1 Aug 2021

Recap: Government makes apology over Dawn Raids

6:42 pm on 1 August 2021

The prime minister has delivered the government's apology for the Dawn Raids this afternoon.

Watch the ceremony again here:

Jacinda Ardern has made the apology for the raids which occurred under both Labour and National governments.

"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.

"Our government conveys to the future generations of Aotearoa that the past actions of the Crown were wrong ,and that the treatment of your ancestors was wrong. We convey to you our deepest and sincerest apology."

The Dawn Raids resulted in the deportation and prosecution of many Pacific Islanders, even those who remotely looked Pasifika, despite many overstayers at the time being British or American. Both political parties have accepted that the raids were racist.

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