Posted on 10/12/2010 9:34:33 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
Or risk incurring a curse
The Wellington-based museum, known as Te Papa - a Maori name that translates as "Our Place" - said it was imposing the rule as a condition demanded by tribes that had provided some of the items.
The "stay away" warning went out to staff from regional museums who have been invited to a behind-the-scenes tour of items not usually on display to the public.
Jane Keig, a spokesman for Te Papa, defended the museum's stance, saying some of the taonga, or treasures, "have been used in battle and to kill people".
She said Maori believed that each taonga had its own wairua, or spirit, inside it.
Maori tradition dictates that a pregnant or menstruating woman is tapu, or taboo, and so are the artefacts, meaning that if the two come into contact a curse could be invoked.
"Pregnant women are sacred and the policy is in place to protect them from these objects," Ms Keig said.
Traditional Maori belief in curses, or makutu, is exceptionally strong, and in 2007 a woman drowned after relatives attempted an exorcism to rid her of an "evil spirit" they thought was possessing her.
But in a stark clash of cultures, the museum's stance has infuriated feminists.
Deborah Russel, a prominent feminist blogger, wrote on her website: "I don't understand why a secular institution, funded by public money in a secular state, is imposing religious and cultural values on people."
Another blogger, going under the name Boganette, said: "It's disgusting that in this day and age women can be told they're forbidden for menstruating or being pregnant. It's a completely archaic belief that is oppressive to all women."
Members of the public on the streets of Wellington were similarly shocked, with one man describing the ruling as
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Makes sense to me, the museum is only respecting the
cultural mores of the people who donated the exhibit.
Besides, it’s not a good idea to argue with someone
with a BLUE FACE.
Ever seen a women giving birth?
We used a nasty mutagen called Ae4901 photo-resist.
Yes.
It’s a good idea not to argue with someone with a BLUE FACE.
Civilization continues to submit.
AZ1350J?
So how are they planning on verifying if they are pregnant and not showing and whether or not the visitors are having a period? Hmmmm
LOL! And Amen ... in the same breath.
The Maoris appear to be New Zealand’s version of Muslims.
They denounce, make constant demands, complain that their “culture” is disrespected, threaten violence at every turn, treat women shamefully, and refuse to assimilate.
Am I wrong, all you Kiwis out there?
I spent 3 weeks in NZ back in ‘96 and found the Maori to be friendly and quite funny. Pretty much normal people.
At that time, some Aborigine in Australia were doing this and it may have gotten imported under the guise of cultural diversity.
Too bad as NZ is my favorite country on the planet.
Maybe it’s just a few militants in NZ but those are the ones who get the headlines. I’ve also heard from people in Australia who say most aborigines are normal chaps.
There was an incident in 1987 or so when Queen Elizabeth visited NZ and Maori militants mooned her motorcade and then complained bitterly that their gesture of extreme disrespect was immune from criticism due to their `oppressed’ status.
Oh, well.
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