Gypsies say fair steals their culture
Couple look at legal action against travelling show
To us Romani people, this misuse of the name gypsy by nongypsies who are not Romani is insulting. Robert Kamulo Lovell
ARomani gypsy couple in Auckland are considering legal action against the founders and operators of The Original Gypsy Fair for allegedly exploiting the gypsy culture for commercial gain.
Robert Kamulo Lovell, 68, a gypsy of Romani descent, said people could not become a gypsy by choice.
He is upset that the owners and operators of the fair, which has been running since the 1990s, are using images of Romani on posters and calling themselves gypsies.
“We are born gypsies and cannot become one by lifestyle choice,” Lovell said.
“To us Romani people, this misuse of the name gypsy by non-gypsies who are not Romani is insulting. It is a gross misrepresentation of who we are as a race of people, and very misleading to the general public.”
Gypsy is another name for the Romani people, an ethnic group who originated on the Indian subcontinent.
It is not clear how many Romani are in New Zealand, but perhaps the best known is broadcaster Paul Henry, who said he was 25 when he discovered his grandmother was a gypsy.
Lovell said photos of gypsies with horse-drawn wagons in Britain — some of whom were his relatives — had also been used to promote the travelling fair that goes to towns throughout the country.
He had been in touch with the photographer in Britain and believed they did not have permission to use the images in that way.
Lovell was born in New Zealand, but said his “romniphen” or “gypsiness” went back directly to northwest India.
A recent study estimated there to be 1200 to 3000 Romani in New Zealand, mostly immigrants from Britain and more recently Roma refugees from Europe.
Tourism website tourism.net.nz says that while there are not many Romani gypsies in New Zealand, a small number of Kiwis have taken to life on the road, living in converted trucks and school buses.
It says there are two fairs, the other being The Gypsy Travellers Fair, that are run as co-operatives by road folk.
According to The Original Gypsy Fair’s website, the fair provides a venue for these “like-minded travelling folk” to earn a living to support their chosen lifestyle.
Lovell’s wife, Jayne Lewington Lovell, said they had emailed and tried contacting the fair owners, but had not received a reply.
“We want them to please stop using photos of real Romani gypsies on their posters, and remove gypsy from their name and all advertising as it is misleading and not truthful,” she said.
Gypsy Craft Fairs Ltd, trading as The Original Gypsy Fair, is owned by James Banks from Haumoana.
Banks did not return the Herald’s calls, email or text messages.
Lewington Lovell said they had sought legal advice and were told it was possible to get a court injunction to stop the use of the term gypsy and the photos.
However, it would cost about $10,000 and they did not have the funds to proceed.
AUT University Professor of Diversity Edwina Pio felt the best way forward was for the two groups to talk. She said cultural appropriation could present a one-dimensional, romanticised view that perpetuated stereotypes.