Ireland-based retailers of Kia-Ora beverages and one of the most suspicious adverts (Images: Provided)
Although the offending advertisements may have been sent to history’s dustbin (i.e., YouTube), the almost a century-old cordial is still in use and continues to be incorrect on numerous levels.
Isn’t the word kia ora lovely? It makes me think of Suzy Cato, my hometown, and the cheery flight attendants from Air New Zealand. I was a little taken aback to find it written on a bottle of colorful goo in a little town store in rural Ireland because it is informal but sounds more nicer than “g’day mate” and is a word you’re only likely to hear 4.000 kilometers south of the equator.
As it turns out, kia ora is a brand of cordial (or squash, as it’s known here) owned by a small company you may have heard of called Coca-Cola, not just a Mori greeting and declaration of friendship. There are two flavors available: blackcurrant and orange. I had to take a bottle of the orange flavor home so I could try it. Without truly tasting like any particular fruit, it was overly sweet and vaguely like to fruit. Alarmingly, it included something called glycerol esters of wood rosins.
I was curious as to why Coca-Cola was marketing juice with New Zealand holiday greetings. But first, some background.
Kia-Ora, a lemon cordial that was established in 1903 by a man by the name of Arthur Gasquoine. He seemed to be motivated by the literal meaning of the phrase, “kia orato,” which means “wish someone good health and wellness,” and, in keeping with the customs of white people, had no qualms about appropriating parts of Mori culture and using them for his personal gain.
The Dixon family of Victoria purchased the Kia-Ora brand from Australian Arthur G not long after it was founded, but Kia-Ora didn’t really take off until it was introduced in the UK. Starting off as a lemon squash, Kia-Ora grew to encompass a variety of drink flavors before diversifying in the 1940s to include canned soup, spaghetti, and baked beans. Unfortunately, Anne Dixon’s vile spaghetti and baked bean recipes were the unquestionable high point of the latter action. By the 1960s, Campbell’s had acquired Kia-Australian Ora’s division, and the company’s spaghetti nest Easter eggs, which were suitable for Lent, tragically disappeared.
But in the meantime, Kia-reputation Ora’s in the UK was growing. White children smiling at the beach and tennis club secretaries praising the “healthful goodness of the drink” were depicted on posters. When the subjects of the posters were black or brown, the corporation also seized the chance to be extremely prejudiced.
Then there were the television commercials produced between the early and late 1980s that continued to run well into the 1990s, despite the fact that everyone should have known better at the time. A black boy wearing a straw hat and leading a group of crows that represented such blatant stereotypes appeared to be lifted directly from Disney’s racist farce Dumbo in the advertisements.
Kia-karma Ora’s seems to have caught up with her. With the exception of the two sugar-free Kia-Ora cordialsorange and blackcurrantCoca-Cola no longer appears to promote on TV, online, or anywhere else. An English Labour MP recently faced repercussions for sharing one of the infamously terrible vintage television commercials in a WhatsApp group. The majority of people appear to recall Kia-Ora as “that juice with the messed up advertisements,” with the exception of a few nostalgic boomers in the hidden corners of internet message boards.
In 1903, the same year a white man was permitted to use the phrase to promote a beverage, mori children were forcibly forbidden from saying kia ora (and any other te reo) in classrooms across the country.
Black stereotypes played a significant role in Kia-advertising Ora’s history, all because the phrase appeared faintly strange to a London-based executive.
Everyone who grew up in Ireland or England in the 1980s believes that Don Brash would pronounce kia ora differently if he weren’t so intimidated by the Mori language.
Unbelievably, Kia-Ora, a brand that is barely hanging on, continues to use a cartoon crow image on its labels.
In light of the aforementioned, I questioned whether Coke had considered renaming Kia-Ora. They stated the following:
“In a 1998 agreement, The Coca-Cola Company bought the Cadbury Schweppes soft drink brands. The brand portfolio included the Kia-Ora name. Since then, there has been little money spent on brand marketing. Currently, there are no plans to change the beverage or the branding in any way.
In other words, Kia-Ora won’t change because a $270 billion firm can’t be bothered.
Although I have no expertise in marketing, I was able to come up with several ideas rather quickly.
- The second- or third-most popular concentrated low-calorie soft drink with orange flavor in Ireland
- I hope you don’t mind that this contains something called glycerol esters of wood rosins.
- Same Juice, but no longer racist
Given how imaginative New Zealanders are, perhaps we might have a nationwide vote to select a new moniker, ala Boaty McBoatface? Coca-Cola employees appear to be running low on resources right now, so they could use all the assistance they can get.
In This Article...
What is the Kia-Ora dispute about?
The Kia Ora Incident happened in 1984, a year in which New Zealanders hardly ever used Mori words or phrases. After the post office received a complaint, Naida Glavish, an Auckland telephone operator, was told to cease introducing callers with “kia ora.” She was demoted as a result of her refusal, and the incident generated considerable media attention. Later, she received her original position restored. [1] Rob Talbot, the postmaster general, persuaded Robert Muldoon, the prime minister, to lift the ban on kia ora. [2]
This occasion is significant in the effort to revive Te Reo Maori.
[Reference needed] When “kia ora” usage was prohibited among KiwiYo Whangarei staff in 2014, a similar incident occurred. [3] [1]
Where is the origin of Kia-Ora?
Kia ora can be used to greet someone, show appreciation, offer love, and establish a connection.
The native Mori language is the source of the friendly and welcoming greeting known as “kia ora,” which is used often throughout New Zealand.
What does kia ora mean?
Kia ora, in its most basic form, says greeting. But because it makes a reference to life and health, “kia ora” is more than just a simple greeting.
More than merely a passing greeting, these two words have deeper meanings. The word “ora” literally means “to live” or “to be alive.” By adding “kia,” it is transformed from a noun to a verb, becoming “living” instead of “alive”. As a result, when you say “kia ora” to someone, you are wishing them life itself.
When should you say kia ora?
In New Zealand, the informal greeting kia ora is used. Everyone uses it in everyday discourse, from the prime minister to the neighborhood shopkeeper.
Use kia ora as a greeting or farewell, to express gratitude, to express support, or to convey a warm “cheers.” Kia ora can be used to start an email or answer the phone.
It’s crucial to express gratitude to others. By saying “Kia Ora,” we acknowledge not only them but also everything about them, including who and from where they are.
What exactly is a Kia-Ora bird?
Usually used as a Maori greeting, kia ora meaning “be well and healthy.” If you have Kia Ora Kiwi near by, she will keep you feeling good about yourself. She is sporting a talisman called a hei-tiki, which is customarily worn by Maori women.
Do all New Zealanders speak Mori?
The Khanga Reo movement, which began in 1982 and immersed infants in Mori from infancy until school age, is one example of a mori-language revitalization program that was started by leaders of the tribe who had begun to see the dangers of losing their language by the 1980s. The first Kura Kaupapa Mori (Years 1 through 8 Mori-medium education program) and later the first Wharekura were established in 1985. (Years 9 to 13 Mori-medium education programme). Te Reo experienced a genuine rebirth in the 1980s and early to mid-1990s, which was sparked by the realization of how few speakers remained and the relative quantity of older fluent speakers in both urban and rural populations, but it has since fallen out of use. [4] It is thought that there are “several underlying explanations” for the fall. [28] These consist of:
- the continuous loss of older native speakers who have led the drive to revive the Mori language
- apathy caused by the institutions’ continued existence, which fueled the resurgence
- worries about quality, as the demand for good teachers is never met by the supply (even while that demand has been shrinking)
- excessive restriction and centralized control have alienated some movement participants.
- a persistent shortage of instructional materials required to teach the entire curriculum in te reo Mori[28]
- loss of natural language due to the massive rise in spoken English.
The Waitangi Tribunal has suggested “four basic adjustments” based on the tenets of cooperation, Mori-speaking governance, general revitalization and dialectal protection policy, and enough resources: [29]
- The Mori Language Commission ought to take the reins as the principal organization serving the Mori language community. This will deal with the issues that the Office of the Auditor-General highlighted as being brought on by a lack of ownership and leadership. [30]
- Through the equal nomination of Crown and Mori appointees to its board, Te Taura Whiri should operate as a CrownMori partnership. This underscores [the Tribunal’s] worry that te reo resurrection won’t succeed if Mori isn’t given ownership of deciding the course.
- Te Taura Whiri will also require more powerful abilities. This would guarantee that government organizations are required to support the resuscitation of Te Reo and that important organizations are held properly accountable for the policies they enact. For instance, it is necessary to meet goals for the development of te reo instructors, adopt te reo-based educational curriculum, and submit Mori language plans for approval to public bodies in districts with a specified percentage of Mori pupils and a suitable number of te reo speakers.
- When creating their strategies, these regional public organizations and educational institutions are required to consult with iwi (Mori tribes or tribal confederations). Iwi will eventually play a key part in the revitalization of te reo in their local communities as a result. This ought to stimulate grassroots initiatives to spread the language. [31]
The Tribunal’s suggested reforms are only recommendations; the government is not required to implement them. [32]
What should you say in answer to “kia ora”?
Ngahiwi Apanui, the company’s chief executive, explains that “it’s actually more of a ‘gidday’; I wouldn’t say it to elders or if I was meeting someone for the first time.”
The expression can be used to end an email, wish someone well, or express gratitude.
Apanui explains, “It also signifies to wish someone life and health.” Kia is a future tense particle that, technically speaking, means something will happen. Together, ora and kia mean life.
We say “kia ora r” when someone corrects us or helps us, according to Apanui. R can refer to the sun or day, but in this case, it denotes a separation from the speaker, much like the phrase “by that.”
Apanui thinks that the expression is quite adaptable. It’s being thrown around everywhere, and he thinks that’s fantastic.
“Even if kia ora is the only term people use to communicate in te reo Mori, that is still preferable to saying nothing. However, it’s far better if everyone understands what that brief passage implies.”
What’s a Kiwi’s greeting?
Many individuals outside of New Zealand are familiar with the salutation “Kia Ora.” It also has a wide range of meanings! Kiwis use it to greet one another, wish one luck, and convey other sentiments. In essence, it’s a comprehensive way to convey well wishes. Our pals at Massey say that one misconception about New Zealanders that is really accurate is that they are highly amiable people. People will frequently welcome you with “Kia Ora!” as you start your day when you study abroad in New Zealand.
How do you say “kia ora”?
“My life has transformed since I began learning Mori at Te Wnanga o Aotearoa 15 years ago. I immediately developed a passion for this lovely language thanks to the professors and classmates I met there who gave me the confidence to think that the Mori language is for me too, despite the fact that I am not a Mori. Today, only 15 years later, I teach te reo pronunciation and have developed a number of te reo books and sing-along tools.
“I discovered about halfway through my journey that many of my teaching colleagues also struggled with pronouncing te reo with confidence. They informed me that the tools at their disposal were challenging to utilize and that they lacked the self-assurance necessary to move past greetings, orders, colors, and numbers. Te Reo Singalong books were inspired by the repeated text patterns I was seeing being sung to a catchy song.
“These novels received overwhelmingly positive reviews, which were followed by calls for pronunciation workshops. I explain that the key to pronouncing Mori words correctly is to break them at each vowel. However, applying this understanding to every Mori word and phrase we useincluding our location namesis the most crucial thing we can do.
“Although bad role models and years of habit are the main causes of improper pronunciation rather than deliberate action, I think teachers have a specific duty to try their best. Teachers might be the only people students look up to for advice on how to pronounce te reo Mori properly. They mimic the speech of others around them as they learn to speak. They will follow if we do it well.
“I think there’s a lot we can learn from how kids pick up language. Infants and young children don’t begin using complete phrases. They begin by practicing sounds before progressing to words and finally phrases. Before young toddlers learn to speak in complete sentences, it takes some time. It stands to reason that acquiring a second language like Mori should go in a similar manner. We should begin by perfecting the language’s sounds. Then, before going on to simple phrases, we should use those sounds to pronounce single words clearly.
“I advise teachers to start with the basics and master the vowel sounds when I work with them in pronunciation workshops. Why say anything at all “kia ora if we don’t know how to pronounce the term properly? You might be surprised to learn that a lot of people mispronounce the simple greeting.
Most people substitute “Ki ora” for “Hi there. We are unable to omit the “a at the end of “kia because there are no silent letters in the Mori alphabet. Most Mori speakers claim that “Ki / ao / ra is the right way to pronounce it.
“You can view some of the little films on my Facebook page, Pronunciation Signposts in Te Reo Mori, to learn more about te reo pronunciation.