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Tongan linesmen to work for New Zealand Northpower company

By
Kaniva Staff
-

An opportunity for employment in  the Northpower company  New Zealand was given to ten Tonga Power linesmen. There is  a significant skill shortage in New Zealand and Tonga Power agreed for  Northpower to recruit its linesmen as the overseas utility companies are bracing for staff shortage and devising strategies to recruit more workers, Tonga Power company said.

This is not the first time for Northpower to recruit Tongans linesmen as in 2006 it "employed 25 linesmen from offshore, primarily from Tonga, and has continued to maintain a strong relationship with Tonga since. This opened up employment and career development opportunities for the Tongan trades people".

Rod Lowe, Distribution Manager for Tonga Power Limited said “this career opportunity was advertised internally and is a structured process to help those who want to move overseas and apply their skills, the move will be fully supported to help our staff and their families settle into their new homes. The successful applicants are expected to leave Tonga in late June depending on the completion of Stage 1 of the Tonga Village Network Upgrade”.

He said, “The expression of interest was sent out to all Tonga Power linesmen and 24 applied for this career opportunity with Northpower. These applicants have been shortlisted to 10”.

John van Brink, Chief Executive for Tonga Power Limited said, “This is a great opportunity for our staff.  We have been able to train our linemen to New Zealand qualification standard and their skills are widely sought after.  It is extremely satisfying for our Board to see how Tonga Power can support our staff and give them an opportunity to take their skills to a new level, the Northpower arrangement means that the shift to a new job and family home is trouble free and more importantly the staff and their families have an on-going support structure to help them settle into a new country.

For Tonga Power it means we can manage how we replace skilled staff with new trainees and bring employment opportunities to the community.”

“As part of their initial training with Northpower, the ten linesmen will work to gain qualifications of an international standard, recognised by the New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA) in New Zealand.

Northpower have offices throughout the North Island, in Whangarei, Auckland, Tauranga, Waikato, Rotorua, Hawkes Bay and are active in Perth, Australia”

Sorcery: Families of lost fishermen in Vava'u turn to "Uiui Tēvolo"

By
Kalino Latu
-

Families of three fishermen who went missing in Vava'u on May 29,  approached a sorcerer, 'Ana Malia,  in Leimatu'a last week asking to help locate the whereabout of their lost ones.

Six fishermen went fishing in Hakaufasi Reef in Vava'u Island but only three escaped the strong wind and swells in the area and returned safely ashore.

Police and families scoured the area for the missing three, Fangupo Fifita (43) 'Ahio Fe'iloaki (45) from Mataika, as well as Pauli Malimali (32) from Talihau, but failed to find them and the search was called off  days later.

After the official search was called off, the families went to a sorcery practice known as "uiui tevolo" or calling up the devil where the sorcerer could strike up a conversation with the dead spirits of tānekinanga (grave) asking for advice. 

'Ana Malia  confirmed on Monday 10 that the  families of Fangupo Fifita  and Fe'iloaki 'Ahio of Mataika had come to her for help.

 'Ana Malia told Kaniva News she had struck up a conversation with a dead lady from Mataika, Vava'u who died in the MV Princess Ashika that sank in 2009, killing 74 passengers.

The dead lady told the sorcerer 'Ana Malia that Fangupo was still alive but that 'Ahio had died on Sunday 9.and Pauli Malimali died days earlier.

Kaniva News understands that the families of Fe'iloaki 'Ahio conducted a funeral ceremony on June 11.   

 The sorcerer said the families could not communicate directly with the dead spirits but an empty glass was said to  move around a sheet of glass that had letters of the alphabet around the edge. The glass is said to have been moved by the dead spirits to certain  letters which only the sorcerer could interpret what message it spelled out. 

The families could join this conversation but only with the guidance of the sorcerer.

Police Inspector Falakiseni from Vava'u Police Station confirmed to Kaniva News that a boat had been dispatched to the area last week at the request of the family and after the "Uiui Tēvolo" ceremony but could not get into the area due to bad weather.

Tonga to introduce bill to combat internet abuse

By
Kalino Latu
-

UPDATE: The Prime Minister of Tonga, Lord Tu’ivakano warmly welcomed the landing of the fibre optic cable today at the newly built Tonga Cable Ltd (TCL) Headquarter in Sopu.

He said the cable project will be officially made available to the public on August 5 at the same time the government is well aware of negative effects high speed broadband will bring to Tonga and is now working on a bill to prevent and bring those responsible to justice.   

Tonga currently has the only“Tongan Internet Corporation Register Act of 2000 (the Internet Act)” which gives the “Minister responsible for Telecommunications” authority to control internet registration of “domestic and foreign persons or corporations”.

The Prime Minister did not give details of the bill but improper use of the internet in criminal activities including cyber-bullying, electronic spam and malware are common misuses of internet many countries have to deal with from time to time.

 “The high speed internet services the cable will bring will effectively change the economic landscape of the Pacific, improve the delivery of health and education services and help businesses expand-creating jobs,” said Adrian Ruthenberg, Regional Director of ADB’s South Pacific Subregional Office.

“This is an exciting time for Tonga and for the Pacific,” said Franz Drees-Gross, World Bank Country Director for Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Pacific Islands. “The new cable will make communications faster and cheaper, with huge gains for families and businesses in Tonga.”

The cable’s arrival is the latest milestone of the project which will boost Tonga’s international connectivity, providing widespread social and economic benefits to the people of Tonga.

The high speed internet services will be officially launched by the Government in early July 2013.

Tonga is the first Pacific Island Country to connect to the cable under the program, which is being funded through grants of $17.2 million from the World Bank, $9.7 million from ADB and a $6.6 million investment from TCL.

Tonga cerebrates arrival of Fibre-optic connection

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A formal ceremony was this morning held at Sopu-‘o-Taufa’ahau village to mark the arrival of the fibre-optic cable that connects Tonga to Fiji providing the Friendly Islanders with high speed broadband services.

The  soft launch was attended by the Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano and his cabinet as well as some 200 guests.  

The 20Gbs connection is provided by the Fiji International Telecommunications Limited (FINTEL) and its communications manager Laisiasa Nakacea reportedly said, “FINTEL will be the gateway for communication between the two countries. For Tonga they will witness the introduction of high speed broadband … and a lot of other new services that will be introduced to Tonga on the high speed cable that we will be putting in today”.

Featured image by Friends Cafe and Friends Tourist Center

Miss Murphy says her "Tonga's only wealth" saying

By
Kaniva Staff
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“Tonga’s only wealth is a word of thank-you” (Ko e koloa ‘a Tonga ko e fakamālō) a Tongan saying given to express importance of supporters to competitors and for competitors to specially say it as a way of giving them their deepest gratitude.

Miss Murphy, the Tongan performer who became top in one of the Australian biggest entertainment show, The Voice 2013,  thanked her fans for their on-going supports and encouragement despite being out of the competition to night.

“I would like to thank everyone for the love and support you have given me. This has been a life changing time for me and your love and support has given me so much. Thankyou for sharing with me and letting me sing to you. Thankyou to the voice and to Ricky. I am so fortunate to be a part of this show! XOXOX,” she posted on twitter.

Miss Murphy (31)  lastly took to the stage for Team Ricky with the song 'You've Really Got A Hold On me' by Smokey Robinson.

Her real name is Karen Andrews and her mother is Tongan. Ms Andrews drew her inspiration from her “big Polynesian family where music was everywhere and I've just always loved to sing,” she told Illawarra Mercury website

"My parents worked hard to provide for me and my three brothers, and they saw singing was important to me and made sure they gave me every chance to pursue it," she said.

"From the age of 14 to 16 I had the opportunity to be part of the Wollongong Conservatorium's youth choir and I learnt a lot there and it was great to be among other students who loved to sing too," she told the website.

Ms Andrews followed 16-year-old Tongan Fatai Veamatahau, known as Fatai V who contested The Voice 2012.

Poems reveal Tongan king’s struggle

By
Kalino Latu
-

Poems by King Tupou II reflect his struggle to prevent Tonga being annexed, according to a Tongan scholar.

King Tupou II ruled Tonga from 1893-1918.

University of Canterbury doctoral candidate Paula Onoafe Latu is studying two of the king’s anthems, ‘Sikaiona’ and ‘‘Alamoti,’ as part of his thesis.

Sikaiona is a Tongan translation of “scion” – a piece of a plant, cut to make a new plant and ‘alamoti is a translation of “alamoth” – meaning a maiden.

King Tupou II, an 18 year old single ‘eiki lahi or high chief  became king of Tonga in 1893 after the death of his great grandfather King Siaosi I died.

The early years of the young king’s reign was marked by upheavals. After the death of his first wife, his decision to marry Queen Lavinia rather than Lady Ofa-ki-Vava’u, the choice of the majority of chiefs, nearly led to civil war.

Tonga was proclaimed a British protectorate in 1900. This followed attempts by his chiefly rivals and European settlers to overthrow him because of alleged mismanagement and corruption.

Mr Latu said it was worth exploring an inside experience of the situation in Tonga during this period.

“These difficulties almost led to the political demise of the Tu’i-dom during his reign,”  he said.

“I am particularly interested in studying how life experiences are reflected in poetic forms from an appreciative but alternative researcher’s viewpoint.”

Mr Latu said his majesty’s two compositions reflected his “personal and spiritual life experiences and difficulties faced in His attempt to safeguard Tonga from the threat of annexation.”

He told Kaniva News some metaphorical terms used in the poem ‘Scion’  like ‘levaiatani’ (leviathan) and “talakoni” (dragon) were references to tragedies the king experienced during his ruling. 

Correction: We have removed from this article what we reported as Paula Latu saying that the anthem "‘Alamoti was composed by the king after the daughter of the first principal of Tonga College, John Hardley Robert’s daughter was drowned off the island of ‘Eua. That was not correct and Mr Latu did not say that.   

Featured image by wikipedia.com

Ikale Tahi fans' spirits high, despite loss

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Tonga National Rugby team are to return to United States and get ready to take on US Eagles Rugby team on Friday, June 14 at Rio Tinto Stadium, Salt Lake City, after being defeated by Canada 36-27.

The spirit of supports by the Tongan fans in US around the social media and abroad is still high and strong despite the loss as many call on the team to leave the game with Canada behind and get prepared for the next game.

The courage of the ‘Ikale Tahi 14 team members and only 12 in the second half  who temporarily struggled in the field to face 15 Canadians after Eddie Aholelei was red-carded and two others later on  sent to the sin-bin was enough to make supporters still proud of the team.

Nili Latu, the captain appreciated the supporters and the community spirit they have for the 'Ikale Tahi but "apologised for the result" and said they "did their best".

“Oku atu ae kole faka mole mole meia teau moe Timi he mau to nounou he vainga oe ahoni ,koe mau Osi Taha e pea nae ikai toe Tuku ha mau ivi,” he said.

Tonga coach Mana ‘Otai believes ‘Ikale Tahi as well as other Pacific Teams are singled out because of their “physical play”

Otai made his comments after reviewing the video tape and said “I had a look at both. I couldn’t really see why (the yellow cards were issued),”

 “It’s almost like, these days you know, when a black man is tackling harder than the other, it seems to be the way.”

 “And I think some of the foreigners that are involved in our team now are starting to see that. It’s just hard to battle or fight that stereotype, I guess. But I’m not taking away the fact that at times we do, I guess, make mistakes in terms of tackling – if I’m talking in general. But in today’s game, I couldn’t justify the two yellow cards,” he told Canadians newspapers.

Shark fins in Vava’u taken down EU to ban shark finning

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The anti-shark finning campaigners in Tonga, ‘Aunofo Havea and Tongan US resident ‘Eseta Schaaf posted and shared on Facebook this morning June 9 an image featuring shark fins that recently hanging up to dry in a shelter in Vava’u to have been disappeared.

The shark fins belonged to a Chinese-owner of a Supermarket in Neiafu and a store woman confirmed they “were acquired from local fishermen and divers”.

Kalauni o Tonga Voyaging Society president ‘Aunofo Havea last week called to “stop killing sharks for their fins in Tonga” and asked the Chinese owner to take the fins down.

It was not clear whether the removal of the fins was because of the request from the Voyager’s President or it was for processing purpose.

“Let's make sure they didn't take it to their backyard instead,” Ms Schaaf, President of Keep Vava'u Green Organisation says on Facebook.

The campaign which was believed to have had an impact on the shark finning operater in Vava'u,  has been applauded by anti-shark finning activists and conservationists saying it was “a great and Excellent conservation work”.

There is no law in Tonga to protect finning of sharks, a practice described by many as “unjust” and “inhumane”.

Tonga’s shark finning episode emerged as the European Union agreed on Thursday to tighten an existing ban on "shark finning".

EU says new laws have been in place and they "require fishermen to land all sharks with their fins “naturally attached.”

They will also “forbid shark finning by all vessels in EU waters and by all EU-registered vessels anywhere in the world, a move its supporters believe will put pressure on countries where the practice is common”.

Photo on June 8
Photo on June 8
Photo on May 14
Photo on May 14

 

'Ikale-Tahi squad for Canada named Nili asks for people’s prayer

By
Kalino Latu
-

Nili Latu, captain of the ‘Ikale-Tahi Team thanked US Ikale-Tahi fans and all Tongans who donated money, foods and clothing while the team were in San Francisco for their training session. He said they were blessed with all sorts of kindness and the team are well prepared to shock the Canadians on June 8

He asked the people and all Tongan congregations to remember the 'Ikale-Tahi in their prayers . “Faka malo lahi atu kihe kau poupou ,moe nga'ahi hufia kotoa kuo mau lave ai he tour ko eni .Atu ai pe kole kiho tau Kakai moe u nga'ahi fai Anga lotu ke nau Sii manatu'i Mai mua mautolu he nau lotu,” he said.

'Ikale-Tahi team

1. Edmond 'Aholelei (loose head)
2. 'Ilaisa Ma'asi, (hooker)
3. Taione Vea, (tighthead)
4. 'Emosi Kauhenga, (lock)
5. Tukulua Lokotui, (lock)
6. Hale. T Pole, (blindside)
7. Nili Latu, (captain)
8. Viliami Fihaki, (no.8)
9. Taniela Moa, (scrum half)
10. Kurt Morath, (outside half)
11. Will Helu, (wing)
12. Sione Piukala, (centre)
13. Siale Piutau, (centre)
14. Fetu'u Vainikolo, (wing)
15. Viliami Hakalo, (fullback)
16. Elvis Taione, (hooker)
17. Kamaliele Sakalia, (prop)
18. Sila Puafisi, (prop)
19. Joshua Afu, (loose forward)
20. Paula Kaho, (loose forward)
21. Thomas Palu, (scrum hal)f
22. Viliame 'Iongi, (inside back)
23. David Halaifonua, (outside back)

King warns Parliament over “vote of no confidence” clause amendment bill

By
Kaniva Staff
-

UPDATED His Majesty King Tupou VI of Tonga in a message read by His Royal Highness Prince Tu'ipelehake during the Parliament’s closing ceremony this morning expressed caution about the  motion tabled in the House to amend the constitution clause 50 B.

The motion known as Amendment Act 50B(2) bill was submitted to Parliament in March and its texts are as follows:

“ A vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister

(a)    shall not be moved unless at least 5 working days’ notice of the intention to move such a motion  has been given to the Speaker;

(b)   shall be of no effect if made within 18 months after a general  election has been held, nor within 6 months before the date by which an election shall be held in accordance with clause 77(1), or within 12 months after the date on which the last such motion was voted upon in the Legislative Assembly;

(c)    shall be of no effect unless passed by a majority of at least two thirds of the members voting on the motion.”

As it stands, only 13 members needed to win any Vote of No-Confidence where as the constitution currently requires 17.

The motion was to be discussed in the House during the special session but the government  moved to postpone the discussion. 

King Tupou VI says in his message today he was aware of the motion to amend the constitution particularly the clause for “Vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister” and it was a measure put in place to assess the government and how it works in the new democratic system.

His Majesty also says quality of new and precious commodity tends to change from  time to time but in terms of the constitution any change to be made must be done wholeheartedly, knowledgeably, skillfully, wisely and predictably.  

He expects the House to work on the amendment in a fair and honest manner understanding that any shortfall would affect the government’s responsibility for its people.

Opposition Leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva reportedly said government’s proposed amendment to clause 50B was “self-interested” and intentionally made to prevent the Prime Minister from being easily voted out by the opposition party.

Featured image by www.parliament.gov.to

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