There is something deeply unserious about the online pile-on aimed at Aroha Collective, a Surfers Paradise brand that has committed the supposed crime of using the word aroha in its name.
If you believe in supporting small businesses that refuse to cave to online mobs, head to https://arohacollective.co/en-nz and check out Aroha Collective for yourself.
EDIT: I will say this though, Aroha Collective’s close “X” on the popup was white, and so was the background of the offer. Unless you happened to click around the top-right corner, you’d have had no idea how to close it.
It’s even simpler than that Matua, it’s about money..! If she was paying some greedy maori entity a healthy sum while using it, it would be just fine. Just like taniwhas disappear with dollars. The outrage from the unwashed is just the usual pile-on from those with a cavity for a brain who listen to their power hungry mentors. Thanks for exposing this, we should make sure her brand has our moral support at least.
Sadly this backlash just goes to create further race-based polarisation and resentment in NZ. I have noticed a lot of white friends who until recently had a lot of time for Te Reo and Tikanga now just tune out or actively mock everytime the subject comes up. Overload is real.
That’s happened to me. I am white and proficient in Te Reo Maori at a basic level but over the past 3-4 years have become scared to use the language for fear of being accused of tokenism and grifting. Sad really.
Our favourite little cafe is called Mangiamo, owned and operated by lovely Asian people, don’t see any Italians jumping up and down. Similarly a ladies fashion store called Tres Chic with not a French person in residence. Someone really needs to get over themselves here!
Funny how we’re told to learn and embrace other languages, yet when certain words are used for commercial purposes, some cultures completely lose it. You don’t see Italians or French reacting that way. If anything, they welcome it.
They will when theyre compensated money is the only thing maori will get over it for. Think ill support this business now thanks maori for advertising this business lol
Unbelievable comments!! FFS its just a word at the end of the day - what if she had named her business "amour" - would she be geting all this backlash from French ppeople??? NO! Its the same as how you can't give your business a Maori name in NZ if it hasn't been "gifted" by the local iwi! Absolutely tragi-comic. That poor woman, I hope they decide to stick with the name and stick it to these grifters.
The noisy wingers are basically intellectual pygmies who don’t have the brainpower to figure the irony of their racist one sided argument and are best ignored and left ranting to their compatriates
It could well be argued that the written language is owned by the English who created it, using tools (paper, ink, pens etc) and an alphabet that Māori did not have. It could also well be argued, based on the illiteracy of the majority of the social media screenshots, that Māori still don't own it.
Comment by Jean Yern on this matter, as written on the NZCPR’s Facebook page:
I agree. As a fluent reo Māori speaker, lecturer of te reo and advocate for all things Māori I really am saddened by the hate. I think her choice of using AROHA is a beautiful idea, in honour of her step daughters heritage, and yes embodies compassing, care, love... its a shame people see it as appropriation and not appreciation :-(
Just to correct one aspect Matua, I was quoting Jean Yern, who wrote the comment concerned. Which I wholeheartedly agree with all aspects of. I’m afraid I don’t speak te reo myself.
Hi Allan, yes, I noticed that just before and deleted my previous comment. It’s good to see this young business owner finally getting some positive support behind her. The reality is, many of the people complaining are doing very little with their own lives and seem to expect to be handed things without putting in any real effort.
100% Matua. I have several friends who are justly proud of their heritage but are saddened by the radicalisation of others by a hard core of extremists, as we see in TPM.
If you believe in supporting small businesses that refuse to cave to online mobs, head to https://arohacollective.co/en-nz and check out Aroha Collective for yourself.
Nice, but let me just say I cannot tolerate sites that make it mandatory to supply email before seeing what they’re about.
I always close those pop-ups. Very annoying.
EDIT: I will say this though, Aroha Collective’s close “X” on the popup was white, and so was the background of the offer. Unless you happened to click around the top-right corner, you’d have had no idea how to close it.
The funny thing is, the CEO, Katie Bourke, looks more Māori than most Māori I know 😂
I saw the video before I saw your article. So I just assumed that she was Maori.
It’s even simpler than that Matua, it’s about money..! If she was paying some greedy maori entity a healthy sum while using it, it would be just fine. Just like taniwhas disappear with dollars. The outrage from the unwashed is just the usual pile-on from those with a cavity for a brain who listen to their power hungry mentors. Thanks for exposing this, we should make sure her brand has our moral support at least.
You’re not wrong, Rod. If she was paying a koha, the very same people taking it would be defending her to the death.
Sadly this backlash just goes to create further race-based polarisation and resentment in NZ. I have noticed a lot of white friends who until recently had a lot of time for Te Reo and Tikanga now just tune out or actively mock everytime the subject comes up. Overload is real.
That’s happened to me. I am white and proficient in Te Reo Maori at a basic level but over the past 3-4 years have become scared to use the language for fear of being accused of tokenism and grifting. Sad really.
Great to hear you’ve picked up te reo Māori at a basic level, Mrs Ward!
Well at least they are exercising judgement
Our favourite little cafe is called Mangiamo, owned and operated by lovely Asian people, don’t see any Italians jumping up and down. Similarly a ladies fashion store called Tres Chic with not a French person in residence. Someone really needs to get over themselves here!
Funny how we’re told to learn and embrace other languages, yet when certain words are used for commercial purposes, some cultures completely lose it. You don’t see Italians or French reacting that way. If anything, they welcome it.
They will when theyre compensated money is the only thing maori will get over it for. Think ill support this business now thanks maori for advertising this business lol
How embarrassing for us Kiwis, the behaviour of the trolls is not who we are, it is driven by a select few radical grifters.
Exactly!
Unbelievable comments!! FFS its just a word at the end of the day - what if she had named her business "amour" - would she be geting all this backlash from French ppeople??? NO! Its the same as how you can't give your business a Maori name in NZ if it hasn't been "gifted" by the local iwi! Absolutely tragi-comic. That poor woman, I hope they decide to stick with the name and stick it to these grifters.
Those are probably the milder comments. There are thousands more from outraged people who seem to think they own everything.
The noisy wingers are basically intellectual pygmies who don’t have the brainpower to figure the irony of their racist one sided argument and are best ignored and left ranting to their compatriates
It could well be argued that the written language is owned by the English who created it, using tools (paper, ink, pens etc) and an alphabet that Māori did not have. It could also well be argued, based on the illiteracy of the majority of the social media screenshots, that Māori still don't own it.
You're not wrong.
Oh dear. I still have tins of Kiwi nugget. What should I do?
That is a great point you make!
There's just no reasoning with sick minds.
My name is Aroha, I know my whakapapa, but considering I look like a pakeha should I becoming afraid and consider changing my name? Not on your life!
Comment by Jean Yern on this matter, as written on the NZCPR’s Facebook page:
I agree. As a fluent reo Māori speaker, lecturer of te reo and advocate for all things Māori I really am saddened by the hate. I think her choice of using AROHA is a beautiful idea, in honour of her step daughters heritage, and yes embodies compassing, care, love... its a shame people see it as appropriation and not appreciation :-(
Just to correct one aspect Matua, I was quoting Jean Yern, who wrote the comment concerned. Which I wholeheartedly agree with all aspects of. I’m afraid I don’t speak te reo myself.
Hi Allan, yes, I noticed that just before and deleted my previous comment. It’s good to see this young business owner finally getting some positive support behind her. The reality is, many of the people complaining are doing very little with their own lives and seem to expect to be handed things without putting in any real effort.
100% Matua. I have several friends who are justly proud of their heritage but are saddened by the radicalisation of others by a hard core of extremists, as we see in TPM.
Stuff the detractors
They have some wonderful lines. Keep up the good work!!!
Bravo matey… right on the money again might we say!