Tonga’s Prime Minister Hon Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva is expected to return to Tonga from New Zealand this weekend, after being away for five weeks for medical treatment. 

It is understood that a second stage of the PM’s treatment, that was originally set for May 16, has been rescheduled for early June.

Lopeti Senituli, the PM’s Political and Media Adviser confirmed this afternoon that the PM would return to Tonga in the weekend. “I hope to have more information by then”, he said.

The PM was admitted to Vaiola Hospital on March 28 where he was treated for “pneumonia like symptoms”, before leaving Tonga on April 5 for medical tests.

On April 30, it was confirmed that he was to undergo “a medical procedure due to a liver complication”. 

He undertook a first stage of treatment at Mercy Hospital in Auckland on May 8.

No other details were released about his condition.