A television host proudly displaying a traditional Māori face tattoo has elegantly addressed negative comments from a viewer, emphasizing her pride in her cultural background and identity.
Facial tattoos often spark discussions online, with some people arguing that tattoos should only be on the body, while others appreciate the cultural importance they hold.
Oriini Kaipara, 41, a pioneering TV presenter, made history by becoming the first primetime newsreader at New Zealand’s Newshub to wear a moko kauae, a respected cultural tattoo worn by Māori women.
Māori, the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand, view moko kauae as significant representations of heritage and identity. These facial tattoos, typically placed on the lips and chins, signify a woman’s family ties, her leadership role in the community, and honor her ancestry, status, and abilities.
Despite receiving praise, one viewer named David expressed his dissatisfaction with Kaipara’s moko kauae in an email to Newshub.
“We strongly object to having a Māori newsreader with a moko that appears offensive and aggressive,” he stated, according to the Daily Mail. “It’s not a good look. She also switches to Māori, which we don’t understand. Please stop it.”
Unfazed by David’s negative comments, Kaipara courageously tackled the situation directly, sharing screenshots of the messages on her Instagram story and responding with poise.
“Today, I reached my limit. I decided to respond, which I rarely do. I broke my own rule and hit send,” she shared on her Instagram story alongside a screenshot of David’s email.
Kaipara also shared her email reply to David, in which she expressed that she couldn’t take his complaint seriously since there was no violation of broadcast standards.
Additionally, she took the opportunity to correct his misspelling of “moko,” as David had mistakenly referred to it as “moku.”
In her message, Kaipara elaborated: “It seems your complaints arise from your personal preferences regarding how individuals should appear on-screen. Moko and those who have them are not a threat and should not face discrimination, harassment, or prejudice.
“We harbor no ill will or harmful intentions, nor do we/I deserve to be treated with such disrespect,” she added. “I kindly ask you to stop filing complaints and to set aside your cultural ignorance and bias, ideally returning to a mindset from the 1800s.”
Despite David’s strong criticism, Kaipara was quick to emphasize that she primarily receives positive feedback, with negative comments being quite rare.
In a recent interview with the New Zealand Herald, following her reply to David’s remarks, Kaipara highlighted the significance of having more Māori advocates: “The fact that my presence provokes some individuals underscores the necessity for more Māori representation in influential positions across all sectors.”
Overall, Kaipara’s composed response serves as a powerful reminder of the value of cultural pride and resilience when facing challenges. She is motivating others to embrace their identities confidently and confront discriminatory views.
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