Late Tongan PM

Late Tongan PM 'Akilisi Pohiva remembered as 'beacon of democracy'

His death was confirmed by the government this morning. Tonga's parliament has been adjourned indefinitely, and Mr Pohiva's deputy, Semisi Sika, is the acting prime minister.

Mr Pohiva, who became prime minister in 2014, was flown to an Auckland hospital with pneumonia on Wednesday, his condition steadily deteriorating. Mr Pohiva had been in poor health for the past few years, and he spent much of this year in Auckland being treated for liver complications.