And he loves the South, which convinced him to stay in New Zealand rugby and at the Highlanders until the end of the 2017 season.
Fekitoa's signing was announced yesterday and the hard-running centre said staying in Otago was the way to improve on the field.
''After last year, I can see the difference from back up north. I love it down here. Everyone is so friendly and people are so welcoming. When I go into shops people smile and say `hello'. I just love the way we train and do things here,'' he said.
''I think it shows out on the field. I enjoy my rugby. Guys around me are very supportive. We have fun when we play and sometimes it showed through in playing well. Hopefully, it can carry on.''
There was some attraction to the thought of returning north. He did not name them but he had talked to a couple of teams.
In the end, the pull of wanting to be a better player kept him wearing a Highlanders jersey.
''I thought maybe I wanted to go back home, and go to a bigger market. But looking at my rugby and where it would develop and get better from now, here would be the best chance to do that.''
Fekitoa came to the Highlanders at the start of last season after a disappointing 2013 with the Blues, not logging one minute with the northern franchise.
The 22-year-old appeared to be entering the last chance saloon when he washed up at the Highlanders, saying he took his dumping from the Blues hard.
''It knocked me around. I'd never had that before. Every team I had been in, I used to play every minute in every game.
''But I thought I was gone. Everything was gone. Thought I was going to go back home to Tonga. But luckily enough Jamie [Joseph] saw something in me and said come down and try the South Island.
''I thought, we'll see. But I appreciated it more. So I trained as hard as I could and it just went from there.''
Joseph said yesterday he would love to unearth another 14 Fekitoas this season but that was putting huge pressure on players.
He said the signing of the big centre was a sign of confidence for the team and the franchise.
''Malakai came down here as a gap year so to speak and to prove a few people wrong. And he proved that - more than that, really, I think he played eight tests in all,'' Joseph said.
''What is important for Malakai is he gets some certainty and he can just concentrate on playing rugby. And we know he can do that because he is a good rugby player.''
All Black coach Steve Hansen said it was great to see young talented players like Fekitoa committing themselves to New Zealand rugby.
''He made an impressive start to his international career last year and we look forward to watching him develop further this year,'' Hansen said.
Fekitoa played every game last year for the Highlanders and will start against the Crusaders tomorrow night in what is the start of a big season for the Tongan-born centre.
''It is a massive year. You feel the pressure already. But I just try to think of my job and do things right.''
