[Weetbix]

No doubt you have hear the news about the Maori challenge that went wrong.

Why?

Because a dutch tourist picked at random, by someone that considered him "safe", smiled.

Yep, he smiled and it broke his concentration.

If we ever get invaded, and you wann break a warriors concentration, just smile at him.

The maori involved, kindly gave in return a head butt.
Cool gift.
But it was interesting to see how many "greetings" go wrong. TV3 was kind enough to bring up some footage of past greetings gone wrong.

So are we confident enough now, that we need to scare our own tourists away?

What is happening to New Zealand?

Perhaps moari events should be made off limits to tourists?

Places in many countries forbit non-locals to even step foot in parts of town. This avoids the problems of communication errors.
"Oooh, did you say DON'T touch him on the head?"

Are we on a downward spiral?

[dirtystu]

WHY THE HELL DO THESE IDIOTS EVEN GET MENTIONED IF IT WAS ME(caucasion) I WOULD BE DONE FOR ASSAULT THIS RETARDED FUCK CAN JUST BLAME IT ON CULTURAL BULLSHIT ......

[busyness53]

Hi u2, It is good 2c that u2 watch the news, Yes sometimes things go wrong, however dont class all Maori as being simple please. I think he did go overboard and he should have been charged a bit more, but i must say our marae was involved with Dutch tourist, they were quite good, they were told the pros and cons of a Maori welcome and what to do when approached, by a man doing a wero. From what i saw on the news he was told by the tour operator.However i could not see what was wrong with a smile, by the way i am Maori. Weetbix if you are going to comment or write about Maori please learn to spell MAORI.Also you both may think he got of lightly believe me it will be a bloody while b4 he does another wero, he has also lost his job which a well paying one, so u2 watch he might have to sign up for the DOLE so i hope you are both working so your taxes can support him.

[Sparklechick]

I heard that he offered to resign from his job and that the owners (or whoever) refused to let him resign and he was going back to his job - possibly not to wero though. It's amazing that some people say that it's the tourists fault for smiling. I'm aware that this is a cultural thing but it's also a tourist thing so even if the tourist smiled at the wrong time (perhaps a nervous smile) I don't that should result in the guy getting headbutted.

[dirtystu]

not all maori are simple i know what i was saying was that idiots like this guy , the guy that attacked one tree hill, the guy that attacked the america's cup, these are the kind of special needs people i am talking about 150 hours community service a white mate of mine got 40 hours community service for pissing in public . this guy head butts someone and gets that much you just get lost for words . ENJOY YOUR DAY

[Weetbix]

Originally Posted by busyness53

Weetbix if you are going to comment or write about Maori please learn to spell MAORI.

Erk!
Well at least I was consistant

Shame on me.

Not a word I write a lot
Let us hope that I don't get the urge to write further and Maori.

Sorry about that :|

[kall]

Isn't it actually Maōri?

[mikeartee]

Originally Posted by kall

Isn't it actually Maōri?

That would elongate the "o". The macron is placed above the "a".

Most new intellectually-based texts have dropped the macron and have the spelling Maaori. For the phonetics I guess.

p.s. You got OWNED!

SPELLING NAZI - AWAYYYYYYY!

*flies into a moving truck*

if your a bigot it dosent matter
what other people say your
mind is made. up .and i class that
just as insulting as that stupid
headbutting prick.
these sort of incidences
bring out the bigots from the wood work
marty

[GreyEyes]

in nature to bear one teeth is a sign of agression. this is mainly done by animals..

so what does that say for the person who took offence to what is well known in our cultre as a friendly greeting...

does this idiot head butt everyone that smiles/bears teeth to him?

bloody idiot should have been treated like an animal and put down

[Neophis]

I don't believe that the tourist should have been whacked in the head, but it's the media who are having a field day with this kinds of things. If they stopped going on and on about these damn things happening, then maybe a lot of these situations would have calmed down by now.

[skirandone]

That's so wrong. That's assault hidden under cultural provision. Sometimes Maori take things too far with their culture, that's taking it too far. Given they've had a shit run of things for a long time, that's unfair. Most of them can't let go of the past and use it to fuel their anger for today.

[Neophis]

Originally Posted by skirandone

That's so wrong. That's assault hidden under cultural provision. Sometimes Maori take things too far with their culture, that's taking it too far. Given they've had a shit run of things for a long time, that's unfair. Most of them can't let go of the past and use it to fuel their anger for today.

Here here !!