Touchstone Welcomes New Contributor

Iliesa has impressive credentials as a highly respected and experienced journalist, and church leader.

He has been engaged as a press secretary for Pacifika politicians and worked on many publications and as a member of networks and committees, in addition to a life-time commitment to Methodism. In Tonga and in Fiji Iliesa held many church leadership roles and he is a lay preacher for the Koroturaga Fijian Methodist congregation. Iliesa will provide regular WaseWase updates for Touchstone.

Iliesa shares his career and faith journey.

I am originally from the village of Tuatua, on the island of Koro, in the province of Lomaiviti in Fiji.

I am married to Asinate Tinai Tora, who is originally from the village of Yaroi, on the island of Matuku, in the province of Lau in Fiji.

We currently live in Island Bay, Wellington with our young son Samuela Gaunavou Tora, who has just entered Grade 9 at Rongotai College.

My career has been centred around media and communication since I joined The Fiji Times newspaper in Suva, Fiji on 1 June, 1988.

Subsequently I worked in various newspapers in Fiji and Tonga, and served as Editor at the Fiji Daily Post and the Fiji Sun in Suva, as well as on newspapers in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, including the Ko e Ita, The Tonga Daily News and Nuku’alofa Times.

I served as communication officer for the Ministry of Health in Suva and later the Department of Environment in Tonga. I also served as Press Secretary for the former Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni before leaving Tonga for New Zealand in March 2023.

I am currently sports editor with Radio New Zealand Pacific in Wellington.

Since March 2023 my family have been members of the Koroturaga Fijian Methodist congregation, where I also am a lay preacher. During our 11 years in Tonga we served with the Fijian Methodist Church in Tonga in different capacities. I was President of the Kubuna Fijian Community in Nuku’alofa for a number of years.

My family and I love God and believe it is our work to reach those who are in need in whatever way we can to show and share God’s love.nWe stand with Joshua and commit ourselves to serving God and showing Christ in us in our daily lives, wherever we are.