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New Zealand Tongan Rugby Association rugby awards

By
Kaniva Staff
-

An awards ceremony in South Auckland last week marked a milestone in an attempt by the New Zealand Tongan Rugby Association to revive the Aoniu Tournament, an opportunity for the local players in Tonga and overseas to join the  'Ikale Tahi squad and overseas professional rugby union clubs.

More than 30 prizes presented to players who deemed the Most Improved Player of the Year, Forward of the Year, Back of the Year, Player of the Year and Coaches of the Year.  

The tournament began with a Rugby Sevens Tournament in September and it was the first time a Tongan rugby association hold Sevens tournemanent in New Zealand.

‘Emosi Koloto, President of the NZTRA said the tournament ran from September to December and the result was brilliant and successful.

“After the tournament we will select one team from the six teams participated. That team would be called the Siutaka,” Koloto said.

“We have talked to the Tonga Rugby Union with president ‘Epeli Taione and Vice President Soape Tu’iono. They agreed with our idea to bring back the Aoniu Tounament,” he said.

This means Tonga and Tongans in Australia are expected to run local rubgy tournaments and would select their best players into one team respectivlely to participate in the Aoniu Tournament.

Aoniu Tournament was run in 1990s but discontinued  in 2000s.

 

Team

Most Improve Player of the Year

1st

Eastern Stars

Taniela Ofa

2nd

Toloa

Lea Mohetau

3rd

Saineha

Toa Kivalu

4th

Fasi/Ma'ufanga

Siua Hefa

5th

Kauvai

Lisitoni Vaka'uta

6th

Manurewa

Jr Matavao Fanguna

     
 

Back of the year

Forward of the Year

1st

Solo Kata

Siua Moala

2nd

Mo'ui Tau

Tevita Maka

3rd

Tonga Malupo

Siua Katoa

4th

Leakona Tovi

Loa Havili

5th

Setefano Vaka'uta

Poualo 'I Taula

6th

Lui Lauhingoa

Jonathan Talia'uli

 

2013 FInal Prize Most Improve Player of the Year

3rd

Jr Matavao Fanguna

2nd

Lea Mohetau (Toloa)

1st

Siua Hefa (Fasi/Ma'ufanga)

 

Forward of the year

3rd

Siua Katoa (Sineha (2))

2nd

Timote Milton (Toloa (8))

1st

Kainga Pesalili (Eastern Stars)

 

Back of the year

3rd

Leakona Tovi (Fasi/ Ma'ufanga (9))

2nd

Sione Katoa (Toloa (10))

1st

Michael Pongi (Easter Stars (9/10))

 

Coach of the Year (2013)

2nd

Ofa Topini (Toloa)

1st

Sione Ma'u Fifita (Eastern Stars)

 

2013 Final Prize Player of the Year

3rd

Antonio Talakai (Saineha (7)

2nd

Timote Milton (Toloa (8))

1st

Kainga Pesalili (Eastern (7)

TRU board sacks 'Ikale Tahi Sevens' coaches

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Tonga Rugby Union board has officially decided early this month to sack Sevens' Head Coach Edward Waqa and Assistant Tevita Tu’ifua because they were not willing to cooperate with a series of measures the board had endorsed.

Considering their dismissal the board said the coaches failed to take the rugby Sevens to the South Pacific Mini Games in Wallis and Futuna and they left the team without informing ICEO.

In August Coach Waqa and Tu’ifua refused to travel by sea after they were told they have to take the MV 'Otuanga'ofa to Wallis for the Mini Games.

The team were then led at the Games by Manu Vunipola. They won bronze.

Vunipola is understood to be the interim coach for Tonga’s Rugby Sevens.

Waqa and Tu'ifua could not be reached for comments.

Val awarded Lonsdale Cup for fourth time

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Double Olympic champion Valerie Adams has been awarded the Lonsdale Cup for an unprecedented fourth time.

New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Kereyn Smith says she is delighted to award the trophy to Adams.

“Valerie is an inspiration to young New Zealanders and continues to perform at the very top of her field. Four world championship wins is outstanding.”

Smith added that Adams’ contribution to sport extends to her work an ambassador to the Get Set Go youth programme delivered by Athletics New Zealand. 

Adams herself said she was honoured to receive the New Zealand Olympic Committee award. "I am so humbled by this, what an amazing year it has been for New Zealand sport and Olympic sports producing World Champions. I am very proud of my year and especially creating history for New Zealand. It’s great that the New Zealand Olympic Committee recognises achievements like this each year and I thank them for this. It is a very special award."

Adams was shortlisted for the Female Athlete of the Year by the IAAF. 

Adams won the Lonsdale Cup in 2006, 2007 and 2011 and was the first person to be awarded the award for both a third and fourth time. 

The Cup was first presented in 1961 to Sir Murray Halberg. 

Since then it has been awarded to outstanding New Zealand athletes including Sir John Walker, Sir Peter Snell, Rob Waddell and Hamish Bond and Eric Murray.

The Cup is sterling silver and of historic value, having its origins in a 1911 sporting festival between the United Kingdom, Canada and Australasia held to honour the accession of George V.

The Lonsdale Cup winner is selected by New Zealand Olympic President’s Council (business and sporting leaders) and the New Zealand Olympic Committee Board.

Tongan families in Manukau to receive bodies of crash victims

By
Kaniva Staff
-

AUCKLAND, NZ: A funeral procession that travelled in more than 1000 km of road distance or more than 700 km if taken by plane from Greymouth in the South Island to Manukau City in the North Island  was expected to arrive today at the 11B Leila Place, Manukau City, a family member told Kaniva News. 

It has been revealed that Lavinia Langi, 43, nee Manui Kitekei’aho, and her teenage son, Lesili Langi, 15, who died in a car crash Monday, Dec 16, were drowned after the van Mrs Langi was driving veered off the Taylorville Rd, a few kilometres from Greymouth and hurtled over a bank into a creek where it turned upside down.

The incident happened while it was raining.

Another passenger, the three year old Kavana, was taken to hospital after he scrambled out from the wreck and was rescued from the water by passing motorists, who were unable to save the other sibling and the mother.

Kavana had since been released from hospital after he was treated with minor injuries.

The family of nine are of Tongan descent and they migrated into New Zealand in 2007. 

Ministers' insurance package revealed, PSA pushes for 40% cost of living allowance

By
Kalino Latu
-

UPDATED: If the Tongan Cabinet can afford a new insurance scheme for ministers, the kingdom’s 3000 public servants should get a cost of living allowance, the Tongan Public Service Association said this week.

The PSA said it would not be fair if the government could not also fund the 40% cost of living allowance for the kingdom’s 3000 public servants that has been in the news this week.

An exchange of e-mails between the Tongan Treasury and the PSA shows Cabinet has approved funding for the ministers’ insurance policy.

According to a reliable source, Cabinet has approved an insurance scheme worth  TP$400,000 for cabinet members.

A request to the Finance Minister Hon. Lisiate 'Akolo and the Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano to confirm the figure had not been answered at the time of writing.

Kaniva  News has been unable to confirm whether the amount is for an individual insurance policy or whether it was a payment for a package to cover all the ministers and cabinet members.

The PSA has told the government it would not be fair if it could not also fund the 40% cost of living allowance.

PSA secretary Mele ‘Amanaki has asked Finance CEO Tatafu Moeaki to confirm that public servants will receive the 40% pay rise based on the cost of living.

In an e-mail to Moeaki the PSA secretary said: “We understood that this is the accumulated COLA approved thus far by Cabinet and that your Ministry is looking at its affordability and what Government can afford to pay.”

“We also understood that your Ministry may be recommending around 5-25% to Cabinet.

“If the Government can finance the recently approved medical insurance for the Cabinet Members, we are sure that Government can finance the maximum limit of the recommended range for COLA for the employees.” 

‘Amanaki said the Finance Ministry should not recommend a range to Cabinet for consideration, but only the maximum limit of the affordable recommended range.

He said the cost of living allowance should be given to all public servants, including the Police and Defence forces.

Nobody who is paid from the public purse should be omitted unless they had been granted a cost of living allowance recently.

The cost of living allowance should be paid from the same source as the medical insurance for Cabinet Members so that the already limited operational budgets of the Ministries are not cut, ‘Amanaki said.

This is the first time the Tongan Cabinet has considered a pay rise for public servants since 2005.

Public service salaries account for three quarters of the government’s annual budget.

The Asian Development Bank recommended last year that the kingdom’s public service wage bill should be cut by nearly half.

The International Monetary Fund said last year that the Tongan government needed to make sure the public service concentrated on priorities and described a situation where control over departmental finances sometimes became hard to follow.

Foa-Lifuka Islands Causeway officially opened

By
Kalino Latu
-

It's just got easier for people in Foa Island to get to and from Lifuka Island where the capital Pangai is located.

His Majesty, King Tupou VI, opened the 575m long Upgraded Foa Causeway this morning Thursday 19.

The total upgrade work is about 680m long from Lifuka to Foa including the roadworks beyond each approach to the Causeway.  

It comprised of two reinforced concrete walls and a tarsealed road between the two walls and three double box culverts (for free flow of water under the Causeway) and two side- bays to allow for give-ways and the passing of vehicles.

Statement from government says, the Upgraded Foa Causeway was made possible through financial assistance from the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany as a result of a debt-swap agreement with the Tonga Government.

The original Foa Causeway was built by New Zealand Army engineers beginning April 1979 and completed in February 1980.

Prior to that, travel and trade between the two islands were conducted by boat or on horseback (during low tide). That Causeway had been severely damaged over the years as a result of tropical cyclones and other natural climatic events.

In 1978 the Tonga Government had received a loan from Germany for the purchase of a regional freighter (the MV Fuakavenga) and a domestic ferry (the MV Olovaha).

Under the debt-swap agreement the Tonga Government agreed to use the sum of TOP$4.67 million it would otherwise have had to repay the German Government to fund a major development project within Tonga.

(The Tonga Government was represented at the debt-swap agreement negotiations by the current Governor of the Reserve Bank of Tonga, Sione Ngongo Kioa, when he was still Tonga’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.)

In 2009 the two Governments agreed that the debt – swap would be used to upgrade the Foa Causeway and construction began in November 2012.

The Upgrading Project was designed by Tahifisi Vehikite of KTEC Consultants who originally managed it as well.  Mr. Vehikite re-joined Kramer Ausenco (Tonga) Ltd in June 2013 and that company had managed the project in the last 6 months.  

The main contractor for the project was China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC). The Project Site Supervisor was Manase Lavulavu from the Ministry of Infrastructure (MOI). MOI also provided technical oversight of the project whilst the Ministry of Finance and National Planning had financial oversight.

The Ha’apai Development Committee under the Chairmanship of Lord Tu’iha’angana had general oversight of the Project with the assistance of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The Ceremony of the Official Opening of the Upgraded Foa Causeway began at 10.00am with a Thanksgiving Service led by Rev Dr. ‘Ahio, President of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga.

The Welcome Remarks will be made by Lord Tu’iha’angana, Governor of Ha’apai and Chairman of the Ha’apai Development Committee followed by remarks by the Lord Prime Minister, Lord Tu’ivakano on behalf of the Tonga Government and by H.E. Mr. Carl Sanft Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Tonga on behalf of the German Government. His Majesty King Tupou VI will then be invited by Lord Tu’i’afitu, Lord Minister for Health and Deputy Chairman of the Ha’apai Development Committee to officially open the Upgraded Foa Causeway.

Ashley Tonga's youtube on NZ Top 10

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Ashley Tonga, dubbed the “drag queen diva from Mangere” who auditioned on X Factor NZ  2012, had her video clip listed as one of the top 10 videos most viewed by New Zealanders on YouTube (endorsed by the Rotorua Daily Post).

1) Ylvis – The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?) Official music video.

The music is catchy enough but listen to the lyrics and you wonder how this tune got to be so popular. One of the surprise hits from 2013 but top marks for finding all those costumes. The fox is now a style icon, whether or not this Norwegian band had anything to do with that we don't know.

2) How Animals Eat Their Food MisterEpicMann

This has to be one of my favourite videos of the year and it still has me crack up.What's your favourite? I like the rhinoceros. Genius clip, simple yet very cleverly executed.

3) Guy finds his house plumbed with beer

Great marketing from Tui, man comes home and finds his house plumbed with beer. Lots of hidden cameras and the big reveal at the end.

4) Blazed – Drug Driving in Aotearoa .

Kids learn from their adult role models – this ad is to promote the dangers of drug-driving by using three kids pretending to be their fathers behind the wheel after they've been "blazing". Comical but also very real.

5) Harlem Shake (original army edition)

Was this dance craze really this year? Apparently this is where it all started. It's only 34 seconds so not too much time wasted.

6) YOLO (feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar)

You know we are still young so don't be dumb. YOLO – you only live once – can either mean do what you like but this music video is more about not wasting your life, since you only get to live it once. Featuring Adam Levine of Maroon 5 and The Voice fame.

7) JGeeks – The Best Day I Ever Had (Official Video)

I enjoyed this video from the New Zealand's Got Talent crew. Not my cup of tea when it comes to music but it's obviously popular to make it into the top 10. When we watched it yesterday it had 679,882 views.

8) Ashley Tonga audition – Proud Mary – The X Factor NZ

A highlight from the TV3 series and an obvious crowd favourite.

9) UGA Men's Swim & Dive Harlem Shake.

Yet another harlem shake video, this time it's underwater.

10) Te Ao Te Huia audition – It Only Happens – The X Factor NZ

Another X Factor audition, this one is a tearjerker.

These are the trending videos according to YouTube.

Tongan mother and son killed in road accident

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A mother and a son of a Tongan family have been killed following a car crash Monday 16 shortly before 11am while a 4 year old  was taken to Grey Base Hospital.

Lavinia Langi a.k.a Manui Kitekei’aho Langi 43, of Houma, Tongatapu  but  lived in  Greymouth, New Zealand  and her  eldest son, the 15-year-old  Lesili Langi were killed when their car went over a bank and landed upside down in a creek near Taylorville, police said.

The mother's husband Tau’ataina Langi, who worked in forestry, had been on a job in Invercargill when he received the devastating news yesterday afternoon.

Relatives said he returned from where he works and is now with the rest of the family.

The couple have seven children and according to relatives the family migrated to New Zealand in 2006.

A relative said Mrs Langi and her sons – drove in the rain to Taylorville, where they went every week "for the cheap meat".

On the way back about 11am, the car flipped and landed on its roof in a creek beside the road.

The mother, 43, and teenage son – a Greymouth High School student, died, but the three-year-old clambered free from the wreck, likely saved by his car seat.

''When witnesses got there, he was already climbing out of the van,'' a family friend said. 

Another relative said the 4 year old had started clambering out of the upturned car and into the fast-flowing creek when he was rescued by members of the public.

Had they not come to his aid the boy could "most certainly'' have been swept away.

The boy was taken to Greymouth Hospital with only minor injuries and was discharged this morning.

Police investigation continues.

Tongan Health Society sacks two board members

By
Kalino Latu
-

UPDATED Dec. 17. The Tongan Health Society in Auckland has today formally sacked two board members over a controversial ‘media article’, an ‘email’ the board considered ‘racist’ and decisions allegedly made against the interest of the organisation.

Former board members Professor  Sitaleki ‘Ata‘ata Finau and his wife ‘Eseta Finau have received letters on Mon, Dec 16 from the board saying they were dismissed.

Prof Finau claimed they were unjustifiably expelled and they pursued legal action. He denied all accusation the board made against him.

Lawyer Mataitini Fotu who is acting for Mrs Finau said he received her letter of dismissal today Mon 16, after the couple were orally informed on December 6 they were sacked.

Fotu said Prof. Finau has been immidiately let go after the meeting on Dec 6 but Mrs Finau was given a chance to resign on voluntary ground with an opportunity to reapply for her jobs in two years time.

Mrs Finau did not accept the board's offer.

Documents regarding their dismissal were not available but Fotu said the grounds in which the board based its decision for the expulsion included claiming the Finaus had actions that " harmful to the Society are hard to define".

Letter to Prof. Finau

The board chair Dr Malakai Ofanoa wrote on September 27 and informed Prof. Finau of actions the board believed he made against the interest of the Tongan Health Society.

He asked Prof. Finau to attend a meeting by a  “disciplinary committee of the Board to discuss these matters and to hear” his views.  

The letter to Prof. Finau says, “The Board believes you were involved with the publishing of the media article by Mr Melino Maka subjecting the organisation and Board to negative public scrutiny.

“There are statements in the article that could only have come from someone closely associated with the Society,” it says.

“Your emails toward the newly appointed CEO Dr Glenn Doherty are considered racist.

“Unauthorized spending and employment of surplus staff adds unnecessary pressure on an already difficult financial position of the organisation.

“You have caused strain in the relationship between the organisation and our funding agencies with detrimental effects.

“Board strongly believes you have subjected the organisation to serious risks.

Should the findings of this exercise is supportive of the allegations then there is the possibility that the Board will activate the relevant clauses of the constitution which may result in the Termination of your membership with the Society,” the letter says.

Maori GP appointed CEO

Towards the end of August an Auckland GP Glenn Doherty appointed chief executive of the Tongan Health Society.

Dr Doherty is Maori and was chosen from 15 candidates, including Prof. Sitaleki Finau, the society's acting chief executive at the time.

The board announced that "Dr Doherty is the best person for the job" and that he “has proven his commitment to the Tongan community with eight years of volunteer experience in Tonga”.

However, the Tongan Advisory Council chair Melino Maka did not agree with the Society in Doherty’s appointment.

In August 27 a media statement released by Mr Maka titled: Bad news for Tongan Health Society, Langimalie.

Mr Maka claimed, “the Langimalie Clinic came through a hard time where at one point it has to be closed for good”.

The statement continued to say that “In 2012 the Board made a smart move and appointed Professor Finau as interim CEO. He immediately made the tough decisions and has successfully steered Langimalie back on course.”

The release says, “The Tongan Advisory Council is disturbed to learn that the successful candidate has little knowledge of Tongan people or culture, does not speak Tongan and has no proven management experience”.

Emailing on September 9, Prof Finau and ten others who signed a letter to the board chair Dr 'Ofanoa announced a 'special meeting' to be held in 10 days. They said the meeting complies with the Society’s constitution.

They called on the Tongan community to attend the meeting and to discuss issues including “The rationale for the recent appointment of a non-Tongan CEO and what process was used”.

The meeting was eventually postponed until next year 2014.

Langimalie Clinic

The Tongan Health Society has two health centres known as Langimalie Health Centre Panmure and Langimalie Health Centre Onehunga.  

It claims to have 6000 patients and four GPs and provide high quality healthcare for all patients with what they described as “Tongan style of service”. 

Man will be deported to Tonga after jail terms

By
Kalino Latu
-

The man who fired a gun at his ex-wife’s head in June 16, 2012, is going to prison for 10 years.

Sione Mafi Vaioleti, 61, was sentenced in the High Court at Auckland on Friday with a minimum non-parole period of three years and six months for the attempted murder of his former wife.

The Tongan overstayer shot Losaline Fifita, 61, in the head during a domestic dispute.

The court was told Vaioleti had returned from a night drinking with his friends drunk and shouting that Fifita tells him where a stash of money was hidden.

Fifita did not tell him where it was and Vaioleti punched her in the head.

He then retrieved a pistol and brought it into the bedroom, hit the victim in the head and shot her in the jaw.

Fifita survived the shooting but the bullet caused "massive destruction" to her teeth, jaw and became lodged in the back of her neck, Justice Priestley said.

After Vaioleti's sentence is completed, he will be deported back to Tonga

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