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Brisbane’s Tongan Community mourns the passing of the Prime Minister of Tonga

12 September 2019

Brisbane, AUSTRALIA: The Brisbane Tongan Community have been saddened by the passing of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga, Hon. Samuela 'Akilisi Pōhiva in Auckland, New Zealand, aged 78.

In a social media post BTC Media stated “It is with a heavy heart that the Brisbane Tongan Community mourns the passing of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga, Hon. Samuela 'Akilisi Pōhiva.”

Hon. Pōhiva was the 15th Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga and most recently attended the Pacific Forum Meeting in Funafuti, Tuvalu, despite his ailing health.


Hon. Samuela 'Akilisi Pōhiva

Hon. Sēmisi Sika is the deputy and acting Prime Minister.

The passing of the Prime Minister comes as the Queensland capital prepares to welcome a delegation from the Tonga High Commission in Canberra, led by the esteemed High Commissioner, Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tuku‘aho.

The Princess will be Guest of Honour at the Spirit of Mamana cultural night and the Spirit of Unity combined Tongan Community church service on Sunday.

President of the Brisbane Tongan Community, Rev Maile Molitika said, “This is a time for our people to come together and mourn the loss of our Prime Minister and reflect on his many achievements for the Kingdom.”


The Brisbane Tongan Community extends its wholehearted condolences to the family of the late Prime Minister, the Government of Tonga, the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands and the Tongan people both in the Kingdom and abroad.

May he rest in God’s eternal peace. Media Contact: Sulieni Layt via email on brisbanetongancommunity@gmail.com or mobile on +61(0) 420 639 764.

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