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August 23, 2023
Dawn raids apology highlight for Sio poroporoaki
Claudette Hauiti
Posted On August 23, 2023
Download AudioOutgoing Mangere MP Aupito Su’a William Sio has made an emotional farewell to parliament.
Mr Sio won the Labour stronghold in 2008 after serving as deputy mayor of Manukau City – the first elected official of Pacific descent to hold that post.
During his time in parliament he has been Minister for Pacific Peoples and Minister for Courts, as well as holding associate portfolios in Foreign Affairs, Education, Justice and Health.
The public gallery was packed for his valedictory speech yesterday, where he thanked former prime minister Jacinda Ardern for the faith she placed in him.
“I remember the swell of emotion when you agreed we’d deliever the dawn raid apology. I couldn’t go to sleep going through every detail what needed to happen and I cried. I was more emotional when you agreed to go through the ifoga, despite your reservations,” he says.
Mr Sio says work still needs to be completed on Pacific immigration settings.
Labour’s Mangere candidate for Māngere is former local board chair Lemaunga Lydia Sosene.
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