A gunshot fired in a bush in ‘Eua led Police to seize 458 cannabis plants and arrested two men this week.
Police said they raided the area after a member of the public heard the shot and launched a complaint.
One of the men who did not hold a firearms licence had been charged with possession of a .22 rifle.
The other man had been charged with possession of illicit drugs.
Police said the illegal cannabis plants had a total estimated street value of TP$200,000.
Chief Superintendent Tevita Fifita said eleven Police officers from the Nuku’alofa Tactical Response Unit and the Police Drug Squad were sent to ‘Eua on Tuesday afternoon to investigate and worked on the case.
“Tonga Police are committed to disrupting the supply of drugs and preventing the harm this illegal activity supports. It only takes one call to Police to stop crime and the availability of drugs in your community,” CS Fifita.
Police investigations continue and more information were expected to be released once they become available, it said.
Before the blue carpet opened, attendees were treated to a short performance by the film’s stars Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho, along with songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda and an array of Polynesian dancers.
Johnson who is playing Maui in the movie has a Samoan heritage and appeared in photos with the royals.
Cravalho was born in Oahu, Hawaii and she was an American singer.
The movie opens in theatres across the United States on 23 November.
The NZ premiere will be held at Auckland’s Hoyts Cinemas, at Sylvia Park, on December 13 – about two weeks before the movie is due to be released in cinemas around the country on Boxing Day.
Disney’s Moana was accused of cultural appropriation and has been attacked on social media for selling zip-up kid-sized Maui costumes featuring the “demigod’s signature tattoos, rope necklace and island-style skirt.
In September Disney said it would no longer sell a boy’s costume for a Polynesian character that some Pacific Islanders have compared to blackface, it said of the movie.
A woman was allegedly attacked with a machete in Haʻalalo yesterday.
She was being treated at Vaiola hospital.
Kaniva has attempted to reach those involved and Ministry of Health authority for comment and have not heard back.
Two weeks ago in Nukuʻalofa, bar bouncers and a non-uniform Police officer had fought off a machete-wielding man outside a bar shortly after a fight broke out in the bar Saturday 5.
Meanwhile four men accused in relation to the death of ʻAiveni Teisina, 36, were in court after a machete attack in a parking lot in Vaini on October 23.
Leaders of China’s Guangzhou Pelagic Fishery company have been warned Pacific tuna stocks have been depleted by illegal fishing.
Deputy Chair of the Pacific Media Association and editor of Taimi ‘o Tonga Kalafi Moala said the Pacific’s Exclusive Economic Zone had been violated by foreign fishing fleets.
Moala told the Chinese during a recent meeting with Pacific journalists in Guangzhou that Pacific countries were trying to develop legislation to stop illegal fishing activities and help make tuna fishing sustainable.
“We are ocean people and all the product we have are ocean goods,” Moala said.
“If it is done wrongly and not sustainably we suffer because we live in that area.”
According to a report by the Pew Charitable Trusts in May this year, the total catch in the Pacific Ocean was worth US$22 billion in 2014.
The report said tuna was a vital source of revenue to fishing communities, particularly in the Pacific Islands.
The report said tuna stocks were severely depleted.
Kalafi Moala. Photo/Kalino Lātū
Moala said the information the Chinese provided during the meeting was promising and favourable to the Pacific countries in their attempts to stop illegal fishing.
Guangzhou Pelagic Fishery
The Guangzhou Pelagic Fishery Company has an annual turnover of RMB10 billion and sells 210,000 tonnes of fish each year. It is a state-owned enterprise under the Guangzhou Aquatic Group Co. Ltd.
Founded in July 1989 it is the only major enterprise in Guanzhou to attain the qualification of the Ocean and Pelagic Fishery production approved by the National Ministry of Aquaculture.
It engages in a wide range of business including ocean fishing, aquatic products breeding, processing, acquisition and sale.
Company spokesman Tan Yi Guan said they abided strictly by the local laws and regulation of the local areas and waters.
The company operates 10 long line fishing boats optimised for tuna in Fiji and Kiribati.
They said they monitored their fleet 24 hour a day and required daily reports.
The Chinese said they had fished in Fijian waters for more than 10 years.
“We have a very good relationship with our partner in Fiji,” Tan said.
He said captains of their fishing vessels were expected to follow the company’s strict rules and follow the law.
The company claimed they represented “the spirit of co-operation” in China.
The Company had worked on ocean fishing projects in West Africa, Colombia, Indonesia, the Maldives, Fiji and Kiribati.
The Chinese told the meeting they believed in keeping ocean fishing sustainable. They planned to extend their operation in Fiji to local processing companies and fishing factories.
Apart from the Chinese domestic market, most of the company’s tuna catch is sold in the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the European Union.
About Guangzhou
Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong and is known as the South Gate of China. It is located in the north Pearl River Delta adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao. It is the communication and transportation hub of South China and has a population of 16 million.
In 2015 the city’s GDP reached US$291.3 billion. It is twinned with 59 cities in 43 countries and hosts consulates from 53 countries.
Dongguan, the sister city of Ha’apai in the Kingdom of Tonga, is one of the cities of Guangdong province.
The main points
Leaders of China’s Guangzhou Pelagic Fishery company have been warned Pacific tuna stocks have been depleted by illegal fishing..
Deputy Chair of the Pacific Media Association and editor of Taimi ‘o Tonga Kalafi Moala said the Pacific’s Exclusive Economic Zone had been violated by foreign fishing fleets.
Moala told the Chinese during a recent meeting with Pacific journalists in Guangzhou that Pacific countries were trying to develop legislation to stop illegal fishing activities and help make tuna fishing sustainable.
According to a report by the Pew Charitable Trusts in May this year, the total catch in the Pacific Ocean was worth US$22 billion in 2014.
A 5.6 magnitude earthquake 152 km from Pangai, Ha’apai and Tongatapu was felt in capital city Nuku’alofa this afternoon.
It had a depth of 10km and struck at 12.30pm (Tongan time), earthquaketrack said.
There was no tsunami alert released but Facebook users said they felt it.
“Little earthquake”, Mele ‘Amanaki posted on Facebook. Some commenters on her post said they also felt the shocks.
The quake comes while New Zealand where more than 60,000 Tongan residents stay was still in severe shock after a 7.8 earthquake rocked the country claiming two lives and left the city of Kaikoura and its surrounding suburbs in great devastation.
Tongan patient Heneli Tupou has been transferred to Christchurch hospital this afternoon as authority declared the city a safe haven after the deadly 7.5 earthquake hit its surrounding districts on Monday morning.
Tupou, of Tatakamotonga, was in New Zealand on the Regional Seasonal Employment programme.
He was admitted to Nelson hospital last weekend in a serious health condition.
Kaniva News understands Tupou was expected to arrive at Christchurch Hospital, 2 Riccarton Avenue, Christchurch Central at 5pm this evening.
Specialists at the hospital were expected to make a final decision over an operation required for Tupou.
The epicentre of the historical earthquake was northeast of Christchurch, near Kaikoura district which has been cut off by landslides.
There are believed to be up to 1,000 tourists stranded in the town.
Military helicopters and a navy ship are being sent to evacuate them and others from Kaikoura.
Heneli Tupou has been transfered to Christchurch Hospital
Newsbub has reported that following the earthquake the main north line between Picton and Christchurch has “significant damage”, particularly around Kaikoura, which aerial footage shot earlier today shows is covered in slips.
Christchurch Hospital’s health board has announced that “All Canterbury District Health Board facilities are fully operational and services are operating as normal”.
“The infrastructure in Christchurch has come through this week’s earthquakes well”, it said.
“There are no issues with drinking water in Christchurch or Banks Peninsula and there is no need to boil water.
“All the city’s pump stations have remained operational, and no water pressure was lost at any stage overnight”.
Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism chief executive Vic Allen said “they are encouraging people to keep their plans to come to Christchurch”.
If you are finding it hard to cope and need support you can ring the Canterbury Support Line on 0800 777 846 24/7.
GeoNet says the initial magnitude 7.5 quake may actually have been two quakes, based on aftershocks being felt in two separate locations.
Two deaths have been confirmed – one in Kaikoura and one in Mt Lyford, east of Hanmer Springs.
The tsunami warning has now been downgraded to a marine and beach threat, which remains in place from Napier to north of Dunedin and Chatham Island – find your local evacuation zone hereand your local Civil Defence group here.
A large 6.3 aftershock hit north of Cheviot this afternoon, and more measuring almost 6 rocked Seddon after 8pm.
Some train services in both the North and South Islands have resumed, but there still significant disruptions – particularly around Kaikoura and Wellington.
The Education Ministry is advising schools from north Canterbury to Wellington not to open until the buildings can be checked.
All airports are open.
State Highway 1 from Seddon to Cheviot is currently closed, but it has reopened between Picton and Blenheim/Seddon.
The full extent of the damage to transport systems is still unfolding with extensive damage caused to parts of State Highway 1 in the South Island.
The first earthquake struck near Hanmer Springs just after midnight.
All shops are closed in Kaikoura and there is no water supply or sewerage. Residents are advised to conserve water.
Pacific Parliamentarians visiting New Zealand for a political leaders’ forum are still meeting in Wellington despite Monday’s earthquake.
About 40 politicians are in New Zealand to attend the Pacific Parliamentarians’ Forum.
Tongan delegates include Penisimani Fifita, Akosita Lavulavu and Veivosa Taka.
In Wellington the group will visit Parliament and take part in debates on Pacific issues.
Parliament sat at 2pm yesterday and the sitting continued even after a 5.6 magnitude aftershock rattled the chamber.
The leadership group began their visit to New Zealand with two days in Auckland hosted by the Pacific Cooperation Foundation.
They met with Auckland-based Pacific Members of Parliament, including Jenny Salesa (Manukau East), Su’a William Sio (Mangere), Carmel Sepuloni (Kelston) and Alfred Ngaro (Te Atatu).
They also met with Pacific community groups including Healthy Families, Pacific Homecare, Vaka Tautua, Pasifika Futures, Pacific Trade and Invest, VECTOR and Watercare.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has described the Forum as an opportunity for NZ leaders to hear about issues and concerns in the region, and look at ways NZ might be able to assist its Pacific neighbours.
During their initial visit in 2013, the Pacific leaders discussed topics including regional leadership, democracy, climate change, health issues, gender equality, media and the importance of Parliaments to communities, business development and jobs.
They agreed to encourage more women to enter Parliament, to rely more heavily on renewable energy, to foster free media to promote democracy, improve technology, prioritise healthcare and disease prevention and facilitate sustainable trade and investment.
The main points
Pacific Parliamentarians visiting New Zealand for a political leaders’ forum are still meeting in Wellington despite Monday’s earthquake.
About 40 politicians are in New Zealand to attend the Pacific Parliamentarians’ Forum.
Tongan delegates include Penisimani Fefita, Akosita Lavulavu and Veivosa Taka.
In Wellington the group will visit Parliament and take part in debates on Pacific issues.
Parliament sat at 2pm yesterday and the sitting continued even after a 5.6 magnitude aftershock rattled the chamber.
Nelson, where Tongan fruit picker Heneli Tupou is hospitalised in a serious condition, was hit by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake this afternoon.
Tupou, of Tatakamotonga, was in New Zealand on the Regional Seasonal Employment programme.
Kaniva News understands that specialists were expected to confirm their diagnosis today (November 14).
As we reported yesterday, his wife ‘Asinate has been sending him messages of encouragement via Facebook.
The NelsonMail quoted Nelson Marlborough Health acting chief executive Peter Bramley as saying hospital facilities across Nelson and Blenheim were still open.
Bramley said staff had worked through the night to ensure all patients were safe.
Radio New Zealand quoted the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board saying that inspections had shown that hospitals in Nelson and Wairau were safe and services running normally,
The 6.2 earthquake struck 30km north of Cheviot at a depth of 50km, at 1.34pm.
The Mail quoted one residents as saying the quake “seemed to go on forever.”
The Nelson City Council lists the chimney stack, boiler house and coal bunker at Nelson Hospital as earthquake prone.
The main points
Nelson, where Tongan fruit picker Heneli Tupou is hospitalised in a serious condition, was hit by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake this afternoon.
Kaniva News understands that specialists were expected to confirm their diagnosis today (November 14).
As we reported yesterday, his wife ‘Asinate has been sending him messages of encouragement via Facebook.
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board says hospitals in Nelson and Wairau are safe and operating normally.
For more information
‘Severe’ 6.2 magnitude aftershock hits Nelson as region counts cost of quake
The cold war between Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva and the government-funded Tonga Broadcasting Commission appears to be still in force.
The Prime Minister clashed with Radio and Television Tonga news manager Viola Ulakai at a press conference on Friday, accusing the national broadcaster of having a malicious attitude towards his government.
As Kaniva Pacific reported in April, Hon. Pohiva recommended suspending Ulakai after she had falsely claimed that a request for a press conference was made on behalf of the Tongan Media Council.
The planned suspension of Ulakai polarised Pacific news outlets media in the Pacific, including New Zealand and Australia.
Some criticised Hon. Pohiva for failing to live up to the freedom of speech he had promoted for many years in Tonga.
Ulakai escaped the planned suspension and tensions appeared to have eased, after the Prime Minister later appeared on some of Radio and Television Tonga’s programmes.
However during a press conference with the media in Nukuʻalofa on Friday, Hon. Pohiva blasted the broadcaster for not doing its job fairly.
He said its staffers’ attitudes towards him and his government when reporting were not the same as they had to the previous governments.
Ulakai, who was in the audience, asked the Prime Minister why his government ministers and ministries did not use Radio and Television Tonga, but instead used the Commission’s rival broadcaster, a privately-owned radio.
She said she had invited government ministers to arrange interviews and reports on topics they wanted to discuss, but received no response.
Hon. Pohiva said he felt there was “malice” at the national station towards him and his government.
He said the national broadcaster had once aired a call from a man who threatened to shoot him.
Ulakai reminded the Prime Minister he had promoted freedom of speech in the past and denied there was any anti-government agenda at the Tonga Broadcasting Commission.
Crimes and health
Hon. Pohiva told the press conference he was concerned at the increasing level of violence and criminal activities in Tonga despite the many programmes that had been implemented to help criminals change their ways.
With regards to levels of obesity and other non-communicable diseases in Tonga, the prime Minister said his government had policies to educate the people in how to change their eating habits and leisure activities.
Hon. Pohiva said the problem was that his government had been bound by commitments left behind by the former government such as the South Pacific Games in 2019.
Such activities took up much of the government’s time, leaving less time to finding solutions to urgent issues such as health and crime.
The main points
The cold war between Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva and the government-funded Tonga Broadcasting Commission appears to be still in force.
The Prime Minister clashed with Radio and Television Tonga news manager Viola Ulakai at a press conference on Friday, accusing the national broadcaster of having a malicious attitude towards his government.
He said the national broadcaster had once aired a call from a man who threatened to shoot him.
Ulakai reminded the Prime Minister he had promoted freedom of speech in the past and denied there was any anti-government agenda at the Tonga Broadcasting Commission.
