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Tongan mother and son killed in road accident

By
Kaniva Staff
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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
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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
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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

Statement reveals Tonga Police commissioner under investigation

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga Police have released a statement amid allegation that the Police Commissioner Grant O’Fee was resigning with two other top police officers being dismissed and demoted.

“It is understood that these rumors are based on the information released that the Commissioner is under Investigation on a Cabinet decision. This rumor was brought in to the attention of the Commissioner of Police by members of the Tonga Media,” the statement says.

The police statement quoted O’Fee as saying, “I am not resigning”.

It also says there was a rumour that  “Deputy Commissioner ‘Unga Fa’aoa has been demoted while Acting Deputy Commissioner Salote Tonga has been dismissed from the Tonga Police”.

Salote Tonga “has not being dismissed or Fa’aoa demoted,” confirmed Commissioner of Tonga Police Grant O’Fee

Faua Wharf death: man died from natural causes

By
Kalino Latu
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The 56-year-old man found dead at Faua Wharf  Monday Dec 9 died from natural causes, a coroner said

Mr. Sione Ikahihifo Mafi (56)  was living at Pahu in Tongatapu but he comes from Petani, 'Eua.

Mafi’s body was released to his family after the inquest yesterday police said.

A security guard first saw the man sitting outside Reef Café at the wharf.

The security guard was on his way to a ferry that arrived from Eua at 6:00pm.

When the guard returned from the ferry he saw the same man but this time he was lying down. He checked and found out he was unresponsive.

Police were called to the scene and the man was rushed to Vaiola Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Siueni Filimone – another rising star

By
Tevita Katoa
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Kaniva news interviewed Tonga’s 100m and 200m sprint star, Siueni Filimone.

He was born on the 19/08/1994 and raised up in the village of Koulo, Haʻapai by his parents, ʻAkimeta Filimone of Koulo and Lotofoa and Melelatai Uasi Filimone of ʻOʻua.

Siueni said at school he favoured music more than athletics but he changed his mind since he moved to the main island, Tongatapu. He was then 17-year-old.

At secondary school he was chosen by Tupou College intermediate team to compete at the 100m and 200m sprints. This year, 2013, he broke Tongan national records in 100m and 200m sprints.

 Representing Tonga

Siueni and other three athletes were invited to the New Zealand National Youth Games competition held in Hamilton last week. Siueni competed at the 100m and 200m, ʻAna Katiloko competed on long and stepping jump, ʻAtamaama Tuʻutafaiva on Short-put and Liʻekina Kaufusi on 100m and hurdles.

Siueni said he pulled out of 200m so that he could only concentrate on 100m sprint.

He was qualified for the 100m finalists and became first – a gold medal for Tonga.

Siueni said he was not really happy with the result because he trained so hard with his personal coach, Tevita Faʻonuku and targeted to finish at 10.04sec. Unfortunately his coach was not able to come with him due to financial difficulty. He believed he could do better if his coach was with him.

South Pacific Mini-games

In August this year, he represented Tonga at Pacific Mini-games held on the island of ʻUvea. That was an open event and he came fourth.

In 2012, Siueni represented Tonga in the Junior World Championship held in Spain. That was his first international appearance in the sport arena.

This year, 2013, he also represented Tonga in the World Senior Championship held in Russia where he met the fastest man in the world Usain Bolt.  

Siueni wanted to represent Tonga in the South Pacific Games 2015, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games in 2016.

He has asked the public and the people of Tonga for sponsorship. He said he competed at the international competitions without his coach because of lack of funding.

Proposal: civil servants in Tonga to receive 40% cola

By
Kalino Latu
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Despite Tonga relying on overseas donors to fund 54% of its budget 2013/14, a proposal by the government last week will give civil servants a 40% cost of living allowance  if it is approved.

Tonga government has more than 3000 workers in which overseas countries including Australian government assists in funding salary for certain ministries including the Ministry of Health, Police and Education.

About 75% of the government annual budget is allocated to pay salaries and wages for its workers.

In last July the Asian Development Bank  recommends in a new economic report that for Tonga to get its economy back on track it has to reduce the size of its public service and a reduction of the wage bill to 45%.

The COLA proposal is the first time in eight years the government considered its civil servants salaries and wages since the pay rise in 2005. More than 10,000 Tongans took to the street to support public servant strikers who went on strike at the time after the government announced  that only the top levels of civil servant hierarchy would receive pay increases.

The strikers finally returned to work after agreeing with the government to a proportional 60,70,80 per cents pay rise, a move that analysists say it was one of the factors that contribute to an on-going battle by the Tongan government to revive its economy. 

Request for comment was sent to Treasury but was redirected to the PSA CEO Dr.  Palenitina Langa’oi. Kaniva News has not received any response yet.  

Faua Wharf death investigated by police

By
Kalino Latu
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Police in Tonga have yet to annouced what has caused the death of a man found at Faua Wharf  about 5:30pm Monday, December 9.

It was not clear how the 56 year old died, and nothing immediately suspicious was found at the scene, police said.

A security guard first saw the man sitting outside Reef Café at the wharf.

The security guard was on his way to a ferry that arrived from Eua at 6:00pm.

The report says when the guard returned from the ferry he saw the same man but this time he was lying down. He checked and find out he was unresponsive.

Police were called to the scene and the man was rushed to Vaiola Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police investigation continues.

Tonga’s sporting teams need fair treatment

By
Kalino Latu
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The Special Olympics team won three gold medals in Newcastle, but didn’t get a seniti from the government.

The Rugby Sevens team had to play in borrowed women’s shorts at the Mini South Pacific Games in Uvea.

Athletes picked to represent the kingdom at the same games had to hold fund raising events to pay for their tickets.

And now the government wants to send an official delegation to the Winter Olympics where Tonga will have just one athlete.

Just what is happening with sports funding in Tonga?

Tonga’s Head of Sport Delegation to this month’s Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games  in Australia has blasted the Tongan authorities for its lack of financial support.

Vanessa Heleta said approached Tongan sporting authorities for help, but was told they knew nothing about the Special Olympics.

Heleta , told the New Castle Herald it cost nearly 20,000 Tongan Pa’anga (Aus$12,000) to get the team to the games, which were held in Newcastle in New South Wales from November 30-December 7.

She said they were only managed to get to the games because of major sponsorship from  mobile telecommunications operator Digicel and minor sponsorship from the ANZ bank.

‘‘It just goes to show the support at home from the government and shows that Special Olympics is last on their list when it comes to sport,’’ Heleta told the paper.

‘‘They gave thousands of dollars to rugby league and when we tried to get some help, we were told ‘We’ve never heard of Special Olympics before’.

‘‘It’s living in denial.

‘‘It goes to show that these people are outcast and that they don’t care about them.’’

When they did get to Newcastle, the Tongans won nine medals, including three gold.

Tomasi Lolsesio Ma'asi won three gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 400m track and field.

Patiola Pahulu won two silver in bocce, Langalotu ‘Alofi won silver medal in bocce Tangikina Soakai won silver  in the shot put.

The two bronze medalists were Pauli Ma’afu in bocce and Tangikina Soakai in the 100m track and field.

The Tongan team’s financial plight became public knowledge when other athletes discovered they could not take part in the traditional swapping of Olympic pins because they didn’t have any.

Swapping Olympic pins is customary at every Olympic event where sport delegations, media organisations, sponsors and cultural groups exchange pins that feature their logos and colours.

Some fly, some go by boat

Tonga’s Special Olympics team are not alone in their experience of government funding for sport.

In  August there was an outburst of public anger after it was revealed that Tonga’s delegation to the South Pacific Mini Game 2013 in Wallis and Futuna had each been told to pay TP$850 (NZ$545.45) for a ticket on the MV Otuanga’ofa, while a government delegation flew to Uvea at a cost of TP$57,000 (NZ$34,000) and TP$24,000 (NZ$ 15,612.96) for the Rugby Union Seven Team.

Because of a shortfall in funding from the Ministry of Public Enterprise, the athletes then had to raise funds to pay for their tickets.

Sport team manager Takitoa Taumoepeau told local Kele’a newspaper it was important to have a government official  delegation to attend the Mini Games because Tonga would host the South Pacific Games in 2019.

He said he discussed the issue with the sport delegation and told them that some people would have to take the MV Otuanga’ofa to Futuna and Uvea while the rugby flew.

Taumoepeau said the Rugby Union Sevens team was due to play at the end of the games and it was cheaper to fly them there just before their match than pay for accommodation for the whole game.

Coach Edward Waqa and Tevita Tu’ifua refused  to travel by sea and the team was led at the Games by Manu Vunipola.

Even so, when the Tongan team arrived in Uvea they had no rugby uniforms and had to borrow kit from the Uvean Sevens  team and shorts from the Uvean women’s team.

The Tongan Rugby sevens team won bronze.

Tonga government support

The Tongan government announced in October that it would spend T$400,000 (NZ$259,000) to support sport in the kingdom.

The money was allocated to the Tongan Rugby Union team, the Tongan Rugby League team, and the Tongan Amateur Sports Association and National Olympic Committee.

Funding will be divided as follows:

  • 'Ikale Tahi Nothern Hemisphere Tour in November 2013 T$100,000 (NZ$65,000)
  • Mate Ma'a Tonga National Rugby League Team (2013 World Cup)  T$250,000 (NZ$162,000)
  • Tonga's Official Team to 2014 Winter Olympics Games  T$50,000 (NZ$32,000)

The contributions to the 'Ikale Tahi and the Mate Ma'a Tonga are for the players’ allowances.

No other sports received funding.

Emotional scene as Queen's baton carried in Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
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Residents of Houma, Tongatapu, Tonga were "full of emotion" yesterday as the Queen’s baton arrived in the village.

Leading the Queen's relay into Lord Vaea's estate after it left Ha'atafu at 8am, Hon.Laifone Vaea and Hon.Vilai Vaea were greeted by hundreds of  villagers and well wishers who lined up along the roadsides.

The 93 year old Misiume Vuna, one of the eldest village elders sat waiting by the roadside to carry the baton.

He smiled and raised his hands with care while he was handed with the baton to carry.

A photo of Vuna carrying the baton was uploaded into Facebook where he was greeted by his families overseas including his daughter Moala Vuna who wrote her love for him.

The Queen’s Baton for the Commonwealth Games 2014 will depart Tonga heading to the island of Niue to be arrived there by Thursday 13.

The Queen's Baton Relay has been the Commonwealth Games' lead-in before the main game since 1958.

The Games are being hosted by Glasgow (Scotland) from 23 July to 3 August 2014.

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