Tonga

Manuofetoa was hired under the Recognised Seasonal Employment (RSE) programme to work on an orchard in Hastings.

He failed to make it to Hastings when he arrived in New Zealand last month.

Kaniva News reports Manuofetao has now been declared an overstayer and if he is caught he will be deported to Tonga.

Manuofetoa’s disappearance as well as that of 15 other Tongan seasonal workers is of grave concern to Tongan authorities.

Radio Tonga reports the arrests including that of the 14 year old were made over the past few days.

Acting Chief Superintendent of the Nuku’alofa Police Station Tevita Vailea said they also arrested a 31-year-old woman of Tokomololo and charged her with possession of marijuana.

Two others, a 17-year-old of Kolonga and a 36-year-old man of Houmakelikao have also been charged with possession of the drug.

The average of marijuana seized ranged from 11 to 96 grams.

But Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva said he forgot to tell Chinese Ambassador Huang Huaguang about their concerns at their last meeting.

Pohiva said a government taskforce investigating crimes against Chinese in Tonga was trying to confirm reports about hitmen being hired.

He said even there was no hard evidence yet, the matter was important and if he had remembered to talk about it at their meeting with the Chinse community last month people attending might have been able to help.

The meeting will discuss the latest international and regional developments in energy and transport sectors affecting the region.

The high-level meeting, which will be hosted at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre in Nuku’alofa, will cover energy and transport challenges and priorities included in the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific, the Framework for Action on Energy Security in the Pacific and the regional Framework for Action on Transport Services.

The issue was raised when Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva visited Kerikeri late last week.

Tonga’s Liaison Officer to the fruit picking scheme – Sefita Hao’uli told Radio Tonga News from Nelson that their items were needed for daily living.

The Act came into force from the date of Gazetting on 4 April 2017.

According to the Director of Meteorology, Ofa Faanunu “since Tonga started collecting meteorological observation after World War II, legal mandates for the provision of meteorological services has been through various legislation such as Civil Aviation Act and the Emergency Management Act and due to rapid developments in the work of the Meteorological Service a separate Meteorology has become necessary”.

However in the second game the team handled by former Kenyan international Tolbert Onyango fell 24-0 to Germany. Uganda will now need to beat Jamaica on Saturday in the last group game to qualify for the next round of the competition.

The Germany team has already qualified for the next round after stopping Jamaica 31-7 in their opening game, while Tonga managed a 14-5 victory over Jamaica in another Group E match.

Kenya also kick started the competition in style with a 17-7 win over Argentina before they fell 26-7 to Italy in the second game.

The meeting held Wednesday was chaired by Acting Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni and attended by EU Ambassador to the Pacific, Andrew Jacobs.

Crown Prince Tupouto‘a ‘Ulukalala and the Minister of Fisheries, Semisi Fakahau also participated in the political dialogue.  

The parties also discussed possibilities to intensify trade relations and strengthen co-operation in regional and international matters of common concern.

Radio Tonga reports the Cardinal received positive test results on Monday after collapsing in Auckland over the weekend.

His Eminence was on his way to Rome for a Vatican Committee meeting and ended up canceling his trip due to his medical condition.

He has expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the people of Tonga and members of the church for their prayers and support for his fast recovery while in hospital in Auckland.

Twenty two (22) year old Lahaina Tatafu grew up and believed she would one day become a lawyer.

In fact she was determined as a young seven year old that she would be a legal bird

Although her father Sam is a well-known qualified diver, Lahaina never had any inclination towards the sea and what it had to offer.

Sam is also a former naval officer and trains local naval officers and others in diving.

But fate changed and Lahaina is now dubbed Tonga’s own ‘Moana’, having developed to be a master whale tour guide and swimmer.