Silakivai Vaea, a male teacher at Tonga High School, took his own life last week.
Police have yet to release details surrounding the incident but a family member has confirmed Vaea committed suicide.
His brother Henelē Vaea told Kakalu-ʻO-Tonga newspaper, the family regret Silakivai’s death. He said the family should have provided more care to Silakivai’s life conditions because they knew he suffered from “puputuʻu” (depression) for about 10 years now.
Henelē rejected rumours that Silakivai committed suicide after his marriage proposal was turned down.
The deceased was described as good character, quiet and a loner.
Henelē and his brother ʻAuka flew to Tonga from Auckland on Monday 20 to attend Silakivai’s funeral, the paper reported.
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