In memory of Fa’anānā Efeso Collins - Greens MP Aotearoa.

On Wednesday, 21 February 2024, the late Fa’anānā Efeso Collins, a dedicated Green MP, passed away during a charitable event in Auckland. He is fondly remembered for his exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment to community causes, tirelessly advocating for the rights and well-being of Pasifika individuals. VRC, Executive Founding Director, Dr Marion Muliaumaseali’i shares some thoughts in his honour.

Fa’anānā Efeso Collins was a colleague and became a friend. We met facilitating on a leadership programme for Auckland Pasifika students in 2002. My first impression of Fa’anānā, was that he had the gift of the gab. He stood well over 6 feet and coupled with his high intellect, could be misconstrued as overpowering and intimidating but then he’d smile and then mock you. I ‘d smile and mock him too and we’d laugh together.

I left NZ in 2006 to live in South Africa intermittently returning to and from NZ until 2011. 18 months later I received a scholarship at RMIT University and I left to live in Melbourne Australia. Although living overseas I had kept in touch on Facebook over the years. I would follow his journey as a youth advocate, husband, father and local councillor from abroad. it was 20 years to the year of the leadership fono that I was privileged to join the final 6 months of Fa’anānā’s Mayoral Campaign (2022). I volunteered to do grassroots activities and eventually became the operations strategy lead. I had a front seat to Fa’anānā’s life as the “Pasifika people’s champion” and dedicated father to his wife Fia and children, Kapriela and Asalemo.

I was impressed by the growth and maturity of his fearless advocacy for our Pasifika communities. In the debating arena, he was articulate, poised and disarmingly charming. Although he had risen to the echelons of NZ politics he never forsook his beloved upbringing in Otara South Auckland. His passionate and consistent dedication to his community nicknamed him the “Son of South Auckland”. When Fa’anānā made it as a List MP for the Greens Party he and Fia messaged me acknowledging that this success was in part due to the ground work of the Mayoral Campaign team. This gesture was such a gift and a testament of the heart Fa’anānā and Fia have for their people. They understand what it means to build with and lead community.

My last communication with Fa’anānā was him reminding me about his maiden speech. Aotearoa is reeling from the contrasting reality of that being his last week in the Beehive. As I reflect on the man dubbed as “a champion of fairness and equality” by Green Party co-leader, Hon James Shaw, I am challenged, maybe haunted by Fa’anānā’s remarks on what I believe is the foundation of a village response to social change. “There’s a saying in Samoan, “E le tu fa’amauga se tagata” – no one stands alone, no one succeeds alone – and, for me, no one suffers alone”

I have always been moved by his advocacy and heart for PasIfika but these words, his legacy and friendship will be the baseline of the work we do as the Village Response Collective.

Thank you Fa’anānā aka Fes, Efeso, Ephesians. You are missed but not forgotten.