A Christchurch academic has been labelled ‘racist’ for using the word 'Pākehā'.
The accusation came as Professor Ekant Veer was urging the Christchurch City Council to break down barriers and encourage more people to vote in the elections.
Those at the meeting say a woman - who was not a Christchurch councillor - took offence at the term and said Professor Veer was racist.
The woman reportedly said she knew better than Professor Veer as he was born overseas and she was born in New Zealand - but most people with a European appearance Checkpoint spoke to had no problem with the word.
The Māori Dictionary refers to Mohi Tūrei, an expert in Ngāti Porou tribal lore who said it was a shortened version of pakepakehā, which originated as a Māori rendition of a chant used by foreign sailors when raising their anchor.
Then there's Williams' dictionary, which says the term is short for Pakehakeha, which refers to "imaginary beings resembling men, with fair skins'.
So where did the idea that Pākehā is insulting come from? RNZ's Kurahautū Māori, Shannon Haunui-Thompson, said she thought people had - wrongfully - deconstructed the word to mean different things.
"What people have done to deconstruct the word I think is really destructive. Pakeha means that you were born in New Zealand, that you are a New Zealander, to me.
"Why people find it offensive I'm quite puzzled at really."
