The bodies of the two Tongan victims killed in a bus crash in Gisborne on Christmas eve will be returned to Tonga on Saturday.
Sione Taumalolo, 11, died along with Talita Fifita, 33 in the bus crash near Gisborne on Christmas Eve. Photo: Supplied
Fifty-three people were onboard the bus when it plunged 100 metres down a steep bank killing 11-year-old Sione Taumololo, and 33 year-old Talita Fifita.
The crash victims were students of the Mailefihi Siu'Ilikutapu College brass band from Tonga who were on a fundraising tour around New Zealand.
The President of the school's alumni association in New Zealand said the bodies would undergo a post-mortem in Rotorua before arriving in Auckland today.
Mele Siuipi Latu said the remaining survivors of the crash would also arrive in Auckland today.
"By Thursday night, the bodies will be taken to a church in Ponsonby and there will be an official service for them there with families and friends and people of the churches," she said.
"There bodies will be taken to the airport on Friday night, they will be taken to Tonga on Saturday."