Cultural infringement

'Maori Collection' fragrances stuns Kiwi shopper in Moscow

"Maori Collection" fragrances are being sold in chemists in Moscow. Photo / Supplied

An Auckland woman was horrified to find "Maori Collection"-branded perfume while holidaying in Russia, dubbing it a gross example of cultural appropriation.

The woman, who did not wish to be named, found the fragrances being sold in a chemist in an underground mall near Red Square in Moscow.

It was impossible to miss the posters that featured a woman with a stylised facial tattoo.

"I thought it was a gross example of cultural appropriation," she said.


The tribal tattoo design across the woman's eyes obviously did not reflect what a traditional moko is at all, she said.

"I thought, 'God if people at home could see this, there would be an absolute outcry'."

They were all cheap body sprays that would have cost about $12 each to buy, she said.

The woman said she checked out the back of the packaging and was surprised to find that the designer behind the scent was actually Italian.

There was a variety of different scents but "none of them were good smells," she said.

Senior Lecturer at the School of Māori Knowledge, Massey University, Dr Fiona Te Momo, said in this case the issue was not entirely clear cut.