TradeMe 'Maori' auction causes racial stir

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Fri, 05 Aug 2011 12:44p.m.

Almost 600 comments have been posted to the auction

Almost 600 comments have been posted to the auction

By Janika ter Ellen

A seemingly innocuous TradeMe listing is causing a stir, with more than 25,000 views.

It is a personalised number plate which simply reads MAORI, but the comments which follow it are undeniably racist.

Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres thinks they’re so offensive they should be taken down, but the auction site is holding out.

Almost 600 comments have been posted to the auction. Some of the more moderate read:

I’ll swap your plate for some tobacco and blankets

If I buy this for an agreed price, will you change your mind and want me to pay for it again several hundred times in future?

Any Maori that can afford this plate stole the money

Maori Studies lecturer Paul Moon says it is horrifying that a number plate which simply identifies an ethnic group could prompt such hatred.

Mr de Bres watns the comments removed.

“It’s all anonymous. It’s cowardly and it’s pretty revolting,” he says.

TradeMe has taken some comments which involved swearing off the site, but won’t remove more unless the seller complains – and they haven’t.

But de Bres says that’s not good enough and the site should act regardless.

“TradeMe does have ethical standards, including not publishing racial abuse,” he says.

“This is clearly a case of racial abuse.”

TradeMe spokesman Paul Ford said the site has not heard from the Race Relations Commissioner.

“We’d encourage him to get in touch if he has concerns about it.”

TradeMe has received five complaints about the comments, but says it would have to get a few more to remove them.

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Comments

24 Jan 2012 02:19p.m.

Mikiwaaka wrote:

The One People of New Zealand Maori Irish Scottish Chines Koreans Vietnamese Yugoslavians South Africans Africans Norwegians Canadians Russians French South Pacific Islanders Samoans Fijians Tongans New Caledonians Cook Islanders Tahitians Australians There are more we all came to New Zealand under different circumstances. But it took wars to bring us together to make the One People of New Zealand. To make jokes of each other was part of our growing up. To turn a joke into a weapon is dangerous, when before we use to laugh. The price of moving a nation of the One People is precarious. Tread lightly on the feelings of the Tangata Whenua.

20 Nov 2011 03:17p.m.

Rob homes wrote:

Being a bit older and seeing a few generations growing up, I have seen a huge decrease in true maori values. Now (thanks to media) maori youth have picked up the "ganster" culture from the usa. There is also a strong "poverty mentality" bred into the youth and they are brought up to believe that the government will support them for the rest of their lives. Dont get me started on the babies that are being abused.

17 Nov 2011 04:46p.m.

hard working white person wrote:

In reply to Natalie, I work hard for a low wage, I come home to find I have been burgled, 4 months later Im burgled again ,the car they are using to take my hard earned things away in is stolen, police ran the plates,I then get burgled a third time, all by the same people and guess what they arn't white. While Im busting a gut at work they are breaking into my home and stealing from me. Guess thats my fault for going out to earn my living.

09 Nov 2011 09:16p.m.

g m wrote:

im 4th generation european/kiwi ( not pakeha, hate the word )we are here and we are New Zealanders wheather you like it or not. i grew up around maori's, when your a kid everyone is the same, pretty much, as we got older the division between the racises seemed stronger and stronger,i have to admit after 40 years of seeing how bad the maori are getting what special treatment they get, interviewing countless lumbers of them for jobs, its hard not to hate them ( the racist ones) the ones that want the division between the two racies, the ones that abuse and intimadate, harass and ridicule the europen kiwis,i find its getting harder and harder to find nice descent maroi's these days.

22 Oct 2011 09:12p.m.

big john wrote:

as old as this site is it still manages to raise eyebrows and afew tempers, well congrates to the commoner who thought this one up, good on ya for keeping the rage alive you got nothin better to do but stir shit, tell me I'm wrong.

21 Oct 2011 08:12p.m.

Crouch,touch , pause , engage wrote:

Perhaps the views are better to be aired rather than to be held back ; sounds healthy

19 Oct 2011 04:35p.m.

Bll Heron wrote:

Is it not a great pity that the actions of some are magnified to be the actions of all. Iam a pakeha. I despise and I am ashamed of the actions of some of my race yet know and feel that the good outnumber the bad.With that thought in mind I can respect the maori who are my friends and countrymen and accept that harmony for all is our desire.

15 Oct 2011 12:57a.m.

Nagual2012 wrote:

I feel it is high time for people of all colours and creeds in this country to practice peace. We all come from different backgrounds with different beliefs and some are more conditioned than others but we are all somebody's daughter or son, we are all brothers and sisters and as long as there is a "them" and "us" attitude from any side, we will follow suit all the nations of this good Earth, who have descended into anarchy and chaos created and fuelled quite on purpose by those who pull the strings behind the scenes. Divide and conquer, unite remain strong. Do not judge anyone or anything, nor take others judging you personally. It is all just drama, created by the string-pullers to take away our collective power of unity. Do not fall for it. Love your brothers and sisters and make a real effort to see past all differences of race, religion and any other strongly held beliefs and see the true heart of each man, woman and child. Love, empathy and compassion is the answer to all problems. Yes, it takes a bit of effort but let our nation be the first to lead the way to true unity and peace. To get there, we have to start by forgiving those who have trespassed against us and by forgiving ourselves for whenever we have trespassed against others. Kia kaha, stand strong, my brothers and sisters! Know that every single person can change the world for the better but together, we are unconquerable. Arohanui and peace to you ALL and this beautiful land of Aotearoa New Zealand... :)

20 Sep 2011 08:10p.m.

true blood wrote:

This is fried people think It's fine to say racist remarks about is maori but mate I tell you know at lest our ways are true and pure and are built on respect....and I am maori blood...and I think its wrong how people can say stuff and get away with it people like that created your sterio typ kiwi'...my family signed the treaty of waitangi and they would think poorly of all this racist remarks grow a brain and realise we may come from different places but we are all. the same

19 Sep 2011 10:11p.m.

Chris Matthews wrote:

Miss Samuels I can assure you the rest of the world would want to come here as it's such a beautiful place, I'm also quite sure that no one is pouring alcohol down your throat, and yes there were some grave injustices done but at least 'we' didn't eat you! ;)