NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / League / NRL

Rugby league: Pasifika community slams NRL presenter Erin Molan's 'racist' comments

news.com.au
5 Jun, 2020 10:10 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Channel Nine presenter Erin Molan. Photo / Getty Images

Channel Nine presenter Erin Molan. Photo / Getty Images

Erin Molan has copped substantial backlash following a conversation on 2GB about the names of Pacific Islander NRL players.

The Channel 9 host said "hooka looka mooka hooka fooka" which left co-hosts of The Continuous Call Darryl Bohman and Mark Levy puzzled.

Molan insisted the comments weren't made in a mocking manner, instead they were an in-joke between the commentary team.

The Daily Mail reports that both Molan and Nine Entertainment, owner of 2GB, insist she was alluding to a story Brohman told nearly two months ago in early April.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Brohman's story centred on a conversation between father and son commentators, Ray and Chris Warren, who disagreed over the pronunciation of Manly forward Haumole Olakau'atu.

"Erin was jokingly mocking the difficulty Chris and his father had, going back and forth figuring out how to pronounce a complex name," the Daily Mail quoted Nine.

Molan however has come under fire over the comments with several past and present players labelling them insensitive and racist.

Manly Sea Eagles prop Martin Taupau said the remarks from Molan would have left his grandfather "tossing in his grave with anger".

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Understandable for our non-Pasifika community attempting to properly announce our names, but to disrespect and make a mockery of former/current Pasifika players in the NRL like how you carried on is DISGRACEFUL! My grandfather would be tossing in his grave in anger!🤬@Erin_Molan https://t.co/CTMuzHEatl

— Martin Taupau (@MartyKapow) June 5, 2020

ABC Radio presenter Tali Aualiitia took aim at Molan in a lengthy Twitter spiel for not understanding the effects of her failed joke.

"Erin Molan works in rugby league and, there are a bloody lot of Pacific players. It's literally her job to say these names and, to do the work to same them right," Aualiitia wrote.

"What she fails to understand, is that a Pacific name is not just a surname. It's your ancestors, your village, your people, your country.

"We wear our names with pride and they are not there to be made a mockery of – even as a joke with your co-worker."

Discover more

Warriors

Heroes to zeroes: Warriors pummelled by Panthers

05 Jun 09:55 AM
Warriors

How the Warriors rated in Panthers thrashing

05 Jun 08:00 PM
Warriors

How Warriors defeat exposes brutal NRL truth

05 Jun 06:42 PM
Warriors

The worrying weaknesses for the Warriors

06 Jun 08:00 AM

Molan refuses to apologise and Nine defends ‘any perceived racial insensitivity as a misunderstanding’ saying it’s an in joke
Makes me VERY nervous about the other racial in jokes that are going on over there https://t.co/8iqachsoo0

— Tahlea Aualiitia (@taliaualiitia) June 5, 2020

NITV journalist Madeline Hayman-Reber was scathing in her take on Molan and couldn't believe she didn't understand the bigger issue.

"A disgusting display of racism made even more racist by her failure to recognise, understand, or learn. This is white Australia," she wrote.

A disgusting display of racism made even more racist by her failure to recognise, understand, or learn. This is white Australia. https://t.co/YOGOUO55MY

— Madeline Hayman-Reber (@MadelineHayman) June 5, 2020

Sharks forward Braden Hamlin-Uele hit out at the claims of an 'inside joke', calling on her to 'show some respect'.

"An inside joke? Show some respect!," Hamlin-Uele said in an Instagram story.

"If that's a joke between colleagues than F that workplace. Get out of the job @ErinMolan.

"Disgusting to even think that would be ok, to put on an accent and say that." He would later add "wake up to yourself."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from NRL

Warriors

Injury-hit Warriors welcome back star winger to face Dragons

06 May 06:25 AM
Warriors

Metcalf masterclass tops Cowboys' comeback as Warriors take Magic Round win

03 May 09:27 AM
Warriors

Warriors' win over Knights serves as rugby league's farewell to Showgrounds

25 Apr 08:10 PM

One tiny baby’s fight to survive

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from NRL

Injury-hit Warriors welcome back star winger to face Dragons

Injury-hit Warriors welcome back star winger to face Dragons

06 May 06:25 AM

The Warriors have been hit with a string of injuries after a thrilling Magic Round win.

Metcalf masterclass tops Cowboys' comeback as Warriors take Magic Round win

Metcalf masterclass tops Cowboys' comeback as Warriors take Magic Round win

03 May 09:27 AM
Warriors' win over Knights serves as rugby league's farewell to Showgrounds

Warriors' win over Knights serves as rugby league's farewell to Showgrounds

25 Apr 08:10 PM
Recap: Warriors storm to convincing win over Knights in Christchurch

Recap: Warriors storm to convincing win over Knights in Christchurch

25 Apr 10:12 AM
Connected workers are safer workers 
sponsored

Connected workers are safer workers 

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP