Charismatic

You all did good but I'm flouncing from this thread . I'll be over at the kiwi bar sitting on chairs as is the custom in my culture and, as is also my custom (as of 30 seconds ago), last one to the bar has to fetch the dwinks.

You can sit anywhere you want except on the ceiling because science has laws about the way gravity works and, more pertinantly, you can't drink upside down .

E noho ra (I think? ).

Bo-Jangles

Doesn't however stop people sitting children in shopping trolleys, where it's not unusual for people put food on the purpose made toddler seat where hundreds of childrens bottoms have sat.

uknzbc

LOL love it awesome! well done you

Bellasmum

Please no, not gender issues. I doubt I will live another 20 years to see it through.

It's been good to have a respectful debate (well mostly)

simonsi

Batty

There are two viewpoints - that of the invader and that of the invaded. No matter how many hundreds of years pass the view from both sides will always be different when they look over their shoulders.

Stormer999

So after the Rugby game has finished in the club house bar and the beer has been flowing well and a rendition of "I,m climbing up the sunshine mountain" is started........what do the Kiwi lads stand on......

Kiwiprincess

I see some things don't change.

I'm blonde.

Naturally blonde btw.

I have fair skin.

I'm Maori. I get annoyed as anything when this starts people on the familiar questioning tactic of 'how' maori I am. Sometimes it's pure curiosity and I am happy to answer. But more often than not it's a matter of asking me to prove it. Or, more specifically, someone else telling me what I should or shouldn't look like.

And you know what? Whilst we always were told that you don't sit on a table because it's tapu, it wasn't the Maori side saying that. It was also the Pakeha side - because it's a dirty filthy thing to do and unhygenic as all heck.

ExKiwilass

great thread guys!

Expat Kiwi

I'm happy I was wrong, good on you for sticking up for your little one. No doubt this awful woman thought a Dad out on his own was fair game, I bet she wouldn't have been so offensive if your wife had been there.

crap coffee

You are quite correct. (To me) its inconsiderate behaviour.

seriously though a 20 months old child is big (enough)... My nephew Euan is about 17 months old now. I consider him as a small child not a baby baby baby. can't imagine put him on a table at a cafe. (even at MacDonald) I mean why would you?

sounds like the cafe lady sounds a bit harsh, however don't think she's totally wrong. but I wish she advised you in other way (more politely - without hurting your feelings).

Am Loolah

My 8 year old often sits on the bench top to talk to me or to help with the cooking ... it's official, we are the Dingles! Mind you she's seen me dancing on the dining table so the poor kid doesn't stand a chance ...

To be fair, from what I gather crap coffee, Catchafire was at the counter ordering and his daughter sat on the low coffee table next to the play area, so by no stretch of the imagination had he placed her on it intentionally. Although I am not going back 7 pages to check!

Funny old thread, I've been asking heaps of people if they knew about this being so frowned upon and I have to say all have said no, and that includes Kiwis. I know when I was working in an office here people often perched on the corners of the office table - and yes we often had wine and nibbles off it!

crap coffee

I thought so...(too)

Browner_

So what chances DONT they get then?

There are books in all the libraries in all the towns if they want to read them.
So what is it - no jobs in their town? Thats because they live in northland, not because they are maori.

There are loads of illeducated white trash around too .Why are they like they are - cos of lack of opportunies? No, cos of their own trash attitude and appalling parenting most likely.

lisamct

Conversely 'not sitting/leaning on tables' was one of the first 'culturally sensitive' things I was told about when I started work here. Its pretty well known and followed along with other things such as, not touching heads without permission, not passing anything over someone's head, not using 'head' pillows for anything else (putting under feet for example) not stepping over outstretched legs/feet etc.
Maybe its because of where I live and the large Maori population but its pretty much an everyday fact around here.