New Zealand apologises for 1970s raids on Pacific people

‘The raids, and what they represented, created deep wounds; says PM Jacinda Ardern

Aupito William Sio recalled the terrifying day during his childhood when police officers holding German shepherd dogs turned up at his family home before dawn and shined flashlights into their faces while his father stood there helpless. Now the Minister for Pacific peoples, Mr. Sio and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Monday the government would formally apologise for an infamous part of the nation's history known as the Dawn Raids. It's when Pacific Island people were targeted for deportation in the mid-1970s during aggressive home raids by authorities to find, convict and deport overstayers. The raids often took place very early in the morning or late at night.