A Maori cultural performer who head-butted a Dutch tourist during a traditional indigenous welcome was on Monday ordered to do 150 hours of community work.
Richard Minarapa Mitai-Ngatai (40) pleaded guilty last month to assaulting Dutch tourist Johannes Scheffers, because he thought Scheffers was laughing at the ceremony, which involves the Maori person and visitor pressing together their noses in a welcome known as a hongi.
He head-butted Scheffers — breaking his nose — during a Maori welcome at the Tamaki Tours village, about 25km south of the tourist town of Rotorua, last Nov. 24.
The Rotorua District Court was told Mitai-Ngatai thought Scheffers was laughing at the traditional Maori welcome provided by a cultural group at the village.
He butted him in the face with his forehead, fracturing Scheffers’ nose.
Police said Scheffers had given a nervous grin, but had had no intention of being disrespectful to Maori culture. – Sapa-AP