Oriini Kaipara, a TV presenter from New Zealand, showed everyone how to handle mean comments with grace.
She’s special because she’s the first person to read the news on prime time TV in New Zealand with a moko kauae, which is a very important face tattoo for Māori women.
The Māori are the original people of New Zealand, and this tattoo is a big part of their culture. It tells a story about who they are, where they come from, and their role in their community.
Unfortunately, not everyone understands how meaningful these tattoos are. A viewer named David sent a message saying he didn’t like Oriini’s tattoo or when she spoke Māori on TV. Oriini usually doesn’t answer mean messages, but this time she decided to respond. She explained calmly why his message was hurtful and wrong, correcting his mistake in spelling “moko” and pointing out that his views were outdated.
Oriini shared this experience on Instagram, showing her followers how she stood up for her culture and identity. Despite the mean message from David, Oriini said she usually gets lots of love from people, which shows there are only a few who think like David.
She also talked about how important it is to have Māori voices in all kinds of jobs, not just on TV. Oriini’s story isn’t just about her; it’s about standing up for who you are and respecting others’ cultures.
Her courage and classy reply are inspiring lots of people to be proud of their own cultures and to stand up against unfair criticism.
What are your thoughts on how Oriini handled the situation? Let’s chat in the comments!
