Focus on Politics

Fa'anānā Efeso Collins' death brings unity in grief


Listen Later

Parliament was brought to a standstill on Wednesday, with politics set aside after the sudden and shocking death of first-term Green MP Fa'anānā Efeso Collins.

A champion for his people, a tireless advocate, a good man - such were the tributes as Parliament mourned the loss of one its own.
In this week's Focus on Politics, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch marks the death of Green MP Efeso Collins, pulling together the tributes and reflections shared this week by those whose lives he touched.

"E le tu fa'amauga se tagata: no one stands alone, no one succeeds alone, and - for me - no one suffers alone" - Fa'anānā

Parliament was brought to a standstill on Wednesday, with politics set aside after the sudden and shocking death of first-term Green MP Fa'anānā Efeso Collins.

A champion for his people, a tireless advocate, a good man - such were the tributes as Parliament mourned the loss of one its own.

Listen to the full podcast

In keeping with Samoan custom, he is referred to here as Fa'anānā the matai or chiefly title conferred on him.

Fa'anānā collapsed about 9am on Wednesday. Emergency services rushed to revive him, but just over an hour later his death at just 49 years old was confirmed. He had been taking part in a charity event in Auckland's Britomart, this last act - as with so much of his life - focused on helping his community.

After news of his death, Green co-leader Marama Davidson and others in the team flew north to support his wife and two daughters. Remaining behind at Parliament to front the media and steady the shocked caucus, a tearful co-leader James Shaw soon appeared before the cameras.

"Aotearoa and the Green party have lost one of the kindest, and most dedicated champions of fairness," he said.

Born and raised in Ōtara, Fa'anānā was a devout Christian who led a local church youth group and ran mentoring programmes. He studied at Auckland University where he became active in student politics, the first Polynesian to be elected president of the students' association in 1999.

Read more:

Parliament brought to standstill by a tsunami of collective grief

Fa'anānā Efeso Collins' family 'devastated' at his loss

Praise for Fa'anānā Efeso Collins' efforts to inspire young people

Fa'anānā Efeso Collins' death brings another new Green MP to Parliament

Why Fa'anānā Efeso Collins was so respected

'The giants whose shoulders I stand on': who is Fa'anānā Efeso Collins…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Focus on PoliticsBy RNZ

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

9 ratings


More shows like Focus on Politics

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,913 Listeners

Economist Podcasts by The Economist

Economist Podcasts

4,225 Listeners

The Political Scene | The New Yorker by The New Yorker

The Political Scene | The New Yorker

4,113 Listeners

Business News by RNZ

Business News

7 Listeners

The Audio Long Read by The Guardian

The Audio Long Read

841 Listeners

Parliament - Live Stream and Question Time by RNZ

Parliament - Live Stream and Question Time

3 Listeners

Pacific Waves by RNZ

Pacific Waves

12 Listeners

Gone By Lunchtime by The Spinoff

Gone By Lunchtime

22 Listeners

Tagata o te Moana by RNZ

Tagata o te Moana

1 Listeners

The House by RNZ

The House

1 Listeners

The Front Page by NZ Herald

The Front Page

15 Listeners

Rural News by RNZ

Rural News

1 Listeners

The Detail by RNZ

The Detail

55 Listeners

The Rest Is History by Goalhanger

The Rest Is History

15,506 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

16,525 Listeners

News in Pacific Languages by RNZ

News in Pacific Languages

1 Listeners

World & Pacific News by RNZ

World & Pacific News

0 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

3,858 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics: Leading by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics: Leading

851 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics: US by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics: US

2,536 Listeners

RNZ News by RNZ

RNZ News

7 Listeners

30 with Guyon Espiner by RNZ

30 with Guyon Espiner

5 Listeners

ICYMI by RNZ

ICYMI

0 Listeners