For many this decision is made in the context of whānau, hapū or iwi, for others it is a decision made in line with our fundamental right to wear the symbols of our ancestors. In whatever process Māori women are engaged in, it is our right to wear moko kauae and it always has been.
Tā moko for men and women
As māori believe the head is the most sacred part of the body, facial tattoos have special significance. Moko kauae - are received by women on their lips and chin. A moko kauae represents a woman's whānau and leadership within her community, recognising her whakapapa, status, and abilities.
In pre-European Māori culture, many if not most high-ranking persons received moko. Moko were associated with mana and high social status; however, some very high-status individuals were considered too tapu to acquire moko, and it was also not considered suitable for some tohunga to do so.
A moko can only be done by a Māori for a Māori. No respected Tā Moko artist (called Tohunga Tā Moko) would do one on a non-Māori, since it is strictly reserved for people with Māori whakapapa (genealogy). Māori-style tattoos, on the other hand, are considered a different art form and are referred to as Kirituhi.
For New Zealand Māori women, the moko kauae, or traditional female chin tattoo, is considered a physical manifestation of their true identity. It is believed every Māori woman wears a moko on the inside, close to their heart; when they are ready, the tattoo artist simply brings it out to the surface.
The term moko traditionally applied to male facial tattooing, while kauae referred to moko on the chins of women. There were other specific terms for tattooing on other parts of the body. Eventually 'moko' came to be used for Māori tattooing in general.
Men generally received moko on their faces, buttocks (raperape) and thighs (puhoro). Women usually wore moko on their lips (kauwae) 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.
I use the word 'privilege' deliberately as it reminds us that any Pākehā women seeking to or wearing moko kauae do not do so as a right, they do so as a privilege. Moko kauae is the right of Māori women.
The term moko traditionally applied to male facial tattooing, while kauae referred to moko on the chins of women. There were other specific terms for tattooing on other parts of the body. Eventually 'moko' came to be used for Māori tattooing in general.
The 3 lines tattooed on the chin is a common sight in many cultures. In some societies, the lines represent the three stages of a woman's life: maiden, mother, and crone. In others, the lines stand for the three elements of nature: earth, air, and water.
Maori tattoo and social status
Only people of rank or status were allowed to have, and could afford to have, tattoos. A person who did not have any high-ranking social status, such as a slave, could not have a face tattoo.
Yeah, anyone can get a tattoo of any design they like pretty much. Whether or not it will really be a true tā moko depends on how the wearer relates to, or lives, their wairua, their whakapapa, their self-view in relation to where and what they have come from.
Mataora & Kauae are reservedly for those of Maori descent only. To wear the markings of your ancestors proudly, it is necessary to also understand the history of these markings.
The costs: We charge $150 per hour. This includes consultation, design and application of your work.
Mana Wahine: The Female Moko in Māori Culture.
The designs of Maori male facial tattooing commonly known as Moko, are also referred to as Mataora Moko. Mataora is the Mythical figure attributed with venturing into Rarohenga (the Underworld), bringing back with him knowledge of tattooing.
Why are moko so important to Maori? Moko are carved into the skin using chisels. They are a sacred tradition, denoting a person's links with their family and cultural identity.
Known as a 'war challenge' or 'war cry' in Māori culture, the haka was traditionally performed by men before going to war. The aggressive facial expressions were meant to scare the opponents, while the cry itself was to lift their own morale and call on God for help to win.
Many individuals identify as both Māori and Pākehā (New Zealand European). However, there are varying extents to which these individuals possess characteristics thought to underpin Māori identity, such as knowledge of whakapapa (genealogy), tikanga (customs), or te reo Māori (the Māori language).
If you have Māori blood, and you are proud of your culture and identify as Māori, then who cares what colour your skin is? For example, I have blond hair, blue eyes and pale skin, but I identify strongly with my Māori culture. So yes, you are still Māori if you are white.
This permits students to wear greenstone or bone carvings as part of its "Treaty of Waitangi obligations". But it does not allow any other necklaces except the Christian cross and the Jewish star of David, and they must be kept out of sight on a long chain.
Although Moana is from the fictional island Motunui some 3,000 years ago, the story and culture of Moana is based on the very real heritage and history of Polynesian islands such as Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, and Tahiti. In fact, once you start looking for ties to Polynesian culture in Moana, it's hard to stop!
1. (noun) grandchild - a term of address used by an older person for a grandchild or a young child.
Cultural suppression
New Zealand was colonised in 1840 and a suppression act in 1907 outlawed the teaching and practice of Maori culture. For generations, ta moko was scarce.