A woman was left humiliated after being turned away from a Christchurch club because of her moko.

Danika was visiting friends over the weekend to celebrate a birthday.

She says they went to town and later at night ended up at Calendar Girls.

Danika told Newstalk ZB Christchurch after seeing her moko kauae, a bouncer came up to her and apologetically told her they have a no face tattoos policy.

The woman says it was embarrassing and she felt like she was being treated as a criminal.

She says she has had the traditional tattoo for nearly a year but this is the first time she has experienced something like this.

Danika says it seems unfair to be turned away when she wasn’t hostile or stumbling drunk.

Calendar Girls has been approached for comment.

On a social media post, a Calendar Girls staff member said “part of our license condition from the Christchurch police is we do not let in anyone with facial tattoos.”

The staff member said “I personally believe myself that this breaches people’s personal rights and surprised a lawyer hasn’t challenged them on this.

“There is nothing we can do until such time as it is challenged by someone we must adhere to our license conditions.”

The Calendar Girls staff member has acknowledged the ‘no facial tattoos’ policy breached Section 65 of the Human Rights Act.

The Human Rights Commission says there have been occasions when Māori who wear moko have been refused service because of a ban on tattoos, or a specific ban on facial tattoos.

The Commission’s general advice to proprietors and employers is to use their common sense in identifying moko, rather than seeking to question the authenticity of the moko or the ethnicity of the person with the moko.

It says if you have been refused service or entry to a public place such as a bar or restaurant because you wear moko, or turned away for a job, you can contact the Commission for help on 0800 496 877.