A man who was asked to leave a Christchurch bar because of his moko says he won't be going back despite an apology from its owners.
Tunahau Kohu, a mental health worker with Ngai Te Rangi links, was ejected from the Turf Bar, formerly the Parklands Tavern, on Saturday.
Manager Allan Forsdick says the establishment's new dress code bans face or neck tattoos and insists "it is not a racial issue."
Mr Forsdick alleges that Mr Kohu became aggressive when asked to go, causing several customers to leave, The Press reports.
"People do (get neck and facial tattoos) for intimidating reasons most of the time," Forsdick says.
Mr Kohu has full facial ta moko, a traditional Maori tattoo that connects wearers to their whakapapa.
He says he had bought a drink, played the gaming machines then sat down to watch Australia play Russia in a Rugby World Cup match with his partner when he was asked to leave.
"I tried to explain that my moko isn't a facial tattoo. Every line and spiral has a meaning to it," he told The Press.
"They said if I didn't leave, they would ring the police. They weren't interested in my explanation of what it meant."
He says calling a moko a tattoo is offensive and while he shook hands with the manager on Tuesday, he is angry and won't be heading back in a hurry.
"I don't think he deserved my handshake. I wish I didn't give it now," Mr Kohu says.
Bars are entitled to eject anyone as long as it was not based on ethnicity, gender or disability.
NZN