| If using a Māori cultural element, it is essential that you create a cultural narrative around your brand or product including the usage, your thinking and where you gained inspiration from. In Māori culture this is called ‘whakapapa’. Everything in the Māori world has whakapapa. It is also your first line of defense if someone accuses you of cultural appropriation.
They blame an outdated copyright system.
Given how long treat claims have been going on for, I’ve little sympathy for such perspectives. Get it in law, or leave it be. Don’t try guilt trip others over concepts that don’t exist outside Maoridom - like mana.
Seriously its threads like this that do nothing but reinforce negative connotations of Maori. It would have been better to race relations to not mention it.
Te Reo names are often gifted by Iwis or individuals with sufficient Mana. As a Tangata Whenua Inia, I was strongly recommended to avoid using Te Reo names in business due to cultural reasons.
And getting precious over a word is ridiculous, it seemed to be a common theme growing up in NZ, there's a general apathy until there's some perceived benefit and then suddenly it's about race and culture.