Photo: RNZ Navy
In August 2009, one of the worst modern maritime tragedies occurred in the waters of Tonga when the inter-island ferry, the Princess Ashika, sank, with a loss of 74 lives.
It was revealed after the sinking that it had been known the Ashika was a rust bucket and should not have been at sea, but the government of the time had ignored that advice.
Now a recent song, intended as a commemoration of the sinking, Maile A'Tevolo, by Talifolau Kinikini, has been banned by the country's national broadcaster, Tonga Broadcasting Commission.
Don Wiseman spoke with RNZ Pacific's Tonga correspondent, Kalafi Moala, about why they would refuse to play such a song.
