Tributes are continuing to flow for Efeso Collins, who died yesterday after collapsing at an Auckland charity event.
Efeso, who was aged 49, is being remembered as a man of service and a true leader.
Speaking to Breakfast this morning, 1News Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver and Auckland Councillor Alf Filipaina reflected on Collins' life and his service to the community.
"He had this baseline of goodness and you saw when he did his maiden speech in Parliament and he mentioned his two children's names, Kaperiela and Asalemo, his voice breaks and he looks up in the gallery and he cries.
"He had this solid baseline of family, of community, of what was important to him," Dreaver said.
She reflected on stories she's done with Collins in the past, acknowledging his challenges in politics over the years, especially racism.
"I did a story with him because his wife and young child had been stopped from going into Auckland Town Hall because the people at the door didn't believe that Efeso was going to become a councillor because he was a Pacific Islander."
"There were many racist challenges that he faced, he got death threats, there was even a bomb threat."
Filipaina explained how Collins' love for his family was "the centre of his world".
1News’ Pacific Correspondent reflects on Collins’ legacy. (Source: 1News)
"Even though people are saying he was a charismatic, he was inspirational to the Pacific, he was actually inspirational for everybody.
"That's why for me, I'm going to miss my colleague who I used to sit with and around the table for six years, but the whole of Tāmaki and Aotearoa are going to miss somebody who always stood up for the community, had no issue about doing that, but that's for everybody not just the Pacific."
Yesterday MPs paid tribute to Collins, outgoing Greens co-leader James Shaw saying Parliament would say goodbye to "an extraordinary man".
He said Collins was "a man of service", a proud son of the Pacific, a community leader, a father, a husband and a brother.
"To Efeso's beloved family... you gave him strength and purpose and joy and friendship and love and support."
Shaw also acknowledged those who had attended to Collins when he collapsed at the ChildFund event.
"We know that you did everything that you could for him, and we are grateful."
Shaw said Collins was known for his "graciousness, his huge smile and his reassuring voice".
"He was joyful, he was funny, he was kind and thoughtful. He conducted himself quietly, and kindly, and gracefully. He was a man full of empathy. He was a man who knew the first step towards change was an open heart.
"Mr Speaker, Efeso Collins was a good man."
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