Golliwogs banned after complaints
Two women selling homemade golliwog dolls are shocked that they have been told to stop, after overseas visitors complained.
The Marlborough District Council received two complaints from cruise ship tourists over summer about the dolls being sold in Picton. The visitors, from the United States and Britain, said they found the golliwogs ‘‘offensive and racist’’ and it left a bad feeling about their otherwise enjoyable visit to New Zealand.
The council has asked the Picton Lions, who run the cruise ship market, to no longer allow the sale of the dolls.
Picton women Cathy Dalzell and Rata Steele have been making the ‘‘gollys’’ for five years.
In a post to Facebook, they said they were told that once their stock ran out, they would no longer be able to sell the golliwogs at the market.
‘‘We have been told that we can make white dolls but not gollys,’’ the post said. ‘‘This is very sad as we are not selling them to upset people but more of a memory of innocent times when a carefully crafted colourful black faced doll was part of a fun, happy and healthy childhood.’’
The post has had a lot of community support backing the woman and their dolls.
Council reserves and amenities manager Jane Tito said it was still awaiting confirmation that the sale of golliwogs would no longer be permitted by the Picton Lions.
The council did not specify that white dolls could be made, Tito said.
‘‘Council does not believe the sale of golliwogs contributes to enhancing the visitor experience for passengers.’’
Human Rights Commission chief commissioner Paul Hunt said it viewed golliwogs as offensive.
‘‘They perpetuate the sort of stereotypes which often underpin racism,’’ Hunt said. ‘‘They also come from a different era.’’
Lions Club of Picton secretary Katharine Overend said the club had ‘‘no preference’’ whether the golliwog dolls were sold or not.
‘‘We’re quite happy to have them there, in terms of the stall. We don’t want to dictate to anyone what they can and can’t sell, as long as it fits the criteria that we have for the market.’’
‘‘They are absolutely welcome to sell any other sort of dolls whatsoever, but the council has requested that they not sell golliwogs any more.’’
It is the second time a Lions club has upset people recently due to racism. The Ha¯wera Mt View Lions Club float last Christmas featured people in blackface. The club defended itself, saying it had not meant to upset anyone.