Not done yet
Aupito insisted that while his time in Parliament is wrapping up, there is still work to be completed.
"I'm still the minister, I'm not going away quickly. I still have a budget that I am working through. The continuation of more funding for the Pacific.
"Budget 2023 is an absolute, and yes we've got the commitments that we made during the Dawn Raids which includes matters around immigration so we're working on that.
I'm holding the Pacific Education Ministers meeting next year and of course I've got to launch the Dawn Raids vaka of stories," he said.
It is not just Pacific issues that he said needs his focus. On that list are improvements which need to be made to better access to the court system and there is coronial reform to oversee.
He said he hopes it can all be "completed by next year".
"I am going to transition from Parliament back into the community and will continue my Pacific advocacy work in the community where I started."
Aupito has not firmed up his next steps just yet, but he said he plans on taking a break and is going to Samoa over the summer.
Family
"This life is all consuming. It's relentless, you can't do everything, the sacrifice is for my family," he said.
The Chiefly title of Aupito was bequeathed upon him in 2016 by his father. He says the first title that was given to him was an orator title in 1990. He said many other roles and responsibilities have been bestowed on him over the years.
"These titles are roles and responsibilities that extend to a number of family clans who were originally based in Samoa," he said.
He wants the freedom to carry out his roles and responsibilities that he is not able to do in his current role which he described as, "non stop and unrelenting".
"Not being around when family members pass away and not being able to perform my maitai duties," he lamented.
Before he broke the news to his family over zoom, he had been talking to his father, Aupito Sr for some time to assure him nothing was wrong.
"He is very proud I am Pacific Peoples Minister in the New Zealand Government.
"He has been my unofficial campaign manager, if I wanted it or not," he said.
His mother Sene passed away in 1999. At that time he was living in Samoa but he returned in 2000 to be around his father. He then stood for Manukau City council in 2001 with Len Brown.
"You are given this task by the community and I like to think that I have given my best.
"I am not leaving the people of South Auckland, I'm still going to be living in Mangere, the gateway to the nation, the land of the young, the beautiful and the gifted and our world champions," he said.
Aupito William Sio and Aupito Senior with other Aupito family matai's. Photo: Supplied/Aupito
Fight for our lives
As he prepares for a life out of Parliament, Aupito called on the next generation of leaders is to stand up and be heard.
"Don't put up with injustices, don't put up with racism and discrimination, speak out," he said.
Aupito's message to current leaders is to listen.
"They want a better country, they want a country where they can see everybody, accept diversity and recognise that as a strength of Aotearoa New Zealand.
"I am going to rev up that next generation to have a fight for their lives," he said.
