Tonga’s Prime Minister Hon. ʻAkilisi Pohiva has accused Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu of interfering in Lord Tuʻilakepa’s firearms case. Lord Tu’ilakepa was sentenced earlier this month and ordered to pay fine of TP$10,000 within 14 days after pleading guilty to firearms and ammunition charges. The offence carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment … Continue Reading
Author: nzkanivap
Vavaʻu beach sea turns blood red sparking panic
The sight of a blood red sea sparked panic at Vavaʻu’s Neiafutahi beach in Tonga this week. Villagers were in fear to find the sea had turned crimson and that it happened towards the end of the year 2014. Some people believed this was a biblical sign the world would end soon or perhaps whales … Continue Reading
King appoints ‘Akilisi Pohiva as Tonga’s Prime Minister
Samiuela ‘Akilisi Pōhiva, 72, Tonga’s new Prime Minister Designate, was appointed by His Majesty King Tupou VI this morning to become Tonga’s new Prime Minister, a ceremony conducted according to the Tongan constitution. PM Pohiva was elected yesterday after winning over 50 percent of a secret ballot in a Special Meeting by the legislature. Spokesperson … Continue Reading
PM Pōhiva: We have to prove to His Majesty that we can work together to build Tonga
Revisited: Tonga’s Democratic supporters were celebrating the achievement of Tonga’s longest Democratic campaigner in history Samuela ‘Akilisi Pōhiva after he was popularly elected today as Tonga’s Prime Minister. Now 72 and facing his last terms in Parliament, Pohiva was the first commoner to be democratically elected to the premiership ending a long history of leadership … Continue Reading
Independents say they must elect Prime Minister, not Democratic Party or nobles
Tonga’s independent MPs have declared that the Prime Minister must be elected by them and not the Democratic Party or nobility. But they have also warned that if the Democrats don’t support them, then the independents will side with the nobility to form the next government. Their statement comes as a surprise after they agreed … Continue Reading
9 nobles vs 9 Democrats: 8 Independents decide which party to form government
Nine nobles were elected by only 33 nobles under the Tongan constitution while nine Democratic Party and eight independents were elected by 40,727 as Tonga’s election results were officially announced last night. Two independent MPs who became ministers in the former government of Lord Tuʻivakanō were returned to Parliament by their constituents. MP Sōsefo Feʻaomoeata Vakatā, … Continue Reading
King sends PM to stop Prince Ata’s christening into Mormon Church
His Majesty King Tupou VI sent the Prime Minister and soldiers to persuade his son, Prince Ata, to stop a baptism ceremony that would have made him a Mormon. The baptism was to be held in Havelu Stake Centre at the beginning of last month. The Prime Minister was sent after the Prince sent away … Continue Reading
Princess ‘Elisiva Fusipala Vaha’i is laid to rest at Fo’ui
The ha’as and royals throughout Tonga yesterday attended the burial of Princess ‘Elisiva Fusipala Vaha’i who died at the age of 65 on October 2. Princess Fusipala, who lived in the United States for about 12 years, had struggled with health difficulties recently. The Princess, who was King of Tonga’s first cousin, was buried at Tutulu-Pea-Tau cemetery … Continue Reading
Tonga will not renew coach Otai’s contract
‘Ikale Tahi’s coach, Manakaetau ‘Otai will not take Tonga’s national team to next year’s Rugby Union World Cup because the Tonga Rugby Union (TRU) board has refused to extend his contract when it expires next month, it was confirmed to Kaniva News this evening. ‘Otai said he just received a telephone call from TRU Chairperson, … Continue Reading
Watersprout spotted in southern Tongatapu
A waterspout seen over the liku (cliff-bound coast) of Hihifo in Tonga yesterday, viewed from the blow holes in Houma. IMAGE by Dr Sayuri Kawamura A large water funnel resembling a tornado was seen in the south-western sea of Tonga from the Blow Holes coastline at the village of Houma yesterday. Amateur footages captured by … Continue Reading