Author Olivia Pierson labels Nanaia Mahuta's moko 'ugly, uncivilised', Mighty Ape pulls books

Nanaia Mahuta is the country's first female Minister of Foreign Affairs and the second of Māori heritage, after Winston Peters.

An author has had her books pulled by Mighty Ape after comments she made on Twitter about new Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta.

Mighty Ape NZ confirmed on Twitter that it had made Olivia Pierson's books unavailable, after her comments on social media.

Pierson said Jacinda Ardern had gone "full wokelette on stilts" for appointing Mahuta as Foreign Affairs Minister.

"Facial tattoos are not exactly a polished, civilised presentation for a foreign diplomat in the 21st century," she said on Twitter. Her Twitter bio describes her as NZ-based.

"Facial tattoos, especially on a female diplomat, is the height of ugly, uncivilised wokedom."

Mahuta is New Zealand's first female Minister of Foreign Affairs and the second of Māori heritage, after Winston Peters.

She is the first to bear a moko kauae.

Mahuta did not want to comment.

Then I’ll say it again - facial tattoos, especially on a female diplomat, is the height of ugly, uncivilised wokedom! https://t.co/rjphfeISY4

— Olivia Pierson (@PiersonOlivia) November 2, 2020

"Tēnā koutou e hoa mā," Mighty Ape replied to a Twitter user.

"Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We have made the book unavailable and will not be making it available again. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou," the company said on Twitter."

@praneshardanand @LeightonSauni @Rayna_Davis @fascismdad @TrinaAntonio_ @Goodixlady Tēnā koutou e hoa mā. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We have made the book unavailable and will not be making it available again. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou.

— Mighty Ape NZ (@MightyApe) November 2, 2020

Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon says Mahuta's kauae moko is to be celebrated.

"It is special to New Zealand, special to Māori. It is interesting that many of our products now are being branded with Māori symbols and essence of their culture.

"What I would say to those mean people is [to] stop their racism, stop their prejudices, to grow up. Let's face it, the world is changing, the Māori economy is growing. If the Māori economy grows it's good for all New Zealanders."

Twitter users described Mighty Ape's move as "drawing the line" and as "awesome leadership".

Pierson is the author of the book Western Values Defended: A Primer. A blurb for the book reads: "There is only one path to shining the light of understanding on the times in which we live, and that is to know our place in history."

In 2015, author Tryphena Cracknell said there were still negative reactions to moko kauae in New Zealand and internationally - and she challenged people to learn more before passing judgment. "It is a visible connection to whakapapa [genealogy] and to culture - it is clear that the women who wear it have a deep pride in that culture."

And in 2018, during a controversy when a Pākehā woman sported a tā moko, Waikato University Associate Professor Te Kahautu Maxwell said that the tā moko had become an important symbol in Māori culture in the 20th century.

"It's the Māori deciding to reclaim their heritage and identity.

"We have to protect the last bastions that we have as Māori to make us different."

Mera Lee-Penehira, associate professor at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, said: "Moko kauae is the sole right of Māori women.

"Not only is it 'okay' to make a race-based decision in applying moko kauae, but it is a 'requirement'. In my view, the gifting of moko kauae to Pākehā is not the right of any Māori - be they wāhine or tāne - irrespective of what has gone before."