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Dr Ngongo Kioa appointed as new Reserve Bank Governor

By
Kalino Latu
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A former Government of Tonga diplomat and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom has been appointed as the governor for the National Reserve Bank of Tonga.

In a statement, the Chairman and the Board of Directors of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga, Steve Edwards announced the appointment of Dr. Sione Ngongo Kioa as the new Governor of the National Reserve Bank.  It says the appointment will be for a term of 5 years effective from 21 August 2013.

As the 4th Governor of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga, Dr Kioa succeeds Mrs Siosi Cocker Mafi, who completed her 10- year term as Governor on the 5th July 2013. The principal objectives of the Reserve Bank of Tonga are to maintain internal and external monetary stability and promote a sound and efficient financial system.

Dr Kioa brings with him a wealth of more than 31 years of experience. Prior to joining the National

Reserve Bank of Tonga as Governor, Dr Kioa has served as a Board Director for the National Reserve Bank of Tonga and Ports Authority of Tonga. He is the owner and the Principal Consultant for Kioa

Consults, Dr Kioa has more than 10 years of consultancy experience, mostly with the Australian Government (AusAID).

During his 7 years as the Tonga’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2006 to 2012, Dr Kioa was the Chairman for the Board of Governors of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Tonga’s Representative to the World Trade Organisation and the Ambassador to the European Union. Dr Kioa’s international experience also includes being an Assistant to the Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund from 1999 to 2001. Within the Government Civil Service, Dr Kioa held senior positions including more than three years as Deputy Secretary for Finance, Statistician at the Statistics Department, Project Economist and Deputy Director for the Central Planning Department. In the private Sector, Dr Kioa was once the President for the Tonga Chamber of Commerce whilst being the CEO for the Leiola Group Ltd from 2002 to 2005.

Dr Kioa has a Doctor of Philosophy in Macroeconomics, a Master of Economics and a Graduate Diploma from the Australian National University in Australia. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Economics from the University of the South Pacific.

New Zealand policeman Kali Fungavaka's headstone unveiled

By
Kalino Latu
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Family and friends gathered today at the Mangere Cemetery  to unveil Kali Fungavaka’s headstone. He died in Tonga on August 23, 2012.

Six accused are on trial following Fungavaka’s death. They were charged for allegedly killing Fungavaka while he was in police custody.

Twelve months have passed since the fatal incident that ended their beloved one,  the family are still struggling to come to terms with his death.

“We love you Kali,” a family member said in a tearful speech he delivered during the unveiling service.

Today they have marked his grave with a black granite headstone that features his image and the words “In loving memory of Kali Fungavaka”.

Just below his image is an inscription: “Forever loved husband and soulmate of Audra, Son of Rosemary and Tavake, Beloved father of Shiloah, Jalen, Bailee, Mason and Dallin, Step father of Charvez and brother of David, Miriam and Bishop.  Sadly missed by all your friends & Family”.

Mangere Police force were represented in the ceremony by Fungavaka’s colleagues and a speech made by Mangere Constable Lance Mulu tells about how he remembered Fungavaka as a friend and co-worker.

‘ The first thing I think about is his family and I think about his kids as we always talk about kids so much as Kali was proud of his children. He loves each and everyone of them,” Mulu said.

“Just one thing that I always remember about Kali. He is one of the funniest guy I have ever been around. He has such an awesome sense of humour. Because we were about the same age we were able to relate to the same old songs from the 80s,  the 90s.”

Mr Fungavaka was in Tonga attending his grandfather’s funeral. On August 17 he was arrested for minor drunkenness and taken to a police station in Nuku’alofa.

While in police custody he  suffered severe head injuries. A week later he died in hospital. His  family have recently sued the Tongan government seeking compensation, redress and  an apology.

 

AUD$1.5 million real estate purchase splits Brisbane Tonga Houʻeiki Church

By
Kalino Latu
-

Seven pastors of the Tonga Houʻeiki Church in Brisbane declared they are no longer under the control of the Church’s head office in Tonga in a protest against a resolution passed by the church conference to purchase real estate worth AUDS$1.5 million.

The property is located at 25-33 Innes Street, Geebung, Brisbane according to information given to Kaniva News. It says the property contains five lots which belong to the Geebung Baptist Church.

The seven pastors are Rev Kiu Makitoa, Rev Sione Faiva , Rev Kelepi Uele, Rev Pita Pua Likiliki, Rev Taniela Ma’u Moala, Rev Paula Militoni, Leiufisa Kengike and Rev Peni Mailaiu.

They claimed that the Brisbane church will sell its two properties to help the purchase and a church’s property in Sydney will be held as security for the loan.

The pastors fear that the loan would put the small number of church members in Brisbane into financial difficulties and that they could not afford to pay off the loan.

They mentioned the Sydney based Tongan Free Wesleyan Church’s property known as  Pulela’a which was liquidated this year because the church struggled to pay off its loan of more than AUD$20 million.

However the president of the Church, Dr Tu’ipulotu Katoanga  told local newspapers the church has already secured $800,000 for the purchase. He made it clear that the purchase of the Innes Street  property is one of the church’s investment projects.

He added that the money for the purchase will be donated by the Tonga, New Zealand and the United States dioceses.

Dr Katoanga said they had done this sort of investment in the past to one of their churches in New Zealand and it was successful.

The Brisbane  investment project has been assessed by the church on a number of criteria before it returned to the church conference for approval this year, the president told local media.

The owner of the new property will be the Tonga Hou’eiki Church and not the Tonga Hou’eiki Brisbane church, the president said. It means the church is confident with the project as its financial matters will be looked after by the church head office in Tonga and not the Brisbane based Tonga Hou’eiki Church.

Dr Katoanga also said the church was aware of those who had defected and there is a plan to have a talanoa or talk with them.

The talanoa could be about whether they want to establish a church of their own, but still work together with the Tonga Hou’eiki in Brisbane, or whether they wish to permanently defect and establish their own church.

The pastors who were defected from the church
The pastors who were defected from the church

Breaking: David Shearer Resigns As Labour Leader

By
Kalino Latu
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David Shearer has announced that he will resign as Leader of the Labour Party saying he is “ no longer have the full confidence of many of my caucus colleagues,”

The resignation will take effect when a new leader was decided. A process for this would begin within 48 hours and was expected to be completed in three weeks.

He told the press conference it was better for him to step down so there could be a “clean change to a new leader who can take Labour through to victory in 2014”.

Shearer said that he was not challenged for the leadership role. He will stay on in Parliament as the MP for Mount Albert.

Tonga's internet speed more than four hundred times faster

By
Kalino Latu
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King Tupou VI has launched Tonga’s high speed internet at a ceremony at the Tonga Cable Limited building today August 21.

Before the arrival of the new broadband service, internet users used bandwidth at a rate of approximately  20-30 megabits per second. The  new bandwidth increased up to 10 gigabits per second, that is more than 400 times faster.

The king in the presence of the Prime Minister, Lord Tu’ivakano officially commissioned the service with the click of a mouse, which delivered high speed internet to the people of Tonga for the first time ever.

The US $32.8 million Pacific Regional Connectivity Project financed the development of a submarine cable system which is now delivering the broadband service. It is being supported by the World Bank Group, ADB, and TCC.

“Today marks a historical occasion for Tonga and the beginning of a new era, as the Kingdom for the first time connects to high speed Internet, which has been a dream of Ha’a Moheofo,” said Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano. “Faster Internet speed and higher bandwidth at cheaper and more affordable prices is a real opportunity for Tonga.”

“The social and economic benefits of the new high speed internet service will be many,” said Adrian Ruthenberg, Regional Director of ADB’s South Pacific Subregional Office at the ceremony. “The people of Tonga will be better connected to the rest of the world, the new service will help businesses to expand, creating jobs and will facilitate access to remote health and education services”

The 827km fiber optic cable system linking Tonga to Fiji via the Southern Cross Cable -the main trans-Pacific link between Australia and the United States – will provide Tonga’s population of 100,000 with affordable, accessible, information and communication technology services.

“The advent of highspeed internet is a landmark event for Tonga,” said Franz Drees-Gross, Country Director for the World Bank in Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Pacific Islands. “The cable will make it faster and easier for Tongans to communicate which will bring profound benefits to development.”

The arrival of high speed broadband is the latest milestone of the project which will boost Tonga’s international connectivity.

The Tonga Cable Limited building was constructed to withstand extreme weather events, with the equipment which facilitates the internet service stored on the top floor in a temperature controlled room in case of flooding.

Featured image: subseaworldnews.com

'Alani Taione apologises following his nephew married to Hon Lupepau'u Tuita

By
Kalino Latu
-

UPDATED 18:30 – 20/08: ‘Alani Taione, a diehard democratic activist who had been known to many as an opponent of the Tongan monarchy has publicly made an apology to the king and the royal family this afternoon.

He offered his  apology following his nephew ‘Epeli Taione’s wedding with Hon Lupepau’u Tuita  last weekend in Fiji.

Hon Lupepau’u is the King of Tonga’s eldest niece and number sixth to the Tongan throne. She is also the eldest daughter of Princess Pilolevu, the only sister of King Tupou VI.

‘Alani is a young brother of ‘Epeli’s father. He was well known to foreign media as an anti-monarchist.

In August 2005 the anti-monarchist arrived with a group of about hundred Tongans at the ‘Atalanga – Auckland Royal Residence in protest against the government’s initial refusal to accept demand by civil servants who went on strike in Tonga for a fair pay rise.

Hon Lupepau’u’s grandfather, King Tupou IV was in  Auckland at the time for a medical check and he was at ‘Atalanga.

The protest turned ugly as a fight broke out outside the residence between the protesters and the royal staff. Some of the protesters swore at the ailing king who was in a house just about 20 metres from where the protest took place.

‘Alani threatened to burn down the residence and killed everybody.

The incident quickly reached the royal family in Tonga prompting Princess Pilolevu to walk down from the palace to Pangai Si’i where the civil servant strikers gathered.

During a speech she delivered to the strikers she broke down saying  something to the effect that “How can you bear to swear at my father. You couldn’t bear someone swearing at your own father”

In July 2006 ‘Alani  drove a car into the ʻAtalanga residence’s gate and set it alight. He then called out: “You fellas will be in hell”.

On one occasion he burnt the Tonga national flag in protest against the king and government’s reluctance to accept democracy for Tonga.

It is Tongan custom to have a  fakalelei or reconciliation in occasion like wedding, funeral or birthday and for family members to re-establish their close relationship especially if there was falling-out. ‘Alani says this is an opportunity for him to ask for the royal family’s forgiveness.

In front of the Kaniva news’s video camera this afternoon ‘Alani repeatedly tried to hold back his tears as he was apologising to the king of Tonga, the Queen Mother, Princess Pilolevu and all the royal households for what he did for them.

He said he will also request an audience with Princess Pilolevu to express his apology to her in person.

We were told by reliable sources within the family who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not in a position to speak on behalf of the family,  the Taione considered launching a hulouifi before the king because of what ‘Alani did.

Hulouifi is a process of seeking king’s mercy or pardon where attended-members wear garlands of ifi leaves.

Princess Pilolevu did not attend the wedding:

Princess Pilolevu  and his husband Lord Tuita did not attend their daughter’s wedding in Fiji last weekend. The motive is unknown but our sources said they speculated that the princess might still hold a grudge against the Taione because of ‘Alani.

‘Alani said he has already met Hon Lupepau’u and personally delivered his apology to her.

“I met Lupepau’u and I apologised to her…I just felt how come the princess’s daughter become part of my poor family,” ‘Alani said in tears.

The Taione family will tomorrow perform the – ‘ave ‘o e fefine mali or returning the bride.

It is the last part of the wedding ceremony where the bridegroom’s family will accompany Hon Lupepau’u to meet her family after the wedding has been processed  in the state and the church as well as the First Sunday

A meeting was announced for ‘Epeli’s maternal side to be held at Mangere, Auckland  last night in preparation for their visit to Lupepau’u’s family in Tonga tomorrow.

Note from editor: An earlier version of this article was pulled at the request of the Taione family together with ‘Alani. The family request stated that ‘Alani’s statements in our first version of the article would not help with  what they are bound to perform tomorrow for Lupepau’u’s family and their expectation of  a warm welcome  and peaceful meeting. ‘Alani agreed and asked us to accept his family’s request.

Nuku’alofa teen’s death: Two charged

By
Kalino Latu
-

UPDATED: Police have charged two accused over the death of the 14 year old girl at Vaiola Hospital on Friday August  16.

A  34 year old woman previously arrested on Friday 16. Another 37 year old man was arrested on Saturday 17. They are sister and brother and were detained in relation to the death of the teen.

This morning they were both charged with manslaughter.

Police said the teen’s injuries appeared to have been caused by a strike she received while in a Nuku’alofa household.

She was rushed to the hospital on August 15 and died the following day.

Police investigation continues.

People’s wedding: Hon Lupepau'u marries ‘Epi Taione

By
Kalino Latu
-

An island resort in Fiji became the setting for a wedding that brought another dramatic change into the Tongan traditional arranged high level marriages set for members of the Royal family to make sure the blue blood is kept undiluted.

Hon Lupepau’u Tuita Taione 36 is sixth in line to the Tongan throne and is the king of Tonga’s eldest niece tied the knot with a commoner, ‘Epeli Taione 34  of ‘Utui, Vava’u yesterday Saturday 17.

Taione also known as Paddy Power in the global rugby union field is currently Tonga Rugby Union’s president.

The couple exchanged vows at a private church over the weekend. Guests included ‘Epi’s  uncle Sione Vaea Taione, Hon Lupepau’u’s cousin Hon Salote Maumautaimi Tuku’aho, other family members and friends.

Hon Lupepau’u’s parents, Princess Pilolevu and Lord Tuita did not attend the ceremony.  They were in Auckland last week August 10 and attended the wedding of their daughter Hon Frederica Tuita Filipe who married another commoner.

Hon Frederica Filipe is  a younger sister of Hon Lupepau‘u Taione.

Kaniva News could tell from posts and discussion by thousands of Tongans on  social media  as well as in local news  media regarding the nuptial ceremony  about 99%  applauded the wedding and Hon Lupepau’u’s decision to wed a commoner.

They highly appreciate her pick to marry for love and not following  the strict  royal wedding policy.

We were informed the newly minted couple, Hon Lupepau’u and ‘Epi Taione with their entourage will leave for Tonga tomorrow to meet both families and relatives.

Royal wedding policy:

  • The first twenty in line to the throne must marry within the nobility.
  • The women must be given suitors to choose from.
  • King must consent to the wedding after going through paper works provided by the person who is going to wed.
  • There is no need for the royal members to really know who they are going to marry.
  •  The dating process is public and is done in-front of guardians or attendants of families of the women – a traditional process applies to both royal and commoners.

Passengers disappointed: MA-60 returns without landing due to bad weather

By
Kalino Latu
-

UPDATED: The passengers of Real Tonga airline who were unable to board its MA-60 aircraft  on Tuesday in Vava’u because the plane  returned to Tongatapu without landing due to a bad weather said they were upset by how the company treated them.

Kaniva News could not be able to contact the airline but two passengers, Darrin Spillane and Graeme Robertson told the local Kele’a Newspaper there were “no accommodation” provided.

When they contacted the airline to confirm what had happened and to discuss the problems they encountered they were only told the plane “Can’t fly” and “No one is flying on the plane today.”

“The problem the  airplane flew to Vava’u this morning but the weather minimal was not suitable for the aircraft to land ,” Fakatele ‘Akau’ola from the airline told the newspaper this week.

Most of the passengers were bound to arrive in Tongatapu on Tuesday and leave for their overseas destinations on the same day.

The airline’s Islander Aircraft reportedly flied 8 passengers from Ha’apai to Vava’u on the same day so they could return to Tongatapu on the MA-60 but could not make it due to the problem.

MA-60 could not land on the Ha’apai airport.

The aircraft took its first flight last Saturday 10 and the airline announced it was scheduled to fly twice a day to Vava‘u only and no other destinations in Tonga.

The Chinese MA-60 aircraft is designed to  “operate in rugged conditions with limited ground support and has short take-off and landing capability”

Despite US Federal Aviation Administration refused to certify it as well as  other European countries, Tonga has allowed the aircraft  to fly  according to its own  legislation and safety civil aviation regulations.

The aircraft type experienced many accidents in the past ranging from passengers suffered from injuries to death. The most recent one was in June this year when “An MA60 turboprop airliner with 52 people on board crash-landed at an airport in eastern Indonesia … leaving two passengers with minor injuries and forcing state-owned carrier Merpati to write off the plane”.

A 34 year old woman arrested after teenage girl dies

By
Kalino Latu
-

A 14 year old girl was rushed to Vaiola Hospital on August 16 with serious head injuries. She died at about 11 o’clock in the morning.

The victim’s injuries appeared to have been caused by a strike she received and it happened within a Nuku’alofa household. A 34 year old woman arrested by police and was due to appear in court today.

The police are looking at charging the woman with murder or man slaughter.

No further details released. Police investigation continues.

 

 

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