AUCKLAND, Aug 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) – New Zealand PM, Jacinda Ardern, formally apologised today, to Pacific communities impacted by the Dawn Raids in the 1970s.
Between 1974/76, a series of rigorous immigration policies were carried out, that resulted in targeted raids, on the homes of Pacific families. The raids, to find, convict and deport overstayers, often took place very early in the morning, or late at night.
“Today I offered, on behalf of the government, a formal and unreserved apology, to Pacific communities for the discriminatory implementation of immigration laws, that led to the Dawn Raids,” Ardern said at Auckland’s Town Hall.
“Expressing our sorrow, regret and remorse for past actions, is the right thing to do and provides an opportunity for closure and reconciliation,” Ardern said.
Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio, said, looking back, it was clear that the immigration laws were discriminatory.
“Pacific peoples, Maori and other ethnic communities, were specifically targeted and racially profiled, which was wrong and should have never happened,” William Sio said.
“In 1986 the Race Relations Conciliator found that, between 1985 and 1986, while Pacific peoples comprised roughly a third overstayers, they represented 86 percent of all prosecutions for overstaying. Racially targeting Pacific communities, created decades long false impression of the status of Pacific New Zealanders.
“During the same period, overstayers from the United States and Great Britain, who also comprised roughly a third of overstayers, made up only five percent of prosecutions,” William Sio said.– NNN-AGENCIES
