Golliwogs banned from Picton market after complaints from cruise passengers

Wednesday, 13 March 2019

Two Picton women selling homemade knitted golliwog dolls have been asked to stop after offending tourists.

Two women selling homemade golliwog dolls are shocked they have been told to stop, after overseas visitors complained.

The Marlborough District Council received two complaints from cruise ship tourists over the summer about the dolls being sold in Picton.

The visitors, from the United States and the United Kingdom, said they found the golliwogs 'offensive and racist' and it left a bad feeling about their otherwise enjoyable visit to New Zealand.

The council has asked the Picton Lions, who run the cruise ship market, to no longer allow the sale of the dolls.

Picton women from left, Rata Steele and Cathy Dalzell with their Gorgeous Gollys back in 2014.

* Lions Club decision to wear blackface at Hawera Community Parade 'not racist'

Picton women Cathy Dalzell and Rata Steele have been making the 'gollys' for five years.

In a post to Facebook they said they were told that once their stock ran out, they would not longer be able to sell the golliwogs at the market.

'We have been told that we can make white dolls but not gollys,' the post said.

'This is very sad as we are not selling them to upset people but more of a memory of innocent times when a carefully crafted colourful black faced doll was part of a fun, happy and healthy childhood.'

The post has had a lot of community support backing the woman and their dolls.

Marlborough District Council's reserves and amenities manager Jane Tito said they were still awaiting confirmation that the sale of golliwogs would no longer be permitted by the Picton Lions.

They did not specify white dolls could be made, Tito said.

A Facebook post from the doll makers says the dolls are 'a memory of innocent times'.

'The mission of the market is to provide a local craft and produce market during cruise ship visits to enhance the visitor experience for cruise passengers,' she said.

'Council does not believe the sale of golliwogs contributes to enhancing the visitor experience for passengers.'

Golliwogs are traditionally made from black fabric, and have black eyes bordered with white, red lips, white teeth, 'frizzy' hair and minstrel dress.

They were first introduced into popular culture in 1895 as a character in a children's book.

They are also known for their appearance in the Noddy books by Enid Blyton.

Some of dolls that Rata Steele and Cathy Dalzell make and sell.

However, to others they are an outdated racist stereotype.

Human Rights Commission chief commissioner Paul Hunt said it viewed golliwogs as offensive.

'They perpetuate the sort of stereotypes which often underpin racism,' Hunt said.

'They also come from a different era. Not that long ago most people thought it was okay to have children's books about Little Black Sambo but most Kiwi's now realise this was offensive and prejudiced. 

'Progress is about leaving behind us those things that no longer reflect the kind of people we are. '

Lions Club of Picton secretary Katharine Overend said the club had 'no preference' whether the golliwog dolls were sold or not.

'We're quite happy to have them there, in terms of the stall.

'We don't want to dictate to anyone what they can and can't sell as long as it fits the criteria that we have for the market.'

The club had not told the women making the dolls what colour they should be, she said.

'We meet with council on a regular basis and they have asked us to take action.

'They are absolutely welcome to sell any other sort of dolls whatsoever, but the council has requested that they not sell golliwogs anymore.'

It's the second time a Lion's Club has upset people due to racism.

The Hawera Mt View Lions Club float featured people painted in blackface last Christmas. The club defended its decision to use blackface saying it had not meant to upset anyone while others called it racist and offensive.