15 July 1930 – 19 January 2026. Dearly loved husband of the late Ngaire, loved father, father-in-law and grandfather of Wendy and Dan, Riana, and Makayla; Barry (Brush) and Nola, Ben, and Nick; Leanne (Lil), Cushla, Zoe, Sinead, and Jackson, the best great-grandfather of 10, treasured brother, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin, and friend of many. Messages to 172 Brittan Street, Hokitika 7810, or may be left on Thomas’ tribute page at www.thompsonfd.co.nz. The last tôtara to fall — a man who made the hard call to leave his post, King of the Jacobs to the very end. The rum will still flow, wherever you’ve ended up. A Requiem Mass will be celebrated in All Saints Church, 57 Bealey Street, Hokitika, on Friday, January 23, at 2pm, followed by burial with Ngaire in the Hokitika Cemetery. Recitation of the Rosary to be held in Thomas’ wee flat, 50/123 Tudor Street, Thursday evening, at 7pm.
“Haere atu râ e te kaumâtua, ki te kâinga o te wairua. Kua oti tô mahi i te ao mârama — moe mai râ.”
Thomas Andrew Rochford
January 19, 2026
So sorry to hear of Tom’s passing. Tom and Ngaire were both lovely people and now they are together again. Sending my condolences to Brush and Nola.
Sorry to hear of Tom’s passing. He certainly was the king of the Jacobs with many stories to share over the years we have been baiting there.
Our condolances to you all.
Shand & Power families.
What sad news . So sorry to hear.
A lovely man . RIP . Sending sincere condolences and love
Maria and Mike
The mighty totara has fallen,but his smile love and memories will remain. .
Sleep in the peace so deserve.
X
Condolences to all Thomas’s’whanau. Thomas was one of life’s gentleman. Always a pleasure to meet him from when we were kids in Fox to later years.
Jim & Maureen
So sad to read this. Thinking of all the families.Stay strong for each other x
Condolences to all the family.
A great ‘innings’ Thomas.
Remembering lots of fun dances and badminton matches in the Bruce Bay Hall.
Keep on tinkling those ivories.
Sincere regards from the Jacobs River Adamson family
Such sad news. Thomas was a lovely man…he will be so missed. I’ll never forget my one and only attempt at moss picking with him…a story I tell often. Thomas, Ngaire and the family were like family to me when I arrived my heart goes out to you all. Sending you all much love xx
Julie & Rob Wilkinson
Condolences to all Thomas’s’whanau. Thomas was one of life’s gentleman. Always a pleasure to meet him from when we were kids in Fox to later years.
Jim & Maureen
Sorry to here about tommy,s passing to all the family my condolances rip tom
Condolences to all the families. RIP Thomas.
Cheryl and Clarke
To Brush and Nola, and your boys: While we never met “Grandad Thomas,” Ben and Megan spoke volumes about him. He is, rightly, held in high esteem and is not seated at the right hand of God our Father.
Kia Kaha, to you and your family. Losing a totara is always tough.
~peter & robyn.
Please accept our sincere condolences on the passing of Thomas. He was truly an absolute legend. Our thoughts are with you all during this very difficult time.
“Now seated”… sorry, typo!
The mighty totara has fallen,but his smile love and memories will remain. .
Sleep in the peace so deserve.
X
My condolences to Rochford family this is sad to hear of Thomas
‘s passing we grew up as neighbours and cousins and I have a lot of memories of him
Farewell to another South Westland Legend. Kindest and best wishes to the family.
The Monk family, Paringa and beyond
So sorry to hear about Thomas passing the end of an era. He was a lovely man always smiling.
Heading over to the coast but we will just miss the funeral.
Sorry to here about Thomas. Thinking about you all. I had a lot of good times with Thomas as a wee kid.
I Cared for both Thomas and Ngaire, as a Support Worker. Such a lovely Couple. A Pleasure to Care for them both. Back in each other’s arms. My thoughts are with your Family, at this time.
To Brush, Nola & family, our heartfelt sympathy to you all on the loss of a very special man. Treasure the memories, RIP Thomas
Very sorry to hear of Thomas passing a lovely man and a true gentleman who always had time to say hello.I have good memories of him from the past.Condolences to all the family
RIP Thomas, always loved listening to you play the piano at the Fox Hotel it was neat, you got on with everyone and had a great life. A true West Coaster, and will be dearly missed by all.
Brush and families So sad to hear of your lovely Dad’s passing .My thoughts are with you all at this sad time A true gentleman RIP Tomas
So sad to hear. My deepest condolences to all the family. My thoughts are with you all at this sad and difficult time.
Adrienne Arnold
Deepest sympathy to you all. RIP Thomas.
Leanne, Brush , Wendy and families.
So sorry to hear of Thomas’s passing. Such a lovely man.
Condolences Wendy & family
Brush,Nola, Leann and whanau. Thinking of you all.
Kia kaha Whanau
Oh Brush. I am so sad to hear this news. John was his best mate and we never missed a chance to see Thomas and Ngairie on our visits from Australia. John’s been gone nearly 5 years now, but in sure they’ll meet up and create havoc up there as they always did down here.
Condolences to all the family. Thomas had a wonderful life and created many memories for us all.
Brush and whānau, sorry to read this. Thinking of you xx
To Wendy ,Barry , Leanne and families, please accept my deepest condolences, I too have lots of memories of both Ngaire and Thomas growing up and will be thinking of you all at this time ,and agree with other comments about Thomas tickling the ivories as they say and continue to entertain wherever he is .
To Wendy & Dan , Barry & Nola, Leanne and whanau xx Thoughts are with you all in the loss of your legend of a Dad. I will miss the yarns and laughs that Thomas shared , getting the porridge just perfect and the sing alongs we had when he broke out the keyboard. Its been an honor and privilege Thomas to have been your support worker over the last few years , you will be sadly missed by many xxxx
What a legend lost. Condolences to all of the family.
Our deepest condolences to your whānau whanui. Such a sad loss of a gentle man.
Arohanui nā Waikohatu Scott and whānau 🌹
So sorry to hear of Thomas passing,
Sending our condolences.
Karen and Darrin Pearson
Kua hinga te tōtara i te waonui a Tāne. Such found memories of this great man. Have a beer with dad – he has been waiting a long time x
Kia ora Barry me te whanau Hoki
What a wonderful long life lived fully to the end. The last of a generation now at peace. E te Ariki hoatu ki a ia te okiokinga ton tanga
Moe mai ra Thomas
Tui Cadigan RSM
So sad my he RIP Thomas a great gentleman .
Our deepest condolences to all the family on your loss of another true Sth Westland legend & identity, a great fellow. I’m sure many a yarn or two will be shared & lots of reminiscing over this time.
R.I.P Tommy & reunited with Ngaire 😇
Our deepest condolences to all the family on your loss of another true Sth Westland legend & identity, a great fellow. I’m sure many a yarn or two will be shared & lots of reminiscing over this time.
R.I.P Tommy & reunited with Ngaire 😇
Sad news about Thomas. Condolences to you all.
To Wendy, Brush, Leanne and Families so very sorry to hear that your Dad Grandad has passed away. A true gentleman who was known by all. Sending love and thoughts with you all and remember memories hold onto them for life. R.I.P Thomas Fly High
To Nola and Barry, Wendy, Leanne and families. Sorry to hear of the loss of your father. Thinking of you all at this time.
To Wendy , Barry, Leanne and Family, It was a honour to of known Thomas, a man who aways had a smile on his face.
My condolences.
Terry Bedford
Deepest sympathy to the families of Thomas
Kind regards
To all of the Rochford family, cousins, nieces, nephews etc., my deepest sympathy to you all. Thomas was a lovely man & a great piano player who loved a good night out especially when he was whitebaiting down south at Jacobs River. RIP Thomas.
Dear Wendy, Brush, Baby Lil, Danny, Nola and all the cherubs, BIG love and hugs to you all. The world was a better place for having Tomma in it and we are privileged to have known and loved him. We will miss him.
Love Kaye, Kathryne, Bobby and the girls xxxxxx
Thinking of you all at this time So many cherished memories. So many stories to be told x
Thomas, thank you for making our “whitebait stand” ownership one of the best times of our lives. The knowledge and the fun we shared was the “Best”. Condolences to your family.
Rodney, John and Budge
Condolences to Brush, Wendy, Leanne & whanau. I hope that special memories help see you through these difficult days. Sending aroha to you all
What a fine very much respected man who will be sadly missed. A great hunter, fisherman, gold miner, family man and more. Fortunate to have spent many a good time with Tom & Ngaire down at the Jacobs. Aroha to all the family.
So sorry to hear of Thomas’ passing. He was a legend.
My sincere condolences to all of his family.
Thomas what an amazing long life he had almost a record for our family I would say. A cousin full of life and fun as I remember him. Rest in peace with Ngarie.
Love to all the family at this sad time. Pam Coutts.
Thomas what an amazing long life he had almost a record for our family I would say. A cousin full of life and fun as I remember him. Rest in peace with Ngarie.
Love to all the family at this sad time. Pam
Condolences to all the families. I have fond memories in my younger days of the gatherings at the Rochford household, always lots of fun food and laughter. Another iconic legend gone, Rest in peace with Ngaire, Thomas xx
Sincere condolences to you Brush, Nola, Nick and Ben and all the Rochford families on the passing of your Dad Brush. From the Monk Family.
So sorry to hear of Tom’s passing, thinking of you guys