Akilisi Pohiva, who died in Auckland on Thursday after being hospitalised with pneumonia, had been the longest-serving MP in Tonga and Prime Minister since 2014.
Last night's service was attended by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, her deputy Winston Peters, Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio, other government ministers and foreign dignitaries.
There wasn't an empty seat inside the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga in Māngere and many mourners stood outside the Tuigapapai hall.
Kepueli Pohiva said that was how much his grandfather meant to the people.
