Big crowd celebrates Collins’ life
‘‘I am an ordinary woman who married an extraordinary man,” Vasa Fia Collins, flanked by her daughters Asalemo and Kaperiela, told the massive crowd at her husband’s memorial service yesterday. “Fes was born to lead.”
On the beautiful sunny afternoon in Manukau, thousands of people gathered at the Due Drop Events Centre to farewell Fa'anānā Efeso Collins. Songs of jubilation greeted the crowds who started arriving early to secure a seat at the venue, which was filled to capacity.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was among the dignitaries at the celebration of the Green MP’s life, along with the Samoan High Commissioner, United States Consul General, Auckland mayor Wayne Brown and governing body, and community leaders.
Collins, 49, died last Wednesday after collapsing at a charity event in Auckland.
Family spokesperson Taito Eddie Tuiavii said Fa'anānā was larger than life, with thousands turning out to pay their respects as he lay in state at the Tipene Funeral home in Onehunga this week. “He is an enigma, a man of he people. Just look at the number of people from all walks of life that have passed through Tipene to pay tribute to him.” Organisers said beforehand they were expecting record crowds at the memorial service in what was could be the “biggest public gathering” for a member of Parliament in New Zealand’s history. The New Zealand flag flew at half-mast on government and public buildings, the Ministry for Arts, Culture and Heritage said.
The last person to die in office was Labour
MP Parekura Horomia, who died in 2013 after an illness. Former Greens’ co-leader Rod Donald also died suddenly in 2005, the day before his scheduled swearing in for his fourth term in Parliament.