Our father Sosefo ofa Tangikihevaha Halangahu a.k.a Saia Akauola passed away on Sunday 24th May 2020 after a long battle with cancer. We have flown from Australia back to Auckland, NZ to be with him in his final days above ground and then lay him to rest next Wednesday 3rd June 2020.
We are Tongan and our cultural funeral processes run for a number of days prior to the burial. We have applied for medical exemptions from isolation to attend the the family house and see our father and then also attend the funeral service and the burial. But despite providing all the information required, they are yet to be approved.

With limited flights this has been a great financial cost to us, but the hardest thing is the emotional cost of not physically being with our dad. Our mother passed away more than 20 years ago and it is only our sisters there trying to organise everything with lack of financial, physical and emotional support. Support we, their brothers can provide them.
We have taken COVID tests in Australia on departure and Auckland on arrival and have displayed no symptoms at all. There is an extended family members empty 5 bedroom house that we can quarantine in but at the very least we are hoping to see our dad the night before he is buried for the APO at our family home. Then go to the funeral service and burial the following day. Please help us get our managed isolation exemption to be with our sisters and father at this difficult time ❤️