Tongan Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva dies in Auckland

Tongan Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva has passed away in Auckland, aged 78.

Pōhiva was medically evacuated from Tonga to New Zealand yesterday, after being treated for pneumonia. 

According to the Tongan Prime Minister's Office, the Prime Minister had been admitted to the Medical Ward of the Vaiola Hospital two weeks ago and was being treated for pneumonia. On Tuesday the medical experts at Vaiola Hospital decided that he should be medically evacuated to New Zealand.

The Acting Prime Minister had previously urged the nation to keep their Pōhiva in their prayers.

It comes after Pōhiva had been diagnosed earlier this year with a liver complication and he successfully underwent a medical procedure at Mercy Hospital in Auckland.

Pōhiva's wife, Neomai, died in 2018.