The Human Rights Commissioner Richard Tankersley has praised a transgender shopper for going public after she was allegedly humiliated by staff at Farmers.
The company is investigating claims Mary Haddock-Staniland was ridiculed by a shop assistant while trying on shorts at a store in Auckland.
Mrs Haddock-Staniland went to buy a pair of shorts and claims that while in a female changing room she overheard the assistant ask colleagues if it was okay to let "half-man, half-woman" in.
"What happened to Mary isn't new but it highlights the bullying and hate that transgender New Zealanders face all too often. I urge Farmers to investigate this incident and to train their staff to treat every customer with respect and dignity," Mr Tankersley said.
Mrs Haddock-Staniland says the Farmers assistant was "rude from the start", laughed at her and repeated slurs to customers.
Farmers managing director and chief executive Rod McDermott says the company has launched an investigation into the allegations.NZME