A New Zealand news presenter addressed a viewer who criticized her Māori face tattoo.
Oriini Kaipara made history in 2021 when she became the first person with a moko kauae to host a primetime news program on national television.
A moko kauae is a facial tattoo traditionally worn by women on the chin or sometimes on both the chin and lips.
Kaipara was widely praised for representing Māori culture when she debuted, but one viewer repeatedly criticized her facial tattoo.
After enduring enough of these comments, the journalist finally responded on social media

When people learned about the complaints Kaipara received regarding her traditional face tattoo, many took to social media to support her.
“A rich cultural heritage is definitely something to honor, respect, and embrace,” one person wrote.
Another added: “It’s beautiful and about time.”
A third social media user commented: “I don’t understand why anyone would have a problem with this.”
“I respect her for getting a tattoo that shows her pride in her heritage,” another shared.

In 2019, Kaipara decided to get the facial tattoo as a reminder of her Māori culture.
She told CNN: “When I doubt myself and see my reflection in the mirror, I’m not just looking at myself.
“I’m looking at my grandmother and my mother, my daughters, and those who come after me, as well as all the other Māori women and girls out there. It empowers me.”
In addition to her moko kauae, Kaipara often incorporates Māori phrases during her broadcasts, such as ‘E haere ake nei’ (still to come), ‘Ū tonu mai’ (stay with us), and ‘Taihoa e haere’ (don’t go just yet).
The news presenter’s ultimate goal is to encourage the use of the Māori language, which was suppressed in her grandmother’s generation, and to reclaim it for the Māori people.

Kaipara explained: “We still haven’t addressed a lot of intergenerational trauma and colonization, and for Māori, that’s very significant.
“Not much has changed in terms of race relations here in a very long time.”
The moko kauae tattoo tradition was almost lost due to colonization, but it has seen a resurgence.
According to The Guardian, it has become a way for people to reclaim and reconnect with Māori culture.

In an interview with The New Zealand Herald, Kaipara mentioned that most viewers send her ‘lovely and thoughtful’ messages, emails, and letters.
However, one viewer was ‘relentless’ with their complaints.
The critic, known only as David, wrote to the entire Newshub newsroom, incorrectly referring to Kaipara’s tattoo as a ‘moku’ and describing it as ‘offensive’ and ‘a bad look.’
He also objected to Kaipara’s use of the Māori language, even though it is commonly featured in New Zealand TV broadcasts.
David wrote: “We strongly object to a Māori TV presenter with a moku, which is offensive and aggressive looking. A bad look.
“She also switches to the Māori language, which we do not understand. Stop it now.”

On Instagram, Kaipara shared her email response to David.
It read: “Thank you for all the complaints against me and my ‘moku.’ I find them hard to take seriously as there is no breach of broadcast standards.
“It seems your complaints are based on your own preference for how someone should look on-screen.
“Moko and the people who wear them are not threatening, nor do they deserve such discrimination, harassment, and prejudice. Moko are ancient cultural markings unique to the indigenous people of Aotearoa, including myself. We intend no harm and do not deserve to be treated with such disregard.
“Please refrain from further complaints and reserve your cultural ignorance and bias for another era, preferably in the 1800s.”
Kaipara signed off the email in te reo Māori, identifying herself as ‘the lady with the moko kauae who speaks Māori but mostly English on TV.’