Enquiries and Complaints Guide
Moko: your rights
Can people refuse to serve me, or employ me, because I wear moko?
Traditional Māori moko is an expression of and celebration of Māori culture and identity. A person of Māori descent may not be denied employment, entry to premises, or declined service because they wear moko visibly.
Over the years there have been occasions when Māori who wear moko have been refused service because of a ban on tattoos, or a specific ban on facial tattoos. The Commission received several complaints that were resolved through mediation. Outcomes have included education for proprietors and employers, apologies, and financial settlements.
The Commission’s general advice to proprietors and employers is to use their common sense in identifying moko, rather than seeking to question the authenticity of the moko or the ethnicity of the person with the moko.
If you have been refused service or entry to a public place such as a bar or restaurant because you wear moko, or turned away for a job, you can contact the Commission for help on 0800 496 877.