Wife of Tongan victim could not attend services, but funeral unites parents

The funeral service for Taʻelata Mōleni, the father of 10 children who died in Mt Wellington last week will be held in Auckland today.

He will be buried tomorrow.

Three of his children with his wife will arrive in Auckland tonight (Tuesday, June 28).

He had six children with his wife.

His partner and their four children arrived in Auckland from Tonga on Saturday (June 25).

Taʻelata’s parents separated while he and his siblings were still young and they each married their new spouses, his brother Talāsinga Mōleni said.

Speaking from Tonga, Talāsinga said his parents contacted each other to discuss arrangements for their son’s funeral.

Taʻelata visited Auckland in the past two months to see his father, who he had not seen for a decade.

Talāsinga and his family will accompany Taʻelata’s three children and his wife to Auckland.

The dead man, who was 42, was involved in an altercation with four young men in the early hours of June 18.

He was walking home from a kava fundraising arranged by the Tongan kava drinkers in the area to raise money for him.

He had been due to leave for Tonga on June 21.

A 21-year-old man and a 16-year-old male appeared in court on Monday 20 charged with assault.

Both were from Otahuhu.

Police said further charges are possible as they are still working to identify others involved in the attack.

The main points

  • The funeral service for Taʻelata Moleni, the father of 10 children who died in Mt Wellington last week will be held in Auckland today.
  • He will be buried tomorrow.
  • The dead man, who was 42, was involved in an altercation with four young men in the early hours of June 18.
  • A 21-year-old man and a 16-year-old male appeared in court on June 20 charged with assault.

For more information

Last picture, Mōleni may have been mistaken for gang member

Body of Mōleni to be buried in Auckland, two appear in court (Kaniva News)

Body of Mōleni to be buried in Auckland, two appear in court

 

 

 

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