To celebrate Christmas in 2006* Karen Wilson's husband bought her a very special personalised number plate.
On the same day, her son-in-law proposed to her daughter. So the plate reminds her of a wonderful day, every day.
Many years, and many kilometres later, Wilson has found out that not everyone gets such a happy glow looking at her number plate.
Her name — and her number plate — are the same: Karen. And now an email from Waka Kotahi NZTA has told her that someone, somewhere has complained about it.
Apparently the complaint to NZTA says:
"KAREN is: Offensive. I can't believe this is allowed."
That's what NZTA was passing on, along with a request that Wilson reply within 10 days to advise the intended message of the plate.
This explanation would then go to the Personalised Plate Review Group for their consideration.
That process could take two to three months and could result in Wilson forfeiting her KAREN plate, or having to add an explanatory message to the edge of the plate.
Wilson told Fair Go she is very unhappy that NZTA's complaint system seems to set such a low bar.
"I think the process is ridiculous," she summed up.
"How does it take two or three months to sort it for heaven's sake? I'm not willing to wait that long because it's upsetting me."
In any case, she joked, "It's my name! Why complain in the first place? I hope they're happy."
Wilson said she had to Google the infamous phrase to find out what a Karen is. The viral meme hadn't quite reached her in Te Puke yet.
"Please don't call me a Karen, cause I'm not at all a Karen. It's just a name! It's my name for what, seventy odd years. I can't change that."
PHARMA number plate also draws complaint
Fair Go also chased up another complaint, this time about the plate "PHARMA".
Apparently, that plate might be encouraging drug use, which had not occurred to Dave Ross, who's both a pharmacist and farmer.
Ross had owned his plate for 30 years and said it now sits on a farm vehicle which rarely leaves his property.
NZTA rapidly responded after Fair Go sought an explanation for why the process is triggered by any complaint, serious or frivolous.
It said in both cases it has fast-tracked the process, and called Ross and Wilson to advise their plates will not be cancelled as a result of Fair Go requesting some focus.
NZTA said there isn't a large department working on plate complaints, just a few people who also have other roles, and it is continuing with a review of the entire process.
That may see it raise the bar for what is worth spending its time — and our money — on.
Wilson said she is glad she can keep her plate and now would just like New Zealanders to give her name back, to her and to other people called Karen.
"It's not very nice," she said.
*Story updated 26 March: Karen told us she got the plate in 2009 but was sure she'd had it longer. Turns out she was right and later found out it had been 2006, so 18 years all up!
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