
A New Zealand news presenter has slammed back at a viewer who called her Māori face tattoo a ‘bad look’.
Oriini Kaipara made history last year as she became the first person with a moko kauae (a traditional marking worn by Maori women) to host a primetime news bulletin.
But, one viewer made a complaint about it, penning an email to Newshub.
‘We continue to object strongly to you using a Māori newsreader with a moku (moko) which is offensive and aggressive looking,’ the viewer known as David wrote.
‘A bad look. She also bursts into the Māori language which we do not understand. Stop it now.’
The journalist took to Instagram to share her response back, labelling David as ‘one of ‘those’ gifts that keep on giving.’
Sharing David’s email on her Instagram stories, Kaipara wrote: ‘This guy is one of ‘those’ gifts that keep on giving…
‘He constantly complains about my MOKU and that I look aggressive. He’s not emailing me direct but the whole tari kawe purongo,’she added, referring to the reporting agency.

She continued: ‘Today I had enough. I responded. I never do that. I broke my own code and hit the Send button. With love. And cheek!’
The newsreader then shared her own powerful response, in which she wrote: ‘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.

‘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 and prejudice.
‘We mean no harm or ill intent nor do we/I deserve to be treated with such disregard.
‘Please refrain from complaining further, and restrain your cultural ignorance and bias for another lifetime, preferably in the 1800s.’
Kaipara also signed off as: ‘The lady with the moko kauwae who speaks Maori but MOSTLY English on TV.’
The newsreader has been open about discovering her roots and adopting the Maori tattoo in 2019, after she had discovered she was 100 per cent Maori through a DNA test.