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Tongan flag at half-mast ‘might be a mistake’

By
Kalino Latu
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Concerned Tongans lashed out at an image of the national flag being flown inverted and at half-mast on Facebook over the weekend.  

The footage was said to be taken at the Nuku'alofa waterfront.

The half-mast flag, an international sign of distress or a sign of respect for a person who has just died, was photographed and uploaded  to Facebook on Friday 24.

Tonga Deputy Commissioner of Police ‘Unga Fa’aoa said Police were unaware of the incident.

"I haven't received any reports from the public about this, but if it was the case,  it just might be a mistake", said Fa’aoa.

The footage was put on Facebook with the caption:

“I was driving down the waterfront and I saw this and I said to myself it must be a distress call since it's upside down and it's at half-mast. So I called the Central Police station that looks after this particular flag pole and reported it. Well to my surprise I was told off by the copper and asked for my name as if she was going to charge me. She told me it’s the responsibility of the Ports Authority and not theirs (Police). I think she's missing the point. Very sad,” wrote Sam Vea.

‘Ahongalu Fusimalohi, a communication Advisor at the Prime Minister’s office, also commented on Facebook.

“What a shame, my son Fonua pointed it out to me while driving pass this evening.”

The footage of the Tongan flag flown at half mast at it's upside down. Source: Retrieved from Sam Vea's Facebook page

The Tongan national flag flown at half-mast. Source: Retrieved from Sam Vea's Facebook page.

Ha’apai relief efforts could be split

By
Kalino Latu
-

[lastupdated]

Efforts to bring relief to victims of Cyclone Ian in Tonga could be split over membership of the Ha’apai Relief Committee.

With 10 containers of goods collected by the HRC ready to be shipped to the kingdom, the committee’s assistant chair, ‘Amelia Schaaf, has announced that she will organise another committee made up only of people from Ha’apai.

Schaaf said a meeting with the people of Ha’apai would be held in Lotofale’ia in Mangere tomorrow, Tuesday, January 28 to set up a new committee. 

Kaniva News has been told that a number of Auckland-based Tongans who are from Ha’apai were unhappy that people not from the island group were on the committee.

Schaaf said the Ha’apai Relief Committee only had a mandate to collect donated goods from Aucklanders and ship them to Ha’apai.

The people of Ha’apai wanted to work on “a long term plan” to rebuild their community after the cyclone, Schaaf said.

She said her committee would help the whole of Ha’apai, including those islands unaffected by the cyclone.

Schaaf said her proposed committee would work with the HRC if it wanted to come under the umbrella of her organisation.

She claimed she was still a member of that committee.

However, HRC said Schaaf had often missed the cyclone relief committee meetings that ran almost every day last week.

Speaking at a press conference last week, Latu Salesa denied there was any tension over selection of the committee members.

“We just want to concentrate on our work and to make sure these donated goods are shipped to Ha’apai as schedule,” Latu Salesa said.

“This committee is still operating according to the purpose it was set up with and we are still here at Lotofale’ia.

“We are afraid people might be confused when they hear there is more than one committee.

“If they will still want to work together with us they are welcome, but things will depend on people and what they want us to do.

“The most important thing for me and our committee now is to make sure these 10 containers of donated goods go to Ha’apai as scheduled.

“Rebuilding of Ha’apai is a huge task to do and it will take months even years, but we have to do what is urgent now.

Leave the rest. We will take them as the next steps.”

About the relief committee

Cyclone Ian caused massive destruction to six islands of the Ha’apai group when it struck on January 11.

 At least 1,000 people are homeless and almost all housing was either destroyed or damaged.   

According to Tonga’s national emergency management organisation, Ha’apai’s immediate need is food and water.

After the cyclone Labour Party Parliamentary Services Staff member Makalita Kolo and lawyer ‘Amelia Schaaf called a meeting to organise relief.

Hundreds of Tongans attended the meeting at the Methodist Church of Lotofale’ia.  

The meeting formally elected the Ha’apai Relief Committee to organise relief for the islands.

The meeting chose Jennifer Latu Salesa, the only Tongan member in the Auckland Mayor Len Brown’s Disaster Fund Advisory Committee, to head the committee.

The main points

  • The assistant chair of the Ha’apai Relief Committee, ‘Amelia Schaaf, says she is going to form a separate relief committee.
  • Schaaf says the HRC is only dealing with those islands affected by Cyclone Ian. She says the relief committee should also contribute to those islands that were not affected.
  • Schaaf said a meeting with the people of Ha’apai would be held in Lotofale’ia in Mangare on Tuesday, January 28 at 7pm to set up a new committee. 
  • The motive behind the breakaway group seems to be the presence of non-Ha’apai people on the committee.
  • HRC chairwoman Jenifer Latu Salesa said her committee wanted to concentrate on its work and make sure the 10 containers of donated goods were shipped on schedule.
  • “This committee is still operating according to the purpose it was set up with and we are still here at Lotofale’ia,” Latu Salesa said.
  • “We are afraid people might be confused when they hear there is more than one committee.”

Cruising into heavy rain

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Mother Nature stepped in during the weekend to disturb the arrival of Tonga's first cruise ship for 2014.

The 28,258-tonne MS Silver Whisper with 500 passengers aboard docked at Vuna Wharf  on Friday morning 24, accompanied by rain although the sun emerged by late afternoon.

This has forced passengers to stay on board and not many could make it to visit the capital Nuku’alofa.

The liner left at  about 3pm in the afternoon.

Tonga’s Port of Authority announced fourteen  cruise ships would  visit the Kingdom of the Friendly Islands this year.

These liners will visit the islands of Tongatapu, Ha'apai, Tofua and Vava'u and for the first time in Tonga's cruise ship history, a cruise ship will spend overnight in the Ha'apai Islands later this year.

The MS Columbus and Crystal Symphony will arrive this morning  Monday 27.

The MS Columbus will be berthed at the Queen Salote Wharf whilst the Crystal Symphony is expected to dock  at the Vuna Wharf.

Tonga High School awarded Zayed Future Energy Prize

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

[lastupdated]

Tonga High School received the High School Category, Zayed Future Energy Prize, at a ceremony at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi last week.

The global high school award entitled Tonga High School to a $100,000.00 grant but that would base on financial information submitted with its project.

The High School Category aimed at encouraging future generations across the globe to appreciate and value issues related to energy and its sustainability.

To be qualified for  the High School category award each school has to submit a detailed proposal for a project that promotes energy and sustainability measures.

"The Tonga High School was selected for its project to install solar panels and energy-efficiency measures that will power up to 100 per cent of the school’s electricity requirements".

Tonga High School won the Global High School Category after competing with a an Adeliade high school in Australia.

The annual US$4 million prize is awarded in five distinct categories: Large Corporation, Lifetime Achievement, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and the Global High Schools Prize.

Tonga’s Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lord Tu’ivakano attended the ceremony.

“This is a proud moment for the Kingdom of Tonga, Tonga High School, and the Pacific as a whole,” said the Prime Minister.

Tonga High School's prize was received at the ceremony by one of its female students ‘Ailine Teumohenga from Ha’ateiho and Kolomotu’a, a daughter of Neomai and ‘Eti Teumohenga.

Teumohenga                        'Ailine Teumohenga receiving the prize.                 Image Credit: WAM/Ryan Carter

NZ pledges extra $370,000 for Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced an additional $370,000 for cyclone recovery efforts in Tonga, including the provision of six technicians to help repair the electricity network. New Zealand will provide a frontend loader and tractors to clear debris-covered land on the islands of Ha’apai, hand tools for the less assessable islands, and assist with the rebuild of the Tongan Government nursery.

“Crops were severely damaged in the cyclone and quick replanting is essential to prevent food shortages and promote trade,” Mr McCully says.

“In addition, we are supplementing our $1.4 million support package to repair the electricity network by sending six New Zealand-based technicians. The technicians are Tongan speakers familiar with the local environment and will speed the reconnection process by several weeks.

“Our priority is to assist the Tongan Government’s recovery efforts so life in Ha’apai gets back to normal as quickly as possible.”

Today’s announcement brings New Zealand’s support for the cyclone response to $2.27 million.

Line Mechanics to help in Tonga

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Electricity lines companies Northpower and Vector have answered a call to help with power restoration in Tonga.

The companies have responded quickly to a New Zealand Government request to send Line Mechanics to the cyclone battered country which has suffered major damage to its electricity network following Cyclone Ian.

The request for assistance has come from The New Zealand Aid Programme, the New Zealand Government's international aid and development programme managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

It is believed Cyclone Ian has destroyed 90% of the electricity network on the Ha’apai Group of Islands in Tonga.

Six Line Mechanics will fly to Tonga on Monday says Northpower Chief Executive Mark Gatland.

“Northpower and Vector have helped out in the Pacific Islands previously after cyclone events and we are more than happy to provide staff to help Tonga get back on its feet,” says Mr Gatland.

“We have a long-term relationship with Tonga and have a large Tongan contingent amongst our staff and they are extremely valuable to our company so it is only right that we help out.”

The Northpower workers will be in Tonga for up to six weeks.

World Bank gives Tonga US$1.27 million over cyclone

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Tonga will receive US$1.27 million or TP$2,362,351.27 from the World Bank to help its recovery after Cyclone Ian.

The World Bank says Tonga will be the first country to benefit from a payout under its Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Pilot.

Tonga is one of 6 Pacific island countries – together with Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu – currently participating in the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Pilot, a statement from World Bank says.

Launched in January 2013, the pilot tests a risk transfer arrangement modelled on an insurance plan, and uses ‘parametric triggers’, such as cyclone intensity or earthquake magnitude to determine payouts, which allows for quick disbursements.

Franz Drees-Gross, World Bank Country Director for the Pacific Islands said, “Cyclone Ian has affected hundreds of families in several communities, destroying people’s homes and critical infrastructure such as health centres and schools,”

Funds received under the scheme will allow the government to meet some of those urgent needs as they look to repair and rebuild in the days and weeks ahead,” Drees-Gross said.

Tonga’s Minister for Finance and National Planning, Hon. Dr. ‘Aisake Valu Eke said, "The cash received from the catastrophe risk insurance pilot makes an important financial contribution for carrying out the government strategy for mitigating natural disasters, to ensure that response efforts to help the people of Ha'apai recover and return to their normal everyday lives can continue without interruption or delay,"

NZ gives Tonga $1.4 mllion for cyclone recovery

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Press Release:

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced New Zealand is providing a further $1.4 million to help Tonga recover from Tropical Cyclone Ian.“Following a request from the Tongan Government, New Zealand will provide equipment and materials to help restore the electricity network on the affected islands of Ha’apai. We have also made an offer to provide New Zealand-based technicians, if needed,” Mr McCully says.

“The cyclone has caused significant damage to electricity infrastructure, including power lines and transformers. Our contribution will cover resources needed to reconnect villages including those on small outer islands.

“Reliable access to electricity helps communities recover quickly after a disaster as it supports the operation of critical infrastructure such as schools, medical centres and businesses.

“New Zealand is committed to supporting the Tongan Government as the relief and reconstruction effort continues.”

Today’s announcement brings New Zealand’s support for the cyclone response to $1.9 million.

'Ahopanilolo Tech Institute and MIT sign partnership

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Press Release:

MoC signing secures MIT’s partnership with ATI and the Tongan Community

Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) has signed a Memorandum of Co-operation (MoC) with ‘Ahopanilolo Technical Institute, Tonga (ATI) to encourage pathways for Tongan students to continue their studies at MIT’s Faculty of Consumer Services.

This will be the first time MIT has had the opportunity to create a mutually benefitting relationship with a Tongan institution.

The relationship aims to promote and enhance educational opportunities for Tongan communities in Counties Manukau, New Zealand and in the Pacific nation of Tonga.

MIT’s Faculty of Consumer Services Dean, Cherie Freeman, visited Tonga earlier this year to be a panellist for a review of the hospitality sector. It was during this time that she visited ATI.

The MoC, signed by MIT’s Director of External Relations, Dr Stuart Middleton, and Sister Kieoma Finau, will allow both parties to explore the opportunities afforded to them through collaboration and the development of joint initiatives.

Potential initiatives may include programme articulation between MIT and ATI, sharing of teaching materials, staff development and general advice and assistance to support advancement in culinary, hospitality and hairdressing sectors.

Cherie Freeman says, “We will look at the key skills that are needed in the Tongan community and then work with ATI to develop suitable programmes of study”.

“Currently the programmes at MIT are tailored to New Zealand industry needs. In order to improve industry standards in Tonga we will have to develop customised qualifications for ATI that pathway onto MIT qualifications,” she says.

Dr Stuart Middleton says, “MIT is enriched by this relationship and we are looking forward to growing and flourishing with great mutual benefit.”

“We don’t see this as a one-way partnership and both parties stand to gain knowledge and development,” he says.

“We hope to be considered the New Zealand base for ATI and this relationship will prove to be an important partner in our Tongan relationships.”

Sister Kieoma Finau says, “We are so grateful for the chance to have a working relationship with MIT.”

“This partnership will open the door for us to develop our programmes and give opportunities for our students to gain higher qualifications and hopefully experience greener pastures in New Zealand,” she says.

“We did not think our little school would come this far so we are grateful to MIT for seeing promise in us and we feel so blessed.”

Toleafoa Sina Aiolupotea, Manager Pasifika Development, is excited and looking forward for the advancement of the education of our Tongan communities, both here in Manukau and in Tonga.

Tongan Senior advisors for MIT, Ikani Fifita, Anna Tolia Ulakai-Cullen Senior Lectures Faculty of Education and Social Sciences  and Monte Payne, Senior Lecturer Faculty of Engineering are working closely with Sina and are supportive of the relationships MIT has with our local Tongan communities in the region and look forward to stronger relationships so as to fulfil the educational aspirations of our local communities

Real Tonga denies fluid leak claim

By
Kalino Latu
-

Real Tonga has denied claims that its controversial MA60 aircraft leaked hydraulic fluid during a flight from Tongatapu to Vava’u last Friday.

Real Tonga director Tevita Palu told a local newspaper hydraulic fluid was spilled on the aircraft during regular maintenance the day before.

He said engineers were unable to clean it all off.

He said the fluid got into the body of the aircraft and the wind forced it out when the aeroplane was in the air.

This made it look like the aircraft was leaking hydraulic fluid.

The leak was spotted when the MA60 arrived in Vava’u.

The aircraft was checked and returned to Tongatapu on its normal schedule.

The New Zealand government withdrew support for the Tongan tourism industry last year over the introduction of the MA60.

New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully, told TVNZ that the Chinese-built MA60 was not certified to fly in New Zealand and was not certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency, the US Federal Aviation Administration or the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister, Samiu Vaipulu, defended the MA60, telling the Islands Business last year the aircraft was “safe and reliable.”

He said he was negotiating with China for two more aircraft. These appear to be Harbin Y12s, the same kind of aircraft used by Air Fiji, in which the China National Aero Technology Corporation has held shares.

The MA60 is a new version of the Xian Y7-200A, which is itself based on an old Soviet-era Russian design.

It is made to operate in rugged conditions with limited ground support and has short take-off and landing capability.

MA60s have been involved in a number of incidents in recent years, including a crash in which all passengers and crew died.

However, there is debate about whether these incidents occurred because of problems with the aircraft or poor crew procedures.

In May last year an MA60 flew from Heho Airport to Monghsat Airport in Burma.  It over-ran the runway on landing, resulting in two serious injuries and substantial damage to the aircraft because of a brakes failure.

In May 2011 an MA60 went into sea only 500 metres from the runway in Kaimana Airport in Indonesia. All passengers and crew were killed.

According to the authoritative flightglobal website, the latest airlines to be interested in the MA60 are Nepal and the Ukraine.

For more information:

Stop interfering: Tonga Tells NZ

NZ issues travel advisory as new plane cleared to fly

http://www.flightglobal.com

Kaniva Pacific is not responsible for the content of external sites.

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