died Tuesday 24 in Nuku’alofa.

A Vigil Mass by the Marist priests in Tonga will be held on Dec, 30 at the cathedral in Ma’ufanga.

His funeral Mass will also be held Dec, 31 at the cathedral and is expected to be led by his successor, Bishop Soane Mafi.

His body will then be laid to rest at the Ma’ufanga Catholic cemetery.

Bishop Foliaki, was ordained priest in 1955 and was consecrated bishop in 1994.

He was the second Tongan bishop to be appointed by the Vatican since Catholic was brought to Tonga in 1842 by members of the Society of Mary.

Bishop Foliaki retired in 2008.  

Ratu Mara offered island in the kingdom

By
Kalino Latu
-

UPDATED: A top Fijian military leader who fled his country in 2011 causing a war of words between Fiji and Tonga has been given an island and appointed by His Majesty King Tupou VI as his private secretary according to a report this week.

Ratu Uluilakeba Tevita Mara a former  Army Chief of Staff in Fiji was charged for attempting to overthrow Bainimarima's government in 2010.

Following Mara’s appearance in a Fijian court for his charge and while released on bail his family contacted their royal family in Tonga and asked to help rescued Mara, unconfirmed information said.

Tonga navy under a royal order arrived in Lau group and secretly picked up Mara in May 2011.

Bainimarama’s regime was furious after it learnt Tonga navy crossed its sea zone and rescued Mara but the Tongan authorities officially said it was "attracted to a distress signal" south of the Fiji's Lau groups, 365 kilometres west of Nuku'alofa.

Since then Mara was given sanctuary by the Tongan royals.

His co-accused Pita Diriti was sentenced in Fiji  early this month for 5 years imprisonments.   

Mara’s  grandfather  Sir Edward Tuivanuavou Tugi Cakobau was a half-brother of Tonga’s Queen Salote Tupou III.

Tonga’s current king, His Majesty Tupou VI is Queen Salote’s grandson.

Fiji Sun says the king’s sister Princess Pilolevu has given Mara an island while the king appointed him as his private secretary.  

The website did not give the name of the island.

Mara told Sun he is developing it for eco-tourism.

Visiting New Zealand in 2011 Mara told an audience in Auckland that Bainimarama’s government is “repressive”, “oppressive” and “illegal”.

The only solution is to restore democracy, he said.

The Fiji Sun website says the Tongan royals have asked Mara to avoid further voicing his political views against Fiji’s regime to keep the peace between the two countries.

Leader says ongoing feud led to gruesome murder

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Regular disputes and jealousy were implicated as contributing causes in a murder case where a Tongan mother and a daughter were hacked to death Wednesday, Dec 18 while three other children suffered serious lacerations, according to a Tongan community leader in Fiji.

Sisi Taufa Patolo, 33, and her seven-month-old daughter, Sarah Patolo were pronounced dead on arrival at the Lautoka Hospital last week.

Twin daughters Fisi’ipeau Patolo, 5, Grace Patolo, 5 and Ana Kaitonua Patolo, 3 are in critical condition after allegedly stabbed by their attacker.

A 22-year-old, Priya Darshani who was in a de facto relationship with the father, Mokai Patolo, 31 was charged Sunday 22 with two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder following the brutal attack.

She will appear at the High Court in Lautoka for mention on January 24, 2014.

Tongan community committee leader in Fiji ‘Eleni Tevi updated her friends on Facebook after she was interviewed by the Fijian media.

She said she found out the deceased mother Sisi Taufa Patolo, “was the more known Taufa Patolo who was a student of mine at Tonga High School 93-98”.

“The couple moved to Fiji and stayed in Lautoka for about 5yrs and never made contacts with relatives thereafter,”  Tevi Said.

“Taufa works nights and  (the) 22yrs old Priya Darshani moved in to help care for the kids at night.

She later had a son with Mr Patolo and continued to stay with the couple”.

Darshani was reportedly a former Indian beauty pageant contestant and her son with Mr Patolo turned one year-old this week.

Tevi said, when Darshani found out Sisi Taufa was having another baby girl  with Mr Patolo about five months after Darshani born their son, a feud between the two women continuously erupted leading to Wednesday’s shocking incident.

Horrific Murder: Tongan community in Fiji reeling

By
Kalino Latu
-

UPDATED: A Tongan community is dumbfounded after a mother and her daughter were found lying dead in a pool of blood in their home near Viseisei, Lautoka in Fiji, on Wednesday 18.

The incident is alleged to have occurred as a result of a domestic dispute between the deceased and the woman around 10am and 12midday on Wednesday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more at: http://fijilive.com/news/2013/12/woman-22-charged-over-lautoka-murder/56037.Fijilive
Copyright 2013 © Fijilive.com

The incident is alleged to have occurred as a result of a domestic dispute between the deceased and the woman around 10am and 12midday on Wednesday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more at: http://fijilive.com/news/2013/12/woman-22-charged-over-lautoka-murder/56037.Fijilive
Copyright 2013 © Fijilive.com

Fiji Times Online report says the deceased were Tongan mother Sisi Taufa Patolo, 33, and her seven-month-old baby Sarah Patolo.

Three other children Fisi Peau, 5, Grace Patolo, 5, Ana Kaitonua, 3 are also being hospitalised after allegedly being knifed by the attacker, the website says.

The children are in critical condition.

Official statement says, "Police received a report from health authorities that a woman and her child were brought to the hospital and were pronounced dead on arrival”.

The 22-year-old, Priya Darshani who was in a de facto relationship with the father, Mokai Patolo was charged Sunday 22 with two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder following the brutal attacks.

Darshani will appear at the High Court in Lautoka for mention on January 24, 2014.

It was alleged a domestic dispute between the deceased and Darshani had been the cause of the gruesome incident.

Police said the deceased and Darshani were staying in the same house with a 31 old man in defacto relationship.

Tongan community members in Lautoka, who had mobilized and prayed for the deceased were in disbelief after hearing the news that the mother and her children had been slain and injured.

The Secretary of the Tongan Community committee in Fiji Eleni Tevi was reported by the Fiji Times as saying:  

"I am starting to dialogue with the committee about the incident," she said.

"I am contacting Tongans living in Tonga about the identity of the deceased.

"And I will be looking into people who wish to assist in terms of the funeral arrangements and perhaps Christmas presents for the children."

"The unfortunate inhumane incident of the killing itself is sad because it happened during a joyous occasion," she said.

"If you wish to help, this is a good way to help for Christmas."

Ms Tevi is urging members of the public and Tongans in Fiji to come forward and assist the three children during this time of "uncertainty in their lives".

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