Air NZ deny employemnt due to visible Ta Moko

[Deleted member]

I read with interest this morning of a lady denied employment (by Air NZ) as cabin crew due to having a visible tattoo .Aside form the obvious dumb handling of this by Air NZ , does anyone here have an issue with an FA sporting a culturally significant tattoo (Moko) ? Maori tattoo doesn't cut it at Air NZ - Business - NZ Herald News

 

[SeatBackForward]

I think the problem doesnt lie with the tattoo specifically, but what is considered as "cultural"..eg:

 

[samh004]

Perhaps they handled it badly, but if the case is that absolutely none of their current cabin crew/customer-facing staff have tattoo's, then clearly they have a policy and stick to it.

I can sympathise with Maori culture and all that, but the world is a bit bigger than NZ.

 

[chrisb]

I can sympathise with Maori culture and all that, but the world is a bit bigger than NZ.

But this is Air New Zealand and Maori culture is a big part of the identity of the country.

I would hope that being a national symbol of a country you would support and embrace its culture.

What she has is relatively small. I could understand ANZ having an issue with the Maori full face tattoos when dealing with overseas visitors but even so, if its a cultural symbol and they're in an FA uniform I can see most people wouldn't have an issue with it.

BTW this is the airline that has safety demos with naked people and hobbits.

 

[ChasingDaylight]

As someone who is part Maori, I personally see no issue with this- apart from the fact it is a media beat up. If Air NZ's policy is no visible tattoos that cannot be covered, then that's the policy and would therefore have nothing to do with ta moko or Maoridom, despite NZH's best attempt at portraying otherwise.

 

[samh004]

But this is Air New Zealand and Maori culture is a big part of the identity of the country.

I would hope that being a national symbol of a country you would support and embrace its culture.

Sure, if that's the look you're going for. Seeing as they fly to many international destinations where they might not want that look they have to weigh up these decisions carefully, and if there are in fact no cabin crew with visible tattoo's now, I do wonder how their business would differ if they all had visible tattoo's instead

 

[casanovawa]

If you let one person do it, you know you wll get a bunch of others trying it on next about why they should also be an exception... Simpler and fairer to have one rule for all...

Anyone getting a tattoo should have a long hard think about it before they put it someone where they can't cover it... You might be all into wanting to make some type of personal or cultural statement, but no has to 'just deal with it' in areas like the workplace... Same should go for studs and piercings...

 

[Deleted member]

I personally don't like Tattoos of any description, but as I am from the Pacific Islands , and grew up in Auckland I am not insensitive to the cultural construct that tattoos provide as part of a demonstration of who a person is and where they see themselves as belonging. I have to admit , some are pretty amazing.

 

[mannej]

How exactly is this news? NZ isn't the first and won't be the last to not offer employment due to visible tattoos.

What the tattoo is or it's cultural significance is not relevant

 

[simongr]

I think it is news as it smacks of hypocrisy given how much Air NZ play on the cultural aspects of NZ in their advertising.

 

[samh004]

I think it is news as it smacks of hypocrisy given how much Air NZ play on the cultural aspects of NZ in their advertising.

Maybe, but doubt she's the first to be told 'no' to, hence why hasn't this made news before, why has no one else gone to the press...

 

[simongr]

Anything for clicks I guess...

 

[ChasingDaylight]

If, as stated, it is a 'no tattoo' policy, then culture is irrelevant. It would hypocritical of AirNZ - in this scenario - to allow otherwise.

 

[mannej]

I think it is news as it smacks of hypocrisy given how much Air NZ play on the cultural aspects of NZ in their advertising.

It's not abnormal to have policies such as that - if you allow some tattoos but not others, you will have issues pop amongst the workers that may create undue tension.

 

[Warks]

With tatts being everywhere these days I've always been surprised by the lack of them (visible ones) on FAs. I thought there must have been a policy but I'd never heard of it. I did see a tatt on a Air NZ FA on a domestic flight a while back (on her decolletage, partly obscured) and it occurred to me it was the first one I'd seen.

There was a hipster-type guy FA on a Virgin flight a couple of years ago who wore a strange looking arm guard - it could have been for an elbow injury perhaps but I was thinking it was concealing a sleeve tattoo.



BTW: Tattoos. No need for the apostrophe.

 

[spreezy]

i love tattoos

tatoo policy is a blanket ban

whinging lady should get over herself