Green Party member Efeso Collins passed away while participating in a charity event. He was raising funds for ChildFund Water Run to provide clean drinking water to Pacific countries when he collapsed and died in Auckland.
After his tragic passing, the Green Party co-leaders, James Shaw and Marama Davidson, expressed their grief and paid tribute to Collins. They described him as a dedicated champion of fairness and equality, whose loss will be deeply felt by New Zealand and the Green Party.
Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Collins was of Tokelauan and Samoan heritage. He had a long history of public service, serving three terms on the Auckland Council before being elected as a member of the Green Party in the 2023 election.
Collins also held the Samoan ali’i chief title of Fa’anana from the village of Satufia, Satupaitea in Savaii. He was married and a father of two children.
His sudden death has been a great loss, and he was deeply respected by members of all political parties and communities.
(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Josie Kao)
