Kali Fungavaka. Photo / Supplied
Auckland Constable Kali Fungavaka's body was last night taken on to Otara's Whaiora Marae as details emerge from a witness to the night he was arrested in Tonga.
Assaulted twice in Nuku'alofa - allegedly by two Tongan policemen, and then inside a cell by a prisoner - Mr Fungavaka's head
injuries were so serious that he needed surgery. The 38-year-old never regained consciousness and his life support was turned off last Thursday. His sister Miriam Filihia said the family would make more decisions about funeral arrangements once her father Tavake arrived tomorrow. He did not return on Saturday because another sibling, Bishop, was too distraught.
"My younger brother just took it hard, [Kali] coming back how he did ... so Dad stayed behind to comfort him," Mrs Filihia said.
The mourning would reflect Mr Fungavaka's wife Audra Watts' wishes and those of his wider family, who are members of the Church of Latter Day Saints.
"Our main focus is not only on his wife Audra but on the five children that he had. All we'd love is [the marae is] open to friends and family that want to come and pay their respects to Kali because I know that Kali did such a lot of hard work in the community."
