New Zealand chocolate brand, Whittaker’s attempt to celebrate Maori language week has caught heat online.
Whittaker very cooly decided to acknowledge Maori Langauge week by debuting special edition packaging of its classic milk chocolate block.
Creamy Milk was translated using the official Maori language te reo and relabelled Miraka Kirīmi.
While some people loved the acknowledgment, others felt the brand had gone too ‘woke.’ Aka, right-wing New Zealand commentator Cam Slate took to Twitter to blast the brand.
He posted a photo of the newly packaged chocolate, and said, “go woke, go broke!”
Go woke, go broke…see ya @WhittakersNZ pic.twitter.com/BVyjVbcKa9
— Cam Slater (@kaiviti_cam) August 14, 2022
However, despite Slate’s jab, plenty of people have been online claiming they are stocking up to show support for Whittaker.
https://twitter.com/khaiicos/status/1559714383374077952
Huge shoutout for Te Taura Whiri for continuing your mahi to normalise our reo, the latest being the Whittaker’s Miraka Kirīmi.
Thank you both for sticking your necks out on the line while racists and bigots slam you from all directions with hate and disgusting comments.
— Te Pia (@saf_te_pia) August 16, 2022
I am shocked by the reaction to Whittaker's putting Te Reo (Māori language) on their packaging ahead of Maori Language Week. A few of the folks with anaphylaxis also appear to be the type standing in local council elections this season. Eat ya choccy, or go hungry! 🇳🇿 pic.twitter.com/UupAmrWMda
— Cole Cameron (@colecameron) August 17, 2022
It’s always amazing how even when brands do cool things they still face backlash.
