Finn McCools Brisbane reviewing policy after Maori woman was refused entry over chin tattoo

A Brisbane pub is changing its entry policy after a Māori woman took to social media to vent her frustration when she was banned from entry because of her chin tattoo. 

Juanita McNamera, who lives in Ascot in they city’s inner north, said she was denied entry to Irish pub Finn McCools in Fortitude Valley on Saturday night because of her moko kauae.

The tattoos are a birthright for woman Māori culture which passed down through generations to represent family, community and identity.

‘I am a Maori woman with a moko kauae on my chin,’ Ms McNamera said.

‘That is considered a toanga (a treasure, not a tattoo), representing my identity as a Maori woman… And ta moko on my neck, which represents my mother and sister.’

Ms McNamera said she was with friends at a charity event for veterans at Fortitude Valley music hall and was dressed up so they decided to go to the nearby pub afterwards.

She claimed as she was showing her ID, multiple security guards outside the venue refused to allow her to enter saying her tattoos breached their entry policy.

With a large Saturday-night crowd outside the venue, Ms Mcnamera said she felt ‘humiliated’ when she tried to ‘educate’ staff that it was a cultural tattoo but security didn’t budge.

‘The female security guard claimed to be a Māori and called me a racist, because she wouldn’t allow me entry.’

Ms McNamera said multiple security guards outside the venue refused to allow her to enter

Ms McNamera told The Courier Mail a senior person from Hallmark Hospitality, which runs multiple Brisbane and Gold Coast venues including Finn McCools had reached out to her. 

In a statement Finn McCools said it was in the process of changing its entry policy.

‘Finn McCool’s Fortitude Valley is reaching out to Juanita McNamara in order to apologise for her experience at the venue on Saturday night,’ the venue said.

‘Hallmark Hospitality has been reviewing its entry policy following extensive consultation and collaboration with key stakeholders.’ 

‘Hallmark Hospitality is currently in the process of updating the group’s venue entry policy to reflect and endorse the business’ commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all patrons.’

The venue added it would be training staff on the new policy and procedures.

Finn McCools (pictured) said it was reviewing its policies and had reached out to Ms McNamera

Last year, Jadene Kini had a similar experience when was refused entry to the popular Burleigh Pavilion on the Gold Coast, with her friend, NRLW Titans star Madison Bartlett.

Ms Bartlett called her friends experience ‘racism at it’s finest’.

Ms Kini said: ‘Every Māori woman has a birthright for kauae, it’s an identity, it’s who you are and where you come from.’

‘We tried to explain it’s more than just a facial tattoo it’s a cultural tattoo but they didn’t really want to listen,’ Ms Bartlett added.