Commissioner wades into lolly row

BRADLEY AMBROS/Taranaki Daily News

OFENSIVE LOLLY: Pascall Eskimos have made headlines around the world after an Inuit women approached The Taranaki Daily News saying that they are insensitive to her culture.

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New Zealand's Canadian High Commissioner has blamed Kiwis' "rednecky element" for comments suggesting a tourist should go home after complaining about Eskimo lollies.

NZ High Commissioner Kate Lackey said New Zealand residents were as loyal to Eskimos lollies as Canadians were to Tim Hortons coffee, the Canadian Press reported.

But rude radio comments and online calls for the 21-year-old tourist to head back to Canada were not acceptable, she told Canadian media yesterday.

"I would hope New Zealanders would be a bit more courteous and understanding," Lackey said.

"I'll probably get into trouble in New Zealand for saying such a thing, but often there's a sort of 'rednecky' element ... The people who get on talk-back (radio) and Stuff haven't had time to think through a bit more deeply how the other person might feel."

The Eskimo lolly controversy, which erupted this week, has gone international since Canadian tourist Seeka Lee Veevee Parsons told the Taranaki Daily News the sweets were insensitive to her culture and bought back painful memories of racism in Canada as a child.

In the blogosphere, on talkback and around watercoolers, New Zealanders have been debating whether Eskimo lollies are offensive to Inuit after Ms Parson's, 21, said the term was offensive to her people.

Mr Parsons, an Inuit of the Nunavut Territory in Canada, said she planned to send packets of the confectionary to the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and her grandfather, a tribal elder.

Confectionary company Pascalls, which produces the sweet, has refused to stop making the "iconic New Zealand lolly".

Hundreds of Stuff.co.nz readers commented on the story, with a strong thread arguing the call was another case of political correctness gone mad. Hundreds more comments were rejected on grounds of offensiveness.

Ms Lackey defended Pascalls' business decision, which she said was "a wee bit hard-hearted". "But, as I say, this particular candy has been around for so long. I think New Zealanders would have had absolutely no idea that it might cause offence to another people."

She said she has the highest admiration for the Inuit and has travelled across Canada's North.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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evan   #41   06:20 pm Apr 24 2009

she says the term eskimo is offensive in Canada...but she should remember this isnt Canada. Who knew that the term eskimo is considered offensive by the inuit? I certainly didnt. In NZ the term eskimo has its own connotations distinct from Canadian cultural history thus it cant really be considered offensive in this context. So as long as Pascall dont try and sell the lollies in Canada I fail to see what the problem is.

oh and btw, being fed up with hypersensitive PC nonsense is not being Rednecky....now who is being offensive??

stupid   #40   06:19 pm Apr 24 2009

stupid stupid stupid, What a waste of time, your wasting good paper here

Lenny   #39   06:08 pm Apr 24 2009

I take offence that these people take offence. I take offence that anyone feels that they have the right to push their pet pop philosophies on other people. I take offence that some people feel that they know better than the many generations before. Today I take offence at all red cars.. they make angry drivers, tomorrow I will take offence at any house not painted green, they don't fit into the environment... the next day I will take offence at some other colour.. perhaps the sky.. bad sky I will take offence at the colour blue. For gods sake what is wrong with this country.. !

John   #38   06:07 pm Apr 24 2009

Do me a favour -google "eskimo pie ice cream" This product is not an isolated burst of NZ madness, it is common internationally. Lets get back to trying to pull this Country back on the track, please?

canuck   #37   06:01 pm Apr 24 2009

*sigh* Let's find something in Canada that is offensive to us..

Tim   #36   05:58 pm Apr 24 2009

I get upset when wellingtonians eat jafas

ben   #35   05:55 pm Apr 24 2009

@ lucy #15

Bend over to a ridiculous proposal such as renaming a lollie and it'll start a trend of whiners wanting all sorts of bullsh*t to happen. Keep the name eskimo.

Evolution   #34   05:41 pm Apr 24 2009

Call them 'Snow People'!

Simple solution, and non offensive!

lucy   #33   05:40 pm Apr 24 2009

I totally agree with Kate Lacky. I don't think it would be too much of a kafafle to rename the sweet. A little light reading on the subject will enlighten those who are unaware of the offence this term can bring

Redneck1   #32   05:38 pm Apr 24 2009

If she doesnt like it, get out!! We dont goto Canada and get all upset about what they call their candy. Grow up woman!!

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