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<h1 class="gmail-small-gamma gmail-xmedium-beta gmail-large-alpha gmail-ts-page-heading">Outrage after McDonald's stops worker from speaking te reo</h1>
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Author
</dt><dd>
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/author/?Author=NZ Herald">NZ Herald </a>,
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<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/">National</a>,
</dd><dt class="gmail-show-for-sr">Publish Date</dt><dd>
Wednesday, 12 September 2018, 11:57AM
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<img class="gmail-figure__image" src="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/media/22818959/mcdonalds-generic-gettyimages.jpg?mode=crop&width=675&height=379&quality=80&scale=both" alt="Following the incident, McDonald's released a statement saying they believe there has been a misunderstanding but would look into the language policy. Photo / Getty Images">
Following the
incident, McDonald's released a statement saying they believe there has
been a misunderstanding but would look into the language policy. Photo /
Getty Images
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<p class="element element-paragraph">A McDonald's worker is furious and saddened after management told her she couldn't speak te reo Māori to customers.</p>
<p class="element element-paragraph">Hamilton woman Janine Eru-Taueki
was informed last Thursday by her manager of the stance, saying the
store had received complaints from customers and other staff members and
explained speaking te reo Māori could be considered rude.</p>
<p class="element element-paragraph">However, the 19-year-old, who has
worked for McDonald's for six months, says she's often asked by
customers if they can order in te reo Māori.</p>
<p class="element element-paragraph">"This is the first time I've been
told by anyone that I can't speak Māori. This is Māori Language Week,
but to us students of that school speaking Māori is normal. I speak
Māori all the time," Eru-Taueki told<span> </span>Te Kāea.</p>
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<p class="element element-paragraph">"Some of the customers come up and
ask if they can make their order in Māori. I was really sad the other
night because I couldn't speak to them in Māori myself."</p>
<div class="element element-image">
<img id="gmail-" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" class="gmail-responsively-lazy gmail-inline-img gmail-loaded" src="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/CkbkktYaCKHyzDfNs-aCA1s1NeQ=/620x342/smart/filters:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-syd-prod-nzme.s3.amazonaws.com/public/DBAGJKTOGRHWVJ57USDNUGBI3M.jpg" alt="Janine Reu-Taueki was told by her manager not to talk to customers in te reo Māori. However the 19-year-old says many customers ask to speak the native language when ordering. Photo / Maori TV / Getty">
<em>Janine Reu-Taueki
was told by her manager not to talk to customers in te reo Māori.
However the 19-year-old says many customers ask to speak the native
language when ordering. Photo / Maori TV / Getty</em>
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<p class="element element-paragraph">Following the incident, McDonald's
released a statement saying they believe there has been a
misunderstanding as they hadn't received any complaints about Janine but
would look into the language policy.</p>
<p class="element element-paragraph">"Across New Zealand McDonald's
employs people from a diverse range of backgrounds. English is used as a
common language amongst staff to ensure clear communication, and
provide an inclusive environment. As required, staff can talk with
customers in other languages.</p>
<p class="element element-paragraph">"In this case it sounds like there
has been a misunderstanding, as we didn't have any complaints from
customers regarding Janine. However, it has raised the issue of our
policy and staff speaking Māori. We're following up with Janine to
understand her perspective and build into plans for future policy and
Māori Language Week activities."</p>
<p class="element element-paragraph">Following Eru-Taueki's situation,
New Zealanders have taken to social media to support the 19-year-old
with many encouraging her to speak te reo Māori despite her manager's
stance.</p>
<p class="element element-paragraph">"Being an official language of NZ, you have every right to use Te Reo," one person wrote.</p>
<p class="element element-paragraph">Another said: "I'm sure a 'kia ora'
is ok if the customer replies with 'hello' that's your cue to kōrero in
English. Otherwise, te Reo Māori is an official language of NZ."</p>
<p class="element element-paragraph">"Good on you Janine ... 2018 and we
are being told not to speak Te Reo?? McDonald's you have an opportunity
to change the culture of your management ... I believe Janine is your
girl to enlighten and educate them in their ignorance towards
diversity!"</p>
<p class="element element-paragraph">However, some believe McDonald's are well within their rights to enforce English as the language of choice while at work.</p>
<p class="element element-paragraph">"It would be ok if everyone could understand it but they have a business to run so it does make sense," one person wrote.</p>
<p class="element element-paragraph">Another said: "I'm all for te reo
Māori but when I worked in fast food the rule was only English was
allowed to be spoken on the floor. It's a health and safety issue."</p>
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<br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+<br><br> Harold F. Schiffman<br><br>Professor Emeritus of <br> Dravidian Linguistics and Culture <br>Dept. of South Asia Studies <br>University of Pennsylvania<br>Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305<br><br>Phone: (215) 898-7475<br>Fax: (215) 573-2138 <br><br>Email: <a href="mailto:haroldfs@gmail.com" target="_blank">haroldfs@gmail.com</a><br><a href="http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/" target="_blank">http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/</a> <br><br>-------------------------------------------------</div></div>