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VIDEO: Motorists requested to avoid parts of West Auckland

By
Kalino Latu
-

Waitemata Police is asking motorists to please avoid travelling in the wider New Lynn, Henderson and Kelston areas due to severe flooding.

A number of roads in the area have just been closed.

Some parked cars have been inundated with flood waters on Great North Road and another vehicle which was driven into the waters near Edmonton Road had to be pulled out after it became stuck.

Emergency services are in the affected areas and we ask that people please follow their advice carefully.

  • 321 properties have been flooded (225 in West Auckland), with some in waist-deep water
  • Suburbs affected by flooding include: Kaukapakapa, Devonport, Parnell, Remuera, Eden Terrace, Blockhouse Bay, Morningside, Massey, Westgate, Whenuapai, New Lynn, Avondale, Titirangi, Henderson, Te Atatu, West Harbour and Glen Eden
  • People are being advised to avoid New Lynn due to the risk of unstable buildings
  • Weather-related crash in Manurewa
  • Multiple trees down
  • Northwestern Motorway earlier affected by crash and surface flooding on multiple roads
  • 2800 households without power in Glen Eden – now restored
  • Residents asked to secure outdoor furniture, avoid travel and bring pets inside
  • Only major road closure is SH27 between SH26 and No 4 Rd at Tatuanui

Posted by New Lynn on Saturday, March 11, 2017

Tonga gears up for big celebrations as PM needs Vavaʻu cleanup efforts heightened

By
Kalino Latu
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The Tongan government undertook to provide rubbish bins to public places, remove unsafe derelict properties and employ staff to look after public toilets at the capital as part of its move to prepare Vavaʻu for big events in June.

Thousands of Tongan visitors and tourists from overseas were expected to attend the Free Wesleyan Church conference, the 70th anniversary of Siuʻilikutapu Mailefihi college and His Majesty King Tupou VI’s 57 birthday in June as well as the Royal Agricultural Show in July.

The 94th Conference and the school anniversary will be held in Vavaʻu while the Agricultural Show will begin there before it will continue on to other islands.

Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva was in  Vavaʻu with a government delegation on Tuesday to talk with authorities about the preparations.

Tonga Tourism Minister Hon. Sēmisi Sika said the events would bring huge advantages to the kingdom.

He said the Prime Minister wanted a government-led cleanup and beautification campaign to begin in Neiafu immediately after they met with the Vavaʻu governor on Wednesday.

He said there were derelict properties and abandoned buildings in Neiafu which make the capital look untidy, unsafe for the public and could keep visitors off coming back.

There were no rubbish bins at public places and at the ‘Utukalongalu market, litter and garbage were seen almost everywhere, the Minister said.

He said the government pledged to provide garbage bins to the market and encourage the public to use them for their litter.

There was plan to upgrade public toilet facilities at the wharf in Neiafu and the government undertook to employ staff to manage and look after them.

He said the toilet facilities were closed when they arrived but they should open to the public.

Hon. Sika said the government considered building a fence around the Vaikolēlea historical site and erect a placard with its history there for the visitors.

He said the delegation also met with leaders from private sectors, head of governments, town and district officers and they had welcomed the government’s proposals.

The delegation also visited public roads in Hahake and Hihifo as well as heavy machinery at the Ministry of Infrastructure which the Minister said they no longer working.

A vacant building behind the Police station was ordered by the Prime Minister to be demolished while they were there.

Hon. Sika said Vavaʻu Police and the Prisons Department workers pulled down the building as part of the cleanup campaign.

Tonga Communications Corporation boss withdraws appeal

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga Communications Corporation chief executive Rizvi Jurangpathy who appealed a Supreme Court decision to dismiss an application he had submitted has withdrawn the appeal on Thursday.

In December the Supreme Court has dismissed an application by Jurangpathy  to have an investigation of his behaviour by the Commissioner for Public Relations halted until a defamation case against Kele’a newspaper has been completed.

In June 2015 the then Member of Parliament Māteni Tapueluelu made a number of allegations against  Jurangpathy, which were reported in Kele’a newspaper.

The newspaper alleged that Mr. Jurangpathy had committed indecent acts upon, and was having affairs with, staff members, was misusing TCC funds and dismissing employees for improper reasons.

Mr. Jurangpathy denied the allegations.

However his legal counsel Clive Edwards Snr told the appeal judges in Nukuʻalofa they had decided to withdraw the appeal.

It has been revealed in court the investigation by the Public Relations Commissioner has been completed and a report is to be submitted to the Prime Minister.

This was the first case heard after Tonga’s Court of Appeal 2017 session began hearing six appeals from March 9-10 with judgments to be delivered on Thursday, March 16.

The appeal judges from New Zealand were Michael Moore, Peter Blanchard and Rodney Henson.

Mavae and Sefita Vea wedding reception

By
Kalino Latu
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Pope may allow married Catholic men as priests

By
Kalino Latu
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Pope Francis has said the Catholic church may consider ordaining married men who could potentially then work in remote areas faced with a shortage of priests.

“We must think about whether viri probati are a possibility,” Francis said, referring to older married men who are already involved in church business.

“Then we have to decide what tasks they can take on, for example in remote communities,” he added in an interview with German weekly Die Zeit.

Many in the church believe, given the lack of priests in many places, that a new path to ordination should be opened.

They think that in addition to priests who take a vow of celibacy, older married men with a long commitment to the church could also be considered.

Pope Francis said in May 2014 that “there are married priests in the church” citing Anglican ministers who converted, Coptic Catholics and the priests of some eastern churches.

The church, and notably the current pope’s predecessor Benedict XVI, had previously said that celibacy was not a matter of inflexible church dogma unlike, for example, the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

However, Francis said allowing priests in training to choose whether or not to be celibate was “not the solution”.

-The Guardian

Tonga seeks multi-million dollar funding to help fight against climate change threats

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Tongan government revisited a proposal to bring millions of dollars to the nation to help its battle to reduce threatening impacts of climate change in the kingdom.

This had been discussed in a workshop in Nuku’aofa this week which was conducted by Mr. Yusuke Taishi and Mr. Kevin Petrini from UNDP.

Known as the National Appraisal Workshop on Tonga Coastal Adaptation Project Proposal, organisers said they were applying to get the money from the UNFCCC’s Green Climate Fund.

The proposal will be submitted in April.

The Minister of Climate Change Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni told the workshop Tonga wanted US$50 million “to help the vulnerable communities to better manage their natural environment through  coastal protection measures, sedimentation management, environment based adaptation coastal management and capacity building”.

Hon Sovaleni said previous studies had identified highly vulnerable communities in Tonga where coastal erosion, flooding, inundation and coastal water problems needed urgent actions.

The Deputy Prime Minister said: “Tonga is at the frontline to experience further devastating impacts of climate change but the country seeks to reduce the risks and to build capacity and resilience.

“The project proposal if successful will yield resources towards addressing the aforementioned vulnerabilities at the same time help build the community’s resilience to climate change impacts and climate related events.

“It is our duty to look for solutions and find a way we can use to minimize the effects of climate change in the communities that vulnerable.”

The workshop was also attended by district and town officers, NGOs, Civil Society Forum and representatives from the communities.

The half-a-day workshop was facilitated and co-hosted by the UNDP and the Department of Climate Change under MEIDECC.

Investigation after allegations of brutality against school children made on radio talk back show

By
Kalino Latu
-

A student has been taken to hospital and a Police and Ministry of Education investigation is believed to be underway after a grandmother claimed a teacher severely smacked her grandchild and his school mates.

The woman told Tonga Broadcom Broadcasting on Wednesday she thought she could reveal it to the talk back show thinking the authorities could hear her complaint and do something about it.

The teacher allegedly threatened to beat the children’s parents if they told them about their punishment.

She said her grandchild was terrified and when she asked to take him with her to the school and talk to the teacher he refused.

Callers to the show were discussing what should be done to reduce violence against woman to mark International Women’s Day.

Callers were discussing the proposal that sports could help reduce violence against women.

The grandmother told the radio she was surprised when she noticed one of her grandchildren who was studying at Vaini Middle School had severe bruises on his body.

When he was asked to explain, the grandchild alleged he was beaten by a teacher at the school.

The grandchild alleged the teacher was violent.

He claimed the teacher sometimes hit all the class including boys and girls and told them they would be punished more if they told their parents.

He alleged the teacher told them he feared no one, including the Police.

The grandmother told the radio she was shocked to see this type of punishment still used in schools.

The radio programme later reported they had been informed the child was taken to hospital later after the broadcast.

They said Police and the Ministry of Education were investigating.

The main points

  • A student has been taken to hospital and a Police and Ministry of Education investigation is believed to be underway after a grandmother claimed a teacher severely smacked her grandchild and his school mates.
  • The woman told Tonga Broadcom Broadcasting on Wednesday she thought she could reveal it the talk back show thinking the authorities could hear her complaint and do something about it.
  • The teacher allegedly threatened to beat the children’s parents if they told them about their punishment.
  • Callers to the show were discussing what should be done to reduce violence against woman to mark International Women’s Day.

Massey graduate returns to Tonga, glad to be giving back to his community

By
Kalino Latu
-

Massey University graduate Semi Hausia has returned to Tonga to begin a career as a quarantine officer.

He joined the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Forests and Fisheries after completing his degree and taking a summer internship organised by the Pacific Cooperation Foundation.

He spent the summer with Auckland Council’s Environmental, Monitoring, Research and Evaluation team.

He was one of 15 graduates picked for the internship.

His job with MAFF involves tracking what happens to commodities from Tonga when they are exported.

This means ensuring that they can be traced in a way that complies with international market requirements.

Hausia said his experiences had helped him obtain his position with MAFF.

“The most significant lesson I have learnt is about the levels of management, the linkages and boundaries,” he told the PCF Newsletter.

“Knowing my position and my responsibilities will enable me to work both effectively and efficiently.”

He said he was delighted to be home and giving back to his community.

“I’m feeling confident in myself and my ability in my field of work and expertise.”

The main points

  • Massey University graduate Semi Hausia has returned to Tonga to begin a career as a quarantine officer.
  • He joined the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Forests and Fisheries after completing his degree and taking a summer internship organised by the Pacific Cooperation Foundation.
  • He spent the summer with Auckland Council’s Environmental, Monitoring, Research and Evaluation team.
  • He said he was delighted to be home and giving back to his community.

For more information

Summer Internship opens doors in Tonga

http://pcf.org.nz/summer-internship-opens-doors-in-tonga/

Information on PCF internships

http://pcf.org.nz/summer-internships

VIDEO: Tongans urged to help people who need a hand

By
Kalino Latu and Philip Cass
-

Nuku’alofa resident Jason Takitoa Fangupo Heimuli has urged Tongans to share their good fortune with people who need help.

Heimuli was talking after he came across a woman lying by Sālote Road on Tuesday night.

He had been out to buy a takeaway meal about 7.30pm.

Vehicles and pedestrians went past the woman, but nobody stopped to help her.

Heimuli said when he arrived the woman appeared to be unconscious and was lying helpless on the sidewalk.

Jason Takitoa Fangupo Heimuli. Photo/Supplied

He helped resuscitate the woman and then, with the help of a security guard at the Post Office, helped the woman to Heimuliʻs car.

Heimuli took the woman to hospital. When she said she had no food he stopped and withdrew money to buy food.

The woman was checked by the nurse and seen by the doctor.

He said he was told the woman was staying in the area at Sopu.

Heimuli said the woman thanked him and said: “Thank Jesus for your love. If you did not pick me up the vehicles would run over me.”

“My life has no negative intentions on anyone, I am the happiest person and a happiest son to my lovely parents and a happiest brother to all my siblings,” Heimuli said.

“Sometimes in our life, when someone needs your help you’re facing away and don’t help.

“Someday you see people who need a hand, but you just ignore them and walk away.

“We need to help and share what we have both spiritually and physically.

“You will never became popular or famous when you help someone, but you are winning a million of hearts.

“There will be no crowd, but He is watching you.”

The main points

  • Nuku’alofa resident Jason Takitoa Fangupo Heimuli has urged Tongans to share their good fortune with people who need help.
  • Heimuli was talking after he came across a woman lying by Salote Road on Tuesday night.
  • When he arrived the woman appeared to be unconscious.
  • He helped resuscitate her and took her to hospital.

Evacuated Fonoi residents return home after devastating flooding

By
Kalino Latu
-

Clean-up efforts are well underway in the island of Fonoifua in Ha’apai after last week’s devastating flooding.

Residents used chilly bin and empty containers to get out of residences after floodwaters following heavy rains left people trapped in their homes.

Small rowing boats were also used to carry their belongings and young children during the evacuation.

Pictures uploaded to Facebook showed the aftermath of the floods and how the torrential rain caused the devastating damage on March 4 – 5.

Watermarks can be seen half way up the walls of houses at low lying areas and in some areas the water was waist-high.

The residents fled and took shelter in the Government Primary School, the only building that was not affected by the floods.

Reports from Fonoi said six homes have lost all their furniture and contents.

Several government officers from NEMO office had been deployed to help in the emergency response and recovery after the floods, reports said.

NEMO said yesterday there were no casualties and the flooded areas had completely dried out.

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