Kiwi journalist hits back at viewer’s complaints about her Māori tattoo
<p dir="ltr">A popular New Zealand newsreader has hit back at an irate viewer who has repeatedly complained about her traditional Māori face tattoo, asking him to keep his comments for “another lifetime”.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Oriini Kaipara made headlines in 2021 when she became the first person to bear a moko kauae - a traditional Māori tattoo that covers a woman’s lips and chin - while anchoring a prime-time news broadcast in New Zealand.</p>
<p dir="ltr">While many viewers have applauded Ms Kaipara, others were less kind, with one repeat objector prompting her to take to Instagram to respond on Thursday, saying she had “had enough” of his complaints.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Today I had enough. I responded. I never do that. I broke my own code and hit the send button,” the Newshub presenter shared with followers in a since-deleted post.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The viewer, identified only as David, had written to the entire newsroom to complain about Ms Kaipara’s tattoo, which he mislabelled as a “moku” and said was “offensive” and “a bad look”.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“We continue to object strongly to you using Māori TV presenter with a moku, which is offensive and aggressive looking. A bad look,” he wrote.</p>
<p dir="ltr">David also objected to the use of te reo Māori during broadcasts, despite the fact that the Māori language features in most Kiwi TV broadcasts.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“She also bursts into Māori language which we do not understand. Stop it now,” he said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">On Instagram, Ms Kaipara shared her full response to him.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Thank you for all your complaints against me and my ‘moku’. I do find them very difficult to take seriously, given there is no breach of broadcast standards,” she wrote.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“If I may, I’d like to correct you on one thing – it is moko not ‘moku’. A simple, helpful pronunciation guide of ‘Maw-Caw’ will help you articulate the word correctly.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“I gather your complaints stem from a place of preference on how one must look on-screen, according to you. Moko and people with them are not threatening, nor do they deserve such discrimination, harassment or prejudice.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Moko are ancient cultural markings unique to the indigenous people of Aotearoa, myself included. We mean no harm or ill intent, nor do we deserve to be treated with such disregard. Please refrain from complaining further, and restrain your cultural ignorance and bias for another lifetime, preferably in the 1800s.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">She ended her message with, “Nga mihi matakuikui o te wa,” a polite te reo Māori farewell, and signed off as “the lady with the moko kauwae who speaks Māori but MOSTLY English on TV”.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Speaking to the <em><a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/newshubs-oriini-kaiparas-response-to-viewers-complaint-about-her-offensive-moko-kauae/LWLE2VNRPXM2GJTQ73Z3FNME74/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZ Herald</a></em> after, Ms Kaipara said the viewer had been “relentless” in his complaints.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“These types of complaints are being sent by a minority,” she told the publication, adding that she receives plenty of “lovely and thoughtful” messages from viewers.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“The fact that my existence triggers some people is testament to why we need more Māori advocates in key roles across every sector.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Ms Kaipara, who is of Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangitihi and Ngāi Tūhoe descent, has previously said she got her moko in 2019 to remind herself of her identity as a Māori woman.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“When I doubt myself, and I see my reflection in the mirror, I’m not just looking at myself,” she explained.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“I’m looking at my grandmother and my mother, and my daughters, and those to come after me, as well as all the other women and Maori girls out there. It empowers me.”</p>
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<p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @oriinz (Instagram)</em></p>
