Is the Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club within its rights enforcing a headwear ban?

Karnail Singh outside the Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club yesterday. Photo / Greg Bowker

Cosmopolitan Clubs say they will not criticise a Manurewa club for banning turban-wearing Sikhs, even as the Human Rights Commission calls it "a blast from the past" and "deeply" disappointing.

South Auckland's Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club voted overwhelmingly on Sunday to keep a ban that prevents Sikhs from entering its premises.

The issue has been ongoing since last year when the club kept Karnail Singh out of a function held in his honour because he would not remove his Sikh turban.

Is the Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club within its rights to enforce a headwear ban?