The widow of late MP Efeso Collins is calling for a full investigation into his death after he died at an Auckland event.
Photo File /Diversity Works NZ
The call comes after his wife Vasa Fia Collins attended a case management conference at Auckland’s Coroner’s Court on Wednesday, a Local Democracy Reporting (LDR) report published by PMN says.
It says Vasa urged Coroner Janet Anderson to consider holding a full inquest.
Efeso, a respected politician and community leader, tragically passed away during a public event on February 2024, the Auckland Council had approved. He was 49 years old.
“Our lives have changed forever. I realise that I may never feel full closure over Efeso’s death, but an inquest to address our unanswered questions will move me and my family closer to the closure that we deserve,” PMN report quoted Vasa as saying.
Vasa has demanded answers, saying she wants the truth—and that their children deserve to know how their father died.
The event, organised by ChildFund, involved carrying heavy water buckets over a distance of 1 to 1.4 kilometres.
Dr Max Harris, representing the Collins family, raised concerns about the event’s safety and lack of adequate health measures.
He questioned whether Auckland Council had ensured proper precautions to protect participants.
Harris noted that no medical assessments or health checks were conducted before the event.
“The question here is whether more could have been done to prevent his death and whether more could be done in the future to prevent deaths occurring in similar circumstances. And it’s those inquiries to which those seven outstanding questions and concerns are directed,” Harris says, according to PMN.
Harris referenced Auckland Council’s event guidelines, which stress the importance of trained staff, tailored safety plans, and professional medical services on-site.
However, he noted that the event’s health and safety plan was generic rather than specifically tailored to the risks of this event.
LDR approached Auckland Council for comment on their role in approving the event and whether any health and safety processes had changed since Fa’anānā’s death.
Glynn Leggat, Auckland Council’s Head of Events, told LDR a health and safety plan was submitted for the charity event as part of the application.
“As part of Auckland Council’s role in facilitating events in public spaces, we require every permit applicant to provide evidence of adequate health and safety planning.”
