The father-of-four killed in a workplace accident involving a forklift is being remembered as a "cheeky and fun" guy.
Hamani (Herman) Topui, 35, was killed at work on Neilson St, Penrose, on June 15.
His cousin Eniti Latu was was shocked when family called her with the news at 2am in California where she lives. She felt sorry for his wife and four sons.
"I was crying the whole night, I couldn't sleep. I just kept thinking of how he was such a nice guy; never any trouble in the slightest."
She said they had grown up together in Tonga, then Topui moved to New Zealand in 2004. Latu said Topui and his wife had four sons aged 9, 6, 5 and 3 and were a deeply religious family attending church every Sunday.
Latu last saw her cousin in 2012 when she stopped in New Zealand on her way to Tonga. Topui had taken her for a ride to One Tree Hill and generously given her a chilly bin of meat to take to Tonga.
"He always asked how I was doing - 'how are your kids? We're here for you.' He was just so kind.
"He was a funny guy, he always loved to joke. He loved reggae and music. He was always teasing us.
"It really touched our hearts when we heard this story. He's gone."
Latu had heard that Topui was unloading pallets from a container when, she understood, the heavy load unbalanced and toppled onto him.
"He tried to put it down, the load came straight to him and hit him. That's how he died.
"Nobody can tell it's him he's so smashed."
WorkSafe is investigating.
Latu said family had come to New Zealand from Australia, Tonga, America and England to honour him at his funeral tomorrow.
Topui was the second person killed in a workplace accident who has been named today.
Dayal Parbhu Patel, 59, died on June 9 after he was trapped under a beam at Pegasus Engineering, in the Izone Business Hub, Rolleston, near Christchurch.
