Dawn Raids

The dawn raids were shameful, because in essence they set out to pick up anybody who didn’t look like a Pākehā or palangi New Zealander. They swooped on people who were Māori, they swooped on many Pasifika people who had absolutely lawful residence in New Zealand, may even have been born here...

– Helen Clark

It was a painful time to be a Pacific Islander in New Zealand. I don't think it's something we should hide from.

– Oscar Kightley in Sunday Star Times, 31 July 2005

The police proposed that they would simply stop people in the street and ask them for their documentation - hello, what is this? South Africa? Pass laws, you've got to carry your passport to prove you're a Kiwi. I don't think they meant to be so offensive, but it was wierd.

– Ex Minister of Immigration Aussie Malcolm

Statistics show that through the 70s and the 1980s, that the bulk of overstayers in New Zealand were actually from Europe and from North America, but they weren't targeted to anything like the same extent.

– Massey University Professor Paul Spoonley

...Very much was made of the word 'dawn raids'. It's very emotive. Just remember — these young fellas were working in the freezing works, heading off to work at five and six in the morning. They were on long shifts and so on, and that was the only time you could get them.

– Former Police Task Force Commander Ross Dallow