Whatever you do DON'T SMILE!

**Lou Girardin** · 9th December 2005, 16:15

Originally Posted by idb

As I understand it the traditional etiquette for the challenger in that situation is to cleave the visitor's head in two with the taiaha.
I think the tourist got off light.

So the traditional sign of friendship, a smile, is a insult to Maori culture?
This could explain some things.

**James Deuce** · 9th December 2005, 16:24

Originally Posted by kerryg

Actually the French are pretty much like that. Try speaking to a French person in France in English and see how you get on (it's not pretty). Different in good hotels etc but the French person on the street doesn't want to speak in the language of les rosbifs. Big generalisation, it goes without saying

Three words/phrases avoid that kind of racorous exchange: Bonjour, Merci, and s'il vous plait. Then you find out that 95% of the country speaks better English than you do French. Show them your NZ passport and they can't do enough for you.

The English are dicks in France. Yelling louder in English when the French retail assistant doesn't quite understand you the first time doesn't get you what you want.

**Big Dave** · 9th December 2005, 16:46

I wonder what they thought when i scratched me nuts, belched and farted as he was jumping around the stick?
(add - i was just waking past after a long session in the bar - oops.)

**Fart** · 9th December 2005, 16:52

Originally Posted by Beemer

He's probably a relative of the stupid bitch on a train from Featherston to Wellington who muttered "we speak English here" to two Chinese women speaking their own language. Despite the fact they then started speaking softly, she threw a bottle of water all over them and then punched one. I have no idea if the two were tourists or not, but it doesn't give a very good impression of how friendly NZers are. It's not bad enough that we rob, rape and murder many of them, now we have to break their noses and punch them!

Can you imagine if the French got upset with all the poms not speaking da lingo when they go there? They'd all be nursing sore knuckles!

I thought education in NZ are free until tertiary level? Again I am wrong. So what are their excuses for ignorance? Sad.

**James Deuce** · 9th December 2005, 17:01

Originally Posted by Fart

I thought education in NZ are free until tertiary level? Again I am wrong. So what are their excuses for ignorance? Sad.

Education in NZ isn't free. It's a myth perpetrated by people who no longer have children at school, or never had any to send in the first place.

Ignorance toward any culture, by any culture, is just barbarism.

The Maori chap from Tamaki tours must be very proud of himself, attacking someone who wasn't expecting it like that.

That's just chickenshit behaviour.

**Big Dave** · 9th December 2005, 17:05

Originally Posted by Fart

So what are their excuses for ignorance?

They don't need excuses for their ignorance - they don't know they are ignorant.
The *reason* for it I cannot explain. Perhaps they are scared of change and all of a sudden Queen St is predominately Asian faces and they are freaked out. It's Not like it was.
I see lots of Asian people in Queen St and see a few billion dollars in education industry income, well mannered, polite people and really good eaterys.
Some of the hair styles are questionable.

Nice work on the signature:

thats really cool.

**inlinefour** · 9th December 2005, 17:07

I don't give a rats arse if its against their culture or upsetting. If anyone thinks its acceptable to head butt another individual for smiling then Maoridom needs to take a fecking good look at itself.
If your going to have tourists come in and make money off it then youd have to expect that they will not probably know protocols. They should make an example of the idiot who did it and make him make a formal apology to the person who was assaulted.

**sunhuntin** · 9th December 2005, 18:51

Originally Posted by inlinefour

I don't give a rats arse if its against their culture or upsetting. If anyone thinks its acceptable to head butt another individual for smiling then Maoridom needs to take a fecking good look at itself.
If your going to have tourists come in and make money off it then youd have to expect that they will not probably know protocols. They should make an example of the idiot who did it and make him make a formal apology to the person who was assaulted.

ya took the words right outta my mouth. hell, i likely woulda smiled out of fear, nerves or whatever had it been me, and i would not have appreciated being attacked for the fact my nerves got the better of me.

**Swoop** · 9th December 2005, 22:17

Originally Posted by inlinefour

I don't give a rats arse if its against their culture or upsetting. If anyone thinks its acceptable to head butt another individual for smiling then Maoridom needs to take a fecking good look at itself.
If your going to have tourists come in and make money off it then youd have to expect that they will not probably know protocols. They should make an example of the idiot who did it and make him make a formal apology to the person who was assaulted.

Absolutely spot on!!!
If the maori want to insult and assault overseas tourists they should be bloody well charged for assault by the police!
Think what incidents like this do for our overseas reputation - especially if he goes on telly when back home "why travel all the way to NZ? - simply go to England for a traditional Liverpool kiss"

**KLOWN** · 10th December 2005, 01:00

Originally Posted by inlinefour

I don't give a rats arse if its against their culture or upsetting. If anyone thinks its acceptable to head butt another individual for smiling then Maoridom needs to take a fecking good look at itself.
If your going to have tourists come in and make money off it then youd have to expect that they will not probably know protocols. They should make an example of the idiot who did it and make him make a formal apology to the person who was assaulted.

I agree, but making him give a formal apology is bull shit he should get smacked in the nose, fired and made to pay medical bills and apologise

**inlinefour** · 10th December 2005, 07:47

Originally Posted by KLOWN

I agree, but making him give a formal apology is bull shit he should get smacked in the nose, fired and made to pay medical bills and apologise

Yea they need to look at where the individual is employed, the company/organisation should pay any medical bills and they both make a formal apology. However to lower the standards as far as retribution, thats wrong.
Also I think that it is VERY important to remember that this was one individual/situation and its most important not to tarr all with the same brush. Most Maori I know are great people and will be just as disgusted as we all are at what happened here.
Shit happens, learn from it and move on. making a big issue over this is rather pointless. The dude in going to court, justice will be served, despite what we think should happen to him. I doubt if he will get off lightly either.