Tonga's ailing King sends 'thank you' message

King Tupou

Tonga's King has passed on his appreciation for the prayers and good wishes from visitors to the private Auckland hospital where he has lain ill for the past three weeks.

Lord Chamberlain Noble Fielekepa told the Weekend Herald yesterday that Maori and Pacific Island representatives had paid their respects at Mercy Hospital.

He said the King had not been well enough to see his visitors but had said he appreciated their attendance.

One who did meet the King was French Polynesian President Oscar Temaru, who was also in New Zealand to pay his respects to the late Maori Queen, Dame Te Atairangikaahu. Mr Temaru had said that in the half-hour visit he had found King Tupou weakened but in control of his faculties.

Samoa's Deputy Prime Minister, Misa Telefoni Retzlaff, and staff of the Chinese consulate had also visited.

On Monday, Maori Party MP Hone Harawira dropped in with two busloads of mourners on their way north from Dame Te Ata's funeral.

Mr Harawira said on the party website that after leaving Turangawaewae, he asked his kaumatua whether they could stop at Mercy Hospital to pay their respects to King Tupou.

"They agreed and at 5.30pm two busloads pulled in at the hospital and moved into the lobby."

Mr Harawira said the King was resting, but his daughter, Princess Pilolevu, and members of the royal Tongan entourage came down to join them in a short karakia.

"It was a simple but moving affair, followed by a speech of thanks from the King's talking chief. I thanked the Princess for agreeing to our visit, asked her to pass on our best wishes to her father, and reaffirmed our links to our Pacific cousins."

Mr Harawira said one of the Tongan entourage called the visit a significant occasion for the King, and said "he would ensure our best wishes were passed on".

Chamberlain Fielekepa said yesterday that doctors were keeping a close watch on King Tupou. His condition was "not good" but better than news reports had implied.