Email results in racism complaint

An email deriding Maori land claimants has prompted a complaint to the Human Rights Commission after being circulated among workers at Norske Skog Tasman mill in Kawerau.

Employees Rongo McDonald and Matekino Raerino first saw the letter early last month pinned to a workplace noticeboard.

Mrs Raerino said it had been emailed to a Norske Skog employee, who emailed it to others in the workplace.

The document, titled Application to Become a Maori Landowner, refers to Maori as criminals, dope growers, gamblers, welfare beneficiaries and beggars.

It appears to have been intended as a joke but Mrs Raerino said she did not find it funny.

"I wouldn't like any ethnic group to have to put up with this sort of thing," she said.

The document finishes: "I promise that if I get this land handed to me I will sit on my [bottom] and let the gorse grow, build 37 houses on it, remain on a benefit and continue to bleed the system like my ancestors."

Mrs Raerino said she and Mr McDonald took the material to their human resources department and said they found it unacceptable and wanted action taken.

She said the employees responsible had been given a "bit of a rap over the knuckles".

One apologised but Mrs Raerino felt further action could have been taken. "I told them I wasn't happy with the outcome. I would have liked to see them dismissed."

Mr McDonald filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission last month.

Spokeswoman Carolyn Jurriaans said the commission would assess whether the complaint fell within the bounds of racial harassment in the workplace.

"People need to realise that this sort of thing is very subjective and, while it may be funny to some people, it is very offensive to others.

"Employers should know that they could be subject to this type of complaint as much as the employees who distribute the material. They need to be vigilant around their email policies to prevent this sort of thing from happening."

- NZPA