TODAY IN HISTORY 01 AUGUST 2021 – Four years ago this month in history – New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern formally apologised for police crackdowns in the 1970s that “unfairly targeted” the country’s Pacific community.
The infamous “dawn raids” were carried out by officers and immigration officials, often accompanied by dogs, in order to arrest and deport individuals who had overstayed their work visas.
Pacific people comprised a third of overstayers at the time, but represented 86 per cent of prosecutions, while Britons and Americans in New Zealand — who also comprised a third of overstayers — saw just 5 per cent of prosecutions in the same period.
Key points:
- Ms Ardern expressed “sorrow” and “remorse” on behalf of the NZ government
- Pacific people were over-represented in prosecutions resulting from the raids
- Pacific People’s Minister Aupito Tofae Su’a William Sio described the raids as “racism of the worst kind”
“The government expresses its sorrow, remorse and regret that the dawn raids and random police checks occurred and that these actions were ever considered appropriate.”
While the crackdown took place nearly 50 years ago, Ms Ardern said they remained vividly etched in the memories of those affected and they lived on “in the disruption of trust and faith in authorities”.
Ms Arden also took part in a traditional Samoan ritual known as an ifoga, in which the subject seeks forgiveness by exposing themselves to a kind of public humiliation.
Members of the Pacific Island community pulled a large white mat over Ms Ardern’s head that completely covered her. Moments later they removed it and embraced her.
Minister for Pacific Peoples William Sio, who emigrated with his family from Samoa to New Zealand in 1969, described the raids as “racism of the worst kind”.
‘The right decision to apologise’
Wellington had encouraged migration from Pacific islands such as Samoa, Tonga and Fiji after World War II to fill worker shortages as the economy expanded.
New Zealand police targeted Pacific people, picking them up off the street or entering their homes in the early hours of the morning – ‘dawn raids’.
But those who migrated faced a backlash during the 1970s downturn, with claims they were taking jobs from New Zealanders.
When Ms Ardern first announced she would issue an apology, Mr Sio fought back tears as he recalled the terrifying experience of being targeted.
“The memories are etched in of my father being helpless … someone knocking at your door in the early hours of the morning with a flashlight in your face, disrespecting the owner of our home,” he said.
Tongan Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili said it was “the right decision to apologise”. (AP: Brett Phibbs/New Zealand Herald)
“An Alsatian dog frothing at the mouth, wanting to come in without any respect for the people who live there. It was quite traumatising.”
Tongan Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili said the impact of the dawn raids had haunted her community for generations.
“We are grateful to your government for making the right decision to apologise,” she said to Ms Ardern.
“To right the extreme, inhumane, racist and unjust treatment, specifically against my community, in the dawn raids era.”
The Princess said that while some members of her Tongan community might have been on the wrong side of the law at the time, it did not warrant the extreme measures taken against them.
Ms Ardern said New Zealand was committed to eliminating racism and she hoped the apology had brought “some much-needed closure and healing for our Pacific communities”.
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