The Governor-General, Lieutenant-General Sir Jerry Mateparae, will lead a delegation to Tonga on Tuesday for the state funeral of King George Tupou V.
Sir Jerry will be joined by the Deputy Prime Minister, Bill English, the ministers of foreign affairs, Pacific Island affairs and Maori affairs, and Labour Party leader David Shearer.
Prime Minister John Key is unable to attend as he will be in South Korea for the second Nuclear Security Summit.
Mr Key says the thoughts of the government and the people of New Zealand are with His Majesty's family, the people of Tonga, and the Tongan community in New Zealand.
Flags on government buildings in New Zealand will be flown at half-mast on the day of the funeral.
