I doubt that the name Eskimo Pie was a New Zealand invention:

Eskimo Pie is a brand name for a chocolate-covered vanilla ice cream bar wrapped in foil, the first such dessert sold in the United States. It is now marketed by Nestlé, owners of Dreyer's of the Western United States, and Edy's of the Eastern United States.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskimo_Pie

Although admittedly I was suspecting a UK origin. I've always known Eskimo Pies, as, well, Eskimo Pies. I've never truncated them to 'Eskimo'.

Re: the reaction, well, guess what, those who are outraged are more likely to rage than those who think "eh." and people don't like being told they're in the wrong.

The lolly is a product of another era. Given how other lollies have changed (spaceman cigarettes, I'm looking at you) or vanished (sniff, snifters) ... I'm surprised that we still have them.