By Staff Writer
The late Justice Vaepule Alo Vaemoa Vaai funeral services in New Zealand were watched live online by family members and friends from Samoa this week.
The family service of the 67-year-old late Supreme Court judge was streamed live on a large screen from a funeral parlour in Auckland.
The large crowd of mourners in Samoa watched from the Vaivase residence of the Vaai Kolone family on Tuesday night.
Another live feed was also carried for the funeral service this morning, Wednesday.
Justice Vaepule died after a long health battle with a terminal illness where he was referred for medical treatment to New Zealand.
A lineup of prominent members of the Samoa community in New Zealand paid tribute to the member of the Samoan judiciary at his funeral services.
Former New Zealand MP Taito Phillip Field and Samoan magistrate Tagaloa Enoka Puni were among those who paid tribute.
Samoa’s Auckland based Counsel General Faolotoi Reupena Pogi extended official condolences from the Government to grieving wife Letuimanu’asina Dr. Emma Kruse Vaai, children and the family.
Justice Vaepule was a New Zealand educated lawyer who returned to Samoa where he worked in the legal profession both in the public and private sector.
He went on to join the Judiciary where he was on the magistrate /district court for closed to 20 years.
He became a Justice of the Supreme Court in 2016.
His wife Letuimanu’asina was a former lecturer at the National University of Samoa before she was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa Qualification Authority.
She resigned to be with her husband right up to the time of his passing.
The body of Justice Vaepule is to be cremated and his ashes returned to Samoa.
