A colourful street mural has been completed in Wellington to mark 50 years since an ugly chapter in New Zealand’s history: the dawn raids.
The dawn raids began in Auckland in 1974 as part of a targeted government crackdown on Pasifika migrants, many of whom were deported despite the majority of overstayers being British or American. It tore families apart and inflicted trauma still being felt today.
The mural, designed by local artist Liana Leiataua, is designed to be a healing wall, with her 88-year-old father Mulufuiana as the muse.
As an 18-year-old scout he sailed from then Western Samoa to New Zealand with eight others for the 1954 jamboree.
But they never knew they were to meet a special guest.
“I just found out when we got to Wellington we are going to meet the Queen,” Mulufiana Leiataua told 1News.
The scouts were presented to Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Timaru on the royal tour.
“The Queen asked me ‘how’s Samoa?’, and I asked her ‘please come and see my people’.”
The trip to South Canterbury influenced Mulufuiana Leiataua’s decision to move to New Zealand, he said.
Liana Leiataua said she was “fascinated” by her father’s journey and decided to reflect it in her mural design, especially struck by the contrast of the welcome the scouts received from the Queen and the treatment of Pasifika people years later in the dawn raids.
“The Queen spotted them and asked them to come over to be introduced to her, and then when coming back to the dawn raids, everybody is being hunted down and being accused of being an overstayer.”
Mulufuiana Leiataua was the first Polynesian person to own a business in Porirua and his supermarket became a community hub. During the dawn raids, he helped to support overstayers.
Liana Leiataua said there was “a lot of racism” expressed towards her father in those times.
“Just remembering those officials and just remembering them coming in and fining Dad, constantly, for whatever there was.”
The family was never raided, but Liana Leiataua remembers being followed by the police and them asking to see her father’s passport.
“I just remember you breaking down in tears,” she said, looking at her father.
On the purpose of the mural, Liana Leiataua said she hopes it will create conversation.
“It’s important that we do heal, but also that we don’t forget.”
Pacific historian Rachel Yates said the raids left a “huge mark” on the community.
“There’s a lot of trauma and unresolvedness still there within our communities.
“There was also a lot of loss of home ownership, pathways to residency and citizenship through these targeted dawn raids, so the community has lost a lot.”