Air New Zealand's new pink uniforms 'disrespect' Maori culture

Melbourne, Jan 29 (ANI): The new uniforms of Kiwi air hostesses have been criticised for disrespecting Maori culture with the "misuse" of curly patterns on them.

Air New Zealand has raised several eyebrows with its latest set of hot pink, lime green and aqua blue dresses, which the staff is expected to don from 2011.

The new range has attracted comments like "absolutely hideous", "vile" and "an embarrassing and tragic disaster of epic proportions" on various websites.

The stylists have also shown no mercy in lambasting the costumes comparing them to drag-queen-meets-barbie and raising questions about the "over excited" colour palette.

And now even Kiwi academics have joined the league of those finding the dresses, designed by Kiwi Trelise Cooper, "disrespectful".

According to Rawiri Taonui, head of Canterbury University's Maori and Indigenous School, the use of Maori symbols, such as the koru or fern, was "way too busy and inelegant".

"It's obviously been drawn by someone who doesn't appreciate the culture or understand the deeper symbolism," News.com.au quoted him, as telling The Press newspaper.

However, Air New Zealand has defended the dresses saying they had not been finalised yet. (ANI)