Tonga PM

The Auckland Regional Public Health Service said a young woman who went to the memorial at the Free Wesleyan Church in Favona on 15 September has since been diagnosed with measles.

A doctor with the service, William Rainger, said people who went to the memorial should be vigilant for symptoms of the highly infectious disease from today.

Dr Rainger said these include a high fever, runny nose, a cough and sore red eyes. A few days later a rash starts on the face and neck, and then spreads to the rest of the body.

Pacific leaders took to social media to express their condolences to the people of the Kingdom of Tonga and Mr Pohiva’s family,

The President of Palau, Tommy Remengesau Jnr shared a tweet on Twitter.

“On behalf of the People and Government of Palau, our sincere condolences to the People and Government of Tonga for the passing of The Honorable Prime Minister Pohiva,” Remengesau said.

Australia’s Prime Minister, Scott Morrison said he was “terribly saddened to hear of the passing of Tongan Prime Minister, the Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva.”

Mr Pohiva was medically evacuated to Auckland from Tonga Wednesday afternoon.

The Prime Minister’s Media Adviser, Lopeti Senituli has confirmed to Kaniva News the passing away of Mr Pohiva.

Pohiva,78, had been admitted to the Medical Ward of the Vaiola Hospital two weeks ago and was being treated for pneumonia.

A government statement said that on Tuesday 10 September, the medical experts at Vaiola Hospital decided that he should be medically evacuated to New Zealand.

Mr Pohiva, who was in Auckland for treatment for a liver condition earlier this year, became unwell after returning from the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Tuvalu several weeks ago.

He had been in hospital in Nuku'alofa for the past two weeks but doctors on Wednesday decided he needed medical evacuation to Auckland.

A spokesperson for the prime minister described his condition as "very serious".

The acting Prime Minister, Semisi Sika, said in a statement that he was urging the people to remember Mr Pohiva in their prayers.

Peters, who had requested the meeting, had offered to the Prime Minister his moral support and wished him an early recovery from the medical treatment he is undergoing at the Mercy Hospital.

The two leaders met Friday and took the opportunity to discuss the need for on-going cooperation between New Zealand and Tongan Governments, to address the drugs problem that the two countries are facing.

Discussions also focussed on Tonga’s new Parliamentary building, which the New Zealand and Australian Governments have committed to.

Tonga's Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva made the appeal in an interview with the Samoa Observer while discussing the impact of child obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Pacific.

Mr Pohiva said NCDs had everything to do with eating habits and lifestyle.

Pacific leaders meet and talk about the issue, yet initiatives they advocate do not have an impact, he said.

The effect in Tonga was telling, with life expectancy falling from 71 to 68 years of age, the prime minister said.

Last month 'Akilisi Pohiva began his second term in the local intensive care unit with an unspecified illness.

Mr Pohiva said he had still not recovered and didn't know how long it would take before he will be. In the meantime he said he was resting and trying not to be too involved in the workings of government.

Mr Pohiva explained that he was following doctors' orders.

"They advised me not to be involved, to get away from Tonga for a while and then come back but I can't. I have to have a look at what had happened and our plan for the future," Mr Pohiva explained.

Mr Pohiva said if these bodies failed to carry out their core functions to the best of their abilities, corruption in Tonga will continue to increase.

Radio Tonga said at his media conference, just days out from the election, documents were handed out which mentioned a former prime minister Lord Tu'ivakano.

In reply, Lord Tu'ivakano said false and inaccurate information aiming to ruin other people's reputations can cause chaos.

He has asked candidates running for parliament to respect the law and let the police carry out their core functions.

It is understood Sovaleni and Lavemaau were dismissed effective from Friday, September 1 at 5pm.

Pōhiva was very disappointed with the ministers, the spokesperson said.

The Ministers were allegedly involved in a conspiracy which led to the king’s decision to dissolve the Parliament ordering fresh general election in November to replace the current MPs and cabinet.

Lord Maʻafu has been appointed the new Deputy Prime Minister while Hon. Poasi Tei took over Sovaleniʻs Minisitry of MEIDECC. Dr Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa is the new Minister of Finance.

Last night, 1 NEWS revealed a group of 15 workers were sent home after allegations they were giving underage girls alcohol, marijuana and money in exchange for sex.

The number of incidents involving seasonal workers has almost doubled in the last year to 40.

They were mostly alcohol-fuelled and included stealing cars and crashing, an assault and exposing to a ten-year-old girl.

In response to the 1 NEWS investigation, Akilisi Pohiva said incidents involving Tongans may have caused some uneasiness between the two countries.