KEY POINTS:
The family of the New Zealand man who died in the Solomon Islands tsunami have welcomed news that his body will be repatriated to New Zealand on a RNZAF Hercules tonight.
Teangauki Toma, 53, died trying to save his mother from the Solomon Islands tsunami.
Mr Toma's daughter, Juliette Launiuvao, said the family was overwhelmed after hearing this afternoon that his body would be flown home.
"Since this tragedy, this is the best news that we've had," she said.
Mr Toma was visiting his elderly mother and father in Gizo for the first time in 18 years.
He was trying to help his mother, who could not walk, after a wave wiped out his parent's home, when a second wave washed them away.
His mother's body has not been found.
Born in Kiribati, Mr Toma moved to New Zealand 34 years ago, and has worked as a Corrections officer for 17 years.
Mr Toma's wife and eight children have been in an anxious state of limbo since he died, wondering how they would afford to bring his body home to New Zealand.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters said today a "unique set of circumstances" had allowed the Government to bring Mr Toma home.
"Given we had an Air Force Hercules in the Solomons that was scheduled to return to New Zealand today with a contingent of soldiers, it made sense to help Mr Toma's family by putting his body on board," he said.
Ms Launiuvao said it had been a stressful wait for the bereaved family.
"We're so relieved that he's on his way home so that we can really start our grieving for him properly," she said.
A funeral was likely to be held on Tuesday, she said.
Mr Peters said around 200 New Zealanders died while overseas every year and it could not be expected that the Government would repatriate them all.
- NZPA
