Tongan seasonal worker

COVID-19 delays keep family from Tongan fruit picker killed by snake in Australia

Timote Ongosia, 40, was bitten by an eastern brown snake on a farm near Dimbulah, west of Cairns, on September 20.

ABC News reports the Tongan man, who was employed as a seasonal worker at the time, died in hospital two days later.

Elder, Pesi Brown, said the man's wife and parents were desperate for his body to be returned, but COVID-19 border restrictions had delayed the repatriation process.

"They want him to come home," she said.

Tongan seasonal worker found dead in Queensland identified

Australian police discovered Havea’s body in an accommodation last Thursday morning.

Havea is survived by his wife and children.

His cousin Alex Kaihea, an Australian-based Tongan, is currently in Tonga.

Kaihea told Kaniva News he wished he was in Brisbane so that he could visit Havea’s body.

Havea was employed on a farm in Bundaberg under the Seasonal Worker Programme.

     

Tongan seasonal worker dies in Queensland

The 35-year-old man had been working on a farm in the Bundaberg region and is believed to have been discovered dead in his accommodation early Thursday morning.

The death comes just weeks after a special investigation by The Courier-Mail revealed 13 workers had died on the Seasonal Worker Program, with extreme neglect allegedly contributing to a number of deaths and serious injuries.

A Queensland Police spokesman said officers were called to the property shortly before 7am on Thursday.

Colleagues, relatives pay tribute to Tongan seasonal worker

Kaniva News reports Havili died of a heart attack in Hastings, New Zealand last week.

Havili was working under the Recognised Seasonal Employment Scheme which employs thousands of Pacific islanders in the horticulture and viticulture industries in New Zealand.

Over the weekend, dozens of seasonal workers joined members of Havili’s family at a vigil and memorial service for the 46 year old.

Havili was described as a group leader who was a valued employee of New Zealand’s largest apple exporter.

He is expected to be buried in Tonga this weekend.

 

Tongan fruit picker dies after suspected heart attack in van

Siosifa Havili, 46, was found slumped over the wheel of the van he had been driving on Gordon Road last  Wednesday 9 at about 10pm, Tongan government RSE liaison officer Sefita Haoʻuli told Kaniva News this morning.

Havili’s death appeared to be medical but would be referred to the Coroner, Hao’uli said.

He said the employer had checked the GPS of the vehicle and could tell Havili arrived at Gordon Road at 6.40 pm, and was found by a member of the public, at around 10 pm.

Nelson hit by earthquake as hospitalised Tupou awaits confirmation of diagnosis

Tupou, of Tatakamotonga, was in New Zealand on the Regional Seasonal Employment programme.

Kaniva News understands that specialists were expected to confirm their diagnosis yesterday (November 14).

As reported, Tupou’s wife ‘Asinate has been sending him messages of encouragement via Facebook.

The Nelson Mail 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.

Family pays tributes to Tongan fruit picker online

Kaniva News reports Paulo Kivau, 39, was rushed to hospital before he was pronounced dead yesterday.

The tributes showed Kivau went to Australia to work as a fruit picker through government’s seasonal work programme.

It was believed he was sick before he died.

In 2014 Tonga sent more than 1,200 to work in the Australian agriculture and farms.

On the same period the government announced it has received $35.6 million worth of remittances under New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employment (RSE) and Australia Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot scheme.