This would apply to many European, Asian and Pacific Rim countries, including her own country Denmark.
Interesting that her party, the Danish People's Party, wants to protect the freedom and cultural heritage of the Danish people. Sounds very similar to what Maori want for their culture.
Usually overseas visitors welcome the opportunity to experience first hand another country's culture. Isn't this why they have travelled from afar? But not Ms Krarup. She was mortified. It is true though that the majority of visitors will not be given the formal welcome extended to her.
People from different cultures cannot be expected to understand what is happening during a formal Maori welcome ceremony. But I would expect a visiting politician to at least take the time to find out a little about the country she is visiting.
That there are 600,000-plus indigenous New Zealanders who live, work and actively contribute to the ongoing development of their country. Their culture is important to them, has been so for hundreds of years, and it's what most of our international visitors want to see and experience.
I was not offended by Ms Krarup's remarks. I know she is not alone in her thinking. I have heard many New Zealanders express similar views. Most are Pakeha but even some Maori tell me they feel this is now an outdated custom and should be packed away.
Invariably I discover these people have had little to do with Maori. They have rarely, if ever, been on a marae, don't know Maori culture and customs and have no idea of the significance of tikanga; language, hongi, haka and the importance attached to a powhiri.
Why spend time getting upset and angry about the comments of one woman from a far-away country who doesn't like the way things are done in New Zealand. We can presume she gave her honest opinion about her host country's welcome, somewhat unusual for a guest, but frankly who cares.
She will not be back for a return visit and Maori are hardly going to change their customary welcome for important personages because of her dislike for it.
I lived in Switzerland for many years and I found people from most European countries I visited very interested in New Zealand and especially Maori culture.
They knew we were a land of millions of sheep, had mountains and lakes and was sparsely populated. But they always wanted to know about New Zealand Maori. These countries had their own culture, language and customs, many going back hundreds of years.
They appreciated the cultures and histories of other countries and so many told me they wanted to travel to New Zealand one day.
I was often asked if I knew any Maori, what were they like and could I say a few words in the Maori language?
When I explained that my mother was Maori they were even more interested. Over the years I have found people strong in, and well connected to their culture, and who continue to practise their own customs, to be enquiring of other cultures too. It's as if they know that culture and customs today in many parts of the world are under threat.
They recognise that for these to survive they must ignore their critics and those who, through ignorance, make negative judgments.
I hope the people I met and their children, now adults, have made time to visit New Zealand. That they experienced the best New Zealand has to offer including the unique Maori culture. The vast majority who visit New Zealand will return home enriched.
A few will travel the world with their eyes open but blind to the beauty of difference.
