Leaders pay tribute to King Tupou

Helen Clark

Prime Minister Helen Clark said flags on government buildings in New Zealand would fly at half mast today and on the day of the funeral as a mark of respect for Tonga's King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV who passed away last night.

Helen Clark said the people of Tonga had revered the king throughout his reign.

He had followed a path of peace and stability for his country, she said.

"While retaining the important cultural heritage and institutions of Tonga, he also sought to place Tonga in a position to take advantage of the benefits of economic globalisation.

"Achieving this difficult balance will be perhaps the king's greatest legacy for Tonga."

Foreign Minister Winston Peters and National Party leader Don Brash gave their condolences to the king's family and people of Tonga.

Mr Peters said King Tupou was one of the region's "great leaders", who would be missed throughout the Pacific and beyond.

Many New Zealanders, including the more than 40,000 Tongans living here, would mourn the king's passing, Mr Peters said.

Dr Brash said the king was "loved by his people for his wise and benevolent stewardship of Tonga's affairs".

The king's greatest legacy might well be the widespread introduction of education that had seen Tongan people become among the best educated in the Pacific region, Dr Brash said.

Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons also offered condolences to the Tongan people.

"We join the Tongan Royal Family and the people of Tonga in their grief at the passing of their Head of State.

"During King Tupou IV's long reign Tonga became an independent sovereign state and joined the Commonwealth and the United Nations. It has been a time of much change, but also peace and stability for his country and he will be remembered for this," Ms Fitzsimons said.

Details of the funeral were not yet available.


- NZPA