Fifteen years after the death of two Tongan workers in New Zealand, the older sister of one of the men has written a tribute to her brother.
Sanualio Kiola and his cousin Savelio Lolesio died in 2003 when they went out on a boat in Whitianga Harbour with a workmate, Aisake Lavelua, to check a fishing net.
Police said Lavelua fell out of the boat and swam ashore.
The bodies of Kiola and Lolesio were found several days later. Their boat was found washed up on a sandbank.
Both men were married and had young children.
The two men were working for Auckland Stonemasons on the Whitianga Waterways Project, a NZ$100 million residential housing project along the canal.
Sēlina Kiola Mahe wrote on Facebook: “Yesterday all day I remember you! It has been 15 years now since you left but I always remember your birthday!
“I missed you so very much, especially yesterday dearest brother. Still hurt so much and I could not bring myself to write you this message.
“Still feel like it was yesterday that I first received your disappearance. I do not know when I will ever be able to let you go completely from my heart! I miss you so much my dearest brother.
“Knowing that God needed you as another angel around his throne and his reason for bringing you home to HIM, makes me find a little bit of solace in my heart.
“I am certain God and his angels celebrated your birthday in Heaven yesterday dearest brother but it hurts like hell!!!
“I miss you so much brother. Late happy birthday.”
The main points
- Fifteen years after the death of two Tongan fishermen in New Zealand, the older sister of one of the men has written a tribute to her brother.
- Sanualio Kiola and his cousin Savelio Lolesio disappeared in 2003 when they went out on a boat in Whitianga Harbour yesterday to check a fishing net.
- Selino Kiola wrote on Facebook: “It has been 15 years now since you left, but I always remember your birthday! I missed you so very much.”
For more information
Bodies of Tongan fishermen found https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3503973
