New Zealand bids final farewell to King of Tonga

Princess Pilolevu Tuita and other members of the Tongan royal household will observe a six-month mourning period for King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Mourners trickled in steadily yesterday to pay their final respects to the late King of Tonga, who was lying in state at the Tongan royal residence, Atalanga, in Epsom.

King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, who ruled Tonga for 41 years, died late on Sunday night at Auckland's Mercy Hospital after a long illness. He was 88.

His body lay inside Atalanga's main building, guarded by two members of the Tongan Defence Force. The gates outside the residence were heavily guarded by police and security guards.

The king's body will be taken to the Air Force base at Whenuapai today and flown back to Tonga in a Hercules aircraft, accompanied by members of the Tongan royal family. The aircraft is due to take off at 10.30am.

A state funeral will be held in Tonga on Tuesday. After the burial, Tonga will observe a one-month mourning period. The royal court will be in mourning for six months.

Tongan-born Ana Edwards, who has lived in Auckland for 46 years, said the late king was a great man and had done a lot for his people.

"I came here to pay my last respects. I am really deeply sorry that he has passed, but that's life," the 76-year-old chairwoman of the community group Fefine Fekumi Trust said yesterday.

"I believe he [the new king] will follow in his father's footsteps ... and democracy will come," she said referring to mounting public pressure for democratic change in Tonga.

"I would like to see the royal family stay and I would like to have a democracy too."

Most mourners were dressed in black and wore the traditional taovala (woven garment) tied over their skirts and trousers.

A group of about 50 mourners sat under a white tarpaulin and sang hymns throughout the morning.

Labour Party Pacific Island president Hola Taua said many people regarded the late king as a hero.

"We so respected our king. So many people said bad things about him, but we adored him."

She said most Tongan people wanted democratic change. "The new king will help that process. People want to keep the royal family, but want to be able to vote."

The new leader of the Kingitanga, King Tuheitia, arrived at 1pm with his wife and a group of about 50 supporters. They paid their respects and sang a karakia (prayer).

Prime Minister Helen Clark also paid her respects, as did National MP Georgina Te Heuheu and Green MP Keith Locke.

Tonga's new monarch, King Siaosi Tupou V, succeeds his father.