The body of the late Cook Islands election candidate, Kete Ioane, is being flown back from Auckland for his funeral scheduled for the end of the week in Aitutaki.
The Cook Islands News reports the Democratic Party candidate passed away in Auckland's Middlemore Hospital last week after a short illness.
The funeral will be held at midday on Thursday Cook Islands time.
The Prime Minister Henry Puna will represent the government at the funeral.