Remembering Lio: Community to gather for Timaru pastor, father and ‘family man’

Suliana Fotofili wishes she had the right words to talk about her husband Lionati.

The love she feels for him, and the huge impact he had on her life, is easy to talk about in Tongan, she says.

But English is her second language, and she hopes when she speaks at a remembrance service in Timaru in honour of her husband and the father of her two children, she portrays just how she feels.

The man she speaks of, known as Lio, was the Timaru Church of Tonga’s pastor, aged 44.

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He went fishing for his congregation on December 29, at one of his favourites spots – the Ōpihi River mouth, but he never came home.

He was reported missing, in the early hours of December 30, and ever since his family, and friends, have been scouring the South Canterbury coastline.

Water Safety New Zealand’s provisional 2022 drowning statistics show there were 93 preventable drownings in NZ waters in 2022 – 18 in the South Island.

Fotofili’s life will be honoured at a service organised by his family and friends, at the Caroline Bay Hall on Saturday.

To Suliana and her family, he was a loving husband and father, with a huge love of life, rugby, the water and even a talented trombone player.

The weeks since have not been easy for his wife, or his family and friends.

Until recently, Suliana had rarely left the site where she last saw her beloved husband fishing at the river mouth, the thought of returning to a home without him almost too much to bear.

The support of the community is what has kept the family going, she says.

“There is a big list of people to thank.

“I have felt very supported, that is true.’’

Suliana will never get tired of talking about her husband, she says.

“People are probably tired of me talking about him, but I will never get tired of talking about him. I love him.

“It is important I talk about him.’’

Lionati Fotofili was born in Tonga and moved to New Zealand, with his family in 1996.

He went to Papatoetoe High School and played rugby and league.

“Both those sports were really important to him,’’ Suliana said.

Another of her husband’s hobbies was music.

“He was a member of brass bands and learnt the trombone at school.’’

He was also a member of a brass band when he moved to Timaru almost 30 years ago, but stopped when he began working night shift at Alliance Smithfield, she said.

He also played the guitar at home.

“Another hobby was drinking kava, so he liked to play the guitar while he was doing that with the boys.’’

Despite leaving Tonga when he was young, Suliana said her husband was “very proud’’ of his heritage.

Fotofili was ordained as a minister at the age of 29 and started the Timaru branch of the church of Tonga.

She wanted Saturday’s remembrance service to be open to anyone who knew her husband.

“I want anyone who wants to speak about him, to speak.’’

She said her sons, 14-years old and 14-months old, were missing their father.

“It’s really hard to say but I think they are starting to understand the reality of their future. Dad is no longer here with us.’’

The service will be held at the Caroline Bay Hall on Saturday at 11am. Those who attend are asked to bring a plate of finger food to share, and to dress in red – Fotofili’s favourite colour.