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Sir Bob Jones
nopunchespulled.com

In recent years Maoris have increasingly figured in television advertising. To the best of my knowledge, without exception, they’re always shown as obese Billy T James character types, specifically buffoons.

The latest from the Transport Department has a fat Maori driver engaging in a Billy T type send-up speech, the giggling rising inflexion with every sentence ending in a soprano “eh.”

Billy T sent everyone up, not just Maoris. Sometimes he played an ordinary supplementary role as part of his skits, as say a bishop or bank manager or whatever, and talked correctly, fitting the role.

But we all loved him for his humour regardless of what role he played.

Maoris should be hugely offended by this constant buffoon representation in television advertising.

We all have Maori friends and acquaintances. Do any talk this way? Certainly, I know none who do.


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