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NZ’s tough visa reforcement in motion; morning arrest follows last month’s deportation

By
Kalino Latu
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Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify that the arrest by immigration officers did not occur at dawn, and to include Immigration New Zealand’s response.

A Tongan man was arrested for overstaying his visa, while his wife was permitted to remain with their children, according to a live social media broadcast by the mother this morning.

The incident, which occurred this morning, has sparked renewed discussions about the humanitarian considerations in NZ’s immigration enforcement practice

In an emotional Facebook livestreamed video, the mother described being awakened by a knock early this morning, before officers took her husband into custody shortly after he opened the door.

The emotional mother called this God’s will for their return to Tonga after 15 years as overstayers.

It appeared the operation was part of New Zealand Immigration’s routine compliance measures.

Through tears, the mother explained they’d followed proper channels – hiring a lawyer and obtaining an official case number. “We showed the officers the number,” she said, “but they took him anyway.”

The livestreamed video was shared over 500 times and garnered thousands of reactions, with commenters overwhelmingly expressing sympathy for the family’s plight.

“Heartbreaking to see our people treated like criminals! 15 years building a life only to be torn apart,” a commenter wrote.

“NZ should show more compassion to our Pasifika families,” another wrote in Tongan.

“How can they separate fathers from children? This system is broken. That family contributed to NZ for years – where’s the grace?”

“I sympathize but… 15 years illegal? Come on. Why never try fix visa?

“Now kids suffer because of parents’ mistakes. Hard lesson.”

“Many of us migrated the right way – working hard for papers. This makes it harder for all Tongans trying to do things properly.”

INZ Acknowledges Hardship But Offers No Path

The visa processing body has expressed understanding of the hardships this Tongan family is enduring.

“Immigration New Zealand remains committed to upholding the integrity of the immigration system and ensuring that individuals residing in New Zealand do so lawfully,” said Steve Watson, General Manager Immigration Compliance and Investigations

“Mr and Mrs Tonga have been living unlawfully in New Zealand for an extended period. Mr Tonga’s visa expired on 26 June 2008, and Mrs Tonga’s visa expired on 30 April 2012.

“Over the years, the couple have made several attempts to resolve their immigration status, including multiple unsuccessful section 61 requests and at least three ministerial intervention requests between 2020 and 2024.

“Immigration Compliance has worked closely with the family to identify lawful pathways. Despite these efforts, the family did not make arrangements to leave New Zealand. As a result, deportation notices were served during regular operating hours on 11 August 2025.

“Mr Tonga was detained under the Immigration Act and transported to the Auckland Custody Unit for the purpose of deportation. Mrs Tonga was served with a Deportation Order and released under a Residence and Reporting Requirements Agreement (RRRA), taking into account the couple’s two children. Although born in New Zealand, the children do not currently hold lawful immigration status, as children born in New Zealand after 1 January 2006 automatically hold the most favourable visa status of their parents.

“Arrangements are underway for Mr Tonga’s deportation, with a flight tentatively scheduled for later this week. Immigration Compliance will continue to engage with Mrs Tonga to support her voluntary departure alongside the children.

We understand this is a disappointing outcome for the family. However, unless there are exceptional circumstances that justify the granting of a visa, individuals who have overstayed must leave New Zealand.”

Vehikite Deportation and Campaign

This follows our recent report about a family’s campaign to return their relative to New Zealand after his deportation to Tonga last month.

The removal occurred after the Rotorua District Court granted Immigration New Zealand (INZ) a warrant of commitment for Paea Vehikite, leading to his detention and eventual deportation.

As previously reported by Kaniva News, Paea arrived in New Zealand in May 2009 but failed to secure a valid visa, allegedly after falling victim to an immigration scam. His wife holds a New Zealand resident permit.

New Zealand’s Labour government under Jacinda Ardern issued a historic formal apology in 2021 for the racist policing of Pacific communities during the 1970s Dawn Raids era. Many Tongan overstayers viewed this as a first step toward more compassionate treatment of future visa violators.

However, the current National-led government under Prime Minister Christopher Luxon appears to be reversing this approach, continuing dawn raid-style operations against overstayers

Scuffle over Tonga’s money laundering bill reignites controversy around Chairman Tu’ilakepa’s past

By
Kalino Latu
-

Nuku‘alofa, Tonga – The fight between Police Minister Piveni Piukala and the Parliament Whole House Committee Chairman Lord Tu’ilakepa during debates over Tonga’s anti-money laundering bill has reignited scrutiny of unresolved drug trafficking allegations—dropped in 2013 but never adjudicated—against Tu’ilakepa.

Minister of Justice Mo’ale Finau

Submitted to the House by the Minister of Justice, Mo’ale Finau, the amendments seek to strengthen Tonga’s Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act 2001 by granting authorities broader powers to track and confiscate illicit funds—a reform long advocated by international watchdogs.

Tensions flared as supporters of the bill, including Minister Piukala, questioned why Tu‘ilakepa appeared to stall proceedings on reforms aimed at strengthening Tonga’s financial crime laws.

Tu’ilakepa stated in the House that he wholeheartedly supported the amendment, but he believed it was rushed through too quickly.

He expressed concerns about families’ property rights and possessions, arguing that the amendments should be discussed publicly to ensure full understanding.

“‘Oku ou poupou ‘aupito au ki he lao’ ni,” Tu’ilakepa said in Tongan, referring to his full support for the amendments.

However, his suggestion to return for a further public consultation prompted an emotional reaction from the Minister of Police, who believed Tu’ilakepa was simply trying to delay legislation the government urgently needed. This disagreement led to a heated argument between them.

As Kaniva News reported last week, a leaked video of the parliamentary fight, shared on social media, showed staff and security intervening to separate Piukala and Tu’ilakepa.

Tu‘ilakepa’s Controversial Legal History

Proponents of the legislation have cited Australian authorities’ 2012 reports about Tu’ilakepa’s alleged cartel links while questioning whether his heated argument with Piukala on the amendment reflects a conflict of interest.

In 2010, Australian police accused Tu‘ilakepa of conspiring with convicted drug lord Obeil Antonio Zuluaga Gomez to funnel cocaine through Tonga to Australia and China.

Evidence included intercepted phone calls—later deemed inadmissible in Tongan courts—where Tu‘ilakepa allegedly promised to house and finance Gomez after securing his visa.

Tongan prosecutors dropped his drug-related charges in 2013, citing “case complexity” and illegal evidence collection.

Political Fallout and Next Steps

The incident has polarised Parliament, with bill proponents criticising Tu‘ilakepa’s deliberate prolonging of debates—a tactic widely seen as a protest against the government—as incongruous given his unresolved past allegations.

His supporters counter that his procedural delays reflect legitimate dissent over the bill’s provisions, unrelated to his 2012 dropped charges.

Some critics accused the Minister of Police of jumping on the bandwagon by supporting an amendment submitted by the Minister of Justice, while simultaneously trying to claim credit for it among his followers.

Piukala’s supporters have circulated 2012 Australian and NZ media reports about Tu’ilakepa’s alleged cartel links on social media, using them to discredit his faction.

The parliament finally approved the bill last week following a five-day suspension of both Piukala and Tu’ilakepa by the Speaker, effective Monday, April 4.

5.1 magnitude earthquake strikes near Tonga; residents report feeling tremors

By
Kalino Latu
-

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred 48 km northeast of Nuku’alofa at 5:36 am local time on August 11, 2025, according to the Tonga Meteorological Service.

The quake, centred at a depth of 86 km near Nomuka in Ha’apai, prompted immediate evaluation but was determined to pose no tsunami threat to the island nation.

The National Tsunami Warning Centre confirmed this assessment in its final advisory, noting the provisional magnitude could be revised as more data becomes available.

Authorities emphasised that only official warnings from the Tonga Meteorological Service should be considered definitive for tsunami alerts.

Residents across Tonga reported feeling tremors on Monday morning at around 4.40am (Tonga time), on social media.

“Earthquake Tonga,” a commenter wrote.

“Earthquake on the move,” another wrote.

Last month, two earthquakes were reportedly felt in the kingdom.

An 8.8-magnitude earthquake near Russia’s coast triggered tsunami waves that reached Tonga’s remote Niua islands.

No damage or injuries from the Russian quake’s waves have been confirmed in Tonga.

The following day, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Tonga at approximately 2.34pm local time.

According to seismic data, that quake occurred at a depth of 14 kilometres, with its epicentre located 80 kilometres east of Nukuʻalofa, the capital of Tonga.

U.S. court’s kava ruling threatens Pacific hopes to grow global market

By
Kalino Latu
-

When a U.S. federal judge ruled last week that kava—known as kava Tonga in Tonga—is a “food additive” rather than a cultural staple, it didn’t just ban the drink in New York City cafes.

Tevi said if they can successfully argue the word “kava” is etymologically linked to the Tongan language then there is an opportunity to protect it.

It also dealt a blow to Pacific nations like Tonga, Fiji, and Vanuatu, which have spent years lobbying Australia, Europe, and the U.S. to recognise kava as a safe, traditional product worthy of trade expansion.

The ruling, which upheld New York City’s ban on kava drinks, cited FDA regulations that classify kava mixed with water as a “food additive” subject to strict oversight.

In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni acknowledged that kava “changes the chemical composition of water from H₂O to a liquid that includes kavalactones, chemicals that have hepatotoxic properties.”

“No one can seriously dispute, then, that kava ‘affect[s] the characteristics’ of water, rendering kava a ‘food additive’ under the FDCA when steeped in water,” the judge added.

But for Pacific leaders and exporters, the decision sets a dangerous precedent that could stifle their ambitions to grow the global kava trade—particularly in Australia, where Tonga and Fiji have fought for years to ease strict import limits.

For decades, kava has been caught in a regulatory tug-of-war.

While Pacific communities have consumed it ceremonially for centuries, Western nations often treat it with suspicion, citing (often disputed) studies linking heavy consumption to liver toxicity.

Australia, for instance, only recently relaxed its 20-year ban on commercial kava imports, allowing limited personal use for Pacific diaspora communities in 2021.

Tonga and Fiji saw this as a first step toward broader market access. But the U.S. court’s ruling risks reinforcing the very stigma they’ve battled.

The Double Standard

Pacific exporters argue that kava is unfairly targeted compared to other botanicals. Coffee, tea, and even alcohol—all psychoactive in varying degrees—face no similar restrictions.

Yet kava, which is non-addictive and integral to Pacific social and spiritual life, remains mired in legal grey zones.

Australia’s recent kava reforms were hard-won. After years of pressure from Pacific leaders, including Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, Australia agreed to raise import limits for personal use—a move seen as a precursor to eventual commercial trade.

But the U.S. ruling could embolden sceptics in Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which still classifies kava as a “controlled substance” outside personal allowances.

Protecting Kava’s Cultural Legacy

Tongan kava growers have revealed plans to trademark the term “kava” as a protective measure. Tonga’s National Kava Committee chairman, Fe’ilokitau Tevi, recently confirmed to RNZ that this effort stems from kava being a Tongan term. The drink has different names across the Pacific – yaqona in Fiji and malok in Vanuatu.

Tonga’s initiative also aims to safeguard the traditional beverage from commercial exploitation.

This protection push comes as Australian community leaders voice concerns about potential import restrictions.

Ratu Maseinawa, a Fijian community leader in Brisbane, warns that resumed kava smuggling to banned Northern Territory Aboriginal communities could trigger another blanket prohibition, undoing years of advocacy work.

Online war erupts as Tongan worker accuses Aussie contractor of unpaid wages, verbal abuse

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Tongan woman, previously accused online of allegedly abusing Tongan seasonal workers in Perth, Australia, has reappeared to counter new criticism.

Vaiola Tupou Fainu (L) and Tonga Maile. Photos (Screenshots)

Accusations of unpaid wages, mistreatment, and verbal abuse of workers—along with vehement denials from the accused—have dominated these online clashes.

Contractor Tupou Vaiola Fainu was responding to Maile Tonga’s allegations in a streamed video seen by Kaniva News.

Tonga claimed he and fellow workers endured profanity-laden tirades from Fainu and alleged contractor Wilfred Vuna, Fainu’s partner, delayed payments for weeks and failed to provide agreed wages on time.

The conflict erupted when Fainu became enraged after the workers complained to their palangi grape farm employer—who had contracted Fainu and Vuna—about their unpaid wages.

The employer reportedly said he had already transferred their pay to Vuna and Fainu.

Tonga said they arrived in Australia after responding to Vuna’s Facebook recruitment ad. Upon arrival last month, Vuna picked them up and introduced them to Fainu. They agreed to stay at Fainu’s house rent-free, though it’s unclear if this was formalised in writing.

Payment Disputes
Tonga claimed that when he asked Vuna about their wages, he was told to borrow from Fainu and repay her later.

“We just wanted our pay,” Tonga said in an emotional livestream, adding they had initially agreed with Vuna for independent housing but relented to Fainu’s request.

Contractors’ Rebuttals
Fainu denied all allegations, accusing Tonga of lying. Vuna also dismissed the claims as false on Facebook before deleting his post.

In her livestream, a visibly angry Fainu called Tonga a “dog” and “dumb,” defending her provision of free housing, transport, and food to help workers save earnings.

She criticised Tonga for what she described as failing to appreciate her generosity, meant to help them save their wages to take back to Tonga.

She admitted Vuna had agreed to pay the workers per block but claimed she was unaware of this arrangement, stating the normal practice was to make payments only after completion of their assigned farm work.

She also confirmed the farm owner contacted her about the wage complaints, but did not disclose her response.

Visa Compliance Questions

Fainu alleged Tonga’s Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) visa, while valid, prohibited work for unauthorised contractors like herself.

Dr Sione Vaka, Tonga’s SWP liaison officer in Australia, told Kaniva News the complaint wasn’t raised with him, as it was a private contract between Tonga, Fainu, and Vuna.

He clarified SWP visa holders must work only for their approved sponsor.

Historical Context

The clash follows a January 2023 livestream where Leilani Faingaa, a former SWP worker, accused Fainu of mistreatment, using the Tongan term anga’imanu (“animal-like”) to describe her behaviour towards workers.

Fainu later countered Fainga’a in a streamed video seen by Kaniva News, asserting she owned two farms and was not a contractor.

She said her online critics were harassing her while she was trying to make a living.

These disputes align with an ABC recent report on ongoing SWP issues, including worker “mistreatment, family breakdowns.”

Australia’s DFAT told the ABC it is “listening” and working to improve the scheme.

Tonga raises legal marriage age to 18, explicitly bans same-sex unions

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s Parliament has passed a bill raising the legal marriage age from 15 to 18, following years of concern over underage unions in the Pacific kingdom.

The reform comes alongside a separate amendment further cementing the country’s ban on same-sex marriage, making the prohibition more explicit in law.

The decision follows years of advocacy, including stark warnings raised in the Parliament in 2016 revealing that 183 child marriages had been recorded in Tonga over a three-year period—including 17 involving 15-year-olds.

At the time, a lawmaker criticised the kingdom’s Parent Consent Act of 1926 as “embarrassing” and questioned whether it truly served its purpose of protecting children.

It is understood, some rape victims, some just 14 years old, are forced to marry their rapists under the Parent Concent Act to prevent family shame and village gossip.

Shocking Child Marriage Data

As reported by Kaniva News at the time, Deputy Speaker Lord Tuʻiʻāfitu first sounded the alarm after attending a 2016 regional conference in Kathmandu, Nepal, where 13 Asia-Pacific nations discussed strategies to end child and forced marriages.

In a report to Parliament, he disclosed that he had confronted Tonga’s record at the summit, citing cases of 15-year-olds wed with parental approval under the nearly century-old law.

He said that in the past three years, 183 child marriages had been recorded in Tonga.

From 2013 to 2015, 17 children aged 15 had married, he said.

Lord Tu’i’āfitu declined to specify the exact years of all child marriages during his parliamentary address, stating he wanted to protect the “dignity” of these young individuals.

The new legislation abolishes the controversial parental consent loophole, aligning Tonga with global human rights standards.

Same sex marriage

However, the same parliamentary session saw lawmakers strengthen the nation’s ban on same-sex marriage, adding clearer language to existing statutes.

The lawmakers were concerned that the current law did not explicitly ban same-sex marriage, but the Minister of Justice—who tabled the legislation—responded in Parliament that Tonga’s traditional and cultural laws inherently forbid such unions.

Tonga’s laws ban sex between same-sex couples under the “sodomy” rule in the Criminal Offences Act.

However, it doesn’t specify gender—such as lesbian relationships—even though the law could apply to them too.

In 2015, Lopeti Senituli, then Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, stated that the government intended to amend Tonga’s Deaths, Births, and Marriages Registration Act to explicitly ban same-sex marriage.

The move came in response to fears among some community and church leaders that Tonga’s planned ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) at the time might pressure the country to legalise same-sex unions.

NZ Grants Tongan LGBT Asylum

As Kaniva News reported early this year, a Tongan woman won the right to live in New Zealand after that country’s Refugee Tribunal ruled she faced a well-founded fear of persecution in Tonga due to her sexual orientation as a lesbian.

In its ruling, the Tribunal found that the appellant would be at risk of serious harm if she returned to Tonga because of her identity as a lesbian.

Last year, the king appointed the chief justice, but reports emerged of a petition to remove the British judge from office due to his identity as a gay man.

AI fake debate escalated as Minister Piukala doubts Parl’t brawl video’s authenticity

By
Kalino Latu
-

The controversy surrounding the leaked video of a fight in Tonga Parliament has intensified, with Police Minister Piveni Piukala questioning its authenticity and his supporters alleging AI was used to fabricate portions.

Police Minister Piveni Piukala displays his uninjured face from multiple angles during a media appearance, challenging claims he was hurt in the alleged Parliament brawl.

The footage, which circulated widely on social media this week, showed Piukala and MP Lord Tu’ilakepa in a fight, culminating in a punch that allegedly sent the minister falling backwards.

However, in his weekly appearance on VPON Media last night, Piukala expressed astonishment at the video, strongly implying that key moments—including his fall—were digitally manipulated.

“If that punch was real, I would have been knocked unconscious or at least injured,” Piukala said in Tongan, turning his face toward the camera to show no visible marks.

He strongly denied sustaining any injuries, suggesting the visible punch failed to connect.

The Minister told viewers that given the force from his direct contact with Tu’ilakepa, a punch to his face should have caused serious injuries – yet none were visible.

He challenged the authenticity of the clip, pointing out that he immediately stood up after the supposed knockdown—behaviour he argued was inconsistent with the force of the alleged blow.

The host missed the opportunity to directly ask whether the punch connected elsewhere. Footage seemingly showed Tu’ilakepa striking at Piukala’s face before his fall, yet the Minister displayed no visible injuries – leaving many to wonder why the Minister showed no injuries.

His latest remarks follow a Tuesday livestream, just one day after the incident, where he similarly displayed his unmarked face to disprove injury claims.

Shortly after the altercation, an audio clip—accompanied by a featured image of Parliament’s interior—was shared on social media. The clip allegedly claimed Piukala was knocked to the floor and injured. However, Kaniva News reviewed the audio and compared it to FM87.5’s live broadcast of the parliamentary session, and can conclude it was a voice-over reenactment rather than an authentic recording.

We had previously located the audio but have been unable to relocate it, as the file appears to have been removed from social media.

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems designed to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as recognising speech, analysing images, making decisions, or generating content.

Advanced AI can create realistic but fake videos, photos, or audio—known as deepfakes—by manipulating real footage or generating entirely synthetic media.

While AI has many beneficial uses, its ability to alter or fabricate realistic content has raised concerns about misinformation, especially in politics and news. The controversy over the leaked Parliament brawl video highlights growing challenges in distinguishing real recordings from AI-manipulated ones.

Supporters of the minister have since amplified allegations of AI tampering, claiming the video was edited to misrepresent events.

Kaniva News has reviewed one of the videos and identified apparent edits, evidenced by the repeated sequential display of the punch and Piukala’s fall. Meanwhile, another footage posted by 1News showed that the punch—apparently—did not land directly on Piukala’s face, but since his hands made contact with Tu’ilakepa’s punching arm, the force still caused him to fall backwards.

Despite the growing debate, Parliament has yet to release an official statement on the leaked footage. Meanwhile, Speaker Lord Fakafanua has suspended both Piukala and Tu’ilakepa for five days, barring them from proceedings and withholding their salaries.

Public Reaction Split

The leaked video has sparked fierce debate between Piukala’s and Tu’ilakepa’s supporters, with some dismissing the AI manipulation claims as political damage control, while others insist the footage requires forensic analysis.

Lord Tu’ilakepa could not be reached for comment.

However, as we reported on Wednesday, a photo shared on Facebook by MP Johnny Taione—apparently taken the evening after the altercation—shows the Chairman with no visible marks or signs of injury.

Notorious immigration scammer 71yo Kolini Tatafu jailed for $63k fraud in New Zealand

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Kolini Tatafu, the 71-year-old architect of a notorious 2012 immigration scam that preyed on dozens of vulnerable Tongan migrants, has been arrested once more – this time facing charges of causing loss by deception.

Manukau District Court. Photo/Kalino Lātū

Despite a recent serious health scare, the serial fraudster was sentenced last month after her High Court appeal failed, continuing a pattern of exploitation that has now left 26 new victims – predominantly low-income congregants from a Māngere church – approximately $63,000 poorer, the NZ Herald reported.

Tatafu was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison.

Court documents reveal Tatafu’s brazen tactics, including falsely claiming romantic involvement with a High Court judge to convince victims she could circumvent normal immigration channels.

“As a result of these representations, various people who were desperate to obtain citizenship and/or permanent residence paid sums of money which, of course, were not applied to any purpose associated with the promises she had made,” according to the Herald.

At her January sentencing in Manukau District Court, Judge Luke Radich delivered a damning assessment: “Plainly false,” he declared of Tatafu’s claims, emphasising her calculated exploitation of families desperate for residency.

“One of the victim impact statements states that the defendant told them that if they believed in Christ then they had to trust her,” Judge Radich noted.

“The victims were all vulnerable individuals unfamiliar with processes for acquiring visas, setting up small businesses, buying houses and such. They were sometimes in desperate situations which made them easy targets for Ms Tatafu.”

With name suppression now lifted, authorities hope public awareness will prevent further victimisation.

The court heard how Tatafu exploited vulnerable Tongan migrants, many from a Māngere church community, who paid thousands in desperation.

“The victims in this case were almost universally vulnerable and clearly of very limited means,” Judge Radich noted at the January hearing, acknowledging that it would “be a body blow to a number of the victims” that he wouldn’t be ordering restitution because the defendant claimed to be broke.

“One of the most striking factors about this case is Ms Tatafu’s abject lack of remorse. She has not, as far as I have seen, even said sorry.”

Lord Vaea slams Parliament’s ‘security’ failure as rival supporters clash online over viral brawl video

By
Kalino Latu
-

Political tensions that erupted in Tonga’s Parliament earlier this week escalated further Thursday night after unverified viral footage surfaced, appearing to show a fight between Whole House Committee Chair Lord Tu’ilakepa and Police Minister Piveni Piukala.

Lord Vaea. Photo/Kalino Lātū/Kaniva Tonga News

The explosive footage has triggered a social media firestorm, with rival political factions engaged in heated online battles defending their respective leaders.

Piukala’s supporters have alleged the video is fabricated, claiming it was generated using artificial intelligence (AI).

No official statement has been released by Parliament concerning the leaked video footage.

It showed what appeared to be Piukala and Tu’ilakepa in a heated argument, pointing fingers at each other, before Piukala walked toward the Chairman – who stood several metres away at his seat.

Seconds later, the footage appears to show Lord Tu’ilakepa throwing a punch before Piukala is seen falling backwards to the floor and bracing himself with his hands.

Speaker Lord Fakafanua suspended the two members for five days. They are excluded from parliamentary proceedings and will not receive their salaries during this period.

Security Fears Rock Parliament

The widely shared footage follows Noble MP Lord Vaea’s condemnation of parliamentary security on Monday, when—moments after the apparent brawl—he delivered a scathing address declaring the legislature “unsafe” and lambasting authorities’ delayed intervention.

“Mr Speaker, I was so concerned this morning after what had happened in your House”, Lord Vaea said in Tongan.

He said a scuffle broke out in the House, and while efforts were underway to defuse it, no security measures were in place to prevent it from happening.

The king’s noble representative stated that, to his understanding, when an incident like this occurs, the Speaker must descend from his seat and suspend the session immediately until order is restored.

The footage shows an apparent security officer emerging to walk with Piukala during his approach, but only intervening after the punch was thrown and before Piukala fell. Several individuals, including parliamentary staff members, intervened to quell the commotion.

Lord Vaea further reminded the Speaker that the Crown Prince and female MPs were in the House when the quarrel occurred, which deeply concerned him, as there’s no guarantee weapons couldn’t be brought into the House in such situations.

He told the Speaker that the dignity and security of the House had been compromised.

He reiterated that this matter has raised serious concerns, and he hopes that such events will not be repeated in the House.

Lord Vaea suggested that the Speaker should have left the chair instantly to formally close the House after in such an incident.

He observed that the Speaker stayed seated even after the scuffle ended, only descending later when the disruption was over – by which point the fight had already moved outside.

“Based on what I have explained,” Lord Vaea told the Speaker, “I am now formally filing a complaint with you.”

In response to Lord Vaea, the Speaker acknowledged receipt of the complaint and confirmed its submission to Parliament’s Privileges Committee for official investigation.

Tongan man charged over wounding guard at Australian detention centre

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A 29-year-old Tongan man has been charged with reckless wounding following an alleged assault on a security officer at Villawood Immigration Detention Centre yesterday.

The man, who was awaiting deportation for visa breaches, allegedly attacked the officer with an improvised weapon on 6 August 2025.

NSW Police arrested the suspect and transferred him to Bankstown Police Station, where he was later charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) under Section 35(4) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), which carries a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment.

The accused was denied police bail and is set to reappear before Bankstown Local Court tomorrow (8 August 2025). Meanwhile, the injured security officer was treated on-site before being taken to Auburn Hospital for minor injuries.

He has since been discharged.

It follows our report in May, after a high-risk manhunt was underway in Sydney’s west after a 28-year-old Tongan national allegedly stabbed two Australian Border Force officers during a botched deportation attempt.

The detainee, who had been held at Villawood Immigration Detention Centre for overstaying his visa, violently attacked the officers while being transported to Sydney Airport for removal.

Tongan national Paea Teu was being taken from the detention centre to Sydney airport when police allege he attacked two men who were transporting him. He then went on the run for two days.

A 24-year-old woman has also been arrested and charged with knowingly harbouring an escaped inmate.

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