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Tonga Parliament closes special session 2013

By
Kalino Latu
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UPDATES: Today was a big day for all Tongans in Tonga on the mainland Tongatapu as hundreds headed to Nuku'alofa for the closing ceremony of the nation’s Parliament special session opened on March 7.

The House was urgently called to deliberate on 5 main Bills such as the Pacific Games Organization Bill 2013, the Constitution of Tonga (Amendment) Bill 2013, the Constitution of Tonga (Amendment) No 2 Bill 2013, a Land (Amendment) Bill 2013, and the Legislative Assembly Amendment Bill 2013.

Parliament’s normal session will be opened on June 13

Two Tongans for All Blacks – France squad

By
Kaniva Staff
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All Blacks 32-man squad has two Tongan Aucklander Charles Piutau (21), and Chiefs and North Harbour prop Ben Afeaki (25).

Charles (Salesi Tu'ipulotu) Piutau  is a younger brother of Yamaha Jubilo centre Siale Piutau who is also representing Tonga on its ‘Ikale-Tahi PNC Tournament 2013.

Ben Afeaki's regular playing position is prop and represents the Chiefs in Super Rugby and North Harbour in the ITM Cup.

Ben attended Sacred Heart College, Auckland and Charles attended Wesley College.

The last Tongan to play in the All Blacks was Sione Lauaki who had his final game in 2008.  

All Blacks vs France

1ST TEST, All Blacks v France, Saturday 8 June, Eden Park, Auckland.

2ND TEST, All Blacks v France, Saturday 15 June, AMI Stadium (Addington), Christchurch.

3RD TEST, All Blacks v France, Saturday 22 June, Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth

Great Samoan leader will be sorely missed

By
Press Release
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Labour’s Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson and MP for Mangere, Su’a William Sio, has passed his sincere sympathies to the Samoan Assemblies of God congregations, especially the Samoan communities in New Zealand, following the passing of Dr Samani Pulepule.

“This is a very difficult time for Dr Samani Pulepule’s family who only three days ago laid to rest his wife Sapapali’i Samani Pulepule.”

Dr Samani Pulepule (born 13 October 1923) has been a Samoan minister since the early 1950s. Since the late 1960s he led the Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand until retiring from his posts in 2011.

“In 2006, he was elected as Chairman of the Samoan Assemblies of God Worldwide which represents 530 churches, with over 300 credential ministers, and more than 10,000 lay preachers.

It was his vision that ensured that in 1992 the Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand established a Convention Community Centre with seating up to 4000 in Mangere which is one of the busiest centres for worship, education and a variety of community activities.

“I think people will remember Dr Samani Pulepule most as a man of faith, a genuinely good man who contributed so much to his community,” Su’a William Sio said.

“Unlike other evangelical Samoan groups, the Samoan Assemblies of God rejected many traditional Samoan cultural practices that placed a burden on families.

“That was thanks to the stewardship and leadership of Dr Samani Pulepule who put families first.

“His peers from the world over will gather in Mangere to pay their final condolences and respects to a great man who deserves his rest,” Su’a William Sio said.

INOKE VALA PEPA : Two policemen accused of assault

By
Kalino Latu
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Two policemen, Samisoni Taufa and Sosefo Masalu have been accused in a preliminary hearing on June 4,  in connection with the death of Mr. Inoke Vala Pepa on 16 November 2012.

The hearing will return to Lower Court on June 24.

Mr. Pepa (20)  was the subject of a violent assault in his village of Vaini, Tongatapu, Tonga last year and allegedly died immediately after.

The Crown Prosecutor believes Mr Pepa died from head injuries after he was assaulted by the two police officers.    

Three police constables were previous arrested and accused for Mr Pepa’s death but one of them, constable Halafe’iloaki Pule’anga was acquitted before they appeared in court on January as police could not find enough evidence for his involvement

TRU: Vava‘u Rugby Union wants beleaguered Soape Tu’iono out

By
Kalino Latu
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Vava’u Rugby Union (VRU)  in Tonga wants Soape Tu’iono, the chairman of the unconstitutional committee set up in opposition to Tonga Rugby Union (TRU) chaired by ‘Epeli Taione, to step aside and dissolve his committee.

Supporters of rugby union from Vava'u are the second largest in number to supporters on the mainland Tongatapu and for their Union to come forward and express their opinion publicly is significant.

‘Isileli Fakatulolo, President of VRU told a local newspaper Soape called meetings that were not in accordance with the TRU constitution and all he has done were only to cause public disorder and chaos among Ikale-Tahi fans.

On April 10 Soape and some (TRU)  members called a board meeting to oust the Chairperson ‘Epeli Taione and CEO ‘Emeline Tuita.

Mr. William Glenwright, IRB General Manager  for Oceania told Soape in an email few days later that “TRU is not validly applying its Constitution” and to “lay-off” a board official  is a matter for the Union to decide in a general meeting but not the board members.

Tonga is currently having two Rugby Union Boards, one is chaired by ‘Epeli Taione and one is chaired by Tu’iono.

Taione told Kaniva News previously his committee is still the only one recognized in Tonga by IRB.

One year old toddler in Vava’u allegedly dies in bucket of water

By
via Scoop Media
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Police in Vava’u are conducting an investigation into how 1 year 6 months old baby girl, Malia Pome’e also known as Mako from the village of Makave, was found dead in a bucket of water by their house.

Inspector Falakiseni from Vava’u Police Station told local newspaper Kele’a they are awaiting autopsy report from hospital to confirm the cause of death.

Dr Tevita Faka’osi from the hospital told the paper that the toddler was arrived at about 6:00 pm on Tuesday, and he found out her heart stopped beating.

Family members told the paper, Pome’e was playing with her sisters while her mother, Haurana Pome'e was cooking.

Haurana did not hear from the baby for a while and after calling and searching around the residence her elder  sisters found her in the bucket of water. 

Emeritus Professor Albert Wendt Appointed to the Order of New Zealand

By
Press Release
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Albert Wendt (āiga Sa-Tuaopepe of Lefaga and āiga Sa-Patu of Vaiala), Emeritus Professor of English at The University of Auckland and acclaimed writer, painter and poet, has been made a member of the Order of New Zealand in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours List.

The Order of New Zealand is the country's highest honour. Only 20 people can be members of the order at any one time.

The 73-year-old said this latest award is for his family.

'The honour is really for them. They are the ones that really got me where I am now because if you don't have the support of your family and friends, you can continue to write, but who is it for?'

In 1988 he took up a professorship of New Zealand Literature in the English Department at The University of Auckland, becoming one of the first Samoan and Pacific Island professors in New Zealand.

In November 2012 he was awarded New Zealand's highest literary award – the 2012 Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement for Fiction at Premier House in Wellington.

Albert first came to New Zealand from Samoa on government scholarship in 1952 and studied at New Plymouth Boys High.

'Without that scholarship I don't know where I would be now. I came from a very modest and poor family. My parents really believed that education was a way out of that.'

'I never dreamt that I would be here now.'

After graduating with his masters degree from Victoria University, Albert returned home to Samoa in 1965 to teach at Samoa College before becoming principal in 1969.

In 1974 he moved to Suva and became a lecturer at the University of the South Pacific.

Albert has written several novels, collections of short stories and poetry. Two of his books, Sons for the Return Home and Flying Fox in a Freedom Tree “ have both been made into feature films. Leaves of the Banyan Tree, his third novel, won the prestigious New Zealand Wattie Book of the Year Award in 1980.

Government and councils at odds again

By
Kalino Latu
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The Government’s bullying tactics with councils are threatening to derail its flagship housing accords, says Labour.

“The Government's Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Bill is already in trouble. Housing Minister Nick Smith is at loggerheads with local councils over clauses which give him the power to override them if government doesn’t get its way,” Labour’s Local Government spokesperson Su’a William Sio says.

“President of Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ), Lawrence Yule, told the select committee considering the Bill today that councils were totally opposed to the override clause and Auckland Council would refuse to sign the Housing Accord with the Government unless the clause was removed,” said Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford.

“Nick Smith said on radio this morning the override clause would not be removed. There is clearly another miscommunication between central and local government.

"It is bizarre that after spending six weeks hammering out an accord with Auckland Council that explicitly rules out the idea of the Government overriding the Council, the Government then inserts clauses in the Bill that would allow it to go over the top of that council  – and others – if it can’t get its own way.

"How can a council negotiate in good faith when the Government is holding a gun to its head?” Phil Twyford said.

Su’a William Sio said Mr Smith was determined to strip local communities of their powers: “We have seen it in the Land Transport Management Amendment Bill which transfers the power to set local transport priorities from Councils to Cabinet and in the RMA which tilts the balance of power away from local communities.

"While local councils by and large accept the need for special measures to deal with affordable housing, they aren’t ‘spare parts’ in the decision making process.

“Bullying is not the go-to tactic of a responsible and reasonable government.”

Concerns over shark finning in Tonga attract wider awareness

By
Kalino Latu
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There are more concerns now by conservationists around the Pacific after revelation last week that the “cruel practice of cutting off the fins of live shark,” and selling them to local Chinese markets has no law in Tonga to avoid it.

Kalauni ‘o Tonga  Voyaging Society president Aunofo Havea says the society is horrified to discover shark finning is taking place in their local waters.

“To see shark fins displayed at a local supermarket in Neiafu is heartbreaking,” says Havea. “We regard ourselves as guardians for these vulnerable species and this practice and trade must stop".

Kalauni ‘o Tonga is a national voyaging society based in the Vava’u island group, where Neiafu harbour is located.

“I know we are not alone in our stance and we hope others will speak out to raise awareness and bring about change,” says Havea.

 ‘Eseta Schaaf, founder of the organization Keep Vava’u Green – based in Salt Lake City, Utah,  who brought Tonga’s shark finning practice to light last week on NZKaniva Pacific says “I have been pleasantly surprised by the widespread attention my article on shark finning in Vava’u has received. From the US to Australia, New Zealand and Tonga, concerned readers and conservationists have shown their support. Sharks have thrived on Earth for 420 million years, but today they are on the verge of extinction from human-related activities like shark finning.

"The example at Neiafu Shopping Centre is the first outright and public display of shark finning in Vava’u, and sadly, reports show that the practice is more prevalent (on the mainland) Tongatapu. Even the Ministry of Fisheries website lists the amount of exported shark fins under its quaterly bulletins.

Oceana estimated Tonga exported close to 8,000 kg of shark fins in 2008 to Hong Kong alone – the biggest shark fin market".

Schaaf told Kaniva, “It is awesome to see the ripple effect this has had on raising awareness both in and outside of Tonga. I hope we keep talking about it – tell your friends and family about it, stay updated by visiting: http://oceana.org and finally, let the Tongan Government know we are aware and we care”.

Pastor of Tongan Assemblies of God fired after investigation

By
Kalino Latu
-

Pastor Vosailangi Sikalu of the Assemblies of God has been sacked following a decision by the church’s executive presbytery in New Zealand.

A written confirmation of his dismissal was officially made on May 22 by the executive saying it “revoked”  Sikalu’s position in the church after conducting an investigation against him and copies of their decision have been sent to the “World AG Tongan Council”.

Sikalu was accused of having affairs with two women in the church and it was made known to the Tongan communities by the Taimi 'o Tonga Newspaper in late 2009. He was also accused of sending obscene text messages.

In October 2012 after complaints from one of the women and her husband Pastor Sikalu was arrested by police for “misuse of a telephone and threatening behaviour”.

He was released with “a precharge formal warning for his actions”.

Sikalu denied all accusations and maintained his innocence.

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