Dad shocked after being told to leave parents' changing room in Westfield Mall

Josh Anderson and his daughter Vienna.
Josh Anderson and his daughter Vienna. Photo credit: Supplied

An Auckland dad was left shocked after being shouted at by a woman who told him to leave the parents' changing rooms with his baby daughter.

Josh Anderson took his five-month-old daughter Vienna to the parents' room in Westfield Manukau City on Saturday when he was told the changing rooms were just for women.

"I took my daughter to the parents' bathroom so I could use the loo. When I was in there, a lady and her son were knocking on the door," he told Newshub.

"I opened the door and the lady looked shocked I was in there and abused me for using it."

"She said these facilities are for women only and her proof was that the sign had a woman on it, and not a man."

The woman told him to take his five-month-old to the men's bathroom and Anderson responded by saying these facilities are for all parents and caregivers.

"I said to her 'if it's only for a woman, what if you had a son like you do right now?'"

Anderson told Newshub he felt "pissed off" but knew he was in the right.

"I told my wife and she lost it," he said. 

"Men should feel welcome in there. I see lots of dads in there changing and feeding their kids. It should be normal like a mum feeding a child in public.

"It's not a just mother's job to look after our kids - its a parent's job."

Westfield says its parents' rooms are for all parents, carers and guardians.