Racist protest good for business

Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said Ms George's actions were shocking and inappropriate. Photo / NZ Herald

A New Plymouth councillor's campaign against a Cambodian-owned takeaway in Taranaki has backfired - with shopowner Hoyt Khoun reporting "record takings" since the protest.

On Wednesday, councillor and pizza shop owner Sherril George stood outside Mr Khoun's Town and Country Food outlet in Waitara handing out brochures urging people to boycott the new business and support their "local community".

But the furore that was stirred up by her drive, slammed as racist by some, has resulted instead in people supporting Mr Khoun's business.

Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said Ms George's actions were shocking and inappropriate.

He said it was heartening to see how the community has shown support for Mr Khoun, who arrived as a refugee in 1998 and lived with his grandmother in Waikato before moving to Waitara just before Christmas.

Yesterday, Mr Khoun said that people from out of town were coming to get takeaway meals from his shop to show their support, and the past two days had been the busiest since he opened the business a month ago.

"I think it's just professional jealousy that made her launch the campaign, but it has resulted in free advertising and better business for me ... so I'm quite happy," he said.

Ms George, who owns a pizzeria in the area, has apologised to the council and community for "bringing them into disrepute", but Mr Khoun said he had not received any apology.

The councillor also said she would investigate the immigration status of Mr Khoun and his employees, but Mr Khoun - a New Zealand resident since 1998 and citizen since 2004 - said he had "nothing to hide".

Mr Khoun said he was disturbed by Ms George's claims that food produced by his cafe was low quality and his business was "bleeding the town dry".

Ms George told the Taranaki Daily News that Town and Country had opened without a notified application and that she would be discussing the matter with the council.

Her protest was intended to raise awareness of such food outlets in Taranaki, although the action did not play out as she had planned.