A TV host with a traditional Māori face tattoo has elegantly replied to negative comments from a viewer, proudly standing up for her cultural background and identity.
Facial tattoos usually spark discussions on the internet. Some people believe that tattoos should only be on the body, while others appreciate the cultural meaning they carry.
Oriini Kaipara, who is 41 years old, is a groundbreaking TV presenter. She made history by becoming a newsreader for New Zealand’s Newshub. This was a big deal because she is the first person to present a primetime TV news bulletin while wearing a moko kauae, which is an important cultural tattoo that Māori women wear.
Māori are the native Polynesian people of New Zealand, and they see moko kauae as very important symbols of their culture and identity. These facial tattoos, which are usually placed on the lips and chins, represent a woman’s family ties, her role as a leader in her community, and they also honor her background, social standing, and skills.
One viewer named David expressed his unhappiness with Kaipara’s moko kauae in an email to Newshub, even though many people were praising it.
He expressed his strong disagreement about having a Māori newsreader with a moko that looks offensive and aggressive, according to the Daily Mail. He said, “It’s not a good image. Plus, she suddenly speaks in Māori, which we can’t understand. Please stop this immediately.”
Kaipara didn’t let David’s mean comments get to her. Instead, she confidently tackled the problem by posting screenshots of their messages on her Instagram story and replied with poise and respect.
Today, I finally reached my limit. I decided to reply, which is something I usually don’t do. I went against my own rules and pressed send,” she shared on her Instagram story, along with a screenshot of David’s message.
Kaipara also shared her email response to David, where she wrote that she was unable to take his complaint seriously “given there is no breach of broadcast standards.”
She also made a point of correcting his spelling of moko, as David had referred to hers as “moku”.
In her email, Kaipara said: “I understand that your complaints come from your personal opinions about how people should appear on-screen. Moko and others like them are not dangerous and shouldn’t be treated with discrimination, harassment, or prejudice.”
She said, “We aren’t trying to hurt anyone or be mean, and we don’t deserve to be treated like this. So, please stop complaining and try to leave your outdated views and ignorance behind, maybe back in the 1800s where they belong.”
Despite David’s harsh criticism, Kaipara was quick to state that she mostly receives comments of praise, and that cruel trolls are few and far between.
In a recent interview with the New Zealand Herald, Kaipara talked about the importance of having more Māori advocates after she addressed David’s complaint. She said, “The fact that some people are bothered by my presence shows why we really need more Māori advocates in important positions in all areas.”
Kaipara’s respectful reaction really shows how important it is to be proud of your culture and to stay strong when things get tough. She encourages others to accept who they are without feeling sorry and to stand up against unfair treatment.