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Tongan promoter of Hyperfund scam in US warns members to ‘stop depositing money’ as company scheme collapses

By
Kalino Latu
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The woman who widely promoted a fraudulent investing scam in the US has called on Tongan investors to immediately stop depositing any more money in the Hyperfund ponzi scheme.

Setaita Folau Tānaki, promoter of Hyperfund scam

Setaita Folau Tānaki said people who had invested $100,000 and more in the scam had been unable to withdraw their money.

Only Tanaki and people who had invested less than $100,000 had been able to withdraw their money, she recently said in a livestreamed video.

Hyperfund, which was later rebranded as Hyperverse after warnings from regulators, was promoted as a scheme which offered a 300% return of investment to investors.  

New Zealand and the UK had previously warned that Hyperverse may be promoting a scam.  

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The scheme reportedly collapsed in 2021 before its founders and top promoters fled to Dubai with their investors’ money.

One of its top promoters was Kalpesh Patel, a UK citizen who lives in Dubai. Patel was active for many years in promoting pyramid schemes, scams, frauds and money laundering around the world.

Reports claimed he was making an estimated $3 million per month while he was involved with Hyperverse.

It appeared the Tongan investors were just recently made aware of the company’s downfall, which was publicly confirmed after Tanaki appeared in a livestreamed video on February 22 this year.  

“Do not deposit any more money,” she warned her Facebook followers.

She said the next step was for the victims to fill a form and submit it online so that Sam Lee, one of the founders of the Hyperverse could try to “recover” their money.

“This man [Sam Lee] previously said he did not want us to make further deposit,” Tanaki reiterated.

“If someone tells you to deposit more money no. Not yet. Just wait”.

“Those of you who have invested tens of thousands, thousands and hundreds and have yet to withdraw it Sam Lee will be here in an attempt to refund their money”.

Tānaki, was visibly concerned and spoke in such a low voice that  her listeners warned her on the Facebook comment section to speak louder so they could hear her. She is still a member of Hyperverse, but said she kept her membership only because she felt for those Tongans whose money had gone missing in the scam.

She said Lee was expected to provide another scheme which was better than Hyperverse. She said it was intended to make sure this problem did not occur again in the future.

Tānaki, who appeared to be based in Utah, said Lee had already announced on one of his YouTube videos that those who had yet to receive their money must fill a form but she implied that there was a training to be conducted on how to fill the form.

She said Lee wanted to obtain the names of the victims so he could help them retrieve their money.

However, she also said: “Filling the form does not mean he will send your money right away. No it isn’t. I want to assure you that.

“The form is another way of bringing the community together in and he will look into that, he will see what had happened and after that your money will be paid back.

“So this is the beginning of the submission of the forms so he could work on them.”

Despite the collapse of the scheme and many Tongans losing thousands, Tānaki still took great pride in scammer Lee and the leaders of the Hyperfund.

“The promoters who are senior to me are working together with this man (Lee) and I am greatly thankful for him. He is very faithful. He brought himself into this community. The Tongan community so that we can see a light at the end of the tunnel”, Tānaki said.

“He is a very smart man. Let’s see what he will be able to do”. 

Tānaki’s latest video provided what appeared to be another misleading, ambiguous and conflicting information to the victims on how they should get their money back.

She said the victims must submit a form which showed their names and contact details but there was no promise their money will be refunded.

One may ask, why were victims asked to resubmit their details when all investors must initially have created their own accounts on Hyperverse website where they provided their names and contact details.  

Tānaki’s 2021 campaigns

Tanaki assured the Tongan international community in 2021 that Hyperfund was just like any other financial company.

She previously claimed she had received rewards of US$200 daily and she urged Tongans in New Zealand and Australia as well as yard workers in the US join in.

However, in one of her meetings at the time with members of the Tongan community some potential investors accused her of promoting a scam. The accusers argued that Hyperfund had no physical office and there was no legal paperwork for members to sign up with the company. Tanaki vehemently denied this at the time and urged people to invest, insisting the  company was real.

In its warning at the time, the New Zealand’s Financial Markets Authority said “HyperFund may be operating a scam”.

It said HyperFund operated on a Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) model and claimed to offer passive investment opportunities.

“We have received reports of them recruiting affiliate investors in New Zealand. It is not registered or licensed to provide financial services/products in New Zealand”.

The warning by FMA on September 30, 2021 came a month after Kaniva News published a story on August 30, 2021 titled “Tongans in US try to recruit new members for scheme that promises huge wealth to investors.”

In that story we said: “Kaniva News has learned that Tongans who have bought into the scheme have been promising potential recruits a big payday”.

It also came before the New Zealand FMA placed a temporary stop order on the Validus multi-level marketing scheme and the people promoting it, last month.

The New Zealand and Australian authorities have warned that Validus may be promoting a Ponzi scheme.

A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investing scam which generates returns for earlier investors with money taken from later investors.

The website thehyperfund.com now redirects to thehyperverse.net

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority cautioned the public about HyperFund on 23 March 2021. View the warning.

Additionally, Guernsey Financial Services Commission have also warned about HyperFund.

The FMA recommend exercising caution when dealing with this entity.

Entity name: Hyperfund
Websites: thehyperfund.com; thehyperverse.net

Critics say solar power has failed to deliver cheaper electricity, but government still aims for 70% renewable energy target in Tongatapu

By
Kalino Latu
-

Solar power was brought to Tonga about a decade ago and the government said it would help reduce the electricity costs. However, since then critics have argued that this has not happened.

Lord Nuku (L), Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku

Critics said the electricity charges increased constantly, leading people to believe the idea that solar power would reduce power costs was untrue.

Parliament was recently told that when solar power was introduced to Tonga the electricity powered by diesel  cost 70 cents per unit. Now it is about TP$1 per unit.

Across Tonga’s 170 islands, up to 90 per cent of energy needs are met by diesel.

Fuel has accounted for 25% of all imports by value and 10% of GDP.

Lord Nuku said in Parliament the perception that solar power could reduce the costs of the electricity had not come true.  He said the number of solar and wind turbine power sources in Tonga was large enough to help reduce the electricity prices.

He said the petrol prices were also in decline.  The king’s noble wanted to know what the government’s policy was for the high rate charges of electricity faced by consumers.

Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku said the problem was that Tonga could only create 20 percent of electricity powered by solar and turbine.

“We are pretty much relying on electricity powered by fuel”, the Prime Minister said.

Hon. Hu’akavameiliku’s statement came after former Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa accused the Tonga Power Board of Directors’ high salaries as one of the causes of the increasing charges on electricity costs.

Tu’i’onetoa’s online comments were met with an equally heated response by Facebook users who said he should have taken care of the problem when he was in office.

Last December Hon. Hu’akavameiliku said the company aimed to have 70% energy from renewable sources in Tongatapu by the end of 2025.

He was speaking  at the launch of the biggest solar power plant in the South Pacific.

He said the plant indicated the need for independent power – like solar energy – to achieve their National Energy Roadmap.

“Although the majority of our renewable generation sites are from donor partners, Tonga will also need to pursue partnership and collaborations from independent power producers,” the Prime Minister Sovaleni said.

The plant powers more than 10,000 homes.

It is claimed the new solar farm will offset Tongatapu’s diesel needs by 18 per cent.

Tonga Power worked with New Zealand company Sunergise to implement the six megawatt solar power plant,  with support from the Asian Development Bank.

Tonga Power came under fire last year after the deadly Hunga Tong-Hunga Ha’apai eruptions when consumers complained about what they described as a shocking spike in power bills.

In response Tonga Power told consumers that power bills for January 2022 were being distributed and would reflect  the government’s contribution of $100 for each household in Tongatapu and Vava’u.

However the spike appeared to have persisted before Tonga power said it would hire experts from overseas to help resolve the issue which was described as a fault in the organisation’s computer programme used to calculate the electricity used by consumers.

Cheaper electricity

In 2019 the ‘Akilisi Pohiva government sought advice from experts on the possibility of reducing electricity charges by 15 percent.

However, it was advised that a 15 percent cut was impossible as it would cost Tonga Power millions of paʻanga when there were hardly any other sources from which income could be raised.

In 2015 a new one megawatt solar facility was commissioned by His Majesty King Tupou VI. It was announced at the time that the project was meant to provide cheaper electricity in the main island of Tongatapu.

His Majesty King Tupou VI named the US$15 million (TP$26.9 million) project, funded by the Government of Japan, as Mata-‘O e-Laʻā or Face of the Sun.

Power Generation Manager of Tonga Power Ltd, Michael Lani ‘Ahokava, said at the time:
“This project started with a vision by the Governments committee, the Tonga Energy Road Map (TERM) almost three years ago to reduce Tonga’s vulnerability to oil price shocks. A vision that would open up doors for renewable developments in Tonga to drive down electricity prices through a reduced reliance on diesel.”

Renewable energy projects funded by the Asian Development Bank began in 2014 to provide solar systems in the outer islands, including Eua, Vava’u and Ha’apai, Uiha, Nomuka, Ha’ano, Ha’afeva in the Ha’apai Group as well as Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou.

Covid-19 update: 11,453 new cases, six deaths and 177 in hospital

By
Kaniva Staff
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Oku taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala fakaTonga

There have been 11,453 new cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand over the past week, and six further deaths.

Of the new cases, were 4811 reinfections.

The ministry reported 18 deaths with six attributed to Covid-19. Four were determined not to be due to the coronavirus and for eight the cause of death was not yet available.

There were also 177 people with Covid-19 in hospital as of midnight Sunday, including one in ICU.

The seven-day rolling average of cases is now 1632, up from last week’s figure of 1279.

Figures reported last week showed there had been 9100 new cases, with 40 deaths and 200 people hospitalised.

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA


‘I he uike kuo ‘osi kuo fakahā ‘i Nu’usila ni kuo ‘i ai ha kau puke fo’ou ‘i he Covid – 19 ‘e toko tahamano tahaafe fāngeau nimangofulu mā tolu [11453], pea tānaki atu mo e toko ono ki he kakai kuo pekia.
Ko e kau puke fo’ou ko ‘eni ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e toko fāafe valungeau hongofulu mā taha [4811] ai ko e kakai ia na’a nau ‘osi puke kimu’a.
Ko e toko hongofulu mā valu kuo lipooti mei he potungāue kuo pekia pea ko e toko ono ai ko e natula ia ‘o e Kōviti – 19. Ko e toko fā na’e ‘ikai ko e tupunga ia mei he vailasi kolona, pea ko e toko valu leva ‘oku te’eki mahino mai ‘a e tupu’anga ‘o ‘enau mālōlō.
Na’e ‘i ai leva mo e kakai ‘e toko teau fitungofulu mā fitu ‘oku nau tākoto falemahaki koe’uhi ko e Kōviti – 19, ‘i he’ene a’u mai ko ē ki he tu’apō ‘o e pō Sāpate kau ki ai mo e toko taha ‘i he ‘iuniti tokangaekina makehe.
Ko hono lau faka’aho ko ia ‘i he ‘aho ‘e fitu ‘o e kakai kuo puke ‘oku ‘i he ‘avalisi ko e toko tahaafe onongeau tolungofulu mā ua [1632], ko e ‘alu hake ia ki ‘olunag ‘a e toko lahi mei he uike kuo ‘osi ‘aki ‘a e toko tahaafe uangeau fitungofulu mā hiva [1279].
‘Oku mahino mei he toko lahi ko ia kuo lipooti mai ‘i he uike kuo ‘osi ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e kau puke fo’ou ‘e toko hivaafe teau [9100], pea pekia ai ‘a e toko fāngofulu pea tākoto falemahaki ‘a e toko uangeau [200].

Three children die from flu in Tonga : Report

By
Kaniva Staff
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Three children have died from the flu in Tonga, local media reports said today Sunday 5.

The children were seriously ill and died from influenza and pneumonia, TBC reported, quoting a confirmation of the victims’ cause of death, from Vaiola Hospital.

Vaiola ambulance. Photo/Kalino Lātū

No details were released about the victims.

According to the World Health Organisation, pneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection that is most commonly caused by viruses or bacteria. It can cause mild to life-threatening illness in people of all ages, however it is the single largest infectious cause of death in children worldwide.

Pneumonia killed more than 808 000 children under the age of 5 in 2017, accounting for 15% of all deaths of children under 5 years.  People at-risk for pneumonia also include adults over the age of 65 and people with preexisting health problems.

The lungs are made up of small sacs called alveoli, which fill with air when a healthy person breathes. When an individual has pneumonia, the alveoli are filled with pus and fluid, which makes breathing painful and limits oxygen intake. These infections are generally spread by direct contact with infected people.

Vaccines can help prevent pneumonia.

Signs and symptoms

Depending on the severity of the pneumonia, signs and symptoms may include:

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fever, sweating and shaking chills
  • Fatigue
  • Chest pain 
  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
  • Confusion, especially in older adults
Flu signs and symptoms

Seasonal influenza is characterized by a sudden onset of fever, cough (usually dry), headache, muscle and joint pain, severe malaise (feeling unwell), sore throat and a runny nose. The cough can be severe and can last 2 or more weeks. Most people recover from fever and other symptoms within a week without requiring medical attention. But influenza can cause severe illness or death especially in people at high risk (see below).

Illnesses range from mild to severe and even death. Hospitalization and death occur mainly among high risk groups. Worldwide, these annual epidemics are estimated to result in about 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness, and about 290 000 to 650 000 respiratory deaths.

In industrialized countries most deaths associated with influenza occur among people age 65 or older (1). Epidemics can result in high levels of worker/school absenteeism and productivity losses. Clinics and hospitals can be overwhelmed during peak illness periods.

The effects of seasonal influenza epidemics in developing countries are not fully known, but research estimates that 99% of deaths in children under 5 years of age with influenza related lower respiratory tract infections are found in developing countries (2).

Man murdered in Beach Haven on Friday was a local resident

By
Kalino Latu
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Police have this afternoon named the man who was killed in an attack in Auckland’s Beach Haven on Friday.

He was Joshuah Tasi, 28, of Beach Haven.

His death was the result of a fatal assault after a minor crash at the intersection of Tramway Road.

“Police extend our condolences to Joshuah’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time,” a statement from police said.

“Joshuah’s family would like to thank all of the people who helped him and provided first aid at the scene.

“His family requests privacy at this time while they come to terms with the loss of their family member.”

Two teens in custody

It comes as police yesterday charged two teens in relation to the incident

Detective Inspector Callum McNeill said in a statement last night, the youths, aged 17 and 14, have been charged with murder in relation to the fatal incident.

“It involved an [alleged] altercation between the occupants of two vehicles, during which one of the drivers was assaulted and suffered fatal injuries.”

Inquiries led police to the Far North, where two boys were arrested early this morning.

The pair have been remanded in custody and are due to appear in the North Shore Youth Court on Monday 6 March 2023, charged with murder.

A black BMW sedan, wanted in relation to the incident, was located by police in Glenfield yesterday.

NZ urges public in Tongan Language to ‘come forward with any complaints about Validus’

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The New Zealand’s Financial Market Authority (FMA) is putting new pressure on the Tongan community to crack down on Validus illegal activities.  

It has released an investment warning against Validus in the Tongan language.

 

It urges the public to report any further promotions of the company in the country after its February ban which made it illegal for anyone who advertises, supports or joins Validus.

‘Fakatokanga : Validus’, the title of the warning says in Tongan. In English it means Warning : Validus.

The New Zealand authority appeals to the public to exercise caution in dealing with this company and its associates.

“Please come forward with any complaints about Validus, especially if you have made investments or deposits”.

All information submitted to FMA are confidential, it said.

The full version of the Tongan warning against Validus which FMA has published on its official Facebook account, is published verbatim below.

It said:

‘Oku tonu ke tokanga a e kakai ‘i heenau ngāue’aki ‘a e Validus mo ‘enau kau ngāue. ‘Oku kole atu ‘a e FMA ki he kakai ke nau ‘omai ha lāunga pe ko ha fakamatala ‘o kau ki he kautaha ko ‘eni’, tautefito ‘o kapau na’a nau foaki, ‘inivesi pe fakahū ha pa’anga ki he kautaha ko ‘eni mo ‘enau kau ngāue’.

Ko e ngaahi fakamatala kotoa ko ‘eni ‘oku malu’i.

Kuo hanga ‘e he FMA ‘o tu’utu’uni ke ta’ofi fakataimi ki he lelei ‘a e kakai ‘oku ‘i ai ha tu’atamaki ‘e lava ke hoko ki he kau ‘inivesi mo ha maumau mei he ngaahi ‘ekitivitī ‘a e Validus mo ‘enau kau ngāue’, he ‘oku ‘asi mai ‘a e ta’efaitotonu pea mo ha takihala’i.

Validus campaigns had been recently active in the Tongan community in New Zealand, Australia and Tonga.

FMA previously said ‘an interim stop order has been issued against Validus International as there is a real risk of investor harm’.

The New Zealand warning in Tongan came as the Tongan government is expected to make an announcement this week after Validus arrived in Tonga recently.

It is understood Validus is not registered to operate as a financial institution in New Zealand, Tonga and Australia. This meant, any activities Validus and its promoters had conducted in these countries are illegal.

On February 16 FMA issued an interim ban against Validus.

It said: “The FMA is considering whether it may exercise a power under section 462 of the Act because it appears that Validus and Associates intend to hold a marketing event at the Jetpark Hotel, 63 Westney Road, Mangere,  Auckland on or about 15 February 2023 at which the FMA believes Validus and Associates will distribute to persons attending the event communications that, in terms of section 462(1)(f) of the Act, are restricted communications relating to an offer, or intended offer, of financial products, or the supply, or possible supply, of financial services that:

• are false or misleading, or likely to mislead or confuse, in a material particular; and

• contains a material misdescription or material error; and

• do not comply with the Act or the regulations made under the Act.

Validus said it ‘helps individuals build life-changing skills to flourish in their business by understanding the market more closely and effectively”.

Tongan promoters argue that Validus is ‘an educational platform’ which critics said was a misleading reference to the company.

The Australian Securities & Investment Commission said Validus is a scam and warned people to be wary of the company.

“Validus encourages investors to recruit new investors into the scheme. This is a classical sign of a pyramid scheme”, it said.

The FMA previously said: “We are concerned that Validus is operating in breach of the New Zealand financial markets legislation.

“Validus is providing financial services in New Zealand without registration as a financial service provider as required by the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008.

Truck and tools disappear, money misspent says MP as he calls for Auditor’s investigation

By
Kalino Latu
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The Tongatapu 4 MP Mateni Tapueluelu has called for an audit of the Constituency’s Council Office, claiming that equipment had gone missing and money had been  misused.

Tatafu Moeaki, the CEO for Tonga National Reserve Bank

Hon. Tapueluelu said the Council office’s records showed two tractors and a truck belonging to the constituency appeared to have been sold while former  MP Tatafu Moeaki was in office.

Hon. Tapueluelu, who replaced Moeaki after the former Finance Minister was dismissed following his electoral bribery conviction, said he could not locate the money paid for the vehicles.

He said the truck was sold for TP$3000 to a driver for Moeaki.  

He said after some time the record showed the TP$3000 was refunded to the office, but the driver appeared to have kept the truck. MP Tapueluelu said he wanted to serve a letter from his lawyer to the driver, but he appeared to be hard to find.

Hon. Tapueluelu said he was baffled by the truck deal.

One tractor was donated to a church.

He said the truck and the tractors were donated by the Chinese Ambassador in Tonga at his request before he was ousted in the 2020 general elections.

Moeaki, who is now CEO of Tonga’s National Reserved Bank, has been contacted for comment.  

Hon. Tapueluelu claimed he found some equipment from the Council’s office had been missing including a garden drill bit, a water blaster and a box of tools which were meant to maintain the tractors.

MP Māteni Tapueluelu

He also claimed the office donated TP$7000 to a private business as part of the constituency’s relief project.

The office also donated TP$500 to each villager in one of the constituency’s villages who had a funeral service. The MP said the constituency funding rules prohibited this kind of donation.  

Hon. Tapueluelu said he has asked the Auditor to audit the Council’s office, but was told the Auditor would do it according to its schedule. Late last week, after it appeared that his concerns had been leaked to the media, he was told the Auditor was ready to audit the office.

The Tongatapu 4 representative said he has been struggling to obtain financial reports from the 11 villages and towns of the constituency, especially the villages of Fangaloto and ‘Umusī.  He said he wanted to see how they had been using their share of the constituency funding.  

Funding

Constituency funding had been a point of heated debate in the Parliament in recent years.

The funding was meant for the 17 People’s MPs to distribute each year among their constituencies to help with what was most needed by their people for the development of their community. Each people’s MP has TP$200,000 to distribute.

In 2019 the Nobility’s nine MPs in Parliament pleaded with the government to be allowed to receive TP$100,000 each from the constituency funding to help people in their estates.

The then Prime Minister, the late ‘Akilisi Pohiva, strongly opposed the request. He said if the Nobles were given the money it could cause problems. He said not every constituency in Tonga had a Noble MP.

However, in 2020 the government of controversial Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’ionetoa supported a majority ballot in the House to allow each of the nine members of the Nobility a share of TP$50,000 in the constituency funding.

Rugby great who helped defeat Australia was a household name for Tongan football fans

By
Kalino Latu
-

Kimbu ‘Inoke, the Tongan rugby great who starred in the Ikale Tahi rugby team’s triumph when they beat the Wallabies, has died.

He was 73.

‘Inoke’s death on February 25 was announced by his family.

Kimbu ‘Inoke stands in the rugby line up, date unknown.(Supplied: Cindi Sarchet)

The Ikale Tahi beat Australia 16-11 in their second test at Ballymore on June 30, 1973.

It was a monumental victory that has never been repeated.

‘Inoke, who was also known as Ernest Hayes Nuku, was a break away in the legendary team.

He was a colossus of a man in his playing days, standing about 190 centimetres tall.

He will be buried at the Kalevalio cemetery tomorrow, Friday March 3, after mass at the Catholic church in Tofoa, Tongatapu.

The service is expected to be attended by hundreds of people.

Former ‘Ikale Tahi captain and head coach Fe’ao Vunipola remembered ‘Inoke when he was in the field.

“He had a sturdy, muscular physique”, Vunipola , who was still young at the time,  said.

Vunipola said ‘Inoke came up with a style of sidestep footwork which was new and very interesting to the Tongan rugby fans at the time.

Kimbu ‘Inoke

Vunipola said such footwork was normally performed by someone in the first five eight because they were physically light and fast.

Nobody expected a person of Inoke’s size and weight to perform it effectively and brilliantly. 

“His footwork style always made the entire Teufaiva stadium park erupt in laughter,” Vunipola said.

Another former ‘Ikale Tahi player and head coach, Quddus Fielea, also remembered ‘Inoke.

He said he was still at primary school when he heard about ‘Inoke.

Fielea said ‘Inoke’s popularity  inspired the students to try to imitate him when they played rugby at school.

Those who managed to perform like their hero on the rugby field were called ‘Inoke.

“His name was a household one at the time”, Fielea said.

‘Inoke was adopted by the Late Prince Fatafehi Tu’ipelehake and his wife, the Late Princess Melenaite.

He is survived by his wife Katalina and their five children.

Former Health Minister takes up international position, vows to be global advocate for nurses

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga’s former Minister of Health, Dr Amelia Tu’ipulotu, has taken up her new role as Chief Nursing Officer with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In her inaugural address, Dr Tu’ipulotu said she was privileged to be the WHO’s new Chief  Nursing Officer.

Associate Prof ‘Amelia Afuha’amango Tu’ipulotu

She said she would be an advocate for nurses and midwives around the world.

She said they had faced tough times during the Covid-19 epidemic and shown courage, resilience and commitment to their profession.

They served some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.

She said the world needed to be better prepared to respond to challenges in the future.

Dr Tu’ipulotu told Kaniva News she was extremely overwhelmed and excited by the appointment.

“I cried as it was still confidential until the public announcement a few weeks later,” she said.

“So I prayed for comfort and thanked God for everything and I just felt totally lost and overwhelmed!”

She had been travelling to Lao PDR and Cambodia and had just returned to Manila when she was informed of the appointment.

“I was reflecting to my life, my family and Tonga and said to myself: Now I am going to be thrown into the Deepest Ocean!” she said.

“In Tonga I served 100,000 people and now it is more than seven billion people around the globe! “

“How can I? I continue to ask.”

The International Council of Nurses’ President, Dr Pamela Cipriano, welcomed Dr Tu’ipulotu’s appointment  and offered the support of ICN in furthering the cause of nurses around the world.

“ICN firmly believes that successful healthcare policymaking requires a commitment to having the voices of nurses heard wherever decisions are made, and that all countries should have their own government-level CNO who reports directly to the top governing executive,” Dr Cipriano said.

“We will continue to campaign for this until every nation has a fully functional government-level CNO in place.”

Career

Dr Tu’ipulotu was the first Tongan to receive a PhD in Nursing in 2012.

She was a clinical nurse, a senior nursing lecturer, Chair of the Tongan nurses’ regulatory board and Chief Nursing Officer for Tonga from 2014 to 2019 before taking on the role as the Minister of Health.

Since 2019 she has been an Honorary Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Sydney, Australia, and in 2022 she was appointed to the WHO’s Executive Board.

She was the first Tongan to win the Alumni Award for Professional Achievement, a prestigious honorary award from the University of Sydney, Australia.

Bribery verdict: ‘Case not proved beyond reasonable doubt’, Supreme Court acquits MP Piveni Piukala

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The petitioner failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt that MP Piveni Piukala allegedly committed five instances of bribery contrary to section 21 (1) (a) of the Bribery Act.

MP Piveni Piukala with media outside the Supreme Court

These were the alleged giving of  cash prizes for poetry competitions at Mr. Piukala’s campaign events, the giving of cash prizes at an event at the Golf Club and, lastly, the giving of groceries to Mamata Kohinoa.

Piukala stood against an unsuccessful candidate, Feleti Fā’otusia during the November by-election. A supporter of Fā’otusia, Feleti Ulakai then brought an election petition before Judge Cooper, claiming that Piukala violated the electoral regulations by allegedly giving out $100 to a few voters of Tongatapu 7.

He accepted he had not enquired from whom that money had come. He had seen money given and so believed there had been acts of bribery.

“He had not checked and asked whether a prize winner felt bribed or induced by prize money, but he believed that was the effect of what had taken place because Mr. Puikala was present while those distributions were made.

“Because the Master of Ceremonies had mentioned sponsors would donate prizes and Mr Piukala was there with his supporters he equated the giving of the gifts with the Respondent.

“Of the event at the Golf Club, he had watched the broadcast and those people in the image were not golfers yet had won a prize. He did not know how much but the envelope handed over had a dollar sign on it, so he assumed that was a bribe.

He had not heard Piukala asking the winners to remember him at election day, but the giving of these prizes was made within the months of the by-election”.

Piukala gave away prizes and gave out free beer.

“As far as he was concerned this did not happen regularly, as was suggested, if it had he would have expected to see more live-stream broadcasts of him giving  away prizes, which he hadn’t”.

In his defense, Mr. Piukala made a single submission to cover each of these events. These points included what he submitted to be three essential arguments:

a) None of the poetry competitions had been demonstrated to be organised by him.

b) The prizes had not been proved to have been given by him or on his behalf.

c) It was not with the aim to induce people to vote for him.

d) What other people post on their social media pages is out of his control.

In his summing up Judge Cooper said that regarding the golf club event that “allegation also has failed to be proved”.

In his comment on the poetry competitions Mr Cooper said: “There is no evidence how this event was organised, for example whether there was a program of activities or not.

“Without a more careful and detailed presentation of available evidence that shows, for example, positive links between the sponsors of the prize money and Mr. Piukala as well as a plan between them for this to have taken place, the only evidence being his attendance at the event where it happened.

He also said: “None of the allegations as set out in the Petition, on the evidence called, was proved beyond a reasonable doubt, so to the required standard. So the case for the Petitioner has not been proved.

The petitioner is to pay the costs of, and incidental to, the proceedings, to be taxed in default of an agreement”.

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