Lord Ma’afu to be laid to rest in Tonga on Monday
Nukua’lofa: The funeral programme for the late Lord Ma’afu, proceeded in Tonga after an Air New Zealand cargo flight landed at Fua’amotu Airport on Friday, repatriating his remains from New Zealand.
The burial will be held on the morning of Monday, January 3, at Huelo ‘o Hangai Tomb at Tokomololo. Rt. Hon. Col., Lord Ma’afu, Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister, died on 12 December 2021 at the Auckland City Hospital after a long illness.
The funeral in Tonga was postponed after the cancellation of two Air New Zealand flights to Tonga
on 21 and 28 December, due to volcanic activity at Hunga Ha’apai.
The flight landed at 12.30pm on Friday and a bearer party from the Ministry of Health, wearing protective clothing under COVID-19 restrictions, conveyed the casket from the aircraft to the hearse.
The arrival was observed by Queen Nanasipau’u, the Prime Minister, members of parliament, foreign diplomats and other VIPS who were at a marquee at Fua’amotu Airport.
The funeral procession travelled from the airport, and passed through the estate of Vaini, where mourners wearing funeral mats
sat on the roadside to pay their respects.
The casket was taken to Vaiola Hospital Mortuary, to be quarantined until Monday. Meanwhile traditional presentations will be made over the next few days at the Ongokie Residence (at Hofoa).
Lord Ma’afu accompanied by his wife, Lady ‘Uluakimata went to Auckland on 7 April 2021 for medical reasons.
When it became clear that he physically could not undergo treatment that was required, they wanted to return to Tonga but were unable to return because of the COVID-19 border restrictions.
The funeral service on Monday will be conducted by Pastor Fanueli Mataele, the President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Lord Ma’afu will be buried with his first wife Princess Lavinia Mata-o-Taone who passed away on 22 June 2018. They were married in 1980 and had two children Lavinia Fangaake Hoamofaleono Veikune and Tevita ‘Unga Tangitau Ma’afu, and eight grandchildren.
Lord Ma’afu later married ‘Uluakimata Tupou, and they had two daughters Charisse Ikafililava and Mele Seini ‘Alalate.