Episode description
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.
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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…