Critics say the Prime Minister of Tonga’s decision to cancel his plan to travel from Auckland to Katikati to see the bodies of five Tongans who died after Tuesday’s horrific crash showed lack of leadership.
Sitiveni, 44, his son Koli Vaipulu, 21, Sione Teulaka, 21, Halani Fine, 29 and Samuela Taukatelata, 28, were all tragically killed in a crash with an empty logging truck near Katikati.
Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva told New Zealand media yesterday he “must” go to Katikati to meet the families and see the deceased today.
Hon Pōhiva is in New Zealand on his first state visit and he was expected to leave for Tonga this Saturday.
However Sefita Haoʻuli, who coordinates the Tongan RSE workers in New Zealand and is currently in Katikati to organise services for the victims said last night Hon Pohiva could not make it to meet the families of the victims.
He said he was told Hon Pōhiva was expected to welcome the deceased bodies when they arrive in the kingdom.
Only four of the victims would be returned to Tonga.
The body of Halani Fine was expected to be buried in Northshore, New Zealand.
Hon Pōhiva was expected to hold a business meeting with the Henderson Car yard management in South Auckland this evening.
Vaʻa Taliaʻuli the Tongan sale manager at the Henderson said they invited the Prime Minister because of his role as president of Tonga Rugby Union.
Taliaʻuli said the company has sponsored the Manu Samoa and they wanted to do the same thing for the ‘Ikaletahi.
That’s the only agenda why the Prime Minister is here because we wanted to help the ‘Ikaletahi, Taliaʻuli said.
Melino Maka of the Tonga Advisory Council in New Zealand said the Prime Minister’s decision to skip attending the services for the victims in Katikati this evening is an embarrassment.
He said the tragedy hit the Tongan community hard and while the Prime Minister was here at where the incident occurred he did not go there.
Tongan Community Leader in Auckland Sālote Heletā Lilo said she respected whatever reasons that may have caused the Prime Minister to cancel his travel to Katikati.
May be there was an important commitment for him or he was not in a good health condition, Lilo said. But he should send someone from his delegation to represent him. It was important for him to be there.
In 2009 the government’s MV Princess Ashika went aground killing 73 innocent lives in Tonga.
Two days later the then King George V left for Britain on a holiday trip while searchers combing the Pacific ocean for signs of the missing ill-fated vessel and the victims.
