Tonga High School Ex-students Newsletter Volume 3 Issue

Tonga High School Ex-Students Web Site Newsletter
Date: July, 2001
Volume: 3, Issue 7

WORDS FROM THE WEBMASTER & THE THSESWS NEWSLETTER EDITOR:
Welcome to the THSESWS monthly newsletter for the month of July 2001. In terms of news , this month has been fairly quiet. Other chapters are probably busy with other work. However, Auckland has been very active in doing all sorts of "behind the scene" work in order to get everything ready for the year 2002.
'Etuate Saafi and the Auckland Chapter are dynamically progressing toward meeting their aims and objectives for this major event. If what we have gathered from 'Etuate are indications of the program that they have been working on, then my friends; we are in for a fantastic show by our friends from Aotearoa. Without boring you, all planning details and other activities regarding Auckland's running of their chapter and their preparation have been kindly and methodically put together by 'Etuate and his team for our leisure perusal.
The THSESWS would like to thank 'Etuate for keeping us all informed with their preparation for next year. It is always good to have someone who can directly provide us with news regarding this main event and we are lucky enough to have 'Etuate. He has made diligent effort to contact the THSESWS on a regular basis. Auckland will therefore feature in most of our upcoming newsletters.Scroll down and enjoy!
Finally, the THSESWS has not received a copy of the "Tefua 'a vaka Lautala" second edition. We are still waiting for our friends in Tonga to kindly send us a copy in the near future. Keep your fingers crossed!
Faka'apa'apa atu
Loseli M Hafoka & 'Amelia Piutau
2002 CELEBRATION IN "THE LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD"
Compiled by 'Etuate Saafi:
Malo e lelei to all THS Ex-students out there, where ever you are, from the Auckland & NZ Chapter... I'll quickly try and recap on the many THS Ex-student Association activities that have been happening in Auckland for the months of June and July.
MAY - JUNE:

PREPARATIONS FOR THE THS ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION DAY - SATURDAY 2^ND OF JUNE:

In the month of May leading up to the Schools Anniversary day on Saturday June 2^nd we had a lot of regular Saturday choir practices in preparation for the combined service this year with THS Ex-students from Wellington and others from around New Zealand. Most of our "ako hivas" were held at the Langimalie Tongan Clinic at Onehunga. Our fai hiva was Kautoke, a very kataki lahi fai hiva indeed. All that attended had a great time being taught how to sing in musical notation (to start off with since we did not have music taught at THS until recently), learning to sing with others and not becoming le'o ua by choice, sharing lots of curry & 'otai and generally just catching up with past class-mates and other THS Ex-students and friends. It was an enjoyable time for all.

THE MALANGA:

On Saturday June 2^nd the THS Anniversary day was commemorated with a malanga at 10am at the Nasaleti Tokaikolo Church at Mangere. The guests of honour for the day were Hon. 'Eiki Fatafehi Lapaha Tuita, Halaevalu Moheofo Tuita and 'Elisiva Tauki'onetuku Vaha'i - all fellow Ex-students of THS. A very large turn-out of Ex-students, friends and family totalling to around about 300+ people attended. About 15-20 Ex-students, friends and family arrived from Wellington to commemorate the day with us. The malanga was by fellow Ex-student Tae Tu'inukuafe from Wellington. Tae highlighted the true meaning of our motto "Ki he lelei taha", in not being what some of us may naively perceive to be... to gather an abundance of worldly possessions and wealth, to gather strings of degrees etc., and then sit back and eat, drink and be merry, but rather to obtain Christ as ones saviour in ones life and then have life in abundance. Very faka-mafana indeed. Many thanks to Tae from the Association for such an excellent malanga.

In the malanga the hiva talitali was done by the THS SDA Ex-students (Lopasi, Winsome, 'Ana and friends). The ui ki he lotu by the Auckland Chapter president Viliami Finau. First hymn was by Ex-student Liu Lavulo; lotu kamata by Ex-student Edgar Tu'inukuafe; Lesoni 'uluaki by Violani 'Ilolahia-Wills (President of the Wellington THS Ex-students Association); Hiva fakavaha'a lesoni by the Wellington THS Ex-students (Fai hiva - Sione Manu); lesoni ua by Ex-student 'Inoke Kaitu'u; Hiva by Auckland THS Ex-students; lotu'i 'o e 'aho by Rev. Tavake Tupou (Vice President of the Auckland Chapter); second hymn by Homegaurd Mailau (Wellington Chapter); malanga by Tae Tu'inukuafe (Wellington Chapter); lotu fakamanatu 'o e kau pekia by Rev. Tavake Tupou; lotu faka'ilonga 'o e kau ma'u mata'itohi by Viliami Finau; tali ui by Viliami Finau (President Auckland Chapter) & Eseta Finau (tokoni sekelitali Auckland Chapter); third hymn by Ex-student Makasiamane Ueleni and the lotu tuku by Viliami Finau.

THE NEW ZEALAND THS EX-STUDENTS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING:

After the malanga was the NZ THS Ex-students Association Annual General Meeting (AGM) for 2001 held also in the church. It was attended by almost 100 THS Ex-students. The chairman was Viliami Finau. The associations financial statement was presented by the treasurer Nuku Tahaafe. The programme for the combined get together in June 2002 was presented by Rev. Tavake Tupou (programme appearing on web site soon). There was great interest and excitement amongst the ex-students whom attended as expected with regards to the coming get together for 2002.

THE TALITALI AT THE HALL:

After the AGM was the talitali at the hall. The guest of honour at the talitali was Hon. 'Elisiva Tauki'onetuku Vaha'i. It had all the celebratory excitement you could ever imagine, with 2 bands playing foot-loosening & heart-warming music, yummy food and excellent atmosphere and company. The MC's for the day were Ex-students Malakai 'Ofanoa and 'Aisea Kaifa. The lea talitali was by Ex-student Sione Liava'a. The different chapters, the different invited ex-student associations other than THS, and anybody whom was mafana had their own tau'olunga. The association thanks all guests, friends, families and ex-students whom contributed with a tau'olunga. A special thanks to the Wellington Chapter and their contribution.

During the talitali was also the drawing of the prizes for the Ex-student raffle by 'Elisiva Tauki'onetuku Vaha'i. There were 3 lucky winners of Tongan koloa on the day.

THE SOCIAL:

As night fell, a Social was also held at "The Ministry" night-club in Auckland City for those whom fancied a bit of boogying down. Reports have it as a very successful and fun night for those whom attended.

THE NEW ZEALAND THS EX-STUDENTS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER:

The NZ THS Ex-students Association Newsletter (Volume 1 for 2001) was also distributed on the anniversary day. Copies are still available. If you wish to have one sent out to you anywhere in the world please contact Eseta Finau on email: e.finau@auckland.ac.nz.).

FAKAMALO'S:

The NZ THS Ex-students Association wishes to thank the guests of honour, all guests, the Wellington Ex-students and their friends & families, all friends and family whom attended, the so helpful crowd of THS Ex-students at the Tokaikolo Fellowship (Sinaa, Makasiamane, Pule and many others) whom did a wonderful job with the teuteu fale of the church & hall and provided one of the bands and also all THS ex-students whom supported and graced our special day. And to Violani 'Ilolahia-Wills, Tae Tu'inukuafe, 'Alisi Punivai, Homegaurd Mailau, Temaleti & 'Isileli Tupou and all the THS ex-students, friends and family whom joined us from Wellington - from the executive committee, thank you all so much for making it such a memorable occasion.

NEW ZEALAND THS EX-STUDENTS PHOTOS:

Photos taken during the various THS Ex-student activities in Auckland have been kindly collated into a slide-show on this THS web-site by Loseli. Malo Loseli e ngaue lahi. More photos have been sent to Loseli and should be up and available for viewing soon. Please keep checking the web site for more photos.

NEW TEXTBOOKS FOR THS:

The combined NZ THS Ex-students Association recently made a major contribution towards the total cost of spanking brand new textbooks for the current school ordered from NZ. The principal Lata Langi has written to acknowledge the NZ Associations major contribution and to say the textbooks have been warmly received and used by the students of THS. The executive committee wishes to thank all its members here in Auckland and in Wellington for making this contribution possible.
JULY:

MONTHLY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING:

The Executive Committee had its monthly meeting on Monday 9^th of July at 7pm at the Medical School as usual. Obviously the main focus of this meeting was to do with organising things for the combined get together in June 2002. A number of sub-committees have been set up by the executive committee to look after the many different aspects of the programme for the get together. Each of the sub-committees are headed by someone from the executive committee. To all NZ Ex-students whom are keen to be part of these sub-committees, please do contact one of the secretaries ('Etuate Saafi: e.saafi@auckland.ac.nz or 'Eseta Finau: e.finau@auckland.ac.nz.). Your contribution is more than welcome.

AUCKLAND CHAPTER - THS EX-STUDENTS "POT LUCK-FELLOWSHIP GROUP":

The most important sub-committee (the Worship sub-committee) that has been set up and headed by Naita Puniani & Tavake Tupou is the first to kick off - starting 7pm Friday 20^th July. They have set up a fortnightly "THS Ex-students Pot-luck & Fellowship group". The main aim of this Fellowship group is to hufia the gathering in June 2002, to provide a healthy non-threatening environment for praying together and fellowshipping amongst fellow THS Ex-students and to look after the worship duties & arrangements during the combined get together in June 2002. All Ex-students are more than welcome. Please contact Naita for more details on KPuniani@adhb.govt.nz.

DATE FOR COMBINED GET TOGETHER IN 2002:

The date for the combined get together in 2002 has been set for Friday 31^st May - Sunday 2^nd June 2002. Please diary now. Please see proposed programme that will be sent to the Auckland Chapter - get together link on this web site soon.

NEW ZEALAND CHAPTER - FEES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CURRENT SCHOOL:

Short-listed THS student names have recently been received from the Principal of THS (Mrs Lata Langi) for the Auckland Chapter fees Scholarships offered to the current school for 2 THS students. The Association thanks Lata for her correspondence. The awarded students will be announced as soon as the committee has decided whom they have selected.

BOOK COLLECTION PROJECT:

The book collection project to send to the THS library is still continuing. For anyone with books to donate please contact one of the executive committee members or one of the secretaries. All the books will be collected together at 'Atalanga before being sent over to Tonga. The NZ Association is still patiently awaiting for a response from the Tongan Ex-students Association about a query sent them many pale green moons ago with regards to questions about the usefulness of CD-ROMs in the new library seeing this would be a less bulky and expensive alternative to sending over many tonnes of books. The NZ Association hopes to hear from the Tongan Association some time soon... maybe before Xmas would be good.

The current lack of initiative, organisation and communication & correspondence from the Tongan Chapter to the overseas chapters does not help capture the flow of compassion & keenness shown by the overseas Ex-students including NZ, from which the current school may have benefited from to help out the current school since the disastrous fire of October 2000.

That is all I can remember off the top of my head right now folks. Stay well and see you next time.

Faka'apa'apa atu
'Etuate Saafi
NEWS FROM TONGA:
Compiled by Siaosi Moengangongo:
During the SUTT annual conference in Vava'u, Halaevalu Palu, Viliami Ika and myself got to the land of plenty. We had a small but successful meeting with the Vava'u chapter. This is a first and it is one of the ways the current Council is endeavouring to create a closer link between the various chapters. The Council members were also fortunate to meet up with the notorius "Martha", one of the 2 stooges from Brisbane. We have been trying to contact the Brisbane chapter with no luck. Addresses were exchanged and the book drive project was explained. In fact, the Vava'u meeting was a mini international but unofficial one as there were ex-students from New Zealand, Australia, Tongatapu and Ha'apai.
Regards
Siaosi Moengangongo
NEWS FROM MELBOURNE:
The Melbourne Chapter conducted one of its scheduled meetings for the year on July,7. It was very pleasing to see members of our chapter whom we have not met before. We were also honoured to have Janet Rollo and Ngongo Kioa attending our meeting for the first time. Janet was made the president. Previously, our chapter voted to do without a president but later decided that we need someone to be our leader and to direct the younger members.
We have agreed to have a "get together night" for all families and other members on September,28.
Faka'apa'apa atu
Loseli
Until next time, take care!