Edmonds BarbaraHon BARBARA EDMONDS (Labour—Mana): Ou te faatalofa atu ma le faaaloalo malo le soifua maua ma le lagi e mamā. E momoli atu la'u faafetai i le faletua ia Vasa Fia ma le fanau Kaperiela ma Asalemo aiga ma uō. E fai a'u ma sui o le vaega a le Pasefika mo lenei avanoa e fai ai sina upu ia Fa'anānā Efeso Collins.When we as members of Parliament come to this House we come holding the voices of many and carry the responsibility to make decisions for future generations. When we come as Pacific members of Parliament we come holding the voices of our nu'u—our villages—and our ancestors who travelled the Pacific Ocean. Today we honour as Karlo Mila has eloquently stated Fa'anānā Efeso Collins the ancestor we always knew he was.My earliest account of being in the presence of Fa'anānā Efeso Collins or Fes" as we knew him was at that same hui at the University of Auckland in the marae. As members of the Auckland University Pasifika students association we were called to a meeting at the marae to help carry a vote actually against the Māori students association. So I trotted along to hear a line-up of speakers first with the Māori speakers advocating for the vote. I had no idea who these guys were: Peeni Henare Shanan Halbert and Tāmati Coffey. But from the back of the room in the quiet came the final speaker Efeso. I've come to learn that the strategic tactic of Efeso being the last and strong and powerful voice was enough to sway the vote towards our side. If you ever wondered who was tuakana and teina that hui was very clear. He was formidable in his oratory and persuasiveness and I left that hui with an immense respect for him. To say he was the man on campus undersells his skills and his mana.I then officially met Fes one to one when we were introduced through a close mutual friend Asilika Aholelei who was working with Efeso on one of the many projects that Efeso became involved with over the years to empower youth the Dream Fono. Fes' passion to ensure that Pacific youth especially youth from South Auckland had pathways to better education and lives will be one of his enduring legacies. He knew the importance of bringing people up no matter their backgrounds but more importantly he made space for others when it was clear his work was done.So today I want to share with the House the voice of some of those who Efeso was pivotal in providing space for. The voice of Lotu Fuli a long-time friend of Efeso who succeeded him as the Manukau Ward councillor when Efeso stepped down off the seat. Lotu cannot be here today but she wanted to ensure her lofa was shared today. The voice of Asilika and Leo Aholelei who wanted to thank Efeso for giving them the courage each day to stand up for what is right and to love and serve with a grateful heart for bringing the lift down to bless others with opportunities within their communities. They will never forget his love and sacrifice. And finally the voice of one of our Pasifika youth Mariner Fagaiava who was with Efeso on the day he passed. Maz says "I'm surrounded by fierce dreamers staunch tusitala glass ceiling breakers. Me and my generation dream freely because of Fes. I was once asked to perform a laoga or a speech to a crowd of esteemed dignitaries iwi community leaders and diplomats. Fes standing from the back of the crowd gave me a look as to say 'You've got this.' We're led to think leadership is a Pālagi man in front of the room suit-wearing and number-crunching. I know that leadership is actually standing at the back of the room guiding from a distance and he wears an ula fala with a look of pride so as to say 'You've got this.' "So today Vasa Fia Kaperiela Asalemo aiga ma uo and to our Green whānau I say "We've got you." Together we will continue the work of our brother our ancestor. We miss and love you Fes. Ia manuia lau malaga Fa'anānā Efeso Collins. Back to Hawaiki nui Hawaiki roa Hawaiki pāmamao—back the home of our ancestors."