A Filipino family holidaying in Wellington were left disgusted after falling victim to a racist tirade at an inner-city store.
Krizia Egipto, 18, and her family flew to the capital city from their home in Invercargill last week and had their impression of a "beautiful place" ruined when they were belittled by a fellow customer at a Night 'n Day store on Manners St.
In a Facebook post, Egipto explained that as the family were buying coffee and Lotto tickets, a woman approached them and said they "weren't welcome here".
"While we were heading out of the shop this lady was giving us a look, a bad look, so I was just looking at her as well. But suddenly while we were just about to go out of the shop she said something to us," Egipto wrote.
"The lady said, 'Don't come back here any more. You're not welcome here. This is only for white people. This country is for white people only'."
However, a silver lining for Egipto was the support she received from people who witnessed the event, and others who have shared her Facebook post.
"There are still nice people who approached me and gave me a hug because they saw what I did to the lady," she said.
"One of them told me that what I did was the right thing, and that she was very proud of me. She said she didn't think she would have been able to do the same if it happened to her.
"Another lady also approached me, gave me a hug and also bought me an ice-cream. Their reaction was very good and they made us feel welcome.
"I have also been overwhelmed with support on Facebook."
Egipto said the incident had really hurt her feelings, and she encouraged others to stick up for themselves.
"We all have the right to stay in whatever country that we want to because we have our own visas and we did a legal process for us to have this," she wrote on Facebook.
"So whatever country you are from, please don't let other people discriminate against you.
"Stand up for yourselves and don't be scared. Whatever country that you came from and whatever colour you have, racism is not okay."