What is a Moko?

Moko is the name for Māori tattoo and the culture that surrounds it.

Often the designs are tattooed in the face for different purposes

and with a wide range of applications which are sacred.Every moko

contains ancestral and tribal messages specific to the wearer. These

messages tell the story of the wearer's family and tribal affiliations,

and their place in these social structures.

'Tattoo' is the English version of the Tahitian word tatu. Tattoo is the

tradition of marking the skin with ink and needles, whereas moko is

the practice of scarring and marking the skin to reflect the whakapapa (genealogy) of the Māori.




Do moko symbols have a meaning?

All symbols have meaning, usually a tribal link that tells the background and stories of the wearer. Moko is a visual language that connects the wearer to their whakapapa and its values.


Why do people get moko?

A moko on the face is the ultimate statement of one's identity .For Māoris,

the head is believed to be the most sacred part of the body Therefore

to wear the moko on the face is an affirmation of the Māori identity,of who they are.


Is it only for men ?

Mokos are not just for men, also women wear moko on the face too. A

woman's moko is worn on the chin, as well as occasionally appearing on the

forehead, upper lip, nostrils, and throat. Sometimes facial moko is unfairly seen as intimidating, regardless of the wearer's intentions, but this can depend on the expression of the face of the wearer. The lines of a moko accentuate the lines of the face so emphasise the expressions that the person have.In this way the person looks like a warrior.

For what reasons people get tattoos?