Moko wearer says she was refused job

A Rangitikei woman with a Maori moko has complained to the Human Rights Commission after she was allegedly refused a job because it would not be good for business.

Christina Bevan, 35, has made a complaint against a cafe in Sanson after the owner said she had made other workers remove their facial piercings, but that, in this case, it wasn't like she could chop her lip off.

Ms Bevan said she initially spoke to the woman on the telephone and was asked to come in for an interview the next day. The job was to wash dishes and wipe tables on weekends.

She studies part time and is bringing up two children, so the job was perfect for her.

But when Ms Bevan arrived at the cafe, the woman seemed uninterested in the interview. Half way through telling her about the job, she stopped and said: "I will have to be honest with you. I'm not keen on this," gesturing to her chin, Ms Bevan said.

"She then continued and said: 'I'm going to say no right here'.

"I thought, 'Oh, my God, is this woman really saying this?', " Ms Bevan said yesterday.

"I must have misheard her. But, oh my God, she said it again. At that point, I informed her that what she had said was culturally insensitive, illegal, and I was going to report her."

Ms Bevan said she couldn't believe what she was hearing, and asked the woman if she was refusing her the job because of her moko. She said the woman told her the moko wouldn't be good for business.

Ms Bevan, who lives at Tokorangi, near Halcombe, has had her lip tattooed for several years, but had the moko done only about three months ago. She said it recognises her culture and tells a story about her.

Some moko represent a person's whakapapa. But Ms Bevan's represents a mangopare (hammerhead shark), which symbolises strength and independence, and a koru, which represents new life. It indicates she is travelling through a new life.

It was chosen for her by Foxton tohunga (artist) Hemi Te Peeti, who created the moko.

In the past, people had to get permission from elders to have a moko. But as the moko has evolved, so have the rules about who can have one.

Aware, however, that there are often differing opinions, Ms Bevan asked her uncle. He didn't have any objection to it.

The biggest hurdle was convincing Mr Te Peeti. He interviewed her to find out why she wanted a moko -- to make sure her reasons were genuine.

Before getting a moko, Ms Bevan thought a lot about people's reactions, but decided to go ahead with it.

People often associated moko with gangs, but there was not always a link and the community's attitudes needed to change, she said.

Attempts were made to contact the owner of the cafe, but she was overseas on holiday for a month and could not be reached.

- NZPA