OPINION: On Saturday, one of our national newspapers reported that a 20-year-old law student was turned away from an interview for a holiday job at a jewellery store when she refused to take off her headscarf.

"This is New Zealand," Fatima Mohammadi says the store manager told her.

Happily, higher up the company's food chain, a spokesperson said he was "horrified" that this had happened, apologised and offered a second interview. It was definitely not company policy, he said, to insist that Muslim women employees remove their hijab.

Good for them. And entirely in keeping with New Zealand law. Discrimination against a person on the basis of their religious clothing is in violation of our Human Rights Act 1993.

So the right result, but I keep thinking about those four words – "This is New Zealand" – and what they could possibly mean other than, "We don't like people who look like Muslims".

So here is my entirely imaginary explanation from someone who might have a problem with a woman in a hijab.

"This is New Zealand and we don't wear things on our head here. Covering your hair is weird. It freaks us out. Unless you're a nun. Or if you've got curlers in, or you're cleaning the ceilings. We're also totally on board with it if you're dealing with the fallout (literally) of chemotherapy. But we certainly can't be doing with those full-face veil things.

"They're super-creepy. Unless you're a bride.

"Kiwis just don't do head-coverings, especially not at work. Apart from anyone on a building site, obviously. Also surgical staff and people who work with food. Plus anyone out in the sun around midday. Or riding a bicycle. And people taking showers whose hair is already sufficiently clean. Those are just practical. So, yeah, hats are generally OK.

"Kiwis just don't like it when people dress like they do in non-New Zealand countries.

"Though kilts are good. And saris are pretty. But they're not religious, right? We don't like it when people wear things to work that signify their religious beliefs. Except for little crosses on chains, or saints. They're nice. Or Stars of David. So yeah, a bit of tasteful jewellery is cool. Just not religious hats. Except for Jewish yarmulke, they're fine. Also those pointy priest's things. They're hardly scary at all.

"Mostly, we get uncomfortable when people mask their appearance, or hide their features so we can't see who they really are, or what they're thinking. Though make-up is great. And fake hair colour. And botox. That's compulsory in some workplaces.

"I guess when it comes down to it, it is just the Muslim stuff. You're new here. You still seem weird. No idea how to get over that. Let us know if you think of something. Then maybe we'll feel more comfortable about meeting more of you in our daily lives and getting to know you as actual human people. Meanwhile, lose the scarf. This is New Zealand."

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