The Origins of Maori Society

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Maori society flourished from voyagers who traversed the Pacific using large canoes. These groups were led by their ancestral knowledge, including skills like how to read the signs of the natural world, such as the stars and the currents. The polynesian people first populated Aotearoa around 1250 AD. From then onwards these communities established their own iwi and hapu (tribes and sub-tribes.

Whilst each community developed their own customs, traditions, and distinctive ways of life, Maori culture upholds a strong kinship with the natural world, fostering a deeply spiritual approach to life. 

Long before European colonisation, Māori communities had customs and traditions which expressed their shared values and way of life. Many long-standing traditions and art forms are still upheld, such as ta moko (tattoos), haka (performance), and whakairo (carving). All of which are ways of telling a story, representing values and personal meanings.

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What is Maori tattoo art?

The Maori are indigenous people that originated in New Zealand. They have a form of body art, known as moko but more commonly referred to as Maori tattooing. The art form was brought to the Maori from Polynesia and is considered highly sacred.

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.

For Maori, tattooing was (and for some, still is) a rite of passage, which meant it was highly revered and ritualised. The tattooing would begin usually during adolescence.

The great thing about Maori tattoos is that to this day, no two tattoos are alike. Maori tattoos are one of a kind. They are always highly intricate and detailed and display the craftsmanship and artistry of not only the artist but of the Maori culture.

The Maori tattoo artist is called the tohunga ta moko which means moko specialist. These tattooists are highly respected, and considered tapu which means inviolable or holy. Tohunga ta moko were mostly men, but there are a few women who take up the practice.

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How did Maori tattoo art become popular?

The art of Maori tattoo was brought to New Zealand by the people of Eastern Polynesia in 1769 Captain James Cook. The word tattow itself was pegged as Cook’s adaptation of the native Tahitian word tautau. Captain Cook and Joseph Banks first saw the intricate tattoos of Maori tribesmen during their voyage to the South Pacific, and became fascinated and intrigued by it.

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European explorers in New Zealand were very interested in the art of Maori tattooing and culture. Often Maori would take the tattooed heads of their enemies as trophies during war and kept them in ornate boxes as symbols of power, conquest and protections. Because Europeans made regular contact with Maori tribes, a group of missionaries later decided to study Maori and try to convert them to the ideals of Christianity. In 1814, taking with them a chief by the name of Hongi, the Europeans sailed back to England.

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While Hongi was there he worked with an Oxford University professor to write a bilingual dictionary and translate the Bible into Maori language. He was granted an audience with King George IV and was presented with trunk loads of gifts as a reward for his evangelical efforts.

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Hongi exchanged his gifts for a number of muskets and an ample supply of ammunition on the way home, in Sydney. Upon his return to New Zealand, he used the weapons to launch a series of raids against enemy tribes. The Maori later discovered that Europeans would actually trade tattooed Maori heads for weapons.

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Soon, the Maori people would actually raid neighbouring tribes for the sole purpose of obtaining tattooed heads, which could be traded for guns and more ammunition. The traders then sold the heads to museums and private collectors in areas of Europe.

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Desperate to obtain as many weapons as possible, the Maori would behead slaves and commoners who were captured in battle and tattoo their heads post mortem. Often, even heads of poor quality or those with unfinished tattoos were still offered for sale.

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One of the most noted collectors of tattooed heads was Major General Horatio Robley, who in his lifetime acquired some 35 tattooed heads. Today, 30 out of the 35 heads in his collection can be found in the Natural History Museum of New York. Major General Robley also published a book; entitled Moko which gave extensive details on the process and meaning of Maori tattoo designs.

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Ta Moko, Kirituhi, and Tattoos

The distinction between Ta Moko, Kirituhi, and Tattoos is significant.

Ta moko is an important cultural practice that visually signifies someone's whakapa (genealogy), identity, and status within Māori society. Kirituhi, on the other hand, (kiri meaning skin and tui meaning art) is a Maori-inspired design which does not include someone's heritage and is culturally appropriate for pakeha (someone of European descent). 

Pakeha cannot receive ta moko simply because it requires Maori recognition and the conferral of cultural status - something that cannot be authentically given outside of that context. 

Here at Zealand Tattoo we offer custom Kirituhi. We do not offer ta moko, including moko kanohi or moko kauae (facial ta moko).

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Maori tattoo is very complex

Maori tattoo traditionally does not involve the use of needles; rather the Maori used knives and chisels made from shark teeth, sharpened bone or sharp stones. The chisel, also called the uhi, was made from albatross bon although some were said to be made of iron.

Knives and chisels were either plain and smooth or serrated, and these were used interchangeably depending on the intended pattern or design in the Maori tattoo traditionally does not involve the use of needles; rather the Maori used knives and chisels made from shark teeth, sharpened bone or sharp stones. The chisel, also called the uhi, was made from albatross bon although some were said to be made of iron. Knives and chisels were either plain and smooth or serrated, and these were used interchangeably depending on the intended pattern or design in the skin.

The inks that were used by Maori were made from all natural products. Burnt wood was used to create black pigments; while lighter pigments were derived from caterpillars infected with a certain type of fungus, or from burnt kauri gum mixed with animal fat. The pigments were then stored in ornate containers called oko, which became family heirlooms. Oko were often buried when not in use.

The black pigment that was made from burnt wood was reserved solely for facial tattoos; while those made from bugs or burnt gum was used for outlines and other less revered tattoos. Before the beginning the tohunga ta moko would study the persons facial structure to decide on the most appealing design. As mentioned before, no two Maori tattoos are alike.

Maori tattoo can be very painful

Having a Maori tattoo applied was a very painful experience. First deep cuts were incised into the skin and then the chisel was dipped into the pigment and tapped into the cuts. Another variation on this process involved dipping the chisel into the jar of pigment and inserting it into the skin by striking the end with a mallet. This manner of tattooing leaves the skin with grooves after healing, instead of the usual smooth surface left after needlepoint tattoos.

Maori tattoo was once a long and labour intensive process, because it was very painful only a few parts of the body were tattooed at a time to allow healing. There are two designs for the Maori tattoos – the normal design only involved the blackening of the lines whilst the second called for blackening the background and leaving the lines clear – this was called puhoro.

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Maori tattoo is very sacred

Due to the sacred nature of the Maori tattoo, those who were undergoing the process, and those involved in the process, could not eat with their hands or talk to anyone aside from the other people being tattooed. Those who were receiving tattoos made it a point to not cry out in pain, because to do so was a sign of weakness. Being able to withstand the pain was very important in terms of pride for Maori people.

There were other rules and regulations around being tattooed, particularly while undergoing a facial work. Many Maori had to abstain from sexual intimacy while undergoing the rite, and had to avoid all solid foods. In order to meet these requirements, the person was fed from a wooden funnel to prevent foodstuffs from contaminating the swollen skin. A person would be fed in this manner until the facial wounds had fully healed.

Because the face was often bleeding and very swollen, the leaves of the karaka tree were often used as a balm that was applied after the session had finished, to hasten the healing process. The tattooing was often accompanied by music, singing and chanting to help soothe the pain.

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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. Those who had the means to get a tattoo but did not were seen as people of lower social status.

The Maori facial tattoo was not only seen as a sign of rank though, but was also used as a kind of identification card. For men, their face tattoo showed their accomplishments, status, position, ancestry and marital status. It is considered highly insulting to be unable to recognise a person’s power and position by his moko.
The male facial moko or tattoo is generally divided into eight sections of the face:

• The centre of the forehead called the ngakaipikirau, designated a person’s general rank
• The area under the brows, called ngunga, designated his position
• The area around his eyes and nose, uirere, designated his hapu, or sub-tribe rank
• The area around the temples, uma, served to detail his marital status, like the number of marriages he had
• The area under the nose, raurau, displayed the man’s signature that was once memorised by tribal chiefs who used it when buying property, signing deeds and officiating orders
• The cheek area, or taiohou, showed the nature of the person’s work
• The chin area, wairua, showed the person’s mana or prestige
• Lastly, the jaw area or taitoto designated a person’s birth status

It can also be noted that a person’s ancestry is indicated on each side of the face. The left side is generally the father’s side and the right side the mother’s. Noble or note-worthy descent was a primary requirement before a moko was undertaken.

If one side of a person’s ancestry was not of rank, the corresponding side of the face would not have any design tattooed on it. And if the person undertaking the moko has no rank, or is not heir to anything of note then the centre of the forehead would be left without design.

Maori tattoo as art

By the mid 19th century, full facial moko for men declined in terms of frequency, but for women they persisted throughout the 20th century. Since the 1990s, Maori tattooing has experienced resurgence, often being done with the use of modern machines.

Since tribal-patterns of tattoo grew in popularity in the late 1990s, early 2000s, more and more non-Maori are copying designs and incorporating in their own art. Since then, more traditional Maori art has made a comeback and people are inserting their own meanings and themes into the more traditional art work.

Most of these modern Maori tattoos use needle-based machines, rather than the traditional tools and methods mentioned above.

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Maori tattooing and tradition lives on

The Maori people have revived the old methods of tattooing in an effort to preserve their cultural heritage. Both men and women have now become involved in the traditional practice. The art organisation known as Te Uhi a Mataora was recently established by traditional Maori practitioners.

Te Uhi a Mataora envision the retention and further development of ta moko as a living art form. Their main concern is the growing practice of ta moko by non-Maori people. They strive to propagate the art form by reviving old traditions and preserving old methods and designs. They also inform others that Maori tattooing is a cultural symbol, and should not be taken lightly.

If you are a non-Maori who admires Maori artwork and tattooing and wants to have one done it is advisable to seek out a Maori tattoo artist with sufficient knowledge of ta moko. We have extensively experienced Maori artists here at Zealand Tattoo who are able to design you a custom, yet traditional, Maori design that is respectful and in honour of traditional Maori.

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Why It’s Difficult to Know the Exact Meanings of Maori Designs

As explored, Maori designs, no matter the medium, are rich in symbolism. However, understanding the specific meanings can be challenging for numerous reasons. One of which is that Maori culture is deeply rooted in oral tradition. Knowledge was often passed down through song, storytelling, and spoken word. There are very few written records. 

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Moreover, the colonisation of Aotearoa had a profound impact on the preservation of cultural practices. A lot of the written records that would have existed would have been destroyed by European settlers who wanted to do away with Maori culture, believing it to be inferior to Western European values. Many traditional practices, including ta moko, were suppressed, communities were displaced and a great deal of language and history were lost. 

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Another challenge in understanding Maori symbolism is that the designs hold a personal and ancestral significance. Ta moko represent a person’s whakapapa, achievements, and social status. The ways in which these were represented in the designs were often only the knowledge of the wearer, the artist and the iwi, making these designs difficult for outsiders to interpret. Without the relevant cultural context it’s difficult to full grasp the meanings of these designs.

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Nonetheless, given the resurgence in the popularity of all tribal styles including Maori design, there is now a lot of information being excavated from various sources. As a specialised tattoo studio, our artists have spent years studying Maori design.

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Whilst we acknowledge that certain sacred and genealogical symbols remain out of reach for non-maori folks, we carefully incorporate culturally appropriate motifs in a stylistic and meaningful way. We are passionate about helping our clients to express their life journeys and values through beautifully considered and appreciative custom designs. 

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What is Maori tattoo art?

The Maori are indigenous people that originated in New Zealand. They have a form of body art, known as moko but more commonly referred to as Maori tattooing. The art form was brought to the Maori from Polynesia and is considered highly sacred.

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Ngapuhi Maori elder Kingi Taurua’s traditional facial tattoo (Photo: AFP)

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.
For Maori, tattooing was (and for some, still is) a rite of passage, which meant it was highly revered and ritualised. The tattooing would begin usually during adolescence.
The great thing about Maori tattoos is that to this day, no two tattoos are alike. Maori tattoos are one of a kind. They are always highly intricate and detailed and display the craftsmanship and artistry of not only the artist but of the Maori culture.
The Maori tattoo artist is called the tohunga ta moko which means moko specialist. These tattooists are highly respected, and considered tapu which means inviolable or holy. Tohunga ta moko were mostly men, but there are a few women who take up the practice.

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Visual Elements of Maori Design

Maori designs are made up of a set of key visual motifs, all of which have their own meaning.

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One of the central motifs is the Manawa line. This is the flowing line which is often created out of negative space. It almost looks like a skin river throughout the design. Manawa translates to heart or breath of life. This powerful central element represents you, your life journey, your path. 

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Another element, which often shoots off from the manawa line, is the Koru which translates as loop or coil. This design is a spiral-like motif that is inspired by the unfurling frond of the silver fern. These can be used to represent new life, new beginnings, new growth. One of our artists favourote ways to use them is to represent members of your friends or family. For example, you might have a manawa line with 5 korus shooting from the left to represent the 5 family members on your mother's side, and 3 korus on the right to represent the family on your father’s side. Korus can also be used to represent creation, given its smooth circular motion, which is a powerful symbol of this  

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Infill Patterns and Their Meanings

Pakati:

Pakati refers to both the action of notching or incising and the notch or incision itself. Pakati often appears in carving as a series of triangular notches arranged in rows, overlapping parallel lines known as Haehae. This pattern traditionally represents qualities such as strength, bravery, and a warrior-like spirit.

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Hikuaua:

Hikuaua is another pattern often seen in Maori carving. It often symbolises prosperity and is associated with the Taranaki region of New Zealand. This design looks like the tail of a herring or mackerel.

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‍Unaunahi:

Unaunahi is known as fish scales in the Araw tradition and ritorito, the young shoots of a flax plant, in the The mythological manaia is known as a spiritual guardian, and carrier of supernatural powers. It acts as a messenger between the spirit realm and the physical world. Traditionally depicted as a bird-like figure with the head of a bird, body of a man, and the tail of a fish, it acts as a provider and protector over the sky, earth and sea. They can be used to represent lost loved ones. Likened to a bird sitting on your shoulder, looking after ones spirit, and guiding the spirit where it is supposed to go when the time comes.

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‍Ahu ahu mataroa:

The ahu ahu mataroa pattern is often used in the context of athleticism, sports, or any similar skillful endeavours. This design represents success, talent, and achievement.

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‍Taratarekae:

This design is inspired by whale teeth featuring two parallel lines with small inward facing triangles. The pattern represents both strength and sensitivity. This juxtaposition reflects the balance between power and gentleness in Maori tradition.

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Manaia:

The mythological manaia is known as a spiritual guardian, and carrier of supernatural powers. It acts as a messenger between the spirit realm and the physical world. Traditionally depicted as a bird-like figure with the head of a bird, body of a man, and the tail of a fish, it acts as a provider and protector over the sky, earth and sea. They can be used to represent lost loved ones. Likened to a bird sitting on your shoulder, looking after ones spirit, and guiding the spirit where it is supposed to go when the time comes.

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Hei tiki:

Hei tiki are commonly thought of as good luck charms however, they carry a deeper meaning. Tiki, the first man in Maori mythology, is a powerful connector to one’s ancestors. Hei tiki, when worn as pendants, are believed to harness fertility, wisdom and protection. They represent the unborn human embryo, symbolising new life and continuity. 

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Common Stand-Alone Maori designs

Koru (spiral):

The koru depicts new beginnings, growth and harmony, taken from the symbolism of an unfurled fern leaf. New Zealand has some of the most beautiful ferns in the world.

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Hei matau (fish hook):

The Maori symbols or meaning or hei matau, more commonly known as the fish hook symbolises prosperity. Maori use fish in many of their traditional food dishes. Fish were so plentiful to the Maori that the simple ownership of a fish hook meant prosperity. The fish hook also represents strength, determination and good health, as well as providing safe journey over water.

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Single twist:

The Maori symbols or meaning for the single twist represents the path of life, it is the symbol of eternity. The single figure eight is different than the double and triple twists mentioned below.

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Double or triple twist:

These twists represent the joining together of two people, or two cultures for eternity and even though they may experience life’s up and downs they remain bonded by friendship and loyalty for life (a favourite of the Maori symbols).