A court judged that calling a New Zealander a "Kiwi" is not discriminatory. A worker complained against a bakery where her co-workers nicknamed her "Kiwi". She said this was racial discrimination, insulting and disrespectful. The judge did not agree. The bakery said New Zealanders were proud of the term "Kiwi". He said New Zealand's government approves of it. He said it is "a term of endearment and...a means of identifying as a New Zealander".
The tribunal ruled that the term "Kiwi" was not offensive or insulting. It said the worker was not badly treated or segregated in the workplace. However, an equal opportunity commissioner said if someone takes offence at a nickname and says they don't like it and asks not to be called it, "then in a respectful workplace,...you wouldn't call them that anymore." The bakery owner said he employs "every nationality known to man" and is not a racist.
