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PM asks Parliament to pardon Tapueluelu for claims gov’t members drank alcohol at a barbecue after launching national fasting and prayer service

By
Kalino Latu
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Accusations by Tongatapu 4 MP Māteni Tapueluelu that government members drank alcohol and had a barbecue  after launching the national fasting and prayer service in ‘Eua have led to a complaint against him being upheld – and the Prime Minister asking the House to pardon him.

(L-R) PM Tu’i’onetoa, Speaker Lord Fakafanua and MP Māteni Tapueluelu

The Tongatapu 4 MP made the allegation last year.

He went on to claim that Tonga would be cursed because of the government’s behaviour.

Minister of Finance Tēvita Lavemaau said no one had the right to tell Parliament that the fasting and prayer services the government had promoted around the islands had brought a curse on the nation “fakamala’ia.” 

He was speaking in support of a Parliamentary complaint that Hon. Tapueluelu breached the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Assembly. 

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The complaint was lodged by the Minister of Police, Lord Nuku, after Hon. Tapueluelu told the House last year: ” ‘Eiki Palēmia ‘oku ke mea’i, ko e ngaahi pau’u ‘oku mou fai he fonuá ni ko e fo’i pau’u kovi tahá eni kuo mou faí, ko ho’omou pau’u lotu ‘aki ‘a e ‘aukaí pea ‘e mala’ia ai e fonuá ni”

In English this means: “Hon. Prime Minister you know, among these mischief you and your Cabinet are doing in this country, this is the worst mischief you have done. You have conducted the fasting in a mischievous way and it will bring a curse on this country.”

Lord Nuku immediately told the Speaker he wanted to lodge a complaint against Hon. Tapueluelu’s statement. This gave the Speaker a chance to use his Parliamentary power to order the House Parliamentary Privileges Standing Committee to process the complaint and report to the House. 

The Committee returned to the House last week with its findings and said Tapueluelu’s statement breached the the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Assembly regulation 108 and the constitution clause 70. It said the statement was disrespectful, offensive and contempt of Parliament, a breach punishable by imprisonment or other punishment that the House may impose according to its rules. 

Tapueluelu’s response

The Committee, however, did not submit Hon. Tapueluelu’s response to the accusation against him alongside its findings.  

The Committee said it did not submit his response because it did not directly answer the questions the committee demanded he answer about the complaint. 

The Tongatapu 4 MP told the House he was concerned about the omission of his response. 

He said he would accept any punishment the House could impose upon him as long as his response was heard. 

No denial

Hon. Tapueluelu responded to the Minister of Finance who queried his statement and claimed it was the worst ever to be made in the House and it has affected religion in the country.

Hon. Tapueluelu reminded  Lavemaau that after they marked the beginning of the fasting with prayers (“fakama’u ‘a e ‘aukai”) they left and drank alcohol and had a barbecue. 

In Tongan Tapueluelu said: ” Ka fakama’u ‘a e ‘aukaí pea ‘osi pē pea mātuku atu ‘o inu mo papakiu…”

“What would you call that?” (“Lau ia ko e hā?”) Hon. Tapueluelu asked Lavemaau in Tongan. 

Tapueluelu said that was what he concerned about, according to Hansard.

Lavemaau did not deny it, or answer the MP’s question. Instead, he just repeated Hon. Tapueluelu’s question by saying: “What would you call that?” (“Te ke toe ui ‘e koe e me’a ko iá ko e hā?”)

Neither the government bench nor the Committee denied the accusation made by Hon. Tapueluelu. Instead, they focused their debates on the importance of fasting and prayer services to the nation. They said this was why Tonga was still Covid free. They also debated the importance of keeping the privilege and dignity of the House according to the laws.  

Ask for pardon

The Committee’s report was carried 12 – 9, but in a bizarre twist, the Prime Minister asked the House to pardon Hon. Tapueluelu. The Prime Minister was supported by Lord Nuku, who lodged the complaint and the Speaker agreed. 

The Prime Minister told the House the statement by Tapueluelu was directed to others including him.

“I ask the House please put it aside ,” (“Fakatatafe atu”) the Prime Minister said.

Lions Share cryptocurrency operation a suspected pyramid scheme – Commerce Commission

By
Kaniva Staff
-

This story originally appeared on RNZ.co.nz and is republished with permission

A promoter of a suspected pyramid scheme in New Zealand has been told to stop or face court.

Golden coin stacks, cryptocurrency.
Lion’s Share, a cryptocurrency operation, is believed to be a pyramid scheme, the Commerce Commission says. Photo: 123RF

The Commerce Commission is cracking down on the Lion’s Share scheme, a cryptocurrency operation.

The commission announced it had sent a “Stop Now” letter to one of the promoters, Shelly Cullen, who was recommending it online and in person.

Cullen regularly held seminars online and in person, stating Lion’s Share gave people an opportunity to earn extra money. She is popular on social media, with some of her videos receiving tens of thousands of views.

The letter urged Cullen to stop associating with and promoting Lion’s Share.

On receiving the letter, Cullen told the Commission she had stopped promoting the scheme.

If she did not, the commission could seek an injunction in the High Court.

In a statement, the Commission said the investigation was ongoing.

“However, because it considers that the Lion’s Share scheme is likely a pyramid scheme, the Commission advises any individuals already involved with the Lion’s Share scheme to cease their involvement and those considering joining the Lion’s Share scheme are advised not to do so,” the statement read.

Pyramid schemes are illegal under the Fair Trading Act.

They can take many forms but usually offer a financial return based on payments made by new recruits.

Returns are dependent on the recruitment of new members, not sales of a product or service.

This is a problem because many participants will always be near the base of the pyramid and will not get the promised return on investment.

Only the few initial participants at the top of the pyramid would likely make money, since the number of possible new recruits in any community would be limited.

FAKAMATALA FAKA-TONGA:

Kamata ke ngāue atu ma’u mafai ‘a Nu’u Sila’ kia kinautolu ‘oku nau tu’uaki ‘a e uki kakai ke nau līlī pa’anga kae palōmesi tokua te nau ma’u ‘a e pa’anga lahi ange. Kuo tohi ‘a e Commerce Commission ‘a Nu’u Sila’ ‘o fakatokanga ki he taha e kakai kuo pehē ‘oku nau tu’uaki  ‘a e va’inga tānaki pa’anga ta’efakalao ‘i he founga ko e  sikiimi pilamita pe pyramid scheme. Ko e fo’i līlī pa’anga ‘eni ‘oku fai ‘aki hano uki fakatokolahi mai ha kakai ne kau lī ‘a e pa’anga taki lauteau ‘i he funga e palōmesi te nau toho ha pa’anga ‘oku lahi ange’. ‘Oku lolotonga felauaki foki heni ha ni’ihi e komiunitī Tonga’ ‘o tatau ‘i Tonga mo Nu’u Sila’ ni ‘o tu’uaki ‘e ha ni’ihi ‘oku lelei pe tokua ia, kae taimi tatau kuo ‘osi ‘asi hake ‘a e ngaahi lāunga ‘a ha kakai Tonga ne nau kau ki he ngaahi līlī ‘i ‘Aokalani mo Tongatapu ‘o pehē kuo mole ‘enau silini’ ka kuo ‘ikai ma’u ha me’a ia. ‘Oku mahino foki ‘oku fakatauele ‘a e fa’ahinga līlī pa’anga ko ‘eni’ he ko ‘ene kamakamata’ ‘oku malava ia ke uini (win) ha ni’ihi ha pa’anga lahi ange he me’a ne nau lii’. Kae fakatatau ki he hisitōlia’ ko ‘ene fuoloa atu pe mo ‘ene ‘alu ke tokolahi ange’ ko ‘ene hoko ia ‘a e palopalema’. Pea ko e me’a ia ‘oku ui ai ‘a e fa’ahinga va’inga’ ni ko e pilamita he ko e ki’i tokosi’i pe ‘i he tumu’aki’ te nau ma’u e melie’ ko e toenga tokolahi ‘i lalo’ ‘e ‘ikai ke nau ma’u ‘enautolu ha me’a, ko e fakamole ‘ata’atā pe. Ko e fo’i ngaue ko eni kuo fai e fakatokanga ki ai ‘i Nu’u Sila ni’ ne ui ko e Lion’s Share. Kuo tuku atu ai ha tohi ‘a e Komisoni ki he  fefine  ko Shelly Cullen ke ta’ofi leva he ‘oku ta’efakalao. Ne ne ‘iloa ‘a Cullen he mītia fakasōsiale ‘i hono tu’uaki ‘o e līlī ta’efakalo ko ‘eni’ ki hono kau muimui’.

Real Tonga boss says he wants to revive airline

By
Kalino Latu
-

Real Tonga CEO Tēvita Palu is working to restore his airline this year.

Real Tonga CEO Tevita Palu. Photo/Real Tonga (Facebook)

Speaking to Kaniva News, Palu said he was applying for a license from the government. 

Real Tonga ceased operating last year and most of its staff and assets were taken over by the government.

Before Real Tonga stopped trading, Palu opened the country’s first flight training school, Kingdom Flight Training at the Real Tongan Airline depot at Fua’amotu Airport.

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Students work towards a New Zealand License.

Palu told Kaniva News yesterday that many of the costs of the government’s new airline, including staff and two aircraft, had already been absorbed by Real Tonga.

His company spent US$600,00 repairing its Saab 340 after a birdstrike, only for the aircraft’s owner to re-assign the lease to Lulutai.

Meanwhile ‘Atu Finau, founder of one of Real Tonga’s predecessors, Fly Niu, has become CEO of Air Vanuatu.

Finau was general manager of Air Vanuatu until 2014.

Fly Niu was forced out of business when the government passed a one airline policy and gave a license to Peau Vava’u, an airline, co-owned by the Late King George Tupou V and his business partners, the Ramanlal brothers.

Finau returned to Tonga to try to revive his airline and was expecting to be operational  by the end of 2019.

He also proposed operating a joint service between Tonga and Auckland.

However, nothing came of his efforts.

Tongatapu mother charged over alleged assault of her 3yo daughter

By
Kalino Latu
-

A woman is facing assault, abuse and causing bodily harm charges related to the alleged severe abuse of her female toddler last week.

A woman from Folaha was arrested and charged after Police alleged her 3yo toddler was abused

The 26-year-old mother from Folaha is remanded in police custody to appear at the Magistrate Court on Wednesday 20 January 2021, Police said.

Tongan Police have placed the child in care following an investigation into images shared on Facebook.

As Kaniva News reported last week, the images showed what appeared to be a woman and a female toddler inside a vehicle.

Police said they began an investigation after many people contacted them regarding the images.

“The safety and security of the child was our priority,” Police previously said.

“We would like to make it clear the child is now in a safe place.

“The Police investigation continues and we cannot comment further due to the sensitivity of the case.”

The photos have been widely shared on Facebook by Tongan news sharing groups. One group has so far garnered 1100 reactions, 1000 comments and 1200 shares.

The images shared on Facebook showed what appeared to be a woman and a female toddler inside a vehicle.

Other photos showed a headshot of a man. Some of the photos appear to show the toddler crying with a bloodied face in the company of the woman.

One of the images appeared to show the woman holding the toddler’s head while the little girl was crying.

Another image appeared to show the woman showing the child to somebody who was watching what she was doing to the toddler.

A number of unverified and unsupported claims about the identities and motives of the people shown in the images have been made online.

“Police were informed of a viral post on Facebook last Friday that allegedly shows a mother abusing her child. The Police Commissioner directed a police investigation which resulted in the child being removed to a safer place and the mother being arrested on Friday 15 January,” Police said this afternoon Monday 18.

“Every child has the right to feel safe and no child should know what it’s like to be abused,” says A/Deputy Commissioner Tevita Vailea.

“Tonga Police has a dedicated domestic violence unit, with two female investigators and we work closely with both Women and Children’s centres to help victims of abuse.

Tonga Police has a zero-tolerance policy to any forms of domestic violence, and we are committed to a future where no woman or child is violently abused.”

Customs warns traveller over lack of Covid-19 test

By
Kaniva Staff
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This story originally appeared on RNZ.co.nz and is republished with permission

Customs has issued its first warning to a traveller not providing a negative Covid-19 test prior to departing for New Zealand.

Travellers with face masks at Auckland Airport international arrivals during the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak on 20/3/2020.
File photo. Photo: RNZ / Liu Chen

All arrivals from the United States and United Kingdom are now required to provide a negative result 72 hours before departure.

A Customs spokesperson told RNZ that the person was leaving the UK under an “emergency situation” and received the warning instead of a fine.

The spokesperson said Customs is currently taking an “educational approach” to people arriving without evidence of a pre-departure tests.

From 29 January, fines of up to $1000 can be issued for arriving without a negative test.

Soon travellers from nearly all countries will have to provide a negative Covid-19 test before arriving in New Zealand under tough new rules announced Tuesday.

Minister for the Covid-19 recovery Chris Hipkins said he had authorised the director-general of health to roll-out the requirement to cover all countries apart from Australia, Antarctica and some Pacific nations.

“New Zealand already has some of the most stringent border protection measures in the world. Today’s amendments further strengthen that position in line with the government’s overall elimination strategy,” Hipkins said.

Children under two will be exempt from the pre-departure test, as will travellers who can provide a medical certificate showing they have recovered from a past case of Covid-19 and are considered no longer infectious.

Hipkins said the 72-hour time period for testing could be extended for another 24 hours if a person’s flight was delayed or cancelled, or test results were not returned in time.

Passengers arriving from any of those countries will also now have to undergo a Covid-19 test on their first day in the country.

Chef Robert Oliver on steering a Pacific food revolution

By
Kaniva Staff
-

This story originally appeared on RNZ.co.nz and is republished with permission

Colonisation changed the way Pacific Island people eat – and food celebrity Robert Oliver wants to put healthy, local food back on Pacific plates.

A dish by Robert Oliver.
A dish full of Pacific Island flavour created by Robert Oliver. Photo: Imagine South Pacific

Oliver is the creator of Pacific Island Food Revolution, a televised contest in which people compete to create the best dish with ingredients from countries such as Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

He said the show aimed to encourage Pacific Island people to eat healthier, more traditional foods and to spice up the tourism industry by getting island restaurants offering tasty local dishes.

Many imported foods that have become popular among Pacific Island people are highly processed and contain large amounts of fat, sugar and salt.

These unhealthy foods caused diseases such as diabetes and were fueling a health “crisis” among Pacific people, Oliver said.

“Colonisation and other disruptions to culture have a  multi-pronged effect, including people thinking maybe overseas food is more glamorous than local food,” he said.

“Pacific Island Food Revolution is really saying ‘wait a minute – we’ve got this amazing Pacific solution for a Pacific problem and it’s not agenda-driven and it’s not hard – it’s fun and we love it’.”

Particularly with Covid-19 posing a new health threat, Oliver said it was important to return to healthy local foods, such as fresh fish and tropical fruits like mangos and pineapples.

“Local food creates immunity on a personal level and it creates resilience on a community level.

“It’s been really interesting to see, in Fiji I’ve been noticing particularly, people are going back to backyard gardening and there’s a real local food movement emerging.”

Oliver wants to see the delights of more traditional Pacific fare offered to tourists too. This would give visitors a cultural experience and provide a boost for island agricultural economies.

“There’s been a tremendous amount of food imported into the Pacific for the tourism industry to meet international menus that have little Pacific flavour.

“The local cuisine proposition puts the farmers at the centre of the tourism industry.

“During this Covid moment, when tourism has pretty much stopped in the Pacific, Vanuatu has taken stock and they are redesigning their tourism model to put food front and centre and to put farmers front and centre – that’s when tourism becomes tourism for the whole country.”

Chef Robert Oliver from the TV show Pacific Island Food Revolution
Robert Oliver is working to open people’s eyes to the health benefits and economic potential of traditional Pacific Island foods. Photo: Supplied

While Oliver talks about Pacific Island food, he acknowledges each island has its own original cuisine.

“They are beautiful, like any great cuisine of the world.

“There are stories and memories and medicine and ceremony sitting within that cuisine base, all waiting to be activated… and there’s so much potential.

“Many people think Pacific Island food is to’anai or its umu or its lovo, but we’re demonstrating through the show you can do so much with these ingredients. It’s so healthy and whole and to be celebrated.”

Oliver moved to Fiji from New Zealand as a child and said food was woven into his early memories of life in the islands.

“I have a clear memory of my first day in Suva. My mum took me to the market.

“I came out of New Zealand in the early 1970s and we were embracing supermarket culture, which is sanitised and a bit personality-lacking, and then you walk into the market in Suva, which is full of gossip and laughter and all this colour and it was like waking up.

“There was a dock strike, so my Mum had to learn immediately how to work with local food, which was probably pretty hard for her, but it was terrific fun for me, because there was this whole learning – it was like travelling on the plate.”

The second series of Pacific Island Food Revolution has just finished, but is available at TVNZ on demand.

Free recipes from the show can be found at pacificislandfoodrevolution.com.

Auckland man traumatised by mistaken arrest

By
Kaniva Staff
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This story originally appeared on RNZ.co.nz and is republished with permission

An innocent man who was mistakenly arrested and held at gunpoint by police says he is traumatised and has not been offered any official apology or help.

No caption
Photo: RNZ / Patrice Allen

Brandon Moase said he and his friend were ordered to their knees by police yesterday in a street in West Auckland, handcuffed with guns pointed at them, before being released 15 minutes later after police admitted they’d got the wrong people.

Moase, 29, said he had not been able to stop thinking about the event. His one-year-old son was in the car surrounded by armed police.

The police said they were responding to a call about an aggravated robbery with a firearm just before midday on Saturday in West Auckland. A spokesperson said they thought the two were involved, needed to act quickly, and did apologise to Moase and his friend.

Moase, his young son and a friend were on their way back from a morning in the sun at Auckland’s Mission Bay, and stopped at Glenmall Place in Glen Eden to buy lunch.

As soon as they’d parked up he heard police behind the car telling him to show his hands out the window and to get out slowly one at a time.

“From what I remember, about four or five police with guns pointing at me and my friend. It was pretty scary, and [I was] also confused – I didn’t know what the hell was going on,” Moase said.

“They had us in handcuffs, searched my car for five or ten minutes, then pretty much told us we were free to go because they had the wrong people. They didn’t read us any rights or anything, didn’t apologise, no nothing.”

Moase said a complaint had been made to the police, and he had alerted the Independent Police Conduct Authority. A bystander took a video which Moase sent to the IPCA.

“I told them that my son was in the car and they completely ignored me and continued trying to question me, all the while they had four to six police pointing guns at my car, which is obviously very frightening for me because I lost a son previously as well, which set off a few emotions.”

Police said they were alerted to an aggravated robbery during an alleged drug deal just before midday in Parrs Park.

“During the transaction, the offender reportedly presented a firearm at the victims in their vehicle. A struggle ensued and the offender and his associate fled on foot,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

Police said during their search they found Moase and his friend and thought they were connected.

“Further enquiries determined they were not involved and they were subsequently released. Police apologised to the two men. Victim support referrals were also made,” the police spokesperson said.

“Police needed to act quickly in order to keep the community safe as this was a fast-moving and high risk situation.”

During the incident, Moase was ordered to lift his shirt up to show that he was not concealing any weapons, which he said was humiliating on a busy food strip. His wrists are still red from the handcuffs.

He said he had not heard a thing from police since they left Glenmall Place in a hurry.

“I would expect an apology and some kind of service offered for any kind of counselling. I can’t stop thinking about it – seeing my boy in the car like that with the guns pointed at the car is traumatising.”

Police said they have not yet tracked down the actual offender, and anyone with information can contact them on 105 and quote file number 210116/6934, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Real Tonga CEO says any profits made by Lulutai are based on 20 years of work and investment by his company in aviation industry

By
Kalino Latu
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CEO of Real Tonga and Palu Aviation Tevita Palu said today any profits Lulutai airline made since it began operating were due to the investment made by Palu Aviation over 20 years.

PM Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa. Real Tonga CEO Tēvita Palu

Speaking to Kaniva News, Palu said the government had not released a full set of costs for Lulutai, including comparative costs with previous airlines.

Real Tonga stopped trading after it ran into financial difficulties and was unable to obtain government financial help.

Instead, Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’ionetoa announced the government would operate its own airline, Lulutai.

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In his New Year address to the  nation, Hon. Tu’ionetoa  said the government-owned airline was making money, although he did not provide any figures to  show the level of profit being generated.

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa said there were times when the company’s aircraft were full.

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s statement, Palu said it was possible the airline was making money.

“It was a result of Real Tonga’s blood, sweat and tears for many years,” Palu said.

“It is just the names that have changed,” Palu said.

“The equipment, staff and resources were Real Tonga’s investment for many years.”

He claimed the government had used its political powers to end Real Tonga’s operations during the Covid-19 pandemic so that Lulutai could be set up.

“I am thankful to God for the opportunity for me to see the work that has been done in many years became useful for the country despite the way of how it was taken away.”

He said many of the set-up costs for Lulutai had been absorbed  by Real Tonga and claimed the government had not released real figures for the airline’s operational costs.

Costs that had initially been borne by Real Tonga included training of staff who were now working for Lulutai airline including the pilots, engineers, operational staff, commercial staff, airline accounting and marketing staff.

The two aircraft operated by the government had been upgraded and test flown at a cost of several million pa’anga by Real Tonga before the government took over the airline.

The government had not declared the flexibility schedule or commitment and capacity required for travel public relative to the past carriers.

Palu also said the government had essentially subsidised the airline.

Ministries and departments had supported Lulutai by allowing leases and rents of their government offices to Lulutai at cheaper prices.

He said the government used charter flight journey for the government’s hospital and other needs.

“This is a quick and easy way of collecting huge amount of money by the airline,” Palu said.

“With charter flights an organsation can pay huge amount of money for only a small number of passengers to fly in the aircraft. “

Expatriate staff needed to help operate Lulutai were already in the kingdom working for Real Tonga  before they were employed by the government. Recruitment and relocation costs had already covered by Real Tonga.

Palu claimed that salaries and other entitlements, including accommodation subsidies paid to Lulutai employees were lower than what has been paid by Real Tonga.

Person seriously injured after shooting in Auckland

By
Kaniva Staff
-

This story originally appeared on RNZ.co.nz and is republished with permission

One person has been seriously injured after a shooting in Auckland last night.

Police lights
Photo: 123RF

Police say they responded to an incident at quarter to seven last night on Tui Road in Papatoetoe.

The injured person was taken to Middlemore Hospital.

Police are still investigating the incident.

Police take child into care after images of apparent violence against toddler shared online

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongan Police have placed a child in care following an investigation into images shared on Facebook this morning.

The images shared on Facebook showed what appeared to be a woman and a female toddler inside a vehicle.

Police said they began an investigation after many people contacted them regarding the images.

“The safety and security of the child was our priority,” Police said.

“We would like to make it clear the child is now in a safe place. 

“The Police investigation continues and we cannot comment further due to the sensitivity of the case.”

The photos have been widely shared on Facebook by Tongan news sharing groups. One group has so far garnered 1100 reactions, 1000 comments and 1200 shares. 

The images shared on Facebook showed what appeared to be a woman and a female toddler inside a vehicle. 

Other photos showed a headshot of a man. Some of the photos appear to show the toddler crying with a bloodied face in the company of the woman.

One of the images appeared to show the woman holding the toddler’s head while the little girl was crying.

Another image appeared to show the woman showing the child to somebody who was watching what she was doing to the toddler. 

A number of unverified and unsupported claims about the identities and motives of the people shown in the images have been made online.

These matters will form part of the Police investigation.

Violence against children

Tonga has a poor international reputation for violence against children.

According to a 2017 UNICEF report, cultural attitudes and traditions in Tonga prevent the realisation of children’s rights in several sectors. The report said community attitudes towards violence against children and corporal punishment posed particular child protection risks.

The number of complaints made to Police about the current case would appear to indicate that this is not universally true.

Nevertheless, the Global Initiative to End all Corporal Punishment of Children said in its 2020 country report on Tonga that the kingdom’s legal system  needed to be reformed to fully protect children.

“The near universal acceptance of corporal punishment in child-rearing necessitates clarity in law that no degree or kind of corporal punishment of children is lawful or acceptable, however light and whoever inflicts it,” the report said. 

“Prohibition should be enacted of all corporal punishment, including in the family home.”’

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