PACIFIC BRIEFS 20/2/2017

TONGA’S QUEEN MOTHER DIES AGED 90 TONGA – Tonga’s Queen Mother Halaevalu Mata’aho has died in Auckland, aged 90.

Matangi Tonga reports the Queen Mother reportedly left Tonga for New Zealand last week. Her granddaughter, Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Mata’aho, was reportedly by her side during her passing. Tonga’s King Tupou VI is understood to be away visiting the Niuas, a remote island group in the far north of Tonga. The Queen Mother was the mother of two kings, George Tupou V and Tupou VI. Born on 29 May 1926, she was the daughter of Heuifanga Veikune and Noble ‘Ahome’e Manuopangai. Queen Mata’aho married Siaosi Tāufa’āhau Tupoulahi, the eldest son of Queen Sāote Tupou III, in 1947. She is survived by her son King Tupou VI and daughter Princess Sālote Mafile’o Pilolevu Tuita, 11 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

FERRY REMAINS AGROUND IN ISLANDS

AMERICAN SAMOA – The American Samoa government ferry, the MV Sili, is still stuck in the Manu’a islands, and will likely be out of commission for another three weeks. The vessel took on water while docked in Ofu a week ago, which damaged the ferry’s generator. The acting director of the territory’s port administration, Muliagatele Gus Godinet, says spare parts were transported to Ofu Friday night on the new passenger and cargo vessel, Manu’atele. Muliagatele says the US$13 million Manu’atele cannot charge for passengers and cargo yet because it still has a few things that the Coast Guard needs to clear and he’s hopeful that will be given early next week. The Manu’atele will be making weekly trips to Manu’a while the MV Sili remains grounded.

HELP OFFERED FOR BOUGAINVILLE VOTE

BOUGAINVILLE – New Zealand is likely to send election officials for Bougainville’s planned referendum on possible independence from Papua New Guinea. New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Murray McCully visited Bougainville earlier this week and says the period leading up to the referendum, which is scheduled for June 2019, will be challenging, and he’s offered help to the Referendum and Reconciliation Commission. He says this body will play a very important role in the next two years and needs every sort of assistance New Zealand can give it. But McCully says the part New Zealand Electoral Commission staff might play is still to be worked out. “But it will be pretty broadly based support with them directly. I have made sure that Prime Minister O’Neill is comfortable with the role that New Zealand is able to play there.”

KIWI POLICE TO REMAIN IN SOLOMONS

SOLOMON ISLANDS – New Zealand will maintain a police presence in Solomon Islands once the Regional Assistance Mission ends its 14-year-stint in July. The Australia-led mission was deployed to the country in 2003 after years of ethnic violence where police weapons fell into hands of militants from Guadalcanal and Malaita. RAMSI says the police force has been completely rebuilt, but Honiara has asked for continued assistance from New Zealand and Australia. New Zealand’s foreign minister, Murray McCully, who was in the Solomons this week, said New Zealand will continue to help once RAMSI leaves.“Obviously having invested all of this time and resource no one wants to see the security situation deteriorate,” Mr McCully said. McCully said the full details were still being worked out, but New Zealand’s contribution would be more modest than Australia’s.