A New Dawn

Author: Emeli Sione
Memoir/Young-Adult
84 pages, 230mm x 150mm
ISBN 9780473630287

Emeli Sione shares her Dawn Raid story to help us understand the real impact of this dark time in our history. With valuable lessons for all New Zealanders, A New Dawn provides us with hope on our journeys of equality, justice and healing as Pasifika in New Zealand.

A New Dawn is an educational resource that explores the history and impact of the Dawn Raids in New Zealand, focusing on the experiences of Pacific communities during the 1970s and 1980s. The book includes personal accounts, historical context, and the only inclusion of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s 2021 apology speech for the raids. It also carries the blessing of the Polynesian Panther Party Legacy Trust, honouring the activism of the time. Aimed at students, educators, and school leaders, the resource highlights the importance of sharing Pasifika stories to foster healing and greater understanding of this painful chapter in New Zealand’s history.