Paper responds to 'racist' te reo column complaints

Friday, 24 November 2017

Dave Witherow has faced large amounts of criticism for his column in the Otago Daily Times.

The Otago Daily Times has apologised 'if some readers were offended' by a column that called the supporters of te reo Māori 'boring bigots'.

Dave Witherow argued in his opinion piece on Friday that 'inflicting te reo on the entire population is contemptuous'.

New Zealand race relations commissioner, Susan Devoy, has objected to the comments made in Witherow's column.

Witherow's column took issue with the extent of te reo - one of New Zealand's official languages - being used in daily life and on Radio New Zealand.

His opinion received widespread condemnation, most notably from Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy.

Many people called the column racist, and The Otago Daily Times copped heavy criticism on its Facebook page for its decision to publish the article.

'Anyone who complains about te reo Māori being used and celebrated in this country need to get one thing straight: this is New Zealand. Aotearoa New Zealand – so get used to it,' Devoy said.

**READ MORE:

* How to know if you're racist

* 'This is New Zealand, get used to it'

* Forecast: Bad pronunciation ahead

* Five things to know about te reo**

In a statement provided to Stuff, which was also to be published by the Otago Daily Times on Saturday, the paper's editor Barry Stewart addressed the column.

'The Otago Daily Times' Opinion pages are an independent forum for a wide variety of views,' Stewart said.

“Anyone who complains about te reo Māori being used and celebrated in this country need to get one thing straight: this is New Zealand. Aotearoa New Zealand – so get used to it,” — Dame Susan Devoy https://t.co/fB326yIBT7

— NZ Human Rights Commission (@NZHumanRights) November 24, 2017

'This newspaper often disagrees with the views expressed, sometimes vehemently. But we value freedom of speech and the strength of a society to debate these issues.

'We apologise if some readers were offended by Dave Witherow's article in [Friday's] publication.'

Stuff has contacted Witherow for comment.

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