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Four Tongans killed in boating tragedy named as ‘tala kāinga’ mounted online

By
Kalino Latu
-

Heartbroken families, relatives and friends of four Tongan victims who died at Kaipara harbour in New Zealand Saturday 26 sent their tala kāinga online.

Tala kāinga (tell the relatives or kāinga) is the practice in which a Tongan family formally contact their immediate family and relatives to let them know a very important event had happened within the family either it was a birthday, wedding or a funeral.

We now know that the victims’ names are Fonua ‘Āmanu Tāufa, Tēvita Tangi,  Alipate Manumuʻa and Sūnia ‘Ungoʻunga.

Their friends and relatives who were tagged in status and posts on Facebook about the tragedy had shown great surprise and astonishment.

The victims were among the seven fishermen who have died after the doomed charter fishing boat they hired had capsized near Kaipara Harbour’s North Head.

Some Facebook users posted Tongan hymns and biblical verses as their tributes and supports for the families of the victims.

References to the victims’ birth places’ nicknames as well as lyric and poetical verses could be seen on social media, an essential part of the tala kāinga.

‘Isapela Toluta’u posted an emotional tribute to Taufa on Facebook and she metaphorically mentioned the nickname of the village of Navutoka, Funga’onetaka,  as it had been weeping.

“The Fungaʻonetaka is tearful and wearing “tauanga’a” (black clothes) because of an unexpected farewell had occurred. We were looking forward to December 15 before you arrive but that would not happen because of God’s unforeseeable natural phenomenon”(translated)

Tāufa is survived by his wife and children.

Tevita Tangi’s sister Rosita Tangi sent her love to her brother on Facebook.

“I love you David”, she posted.

She told Kaniva News she wanted to talk to the rest of the family first before she could speak to us about her deceased brother.

Tevita was a bar bouncer and before he died he used to work at the Tongan bar and night club in Manukau known as Waterfall.

He is also survived by his wife and children.

Manumu’a worked at Independent Liquor while Ungo’unga worked as a glass worker.

They were cousins and fathers.

Police said 11 people are believed to have been on-board the vessel. Three survivors were taken to hospital and one person presumed dead was still missing. All of them were of Pacific island descent including Samoa and Cook Island except for the skipper, Bill McNatty.

It has also been reported the skipper and some fishermen on board the charter boat Francie on Friday weren’t wearing lifejackets, despite the rough conditions.

Police have been told there were lifejackets on board, but it was not yet known if they were being worn.

The victims went fishing each weekend and charter the 12m boat with friends about once a month.
The sea was quite rough and there were reported swells of more than 1.5m and strong winds in the area on Saturday.

New Zealand Herald online has quoted the former owner of the Francie as saying the boat should not have been operating or attempting to cross the bar in the rough conditions on Saturday.

The boat was made out of steel and can carry a maximum 20 passengers and two crew.

Inquiries were being made into what caused the maritime tragedy and how those on board ended up in the water.

Facebook posts:

 



Four Tongans die in Kaipara habour tragedy

By
Kalino Latu
-

Four Tongan men were among seven people who have died yesterday Saturday 26 in a fishing tragedy in New Zealand.

Emergency teams were called to reports Charter boat the Francie was missing yesterday afternoon after attempting to re-enter the Kaipara Harbour.

Waitemata Police have confirmed this morning a total of seven victims have now been recovered.

They said one person is still missing and the search is ongoing this morning.

The bodies of two more people who are believed to have been onboard the Francie were recovered early this morning.

Police and LandSAR recovered the body of one man around 1am on the shoreline, north of Muriwai Beach.

The body of a second man was found around an hour later, on the shoreline closer to South Head/Woodhill Forest.

Eleven people are believed to have been on-board the vessel. Three survivors were taken to hospital.

Inspector Willi Fanene told media the men on the boat, apart from the skipper, were  Tongan, Cook Island and Samoan descendants.

A large team of Police are involved. The process of formally identifying the victims and advising next of kin is underway. Enquiries to establish the circumstances are still ongoing.

Tonga beat Italy in Padova 19 – 17

By
Kaniva Staff
-

(Planet Rugby) Sonatane Takulua slotted an 81st minute penalty to clinch a dramatic 19-17 win for Tonga over Italy in Padova on Saturday.

Takulua was his side’s hero as he finished with a 14-point haul, thanks to four penalties and a conversion, although the Azzurri outscored the Pacific islanders by two tries to two.

Italy dominated the early exchanges and raced into a 7-0 lead when Lorenzo Cittadini crossed for their opening try which Carlo Canna converted in the 13th minute.

Takulua added the first of his penalties in the 32nd minute which meant the hosts held a slender lead at the interval. Five minutes after the restart, he slotted another three-pointer which made it a one-point ball-game and they soon took the lead when Siale Piutau scored their five-pointer in the 51st minute.

Italy did not take that lying down and regained the lead shortly afterwards when Tommaso Allan went over for their second try which he converted himself.

Takulua put his side back in front, when he slotted his third penalty in the 71st minute, but Italy clawed their way back when Edoardo Padovani converted a place-kick three minutes before the end.

The closing stages was a tense affair and Takula held his nerve to break Italian hearts with his matchwinning kick in injury time.

The scorers:

For Italy:
Tries: Cittadini, Allan
Cons: Canna, Allan
Pen: Padovani

For Tonga:
Tries: Piutau
Con: Takulua
Pens: Takulua 4

Italy (revised): 15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Giulio Bisegni, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Luke McLean, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Giorgio Bronzini, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Marco Fuser, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Ornel Gega, 1 Sami Panico

King appoints Lord Fohe

By
Kalino Latu
-

His Majesty King Tupou VI has bestowed the hereditary and estate title Fohe.

Sione Fohe, 54, became Lord Fohe after his appointment on Friday 19.

The installation ceremony was held in Puke and was conducted by the Lord Chamberlain Viela Tupou who read out the Letter of Appointment from HM King Tupou VI.

The title had been vacant since the late Fohe, Samiuela Kavapalu died in 2009.

Samiuela had his only daughter Lupe Fohe and had no son.

The Tongan constitution stipulates the noble title can only be inherited by the legitimate sons.

Sione’s father was Samiuela’s young brother. Lord Fohe’s estate is Puke.

There are 33 traditional noble titles in Tonga.

Man falls off garbage truck releases from hospital

By
Kalino Latu
-

Hakeai Havea of Vaotuʻu did not suffer life threatening injuries after he fell off a garbage truck on November 18.

A Vaiola hospital spokesperson said Havea had minor injuries after he fell from a vehicle but he did not give the details of the fall and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Havea was hospitalised on Friday afternoon and was released the following  morning, the spokesperson said.

hakeai-h
Hakeai Havea

Kaniva understands Havea fell from a garbage truck which belonged to the Tonga Waste Authority.

Nukuʻalofa Police Chief Superintendent named as officer suspended after car accident

By
Kalino Latu
-

Police Chief Superintendent Tevita Fifita who was in control of Tonga’s largest Police station had been named as the senior officer suspended on Thursday November 24.

Local media reports said Fifita was involved in an accident when a Police car hit an entrance at Queen Salote wharf.

Tonga Daily News alleged the Officer was under the influence of alcohol when the incident happened.

Commissioner Steve Caldwell has suspended Fifita and directed a criminal investigation into all circumstances surrounding this incident, a statement said.

“I have set standards, and expect them to be met, from all ranks within the Tonga Police”, the commissioner said.

The investigation was expected to take several weeks, Caldwell said.

Tongan cartel bodyguard jailed for 20 years over drug trafficking

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Tongan bodyguard whom Mexican drug cartels had hired was last week sentenced for 20 years imprisonment for his role in transporting cocaine on flights from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

According to Texas U.S. Attorney’s Office Funaki Falahola, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle to 240 months in federal prison following his guilty plea in May 2016 to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute at least five kilograms or more of cocaine.

Falahola has been in custody since mid-July 2015 following a law enforcement operation, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Dallas Police Department and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, in which numerous defendants were arrested on drug distribution conspiracy and related charges outlined in a federal superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Dallas the previous month.

That superseding indictment charged Funaki Falahola and three others, Moniteveti Katoa, 53, Molitoni Katoa, 34, and Janelle Isaacs, 42, with the cocaine distribution conspiracy offense.  All four defendants pleaded guilty to the offense.  In September 2016, Moniteveti Katoa was sentenced to 188 months and Molitoni Katoa was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison.  Janelle Isaacs is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1, 2016.  The statutory penalty for the offense is not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison and a $10 million fine.

Funaki Falahola told undercover officers he had family members that could transport controlled substances via commercial airline. Funaki Falahola introduced Moniteveti Katoa to agents as his Uncle and family leader. Molitoni Katoa was also introduced as Falahola’s cousin and a person that could smuggle controlled substances into the DFW airport through his job at the cargo area at the DFW airport. Moniteveti Katoa’s wife, Janelle Isaacs, worked for American Airlines.

According to documents filed in the case, the four used their positions of employment at DFW, or contacted a person or persons who had a position or positions of employment at DFW, to bypass security in order to transport kilogram quantities of a substance that was represented to be cocaine, in what they did not know was an undercover law enforcement operation.  As part of the conspiracy, that ran from approximately April 18, 2013, through July 14, 2015, the substance that was represented to be cocaine was transported on commercial airlines flying from DFW to destinations in Las Vegas, Nevada; Newark, New Jersey; Phoenix, Arizona; Chicago, Illinois; Wichita Kansas; and San Francisco, California.

Falahola introduced Moniteveti Katoa to the undercover officer who was interested in smuggling cocaine from DFW Airport.  He noted that Moniteveti Katoa had worked for American Airlines for 25 years and was a leader in the Tongan community.  Falahola advised the undercover officers that they could transport the cocaine to major U.S. cities as well as to Hawaii and New Zealand.  Moniteveti Katoa advised the undercover officer that he was willing to fly to locations in advance of smuggling the cocaine to conduct security checks.  In fact, from September 2013 through May 2015, Moniteveti Katoa smuggled what he thought was cocaine on at least six flights from DFW Airport to Las Vegas, Newark, Chicago, Wichita, San Francisco, and Tempe, Arizona.  Falahola was with Moniteveti Katoa on the Las Vegas trip.

In June 2013, Falahola and other defendants provided security in a drug protection arrangement for the sale of 20 kilograms of cocaine in Dallas.  Falahola was paid $2800 for his protection services, and he paid the others out of this money.

The FBI, Dallas Police Department and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation led the investigation with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety; the DFW Department of Public Safety; the U.S. Department of State; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Transportation Security Administration; the U.S. Secret Service; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; and the Fort Worth, McKinney, Mesquite, and Plano Police Departments.

Assistant U.S. Attorney George Leal is in charge of the prosecution.

– U.S. Attorneys Northern District of Texas

RED MORE:

Tongan ringleader in US gets 15 years for smuggling cocaine on flights

Ikaletahi ready for Italy match

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s double win over Spain and the United States in the last two weeks could have provided a spur to their target to crush the Italians this Saturday.

Tonga Rugby Union Chair Feʻao Vunipola said the team was “ready” and the preparation was “excellent”.

“They are just waiting for the kick off”, he said in Tongan.

The names of the 23 squad had been released today.

The Saturday’s match would be the final game for the ‘Ikaletahi’s three 2016 European Tour test matches.

They overwhelmed Spain  28-13 on November 12 and last week they defeated US Eagles by 20-17.

Meanwhile Italy captain Sergio Parisse will miss the home rugby test after being suspended for three weeks.

Parisse was found guilty by the French club leagues of involuntarily hitting an opponent’s face with his foot on Nov. 5 while playing for his Stade Francais club against Bordeaux, it has been reported.

Italy will play against Tonga in Padua at the Stadio Euganeo.

The ‘Ikaletahi squad:

Tevita Mailau loose head Felemea (Hp) and ‘Otea (Vv)
Paula Ngauamo hooker Vaini, Kolomotu’a, Fasi & Kolofo’ou (Tt)
Siua Halanukonuka tighthead Hoi (Tt)
Steve Mafi lock ‘Ahau (Tt) & Kolovai (Tt)
Joe Tu’ineau lock Fasi-moe-afi (Tt)
Dan Faleafa blindside Kolomotu’a (Tt) & Kolovai (Tt)
Jack Ram openside Ha’ateiho (Tt)
Tevita Koloamatangi no. 8 Ha’avakatolo (Tt)
Sonatane Takulua scrum half Lapaha, Ma’ufanga (Tt) & Niuatoputapu
Kali Hala outside half Malapo (Tt)
Fetu’u Vainikolo wing Ha’alalo (Tt)
Latiume Fosita centre Haveluloto and Felemea (Hp)
Siale Piutau © centre Kolofo’ou and Folaha (Tt)
Nafi Tu’itavake wing Kolofo’ou (Tt) and Malapo (Tt)
David Halaifonua fullback Fatumu (Tt) and Tukulalo, Houma (Vv)
Elvis Taione front row Kolomotu’a and Ha’akio (Vv)
Paea Fa’anunu front row Leimatu’a (Vv)
Sila Puafisi front row Ha’ateiho (Tt) & Longomapu (Vv)
Valentino Mapapalangi   Holonga (Tt) and Ha’alalo (Tt)
Kotoni Ale   Vaimalo (Vv) and Ha’asini (Tt)
Tomasi Palu   Utui (Vv) and Tungua (Hp)
Tevita Taufui   Lofanga (Hp) and Mataika (Vv)
Cooper Vuna   Houma (Tt)

Wolfgramm says he was not source for PM’s speech, but maintains Games criticism

By
Philip Cass
-

Tongan Olympian Paea Wolfgramm has denied that he told the Prime Minister that members of the committee organising the 2019 South Pacific Games were not productive.

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohva recently said that GOC members were not productive, despite being paid a monthly allowance.

Wolfrgramm, who won silver in the Super Heavyweight boxing division at the Atlanta Games, said he had written several letters over the years expressing his concerns and suggesting ways of supporting the kingdom’s athletes to various government figures.

He said he had also discussed the issue personally with Prime Minister and that perhaps the Prime Minister had drawn his own conclusions from what he said.

“I am deeply concerned for 2019,” Wolfrgramm said.

“I apologise for any offense they may cause, but not for the truth and  sentiment they contain.

“Perhaps the PM picked-up on that sentiment, and understood the sum of it as a ‘launga.’ We may debate the rhetoric. But the reality is our troubled preparation lie around us like fallen snow. For each passing day, it is hardening and compacting.”

Wolfgramm told Kaniva News he retained his long standing and very deep concern at the problems surrounding the preparations for the 2019 Games.

The Olympian has left Tonga .

“I have been designated to no longer play a meaningful role within the 2019 Games. I have accepted that,” he said.

“In doing so I also sincerely wish you the GOC, the chairman and secretariat all the best.”

In an article written for Spasifik magazine after his departure, Wolfgramm said his hopes that Tonga would continue to enjoy international sporting success had died as the kingdom’s Olympic organisation slowly imploded.

“It seems as if Atlanta had never happened,” he wrote.

“No one seems interested to ask why.

“I think Tonga’s Olympic administrators just do not care enough for our athletes.

“Athletes are optimistic by nature. They readily substitute meagre resources for the abundance of spirit. But even that runs dry when they see tens of thousands of dollars spent on administrative travel.

“Meanwhile, they hitchhike or scrimp a dollar for a bus fare to get to training. That is why very few sports in Tonga retain their athletes. And fewer still have athletes that return to give back to their sport.”

A canoe in the sand

A canoe is safe in the sand, but it is not what canoes are made for.

With that metaphor, Olympian Paea Wolfgramm expressed what he thinks is one of the most serious problems with Tonga’s preparations for the 2019 Games – an unwillingness to try anything new.

Instead, the Tongan organising committee was trying to do things the same way, with the same mindset, and hoping for a different result.

Wolfgramm’s comments were contained in a letter he wrote to the Solomon Islands National Olympic committee after that country was awarded the 2023 SPG.

He advised the Solomon Islands committee to cherish its athletes and remember that the games were about people and participation more than making money and erecting new buildings.

In his letter, Wolfgramm said: “You may have heard there is great discord in Tonga’s lagging preparation. As the first to host outside the ‘Big Five’, we are a litmus test and are being watched with interest.

“It is regretful to say, that we are struggling in our test. The expectation placed on us by our peers is at this point not bound to be realised. In my opinion we will still see our obligation through. But the positive social impact I had hoped for with TONGA 2019, has sadly been squandered.

“Our first mistake was failing to embrace our people from the beginning.   I implored our team to set the tone with a public launching and official acknowledgement. Unfortunately I was ignored and I think some problems we have now, can be traced back to that first mis-step.

“Along with the embracing of your people, hold your athletes dear. They are your ‘army’ for 2023.  They draw strength from the land and its people. How you make your people feel towards 2023, is what the athletes will feel towards 2023 also.

“Make them feel valued and embed Team Solomon with the culture that 2023 will be their celebration for all their sacrifice. Show them, that as administrators, you will sacrifice right alongside them.”

READ MORE

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Tongan senior Police officer suspended

By
Kalino Latu
-

A senior Tongan police officer has been suspended today November 24  after causing a traffic accident in Nuku’alofa while driving a Police car.

Commissioner Steve Caldwell has confirmed this and said: “I have directed a criminal investigation into all circumstances surrounding this incident.”

The Senior Police officer was involved in a traffic crash in central Nuku’alofa, “on the early hour of Saturday 19 November 2016 at the entrance to the Queen Salote Wharf”.

“I have set standards, and expect them to be met, from all ranks within the Tonga Police”, the commissioner said.

Police said no other vehicles were involved and the car is believed to have collided with a fence.

The investigation is expected to take several weeks, Caldwell said.

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