Green Party MP Efeso Collins, 49, dies at Auckland charity event

Wednesday, 21 February 2024

Just before 10am a black sheet could be seen with a group of people gathered with their heads down.

Green Party MP Efeso Collins, 49, has died at a charity event in central Auckland.
The Green Party has paid tribute to Collins as a “dedicated father, husband, and community leader”.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins said Collins’ death was “a tough piece of news to absorb”.

Green Party MP Fa'anānā Efeso Collins, 49, has died at a charity event in central Auckland.

Collins collapsed while participating in the ChildFund Water Fun event at Britomart on Wednesday morning.

At 10.45am, the Green Party confirmed Collins’ death with “profound shock and sadness”.

According to event organiser Vinny Sherry, Collins was taking part in the event with five other celebrities.

Alongside Hillary Barry, Dave Letele, Maz Fagaiava, Shavaughan Ruakere and Josie Pagani, Collins walked 1km with a small bucket of water in each hand.

Green Party MP Efeso Collins died on Wednesday morning at a charity event in Auckland.

The event had finished and they were warming down, Sherry said.

“One moment he was joking, and one moment he had collapsed.”

They began first aid “very quickly”, before St John's arrived and took over.

Crowds huddled around Collins after his collapse.

'Unfortunately Efeso has passed away as a result of that medical incident,” Sherry said.

The event at Te Komititanga Square, outside Commercial Bay, was advertised as involving celebrities, including Collins, racing each other while holding buckets of water.

On the event’s website, Collins was quoted as saying: “As a dad to two young beautiful girls, I want them and children all over the world to grow up and reach their full potential and live full lives.”

“The ChildFund Water Run gives us all a fun and important opportunity to share what we have with others,” he said.

A black tent had also been erected at the scene.

Green Party ‘devastated’ by Collins’ death

“We are absolutely devastated. A beautiful family has lost a dedicated father, husband, and community leader,” Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw said in a statement.

“The news today has come as a profound shock to everyone, and our absolute priority is to Efeso’s wife and young girls.

“Aotearoa and the Green Party have lost one of the kindest, most dedicated champions of fairness and equality,” they said.

The Green Party thanked the on-site medical team “for acting so fast”.

They paid tribute to a life of service that was dedicated to “making a difference to the lives of those he met, including his constituents, colleagues, friends, and family”.

One ambulance and one rapid response vehicle were sent to the scene.

“He held the deepest respect of the members of all political parties and communities.

“We will continue to aspire to the dedication and commitment Efeso showed to always put the greater good above our own. He showed us what that means every single day.

“We will miss Efeso dearly, but celebrate with gratitude the contribution he has made to Aotearoa.”

Prime Minister ‘shocked and saddened’

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is “shocked and saddened at the news of Efeso Collins’ sudden death”.

“Efeso was a good man, always friendly and kind, and a true champion and advocate for his Samoan and South Auckland communities.

Shortly after 10am, a select committee was paused so that key political figures could be informed of Collins’ death.

“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go to his family, his community and colleagues,” Luxon said.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins remembers ‘jovial, positive, upbeat advocate’

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has remembered Collins as “a jovial, positive, upbeat advocate for his communities and just one of life’s genuinely very nice people”.

“His family and friends are of course in my thoughts, this is such a tough piece of news to absorb,” Hipkins said.

Who was Efeso Collins?

Collins is a New Zealand-born Samoan who was raised in Ōtara, south Auckland.

He spent three terms on Auckland Council serving as chair of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board and councillor of the Manukau Ward.

Collins is a father of two young daughters, with his wife, Fia.

In interviews with Stuff over many years, he spoke often about the purpose he saw for his life – one of community service.

It was something he thanked both his church and his whānau for encouraging, and said he couldn’t have pursued his careers in local and national politics without them.

After losing the Auckland mayoralty race to Wayne Brown in 2022, Collins said he wanted to give up on politics – but his community asked him to keep working.

“My mum, my church, everyone tells me: ‘This is your expression of service to the community.’ Their support really refuelled my fire,” he said.

Collins entered Parliament in October.