The Aongatete Coolstore staff and workers said their last goodbyes this morning to their former workmates who were victims of the tragic crash in Katikati.
The tragedy was still so fresh in the hearts and minds of the Aongatete workers as they came and paid their respects before the funeral cortege left Katikati on a two-hour travel for Auckland airport awaiting the final trip home to Tonga tomorrow morning.
The co-workers, who were visibly devastated, followed the funeral cortege along the driveway as it passed slowly through Aongatete workplace into the State High Way 2 where the victims were all killed on Tuesday 2.
The funeral cortege arrived in Auckland at 4pm.
Sitiveni Vaipulu, 44, his son Koli Vaipulu, 21, Sione Teulaka, 21, Halani Fine, 29, and Samuela Taukatelata, 28, all died instantly when the car they were in collided with a logging truck in New Zealand’s third most dangerous highway.
Fine’s body had been laid to his resting place in Northshore, New Zealand today.
The travellers from New Zealand to Tonga will be led by Rev Fono ‘Ahio. The flight will depart Auckland tomorrow morning at 6.45am on Air New Zealand flight NZ0270.
Sefita Haoʻuli who is coordinating the Tongan RSE workers in New Zealand said the Tongan government has organised a memorial service for the deceased at the Fuʻamotu international airport before their various families will accompany them homes.
