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LIVE: 93rd Inter-collegiate athletic competition at Teufaiva national stadium

By
Kalino Latu
-

Live coverage from Tonga at Teufaiva stadium: Paula Moimoi Latu

Thousands of students and spectators have continued supporting their various teams of athlete at Teufaiva stadium today.

The four-day sporting events began on Monday 25-28.

The 93rd national event attracted competitors and supporters from Vava’u, Ha’apai, ‘Eua and Tongatapu which began with a parade at Teufaiva on Monday.

School athletes marched in their school colours for the opening ceremony.

The stadium was currently under construction as part of an effort to get the venue ready to host the 2019 Pacific Games.

Tongan media fear persecution; claim Prime Minister only wants controlled media

By
Philip Cass
-

Media sources in Tonga have described Prime Minister ‘Akiliisa Pōhiva’s relationship with the national broadcaster as persecution.

They claimed he regarded any media which questioned him as “the enemy.”

They told Kaniva News they feared that all other media in the kingdom considered critical of the Prime Minister of the government would be questioned.

“It is an attempt to normalise this thinking in Tonga, so that the only true media is controlled media,” the sources said.

“Reaction against the PM is gathering locally, regionally, and internationally.

“He has chosen to fight the government’s own media, but in doing so, he is making war on press freedom in Tonga.

“All the hallmarks of dictatorship are becoming apparent with the PM.”

As Kaniva News reported earlier this month, the renewal of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission CEO Nanise Fifita’s contract has upset Hon. Pōhiva so much he is considering sacking the chair of the board Tapu Panuve.

Pōhiva said the board had not shown it cared enough to do something in response to his claims that Radio and Television Tonga’s reports on him and his government were malicious,  unprofessional and unethical.

Kaniva News has learned that the Prime Minister ordered the Minister of Public Enterprise, Paasi Tei to tell TBC chairman Tapu Panuve and the board to replace Fifita.

Reliable sources said the board then appointed a subcommittee which reported that her contract included a clause that renewed her contract automatically unless she committed an infringement that warranted her replacement.

The subcommittee recommended that the TBC board not to do anything to replace Fifita, as the Government would be sued. They did this after seeking legal counsel from the Government lawyers.

Kaniva News understands that when the Prime Minister found out about this, he was very angry and started threatening to sack Panuve.

The lawyers advised against removing Nanise or sacking Tapu and Aloma because of the legal problems it would cause.

Our source said he also took exception to board member Aloma Johansson who was chair of the TBC board which made a sizeable profit.

The former CEO of the TBC, Ritzvi Jurangpathy, is suing Kele’a newspaper, which is regarded as representing the Prime Minister’s views.

It is understood that the Prime Minister is relying on support from Ngalu Fusimalohi and Saia Fonua.

The main points

  • Media sources in Tonga have described Prime Minister ‘Akiliisa Pōhiva’s relationship with the national broadcaster as persecution.
  • They told Kaniva News they feared that all other media in the kingdom considered critical of the Prime Minister of the government would be questioned.
  • As we reported earlier this month, the renewal of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission CEO Nanise Fifita’s contract has upset Hon. Pōhiva so much he is considering sacking the chair of the board Tapu Panuve.
  • We have been informed that government lawyers advised against taking any action against Fifita.

For more information

Pohiva declares war on TBC, declares it an obstacle and constraint on gov’t

 

Missing Tongan fisherman found “safe but sunburned”

By
Kalino Latu
-

UPDATED: A New Zealand Defence Force orion has found the missing Tongan fisherman safe but sunburned, adrift in an inflatable life raft off the island of ʻEua.

Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) launched the Orion on Monday afternoon to search for Tupouniua Veamatahau , who left Manuka on a small boat on Saturday.

The man was fishing between the Tongan islands of Tongatapu and Eua on Saturday when his 4.8-metre boat suffered engine failure.

He rang his family on his mobile phone about 6pm that day to seek help and he has not been heard from since.

Air Commodore Darryn Webb, the Air Component Commander, said a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion used in the search, which was supervised by the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ), spotted the man waving with his oars about mid-afternoon.

“The man was not in the fishing boat that the search request from the Tongan authorities had described but he clearly was in distress. He appeared well but sunburned,” Air Commodore Webb said.

He said the Orion crew had passed on the information to the Tongan Navy, which has dispatched a patrol boat to the life raft about 13 kilometres southeast of Eua.

The aircraft was to remain on scene until the Tongan Navy patrol boat reached the life raft about 4.30pm.

The NZDF sent the Orion to search for the fisherman on Monday, following a request from the RCCNZ. The crew stayed overnight in Tonga and resumed the search this morning.

Tongan authorities had searched without success before requesting assistance from New Zealand.

Call to take action against Tongan rugby player in Australia after brawl brought game into “disrepute”

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Jack Harbour

A GOLD Coast footy coach is urging Queensland Rugby officials to throw the book at an ex-Tongan international he claims was responsible for a brawl at a game at Helensvale on Saturday.

Helensvale Hogs coach Mark Dobson said former Tongan winger Pila Fifita, who was playing for Surfers Paradise at the time, stomped on a Hogs player who was on the ground before exchanging blows with Helensvale youngster Dean Brandon.

Referees issued both Fifita and Brandon with red cards but Mr Dobson said as his player neared the edge of the field, Fifita started throwing punches again before Brandon retaliated.

“Definitely Pila from Surfers was the instigator,” Mr Dobson said.

“The most difficult situation for Dean (Brandon) from Helensvale is if you’re being hit, it’s hard not to retaliate. We’re just disappointed. We’ve got clear photos of Pila (Fifita) stomping on one of our players.”

The Bulletin understands the brawl escalated when other players and spectators joined in the melee as it neared the sideline.

Surfers Paradise Rugby Union Club manager Justin Huntingdon said he did not want to comment on the incident but refuted Helensvale’s version of events.

Referees called time on the Hogs’ home game with nine minutes left on the clock.

Surfers Paradise, who have not lost a game this season, led 15-10 at the time referees deemed the match no longer “safe” to continue — a factor that led to Surfers Paradise coming away with the win.

Brandon and Fifita will both face a judiciary hearing.

The Bulletin attempted to make contact with Fifita but Surfers Paradise captain and coach Kris Burton said Fifita had asked him to speak on his behalf.

Mr Burton said the fight was likely the result of heightened tensions in a particularly hard-fought game.

“It was a physical game,” he said. “There were little cheap shots everywhere.

“We had a few spectators join and that escalated things.

“There were a few big tackles. Maybe some people got ­annoyed that they got tackled too well.”

The Queensland Rugby Union is expected to review the incident.

–Gold Coast Bulletin

Tongan ex-servicemen will march in Otahuhu to commemorate Anzac Day

By
Philip Cass
-

Tongan ex-servicemen will mark Anzac Day tomorrow (April 25) when they parade in Otahuhu.

Rev, Tevita ʻIloa-i-Pangai Tuʻineau, of the Anglican church, who is the chaplain for the former Tongan servicemen’s association  in Central Auckland, said they were looking forward to the march tomorrow.

Rev. Tuʻineau said they used to join the marches at the  Auckland Domain in front of Auckland War Memorial Museum Civic service.

However, last year they decided to relocate to South Auckland and parade in Otahuhu instead.

He said this was because they felt they were not recognised properly by the RSA organisers of the programme at the Domain.

The RSA will hold a service at the Otahuhu Memorial at 9.30am.

Another march has been organised at Mangere Bridge by the Mangere council.

Kaniva News understands some Tongans who are working at the council will take part.

There is a memorial service at the Mangere Bridge War Memorial Hall at 9.15am.

In Tonga, a dawn service will be held to remember those men and women from Tonga, Australia and New Zealand who have served in international conflicts.

The Service will be held at the Cenotaph at Pangai Lahi, Nuku’alofa.

Guests are requested to be seated at 5:45am. Members of the public will be invited to lay a wreath during the service should they wish to do so. Medals may be worn.

Tonga at war

In early 1916 a recruiting party from the New Zealand Army was sent to Tonga and returned with a  number of recruits. Some were expatriate British, Australians or New Zealanders, while others were of mixed Tongan and European ancestry.

They enlisted in either the Pioneer Maori Battalion or the Auckland Infantry Battalion.

During the Second World War about 2000 Tongan soldiers served in the Solomon Islands  during the war against Japan.

More recently, Tongan soldiers have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The main points

  • Tongan ex-servicemen will mark Anzac Day tomorrow (April 25) when they parade in Otahuhu.
  • Rev, Tevita ʻIloa-i-Pangai Tuʻineau, of the Anglican church, who is the chaplain for the former Tongan servicemen’s association in Central Auckland, said they were looking forward to the march tomorrow.
  • In Tonga, a dawn service will be held at the Cenotaph at Pangai Lahi, Nuku’alofa.
  • Tongan troops served in both world wars, and more recently in Iraq and Afghanistan.

For more information

Tonga in World War One.

http://tongainworldwar1.webs.com/

RSA Anzac Day service finder

http://rsa.org.nz/find-an-anzac-day-service

 

NZ Defence aircraft joins search for Tongan missing fisherman

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has sent a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion aircraft to search for a Tongan fisherman whose boat suffered engine failure while fishing off the main island of Tongatapu on Saturday.

Air Commodore Darryn Webb, the Air Component Commander, said the Orion left Whenuapai in Auckland following a request from the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand and is due to reach the search area about 4.45pm.

The fisherman rang his family on his mobile phone about 6pm on Saturday after the engine of his 4.8-metre boat failed and he has not been heard from since.

The boat is believed to be between the Tongan islands of Tongatapu and Eua.

“The crew will try to find the vessel and establish communications with the skipper so we can ascertain the problem and provide assistance as required,” Air Commodore Webb said.

“Tongan authorities have launched a search but have had no success to date.”

The search area is estimated at about 16,600 square kilometres.

Tongan food exports to be marketed by Turners in New Zealand

By
Kalino Latu
-

A deal for Tonga to send food, fish and handicrafts direct to New Zealand suppliers was struck last week after a team of government officials from Tonga met with Turner New Zealand and other supplier officials in Auckland.

Tonga will export food crops such as taro, yams, breadfruits, cassava, kape, taro and pele leaves and fish direct to Turner.

The company, New Zealand’s biggest food and nutritional supplier, will sell them to their New Zealand markets.

This includes deals with other New Zealand suppliers to receive and sell Tongan body tuitui oil and handicrafts.

Turner was also willing to come to Tonga and run workshop for the Tongan exporters if needed.

The Tongan team was led by Ministry of Labour and Commerce CEO Kulu ‘Anisi Bloomfield and Head of Business Support and Facilitation Division Tevita Lautaha.

Bloomfield said the government had allocated funding for the project in its budget for the year 2017 – 2018.

Asked when would they start exporting, Bloomfield said the sooner the better, but they needed to call a meeting with the Tongan suppliers when they returned to Tonga.

The question of packaging and labelling was discussed during the meetings in Auckland.

Bloomfield said Tonga would send samples of its products to New Zealand suppliers for scientific tests to check their chemical content before sending them back for labelling and packaging.

The tests were important as they would give New Zealand importers opportunities to evaluate and give feedback on the Tongan products.

While the Tongan officials were in New Zealand they also talked to shipping agencies.

Bloomfield said this was part of the quality control and supply chain processes to make sure the products would arrive at the New Zealand markets.

They managed to obtain cheap freight fees from a shipping agency in New Zealand.

“The government is trying to put into practice a vision that has been with Tongan growers for many, many years,” Bloomfield said.

“Turner is willing to help Tonga and they advised us to just start small and build up our efforts as the project developed.

“They listed the food they needed, including taro and pele leaves.”

He said the government wanted to help get Tongan growers’ and handicraft makers’ products directly to the market.

He said the government was aware of the way Tongan growers and handicraft makers exported their products through Tongan middle men in overseas.

“That is good, but the middlemen mostly get more of the shares the Tongan exporters are supposed to received financially from the overseas markets,” Bloomfield said.

The  main points

  • A deal for Tonga to send food, fish and handicrafts direct to New Zealand suppliers was struck last week after a team of government officials from Tonga met with Turner New Zealand and other supplier officials in Auckland.
  • Tonga will export food crops such as taro, yams, manioke, kape, taro and pele leaves and fish direct to Turner.
  • The company, New Zealand’s biggest food and nutritional supplier, will sell them to their New Zealand markets.
  • The Tongan team was led by Ministry of Labour and Commerce CEO Kulu ‘Anisi Bloomfield and Head of Business Support and Facilitation Division Tevita Lautaha.

Miss Appraxus beauty pageant contestants appear at fundraiser

By
Kalino Latu
-

Miss Appraxus New Zealand beauty pageant contestants appeared at a fundraiser in Manukau last night.

Eight Tongan beauty contestants were contesting to represent New Zealand in the 2017 Miss Heilala Festival in July.

The winner will go on to the Miss Heilala Festival in Tonga.

The festival will be part of many festivities organised to mark His Majesty King Tupou VI’s 56 birthday in June.

The aspiring beauty queens were presented to the public last night at Vavaʻu Lahi nightclub in Manukau.

Last year Miss Appraxus New Zealand sent a contestant to Tonga to participate in the Miss Heilala 2016. She was Miss Ana Falala

The contestants are:

Miss Tuitui Fashion 2017
Ms Titania Monica Matekuolava
Lotofoa/Tokomololo/Haavakatolo n Uiha

Miss North Memorial Onehunga
Ms Maikale Vea Latu
Toa ko Maafu/Kolokakala/Uiha/Lotofoa/Haatoukai/Hapai

Miss Brilliant Star NZ

Maryanne Fifita
Haateiho  Tongatapu
Haano Haapai Veu

Miss KlickEx NZ
Ms Lilipeti Kathy Manu
Nukunuku/Loutokaiano/Folaha
Sia ko Veiongo / Kolomotu’a Taaki moe Aka/ Niua fo’ou

Miss Maa’imoa Catering NZ
Stephanie Malia Tukuafu
Uasi La’aa/ Niutoua Halatukutonga/Taulanga Faua/Ma’ufanga Tongatapu

Miss Sal’s Creation NZ
Ms Ophelia Kikikiti Kava
Moungaone/Nginingini ofolanga/Taaki moe aka/Niua/Tapulululu/Seti Vaolongolongo
Faa’imata/Painitu’u2 Havelu

Miss Vava’u lahi NZ
Ms Luseane Kauvaka
Kilikilitefua/Makave
Fungaonetale/Longomapu
Tavake Fai’ana/Tu’anuku
Mahina Fekite / Tongoleleka
Fungapulupulu/Ha’utu
Toahola / Fahefa Tongatapu.

Miss Bou Fashion NZ
Ms Melesiu Jasmine Fale-Ula
Niutu’utolu/ Fola’osi/Funga Matatoa/Api ko Havelu lahi/Tafengaloko/Vai ko Lofia /Kotu
Vaonukonuka/ Taulanga ko Fangalei/Hunga Vava’u lahi

Tonga increasing transparency, says ADB expert

By
Philip Cass
-

The Asian Development Bank says Tonga is leading the way in the Pacific in increasing transparency in government.

Christopher Russell, an expert in reform, made the comments after the launch of a website  that provides information about state-owned enterprises.

“Tonga is the first to have their website up and running,” Russell said.

“So they really are ranking very high within the Pacific realm and also internationally.

“There are not many countries around the world that will have the amount of information.”

Russell said Tonga was one of the first countries to require a publication summarising financial information on public enterprises in 2010.

A 2014 report on Tonga by Transparency International said the government had taken significant steps in recent years to improve the country’s governance.

The report said Tonga was now ranked around the global average in terms of its performance on governance indicators.

However, it said political corruption and nepotism were still a problem.

It said these issues were rooted in the kingdom’s political  and demographic structure, strong sense of kinship, and late democratic awakening.

For more information

Tonga becomes first Pacific nation to publish SOE information online

Transparency International Tonga report

Hawaii reminds Jeff Sessions its actually a state

By
Kaniva Staff
-

HONOLULU — Hawaii’s Democratic lawmakers on Thursday criticized Attorney General Jeff Sessions after he expressed amazement on a radio show that a “judge sitting on an island in the Pacific” could stop the president’s travel ban.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono responded by trying to give Sessions a civics lesson on Twitter, saying Hawaii has been a U.S. state for 58 years.

The senator said later in a telephone interview the remarks showed a lack of awareness about the separation of powers between the judiciary and executive branches.

U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson last month blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order prohibiting new visas for people from six Muslim-majority countries and temporarily halting the U.S. refugee program. The Trump Administration appealed the ruling.

Sessions told the “Mark Levin Show” he’s confident the president will prevail with his administration’s appeal of Watson’s travel ban ruling.

“I really am amazed that a judge sitting on an island in the Pacific can issue an order that stops the president of the United States from what appears to be clearly his statutory and constitutional power,” Sessions said.

Hirono also said Sessions’ remarks suggested he is prejudiced against Hawaii.

“Why isn’t a federal judge from Hawaii as able as any other judge from anywhere to issue rulings?” Hirono asked.

She told Session on Twitter “we won’t succumb to your dog whistle politics.”

Both Hirono and Sen. Brian Schatz emphasized that Sessions voted as a senator to confirm Watson as a judge.

Schatz chided Sessions more on Twitter by telling him the island where Watson made the ruling is named Oahu.

“It’s my home. Have some respect,” he said.

U.S. Justice Department spokesman Ian Prior said in an email that Sessions was questioning one judge’s ability to block the president’s executive order for the travel ban.

“Hawaii is, in fact, an island in the Pacific — a beautiful one where the Attorney General’s granddaughter was born,” Prior said. “The point, however, is that there is a problem when a flawed opinion by a single judge can block the President’s lawful exercise of authority to keep the entire country safe.”

Douglas Chin, Hawaii’s attorney general, said in a statement it was disappointing Sessions doesn’t acknowledge that the federal courts are “co-equal partners with Congress and the president.”

A clerk for the U.S. District Court in Hawaii said Watson declined to comment.

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