A Tongan MP in New Zealand Parliament has vowed to keep fighting after her bill to recognise minority languages in Parliament was rejected.
Labour’s ‘Anahila Kanongata’a Suisuiki recently introduced a private member’s bill in New Zealand’s Parliament seeking to amend the law which only recognises members swearing their allegiance in English and Te Reo Maori.
The bill sought to allow members to choose the language which best suited them when being sworn in, reported Radio New Zealand.
She said this reflected the increased diversity of modern New Zealand, and would allow Pacific people to better understand the gravity of the act.
The bill was defeated 65 votes to 54 in its first reading last week but Ms Kanongata’a-Suisuiki vowed to fight on and quoted a Maori proverb.
“Kaua e mate wheke, mate ururoa!”
“Which means, don’t die like an octopus, die like a hammerhead,” she said.
“Octopus are renowned for their lack of resistance when being captured, however a hammerhead shark will fight bitterly to the end.”
Currently, members of parliament can seek permission from the speaker to use their mother tongue but agreement has to be sought from every member of the house.
A third man has been arrested over the murder of a Tongan man shot once in the head in Mangere, South Auckland.
Epalahame Tu’uheava, 28, was found lying dead beside his seriously injured wife Mele Yolanda Tu’uheava, 25, on Greenwood Rd at about 6am May 1.
Mele suffered a number of gunshot wounds and was taken to Auckland City Hospital. She remains in hospital where she continues to recover from her injuries.
Also known as Hame or Abraham, his body had been laid to rest on Wednesday.
Counties Manukau Police have arrested a 25-year-old man from Mangere this evening and charged him with the murder of Epalahame and the attempted murder of Mele.
The arrest came after a 24-year-old male and a 30-year-old male from South Auckland, have both been charged this morning with murder and attempted murder.
The pair were scheduled to appear in the Manukau District Court later today.
The man in the third arrest is charged jointly with the two men arrested earlier.
He is scheduled to appear in the Manukau District Court on Saturday 12 May 2018.
Detective Inspector Tofilau Faa Vaaelua said the ongoing enquiries by the investigation team has resulted in the latest arrest.
“Even after this third arrest for the murder and attempted murder, our investigation team will continue to identify and prosecute anyone else who played a part in this.”
A 42-year-old man has been arrested after shots were fired into a parked car carrying occupants in Kolonga.
One of the occupants, a 25-year-old man, was also arrested after Police seized an illegal firearm, ammunition and 36 grams of cannabis from his residence.
“Police believes that this incident is drug related,” Acting Police Superintendent Semi Ve’ehala said.
No one was injured in the shooting incident, he said.
“Both suspects are now in police custody while police investigation continues.”
Two people have been arrested in connection with the murder of a Tongan man in Mangere, New Zealand.
Epalahame Tu’uheava, 28, was found lying dead beside his seriously injured wife Mele Yolanda Tu’uheava, 25, on Greenwood Rd at about 6am May 1.
Also known as Hame or Abraham, the young father from Manurewa died of a gunshot to the head, while Mele suffered a number of gunshot wounds and was taken to Auckland City Hospital. She remains in hospital where she continues to recover from her injuries.
‘Epalahame’s body had been laid to rest on Wednesday.
A 24-year-old male and a 30-year-old male from South Auckland, have both been charged this morning with murder and attempted murder.
The pair are scheduled to appear in the Manukau District Court later today.
Detective Inspector Tofilau Faa Vaaelua says a dedicated team of Police staff have been working hard on this case.
“This was a violent incident that shocked the community and we hope the arrests today will provide some reassurance to the surviving victim, the families affected, as well as the wider public.
“Our investigation remains ongoing and further enquiries will continue to be made in relation to this incident.”
The 2018 Rugby Africa Gold Cup, which doubles as a Rugby World Cup 2019 qualification tournament, has launched a new trophy and brand at the AIPS congress in Brussels on Tuesday 8 May.
The Rugby Africa Gold Cup will be played across seven match days between 16 June and 18 August 2018 and features Africa’s top teams that have not already qualified for the Rugby World Cup 2019 – Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Morocco and Tunisia.
The action will get under way on 16 June at Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek, Namibia and the tournament will reach its exciting conclusion when the final is played on 18 August.
The winner of the competition will qualify for Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan as Africa 1, joining reigning champions New Zealand, South Africa, Italy and the repechage winner in Pool B. The Rugby Africa Gold Cup runner-up will go straight to the four-team repechage tournament in November 2018.
The striking perpetual trophy reflects the ambitions of a sport that is the fastest-growing in Africa and a region that has seen record participation growth and fan engagement over the last five years.
Since 2002 the number of African nations playing rugby has risen from six to 38, reflecting the excellent development work that has been undertaken across the region and the appetite for a sport that continues to reach, engage and inspire young people.
As part of the global Get Into Rugby programme, over 377,800 participants, supported by 4,400 coaches, were introduced to rugby across Africa in 2017 as the sport continues to go from strength to strength.
World Rugby (www.WorldRugby.org) Chairman Bill Beaumont said: “Rugby has experienced tremendous growth across Africa in recent years, helped by proactive programmes such as Get Into Rugby, and we are looking forward to witnessing a high quality Rugby Africa Gold Cup as the nations compete for the chance to qualify for the Rugby World Cup 2019 and to lift this fantastic new trophy for the first time.”
Speaking at the unveiling of the trophy, Rugby Africa Chairman Abdelaziz Bougja said: “The Rugby Africa Gold Cup trophy is the highest reward for any African rugby player and presenting this most symbolic perpetual trophy for the first time at the International Sports Press Association’ Congress and the European capital is an amazing experience in the lifetime. This perpetual trophy will honour African rugby players for generations to come.”
The new Rugby Africa Gold Cup perpetual trophy has been created to embody rugby’s values of Integrity, Respect, Solidarity, Passion and Discipline which inspire 9.1 million people to play the game worldwide. Gold plated and standing at a height of 47 centimetres (18.5 inches) and weighing 3.3 kilograms, the perpetual trophy features a smooth Georgian bodied design, complete with delicately patterned handles, an impressive stepped lid that is supplied complete with a circular solid African Mahogany base.
The Trophy has been expertly engraved with the text ‘Rugby Africa Gold Cup’ and has the shape of Africa in pride of place on the main body. It holds the names of the 17 previous winners and has space for at least seventy more winning teams’ names to be engraved on the base.
The perpetual trophy will not be the only piece of silverware on show as the Webb Ellis Cup, which is awarded to the Rugby World Cup winners, will make an appearance during the Rugby Africa Gold Cup tournament as part of the Rugby World Cup 2019 Trophy Tour.
New Zealand – Three people are in custody following an incident that began earlier this morning where a suspicious vehicle was spotted and failed to stop for Police in Mangere.
The vehicle was observed by police eagle helicopter to approach Otahuhu College at around 9.30am where three offenders were seen to enter the premise.
Two offenders were quickly apprehended however a third offender remained outstanding for a period.
“Otahuhu College and King’s College are no longer in lockdown following an incident at Otahuhu College this morning,” Inspector Matt Srhoj, Counties Manukau Police.
Armed Police, who happened to be nearby, came to assist as a precaution, while Otahuhu College and nearby King’s College were placed in lockdown also as a precaution while efforts were made to locate the third offender.
He was found a short time ago hiding in a hallway at the school.
No weapons were located on the individual.
Police would like to thank the schools and the public for their patience while police dealt with this unfolding incident.
In 2015 Kaniva News ran a story about the first Tongan All Black, Walter Batty.
Batty, who was born in Tonga in 1905, joined the New Zealand side in 1928. His father was English, but his mother was a Tongan, Luʻisa Tupou.
Now his grandson, Richard Keyworth, has shed light on Batty’s family.
Walter Batty. Photo/Supplied
“Luisa Tupou was my grandmother,” Keyworth told Kaniva News.
“My mother Hilda was Walter’s eldest sister.
“We are descended from Po’oi through Mekemeke who was my great-great-grandfather. Luisa was a cousin of Queen Salote.
“They shared the same grandmother, Ulukilupetea.
Princess Fusipala Salote’s half-sister came to Auckland for her education and attended Dio College, Keyworth said.
“Whenever the queen visited Ha’apai Luisa would move into the royal residence to be the queen’s attendant and companion.
“Luisa tried living in Auckland, but didn’t like it.
“Here she was nobody. In Tonga she was important!
“My mother, who was the same age, attended Auckland Grammar. When Fusipala was not at Dio she stayed at our family home in Ponsonby. The two girls were in the same boat and became very close! “
“Auckland in those days was a difficult place for people with brown skin, especially in Ponsonby which was a well-to-do European community.
“Walter and his siblings were subjected to racist taunts. Sport was a way out.”
Batty played six matches as a loose forward for the All Blacks, including three tests against the British and Irish Lions during their New Zealand tour of 1930, during which he scored a test try at Wellington.
He also played in a test match against Australia the following year.
An insurance agent by profession, Batty joined up and served as a sergeant in the Royal New Zealand Artillery during the Second World War.
He won the Distinguished Conduct Medal after singlehandedly holding off an attack by Italian tanks in Libya until his unit could be reinforced.
He later became A Warrant Officer First Class.
In the mid 1940s the Auckland Star published a half page article on “The Sporting Battys”
Keyworth said his family were related to the Lomus by marriage and were acknowledged as cousins by the Kahos.
“My eldest sister Edith lived and worked in Ha’apai for several years and became known as Tupou Kelo after our Grand mother. My Grandfather Gerald had red hair!”
The former Minister of Health was appointed to the ministerial posit in 1970 and he held it until he retired in 1996.
Dr Tapa established Tonga Health Dr Tapa Scholarship for students of health promotion and education.
In 2012 he was recognised by the Pacific region’s health community for his contribution to health. WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific awarded Dr Tapa with plaques of appreciation.
It said the plaques honoured him as a dedicated public health servant, colleague and true friend of WHO.
“For 26 years, Dr Tapa provided strong leadership as Tonga’s delegate to the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific. Although currently retired and living in Tonga, he has been the longest-serving delegate to the Regional Committee.”
Mako Vunipola has been honoured with a national sport award in England.
The accolade, in association with All Sport Insurance, is presented to the outstanding England player from the 2017/18 season as voted by the elite playing squad.
Vunipola played 462 minutes for Eddie Jones’ side and impressed with his ball carrying and tackling statistics.
“I’m so proud to be recognised with this award and thankful for the support shown by my team-mates,” he said.
“I cherish every moment I get to represent my country and for me there is no prouder moment than taking the pitch in an England shirt with my mates.”
In April Vunipola was named by Saracens in their team to face Bath despite being obliged to rest him according to an agreement between the Rugby Football Union and the Premiership.
“In a move that raises serious concerns over player welfare, Vunipola has been picked for the fourth week in a row following the Six Nations, even though the terms of the Professional Game Agreement (PGA), signed in 2016 between the RFU and the Premiership, suggest he must be given a break.”
The 27-year-old’s parents are Tongans and he was born in Wellington, New Zealand.
