A former Napier woman living with her family in Australia says a recent visit back will be the last for some time, and they would be unlikely to return to live after being racially abused. "Racism is alive and well in Napier," Elizabeth Webber said as she and her husband and two children prepared to fly back to their home in Coomera on the Gold Coast. They had returned to visit her husband's family and she had caught up with friends, and on Saturday, the day before they were due to fly out, they had been driving along Hastings St and slowed down for the paved speed bump and stop sign at the intersection with Vautier St. Mrs Webber said the speed bumps were confusing as some people treated them as pedestrian crossings where they believed they had right of crossing before a motor vehicle, but she agreed that out of courtesy if someone was crossing a car should allow him or her to. "On the approach we noticed no one walking across or approaching the speed hump so we proceeded to go over and wait behind the car in front of us." She said the back end of their car was on the speed hump for no more than 10 to 15 seconds at the most. "In that time an elderly man, about 75 to 85, was approaching and then started to walk across the speed hump. As he got closer to our car window, he said loud enough for all of us to hear, 'Bloody Maoris'." Mrs Webber said she was angry, embarrassed, and felt humiliated - but was especially upset because her 11-year-old son was also in the car and heard what the man said. That was not cool. One should never say those things to anyone. I am for the most part relieved that my niece (pictured) wasn't within earshot of that bellend.
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