July 05, 2013
Kia ora a 24-7 salutation
The woman demoted for saying kia ora three decades ago says she can’t believe a Queenstown retailers' objection to the salutation.
Bonnie Rodwell from clothing retailer BONZ, complained to Travel New Zealand magazine that starting an email to her with the greeting 'kia ora' was disrespectful and silly, because she did not speak Māori.
Ngāti Whatua kuia Naida Glavish, whose demotion from her tolls position for using the greeting became a national sensation, says it’s a strange attitude from someone calling their business 'Best of New Zealand'.
"She should grow up and get over herself. This is Aotearoa. Māori reo is an official language of this country. You don't have to be Māori to use a salutation indigenous to this country," she says.
Naida Glavish says unlike "good morning", kia ora or "well being to you" is a 24-7 salutation.
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