A Napier woman is outraged after the local RSA [Returned Service Association] asked her to leave due to her husband's facial tattoos breaching the new dress code.
The woman has addressed the "discrimination" she and her husband encountered at the RSA's Norfolk Lounge Restaurant in a scathing Facebook post.
In the written tirade, shared to a local Facebook group, the woman claimed she has been a member of the club for 12 years and often dines in the restaurant multiple times a week.
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"Never before [were] my husband's tattoos ever an issue," she wrote.
On Saturday, a duty manager allegedly asked the couple to leave as her husband's tattoos are now deemed "too offensive" for the establishment.
"[The duty manager] also told us customers feel intimidated by people like us... discrimination at its finest," the woman said in her Facebook post.
The woman claimed she made a complaint to the restaurant's manager, who advised her husband to cover up his tattoos in order to meet the RSA's new dress code requirements.
The woman said she will seek legal action against the restaurant.
"My grandfather was a veteran, [the] very reason why I joined Returned Services Association," she continued.
She went on to thank the rest of the restaurant staff for their "awesome hospitality" over the years.
The RSA's Norfolk Lounge Restaurant has enforced the new dress code "due to recent circumstances". The dress code, made effective on Thursday, applies to all customers at the Napier RSA.
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The dress code prohibits hats and headwear from being worn inside (unless for medical or religious purposes), bare feet and gumboots, gang regalia - including offensive visible tattoos - as well as singlets and sleeveless shirts.
"If you do not meet our standard of dress you will be refused entry," says a large sign on the RSA premises.
The woman's post has proved controversial on Facebook, amassing more than 460 comments since it was shared on Monday afternoon. Although a number of social media users have expressed disgust at the RSA's "judgemental" attitude, others have questioned the nature of the man's tattoos, which are visible in the woman's Facebook photos.
"Is this the bulldog tattoos on his face and massive wording on [his] forehead?" one woman observed in the comments.
"It literally says no gang regalia including offensive tattoos, it doesn't [prohibit] all tattoos," said another.
Although some have agreed the man's tattoos could be gang-related, others have argued that regardless of their symbolism, the man shouldn't be discriminated against based on his body art.
"I don't see why this poor lady and her husband are all of a sudden a problem, when for 12 years it has never been an issue... very disrespectful," another wrote.
The RSA have yet to respond to Newshub's request for comment, however, a pre-recorded voice message does address the new "tightened dress code" and warns people may be refused entry if they don't respect the requirements.
Newshub.
