The Niu Dawn - lessons of the Dawn Raids | Ep 2 - Where Are They Now

The story of Barbara Edmonds and her family, as she unravels the far reaching impacts of the Dawn Raids within her aiga. She talks to her uncle Malesa who was deported to Samoa at this time and how this affected their family and his life.

The Dawn Raids period in New Zealand (from the 1970s to early 1980s) refers to a time when the New Zealand police aggressively targeted Pacific Island migrants, particularly those from Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji, who were suspected of overstaying their visas or being in the country illegally.

The raids were carried out at night, with police breaking into homes, often without warrants, to arrest individuals. This period was marked by racial profiling, fear, and widespread harassment of the Pacific Island community, fueled by concerns over immigration and economic pressures.

The raids caused significant distress among Pacific families, leading to long-term social and psychological impacts. The policy is now widely acknowledged as discriminatory, and in 2021 the New Zealand government presented a formal apology to Pasifika communities for the harm caused during this period.