The King of Tonga at peace

Monday, 11 September 2006, 10:23 am
Press Release: Tongan Palace Office

Kuo to ‘a e la’a ‘o e ‘Otu Tonga: The sun has set in the Kingdom of Tonga.

His Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV passed away peacefully at 11.34pm, on Sunday the 10th of September at Mercy Hospital. He was surrounded by the love and prayers of Her Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho and members of the Royal family. The Prime Minister of Tonga Honourable Dr Feleti Sevele was also in attendance in Auckland.

Early this morning His Majesty was conveyed to Lambert Fountain in Papakura, accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho, HRH Princess Pilolevu, HRH Princess Siulikutapu, and HRH Princess Ofeina ‘e he Langi and other members of the Royal Family. Prayers for his Majesty the King and Royal Family were conducted by the Royal Chaplain Dr Reverend Alifeleti Mone and members of the Free Wesleyan / Methodist Church.

It is likely that His Majesty the King will lie in state at Atalanga, the New Zealand Royal Residence, in Epsom tomorrow. On Wednesday he will return to his beloved Tonga. A Royal New Zealand Airforce C130 aircraft will convey His Majesty from Whenuapai airbase to Tonga where he will lie in state.

His Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV will be deeply mourned by Tongans.

Media Release issued by the Palace Office, Lord Chamberlain Honourable Fielakepa.

Further information will be released on the website: www.palaceoffice.gov.to as it is available.

ENDS

World Headlines

WORLD > >

Gaza: 10,000 Gaza Workers Laid Off Due To Tightened Blockade

The Palestinian government said 10 thousand workers have joined the unemployed after construction materials stopped to flow through the underground tunnels along the Egyptian border. More>>

Greenpeace: New Zealander And Arctic Sunrise Captain Refused Bail in Russia

New Zealander David Haussmann, along with the captain of the Greenpeace International ship Arctic Sunrise and one other activist, has been refused bail in Russia. The Greenpeace International activists appeared this morning before a court in Murmansk. More>>

Liberia: Charles Taylor Transferred To UK For Enforcement Of Sentence

Charles Ghankay Taylor, the convicted former President of Liberia, was transferred today from the Netherlands and the custody of the Special Court to the United Kingdom, where he will serve the remainder of his 50-year sentence for war crimes and crimes ... More>>

West Papua: Asylum Seekers Dumped In Remote Refugee Camp

Six of the West Papuans who sought asylum in Australia after being persecuted for their involvement in a ceremonial handover of sacred water and ashes as part of the Freedom Flotilla, were relocated under armed guard to Kiunga on Saturday the 12th ... More>>

Pacific: Role Of Rural Women In Responding To Climate Change

On the International Day of Rural Women, the UN's top climate change official Christiana Figueres drew attention to the important role of rural women in responding to the challenge climate change. More>>

Pacific: U.S. Announces First Sale Of Apaches To Indonesia

Indonesia signed a letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) with the U.S. government to buy eight new Boeing AH-64E Apache helicopters during U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s recent trip to Southeast Asia. More>>

Asia-Pacific: UN Survey On Men Who Use Violence Against Women And Girls

A UN study of 10,000 men in Asia and the Pacific, released today, found that overall nearly half of those men interviewed reported using physical and/or sexual violence against a female partner, ranging from 26 percent to 80 percent across the sites ... More>>