AOTEAROA DISCOVERING NEW ZEALAND

Maori Tattoos Tā moko

A HISTORY

Tā m oko is the permanent body and face marking by Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. Traditionally it is distinct from tattoo and tatau in that the skin was carved by uhi (chisels) rather than punctured. This left the skin with grooves, rather than a smooth surface.

Captain Cook wrote in 1769:

The marks in general are spirals drawn with great nicety and even elegance. One side corresponds with the other. The marks on the body resemble foliage in old chased ornaments, convolutions of filigree work, but in these they have such a luxury of forms that of a hundred which at first appeared exactly the same no two were formed alike on close examination.

The tattooists were considered tapu, or exceptionally inviolable and sacred.

The history of Maori tattoos goes back many centuries and is a part of a very rich legacy. These tattoos are different not only by their design but they also have deep rooted meanings to which the Maoris attribute a major significance’

A Background

Tattoo arts are common in the Eastern Polynesian homeland of Māori, and the traditional implements and methods employed were similar to those used in other parts of Polynesia. In pre-European Māori culture, many if not most high-ranking persons received moko, and those who went without them were seen as persons of lower social status. Receiving moko constituted an important milestone between childhood and adulthood, and was accompanied by many rites and rituals. Apart from signalling status and rank, another reason for the practice in traditional times was to make a person more attractive to the opposite sex. Men generally received moko on their faces, buttocks (called raperape) and thighs (called puhoro). Women usually wore moko on their lips (kauae) and chins. Other parts of the body known to have moko include women’s foreheads, buttocks, thighs, necks and backs and men’s backs, stomachs, and calves.

Instruments Used

Originally tohunga-tā-moko (moko specialists) used a range of uhi (chisels) made from albatross bone which were hafted onto a handle, and struck with a mallet. The pigments were made from the awheto for the body colour, and ngarehu (burnt timbers) for the blacker face colour. The soot from burnt kauri gum was also mixed with fat to make pigment. The pigment was stored in ornate vessels named oko, which were often buried when not in use. The oko were handed on to successive generations. Men were predominantly the tā moko specialists, although King records a number of women during the early 20th century who also took up the practice. There is also a remarkable account of a woman prisoner-of-war in the 1830s who was seen putting moko on the entire back of the wife of a chief.

In the late 19th century needles came to replace the uhi as the main tools. This was a quicker method, less prone to possible health risks, but the feel of the tā moko changed to smooth. Tā moko on men stopped around the 1860s in line with changing fashion and acceptance by Pākehā (white New Zealanders).

Women continued receiving moko through the early 20th century^[5] with Michael King in the early 1970s interviewing over 70 elderly women who had been given the moko.^[6] Women were traditionally only tattooed on their lips, around the chin, and sometimes the nostrils.^[7]

Tā moko today

Since 1990 there has been a resurgence in the practice of tā moko for both men and women, as a sign of cultural identity and a reflection of the general revival of the language and culture. Most tā moko applied today is done using a tattoo machine, but there has also been a revival of the use of uhi (chisels). Women too have become more involved as practitioners, such as Christine Harvey of the Chathams, Henriata Nicholas in Rotorua and Julie Kipa in Whakatane.

Use by non-Māori

Starting with Moehanga in 1805  then Hongi Hika and Te Pehi Kupe,  and followed by several Pākehā Māori such as Barnet Burns.  Europeans were introduced to the form early, but until relatively recently the art had little global impact. However, in recent years several high-profile uses of Māori designs by celebrities such as Robbie Williams, Ben Harper, Mike Tyson, and a 2007 Jean Paul Gaultier fashion show were controversial. True moko is not taken lightly, and is considered to be sacred; Misappropriation by non-Māori is seen as a grave offence. It is highly recommended to research the history and meanings of the Maori as well as their traditions and feelings, prior to tattooing.

Maori Tattoo Elements

Most Maori tattoos are based mainly on a few basic designs. Almost all of them contain sacred elements. It is recommended to avoid designs that incorporate the sacred symbols, then there is little chance that your tattoos will offend. It would be considered of bad taste to get such tattoos done simply for the sake of appearances and used for decorative purposes. Remember that each line in a Maori tattoo has to be precise. By being precise it tells its own story and its special significance and meaning.

This article has been partially referenced and edited from Wikipedia.

Mana Mana Maori Ceramic Tiki Mug Here is “Mana Mana” by Scottish artist Atomic Tony Tiki. This Maori style ceramic tiki mug comes in a beautiful stone blue glaze, no two of which are alike. He holds about 13 ounces and measures 6-3/4″ tall. There is a smooth area on the back that is perfect, should you want a screen printer to customize it for you….

Maori King Photo Mugs The Maori King, Tawhiao, with an intricate tattoo design on his face. ….

The Piano $13.00 Jane Campion’s “The Piano” struck a deep chord (if you’ll excuse the expression) with audiences in 1993, who were mesmerized by the film’s rich, dreamlike imagery. It is the story of a Scottish woman named Ada (Holly Hunter), who has been mute since age 6 because she simply chose not to speak. Ada travels with her daughter Flora (Anna Paquin) and her beloved piano to a remote spot on the coast of …

Kiri Wai: Inner Skin $14.99 Kiri Wai, Inner Skin is the story of Bruce, a young European-American who undertakes a journey to the South Pacific. He is on an identity quest that began in his adolescence when Inia Taylor (Maori tattoo artist, sculptor, and makeup artist for “Once Were Warriors”) began a moko on Bruce’s skin. Over the course of his quest, Bruce seeks answers to questions about the moko. In the process, he delve…

Book of Polynesian Maori Tattoos – Italy Tattoo Book for Various Maori Style Designs- $19.54 Book of Polynesian Maori Tattoos – Italy Tattoo Book for Various Maori Style DesignsPaper Back book imported from ItalyUse this as a reference guide, leave it out on the shop floor for your customers.Polynesian and Pacific Island designs.Maori Tattoo brings together more than 250 Polynesian and Maori style designs, first published in Tattoo Ideas, with some of the most amazing suggestions for tatt…