God, life can be cruel sometimes can’t it? If only everyone was like him. He was so very warm, so very generous, so very considerate, so very decent. Plenty of people have those qualities but I can think of hardly anyone I've met who had them as richly as he did.
So so saddened by the news of his death. I never met him but I followed him online & loved everything about him… a beautiful soul lost to us in our time of need. Condolences to his whānau close friends & colleagues 🥰🥰🥰
It hurt when he lost the mayoralty, but I was so looking forward to him as a Green MP. His oratory is beautiful, poetic and honest. Initially Efeso didn't support gay marriage because of his Christian faith, but he turned this around. He made the effort to re-learn, unpack his beliefs and humbly acknowledge he was wrong. Max Harris (a gay man) was his campaign manager when he was going for the mayoralty - few people have that level of character or humility. Moe mai rā e te rangatira.
Devastatingly sad - for his fānau, his colleagues and I suspect for all New Zealanders. I had been looking forward to what he was going to bring to Parliament in the very best of ways. He had a great generosity of spirit for all.
I've just watched Efeso's maiden speech again and I have a lot of tears. What a Totara he was and how much might we all have benefited from him being in Parliament.
We met Efeso when he came over to Birkenhead to drum up support for his mayoral campaign. Shanan Halbert hosted him (they had worked together providing student services at the University of Auckland). I was inspired to assist with his telephone canvassing. When he came in from the campaign trial [oops - trail, though it was probably both] to rally his troops his off-the-cuff from-the-heart chat was always wonderful. So sad ...
I met him very fleetingly during the Auckland mayoral campaign. It was a candidates' meeting in a west Auckland pub. Leo Molloy didn't bother to turn up. Neither did Wayne Brown. Efeso was the only one of the remaining candidates who spoke about the importance of meeting budgets - most of the others were just on about themselves. But his prime message was that he wanted the city to be a great place for his beautiful daughters to grow up in. His warm sincerity was clear. I voted for him and am so sad we'll never know what goodness he would have delivered in future.
It was my privilege to meet Efeso about 3 weeks ago when he came here as one of seven Green MPs. What a man of gentle mana and presence. My heart goes out to his whanau and to the Greens and thank you for your tribute.
I have the memory of him standing beneath the trees in my garden as I talked to the MPs about the personal impact of the oil and gas industry and where I was think they can best direct their energies. Over the years, I have spoken with a fair swag of MPs from most parties but I have never before felt as I did that day - that I was standing amongst my people. Efeso's death will touch many people. What a very sad loss of a special man with so much more to give.
Was devastated when I saw the news of his passing.
Aotearoa needs more compassionate and articulate leaders like him. His passing is a huge loss for us all, but especially the communities he so eloquently represented.
This from Simon Wilson is great https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/faanana-efeso-collins-was-a-politician-of-heart-and-soul-simon-wilson/WZ43K7HTRJF45JP6HO6BXLX7BA/
Splendid work Simon.
Such a tragic loss of a genuinely good man with so much promise. 💔
It always seems to be the best of us, and never the worst.
RIP Efeso
So so saddened by the news of his death. I never met him but I followed him online & loved everything about him… a beautiful soul lost to us in our time of need. Condolences to his whānau close friends & colleagues 🥰🥰🥰
It hurt when he lost the mayoralty, but I was so looking forward to him as a Green MP. His oratory is beautiful, poetic and honest. Initially Efeso didn't support gay marriage because of his Christian faith, but he turned this around. He made the effort to re-learn, unpack his beliefs and humbly acknowledge he was wrong. Max Harris (a gay man) was his campaign manager when he was going for the mayoralty - few people have that level of character or humility. Moe mai rā e te rangatira.
Devastatingly sad - for his fānau, his colleagues and I suspect for all New Zealanders. I had been looking forward to what he was going to bring to Parliament in the very best of ways. He had a great generosity of spirit for all.
I've just watched Efeso's maiden speech again and I have a lot of tears. What a Totara he was and how much might we all have benefited from him being in Parliament.
We met Efeso when he came over to Birkenhead to drum up support for his mayoral campaign. Shanan Halbert hosted him (they had worked together providing student services at the University of Auckland). I was inspired to assist with his telephone canvassing. When he came in from the campaign trial [oops - trail, though it was probably both] to rally his troops his off-the-cuff from-the-heart chat was always wonderful. So sad ...
I met him very fleetingly during the Auckland mayoral campaign. It was a candidates' meeting in a west Auckland pub. Leo Molloy didn't bother to turn up. Neither did Wayne Brown. Efeso was the only one of the remaining candidates who spoke about the importance of meeting budgets - most of the others were just on about themselves. But his prime message was that he wanted the city to be a great place for his beautiful daughters to grow up in. His warm sincerity was clear. I voted for him and am so sad we'll never know what goodness he would have delivered in future.
Such an admirable man, such a loss to his family, the people of Aotearoa and the Pacific Islands. Gone way, way too soon. Irreplaceable.
It was my privilege to meet Efeso about 3 weeks ago when he came here as one of seven Green MPs. What a man of gentle mana and presence. My heart goes out to his whanau and to the Greens and thank you for your tribute.
I have the memory of him standing beneath the trees in my garden as I talked to the MPs about the personal impact of the oil and gas industry and where I was think they can best direct their energies. Over the years, I have spoken with a fair swag of MPs from most parties but I have never before felt as I did that day - that I was standing amongst my people. Efeso's death will touch many people. What a very sad loss of a special man with so much more to give.
Well said David. Such a shock and an incalculable loss.
An absolute tragedy for his family and the whole country. Heartbreaking when we lose the best people.
Was devastated when I saw the news of his passing.
Aotearoa needs more compassionate and articulate leaders like him. His passing is a huge loss for us all, but especially the communities he so eloquently represented.
So unbelievably sad.
So much promise for the future of NZ. Very, very sad.
Lovely tribute David. 💔