The Tongan Noble Fakafanua (44) died suddenly this morning in Nuku'alofa.

The Prime Minister's Office confirmed that Fakafanua collapsed and died on Hala Vuna, Ma'ufanga, while he was out for his early morning walk.

He was the second young Tongan noble to die this month. His first cousin, Noble 'Ahome'e (35) died suddenly in Los Angeles, USA, on February 9, and was flown to Tonga yesterday where he will be buried on Saturday, February 25.

Hon. Tutoatasi Fakafanua, B.Com., LL.M, was a lawyer, who lived and worked in Auckland. He became the seventh holder of the Fakafanua title when his father died in Hawaii in May 2004. Noble Fakafanua is the estate owner of Ma'ufanga, in Nuku'alofa; Faleloa in Ha'apai; and Nga'akau in Tefisi, Vava'u.

Fakafanua became one of the youngest members of the Tongan Cabinet and Privy Council when he became the Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industries and Minister of Tourism in 1991. In 1995 he became Minister of Finance, and later was the Minister of Education until 2001 when he resigned from government and went to New Zealand.

He is survived by his wife Princess 'Ofeina, two sons and a daughter.

Fakafanua and 'Ahome'e were both nephews of Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho.