Thomas ''Turtle'' Tamitei Huiateroa (48) died at his Inch Clutha home on Saturday night.
His fiancee, Joanne McDiarmid, told the Otago Daily Times ''I had a lovely life with Turtle ... he made me happy and I was always laughing''.
The couple, who met two years ago and became engaged on Valentine's Day last year, planned to marry in August.
On Saturday, just before he returned to their home, she told him: ''Turtle, love you always, you will always be in my heart''.
Later, from her family's neighbouring farmhouse she saw flames rip through their wooden home.
She rushed out to see what had happened.
''I was hoping Turtle got out and that he would be with us now.''
She smashed a window to their bedroom - sustaining cuts that later required stitches - ''but that didn't matter because I wanted my partner Turtle''.
''I was about to climb through the window but I just couldn't see. There was too much smoke.''
Ms McDiarmid said she knew then that all hope was lost.
''It was just terrible.''
She had also lost her possessions and their dog, Scoobie.
Family and friends moved the body to a hearse on Sunday morning.
The body was later taken to Dunedin for a postmortem and the death has been referred to the coroner.
Plans were being made to return him to his East Coast North Island family, including his teenage son.
''He was just such a lovely partner. He had a kind heart and he would do anything for anybody.''
Ms McDiarmid said he always helped her parents around their Inch Clutha farm, and was working at a local panel beaters.
