A trailblazing television presenter with a traditional Māori face tattoo has responded with poise and strength after receiving a cruel message from a viewer, reaffirming her deep pride in her cultural heritage.
Facial tattoos, especially those rooted in indigenous traditions, often spark online debate. Some critics argue tattoos should remain on the body. Many recognize and honor the cultural and ancestral meaning they carry.
Oriini Kaipara, 41, made history when she became the first primetime news anchor in New Zealand. She was the first to present with a moko kauae—the sacred chin tattoo worn by Māori women. As a presenter for Newshub, Kaipara has become a symbol of cultural pride and representation.
For Māori—the Indigenous Polynesian people of Aotearoa (New Zealand)—the moko kauae is far more than a tattoo. It symbolizes a woman’s whakapapa (genealogy), her leadership role, and her deep ties to community and identity.
Despite widespread support, Kaipara recently received a disparaging email from a viewer named David, who criticized her moko kauae and her use of te reo Māori on-air. “We continue to object strongly to you using a Māori newsreader with a moku [moko] which is offensive and aggressive looking,” he wrote. “A bad look. She also bursts into the Māori language which we do not understand. Stop it now.”
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Responding to critics
Kaipara, known for her professionalism and restraint, chose to respond publicly for the first time—sharing the message on her Instagram story along with her own reply.
“Today I had enough. I responded. I never do that. I broke my own code and hit the send button,” she wrote.
In her email, she politely corrected David’s misspelling of moko and dismissed his complaint, citing the absence of any violation of broadcast standards. She continued:
“I gather your complaints stem from a place of preference on how one must look on-screen according to you. Moko and people with them are not threatening nor do they deserve such discrimination, harassment, and prejudice. We mean no harm or ill intent, nor do we/I deserve to be treated with such disregard.”
Kaipara ended her response with a powerful line: “Please refrain from complaining further, and restrain your cultural ignorance and bias for another lifetime—preferably in the 1800s.”
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