AUCKLAND (The Kiribati Independent/Pacific Media Watch): Several Kiribati workers in North Auckland reportedly "rounded up" a Pakeha workmate over an argument regarding a text message.
Witnesses said the incident happened last Friday at the Southern Paprika Limited glasshouses in Warkworth.
They said about seven i-Kiribati workers critised the worker over a text message he was reportedly sharing with other Kiribati female workers.
In that text, the sender allegedly used racist words against the Kiribati workers - which included "dirty", "black", and "smell horrible" messages, according to witnesses.
Supervisors intervened and asked the Kiribati workers to leave the Pakeha worker alone.
The multimillion dollar Southern Paprika horticulture business employs about 70 Kiribati workers. About 200 i-Kiribati people live in the Rodney area, mainly in Warkworth.
Hamish Alexander, managing director of Southern Paprika, said it was an old text message written six months ago which contained some jokes - one of which was racist.
“The Kiribati staff member who saw this six months ago obviously told one of the girls which led to an altercation on Friday,” he said.
Alexander said the Pakeha staff member who was harassed on Friday did not write the joke and neither did SPL know who was using the phone or who had sent the text.
“Had the staff members acted physically this could have lead to a serious issue for them as they were extremely intimidating the staff member,” he said.
Alexander said the intervention of a Kiribati supervisor prevented a serious brawl.
“The staff members must realise that there is a process if he comes across such information and should not take the law into his hands,” he said.
He admitted that texts and emails came from everywhere and they had no control over them. He said the managerment would have acted accordingly if the text had been reported to them.
“I repeat SPL does not tolerate any racist behaviour and will always act to prevent such things,” he said.
Alexander said SPL would continue to follow up on the issue.
Pacific Media Watch
