Measles cartoon

Dunedin's Samoan community leaders meet with editor over measles cartoon

They said they were pleased the Otago Daily Times acknowledged the racism of the cartoon - but ODT editor Barry Stewart said he stopped short of that.

Mr Stewart and the paper's chief executive Grant McKenzie met on Thursday morning with members of Dunedin's Samoan community to start the healing process after the hurt caused by Garrick Tremain's piece.

Members said the acknowledgement of racism by the paper allowed them to start moving forward with ifoga, forgiveness and healing.

Controversial Otago Daily Times cartoon: 'We got it wrong'

About 40 people gathered outside the Otago Daily Times office yesterday to protest at the the cartoon and Mr Tremain's ongoing employment by the newspaper.

The newspaper on Tuesday apologised for the insensitive content and timing of the cartoon and in today's front page editorial said the paper had got it wrong.

Editor Barry Stewart said the cartoon was "clearly significantly more than crass and insensitive. It was deeply offensive and it continues to cause significant distress.

Cartoonist not sorry for measles cartoon labelled as racist

Garrick Tremain's cartoon for the Otago Daily Times sparked an immediate backlash online - being labelled racist, heartless and insensitive.

The newspaper apologised for publishing the cartoon which it said was a deeply regrettable error in judgement. "The content and the timing of the cartoon were insensitive," Otago Daily Times editor Barry Stewart wrote.

It shows two people walking out of a travel agent and one remarking that the least popular spots right now are the ones people are picking up in Samoa.