Just What We Need
December 13, 2005 | Aussie Dave | Comments
Only in Israel, do the words “pack of Maoris” not refer to this:
..but this:
Maori politicians and health advocates are outraged that a tobacco company named a brand of cigarettes Maori Mix.The Maori Smokefree Coalition (Te Reo Marama) said Philip Morris was marketing a brand of cigarettes called Maori Mix in Israel. The box featured a quasi Maori design and a map of New Zealand.Te Reo Marama spokesman Shane Bradbrook said the use of the Maori name and the image was a defilement and unbelievable considering the high smoking rate among Maori.“Would we have them here and call them Jewish Mix? It would be as offensive to the people in Israel as it is offensive for Maori.”
Not to mention off-putting. Can you imagine ordering a packet?
“Boy, do I feel like a pack of Maoris right now! I’m gonna go get some….hello, may I please have a pack of Maoris – extra strong.”
And I don’t get why the bright spark at Philip Morris marketing thought that this would be a good marketing strategy for Israelis, (let alone at all). The Israel-New Zealand relationship needs this kind of incident like a hole in the head lung.
Needless to say, Maoris in New Zealand are not impressed.
Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples was disgusted by the marketing ploy.“My reaction was an immediate affront that our name would be mixed up with an addiction which has reached what you could say are epidemic proportions among our people,” Dr Sharples said.
Mind you, I am not impressed that a Maori would market himself as a Middle Eastern bread.
Filed Under: General
About the Author: An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.
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