Tonga

Queen Mata'aho is to be laid to rest this morning after dying in Auckland last weekend.

RNZ reports the Queen Mother lay in state overnight at the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa while the takipo was held.

Churches were allocated an hour each throughout the night to pay homage to Queen Mata'aho through prayer and song while schools took turns to keep ceremonial fires burning outside until day break.

Deputy Prime Minister, Siaosi Sovaleni launched the Climate Change Trust Fund with the Asian Development Bank last Friday.

“The vision through the Climate Change Trust Fund is to enable all communities to strengthen their coping capacities by ensuring they have complete ownership of their projects, and to ensure that all communities are given the flexibility to design, implement, and steer the priorities, and future development of their communities,” said Mr Sovaleni.

Queen Mata'aho died last weekend at the age of 90 in Auckland.

A Royal New Zealand Airforce Hercules brought the Queen Mother home, landing at Fua'amotu about an hour ago.

The royal procession will travel by road from the airport to the capital of Nuku'alofa, a journey that spans some 20 kilometres and the streets are lined by school children, some waiting for over three hours to pay their respects.

Matangi Tonga online reported traditional presentations were made to the Royal Family yesterday, from people honouring the late Queen Mother.

Queen Mata'aho died last weekend at the age of 90 in Auckland.

Matangi Tonga online reports traditional presentations were made to the Royal Family yesterday, from people honouring the late Queen Mother.

Presentations were made by the Free Wesleyan Church and Seventh Day Adventist Church yesterday morning, and the tributes included Tongan koloa, garlands, livestock- including cows and pigs, as well as traditional root crops.

The vote against Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva was unsuccessful, with the Government holding on to power with a vote of 14 to 10.

RNZ reports the nobles had made a series of accusations about the way Mr Pohiva ran his administration in what was just the second ever vote of no confidence to be staged in Tonga.

The first, more than four years ago, brought the country to a near standstill for weeks, but the Royal Oceania Institute's director of research, Tevita Motulalo, said this time around the process was far less disruptive.

A group of grieving Tongans gathered at Whenuapai Airport in Auckland where they sang mournfully as the Queen Mother's body was carried onto the plane that will take her home.

The flight departed for Tonga at 9.25am.(local time)

The 90-year-old matriarch died in Auckland on Sunday, February 19.

1 NEWS Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver was given exclusive access to the royal family at Tonga's official residence in Auckland.

The 28-year old is one of 15 interns selected for the Pacific Cooperation Foundation (PCF) Summer Internship Programme.

She has been interning at Auckland Council as part of a team working on legal compliance.

Ana had aimed to get an understanding of what it would be like to work in another country other than Tonga, and also within a large organisation.

Summing it up, Ana says the experience has made a huge impact on her.

The aircraft is expected to arrive around 1pm (local time) on Tuesday, February 28 at Fua’amotu International Airport.

Her Royal Highness Princess Pilolelvu Tuita and members of the royal family and others are expected to accompany the casket on the Hercules aircraft from Whenuapai airfield.

The late Queen Mother will be taken to the Royal Palace in Nuku’alofa for the Takipoo on Tuesday night for people to pay their respect and will be interred at the Royal Tombs Mala’ekula, on Wednesday, March 1st .

The government has announced that Wednesday, March 1 will be a public holiday as part of a show of national respect to a queen who had been a wife of one king, and mother of two monarchs.

Kaniva News reports this has been confirmed in a cabinet meeting  Friday (February 24) in Nuku’alofa.

Flags will fly at half-mast from Tuesday, February 28, until the 10 takipō taboo is over.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Pasifika Futures has sent a message of condolence over the loss of the Queen Mother.

The death of the Queen had brought together the Tongan kāinga in Auckland according to their ha’a or how they are linked to the royals in blood and duties.

Kaniva news reports some of the ha’as were given the roles of preparing food to feed people who were tasked with keeping vigil around the Queen’s casket in ‘Atalanga.

This included feeding people who gathered in mourning at the memorial services organised for the Queen, which began Wednesday night at the Tuingapapai church.