Ta Moko
Ta Moko tattooing was originated by the Maori people of New Zealand. The primary tattoo studio in New Zealand that specializes in Ta Moko, Zealand Tattoo, explains "Since the Maori people consider the head to be the most sacred part of the body, the most popular kind of Maori tattoo was the facial tattoo, which was composed of curved shapes and spiral like patterns. Often this tattoo covered the whole face and was a symbol of rank, social status, power and prestige" (Zealand Tattoo, 2020). Though the practice lost popularity for a few decades due to assimilation and discrimination, it is coming back in what some would consider a cultural Renaissance sparked by the younger generation of Maori.
History
Ta Moko tattoos were started and worn by Pacific Islanders for many reasons, "Ta Moko had many functions: it was worn to fascinate, terrify, seduce, overcome, beguile, by the skin; it was carried to record, imprint, acknowledge, remember, honor immortalize in the flesh, in the skin; it was also affected to beautify, transform, enhance, mutate, extend the flesh, the skin, and the soul itself" (Awekotuku 2002, 1). Once the British arrived in New Zealand, they quickly began to romanticize the facial markings of the Maori. However, after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi which was meant to bring the Maori and the British Settlers closer together, the British changed their tune. They began breaching the treaty and exuding typical colonizer behavior, which lead to the Ta Moko tattoos of the Maori becoming a representation of their resistance to the settlers.
Ta Moko of Today
Traditional Ta Moko did not use the typical needles and machines that we are used to, but instead used chisels and other tools to place ink into the face. However, artists have adopted modern methods and now typically use needles. The practice somewhat lost popularity as many Maori grew afraid of discrimination for having Ta Moko. However, the newer generation of Maori are bringing the practice back after some protections have been put in place to prevent discrimination. As seen in the photo on the far right, Oriini Kaipara recently became the first Maori woman to be the host of a televised primetime news segment. When asked why she decided to not cover her tattoo, she said "“There is a kōrero [conversation] amongst the practitioners and receivers of moko kanohi; that we – Māori – are all born with our moko hidden beneath the veil that is our skin. It is up to the individual to decide whether or not they want their moko to be revealed to the world of light. Nonetheless, it exists. It is there” (McClure, 2022).
