Tā Moko

Tā moko is the name of the traditional body and face markings worn by the Maori people. Historically, it was a little different from Western tattooing, and moko were originally made by dragging chisels across the skin, leaving deep, permanently inked grooves filled with pigments from burnt timber and caterpillars. Women often wore chin moko, and men had their entire faces marked. In the past couple of decades moko have become popular again here in New Zealand. As Maori began to re-identify with their cultural traditions, they choose to wear the markings of their ancestors. It's a very brave way of paying homage to tradition. There are a few women in town with beautiful dark-green moko on their chins. I sometimes see them doing their shopping on the main street. And there's a guy here in town whom I see everywhere: At the farmers' market, in the pub, at the grocery store, in the street, at festivals. I'm not sure if I see him everywhere because he is everywhere, or if I see him everywhere because someone with facial tattoos is just conspicuous in a crowd. Either way, the moko is a wonderful living way of keeping tradition alive.