King Tupou VI of Tonga will pay his final respects to the late statesman Ratu Epeli Nailatikau when the former president lies in state at the State House on Thursday, the latest development in the farewell proceedings for Fiji’s high chief. The Tongan monarch’s attendance highlights an ancestral bond between the two families that traces back to King George Tupou II, sources said, and follows a family request that he be the first to pay tribute before he attends a University of the South Pacific graduation ceremony.
The three-day reguregu — the traditional period of mourning for a chiefly funeral — will open with the lying-in-state at the State House, where foreign dignitaries, government officials, traditional leaders and members of the public will have an opportunity to pay respects. A formal funeral service is scheduled for Friday, after which the family will host a light morning tea to accommodate visiting dignitaries and well-wishers who cannot make the trip to Bau Island for the interment.
Ratu Epeli, widely known by his chiefly title Na Turaga Na Taukei Naisogolaca, will be laid to rest at the chiefly burial grounds (sautabu) on Bau Island. The choice of Bau reflects his high rank in the iTaukei chiefly system and underlines the cultural significance of the rites that the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs says must be strictly observed.
Deputy CEO for Operations at the Ministry, Josefa Toganivalu, reiterated that strict traditional protocols will govern the proceedings. Officials have emphasised a formal dress code limited to black and white as a mark of respect for the late leader. Specific cultural guidelines have also been issued for female mourners: women attending the reguregu are being asked to untie their hair and carry handbags by hand in accordance with custom.
The ministry’s directives are intended to preserve the integrity of the iTaukei rituals given Ratu Epeli’s senior chiefly status and the traditional setting of the ceremonies. The reguregu is being managed to balance customary observances with the practical needs of large numbers of attendees, including regional leaders expected to travel to Suva for the farewells.
The announcement of the Tongan king’s role in the proceedings and the issuing of detailed cultural guidance are the latest developments since national leaders and the public began paying tribute to Ratu Epeli following his death. His passing has drawn significant local and regional attention, reflecting a lifetime of public service and the cross‑border ties of chiefly families in the Pacific.
As arrangements continue, officials have urged those planning to attend to observe the protocols laid down by the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and to follow guidance from family and traditional leaders to ensure the ceremonies proceed with the dignity and customary respect appropriate to Ratu Epeli’s rank.
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