CHRISTCHURCH: Tunahau Kohu was drinking at a local bar called The Turf in Christchurch when staff approached him and asked that he leave because the bar had a no facial or neck tattoo policy. Kohu has a moko on his face. Moko is the name given by Maori (natives of New Zealand) to the skin art form they use as a part of their culture. Historically the moko is different from a tattoo in that the skin is carved by ihu (chisel) leaving grooves in the skin rather than the smooth surface achieved from using needles. Today the practice of using the traditional ihu has been reduced in favour of the needle, which is faster and more precise. The moko is symbolic of the wearer's genealogy, tribal story and thus is a statement of his/her Maori identity and so when asked to leave the bar because of his moko, Kohu said he was shocked. Bar Manager, Allan Forsdick said Kohu became aggressive when asked to leave the bar. Kohu said “I tried to explain that my moko isn't a facial tattoo. Every line and spiral has a meaning to it. They said if I didn't leave, they would ring the police. They weren't interested in my explanation of what it meant.” Admitting that he did become angry, Kohu said calling his moko a tattoo was offensive. “I'm not going to whisper to them. I let the bar know what was going on in this place.” After the incident, on social media sites there was an eruption of allegations against the bar for discrimination. Kohu then met with Forsdick who offered a handshake and an apology. However, Kohu said he would not be going back and advised others not to visit either. “I don't think he deserved my handshake. I wish I didn't give it now. I think he just said what he needed to say to get that camera out of there; to get you guys out of there. There is a real injustice in the racist sort of way it was done.” Human Rights Commission spokesman Gilbert Wong said the issue was complex considering the nature of the moko. The bar sign has been changed at the bar to ‘reserves the right of admission.' BM
