1 Aug 2021

Dawn Raid apology has the power to heal

From Sunday Morning, 11:50 am on 1 August 2021

The New Zealand Government is making an official apology for the Dawn Raids in Auckland this afternoon. Christine Nurminen, who is co-chair of the Pacific Co-operation Foundation, will be attending with her family. Christine grew up in Ponsonby in the 1970s and remembers the raids being referred to as the 'dog raids', because, she says, the police would send the dogs in to Tongan households first. But Christine believes today's apology could provide an opportunity to update our education, immigration, and other policies, and provide a new discourse for all of us. 

Masunu in Police Uniform taking a man away during the Dawn raids

Masunu in Police Uniform taking a man away during the Dawn raids Photo: Supplied by Vaafusaga Tupuola Masunu Tuisila