Vasa Fia Collins: Why I had to finish the podcast Fa'anana and I started

“If I’m honest, I wasn’t ready.”

That’s Vasa Fia Collins reflecting on her decision to launch a podcast, that she started with her late husband Fa’anana Efeso Collins, who died suddenly on 21 February, 2024.

Collins says the Rising Sun podcast, which premiered at an intimate event in Ōtara last week, was a passion project Fa’anana and her first began planning in the months after his mayoral campaign in 2022.

But with the deadline looming for its completion, and Fa’anana no longer able to host it, Collins says “it was really hard” finding the wherewithal to finish it.

“It was a project he was supposed to do. And so it was a really difficult time for me. But I thought if there was anything I would come back to work for, it's this. And it was to honor his legacy.”

Listen to Vasa Fia Collins' full interview on Pacific Mornings:

The multi-part series focuses on the different Dawn Raid perspectives of five prominent Pacific leaders, including Polynesian Panther Tigilau Ness, Methodist Reverend Unasa Uesifili Unasa, Tongan activist Pakilau Manase Lua, PMN political reporter ‘Alakihihifo Vailala and Benji Timu - who was one of the key figures in getting the government to apologise in 2021.

Collins says she hopes this project can inspire Pacific communities to overcome the current challenges they’re facing with a government that is cutting budgets to key Pacific services.

“I'm hopeful that people will feel empowered and enabled to hope and dream and remember their aspirations for our people,” she says.

“We have the power to use our vote, to speak up and that in itself is an act of resistance.

“So it is a tough time for our people, but we're resilient and the Dawn Raids is a reminder of that resilience.”

The Ministry of Pacific Peoples provided funding for the project, while production was done by Bluwave Galumoana Ltd, with Hana Matauaina Vaai Schmidt stepping into host after Fa’anana’s passing.

Schmidt says it was incredibly nerve-wracking having to move from behind the scenes to taking up the microphone.

“I was just focused on production and making sure we had the right team to deliver the project,” she says. “So when Fia asked me to do it I was very scared and I had a bit of a sook, but I then prayed about it and Fia just supported me and put the right people around me.

“You know it’s not easy just to sit down with someone and talk about trauma.

“So for all our guests to come through with their own experiences and be comfortable to share, it feels kind of like a blessing and a bit unreal they were able to trust us with those stories.”

Vasa Fia Collins, supported by her daughter, pays tribute to Fa'anānā Efeso Collins at his funeral at the Due Drop Events Centre. Photo/ RNZ/Nick Monro

For Benji Timu, sharing his story was also a means to farewell his friend, Fa’anana.

“Efeso was one who would always tell me I should get into politics. I didn’t know him that long, but we grew really close and so hearing of his passing was really hard for me. But watching everyone share their stories, helped me feel less isolated.

“And so it was definitely a way to honour him, as well as a way for me to grieve too, because it was under two weeks or something like that [when we recorded it].”

Timu, who helped drive the public awareness campaign that led to the government apologising for the Dawn Raids, hopes this podcast can help remind New Zealanders of this important history.

“I just hope it opens the eyes and ears of non-Pacific people - because still three years after the apology - it’s the people that are non-Pacific that need to learn about this.”