Tōfā soifua: Aupito signs off, addressing the questions many were asking

As I sat alongside other media, observing the public gallery and the MPs sitting down below me in Parliament, many questions ran through my mind ahead of the former Minister for Pacific People’s valedictory speech.

My first thought - why wasn’t he sitting in the House as fellow MP Dr Emily Henderson gave her final words.

I looked around and noticed the mature audience - a reflection of Aupito’s experience and career. I wondered, will Aupito use this opportunity to call out anyone or fire shots given he was never made an in-Cabinet minister?

I thought about Elizabeth Kerekere's valedictory speech​ only a week earlier, who made sure to call out her former Green Party co-leaders on their “epic failure of leadership”.

Hopeful for a little bit of drama, I settled into the press gallery, ready to take notes. At the same time, I wanted to see Aupito talk about what he had accomplished and the work that still needed to be done in our society. 

After David Seymour’s recent comments, I also wanted Aupito’s speech to prove the ACT Party leader wrong.

The room was charged with familiar energy and the people appeared familiar too, covered head to toe in elei print, with flower seis tucked behind their ears. 

Red ula fala necklaces swung from the necks of the male guests who stood up to give their seats to elderly. 

I wondered what Aupito himself would wear - perhaps a humble ie faitaga or maybe a suit and tie like so many of his colleagues? 

I half expected the statement to fall somewhere between a pastor’s boring sermon and a relative’s long winded speech where you end up zoning out. Thankfully, I was wrong.

The entrance

When Hon. Aupito Tofae Su'a William Sio entered the House last week, there was shock and awe from all sides.

Some cheered with joy, others gasped, while Sio’s own father Aupito Pupu Sio looked on quietly, his pride peeking through a humble smile.

Many of the elders shared this smile as Aupito strode unapologetically to his seat in full traditional Samoan glamour.

A few raised their eyebrows - was this an appropriate setting?

His pe’a - a traditional Samoan tatau only for men - and brown skin gleamed; he wore an ie toga - fine mat - decorated with red feathers that wrapped around his waist, and an ula nifo - a Samoan tooth necklace.

His head was adorned with a tuiga, embellished with silver shells, more red feathers and woven fala. The tuiga is a Samoan headdress likened to a crown, saved only for special occasions.

This was certainly a special occasion.

“I'm in my traditional attire as a matai of my aiga Samoa, reserved for special events such as tonight. I present myself this way as a sign of respect to the Pacific communities and traditional leaders who have supported me.”

There were not enough chairs in the public gallery to seat Aupito’s loyalists, as well as his family - many of whom had travelled from overseas. A tight-knit population of Pacific public servants, (many significant figures who had served alongside him) were also present including the Hon Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban.

Guests were huddled standing between rows, some seated on stairs (which technically isn’t allowed) and more waited outside in the halls, their shadows reflected in the frosted windows of the public gallery.

The crowd was vibrant, but their solemn mood matched the weight and setting of the occasion. Many sported rich red - in true Labour style and Papakura MP Anahila Kanongata'a, who was seated behind Aupito, filmed Aupito’s entrance like a proud aunty.

Megan Woods and current Minister for Pacific People’s Barbara Edmonds craned their necks, turning in their seats to see Aupito.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins remained distracted on his phone for a few minutes, before finally looking up.

Across the House sat Te Pati Maori who were very engaged, with cheers and clapping from Rawiri Waititi as soon as Aupito entered the chamber.

Notably many of National’s MPs were not there, including party leader Christopher Luxon and his deputy Nicola Willis.

Aupito may have been the former Minister for Pacific Peoples, but it was his homeland nation of Samoa that underpinned his final words in the House.

Making history and remembering past mistakes

Hansard reports will forever have full and accurate records of significant moments in history, after Aupito’s valedictory statement.

His speech honoured his birthplace and homeland Samoa in many ways, but an account of the island’s long standing relationship with New Zealand had the most impact on audiences present within the gallery.

Given the tug of war between two nations that has existed for over a century, Aupito hopes that by looking to the past and remembering, New Zealand can learn from its mistakes and not repeat them.

The former representative for Māngere pointed out one of 12 carved circular rimu memorial wreaths around the balcony of the House, which highlight significant military operations involving New Zealand troops in World War I.

“There, above your seat, Mr Speaker, is the memorial wreath and ribbon for Samoa. It marks New Zealand's first World War I engagement, when they sent 1,400 New Zealand soldiers to capture German Samoa at the request of Great Britain.”

A packed public gallery remembered too: New Zealand’s occupation and capture of German Samoa, the truth and pain of Samoa’s political campaign, the Mau Movement, and the catastrophic impact of the ship Talune, that docked in Apia with the deadly Spanish Influenza onboard.

“There was the deliberate infection of the local population when, on 7 November 1918, the New Zealand military administration controlling Samoa, led by Colonel Robert Logan, made the deadly decision to knowingly allow the ship Talune, which was carrying Spanish influenza, to dock at Apia.”

The results were catastrophic, wiping out over a quarter of Samoa's population and decimating entire families and villages.

Armed with dates and receipts, Aupito’s statement was an intentional call-out of New Zealand’s colonial harm.

Aupito acknowledged former Labour Prime Minister Helen Clark’s apology in 2002 for the wrongs and harms caused during New Zealand's colonial rule; before saying firmly “more must be done".

“It is not for Samoa to ask for it; it is for New Zealand to right those wrongs tangibly. This is the history that I hope will now be taught in our schools as part of New Zealand's history curriculum. By teaching this history, New Zealand can become a better country.”

Focus on the future

The overall theme of the speech was the future of Pacific peoples of Aotearoa, the hopes and dreams of Pasifika youth and a challenge to those who wanted to lead New Zealand.

He encouraged Pacific youth to embrace their points of differences, in an almost cringy "follow your dreams" kind of way, a one last call for inclusivity as if to say “I’m on your side kids!”

“And if you are a Christian, Muslim, or whatever faith you profess it, OK, but allow all others to worship how, where, and what they may; don't criticise or condemn, but try to understand. I say to all Pacific youth: 'it is OK to love and be proud of your point of difference; it is OK to love your cultural heritage even if you don't speak the language; it is OK to pursue your dreams, and don't ever allow your surroundings or anyone to prevent you from that pursuit'.”

I wondered if Aupito should have spent more time talking to parents of young Pacific people, who may have needed to hear these words more.

Aupito then directed his attention to all candidates running in this year’s elections.

He warned MPs to not demonise youth - given Ministry of Justice facts shows that fewer youth are offending but the severity of the offence has increased.

“I challenge you to see the youth of New Zealand, especially Māori and Pacific, for the potential that they can become for Aotearoa New Zealand."

All the MPs who remained in the House responded almost on cue: nodding, clapping and even a “hear hear!”

Aupito continued on: “For all our youth, the best way of pushing back on politicians is voting on election day against those who use colonial constructs that divide and rule.”

A final song

Despite the auspicious occasion it still felt like any other Pacific Island family function, except this time the venue was none other than Parliament.

Towards the end, there were tears within the public gallery. The public gallery burst into song, singing a beloved Samoan song Vi’i o Tamasese while the MPs joined in, clapping beat. 

The song is a historical account of Samoa’s Black Saturday, when leader of the Mau Movement and paramount Chief Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III was martyred during a peaceful march against New Zealand’s rule of Samoa - a song Aupito says he sings often.

“I have been singing the song wherever I have gone as a Minister because that song tells of [Samoa’s] story, so I don't forget the history.”

Overall, Aupito’s speech was balanced, it was dignified enough for the seriousness of the occasion but not without humour, grace and storytelling.

No shots were called or fired at anyone in particular - while still identifying New Zealand’s colonial harm in a way that acknowledged the country’s flawed history.

He did have some tough learnings to note, including the sensitivity of the Dawn Raid apology and the tireless grind from Ministry of Health’s Pacific team, health providers, churches and Pasifika community leaders who were instrumental in the Covid-19 response; during what he described as a particularly challenging period for him.

It takes courage to wear your culture and stand tall in the political arena; but Aupito did so surrounded by his villages from work and family.

And for those of us with burning questions - he went some way to satisfying those queries - while bidding farewell with one final promise: “I will dance for you tonight!”