Today’s face of the day has got all bent out of shape at Watties’ billboards making light-hearted fun of the Maori language. To complicate matters his fish and chips business makes light-hearted fun of the English language. Yes, that’s right, his fish and chips business is called…wait for it…
Anton Matthews, who has become known as a champion of the country’s native language, was horrified to find billboards pop up across the city featuring Maori place names misspelled to include foods that pair with tomato sauce.
The billboards feature New Zealand towns changed to names like Piehia, Frittianga and Wanakebab.
Matthews wrote to the company, saying it and other Kiwi brands should be helping strengthen rather than “take the p…” out of te reo. Wattie’s products are now off the menu at his restaurant, Fush.
Stuff
The food looks delicious and all the free publicity will no doubt be good for his business. The double standard though must be challenged. Why is it ok to take the piss out of Kiwi English with the name of his restaurant but not ok to use the same humour for Maori words?
