NZ Parliament Expresses Sympathy to Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga: Su’a William Sio

Transcript of Yesterday’s Parliamentary Motion at 2pm.

Speakers:

1. Prime Minister John Key
2. Labour Deputy Leader Annette King
3. Green Party Co-Leader Russell Norman
4. Act Party David Garrett
5. Maori Party Co-Leader Dr Pita Sharples
6. Progressive Leader Jim Anderton
7. United Future Peter Dunne
8. Labour Luamanuvao Winnie Laban
9. National Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga
10. Labour Su’a William Sio

Pacific Islands—Tsunami

SU’A WILLIAM SIO (Labour—Māngere) : Oute mata’utia faatulouna le päia faatafafa o le mäota fono faitulafono aoao o Aotearoa nei. Ou te faafetai mo lenei avanoa e momoli ai se mätou faamaisega aua le ao pouliuli ua ufitia ai nei Samoa, Niuatoputapu, ma Tutuila talu mai le fafati o le galulolo i le masina ua tea. Tulouna le lagia Tiafau o le mäota e afio ai le Ao Mamalu o le Malo o Samoa, le afioga i le Tupu Tafaifa, le afioga i le Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi. Tulouna le lagia o Maota e fia o Atua ma Tuamasaga. O mäota e afifio ai aiga e fia o Samoa. Tulou, tulou, tulouna lava.

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I have used the language of my elders to convey my gratitude, first and foremost, to this House for the privilege of being able to share and support the Government’s motion. I have conveyed in appropriate Samoan language the depth of emotion that I share with members of the New Zealand House of Representatives over the loss of so many lives as a result of the tidal wave scattering its mighty anger on the islands of Samoa, Niuatoputapu, and Tutuila. I acknowledge that clouds hover over those islands of the Pacific, and I recognise, in particular, the depth of sadness that the leaders of those countries experience. I acknowledge the pain and grief that so many, including members of this House, must feel at the personal loss of families.

The last few weeks have been an overwhelming experience of pain, anguish, sorrow, and love. We have all shed tears. We have all felt the pain and sorrow. It did not matter that we may not be related. The people of Aotearoa New Zealand shared in the loss of others, our neighbours, our friends, our aiga, our family. It has been immensely difficult for the many, both in Samoa and New Zealand, who lost family members.

Many have lost, and I wish to add my condolences for all who have lost their lives in the tsunami. By way of paying tribute to all, I pay tribute to one who died in the line of duty in Samoa on Tuesday, 29 September. Peter Letiu was one of the first to die, after an accident, as he and his team of firemen rushed to the Aleipata district to provide assistance. His was one of the first bodies found in the aftermath of the tsunami in Samoa. His, in fact, was the third recorded death. He was a member of Samoa’s fire brigade. On the morning of Tuesday, 29 September Peter and four others were in a fire truck heading towards the low-lying villages of Aleipata to alert them of the tsunami. Unfortunately, the fire truck tipped over a steep cliff, injuring all of them. They were reportedly all injured, but they were all alive at that point. Local Samoan media reported that two young local Samoan boys from a nearby village watched over the overturned firefighter truck and its injured passengers. Peter’s boss—Samoa’s fire commissioner, Seve Tony Hill—said at his funeral yesterday that Peter died in hospital of his injuries. He was the first firefighter to die in the line of duty in Samoa. As Peter’s coffin was lowered into its final resting place his boss stood guard and saluted his final passage home.

Peter’s family and friends in Auckland, of all nationalities, mourn his passing. He was well known to Pacific circles in Auckland, in media, and in advertising. Peter went to live in Samoa last year to help his mother, from the village of Sataoa. His father, wife, daughter, and siblings live in Māngere. His body was brought back to Māngere late last week, and on Sunday night friends and family began to gather for his family service, and then yesterday for his burial. He will be remembered as a hero who died trying to save his people.

Peter leaves a proud legacy for his daughter to follow in. He leaves behind a strong but grieving wife, who is leaning heavily on her faith to see her through the years ahead. We as Samoans are proud of his heroism, his courage under fire, and his putting the lives of others ahead of his own. His dad got up to give a testimony but could not find the words.

To sum up the feeling that was felt by his dad, he later said: “Ua oge manatu; ua sola mafaufauga.” That is to say: “My mind is blank; my thoughts have gone from me.” He said he loved his son.

In conclusion, I express, and pass on to this House, the sincere gratitude of the Samoan and Tongan communities to all of New Zealand for the overwhelming support that has come forward. Everyone needs to be thanked—donors, businesses, schools, organisations, individuals, and families—for the support that has come forward and that has lightened the burdens of many of us who have lost loved ones. So to all of New Zealand I say faafetai, faafetai, faafetai tele lava. May God bless the Pacific and may the dark clouds that cover these nations—Samoa, Niuatoputapu, and Tutuila—quickly dissipate. Ia soifua.