A television presenter proudly adorned with a traditional Māori moko kauae—a sacred facial tattoo—has responded with grace and dignity to online criticism, reaffirming her pride in her heritage and cultural identity.
Facial tattoos often spark heated debates online, with some insisting that tattoos belong solely on the body, while others celebrate the deep cultural significance they carry.
Oriini Kaipara, 41, shattered barriers when she became a newsreader for New Zealand’s Newshub, making history as the first primetime TV news presenter to wear a moko kauae. This revered marking, traditionally worn by Māori women, represents far more than a tattoo—it is a powerful emblem of identity and heritage.
For the Māori, the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand, moko kauae carries profound meaning. Traditionally etched on the lips and chin, it symbolizes a woman’s ancestral connections, her leadership within the community, and her honor as a guardian of lineage and tradition. Oriini’s trailblazing presence serves as a proud reminder of the resilience and beauty of cultural expression in modern media.
However, amidst the accolades, one viewer, known as David, voiced his discontent with Kaipara’s moko kauae in 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,” he wrote, per the Daily Mail. “A bad look. She also bursts into the Māori language which we do not understand. Stop it now.”
Undeterred by David’s disparaging remarks, Kaipara bravely addressed the issue head-on, sharing screenshots of the messages on her Instagram story and responding with grace and dignity.
“Today I had enough. I responded. I never do that. I broke my own code and hit the send button,” she wrote on an Instagram story accompanied by a screenshot of David’s message.
Kaipara also revealed her email response to the viewer, David, in which she addressed his complaint with poise. “I’m unable to take your concerns seriously,” she wrote, “given that there is no breach of broadcast standards.”
Kaipara also took the opportunity to correct David’s spelling of moko, as he had mistakenly referred to it as “moku.”
In her email, she elaborated: “It seems your complaints arise from personal preferences about how someone should appear on-screen according to your standards. Moko and those who wear them are neither threatening nor deserving of discrimination, harassment, or prejudice.”
She went on: “We mean no harm or ill intent, and neither do I deserve to be treated with such disregard. I kindly ask that you refrain from submitting further complaints and instead reserve your cultural ignorance and bias for another lifetime—perhaps one set in the 1800s.”
Despite David’s harsh criticism, Kaipara emphasized that such negativity is rare, noting that the majority of feedback she receives is overwhelmingly positive. Cruel trolls, she assured, are few and far between.
In an interview with the New Zealand Herald following her response to David, Kaipara underscored the need for more Māori representation and advocacy: “The fact that my existence triggers some people is proof of why we need more Māori advocates in key roles across every sector.”
Kaipara’s composed and dignified response is a powerful testament to the strength of cultural pride and resilience in the face of adversity. Her unwavering stance continues to inspire others to embrace their identities unapologetically and to challenge discriminatory attitudes with courage and grace.
