ROLLING IN HIS GRAVE: Tonga's colourful King George Tupou V, who died in 2012.

Tonga's colourful King George Tupou V is probably rolling his grave – as a bottle of his favourite wine is being used to support New Zealand's Labour Party.

The king, who died in 2012, took a dim view of democracy, once saying, "I think there is nothing more ridiculous than an impoverished democracy."

For his lavish coronation in 2008, he had 6500 bottles of Hunter Valley Cabernet Merlot produced with his coat of arms on it.

Among those to receive one was Labour's foreign affairs spokesman Phil Goff – who is now giving it away.

Tongan website Kaniva Pacific says Goff has given the bottle to Mangere Labour MP and Samoan Su'a William Sio for fundraising.

"The funds will be used for the Mangere Labour's 2014 campaign", Sio said.

"I want to give a heads-up to all my Tongan relatives, friends and supporters that I will be putting this wine bottle up for auction and it will go to the highest bidder," Sio said.

The label also features a picture of the king wearing a pith helmet. He was famous for his extravagant dressing up.



