Fan zone? ‘It’s a great idea!’

Ivana Vaea (left) admits she knows nothing about league, but she’s been to every Mate Ma’a Tonga match held in Auckland. “I lost my voice,” she laughed. “I don’t understand the game, but it’s just supporting the boys because all Tongans support big like that.

“There’s no English word for it, but in Tongan we call that mafana. It’s like heart-warming. It’s a feeling that I believe no other country can have when we have it.”

Vaea, who grew up in the village of Houma but is now living in Auckland, said having a fan zone would be great for the community spirit and would allow people to celebrate in one safe place. “To be able to have a zone for us to gather at would be much better for us.

“That’s the reason why some people have been arrested — it’s because it’s not the place to go to. They’re standing on their cars and of course that’s not allowed.

“But if we had a fan zone, we can dance and jump on everything.”