New Zealand’s PM Ardern apologises for 1970s immigration raids on Pacific community

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Reuters

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern issued a sombre state apology on Sunday to the Pacific community for racially targeted immigration raids in the 1970s that resulted in deportations and prosecutions. The “Dawn Raids”, which often occurred early in the morning, took place from 1974 to 1976 when New Zealand’s economy was in a downturn and the government clamped down on immigrant workers from the Pacific who overstayed their work visas. Addressing hundreds of people in attendance for the formal apology, Ardern said members of the Pacific communities continue to “su…

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1 thought on “New Zealand’s PM Ardern apologises for 1970s immigration raids on Pacific community”

  1. John Bernard McCormick

    This is an interesting part of our history. It was started by Labour Prime Minister Norm Kirk and carried on by Tory leader Rob Muldoon. Dawn raids for overstayers still go on today even when some people say they don’t.
    Overstayers as we call these people are people who came here on a short term visa and did not go home when the visa ran out. It does not just apply to Pacific Islanders but to overstayers from all nations Including the UK and USA. Some refugees who sneak in and claim asylum get caught up in overstayer type legal situations. One such person is Ahmed Zaoui, a one time Algerian Member of Parliament. His case resulted in a change in laws which have made it more difficult for people to sneak in. I supported him as did some of the Jewish Community. A book about him was published in 2004.

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