this post was submitted on 04 Feb 2024
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Top horse trainer Stephen McKee fined $10,000 for racist abuse of Indian stablehand (www.rnz.co.nz)
submitted 9 months ago by Dave to c/newzealand
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In one instance Stephen McKee even told the other man, "It wouldn't matter if an Indian died, there would still be a billion left" after he'd nearly been kicked by a difficult horse.

At the hearing into the allegations against McKee in Auckland last year, he admitted asking staff to speak in English as a matter of safety in a potentially dangerous work environment, including one comment where he said, "I pay you in dollars not rupees" and another comment where he said, "How much do I owe you, $5 or $10, isn't that what you get in India".

However, McKee maintains these comments were all made in jest and in the context of group banter with multiple stablehands present, rather than being targeted racial abuse against Singh.

"We were joking around and making banter. I certainly have not been abusive in speaking to my Indian employees as Mr Singh alleges," McKee told the tribunal.

"I don't have any issues with Indians, their culture nor their work ethic."

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[–] Fizz 1 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I didn't know you should be fined for being racist. Is that an employer only thing or..

[–] Dave 3 points 9 months ago

I get where you're coming from, as we normally see this stuff for discrimination cases. But it seems the tribunal hear cases of racial abuse even without being connected to discrimination. https://www.justice.govt.nz/tribunals/human-rights/

Claims could relate to discrimination, sexual harassment and racial harassment, privacy principles, and the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights.

The tribunal can award compensatory damages for losses suffered. Awards are typically for injury to feelings, humiliation and loss of dignity.

I've found it hard to get info on this, but I would guess the claims could be brought against anyone. However, an employee/employer relationship is much more likely to develop into something this serious. If you get racially abused by a rando in a McDonalds, you probably just won't go there again and so will avoid having ongoing racial abuse from that person.

[–] RedditWanderer@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Itwinder Singh, felt humiliated by what he described as persistent racial abuse and took his claim to the country's foremost human rights court in the country last year.