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Employer Graham Peet reads his testimony in court - Source: ONE News -
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The owner of an Auckland catering company says he is not guilty of discrimination, after claims he made a worker cover up her moko.
Claire Haupini, 32, alleges her former boss Graham Peet told her to wear a longer shirt to cover the moko on her left forearm, during a function in May last year.
She complained to the Human Rights Commission in what has been labelled a test case.
Peet, who owns the Spit Roast Catering Company gave evidence at a Human Rights Tribunal hearing today, defending the case against him.
He admits he wanted Haupini to cover up her tattoo, but strongly denies he's guilty of discrimination.
He told ONE News he felt his staff should not be showing prominent tattoos at a corporate function, adding that Haupini was not forced to do anything.
"This was to be a corporate function...I felt our staff serving customers should not be sporting large prominent tattoos in this environment.
"It was not a directive...I did not insist upon it...I did not say she should never have been hired...had she declined I would not have pushed the matter further," he said today.
Haupini claims it was a violation of her human rights because her tattoo is culturally sensitive and is seeking damages for emotional harm and loss of income.
She says after the incident she was not offered any further work with the company. But Peet's lawyer says that is not true - that she was offered another shift and turned it down.
The tribunal will meet at a later date to hear closing submissions and is likely to reserve its decision.
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