Results for Vava'u

A team of Tonga and New Zealand Rugby Union officials delivered a Team and Event Management training in the outer islands of Ha’apai and Vava’u, on the last week of October.

David Kent Jr Tau’alupe (35) was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to ‘Alo’i Kei, when he stabbed him with a sharp object, causing a severe wound to his left upper abdomen, during a drink up altercation at the Laione Club in Vava’u.

Tevita Matangi was found guilty of two charges of causing grievous bodily harm to Mateaki Hafoka (29) and Sikuvea Fifita (26), when he attacked them during a drunken altercation at Talau in Vava’u in October, 2023.

Samiu Langa’oi (42) was jailed for four months, for the destruction of evidence, when he crushed a cannabis plant from a bucket outside his house, and unlawful possession of drugs utensil in Leimatu’a, Vava’u.

For years the whale watch industry in Vavau has fought to have better practices and less licenses due to an over-saturation of licenses, badly behaved skippers and, in recent years, clients who believe they can do whatever they want in the water with the whales. Why is there no list of operators, their boats, skippers and guides and passenger numbers? I and others in the industry ask: Why are more licenses being issued and to boats that are not suitable for the purpose of whale watching?  - Kirsty Bowe.

Samiu Pese (40) was sentenced to five-years imprisonment for dangerous driving causing the death of his passenger who was asleep in the open back of a truck, when it crashed in Vava'u.

Liuaki Fainu (23) who was sentenced to two-years six-months imprisonment, for dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm to a police officer in Vava’u had his sentence fully suspended on conditions. The officer who suffered a broken leg, in December 2022, awaits bone reconstruction experts from Australia next month who will operate to re-connect his fractured femur.

Andrew Motuliki (28) was sentenced to seven and a half-years imprisonment for supplying cocaine that washed up on beaches in Vava’u in 2021. The court heard that he played a significant role, when he involved others for reward, as he had some understanding of the scale of the operation.

A  6.7Mw earthquake woke-up sleeping residents of Tonga last night at 11:27pm local time, 2 July. It was felt strongly in Vava'u, and more lightly in Ha'apai and Tongatapu.