A teenage waitress was left embarrassed and ashamed after a customer mocked her for being Māori.
Mia Griffiths, 17, works part-time at a popular restaurant in the Auckland Viaduct.
During a busy evening shift on Monday, she served a table of employees from building materials company James Hardie, who were attending a senior leadership team dinner.
Mia says one man at the table was a difficult customer who complained about the set menu multiple times. When she set down a platter of Kaipara lamb shoulders, his comments took on a racist tone.
“He looked me up and down and said, ‘I bet your whānau doesn’t come here often, they’re at home eating boil-up’.”
She felt he was implying that because her family is Māori, they couldn’t afford to eat at a Viaduct restaurant. Mia told her parents eat there reasonably often.
“I didn’t know how to reply because I was so ashamed. I was standing there in absolute embarrassment and shock. I just couldn’t believe what I heard.”
She says the man repeatedly used the word ‘whānau’, mockingly pronouncing it ‘faarnow’.
None of the other customers at the table – most of whom were white, she says – challenged the man on his remarks, and most of them seemed amused.
“This guy kept looking at the other people for validation, and they kept laughing like they were watching an animal at the circus… the whole table was laughing at me.”
She finished serving the food and returned to the kitchen, where she burst into tears.
Still upset, Mia got picked up early by her father. When he heard what had happened, he threw the car in reverse and stormed into the restaurant to find the man, but the table had left by then.
Mia says in the eight months she’s been at the restaurant, she’s never experienced abuse and customers are usually kind. She hasn’t worked since Monday and is apprehensive about returning.
“I feel a bit defeated and insecure.”
However she says she’s been well-supported by her employers, who quickly demanded an apology from James Hardie. The man who made the comments, who doesn’t work for the company, has been banned from the premises.
SOURCE: Newshub
Featured Image – Mia Griffiths was humiliated by a customer who singled her out. Photo credit: Supplied / Kiri Turketo
