Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Saturday Sunday did not move because members of the Pacific Island community pulled a large white mat above his head, fully covered it.
Moments later they removed them and hugged him.
It was part of the emotional ceremony at the Auckland City Hall where Ardern officially apologized for the racially charged part of the history of the nation known as a dawn raid.
That’s when Passive people are targeted to be deported in the mid-1970s during aggressive home raids by the authorities to find, punish and deport visa overstayers.
Raids often occur very morning or late at night.
With a mat covered, Ardern took part in the traditional Samoa ritual known as Ifoga, where the subject looked for forgiveness by describing themselves in a kind of public insult.
Ardern told a crowd crying several hundred governments offered formal and impartial apologies.
“ The government revealed his sadness, regret, and regretted that dawn attacks and police examinations were randomly occurring and that these actions had been considered right, “Ardern said.
At the time of the raid, many Pacific people came to New Zealand on temporary visas to help meet the needs of workers in factories and nation.
But the government seems to turn on the public by deciding the worker is no longer needed.
People who don’t look like New Zealand people who have just been told that they must bring identification to prove that they are not too excessive, and often stop randomly on the road, or even at school or church.
Although many overstayers at that time were English or American, only the Pacific people were targeted to be deported.
Ardern said that while raids lasted almost 50 years ago, they continued.
“ Keep clearly engraved in their memory that has a direct impact.
It lives in trust and faith in the authorities.
And it lives in unresolved complaints from the Pacific community that these events occur and that until today they are not teetering, “he said.
Ardern said that as a sign of good intentions, the government will fund new education and training scholarships for the Pacific community and will help collect official accounts of attacks from written records and oral history.
“ As part of this, the community will have the opportunity to advance and share their experiences, “Ardern said.
Daughter Tongan Mele Siu’ilikutapu Kalanuvalu Fotori said the impact of the Fajar attack had haunted its community for generations.
“ We thank your government for making the right decision to apologize, “he told Ardern.
“ To improve extreme, inhuman, racist and unfair treatments, specifically opposed to my community, in the era of dawn raids.
“Putri said that while some members of the Komunitas Tongan might be on the wrong legal side at the time, it did not guarantee extreme steps taken against them.
But the princess said the government could do a better job of responding to the current immigration needs, a comment that pulled the applause survived.
He said the petition had been submitted to find the path and residency for overstayers and visa holders.
“ This is a new dawn for my community and the Pacific community in general, “he said.
The ceremony was initially scheduled for June but was delayed because of the steps of Coronavirus.
Apology does not come with wider financial compensation or legal changes, but many Pacific people say it represents the first important step.