Hardware store Mitre 10 has apologised after a staffer threatened to mow down cyclists and made other disparaging comments about riders on their personal Facebook page.
A cycling group on Facebook collected a range of screenshots showing the employee expressing a dislike for cyclists on social media.
The worker liked a comment that said it was "perfectly legal" for drivers to "quickly mow down an aggressive cyclist or pedestrian", as long as they were "on and off the footpath within 10 seconds".
Another screenshot shows the staffer sharing a Facebook event for an upcoming Liberate The Lane event, where disgruntled drivers say they will "reclaim" cycle lanes since those on bikes "think it's OK to block traffic on a state highway". The event appears to be in retaliation to the first Liberate The Lane rally last week, where thousands of fed-up cyclists stormed across the Auckland Harbour Bridge, frustrated by the lack of a cycle crossing.
In sharing the post for the upcoming event, the employee says: "I'll be polishing my bull bars for this!"
Commenters on the post appear to egg the worker on. One said: "Bring the truck around here when you're done … and I'll wash any blood or evidence away for you." Another warns them of sharing such posts, saying: "Be sure to delete these posts - the two-wheel lawbreakers might use them as evidence of intent."
A third asks: "Does Mitre 10 sell tacks? Asking for a friend." The employee replies they do and "I get a discount".
On Sunday, Mitre 10 made a public apology after it learned of the worker's comments. It says the person has apologised and the company has required them to remove all posts on the topic from their profile.
"We are disappointed that they have caused offence to the cycling community and we absolutely do not share their views. To be clear, Mitre 10 does not tolerate bullying, racism or any other discriminatory behaviour," they say.
"Thank you to the members of the public and our team who have brought this to our attention. We take this situation very seriously and we are taking all steps to resolve this appropriately."
One person from the cycling group which unearthed the employee's comments contacted Mitre 10 on Facebook messenger. The company said they agreed the post was in "poor taste" and the worker is "extremely embarrassed". They also directly shared an apology from the staff member, who said: "On reflection the post I made was not appropriate, I genuinely apologise for any distress that my comments have caused."
Cycling advocates were furious with the employee's comments.
"Super disappointing views particularly given some of the fatalities in Auckland in recent months," one says.
"Company management across the country should take this opportunity to tell their staff that a hostile attitude to members of the public is unacceptable," another says.
But some believe Mitre 10 didn't need to step in and reprimand the worker.
"What someone expresses on their private page is their right. Mitre 10 is not the public sector or in the public domain, it's a private enterprise. You really shouldn't have gotten involved," one commented on Mitre 10's apology.
"How is this anything to do with where the staff member works? Everyone is entitled to their opinions. I hope they don't have any further repercussions from it," another said.
"Supporting the criminal act of those cyclists going across the Harbour Bridge is not a good look, you just lost my business! The staff member is free to his/her own feelings thoughts and political views," a third wrote.
