June 03, 2013
Air NZ policy insults Māori
Opinion: Air New Zealand bosses should hang their heads in shame after the airline's rejection of a Māori woman for an air hostess job because she had a taa moko on her arm.
Claire Nathan was told her taa moko was unacceptable for hostess work but there was a possibility that she could get a job working in baggage if she played her cards right.
The reason given for the rejection was because tattoos were unacceptable and could be seen as intimidating to overseas tourists even though Claire explained what she had was not a tattoo but ta moko, something that was unique to Māori.
Claire rightly thought that there would be some recognition of this but apparently not, ta moko is seen exactly the same as tattoos.
That view from Air NZ is an insult to Māori culture and the contribution that Māori have made to the airline; so much of Air NZ's marketing is based around Māori culture.
The airline has used Māori songs, symbols, images and designs for years now to promote the airline and even has a Māori koru painted on the tail of its airplanes, so it has benefited hugely with its commercial exploitation of Māori culture.
Unfortunately it seems most of the country backs Air NZ which doesn't surprise me as just about anything Māori is opposed by the majority in this country. However, what was pleasing was seeing how much support Claire got from many politicians with John Key and David Shearer leading the way.
Air NZ is holding firm to its policy and said: "As far as Miss Nathan is concerned nothing has changed, customer facing staff cannot have visible tattoos regardless of the origin, nature design or personal significance of the tattoo."
Air NZ just doesn't get it. Claire summed it up well when she said: "Air NZ need to embrace our whole culture and not just take pieces to suit themselves."
The Government surely should exert as much pressure as possible to get it to change its policy.
After all Air NZ owes the Government and people like Claire Nathan whether it admits it or not.
It is not a private company that has made it on its own, if it wasn't for taxpayers like Claire, it would be dead in the water today unless it has forgotten the $885 million taxpayers' bailout it took in 2002 to save it from going broke.
The Government must do the right thing and demand a change.
Taa moko is different to tattoo; it's unique and precious to Māori and our people should not be discriminated against when they apply for a job on an airline which is meant to be all of ours.
So change your policy Air New Zealand NOW!
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