NZ's Pacific community rallies for Jonah

Transcript

The organiser for a memorial service for Jonah Lomu this weekend in South Auckland says the response to the service has been incredible.

Tributes have been paid to the great All Black who died unexpectedly at his Auckland home on Tuesday.  He had suffered from a serious kidney disease for several years.

He represented New Zealand 63 times and became the most recognisable figure in world rugby.

A Tongan community leader Salote Heleta Lilo says she wants people to gather to talk about the legend of Lomu, the impact he had and will continue to have for years to come.

She told Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor the service will be held on Sunday at the Mangere church his family attended.

SALOTE HELETA-LILO:   The service will be a candle light [service] on the night for the immediate family.

MOERA TUILAEPA-TAYLOR:  Are you expecting a big turnout?

SHL:  Between 800-1000, I've got the South African community, the Tongan community, Samoan community, Cook Islands community and the Niueans.  Pacific islanders will come together.  I'm also inviting the family of Jonah Lomu, and I'm in the middle of negotiating, and all the Tongan church leaders will attend, and all different denominations.

MTT: Have you heard from his [Jonah] wife's family? Have they responded to the invitation to this Sunday's service.

SHL:  My communication is with the Mother [Jonah], and from there see what she says and I will take direction from there to make contact with his wife but yes, we are trying to get the family there on Sunday.

MTT:  And since you have made the call, you must feel so pleased about the support that's out there for this service.

SHL:  To be quite honest, from the community perspective, it's something that came to me automatically, that we should come together as one to memorialise a hero of rugby.  We must come together to remember what he did especially New Zealand and Tonga.  We need to be there to talk about the legend that we are so proud of.

Jonah Lomu's family have confirmed that a public memorial service will also be held for the rugby superstar, although details have yet to be revealed.