Four days on since the disappearance of Tongan man Tupou Pasina his heartbroken family in New Zealand have made an appeal to help them find him.
Pasina was last seen on Saturday evening December 24 after leaving his home in a vehicle.
“Friends and family if you happen to see my beloved husband Tupou Pasina please contact me. He has been missing since Saturday in our van and he has not returned home since then”, the wife, Sinisa Pasina wrote on Facebook in Tongan.
“I really need your help”.
The family said they have reported Pasina’s missing to Police.
The New Zealand Police have yet to announce Tupou’s missing publicly.
“Tupou I wish that you could be able to see how your wife is being devastated by your missing”, a cousin of the wife wrote.
“Please come home”.
The news came after Police found the body of a canoeist who went missing since his canoe capsized in Lake Roto Kohatu on Monday.
A 71-year-old man has been arrested after a pedestrian injured when he was hit by a vehicle.
The 15-year-old victim was struck by the vehicle while crossing a road in ‘Ohonua at 1.30pm December 22.
Police van in Nuku’alofa. Photo/Kalino Lātū
“Police responded and arrested the driver, a 71-year-old male from Houma village for reckless hit-and-run”, a Police statement said.
The teen sustained injuries to his face and chest before he was rushed to Niu’eiki hospital.
“He was discharged from hospital following examination by the doctor who recommended for the victim to undergo x-ray in Tongatapu”, the Police statement said.
Police investigation on the incident continues.
“ Police continues to urge drivers to drive responsibly especially in this holiday season where roads are busy and crowded. Be cautious for your safety and the safety of other road users to avoid causing unnecessary harm to yourself and or others”.
Tonga police are investigating after a car was allegedly stolen at an ANZ Bank ATM machine this morning December 26.
The Police said a white Toyota Wish car was stolen in Nuku’alofa after the owner left the keys in the ignition before they popped into the ATM machine to grab some cash.
ANZ Tonga. Photo/Kalino Lātū
After completing the withdrawal the driver returned to find his car had been stolen.
Two iPhones and a passport were in the car with plate number C37740, Police said.
Police are searching for any information that could help them locate the person or people involved.
Anybody who saw the car is urged to call Tonga police on 922 or 741630 or 7401632.
Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku has upgraded his rewards of one of his convicted and ousted Cabinet Ministers who helped him won the premiership election.
Former convicted Deputy Prime Minister Poasi Tei and former convicted Minister of Finance Tatafu Moeaki
In the latest twist, ousted Minister of Finance Tatafu Moeaki has been appointed as governor of the Tonga National Reserve Bank.
He was unseated by Parliament recently and lost his ministerial position after the Supreme Court convicted him of electoral bribery.
Ousted Deputy Prime Minister Poasi Tei has been appointed as chief executive of the government’s notorious Lulutau Airlines.
Tei’s election to parliament was declared void after the Supreme Court convicted him of electoral bribery. It is understood Tei’s appointment as chief executive was made effective shortly after his dismissal in August while Moeaki was re-employed as a Project Manager at the Ministry of Infrastructure.
In appointing Moeaki early last week on December 20, the reserve bank said the appointment was made following an open recruitment process and recommendation by the Hon Tiofilusi Tiueti, Minister of Finance in consultation with the Board of the Reserve Bank.
“Mr Moeaki’s experience will enable him to accept the important responsibilities associated with position as head of the Reserve Bank of Tonga”, a statement said.
His appointment comes after the former National Reserve Bank Governor Dr Sione Ngongo Kioa resigned in July.
As Kaniva News reported at the time, Kioa was told in April that members of the bank’s board of directors queried Moeaki’s appointment of Lord Sevele as Chair of the Bank. Moeaki was the Minister of Finance at the time.
Lord Sevele’s appointment drew strong criticisms from the public with critics arguing that his record while in government as Prime Minister and chairman of a number of boards and committees is open to question.
The noble has been accused of being involved in the illegal transfer of millions of dollars from a Chinese grant to Princess Pilolevu Tuita and Tongasat. The Supreme Court has declared the transfer as illegal.
A Tongan man was killed in a motorcycle crash in the US while escorting his father’s funeral procession, his family said.
Siupeli Lauaki of Los Angeles died in Oakland this morning Wednesday 22 US time.
The deceased Siupeli Lauaki (R) with his wife Fātima
Siupeli and his wife as well as their three children recently arrived at an Oakland address to attend his father’s funeral, his wife’s sister told Kaniva News.
It is understood the deceased was riding a motorcycle escorting his father’s funeral procession before he allegedly lost control and hit a post.
It has been reported that he died at the scene.
The details about the fatality have yet to be officially made public.
A video showed the moment his heartbroken wife Fātima and their children lamented his sudden death.
Tributes had been paid to a ‘true gentleman’ after news of his death emerged.
“We are profoundly saddened for your loss Fatima may you RIP bro Siupeli Lauaki didn’t know you were leaving too on the same day you lay your dad to rest our family is keeping your family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time’, a commenter wrote on Facebook.
“So sad! Love you Fatima Lauaki si’i mole ho hoa! He didn’t even realize he’s recording his own death”, another wrote.
Thousands of people will be cancelling their Christmas Day plans thanks to the invisible grinch, Covid-19.
About 85,000 Kiwis will be in isolation for Christmas. Photo: 123RF
Leading epidemiologist Michael Baker estimates 85,000 people will be in isolation in three days’ time.
He says gathering outdoors or in well-ventilated spaces is key to limiting the Christmas spread of Covid – and testing beforehand.
“No-one will thank you for turning up and infecting other people, particularly if there are vulnerable people there. This is a time to be responsible and test if you have got symptoms, and then act accordingly.”Covid-19: Jacinda Ardern defends settings amid wave of reported cases
Crunching the numbers, Baker said we could expect about 12,000 new infections on Christmas Day, based on the daily average of reported cases, plus the same number again of unreported ones.
Covid Modelling Aotearoa programme co-leader Dion O’Neale agreed.
“We’re sitting at the peak of a relatively decent-sized wave at the moment, so definitely lots of people will end up missing Christmas because they’re a confirmed case and will have to isolate.”
“They just don’t report a case when they’re having a fun time, that’s almost certainly happened this week with schools knocking off and a bunch of people leaving work.”
‘We have had to actually cancel Christmas’
One Auckland man, who wished to remain anonymous, said Covid had slipped through the chimney at his house – he had two family members who tested positive this week.
“Sadly we have had to actually cancel Christmas. We had been really looking forward to getting together with my sister and her kids for a big family get-together… and I had to phone her yesterday and say, ‘Look, I’m really sorry we can’t do it, it’s all off’.”
They would take Christmas Day as it came and delay their family gathering.
“We’re just going to have to try and make it as nice as we possibly can, depending how people are feeling. It could be that some people are feeling unwell.”
Auckland woman Melanie Bruges will get out of isolation in time to celebrate Christmas Day with family.
“We’re having family over on Christmas Day on Sunday, so I’m going to keep a really low-profile until then. We’ll probably test on Christmas Day before everybody comes over.”
If her husband or their seven-year-old tested positive, they would postpone.
“We’ve got five grandparents around for Christmas Day and we wouldn’t want them to be exposed to anything just for the sake of a meal. We can always put it off.”
Free biscuit not worth the risk
For the thousands who were flying to their Christmas Day destination, O’Neale said it paid to be cautious and mask-up.
“Is it really diminishing your travel experience if you don’t get your free glass of water and a dry biscuit on the plane? Would you rather have a dry biscuit or Covid?”
Michael Baker. Photo:
He and Baker did not want the grinch to steal Christmas.
“It’s absolutely essential for your health, wellbeing and enjoyment of life to get out and reconnect with your family and friends and have an enjoyable summer, that is so important,” Baker said.
“Covid should not get in your way at all, and it’s a matter of making small changes in how you do things just to make it a lot safer for everyone.”
Twenty-two displaced families of ‘Atata Island, who were affected by the January 15 volcanic eruption and tsunamis, are due to move into their new homes, completed at Masilamea on Tongatapu.
Photo: Matangi Tonga
Matangi Tonga reports Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Tuku’aho commissioned and toured one of the new one-bedroom units, at the ‘Atata Si’i site on Thursday.
Eleven months after the destructive natural disasters, the families will start moving to this land allocated by Prince Ata.
The Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni thanked the Princess and the builders who constructed the houses.
“Government has worked with partners and all stakeholders to try and provide homes for the people of ‘Atata,” he said.
Funding came through the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai Reconstruction budget from overseas donors and partners, in partnership with the Government of Tonga.
The Atata islanders have also received fishing boats to help recover their livelihoods.
Attending were people from ‘Atata, Cabinet Ministers, members of the Diplomatic Corps, senior government officials and staff of construction companies.
A man has been jailed for assaulting a former Supreme Court judge in Tongatapu, reports say.
Poni ‘Ahohako, 26, assaulted Lord Dalgety of Sikotilani during an attempted armed robbery at the judge’s home in Ha’ateiiho last year.
Lord Dalgety of Scotland who was appointed by the king as Election Commissioner, told Tupou he was not in a position to provide the information he demanded. Photo/Ministry of Information and Communications (Tonga)
Reports said ‘Ahohako was sentenced to a four-year imprisonment term. The details of the sentence and whether there was a suspension was unclear.
As Kaniva News reported last year, Lord Dalgety was rushed to Vaiola hospital after the encounter with ‘Ahohako. The king’s noble received minor injuries and nothing was stolen from his house.
The Scottish KC and former Conservative politician was charged with perjury over evidence he gave to a Tongan Royal Commission into the 2009 sinking of the MV Princess Ashika ferry, which claimed the lives of 74 people.
Lord Dalgety was secretary of the firm which operated the government-owned ferry. An official report into the disaster described him as an “evasive” character who “clearly lacks integrity and honesty”, and who was “unfit to hold such an important position”.
However, the Tongan life peer was cleared in 2012 after the court case against him was thrown out due to insufficient evidence.
Medsafe has granted provisional approval for two Pfizer Covid-19 booster vaccines which target Omicron variants BA.1 and BA.4/5.
Those aged 12 and over who have had at least their first two jabs will be eligible.
But the provisional approval does not mean the vaccines will definitely be used.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health said the Covid-19 Vaccine Technical Advisory Group would now give advice to the government who would then decide whether to use the vaccines.
The recommendations will first be considered by Director-General of Health Diana Sarfati before ministers make a final decision.
If approval is granted, the vaccines are expected to be available in the first quarter of 2023.
The advisory group will also review the eligibility criteria as part of the approval process.
The ministry said the current vaccines in use were still very effective at reducing the risk of serious illness and death, and urged people to ensure they had all the vaccines they were eligible for.
Medsafe’s website showed the provisional approvals for the two new vaccines were granted on 21 December, and are valid until 3 November, 2023.
FAKAMATALA FAKA-TONGA
Kuo foaki ‘e he Medsafe ha ngofua fakataimi ‘a e huhu malu’i pusitā ‘a e Pfizer ko ha tāketi ‘eni ke ne fakafepaki’i ‘a e fōtunga kehe ‘o e ‘Omikoloni BA.1 mo e BA.4/5.
Ko kinautolu ta’u 12 mo ‘ova ai pea kuo lava ‘enau ‘uluaki huhu malu’i ‘e ua’, te nau ‘atā ki he pusitā ko ‘eni’.
Ka ko e ngofua fakataimi ko ‘eni’ ‘oku ‘ikai ‘uhinga ia ‘e pau hano ngāue’aki ‘a e huhu malu’i ko ‘eni’.
Na’e pehē mei he Potungāue Mo’ui’ ‘i ha fakamatala ‘e fakahoko atu ‘e he Kulupu Covid-19 Vaccine Technical Advisory Group ‘enau fale’i ki he pule’anga’ ke tu’unga ai ha’anau tu’utu’uni pe ‘e ngāue’aki ‘a e faito’o’.
Ko e ngaahi fakahinohino’ ni ‘e ‘uluaki fakakaukau’i ia ‘e he Director-General of Health Diana Sarfati ki mu’a hano aofangatuku ‘e he kau minisitā.
Kapau ‘e he tali ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e ‘amanaki ‘e faingamālie ‘a e huhu malu’i’ ni ki he ‘uluaki kuata ‘o e 2023.
‘E toe liviu ‘e he kulupu fale’i ‘a e kulaitelia kia kinautolu ‘e kau ki he huhu malu’i ‘i he faito’o ko ‘eni.
Na’e pehē ‘e he Potungāue’ ko e huhu malu’i ‘oku lolotonga ngāue’aki ‘oku fu’u kei ola lelei ia ‘i hono fakasi’isi’i ‘a e lava ke toe puke lahi mo mate ha taha, pea ‘oku nau fakalotolahi’i ‘a e kakai’ ke fakapapau’i ke nau fakahoko ‘a e ngaahi huhu malu’i na’e totonu ke ma’u’.
“We are not seeing at the same time a number of other significant illnesses, which is causing significant pressure on hospital resources in the way it has in the past.”
She did not believe the government nor the public were complacent about Covid-19.
Earlier this week, officials urged people to take precautions and be prepared if they caught the virus while travelling, with the country now seeing a new dominant variant for the first time since July.
BA.2.75, which is a strain of Omicron, has surpassed BA.5, and the ministry warned it appeared to be more transmissible and could evade immunity from other variants, but more data was needed to be certain.
The Green Party said putting out a release with that information was not enough preparation for a possible summer surge.
Party Covid-19 response spokesperson Teanau Tuiono was critical of the shift in communication from a collective narrative to individual responsibility.
Teanau Tuiono Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
“Of course, the measures we ask people to follow will be different to what they were in 2020 but we need to get back to clear public health messaging that makes clear that we have to work together to protect those around us,” Tuiono said in a statement.
“Whatever way you look at it, Covid will be a feature of many people’s summer break. One modeller has recently predicted that as many as one in 20 New Zealanders could have Covid in the week of Christmas.”
The biggest worry was what this meant for immunocompromised and disabled whānau, Tuiono said.
“We need to make it clear and understandable again the simple steps people can take to keep others safe.”
Reported cases have likely peaked but infections may climb – Covid-19 modeller
A Covid-19 modeller said while the country had probably hit the peak of daily reported cases in the current wave, actual infections may still climb in the next few days.
There were 6124 cases reported yesterday – lower than the day before and the same day a week ago, and well below the government’s 13,000 prediction.
Covid Modelling Aotearoa programme co-leader Dion O’Neale said testing and reporting always dropped during the holidays.
“Schools are ending and people are starting to knock off from work, and that’s likely meant that there’s lower case reporting than what there would have been, this time say a week ago,” O’Neale said.
“That’s going to feed into sort of obscuring what might still be some rising infections in the background.”
More people were seen to be masking up to avoid a Covid-19 Christmas, O’Neale said.
“If you can have the very minor inconvenience of wearing a mask, say on public transport or while you’re at the shopping mall, and that keeps you safe and means you’re able to spend time with family at Christmas and do so in a safer manner, then there are people, yeah, taking those precautions.”
Modelling suggested it would take about a month for the peak to subside, he said.
FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA
Na’e taukapo’i foki ‘e he palemia ‘a e fokotu’utu’u lolotonga ko ia ‘a e fonua koe’uhi ko e toko lahi ko ia ‘o e kau puke kuo lipooti. Ko e lau ko ē mei he mōtolo kuo fatu ‘e he Potungāue Mo’ui, ngalingali ‘e a’u ‘a e kau puke ‘e lipooti faka’aho ki he toko tahamano toluafe [13,000] ‘i he faka’osinga ‘o e māhina ni. Ka na’e pehē ‘e Jacinda Ardern ko e lolotonga ko ia ‘a e toloto ‘a e fonua ‘i he kau puke mo e tākoto falemahaki, ko e founga ngāue ‘oku lelei ange ‘a e lolotonga ni ‘i he kamata. ‘” ‘I he taimi tatau ‘oku ‘ikai ke tau toe mamata ki ha fu’u toko lahi ‘o e kau puke faingata’a’aia, ‘a ia ke hoko ai ha fu’u tokanga lahi ki he tu’unga ‘o e ngaahi naunau fakafalemahaki ‘o hangē ko ia na’e hoko ki mu’a.” Na’e ‘ikai tui ‘oku ‘i ai ha fu’u hoha’a ‘a e pule’nga mo e kakai fekau’aki mo e Kōviti – 19. Na’e kolea ‘e he kau ma’u mafai ‘i he kamata’anga ‘o e uike ni ki he kakai ke nau tokanga ange telai na’a ma’u kinautolu ‘e he vailasi ‘i he’enau fe’alu’aki holo, he kuo ‘ilo ‘eni ‘i he fonua ‘oku ‘i ai ha kalasi fo’ou ‘oku mālohi ‘aupito, talu mei Siulai. Ko e kalasi ‘eni tupu mei he Omicron, ko e BA.2.75, ‘OKU FAKALAKA ANGE IA ‘I HE ba.5, pea na’e fakatokanga ai ‘a e potungāue he ‘oku hā ke ngali lahi ange ‘ene mafola pea ‘e ala mālohi ange ia ‘i he malu’i kuo fai ki he kalasi kimu’a, ka ‘oku kei fiema’u he lahi e fakamatala kuo tānaki koe’uhi ke fakapapau’i. Na’e pehē ‘e he Green Party ko e me’a ko ē kuo tuku mai fakataha mo e fakamatala ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha teuteu fe’unga ia ki ha tū’unga ‘e a’u ki ai ‘a e faha’i ta’u māfana. ‘Oku ‘i ai e hoha’a ‘a e matāpule fai fakamatala ‘a e paati, Teanau Tuiono, ki he hū’u ‘a e fetu’utaki mei he fakatoko lahi ki he fatongia fakataautaha. Na’e pehē ‘i ha fakamatala ‘a Tuiono, “kaneongo ‘eni, ko e ngaahi tu’utu’uni ‘oku nau kolea ke talangofua ki ai ‘a e kakai ‘e kehe ia mei he 2020 ka ‘oku fiema’u ke mau fki ‘o fakama’ala’ala ‘a e talanoa ko ia ki he mo’ui lelei ‘a e kakai ke fakapapau’i kuo pau ke tau ngāue fakataha ke malu’i hotau kaungāfononga.” “Ko e taha ‘o e ngaahi fakafuofua ‘oku mahalo’i ai ‘e meimei ko e toko taha mei he toko uofulu ‘e ala ma’u ‘e he Kōviti ‘i he uike kilisimasi, ‘e hoko e Koviti ko e fakama’unga tokanga ia ‘a e kakai toko lahi ‘i he faha’i ta’u māfana ko ‘eni, ‘o tatau ai pē pe ko e fē ‘a e tafa’aki te ke sio mei ai.” Na’e pehē ‘e Tuiono, ko e hoha’a lahi taha ‘oku ‘ia kinautolu ko ē ‘oku vaivai honau ivi malu’i mo e kau faingata’a’ia. ” ‘Oku fiema’u ke mau toe ‘ai ange ke mahino lelei ‘a e sitepu faingofua ke muimui ai ‘a e kakai ke malu ai mo e ni’ihi kehe. ‘Oku pehē mei he taha ‘o e ngaahi me’a ‘oku fai’aki ‘a e fakafuofua, ko e lolotonga ko ia ‘a e tau ki he tumjtumu ‘a e ngaahi keisi kuo lipooti faka’aho ‘i he tu’unga lolotonga, ‘e kei ala kaka pē ki ‘olunga ‘a e kau puke ‘i he ngaahi ‘aho si’i ka hoko mai. Na’e ‘i ai ‘a e kau puke ‘e toko onoafe teau uofulu mā fā [6124] ‘aneafi – ‘o toko si’i ange ‘i he ‘aho ki mu’a pea mo e ‘aho tatau ‘i he uike kuo ‘osi, pea toko si’i ‘aupito ia mei he fakafuofua ko ē ‘a e pule’anga ki ha toko tahamano toluafe [13,000]. Na’e pehē ‘e he tokoni taki ‘o e polokalama ki he ngaahi me’a fai’anga fakafuofua Kōviti ‘Aotealoa, Dion O’Neale, ko e sivi mo e lipooti ‘oku holo ma’u pē lolotonga ‘a e ngaahi ‘aho mālōlō. Na’e pehē ‘e O’Neale, “kuo tutuku ‘a e ngaahi ako pea kamata ke tuku mai mo e kakai mei he ngāue, pea ‘oku hangē ko e tu’unga ia ‘o e toko si’i ange ‘a e kau puke ‘oku lipooto ‘o hangē ko ia ko e taimi peheni ‘i he uike kuo ‘osi.” ” ‘Oku ‘ikai ai ke fakapapau’i pē ‘e toe ‘i ai ha nga’unu hake ‘a e pipihi ‘a e mahaki ‘i ha feitu’u.” Na’e pehē ‘e O’Neale, ‘oku fakatokanga’i ‘a e kei tui me’a malu’i [mask] ‘a e kakai toko lahi ke malu’i e Kōviti ‘i he kilisimasi.” ” Kapau leva ‘oku ‘ikai fu’u fakafiemālie kiate koe ‘a e tui me’a malu’i mānava, pehē, ‘i he fefononga’aki pe ‘i ha’o ‘i he falekoloa, pea fai pē ho’o fakapotopoto taha ke mau’i koe pea ke kilisimasi foki mo e fāmili.” ‘Oku pehē ‘e he’ene lau, ‘oku tala ‘e he me’a fai’anga fakafuofua ‘e ala a’u ki he māhina pea toki holo ‘a e tu’unga ma’olunga ko ‘eni kuo a’u ki ai.
