A TV host with a traditional Māori face tattoo has reinforced her pride in her identity and cultural heritage in a classy response to a viewer’s troll comments.
Facial tattoos are often the subject of online debates, with some saying that they should only be done to the body and others recognizing their cultural significance.
When Oriini Kaipara, 41, joined New Zealand’s Newshub as a newsreader, she became the first primetime TV news bulletin presenter to wear a moko kauae, a revered cultural emblem worn by Māori women.
For the Māori, the native Polynesian people of mainland New Zealand, moko kauae are important symbols of identity and heritage. Usually placed on the lips and chins, these facial tattoos honor a woman’s background, status, and skills while also signifying her leadership in her society and family.
However, a fan named David emailed Newshub to voice his disapproval of Kaipara’s moko kauae in the midst of the applause.
He responded, “We continue to object strongly to you using a Māori newsreader with a moku [moko], which is offensive and aggressive looking,” according to the Daily Mail. “An unpleasant look. She also speaks Māori, which we cannot understand. Stop it now.
Kaipara bravely faced the issue head-on, responding to David’s disparaging remarks with grace and dignity while sharing screenshots of the exchanges on her Instagram story.
“Today was enough for me. I replied. I never do that. On her Instagram story, she shared a screenshot of David’s message with the remark, “I broke my own code and hit the send button.”
Additionally, Kaipara made public her email response to David, in which she said she could not take his complaint seriously “given there is no breach of broadcast standards.”
Additionally, she was careful to correct his spelling of moko because David had referred to hers as “moku.”
“I assume that your grievances are based on your personal preferences for how one should appear on TV,” Kaipara continued in her email. They don’t deserve this type of prejudice, violence, or discrimination because Moko and those around them are not dangerous.
She went on to say, “We/I don’t deserve to be treated with such disrespect, and we don’t mean any harm or malicious intent.” “Please stop complaining and put your prejudice and cultural illiteracy away for another time, preferably in the 1800s.”
In a swift response to David’s critical comments, Kaipara stated that she usually gets nice comments and that unpleasant trolls are uncommon.
After responding to David’s complaint, Kaipara spoke to the New Zealand Herald about the need for more Māori advocates, stating, “The fact that my existence triggers some people is testament to why we need more Māori advocates in key roles across every sector.”
All things considered, Kaipara’s polite reply serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of ethnic pride and tenacity in the face of adversity. She is also urging people to challenge prejudiced ideas and accept who they are without feeling guilty.
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