Sacred Genealogy Represented in Ta Moko ─ Maori Tattoo

Ta Moko ─ Maori Tattoo, an art form often misunderstood by those outside the Maori world, is the ritual of carving deep grooves (moko) into the skin of a Maori descendant as a form of personal identification among 2,000 years of whakapapa, or genealogy. The tribal tattoo designs recall family history in story telling patterns.

Ta Moko is a special body art reserved for only Maori people. While other cultures seek to emulate the intricate tattoo pictures, imitation is considered to be a strict insult among Maori people. The unique tattoo designs are honored only when they are admired, and not copied. Practice of the art by non-Maori is an issue of increasing concern to the native culture.

An alternative to this trend to imitate is Kirituhi, a culturally accepted practice of skin are patterned after Ta Moko.

Authentic Ta Moko ─ Maori Tattoo are rendered in permanent body and face markings that leave the skin with grooves, rather than a smooth surface. The tradition stems from eastern Polynesian roots. Initially, before European arrival, moko was a sign of high ranking status, as lower status people went without them.

Receiving moko was an important signifier of passage from childhood to adulthood. Another purpose for applying moko designs was for sexual attraction. Men typically received moko on their face, buttocks, stomachs, calves, and thighs, and women were decorated on their lips, chins, necks, and backs.

The tattoo designs were originally created from uhi, albatross bone crafted chisels, which were struck with a mallet. Pigments made from caterpillars were stored in ornate vessels handed down over generations and buried when not in use.

In the late 19th century, needles replaced the uhi as a quicker method less prone to health risks, changing the feel of Ta Moko ─ Maori Tattoo to smooth. Today, a revival of the uhi means that practiioners do not always use a tattoo machine.

Every moko contains tribal or ancestral messages that pertain to the searer regarding family and tribal structures in relation to social order. Birthright markings and qualification obtained through higher learning are prominent throughout the design.

Ta Moko ─ Maori Tattoo is not strictly art, but also a register of information about the wearer. The design and placement give messages that use symbolism to define identifying information. Admire it, but do not seek to imitate it on your New Zealand vacation. Instead, as a memento of your NZ travel experiences, consider getting some of the many widely available New Zealand gifts.