#Quote #NewZealand Greens MP Efeso Collins, 49, #suddenly collapses and #dies at charity event ChildFund Water Run in Auckland

• Greens MP Efeso Collins has died at a charity fun run
• The 49-year-old was a proud rep for Pasifika peoples

By BEN MCKAY FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
PUBLISHED: 22:37, 20 February 2024

New Zealand Greens MP Efeso Collins has died after running in a charity event in Auckland.

The 49-year-old collapsed on Wednesday morning in Auckland after running in the ChildFund Water Run, a fundraiser for Pacific communities.

He received medical treatment on the scene at Auckland's Britomart, according to TVNZ, with screens erected to shield him from public view.

The Greens confirmed the news 'with profound shock and sadness' at 10.45am.

'We are absolutely devastated. A beautiful family has lost a dedicated father, husband, and community leader,' co-leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson said in a statement.

'Aotearoa and the Green Party have lost one of the kindest, most dedicated champions of fairness and equality.'

The Greens thanked the on-site medical team who 'immediately went to Efeso's aid and did everything they could to revive him'.

Mr Collins, a south Auckland man of Samoan and Tokelauan heritage, was new to parliament but no stranger to Kiwi politics.

He served on Auckland council from 2016 until 2022, when he was a high-profile candidate for the mayoralty.

He lost that race but won Greens preselection and entered parliament in 2023.

Mr Collins gave his inaugural speech last week, saying he addressed the house with 'an indescribable feeling' as the son of Samoan migrants.

He dedicated his speech to alleviating poverty, quoting James Baldwin, Paolo Freire and the Bible.

'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,' he said.

'It's hard to be poor, it's expensive to be poor, and moreover, public discourse is making it socially unacceptable to be poor.

'Whether it's bashing on beneficiaries, dragging our feet towards a living wage, throwing shade on school breakfast programmes, or restricting people's ability to collectively bargain for fairer working conditions, we must do better to lift aspirations and the lived realities of all our people.'

Prime Minister Chris Luxon, Labour leader Chris Hipkins and his deputy Carmel Sepoluni, also an Aucklander of Samoan descent, offered condolences.

'Efeso was a good man, always friendly and kind, and a true champion and advocate for his Samoan and South Auckland communities,' Mr Luxon said.

'Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go to his family, his community and colleagues.'

As a mark of respect, parliament is expected to be cancelled on Wednesday, with leaders to make short statements at 2pm before abandoning business for the day.
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