There has been a huge revival of traditional Maori ta moko and other Maori cultural traditions. Since the cultural revival ta moko designs are becoming more and more what can be considered mainstream. The beauty of Ta Moko is becoming well known around the world and that it is something specifically 'Maori'.
A lot of non-Maori people are getting moko designs on their faces as well as other parts of their body, many of which have improper significance. Robbie Williams and Mike tyson have gotten Maori moko much to the annoyance of many Maoris.
Maori 'ta moko' has been practiced for over a thousand years, and have not only withstood time and but also colonization by Europeans. Maoris are the original inhabitants of New Zealand, known to them as Aotearoa or the land of the long white cloud. Ta moko (literally meaning to strike or tap) was used as a form of identification, rank, genealogy, tribal history, eligibility to marry, and marks of beauty or ferocity.
Ta moko weren't merely tattooed upon their wearers; they were finely chiseled into the skin. The art preceded wood carvings, so accordingly the first of these wood carvings copied moko designs. Ta moko are most recognizably done on the face, although other parts of the body are also marked.
Women were traditionally only allowed to have moko on their lips, around the chin, and sometimes the nostrils. A woman with full blue lips was seen as the "epitome of Maori female beauty." Men, on the other hand, were allowed to have a full facial moko. Those of higher rank, like chiefs and warriors, were usually the only ones who could afford it, but at the same time were the only ones who held a position that made them worthy of getting a moko in the first place.
The choosing of the design was not, however, an easy process. Unlike getting a mundane tattoo now, Maori ta moko took months of approval and planning on the part of the elders and other family members. First the elders decided whether one was worthy of receiving a moko. One of the questions they need answered with an unwavering yes was: "are they committed to wearing their tribal identity on their body for the rest of their life?" Then the design process would begin by taking into account the tribal history, which was the most important component of the moko.
However, the majority of people who are using Moko inspired designs didn’t take the time to learn anything about its origins or significance. It is understandable why some Maori are offended by the use of bits and pieces of their culture. Wouldn't you be upset too if someone copied something uniquely yours without your permission, didn’t know anything about its origin, and didn’t use it in the appropriate manner?
Hopefully, the Maori people will continue their efforts to keep this beautiful and interesting cultural art alive, the rest of the world can come to respect this sacred cultural ritual, and the two can come to an agreement about its use in today’s society.
Process for receiving Ta Moko
The first stage in receiving ta moko is the basic desire. It can take years to reach a decision about when, where on your body and from whom to receive ta moko. After you have been gifted these insights the next step is to get in touch with the ta moko artist. We find this usually happens via the e-mail, from our website www.tahaa.co.nz, over the phone or in person. From here you can start having a conversation about your desires for your ta moko and what you want represented in it, whether it be whakapapa, dreams and aspirations, stories or all of it. We are happy for you to send us your information by e-mail before our initial meeting. However some people prefer to talk in person with the artist.
The mahi/work:
After establishing contact with us and having a korero about what you want your ta moko to represent, the next stage is the design of your piece. This usually takes place after the korero and directly before the application (that is ink going into skin). The design is drawn directly onto the skin in pen before proceeding straight to the application stage. Some people ask that the design be drawn before the scheduled appointment for getting their ta moko. However we prefer this to happen when you come to receive your ta moko as it is easier to determine how a design will work and flow with your natural body shape if we can draw it straight onto the area.
So with your design drawn on in pen, we have a karakia to start the session and then get straight into it.
The costs:
We charge $120 per hour plus a one-off set up cost of $25 ( this is to cover the costs of ink, needles etc). This includes consultation, design and application of your work. Therefore, the price is usually determined depending on the size of the piece (and the body part receiving it), and the detail within. These variables make it difficult to determine the actual cost of the work beforehand, but we can quote ‘ballparks’.
If we have organised to travel to you then we also include this travel time and the cost of gas there and back into the price.
Ta Moko Design
We receive quite a few requests for design of ta moko – as in drawing up of a design only, for another ta moko / tattoo artist to apply to the skin. We appreciate that people respect our work and may not be able to travel to us to receive their ta moko, however, it is our policy to apply all the work we design. This is to do mostly with artist integrity. You cannot trust that someone else will execute your designs as you would have them executed. Therefore, please do not be offended if we turn down your request for a design piece, based on this policy.
Our Ta Moko Studio
We are based in Whitianga in the Coromandel and operate our studio from our home. We are about a two and a half hour trip from Hamilton or Auckland. So although it is a bit of a journey to get here initially, it is worth the trip. Whitianga is a beautiful place for sure.
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