Abstract
This chapter revisits an ifoga ceremony that was conducted in August 2021 in Aotearoa New Zealand, in which the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern officially apologised for the Dawn Raids of the 1970s. In these raids, the New Zealand Government had systematically scapegoated and targeted Pacific peoples for deportation. The author reflects on some limitations of this recent ifoga ceremony, thereby questioning whether it was, in fact, a genuine ifoga.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Intriguingly, the root word of fa’aaloalo is the word alo (face), which implies a face-to-face dynamic, so as to suggest that if one is respectful, one must be able to say what one wants to say to the other’s face. However, in ifoga, one is without face as they seek mercy and forgiveness from the offended party to save face! (cf. Vaai 2006).
- 2.
The feagaiga in its basic sense articulates the covenantal relationship between brother and sister, where the brother must love their sister and act as the sister’s guardian and protector, while the sister shows care and respect for her brother.
- 3.
A social justice movement that was founded and established by young Polynesians in the 1970s with its membership consisting of activists of Pasifika heritage, Māori and other ethnic minorities, in response to racism by the New Zealand government towards Pasifika peoples, tangata whenua, and other ethnic minorities, which was intensified by the Dawn Raids.
References
Acorn, Annalise. 2004. Compulsory compassion: A critique of restorative justice. Toronto: UBC Press.
Anae, Melani. 1997. Towards a NZ-born Samoan identity: Some reflections on ‘labels’. Pacific Health Dialog 4: 128–137.
Beaglehole, Ann. 2015. Immigration regulation: Controlling Pacific Island immigration. Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/immigration-regulation/page-6.
Broughton, Geoff. 2009. Restorative justice: Opportunities for Christian engagement. International Journal of Public Theology 3: 299–318.
Efi, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese. 2018. In search of meaning, nuance and metaphor in social policy. In Suesue Manogi: In search of fragrance: Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta’isi Efi and the Samoan indigenous reference, ed. M. Tamasailau, Suaalii-Sauni, I’uogafa Tuagalu, Tofilau Nina Kirifi-Alai, and Naomi Fuamatu. Wellington: Huia.
Fagaiava-Muller, Mariner. 2021. Dark days of the 1970s dawn raids are at last formally acknowledged. Radio New Zealand, August 3. https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/448372/dark-days-of-the-1970s-dawn-raids-are-at-last-formally-acknowledged.
Filoaialii, Laauli A., and Lyle Knowles. 1983. The Ifoga: The Samoan practice of seeking forgiveness for criminal behaviour. Oceania 53: 386–387.
Havea, Jione. 2014. Bare FeetWelcome: Redeemer Xs Moses @ Enaim. In Bible, borders, belonging(s): Engaging readings from Oceania, ed. Jione Havea, David J. Neville, and Elaine M. Wainwright. Atlanta: SBL Press.
Kiingitanga. 2010. Queen Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu. YouTube, April 18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6WtbvoW33k.
Kolia, Brian Fiu. 2023. The I’a Tele (Great fish) and the search for Jonah: A Fāgogo Reading of Jonah 1:17–2:10. Samoa Journal of Theology 2: 46–54.
Lavatai, Sanele Faasua. 2017. The Ifoga ritual in Samoa in anthropological and in biblical perspectives. PhD dissertation. University of Hamburg.
Macpherson, Cluny, and La’avasa Macpherson. 2005. The Ifoga: The exchange value of social honour in Samoa. The Journal of the Polynesian Society 114: 109–133.
Ness, Daniel W. van, and Karen Heetderks Strong. 2006. Restoring justice. 3rd ed. Cincinnati: Anderson.
Philpott, Daniel. 2012. Just and unjust peace: An ethic of political reconciliation. Oxford: Oxford University.
Radio New Zealand. 2023. Dawn raid tactics still happening, despite government apology. May 2. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/489091/dawn-raid-tactics-still-happening-despite-government-apology.
Strong, Khalia. 2021. A moment 50 years in the making – the PM apologises for the Dawn Raids. Pacific Media Network, August 2. https://pacificmedianetwork.com/articles/a-moment-50-years-in-the-making-the-pm-apologises-for-the-dawn-raids.
Timu, Benji, and Josiah Tualamali’i. 2021. Apologise for the ‘Dawn raids’ and enable education in Aotearoa about them. Petitions: New Zealand Government. https://petitions.parliament.nz/3683309b-cddf-4fb0-b856-abf562e931a1.
Tokalau, Torika. 2021. Dawn raids apology: PM sorry for ‘hurt and distress’ of racially targeted policy. August 1. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/125849685/dawn-raids-apology-pm-sorry-for-hurt-and-distress-of-racially-targeted-policy.
Vaai, Upolu. 2006. Faaaloalo: A theological reinterpretation of the doctrine of the trinity from a Samoan perspective. PhD dissertation. Brisbane: Griffith University.
Zehr, Howard. 1990. Changing lenses: A new focus for crime and justice. Scottdale: Herald Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kolia, B.F. (2024). Uncovering the Mat: Restorative Justice for the Dawn Raids?. In: Kolia, B.F., Mawson, M. (eds) Unsettling Theologies. Postcolonialism and Religions. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-46121-7_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-46121-7_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-46120-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-46121-7
eBook Packages: Religion and PhilosophyPhilosophy and Religion (R0)