"Oh man it was crazy," he chuckles, searching for words to describe what that was like.
"I don't know how to explain it - I'm just very happy with how everyone has been making me feel welcome and part of everything."
Tu'inukuafe produced three solid outings off the All Blacks bench; strong in the scrum (just ask French tighthead Rabah Slimani, whom he monstered in his involvement in Auckland) excellent lifting in the lineouts (a skill underappreciated by most) and good in the tight as well as defensively.
However it's the off-field lessons that Tu'inukuafe believes will help him and his franchise in the last stanza of his initial Super Rugby season.
He acknowledges the heightened importance given to preparation in the All Blacks camp, which he thinks is where he can definitely improve in his game.
"I've learnt a whole lot even from just watching players and seeing how they do things.
"And then there's [All Blacks forward coach] Mike Cron with the small tips that he'll throw into the scrums and a whole lot of things that change the way you look at things."
His first opportunity to put his All Blacks education to practical use should come this Saturday night in Fiji, when the Chiefs face the Highlanders in Suva in a vital Super Rugby encounter.
The Chiefs are three points behind the Southern franchise, with both sides jostling for position in the wild card battle.
"Their forward pack is a bunch of physical boys and we're going have to match them up front," he says with a small grin which indicates he's looking forward to that aspect of the contest.
Tu'inukuafe is keen on some warmer temperatures too.
"It was freezing last week [in Dunedin], so looking forward to playing in Suva, if I get selected."
One strongly suspects that he will be.
