WELLINGTON, New Zealand: A 49-year-old New Zealand MP died suddenly on Wednesday morning while participating in a charity race near Britomart in central Auckland.
Mr Collins was attending a Children’s Fund charity event in central Auckland when he collapsed.
The event was to support local communities in the Pacific region.
Collins was married with two children. Born and raised in Otara, south of Auckland, his parents came to New Zealand from Samoa.
He served three terms on the Auckland City Council, serving as chair of the Otara Papatoetoe Regional Board and as a Manukau ward councilor, before running unsuccessfully for Auckland mayor in 2022.
Mr Collins recently switched his support from Labor to the Green Party and was elected to Parliament at the last election.
Death confirmed
Green Party leaders confirmed in a statement that Ms Collins fell while attending a Children’s Fund launch, saying the news had come as a “significant shock to everyone”.
“Our absolute priority is the wives and young daughters of Ephesus.”
Medical teams on the scene immediately came to Collins’ aid and did everything they could to revive him, they said.
“Fross dedicated his life to serving and making a difference in the lives of those he encountered, including his constituents, colleagues, friends and family. He was deeply respected by members of all political parties and communities.”
