Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@oriinz/Newshub
Topics: TV And Film, Tattoos
Mia Williams
A newsreader had a genius response to a man who'd sent in a complaint about her 'aggressive' face tattoo.
Everyone has their opinions about tattoos, but when it comes to voicing them - it is sometimes better to not say anything at all.
But one guy called 'David' felt the need to reach out to New Zealand reporter Oriini Kaipara, who'd previously made history as the first newsreader to have a 'moko kauae', or a Māori chin tattoo.
The inkings are a mark of honour in traditional Polynesian society, as well as a symbol of power. According to NewZealand.com, they also differ dependent on the person's gender.
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But upon making her debut as a new anchor in 2019, she was hit with ignorant complaints that the tattoo was 'aggressive' - so she responded to the complaints.
Taking to her Instagram Story, Kaipara shared a screenshot of an email the man had sent to her and the entire newsroom.
It read: "We continue to object strongly to you using a Māori newsreader with a moku which is offensive and aggressive looking.
"A bad look."
He continued: "She also bursts into the Māori language which we do not understand. Stop it now."
The journalist didn't let the man's ignorance stop her in her tracks, and she took to her story again to share the clever response she sent back to him.
Kaipara started off by writing 'Kia ora David', before adding: "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.
"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."
She continued: "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.
"Moko are ancient cultural markings unique to the indigenous people of Aotearoa, myself included."
Kaipara rightly noted that her community did not deserve to be treated with such 'disregard'.
She finished by saying: "Please refrain from complaining further, and restrain your cultural ignorance and bias for another lifetime, preferably in the 1800s.
"Nga mihi matakuikui o te wa. Oriini Kaipara (The lady with the moko kauwae who speaks Māori but MOSTLY English on TV)."
Two years on from the email, Kaipara has since become a Māori cultural lead for the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
It's what we love to see.