A 46-year-old Tongan man living in California was among 112 people (100 men, 12 women) arrested in an operation by United States law enforcement last week. According to the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E), the four-day operation was targeting “convicted criminal aliens” and that “the arrested were immigrants who were involved in gang activity or had three or more misdemeanor convictions or a conviction for a ‘significant’ misdemeanor'.”
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Results for Tongans Overseas
Friday 22 July 2016
California, USA
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Wednesday 20 July 2016
Auckland, New Zealand
A Tongan dance artist, Tuiahai Tu'i'afitu, is the first international recipient of the Pacific Dance Artist in Residence 2016 in Auckland, New Zealand, who will get the chance to work with local schools, teach dance and deliver public workshops over a four week period from mid August to mid September.
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Tuesday 19 July 2016
Christchurch, New Zealand
Family, friends, fans and teammates of a promising young Tongan rugby player Uto Enosi Tu'ipulotu are in mourning after the 19 year-old passed away from cancer last week July 14 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Uto was selected for the New Zealand Area schools rugby team, and was awarded Under 18 player of the year by his rugby club, Ellesmere.
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Tuesday 5 July 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The sky's the limit for Tongans, especially these three Virgin flight crew who found themselves working together on a Virgin Australia flight bound for Tonga from Auckland recently.
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Wednesday 8 June 2016
Perth, Australia
Mixed Martial Arts fighter and actor Soa Palelei (38) has revealed his life long bout with depression ahead of the release of his book 'Face Your Fears'. Known as the “the Hulk” for his imposing 6'4" immaculate frame, Soa is also known for his charity. Last year, he captured news headlines after he raised $120,000 for children at a Western Australian hospital but was barred from meeting the children because of the hospital’s opposition to cage fighting.
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Tuesday 31 May 2016
Auckland, New Zealand
An Auckland barrister, Mina Wharepouri, of Tongan descent, will be sworn in tomorrow as Acting District Court Judge, and will be based in Manukau, New Zealand.
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Saturday 28 May 2016
Timaru, New Zealand
The Tongan community in the city of Timaru in New Zealand celebrated the official inauguration of the Tongan Society South Canterbury (TSSC) on May 27. The organisation will offer support to Tongans living in South Canterbury, a rural region home to over 55,000 residents.
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Thursday 26 May 2016
Hamilton, New Zealand
A Tongan citizen living in New Zealand, Tavake Mokofisi (33) has been fined $350 and sentenced to 150 hours community work by a New Zealand court for performing a home surgery on his pet dog in an attempt to neuter it without anaesthetic. The dog is reportedly in good condition and is under the care of an animal protection agency.
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Thursday 26 May 2016
Tasmania, Australia
A Tongan woman living in Tasmania, Lopa Naufahu, is fundraising to pay $6,865 for her husband’s Australian visa application. Neil Naufahu, who lives and works in Tonga as an electrician, is restricted from entering Australia while Lopa, a permanent resident, lives in Hobart with their Australian-born five year-old son Josiah.
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Wednesday 25 May 2016
Honolulu, Hawai'i
Acclaimed opera singer and former NFL player Ta’u Pupu’a performed a benefit concert for the Kilohana United Methodist Church in Honolulu on Saturday May 21. The Kiliohana United Methodist Church is known for its humanitarian work in Hawaii and has a strong Tongan following among its congregation.
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Friday 20 May 2016
Sacramento-California, USA
Sacramento county resident Kali Kanongata’a (36) has captured international media attention after he video-recorded his partner giving birth to their son and live streamed it on Facebook. The video has since gone viral and has attracted over 273,000 views on Facebook. The video is not graphic as Kali films the upper body of his wife throughout the delivery.
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Tuesday 10 May 2016
Noumea, New Caledonia
Dr ‘Ofa Keitu‘u of Tonga, has been appointed as Director of the Statistics for Development Division at the Pacific Community (SPC) based in Noumea, New Caledonia, taking effect on 1 July 2016.
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Thursday 28 April 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
New Zealand born actor Joe Naufahu made his acting debut for the popular HBO TV series, Game of Thrones. Naufahu featured in the first episode of season 6 of the series which was played last week. He acts as “Khal Moro” a ruthless warlord of a warrior tribe known as the “Dothraki”.
Thursday 21 April 2016
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Wales, UK
Former Mate Ma’a Tonga winger Mateaki Mafi (43) was a prize winner at the 2016 Crufts dog show in Birmingham, England, according to local news media. One of his dogs a Neapolitan Mastiff won the best of breed award in the “working dogs” category. His dog is named “Freddo Dei Mastini Della Rupe”.
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Thursday 21 April 2016
Dunedin, New Zealand
A combined student body of Tongan Teritiary Students' Associations in New Zealand is holding its first leadership programme this weekend with the sponsorship of the University of Otago, Dunedin. “I think this is a great opportunity to empower the future leaders of our Tongan community,” said student president Mary Jane Kivalu.
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Friday 8 April 2016
Auckland, New Zealand
A bizarre Facebook feud between former New Zealand X factor star Ashley Tonga and a Tongan woman living in New Zealand is currently drawing attention from New Zealand media.
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Wednesday 6 April 2016
North Carolina, USA
A Tongan-American boy scout, Lehi Tonga Jnr (16) has won recognition after he built ‘buddy benches’ for a local elementary school in his small town of Hollys Grove in North Carolina to help tackle school bullying.
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Tuesday 29 March 2016
Auckland, New Zealand
Metui Finau, a vocalist for the band Spacifix, passed away last week in Auckland after reportedly collapsing during a run with his wife. Tributes are pouring in for the 29-year old whose funeral is scheduled for this Saturday, April 2.
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Friday 25 March 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Shaken by the proximity of Tuesday’s terror attacks in Brussels, a Tongan family who live in the city say they are trying to go on with their normal activities and are thankful to be all okay. “We use the Maelbeek metro station where the explosions happened...all the time," said Haati and Josephine Sanft.
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Wednesday 27 January 2016
Los Angeles, California, USA
Hon. 'Etani Ha'amea Tuku'aho celebrated his 21st birthday on 15 January 2016, in North Hollywood, California, at a party hosted by HSH Prince Tungi.
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