A man accused of killing another man in South Auckland can now be named, five months after his initial arrest.

Uepa Tumaialu, 32, had been set to have a hearing tomorrow in which a judge would decide if name suppression was to continue until next year’s trial.

But defence lawyer Brad Moyer instead informed the High Court at Auckland during a brief hearing this morning that his client wished to abandon the application.

Justice Mathew Downs ordered suppression to lapse immediately.

Tumaialu was initially charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm following a June 29 incident at Beatty Lodge Accommodation in Ōtāhuhu.

Ivan Jordan Fifita, 33, was found critically injured at the scene and later died in hospital, prompting police to increase the charge to manslaughter.

Ivan Jordan Fifita died following an Ōtāhuhu incident in June 2025. Police have charged Uepa Tumaialu with manslaughter. Photo / Supplied

Counties Manukau CIB Detective Inspector Karen Bright said, prior to Tumaialu’s first appearance at Manukau District Court, that the quick arrest was a good result and police hadn’t ruled out the possibility of further charges.

She had earlier said the people involved in the incident were believed to be known to each other, which led police to believe there was not an ongoing risk to the wider community.

Police have declined to give further details of what is alleged to have happened that night, citing the pending court case.

Police investigate the scene in Ōtāhuhu where Ivan Jordan Fifita was fatally injured. Name suppression has now lapsed for Uepa Tumaialu, who has been charged with manslaughter. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Tumaialu’s case is set to be called again for a brief callover hearing in February, followed by a three-week trial set to begin in September.

He was excused from attending court today, with Moyer speaking on his behalf.

Craig Kapitan is an Auckland-based journalist covering courts and justice. He joined the Herald in 2021 and has reported on courts since 2002 in three newsrooms in the US and New Zealand.