In a powerful display of cultural pride and resilience, TV presenter Oriini Kaipara responded to a viewer’s disparaging comments about her traditional Māori face tattoo with dignity and grace.
Kaipara, a trailblazer in her field, made history as the first primetime TV news bulletin presenter with a moko kauae, a revered cultural marking worn by Māori women. Despite the accolades, one viewer,
David, sent an email to Newshub criticizing Kaipara’s moko kauae as “offensive and aggressive looking.”
Undeterred, Kaipara addressed the issue head-on, sharing screenshots of the messages on her Instagram story and responding with a powerful email that corrected David’s spelling of moko and addressed his cultural ignorance and bias.
Kaipara’s response serves as a reminder of the importance of cultural pride and resilience in the face of adversity. She inspires others to embrace their identities unapologetically and challenge discriminatory attitudes.
As she stated, “The fact that my existence triggers some people is testament to why we need more Māori advocates in key roles across every sector.”
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