Merepeka Raukawa-Tait: Why make a song and dance about it?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps in the case of Marie Krarup from Denmark, the beauty and significance of a formal Maori welcome should have been explained before she experienced one.

If this wasn't the case then it was an embarrassing oversight by the Navy who welcomed Ms Krarup, a Danish politician, at Devonport Naval Base recently.

She commented in a newspaper article, when back home, that she found the welcome a grotesque, uncivilised ritual. Half-naked men prancing around and having to hongi didn't appeal to her at all.

If she did know this is how Maori usually welcome dignitaries, then as far as Ms Krarup is concerned they can keep it.

She was not impressed and for her there was certainly no beauty in the occasion. While not knowing exactly what was going on, and not particularly liking what she saw, she should at least appreciate and understand that all over the world things are done differently in many countries, according to their culture, language and long-held beliefs and customs.

This would apply to many European, Asian and Pacific Rim countries, including her own country Denmark.

Interesting that her party, the Danish People's Party, wants to protect the freedom and cultural heritage of the Danish people. Sounds very similar to what Maori want for their culture.

Usually overseas visitors welcome the opportunity to experience first hand another country's culture. Isn't this why they have travelled from afar? But not Ms Krarup. She was mortified. It is true though that the majority of visitors will not be given the formal welcome extended to her.

People from different cultures cannot be expected to understand what is happening during a formal Maori welcome ceremony. But I would expect a visiting politician to at least take the time to find out a little about the country she is visiting.

That there are 600,000-plus indigenous New Zealanders who live, work and actively contribute to the ongoing development of their country. Their culture is important to them, has been so for hundreds of years, and it's what most of our international visitors want to see and experience.

I was not offended by Ms Krarup's remarks. I know she is not alone in her thinking. I have heard many New Zealanders express similar views. Most are Pakeha but even some Maori tell me they feel this is now an outdated custom and should be packed away.

Invariably I discover these people have had little to do with Maori. They have rarely, if ever, been on a marae, don't know Maori culture and customs and have no idea of the significance of tikanga; language, hongi, haka and the importance attached to a powhiri.

Why spend time getting upset and angry about the comments of one woman from a far-away country who doesn't like the way things are done in New Zealand. We can presume she gave her honest opinion about her host country's welcome, somewhat unusual for a guest, but frankly who cares.

She will not be back for a return visit and Maori are hardly going to change their customary welcome for important personages because of her dislike for it.

I lived in Switzerland for many years and I found people from most European countries I visited very interested in New Zealand and especially Maori culture.

They knew we were a land of millions of sheep, had mountains and lakes and was sparsely populated. But they always wanted to know about New Zealand Maori. These countries had their own culture, language and customs, many going back hundreds of years.

They appreciated the cultures and histories of other countries and so many told me they wanted to travel to New Zealand one day.

I was often asked if I knew any Maori, what were they like and could I say a few words in the Maori language?

When I explained that my mother was Maori they were even more interested. Over the years I have found people strong in, and well connected to their culture, and who continue to practise their own customs, to be enquiring of other cultures too. It's as if they know that culture and customs today in many parts of the world are under threat.

They recognise that for these to survive they must ignore their critics and those who, through ignorance, make negative judgments.

I hope the people I met and their children, now adults, have made time to visit New Zealand. That they experienced the best New Zealand has to offer including the unique Maori culture. The vast majority who visit New Zealand will return home enriched.

A few will travel the world with their eyes open but blind to the beauty of difference.