Use of indigenous imagery to sell sugary drinks completely inappropriate

Awa Associates

Sunday 8 May 2017

Awa Associates condemns the use of indigenous imagery to sell sugary drinks such as those used currently by Haka Energy Drink. The offshore company is using the word Haka and designs derivative of moko on their cans and bottles of sugary drinks as well as the tag line 'Unleash your inner warrior'.

Papatuanuku Nahi Co-Director of Awa Associates is outraged that such appropriation of indigenous imagery continues to occur. "We have seen this time and again to sell smokes and alcohol and now to sell sugary drinks. It seems incredulous that in the year celebrating ten years of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, we're still having to deal with this sort of appropriation".

"The other thing is, diabetes and obesity are some of the most pressing health issues of our time, particularly for our people so to have our concepts and imagery used to peddle something that is harmful to us is completely inappropriate" says Miss Nahi. Awa Associates will be part of stakeholder discussions at the upcoming forum on sugary drinks on the 26th June to discuss Maori perspectives on action needed to address such issues.

ENDS

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