Air New Zealand staff go viral after hilariously trolling "racist" customer on social post

Air New Zealand staff have gone viral after they trolled a customer on social media who made "racist" remarks.

Taking to Facebook, a customer asked the airline when the refurbished domestic Air New Zealand Koru Lounge in Wellington would reopen, but their innocent reply did not amuse her.

"Kia ora Margaret, our team are working hard to finish our amazing lounge for customers. We hope to have more information regarding this shortly. ^ FC."

However, the customer clearly took offence to the airline's traditional greeting and replied: "Hello FC (I'm not maori), any likelihood it will be open by mid-December?"

"We do not expect this lounge to be re-opened within 2019. However, taihoa koe ka kite all the amazing improvements we have made, FC."

The customer re-iterated that she was not Māori and asked for the English translation for the words in the post.

This promoted another commenter to reply with a link to a Māori dictionary before another Air New Zealand Facebook admin wrote: "We've done a bit of digging for you, Margaret and it looks like the lounge will be open just before Kirihimete! We can't wait to open the doors again, then you'll get to see all the amazing improvements we've made. ^ SM."

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However, that was still not an acceptable response for Margaret, who clapped back saying: "That would be xmas. A festival that was not part of the maori calendar. I'm pleased they have a (corrupted) english word for it."

The Facebook post has since been taken down, but not before it had been screenshotted and shared around on social media.

Many have praised the airline's "professional shade" and slammed the customer's attitude as "racist".

One follower commented: "Air New Zealand, after the way you handled this I'm not angry about your new check-in rules for domestic flights anymore and all is forgiven. Kai pai!"

While another said" "That's funny as, best response Air NZ, mad respect".