Testimony 2022

Forty-five years after his parents were wrongfully imprisoned for overstaying, a Tongan New Zealander finally admits the painful truth behind what really happened to his family during the Dawn Raids

Directed by Alice Lolohea

Tongan-born Fuavao arrived here in 1975 on a medical visa. On a night out he was questioned by police. Soon afterwards the family were subjected to a dawn raid and Fuavao's parents were imprisoned as overstayers. Fuavao still carries guilt about the deep shame experienced by his parents. Tagata Pasifika reporter Alice Lolohea mixes Fuavao's story with footage of the government's historic 2021 apology to the Pasifika community at Auckland Town Hall.