Chinese construction companies are copping criticism in Vanuatu in the wake of the massive earthquake that devastated the capital Port Vila last December.
Several Chinese-built buildings, including the near-new Presidential Palace, are among those badly damaged by the magnitude 7.3 quake.
Structural engineer Cyrille Mainguy’s assessed the widespread damage at the Chinese-built Malapoa College, which is set to be demolished.
“They’re mainly building concrete frames, so columns and beam structure, and there’s no reinforcement into the block work in some of the buildings,” he said.
“But I think we must not only blame China, we must blame Vanuatu.”
The Chinese Embassy says the damage to the college, Presidential Palace and other buildings was ‘inevitable’ and ‘cosmetic’ given the scale of the earthquake.
It also says Chinese projects were built in accordance with local building codes.
Prime Minister Jotham Napat says the building code will be reviewed.
Tonga’s Ministry of Health is facing scrutiny after an allegation arose regarding a mother’s death attributed to their negligence.
Viliami Takau
The revelation was raised during the national development summit currently underway in Nuku‘alofa.
Viliami Takau, the Tourism chief executive, told the Minister of Health during the summit that they would not be able to bring back his wife to life.
He said a legal action has been launched, apparently, against the Ministry.
He claimed his wife died unexpectedly due to the Ministry’s alleged actions. The legal action was taken to hold the Ministry accountable and ensure such incidents are not repeated, he said.
Takau, visibly emotional and speaking through tears just a few meters away from the Minister of Health, shared that after his wife’s death, he took his son to the hospital for medical treatment after two of his son’s fingers had been severed. He claimed that while the doctor recommended surgery, he ultimately decided against it.
He eventually took his son to New Zealand, where a doctor advised against the surgery, warning that it could damage the nerves.
“The advice here was different from the advice in New Zealand,” he alleged, speaking in Tongan.
Takau also mentioned that he was aware of plans to establish a coroner’s office.
He urged the Minister to accelerate the project, emphasizing that families deserve to know the causes of their loved ones’ deaths.
Takau understood that many people had the same experience he had.
He also urged the government to prohibit doctors from operating private clinics and ensure they work exclusively at the main hospital to guarantee a consistent standard of care for the people.
National Development Summit
The consultation at the Fa‘onelua Convention Center is currently underway allowing members of the public to evaluate the nation’s development progress under the Tonga Strategic Development Framework 2015-2025 and create strategies for 2026-2036.
It is open to the public under the theme “A Resilient Tonga through Transformative Action: Safeguarding Our Heritage.”
Participants shared their experiences with government services and policies during the summit.
As Tonga’s people gathered for its first national development summit in Nuku’alofa this week, Akilisi Pōhiva’s daughter, Teisa Cokanasiga, stressed the importance of discussing the country’s political structure as a priority.
Teisa Pōhiva Cakonisiga
The consultation brought together over 200 representatives at the Fa‘onelua Convention Center to evaluate the nation’s development progress under the Tonga Strategic Development Framework 2015-2025 and create strategies for 2026-2036.
The fakataha fakafonua (national summit) is open to the public under the theme “A Resilient Tonga through Transformative Action: Safeguarding Our Heritage.”
Cokanasiga told the meeting that Tonga could continue pursuing its development plans; however, at some point, these efforts would stall due to constitutional limitations—an argument advocated by her father.
The late Akilisi Pōhiva, a longtime democratic activist, was instrumental in Tonga’s transition to democracy and served as one of the country’s democratically elected Prime Ministers before he died in 2019.
He argued that economic development would be ineffective unless Tonga operates as a democracy, allowing the executive branch to function under the parliament and all members of parliament to be elected by the people.
Cokanasiga, a lawyer by profession, stated at the summit that while discussions on good governance at the grassroots level seem feasible, they often encounter challenges when addressed at the elite level.
She cited former Prime Minister Hu‘akavameiliku as an example. He resigned as Minister of His Majesty’s Armed Forces after receiving a letter from the king expressing a loss of confidence in his duties. Cokanasiga highlighted that Hu‘akavameiliku stepped down without clarity on the king’s reasons, underscoring the need for transparency and accountability in governance.
At the meeting, Cokanasiga spoke directly to Prime Minister Eke and suggested that it was about time the government reviewed the political reforms.
“The structure of the government is brought to life (“fakamānava’i”) and sustained by the constitution, which serves as its foundation and guiding framework”, Mrs Cokanisiga said in Tongan.
She mentioned the Constitutional Lawyer’s review, which stated deficiencies in the 2010 constitution and democratic reforms.
According to the Peter Pursglove report, which was endorsed by the Tu’ivakanō government in 2014:
Tonga’s 2010 constitution does not uphold democracy
The Privy Council lacks any democratic composition or accountability
The judiciary lacks accountability and transparency.
Changes to the judiciary are inefficient, ineffective, unaffordable and possibly illegal.
No public discussions were held regarding the reforms to the judiciary or why they were considered necessary.
“The present Constitution of Tonga can lay claim to being the most poorly structured and drafted Constitution of any Country in the Commonwealth,” the report says.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Cokanisiga has made an essential point that the government should take heed of. The government needs to implement Mr Pursglove’s report, as he has identified significant shortfalls in our constitution. Ignoring these issues means we are wasting time and money on a summit to create economic plans that will struggle to succeed under an inadequate constitution.
The most notable examples are the last two governments. One created policies that allocated $400 million to road construction projects. Unfortunately, many roads were damaged and became unbeneficial for the country. There were accusations of corruption and nepotism surrounding this project.
The Hu’akavameiliku government, on the other hand, insisted on investing nearly $40 million, according to the Minister of Public Enterprises, in the national airlines, fully aware that it was unlikely to be a profitable venture for the government. The weak political system and our flawed constitution create loopholes allowing such disasters. And it will continue to occur until we fix the constitution.
COMMENTARY Former Justice Cooper’s time on the Tongan bench has ended with the expiration of his contract. While his tenure successfully advanced the prosecution of illicit drug offences—the primary reason for his appointment—it also raises critical questions about the Privy Council’s processes for selecting and appointing judges.
It also raises the question of whether our “poorest constitution” among Commonwealth countries, with its problematic clauses governing courts, the judiciary, and the Attorney General office—now deemed unworkable and potentially illegal—has underlying implications that contribute to the technical and operational shortfalls we see in the judicial system today.
Justice Cooper had been a prosecutor level three in the UK before being brought to Tonga to handle cases related to illicit drugs, a significant concern for the Kingdom. Over time, his responsibilities expanded to oversee other criminal cases, including one of the most important and high-profile cases of the century: the Lavulavus fraud case.
The couple’s charges, which involved allegations of misusing over TOP$500,000 government funds, culminated in a guilty verdict and a prison sentence for the defendants in July 2021. However, the Lavulavus successfully appealed the decision while they were in prison, leading to their release.
The Appeal Court found that the primary issue lay in Justice Cooper’s failure to maintain impartiality during the trial. This finding resulted in the court ordering a retrial, a decision that has had far-reaching consequences.
It is reasonable to question whether Justice Cooper should have initially presided over the Lavulavus case, considering his background as a prosecutor and potential lack of necessary experience for such a significant court case.
At taxpayers expense
What makes this situation particularly concerning is the significant cost it has imposed on the Tongan government and, by extension, its taxpayers.
The retrial process requires the police to reinvestigate the case, the Attorney General’s Office to re-prepare its legal arguments, and the judicial system to allocate additional time and resources. These expenses are not just financial; they also strain the public’s trust in the legal system.
Meanwhile, the Lavulavus remain free, living in the public eye while the nation watches and waits for the outcome of the retrial. This case underscores the critical importance of judicial impartiality and the need for rigorous oversight in the appointment of judges. It also highlights the broader implications of judicial decisions, which can have lasting impacts on public confidence, government resources, and the pursuit of justice.
The most concerning scenario would be if the Lavulavus succeed in their appeal against the retrial. In such a case, they could potentially sue the government for compensation, which would place yet another significant financial burden on the country.
Justice Cooper’s tenure serves as a reminder that the selection of judges must prioritize not only expertise but also integrity, impartiality, and a deep understanding of the local context.
As Tonga moves forward, the important question is: is it time that the king should do something to address the report revealing how poor our constitution is?
Justice and AG offices
The report by an expert who reviewed Tonga’s constitution said that dividing the justice sector among the Ministry of Justice, the Office of the Lord Chancellor, and the Attorney General’s Office has proven inefficient, ineffective, and unaffordable.
According to the report by constitutional law expert Peter Pursglove, the reforms laid out in the 2010 Constitution are unworkable, incompatible with Tonga’s constitutional monarchy, and lack legal, cultural, or historical ties to the Kingdom.
“The provisions in the Constitution relating to the Judiciary are particularly lacking in both structure and content to the extent that they are not only unworkable but are totally incompatible with the principles of constitutional monarchy and democracy upon which the new Constitution of 2010 was supposed to have been founded.
“The report notes that the justice sector has been divided between the Ministry of Justice, the Office of the Lord Chancellor and the Office of the Attorney General. “Having three separate bodies responsible for the justice sector is proving to be unworkable,” the report says. “It is inefficient, ineffective and unaffordable”.
According to the Pursglove report, which was endorsed by the Tu’ivakanō government in 2014:
Tonga’s 2010 constitution does not uphold democracy
The Privy Council lacks any democratic composition or accountability
The judiciary lacks accountability and transparency.
Changes to the judiciary are inefficient, ineffective, unaffordable and possibly illegal.
No public discussions were held regarding the reforms to the judiciary or why they were considered necessary.
“The present Constitution of Tonga can lay claim to being the most poorly structured and drafted Constitution of any Country in the Commonwealth,” the report says.
Pauline Langi, a former cashier, breached trust by stealing company funds despite being given multiple chances to repay, leading to a 32-month sentence with 12 months suspended.
Pauline Langi, a mother of five, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for theft and embezzlement totalling $155,588. The Supreme Court heard that Langi, a cashier and finance manager for a small company, began stealing shortly after starting her employment.
Initially, she took 1,800, and her employers, showing considerable leniency, allowed her to repay the amount through an agreement.
However, Langi failed to repay the money and stole an additional 1,800, and her employers, showing considerable leniency, allowed her to repay the amount through an agreement. Langi failed again to repay the money and stole an additional 7,000 two weeks later. Despite being given a second chance, she continued her fraudulent activities, withdrawing 20,000 on August 2, 2023, another 20,000 on August 2, 2023, and another 20,000 on August 18, 2023.
Her theft escalated further, with withdrawals of 29,000 on September 20, 2023, 29,000 on September 20, 2023, and 27,000 through a third party on September 28, 2023, bringing the total of the four checks to 96,000. Police investigations revealed that Langi had also embezzled 96,000. Police investigations revealed that tLangi had also embezzled 57,588 from customer payments, resulting in a combined theft of $155,588.
During sentencing, Justice Bishop highlighted the severity of Langi’s actions, stating, “These are very serious offences. What makes them particularly serious is, first, you were given two chances, which you ignored; second, your actions were a breach of the trust placed in you; and third, your systemic dishonesty, born of avarice and greed, caused economic, emotional, and reputational damage to your employers.”
Langi did not explain her actions other than giving her brother some stolen money.
A pre-sentence report from the Probation Office, filed on January 14, 2025, detailed her stable upbringing but noted her “high risk” of re-offending due to her lack of previous good character, unemployment, and associations with negative influences.
Despite her early guilty plea, Justice Bishop imposed a sentence of 32 months imprisonment for theft and 24 months for embezzlement, to be served concurrently. He suspended the final 12 months of the punishment for one year, conditional on Langi not committing further offences, reporting to the Probation Office within 48 hours of release, and being placed on probation.
“For the avoidance of doubt, you will serve 20 months’ imprisonment followed by 12 months suspended on conditions,” Justice Bishop concluded.
Three employees at Auckland International Airport were arrested after smuggling 58kg of methamphetamine worth NZ21.7 million from Malaysia.
Customs, working closely with industry partners, identified suspicious activity within airport precincts. Investigations established that the three workers had moved a container off a flight from Malaysia at Auckland International Airport on 12 March 2025.
The men were arrested and appeared in the Manukau District Court on the same day.
The seized methamphetamine equates to close to 2.9 million individual doses, with a potential street value of up to NZ$21.7 million. This seizure is estimated to have prevented up to NZ$61 million in social harm and cost to New Zealand.
“We’re sending a clear message to transnational and serious organised crime groups that we are always on the lookout for signs of suspicious behaviour across the supply chain and have eyes on everyone trusted to work in secure areas.
“These arrests highlight the ongoing great work of our frontline Customs officers at the border in addition to Customs efforts in building trusted networks with border and industry partners to protect the integrity of our supply chain.”
A second person has appeared in court charged with inappropriate handling of human remains and obtaining more than $18,000 by deception.
The 53-year-old made his first appearance in Auckland District Court today. (Source: 1News)
The 53-year-old denied all charges and has elected trial by jury when he made his his first appearance in Auckland District Court today.
Court documents show the Auckland man faces two charges of obtaining money by deception, amounting to more than $18,000, between 2015 and 2022.
He also faces a charge of neglecting to properly seal and line a casket.
The appearance comes as police continue to investigate allegations of mishandled burials at Auckland’s Waikumete Cemetery under Operation Lola.
Police have been examining complaints after bodies were disinterred following the Auckland Anniversary floods and Cyclone Gabrielle in early 2023.
Undertaker Fiona Bakulich, 48, was previously arrested and pleaded guilty to 14 charges, two of interfering with human remains and 12 of obtaining by deception. She would be sentenced in April.
Fijian authorities have seized a firearm and ammunition from the Tongan vessel MV Malau, which were intended for a recipient in Fiji lacking the necessary firearms license.
MV Malau
According to Fijian media reports, the seizure included a firearm and more than 500 rounds of ammunition.
The Fiji Times stated that the arms and ammunition were accompanied by proper documentation.
The Fijian Navy ship RFNS Timo intercepted MV Malau and escorted it to Suva Harbour, where the weapons were confiscated.
Malau Shipping announced on March 8 that the ship would depart for repairs in Fiji.
It said the vessel was expected to leave Tonga for Fiji on Saturday 15.
It is standard practice for Tongan vessels to undergo repairs in Suva.
The seizure follows a previous report by Kaniva News last year, which revealed that Fijian police were investigating the discovery of bullets on a Fiji Airways flight that arrived from Tonga.
At the time, the Fiji Times reported that the bullets were found in a passenger’s carry-on baggage, which had been left onboard after disembarkation.
While the Fiji Times did not provide specific details about the flight number or whether the passenger was located, Fijian Police spokeswoman Ana Naisoro confirmed the discovery and stated that investigations were ongoing.
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed during their call this morning to seek a limited ceasefire against energy and infrastructure targets in the Russia-Ukraine war, according to the White House.
In this combination of file photos, President Donald Trump, left, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, are seen at the Elysee Palace, Dec. 7, 2024 in Paris, and President Vladimir Putin, right, addresses a Technology Forum in Moscow, Russia, Feb. 21, 2025. (Source: Associated Press)
The White House described it as the first step in a “movement to peace” it hopes will eventually include a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and a full and lasting end to the fighting.
“Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace,” the White House said in a statement. “The blood and treasure that both Ukraine and Russia have been spending in this war would be better spent on the needs of their people.”
The White House added negotiations would “begin immediately” in the Middle East on those steps. It was not immediately clear whether Ukraine was on board with the phased ceasefire plan.
Ukrainian officials had proposed a limited ceasefire covering the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes and the release of prisoners at their meeting with the US delegation in Saudi Arabia this month.
The Kremlin said Putin welcomed Trump’s calls for the maritime ceasefire and “agreed to begin negotiations to further work out specific details of such an agreement.”
Putin also told Trump that Russia and Ukraine are set to exchange 175 prisoners of war each on Wednesday, and Russia will also hand over to Ukraine 23 badly wounded soldiers, the Kremlin said.
Putin also called on Trump to end foreign military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine as the US looks to bring an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the Kremlin.
The move comes as the White House pushes for Russia to sign off on its 30-day ceasefire proposal aimed at ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials last week agreed to the 30-day ceasefire proposal during talks in Saudi Arabia led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, remains skeptical that Putin is ready for peace as Russian forces continue to pound Ukraine.
The engagement is just the latest turn in dramatically shifting US-Russia relations as Trump made quickly ending the conflict a top priority — even at the expense of straining ties with longtime American allies who want Putin to pay a price for the invasion.
In preparation for the Trump-Putin call, White House special envoy Steve Witkoff met last week with Putin in Moscow to discuss the proposal. Rubio had persuaded senior Ukrainian officials during talks in Saudi Arabia to agree to the ceasefire framework.
Putin last week said he agreed in principle with the U.S. proposal, but emphasized that Russia would seek guarantees that Ukraine would not use a break in hostilities to rearm and continue mobilization. The Russian president has also demanded that Ukraine renounce joining the NATO military alliance, sharply cut its army, and protect Russian language and culture to keep the country in Moscow’s orbit.
The US president said this week that Washington and Moscow have already begun discussing “dividing up certain assets” between Ukraine and Russia as part of a deal to end the conflict.
Trump, who during his campaign pledged to end the war quickly, has at moments boasted of his relationship with Putin and blamed Ukraine for Russia’s unprovoked invasion, all while accusing Zelensky of unnecessarily prolonging the biggest land war in Europe since World War II.
Trump had said before the call that control of land and power plants would be part of the conversation, which came on the anniversary of Russia annexing Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula 11 years ago. That bold land grab by Russia set the stage for Russia to invade its neighbour in 2022.
Witkoff suggested that US and Russian officials have discussed the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant — Europe’s largest — in southern Ukraine.
The plant has been caught in the crossfire since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in 2022 and seized the facility shortly after. The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly expressed alarm about it, fueling fears of a potential nuclear catastrophe.
The plant is a significant asset, producing nearly a quarter of Ukraine’s electricity in the year before the war.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a press conference following the meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. (Source: Associated Press)
After a disastrous February 28 White House meeting with Zelensky, Trump temporarily cut off some military intelligence-sharing and aid to Ukraine. It was restored after the Ukrainians last week signed off on the Trump administration’s 30-day ceasefire proposal.
Zelensky in his nightly video address on Monday made clear he remains doubtful that Putin is ready for peace.
“Now, almost a week later, it’s clear to everyone in the world — even to those who refused to acknowledge the truth for the past three years — that it is Putin who continues to drag out this war,” Zelensky said.
In his dealings with Zelensky and Putin, Trump has frequently focused on who has the leverage. Putin has “the cards” and Zelensky does not, Trump has said repeatedly.
Trump, who has long shown admiration for Putin, has also made clear he’d like to see the US-Russia relationship return to a more normal footing.
The president during his recent contentious meeting with Zelensky grumbled that “Putin went through a hell of a lot with me,” a reference to the federal investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election in which he beat Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Trump on Monday again underscored his view that Ukraine is not in a strong negotiating position. He said Russian forces have “surrounded” Ukrainian troops in Russia’s Kursk region — amplifying an assertion made by Russian officials that’s been disputed by Zelensky.
Ukraine’s army stunned Russia in August last year by attacking across the border and taking control of an estimated 1300sq kilometres of land. But Ukraine’s forces are now in retreat and it has all but lost a valuable bargaining chip, as momentum builds for a ceasefire with Russia.
Zelensky has acknowledged that the Ukrainians are on their back foot while disputing Russian claims that his troops are encircled in Kursk.
Trump suggested that he’s taken unspecified action that has kept Russia from slaughtering Ukrainian troops in Kursk.
“They’re surrounded by Russian soldiers, and I believe if it wasn’t for me they wouldn’t be here any longer,” Trump said.
The White House said the leaders also discussed the situation in the Middle East and agreed “Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel”.
US officials have previously said that Iran has provided Russia with short-range ballistic missiles and attack drones for the war in Ukraine. The US has also said that Iran has assisted the Kremlin with building a drone-manufacturing factory.
