Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi

RNZ reports he said Nauru is deeply saddened by Ratu Joni's death and the country and region had lost a great statesman.

A statement from the Nauru government said Ratu Joni, who is a former Vice-President of Fiji, died in Suva after a short illness yesterday and he will be buried at his home island of Bau next Friday.

Ratu Joni was appointed as Nauru's top judge in September 2014.

Mr Waqa said Ratu Joni was instrumental in the recent reforms of Nauru's legal system, and had re-established integrity and honour to Nauru's court.

Reports say he died in Suva after a short illness.

Ratu Joni had been Nauru's chief justice for the past two years.

He had been Fiji's Vice President for two years until December 2006 when he was removed in the military coup led by Frank Bainimarama who then purported to be the president for several weeks.

Ratu Joni also served on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Solomon Islands set up in 2008 to deal with the aftermath of the ethnic tension.

Tonga's previous king made him a Lord.