An image used to promote the 30th anniversary of Hokitika Wild Food Festival has sparked criticism of cultural appropriation, however the Westland District Mayor said it was never meant to cause offence.
Director of Te Kotahi Research Institute at the University of Waikato Leonie Pihama wrote on Twitter: "Call out to all Māori, Twitter & Allies to deal directly to this racist misappropriation", after an image was posted recently on social media of a person with what looks to be traditional Native American headdress, accompanied by a Maori design headband.
Some took to the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival Facebook page and called it "disgustingly offensive".
Waitangi E. Teepa commented: "You've not only misappropriated my rich and beautiful culture but also the culture of the first nations people of America?"
TeUrikore Biddle called it a "culturally insensitive lump of mess".
Hokitika Wildfoods removed the post shortly after.
Ngāti Waewae chair Francois Tumahai told 1 NEWS: "Ngāti Waewae supports the Wild Foods Festival, but it does not support cultural misappropriation.
Ngāti Waewae has not been involved in the development or the design of the poster and does not support its use."
Westland District Council Mayor Bruce Smith said the image was not supposed to imitate a Northern American headdress, and was not intended to cause offence.
"This festival and our Council have got a very, very firm and strong relationship with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae and we stand shoulder to shoulder on it. We don't go out to seek to offend," he said.
Mr Smith said the headress was not "designed as a North American replica", and is not supposed to be a traditional North American headdress.
"We would never do anything to cause offence."
Mr Smith said he hoped the image would be going back up online.
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