A traumatised Post worker had to take a day off work after a racist message appeared on his scanner.
The Indian-origin post worker was delivering a parcel on a street in Halswell, Christchurch. He told 1 News that the racist message just popped up on his screen when he scanned the parcel’s barcode.
This is the section where post customers normally leave delivery instructions.
The abusive racist message called for the post worker to go back to India.
He didn’t deliver the parcel but took a photo and reported the incident to his manager.
The post worker told 1 News:
“I’m living here in New Zealand since the last 10 years and never heard a single thing like that. I was really shocked at what happened.”
The scared post worker even had to take a day off work.
“I’m a bit worried and scared … if the customer is racist and if the customer can hate me or do something to me, where is the security [for us]?”
The worker said the behaviour was not okay and he hoped the offender would not get away with it.
“Yesterday [Wednesday] was me and another day it could be anyone else. That’s why we just want to try to make a strict action against that so that wouldn’t happen in the future.”
Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon told 1 News that workers’ safety must come first.
“We receive them in the service industries and schools and hospitals and the public, there’s a lot of casual racism around.”
An NZ Post spokesperson said the incident was appalling.
“NZ Post does not stand for any form of racism. The safety and wellbeing of our people is paramount. This incident is abhorrent and unacceptable. We are taking this extremely seriously – the matter is currently with the police for investigation, and we are also carrying out our own investigation.”
NZ police have also confirmed to the media that they had received a report on the matter which was being assessed.