King of Tonga visits Wesley Church in Wellington

The King of Tonga, Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u Tuku’aho are on their first official visit to New Zealand.

On Sunday they attended a service at the Wesley Methodist Church on Taranaki St in Wellington

Local pastor, Reverend Viliami Finau, said the children had been excited about the visit for weeks.

“It is very exciting for the little ones. It’s all they have been talking about,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen my grandchildren get up and ready for church so fast.”

The service was attended by members from Tongan churches from around the region including Wellington, Tawa, Lower Hutt, Avalon and Upper Hutt.

Tupou VI, whose full name is Ahoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho Tupou VI; was born 12 July 1959

.He is the younger brother and successor of the late King George Tupou V. He was officially confirmed by his brother on 27 September 2006 as the heir presumptive to the Tongan throne, as his brother (a bachelor) had no legitimate children.

He served as Tonga’s High Commissioner to Australia, and resided in Canberra until the death of King George Tupou V on 18 March 2012, when ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho became King of Tonga, with the regal name Tupou VI.

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