‘Generations feel the ripples of it’
An official apology to be given today will finally validate the traumatic experiences of Pacific peoples who endured the 1970s dawn raids, under successive Labour and National governments.
It comes after two Pacific men launched a petition supporting the Polynesian Panther Party’s call on the Government to apologise.
That petition, which attracted 7366 signatures, was delivered by Josiah Tualamali’i and Benji Timu on June 23, and accepted by Te Pa¯ ti Ma¯ ori leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi.
The immigration dawn raids of the mid-1970s disproportionately targeted people of Pasifika heritage, suspected of overstaying their visas.
Tualamali’i says while he’s much younger, “Pasifika generations feel the ripples of it personally”.
“The tentacles of that hurt and things that perpetuate the past, means that the past isn’t in the past.”
Tualamali’i, who has a background in mental health advocacy, says the trauma it caused was the reason he decided to support the Panthers and elderly Pasifika who endured the dawn raids.
“I don’t think it’s fair that our kauma¯ tua stand alone in calling for the change that’s needed. Our generation speak and support; we encourage others to do that too.”
Timu led the petition alongside Tualamali’i and wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister.
“Aggressive reinforcement epitomised the police as an organisation, creating a further distrust in the government, still prevalent today,” he wrote. “The past is implied as forgiven and forgotten; however, the effects of the past still linger in the fabric of our identity 50 years on.”
Tualamali’i reflected on the nowdisbanded police armed response teams of last year, which members of the Ma¯ ori and Pasifika communities said unfairly targeted areas they lived in.
“They were not established in Pa¯keha¯ communities. They were armed and not trained adequately to be in our communities.
“That’s the level that the state has always treated Pacific peoples.
“It made me feel deeply uncomfortable. Many of them have not lived the same experiences or understand who we are.”
Timu told the Herald on Sunday addressing this part of history and issuing an apology would be the foundation for Pasifika growth in New Zealand.
The petition also called for Parliament to come together for a special debate reflecting on the history of the dawn raids, which is set to kick off just days after the apology.
“In 100 years’ time, people can look back and see that this is a stake in the ground. The National Party have very strongly come out saying this should never have happened. Both sides of Parliament were there at the time, both participated in this.”
Tualamali’i said although the apology doesn’t cleanse the history of what’s been done, it will validate the trauma of those with lived experiences of the raids.
“I think it’ll send a few messages,” he said, adding: “this is all happening because of the unity of our communities.”
The petition also suggested a legacy fund be set up to allow education on the dawn raids to be taught in schools.
“It’s about knowing a more complete story, a stronger story because it’s more accurate — a story which helps ensure we make better decisions.”
Tualamali’i, who only learned of the dawn raids history in university, says he hopes teaching it will become compulsory.
“You need the historical knowledge to know not to make the same mistakes.”
The Polynesian Panther Party has been conducting an “Educate to Liberate” tour across the country, where members travel to schools and share the history of the dawn raids.
“It would be wrong if [they] have to keep self-funding or partially selffunding to do the work. It would dishonour the work they’ve done.”
Tualamali’i is hopeful the apology will become “so well broadcast” across the country, no New Zealander would miss it.
“People will go to work and this won’t change their lives.”
“But I encourage them to understand this: This is real hurt, it might not have happened to your family, but the principle is an important one, that it shouldn’t happen to any family.”
The tentacles of that hurt and things that perpetuate the past, means that the past isn’t in the past. Josiah Tualamali’i