A TV presenter with a traditional Māori face tattoo has calmly replied to negative comments from a viewer, proudly standing up for her cultural heritage and identity.
Facial tattoos often spark debates online. Some people think tattoos should only be on the body, while others understand and appreciate their cultural importance.
Oriini Kaipara, 41, made history when she became a newsreader for New Zealand’s Newshub. She is the first primetime TV news presenter to wear a moko kauae, a special facial tattoo for Māori women.
The Māori are the indigenous people of mainland New Zealand. They see moko kauae as important symbols of their heritage and identity. These tattoos, traditionally on the lips and chin, show a woman’s family ties, leadership, and honor her lineage, status, and abilities.
Oriini Kaipara. Credit: Oriini Kaipara / Instagram.
Despite receiving praise, one viewer named David expressed his dislike for Kaipara’s moko kauae in an email to Newshub.
He wrote, “We continue to object strongly to you using a Māori newsreader with a moku [moko] which is offensive and aggressive looking. A bad look. She also bursts into the Māori language which we do not understand. Stop it now,” according to the Daily Mail.
But Kaipara didn’t let David’s negative words stop her. She bravely shared screenshots of his messages on her Instagram story and responded calmly.
“Today I had enough. I responded. I never do that. I broke my own code and hit the send button,” she wrote on her Instagram story alongside a screenshot of David’s message.
Kaipara didn’t just share screenshots of David’s email, she also responded to him. She explained that his complaint wasn’t valid because she hadn’t broken any rules for TV.
She also corrected David’s spelling mistake. He called her tattoo a “moku” instead of “moko”.
In her email back to him, Kaipara said, “I think you don’t like how I look on TV. But tattoos and people with them aren’t scary or bad. We don’t deserve to be treated badly because of them.”
She asked him to stop complaining and to try to understand better. She even joked that maybe he should go back to the 1800s if he couldn’t accept people with tattoos.
Despite David’s negative words, Kaipara says she mostly gets nice comments, and mean ones are rare.
In an interview with the New Zealand Herald, Kaipara talked about how it’s important to have more Māori people in important jobs. She said, “The fact that my existence makes some people upset shows why we need more Māori people in every job.”
Kaipara’s calm response reminds us how important it is to be proud of who you are, even when people are mean. She’s inspiring others to be proud of themselves and stand up to unfair treatment.
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Remembering the Charm of Dolly Pegs
Ah, the memories of days gone by. Do you recall those lovable wooden dolls that used to adorn your grandma’s clothesline? They were called dolly pegs, and they possessed a certain allure that is difficult to resist. In this article, let’s take a trip down memory lane and explore why these petite wooden companions still hold a special place in our hearts, even in the 21st century.
Dolly pegs are the adorable wooden clothespins that resembled miniature people. They had a head, a body, and a pair of tiny wooden arms. However, they were more than just laundry accessories in their time – they were a form of do-it-yourself art and a wellspring of boundless creativity.
Do you ever find yourself reminiscing about the good old days? Well, that is precisely why we are discussing dolly pegs now. These wooden dolls harken back to sunny afternoons spent playing in the backyard and helping out with chores. Remember giving them amusing names and creating epic adventures? Those were truly wonderful times, weren’t they?
One of the most fantastic aspects of dolly pegs is their versatility. You do not need to possess extraordinary crafting skills to transform them into something extraordinary. With some paint, fabric, and a dash of imagination, you can fashion personalized ornaments, fridge magnets, or even little companions for your desk. It is a marvelous way to stimulate your creative spirit without straining your wallet.
In a world brimming with flashy gadgets, it is refreshing to encounter something simple yet captivating. Dolly pegs offer a breath of fresh air for children. They provide a marvelous DIY project that fosters fine motor skills and encourages imaginative play. Furthermore, it presents an opportunity for them to disconnect from screens and allow their creativity to roam free.
But dolly pegs are not solely for the little ones – they can also infuse warmth into your home decor. Picture a delightful row of peg people hanging from a string, brightening your day each time you pass them by. It is a modest yet effective way to infuse your living space with character and charm.
So there you have it – the humble dolly pegs are reclaiming their place in the most delightful manner. They may be unpretentious, but their ability to trigger memories, ignite creativity, and evoke a sense of nostalgia is truly remarkable. So, why not dust off those old wooden pegs and embark on a journey of do-it-yourself delight? Sometimes, it is the simplest things in life that bring us the greatest joy.
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