Kaipara tragedy victims buried today

A week after they set out on a fishing charter, two men will today be buried by their families after perishing in one of the worst maritime disasters in recent history.

Eight men died when the Francie capsized while crossing the Kaipara bar about last Saturday afternoon with 11 men on board.

Today, cousins Alipate "Pate" Manumu'a, 33, and Sunia "Junior" Onga'unga, 43, will be buried at private family ceremonies.

Their funeral was held at their Methodist church in Otara yesterday.

The men were both loving husbands and fathers, Manumu'a has three children and Onga'unga has four.

They enjoyed fishing together and would take charters with groups of other men about once a fortnight.

Funerals for the Francie's skipper Bill McNatty, 68, Aureua Aria, 59, Fonua Taufa, 43, have already been held this week and a service for Fred Marsters, 58, will be held on Monday.

The body of Tevita Tangi, 31, will be taken back to Tonga next week.

The body of Taulagi Afamasaga, 56, is still missing and the Francie's wreck has not been recovered.

Police have said they believe the man's body could be with the boat, and have resumed the search today with the Navy and Coastguard.