Cancer patient pens her account of dawn raids to mark anniversary of apology

When Emeli Sione found out her cancer had returned, she was determined to leave behind something for her three children – a book detailing a traumatic experience, but one she knew they had to know and understand.

Her book, A New Dawn, gives a harrowing account of her experience of the 1970s dawn raids. It is being released to mark the anniversary of the 2021 government apology.

The dawn raids, which spanned 1974-1976, have been described as the most blatantly racist attack on Pacific peoples by the New Zealand government in history.

Pacific people were subjected to stringent immigration policies authorised by the Labour and National governments and police targeted suspected overstayers.

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Homes, workplaces, schools and churches were raided. People were often prosecuted and deported, separating families and putting children into state care.

Sione said writing a book about her own dawn raids experience was always in her heart.

When doctors informed her that her cancer had returned in January, she was determined to finally put words on paper.

She was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2018 and had been in remission.

“When you’re told you have cancer, whatever form it is, it wakes you up,” the 48-year-old said.

“I wanted to leave behind a legacy for my children and continue the experience that my grandparents had started in this country – it was their legacy too.”

Sione’s grandparents, Nafetalai and Emeli Aholelei, arrived in Auckland from Tonga in the early 1970s and settled in Auckland central.

She followed with her own parents and her little brother when she was 3 years old.

Sione, who has ties to Kolomotu’a and Kolofo’ou in Tonga and Avatele and Tamakautoga in Niue, said her grandparents hardly spoke about what they went through.

Both her grandparents have now died.

“That experience was so raw for them. I remember talking about it with my grandfather once and he spoke about his hate for the government because of what he and others went through.

“The trauma that was felt by those left behind is still felt by Pasifika as a whole.”

On August 1, 2021, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern formally apologised on behalf of her government for the Dawn Raids.

As part of the apology, the Government pledged funding, including the Teu Le Va Fund to support work with communities to develop a record of accounts of the Dawn Raids.

Sione shared the dream of her book with her friend and publisher Dahlia Malaeulu, the creator of Mila’s Books – the first Pacific publishing company in New Zealand.

Her book was one of the first 24 recipients of the Teu Le Va fund, receiving $10,000.

Sione said her work and the work of other recipients would help Pasifika heal.

Malaeulu said Sione’s book was heartbreakingly beautiful. It made her think about those who came before them.

“The sacrifice, alofa, lessons of hope and much-needed healing from the dawn raids era due to the effects still being felt by us and our tamaiti today.”

Pre-sales of Sione’s book have already sold out before the launch. The book also comes translated in the Tongan language, “for my grandparents”.

A special ceremony will be hosted by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei on August 27 to mark the anniversary.

Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio said it was an opportunity to reflect, celebrate and look to the future.

“Pacific peoples, Māori and other ethnic communities were specifically targeted and racially profiled during the Dawn Raids, which was wrong and should have never happened.”