A redevelopment project which began at the Fangatongo rugby playing field earlier this year has ceased, with mounting concerns that its condition is not contributing to the government’s Beautiful Tonga policy.
Photos/Vava Lapota
Bushes can be seen growing wild in what appears to be concrete terraced steps for spectators.
Workers with heavy machinery began developing the site in March.
‘Etuate Lavulavu said at the time a grandstand, public toilet and a parking lot would be built.
His project came after the Ministry of Health temporary stopped a rugby tournament because there was no public toilet at the venue.
‘Etuate Lavulavu. Photo/Facebook
But after ‘Etuate and his wife former Cabinet Minister Akosita were sent to jail in July the redevelopment project was stopped.
The Fangatongo rugby field is under the control of the Vava’u governor’s office. The governor was contacted for comment.
This was not the first time ‘Etuate had been involved in an unfinished project at Fangatongo. He was previously accused of initiating an upgrade at the playground which was later left unfinished.
‘Etuate, who had been criticised for having maintained an unexplained influence on the Prime Minister, Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa was the Deputy Chairman of the Tonga People’s Party.
The Neiafu Town Officer Vava Lapota wanted answers from the authorities regarding the upgrade’s condition.
He posted photos taken at the Fangatongo rugby playing field to Facebook this morning.
Two gang associates have been arrested at Auckland’s southern checkpoint after police discovered them trying to travel into the city with over $100,000 in cash and a car boot-full of KFC.
KFC and cash seized by police at Auckland border from two gang associates. Source: Supplied
In a statement Monday, police say officers noticed a suspicious looking vehicle travelling on a gravel road on Sunday and upon seeing the police car, the vehicle did a u-turn and sped off trying to evade them.
The vehicle eventually pulled over and police established they had been travelling from Hamilton trying to get into Auckland.
Police say the vehicle was searched and over $100,000 in cash, alongside empty ounce bags and a large amount of takeaways was found.
Both men, aged 23 and 30, were summonsed to appear in court at a later date for breaching the health order and further charges are likely.
In another incident on Auckland’s northern boundary, police turned around a man who claimed he wanted to cross the border to charge his electric vehicle, despite there not being a charge station where he said he was going. He was turned around.
Since Alert Level 4 came into place, in Auckland 86 people have been charged with a total of 90 offences as at 5pm on Sunday.
Auckland will move to alert level 3 from 11.59pm on Tuesday night, and stay in level 3 for at least two weeks, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced.
Watch the live announcement here:
The rest of the country will remain in level 2, but will move from gatherings of 50 up to gatherings of 100.
Meanwhile, part of northern Waikato has been issued a section 70 order, requiring people who live or work there to stay at home.
“We are not stepping out of level 4 because the job is done, but nor are we moving because we don’t think we can achieve the goal of stamping out Covid-19 – we are moving because level 3 still provides a cautious approach while we continue to stamp out Covid-19,” Ardern said.
“It means staying in your bubble, it means contactless transactions and keeping your distance. It means we say thank you to Auckland for their tireless work, and we collectively keep going.”
There are 22 new cases today, the majority of them household or known contacts. Five are unlinked, and three of those are within one family, and there is a tentative link for that family, Ardern said.
Three of the new cases are in Whakatīwai but are being counted in the Auckland total. Ardern said testing so far has included household contacts, corrections staff, police staff, court staff, and 300 swabs have already been taken in the small community.
“We do want to make sure we are keeping the community safe,” she said.
Director of General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said he was issuing a section 70 order requiring people who live or work in the area around Mangatangi, in northern Waikato, to stay at home. Ardern said it was effectively a “bespoke level 4”.
Bloomfield said the order was for people living in an area north of SH2 centred on Mangatangi.
“That will effectively extend the road boundary to the east of Maramarua … and also to the southeast of Miranda on the Firth of Thames.”
Ardern said level 4 had been tough but it had also made a difference.
Almost all cases of the last 14 days have either been household or known contacts, and wastewater testing suggests there is no significant undetected transmission.
There has not been widespread clusters around workplaces, and of the cases where a link has been established, none has resulted from people accessing essential services.
Ardern reminded people that in level 3 they can make minor changes to bubbles such as bringing in an elderly relative who is not part of another bubble, but should not visit friends or break bubbles.
“Once in a household everyone is at risk of getting Detla, so if you break your bubble, know that the consequence may be spreading Covid back into your house to your loved ones,” Ardern said.
Schools in level 3 are largely closed. Cabinet has made the decision to make masks mandatory at high schools at alert level 3, Ardern said.
People attending an essential service must also wear a mask, and people are encouraged to do so whenever they leave their home.
People over 65 in Auckland should stay home until they have been vaccinated, she said.
“We have been doing direct outreach to all our over-65s who haven’t had their first dose yet in Auckland. That amounts to about 23,000 people.
“Last week a letter was sent to those over-65s who we had details for. Today we’re commencing an outbound call campaign… these will average about 8000 calls a day.”
People with a booking in the future can bring it forward, she said, adding pharmacies are offering delivery services, as are supermarkets.
People travelling over the boundary for personal reasons are now being required to carry evidence of having taken a test within the last seven days.
There are exemptions available through the Ministry of Health.
There are 22 new cases of Covid-19 in the community today, the Ministry of Health has confirmed.
Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
In a statement, the ministry said there was also one new case at the border – from the United Kingdom. The cases arrived on 10 September via United Arab Emirates and is now in a quarantine facility in Auckland.
Three of the new cases are in Whakatīwai but are being counted in the Auckland total, the ministry said.
That brings the total number of community cases in the current outbreak to 1071. There are 1051 in Auckland (677 of whom have recovered) and 17 in Wellington (all of whom have recovered).
The ministry said 17 of today’s 22 new community cases have been epidemiologically linked. Five are yet to be linked.
“Of the five unlinked cases today; three are from one household; the other two are being interviewed.
“Of the 22 new cases today, 10 were already in quarantine when they were tested.”
In total, 1039 cases in the current cluster have been epidemiologically linked (12 unlinked from the past fortnight).
There are 10 epidemiologically linked subclusters. Of these, two are active, seven are contained and one is dormant.
The new one is associated to two households in South Auckland, the ministry said.
The ministry said there are also 10 epidemiologically unlinked subclusters. Of these, two are active, three are contained and five are dormant.
There are 16 cases in hospital today – One in North Shore, five in Auckland and 10 in Middlemore. Four are in ICU or HDU.
There are 1289 active contacts being managed – 85 percent of them have received a call from contact tracers.
The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began is 3725.
There have also been a total of 151 out of 1908 historical cases since 1 January 2021.
In the last 24 hours, 8084 Covid-19 tests have been processed. The total number of tests to date is 3,240,635.
Update on the SO/Auckland Hotel MIQ worker
The ministry said after further investigation, including retesting, the positive Covid-19 test result returned by the SO Hotel MIQ facility worker last week has been determined to be a false positive.
“The individual has been notified and will be able to be released from the quarantine facility today.
“As a result, the net increase in community cases today is 21.”
Seven suburbs of interest
Testing in the seven suburbs is continuing with 946 tests taken yesterday across Mt Eden, Massey, Māngere, Favona, Papatoetoe, Ōtara and Manurewa, the ministry said.
“The Ministry has asked people in these areas, both with symptoms and without, to get tested to help rule out undetected community transmission. Today we are asking in particular for anyone living in Clover Park, on the south east side of Papatoetoe, to please get tested.”
The ministry said there has been a good community turn out for testing in Kaiaua this morning. By 11am today, 150 swabs had been taking. The Waikato DHB has reported wait times of about 30 minutes.
Wastewater testing
Following confirmation of the three cases in northern Hauraki, ESR is currently sampling from Kawakawa Bay and Pukekohe, the ministry said. Samples are being collected from three sites in the region.
“In addition, new samples are being collected from Cambridge, Ngatea, and Paeroa. Results are expected later in the week.”
Vaccine update
Yesterday, 26,673 Covid vaccines were administered – 14,145 were first doses and 12,528 were second doses. That brings the total number of vaccines administered to date to 4,711,410 – 3,092,737 are first doses and 1,618,673 are second doses.
Yesterday 24 cases of Covid-19 were reported by the ministry.
King Tupou VI closed Parliament for the November elections last week, still apparently dissatisfied with Parliamentarians’ performance.
King Tupou VI
Having warned the government to stay out of business earlier this year, he is still clearly unhappy with the Ministry of Public Enterprises, which oversees many of the government’s quasi-business operations.
In May His Majesty admonished the government and Parliament for not keeping their promises to address his concerns over the country’s economy, education and health issues.
Speaking at the opening of the mid-year Parliamentary session, the King said he was fed up with the House and the government, saying they gave him the same responses every year without doing anything further to resolve these issues.
The king said the government should not run businesses, a statement opposed at the time by Justice Minister Sāmiu Vaipulu.
“A question was raised in the Cabinet whether the king’s concerns included the government’s operating the Lulutai Airlines,” Vaipulu said.
Justice Minister Hon Sāmiu Vaipulu
“I told the Prime Minister Lulutai Airlines is our means of transportation from Tonga to Vava’u. It is the responsibility of the government to create that route so we can use it. As a result, the aircraft must fly in that route we have prepared. And that’s the answer to His Majesty.”
Lulutai airlines was launched amidst a storm of controversy over the fate of its CEO, the government’s refusal to help the former carrier, Real Tonga, and the appointment of a board heavy with Cabinet members with no apparent experience in aviation, including former Minister of Infrastructure, ‘Akosita Lavulavu, who was later jailed for fraud.
Vaipulu caused a furore in 2013 before the New Zealand-owned Chatham Airlines was forced out of Tonga. He welcomed the controversial Chinese M60 aircraft to Tonga.
Disgraced politician and convicted fraudster ‘Etuate Lavulavu was vocal in promoting airline interests when he was a Cabinet Minister. Both were initially quiet when Tu’i’onetoa announced the setting up of the Lulutai airlines.
Unhappy
In his speech closing Parliament last week, the King was clearly still unhappy with the government and Parliament, although he used more temperate language.
He said it was vital to ensure tax payers’ money was used wisely.
In his speech, which was read by Lord Ve’ehala, His Majesty said some government ministries, like the Ministry for Public Enterprises, had filed incomplete reports on how they spent their money.
Prime Minister Tu’i’onetoa is also Minister for Public Enterprises and was appointed to the Lulutai board.
Despite the fact that Parliament passed several Bills during the year, there was room for further improvement, the King said.
The King named drugs, Covid-19 and climate change as the major challenges facing the kingdom.
Tonga has a major problem with a domestic drug trade and smuggling by South American cartels who sail through use the Central Pacific Islands on the way to Australia.
While the global pandemic has not reached Tonga, the country should be prepared to deal with it, the King said.
He said the effects of climate change and the border closure mean the country had to be careful about food security.
New Zealand Cricket are standing by their decision to send the Black Caps to, and remove them from, Pakistan.
A group of 34 players and staff arrived safely in Dubai on Sunday morning after leaving Islamabad late last night on a charter flight.
New Zealand Cricket cancelled the tour on Friday night, just before the start of the first one-dayer in Rawalpindi, citing a a “specific and credible” security threat.
Reports on Sunday suggested there had been a bomb threat to the team’s hotel and flights, but chief executive David White said he hadn’t had any information of that nature.
He did reveal they had received threats towards players via email “a few weeks ago” but said they were investigated and proven to be a “hoax and not credible”.
He added that while the situation had led some to question whether the Black Caps should have gone to Pakistan at all, he was comfortable with the original call.
“We went through thorough security checks and were ensured of the very high level of security that was to be provided.
“Also, there have been a number of teams who have toured there recently …
“We don’t regret the decision to tour there but it all changed on Friday when the [threat] increased significantly.”
The decision to withdraw had not gone down well in Pakistan.
As well as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and government officials, fans in the cricket-mad country had been left angry and frustrated, with some questioning the credibility of the threat.
White said they wouldn’t be revealing any further details and it was his understanding specifics in these situations were never made public.
But he emphasised that they checked and double checked before making their decision.
“It came from the [New Zealand] government, who advised we had a specific, credible threat to the team.
“We were obviously very concerned with that and worked through that with the government on Friday, and also with our security providers in Pakistan.
“[They] also endorsed that information, as well as other independent agencies.”
Photo: NZ Cricket
The decision was being fully backed by the New Zealand Cricket Players Association.
After a long couple of days, the organisation’s chief executive Heath Mills said the group’s arrival in Dubai was a relief for everyone.
“Obviously for the players and their families it has been an anxious time, there’s no doubt about that.
“So for them to exit Pakistan late last night and arrive safely in Dubai has been great for everyone. We’re very pleased for that.”
The New Zealand contingent would now undergo a 24-hour period of self-isolation in a Dubai hotel.
Twenty-four of the group would return to New Zealand over the next week or so, as flights and MIQ rooms became available.
The rest of the touring party would remain in the UAE and join up with the Black Caps T20 World Cup squad, with the tournament starting on 17 October.
White said they still wanted to play the three ODIs and five T20s that had been scheduled in Pakistan, and hoped to work with the PCB in the coming weeks and months to find a solution.
He was hopeful the PCB would be open to moving forward, but acknowledged the frustration among many there.
“They’re a very passionate cricketing nation, I understand that.
“But on the advice we’d received from the government that we had a specific, credible threat to the safety of the team, players safety was paramount.
“We had no option but to abandon the tour.”
Meanwhile, the local Pakistan community believes New Zealand is sending the wrong message with the decision to abandon the tour.
Asim Mukhtar from the Pakistan Association of New Zealand, says the threat is exaggerated.
He says Pakistan has won accolades as a great tourism destination and he fears that reputation could be harmed.
Asim Mukhtar hopes the planned England tour will still go ahead.
Eleven and 13 cases were reported on the previous two days.
There are 13 people in hospital with the coronavirus, with four in ICU or HDU.
There were no new cases in managed isolation today.
There has been a total of 3704 cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand since the pandemic started.
Mt Eden case
Speaking at today’s government briefing, Director of Public Health Dr Caroline McElnay said a prisoner on remand at Mt Eden prison had now tested positive for Covid-19.
The person came from Thames, and was travelling with another person. Two locations of interest have been added to the ministry’s location of interest website.
Dr McElnay said four police staff were now isolating due to contact with this case. Five corrections staff and six prisoners are also isolating.
They called for everyone to keep to the rules until the outbreak is contained and lockdown restrictions are eased.
A couple from Auckland were arrested when they were caught in Taupō, after police said they used false documents to cross the border. A group of people from Othāhuhu were caught fishing together in Mission Bay and given infringement notices.
A teenager who married a 61-year-old father-of-two has opened up about her parents’ horrified reaction to her age-gap romance – revealing that they called the police to have her husband arrested when they first learned about her relationship.
Struggle: Despite Audrey insisting that the couple knew they were meant to be together, she admits that she initially kept the relationship secret from her parents – who are 38 and 43
Military police officer Audrey Cheyenne-Smiley Moon, 19, first met husband Kevin, 61, on dating site Badoo, on January 9, 2020 – and the pair quickly bonded, despite their 42-year age gap.
The teenager says she was first attracted to him because of his military background – noticing in his bio that he was a veteran who had worked for the military police, just like she does now.
‘I was both excited and nervous to see him,’ Audrey recalled. ‘He still talks about the day he laid his eyes on me with such passion.
‘Kevin made the first move. He took my face in his hands and we had our first kiss when we first met face to face.
‘We can both agree truly that it was love at first sight.’
Neither Audrey nor Kevin had been in a relationship with such a big age gap before but believe it doesn’t matter as they have lots in common and a deep connection.
‘Our first conversation was about the military and he asked questions about me and we became very open to each other,’ Audrey said. ‘We talked about everything together.
‘Kevin also looks very handsome to me.
‘What makes our relationship so great and perfect for us is our ever-growing love for each other.’
Before meeting Audrey, Cemex dispatcher Kevin was married for 19 years and has two children, aged 16 and 23.
His kids are supportive of the relationship and pleased to see how happy the pair are.
Because Kevin is older than both Audrey’s parents, who are 38 and 43, she initially kept their relationship a secret from her family – but made the decision to tell them in August last year.
Audrey said: ‘We were open about our relationship to our co-workers but it was a secret from my family at first.
‘I couldn’t handle the stress of keeping it a secret from my family so we agreed that he would come down to meet them.
‘My family was extremely hostile about meeting him at first because we told them about us in a bad way.
‘I texted them while I was away with him and we came back to my parent’s house to my entire family and the cops waiting outside.
‘It was scary at first but Kevin was ready to stand for what he believed in and now after getting to know him, my family has really grown to like him.
‘For three days, they yelled at him every time he came to see me and did everything they could to tell him how terrible he is for loving me.
‘He took it and since then has proven to them how much he truly and deeply loves me.
‘We haven’t heard any negative comments from strangers yet, but we have gotten looks but we normally don’t mind them. We focus on ourselves.’
On August 1, 2021, the couple eloped and got married in a small chapel in Nevada.
Now, they are planning for their future together.
Audrey said: ‘Most of the time we talk about getting our dream home, having a baby, and living our lives happily.
‘He wants to be a stay-at-home dad and watch our baby while I am at work and he can pursue his woodworking hobby.
‘He wants to cook and clean for me until I come home. Then we spend time as a family.
‘We want to travel in an RV. We want to get our favorite breed of dogs. Mine is a Staffordshire American terrier pit bull. He wants a Saint Bernard.
‘We just want to be together and never separate again. We are eager to have our baby – it is just finding the right time.
‘Our lives make it difficult for dreams like that but we know in time we will live our dream.’
Although they are now married, they are still living apart as Audrey is working abroad in the Middle East and Kevin is at home in California. They plan to move in together once Kevin retires next year.
Audrey said: ‘What makes our relationship work even thousands of miles away from each other is our constant communication.
‘We are always very affectionate towards each other and when times get hard, we try to focus on what we are fighting for. We talk about the future we can have together when our time apart is no longer.
‘I still look at him with eyes filled with pure love and joy and he looks at me the same way. Sometimes we get so happy we start to cry.
‘I love how passionate and patient he is. He is also a very giving person and very kind. He has such a pure and loving soul.
‘People my age are very inconsiderate and selfish. Kevin is the complete opposite.
‘He is very understanding and only wants to do things for me.
‘They focus on social media and gaining followers.
‘People will do anything nowadays to get a like. Me and Kevin aren’t like that. We are very kind-hearted selfless people and love to help each other and the people around us before we help ourselves.’
Audrey, who describes herself as an old soul, added: ‘I did not think I would meet the man of my dreams who is also my best friend and love of my life.
‘He is my soul mate and that is something worth fighting for. Love is endless and indescribable.
‘Kevin and I want to show the world that we aren’t the stereotypical sugar daddy or gold digger relationship.
‘We truly love each other because of who we are and what we do for each other.’
Kevin said: ‘When I first saw her profile, I thought she was a cute girl but wasn’t looking for a young girl, just a friend to talk with.
‘I was actually looking around my area and ages 30 to 50. Her profile shouldn’t have popped up. Something told me to look at it and something told me to like it, so I did.
‘I found a new best friend and fell in love with my best friend.’
A Tāmaki Makaurau businessman is gathering support for a no-vax, no-entry policy at bars, cafés and restaurants.
Sam Ansley, the owner of Shaky Isles Coffee and the bars Everybody’s and Roxy, plans to request proof of a Covid-19 vaccination card upon entry at his businesses in a month’s time.
He told RNZ he had talked the idea over with around 30 other Auckland hospitality operators, mostly from larger venues in the city, and about 75 percent were keen to do the same.
Ansley expected to lose customers when lockdown lifts, but also gain others who want to feel safer.
Sam Ansley Photo: Supplied
“Every choice someone makes has a negative or a positive consequence. And if you choose to not get vaccinated, then potentially what you’re going to do is reduce the number of options you’ve got to have a really damn good time.”
He hopes the door checks will help boost vaccination rates and reduce “incredibly damaging lockdowns”.
“We are an industry that is used to checking people at entrances. We are an industry that is able to check for IDs and we are an industry now that has to have Covid-app tracing scans at our entrances.
“We are an industry that can refuse entry to people if they are intoxicated, or if they’re underage, or not dressed in quite the right way. We are an industry that is used to having restrictions placed on people’s ability to get in.”
Ansley also hoped the government will take note.
“If we can help and get our voices heard around that government table, which I think business really struggles with at the moment, then that’s a good thing too.”
Ansley began to settle on the policy two weeks ago, when he felt the vaccination rollout was hitting “a tipping point”.
“It doesn’t benefit anti-vaxxers, and you know what? I’m kind of okay with that,” he said.
“We can ideally top the world with vaccinations, that should be our objective.”
