Maori Tattoos

There has been a huge revival of traditional Maori tattoos, ta moko and other Maori cultural traditions. Since the cultural revival ta moko tattoo designs are becoming more and more what can be considered mainstream. A lot of non-Maori people are getting moko designs tattooed 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 tattoos much to the annoyance of many Maoris.

Maori tattoos have 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 tattooed.

Tattoo by Inia of Moko Ink © Tao of Tattoos

Women were traditionally only allowed to be tattooed 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 tattoos 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.

Gilbert, Steve. Tattoo History: A Source Book.
Giles, Brad. "Ta Moko" Body Modification E-zine .
Ward, Paul. "Moko" New Zealand Edge.

Tattoo by Inia of Moko Ink © Tao of Tattoos

Want to flash off your tattoo pictures on this page? Easy peasy...

*All approved pictures receive an e-book of Tattoo Designs

* Submissions without photos attached, thumbnail pictures or low res photos will be not be published.

Click below to see view pictures of tattoos from site visitors, rate their ink and read comments from others about your tattoos.

Maori, Samoan & Tongan Ink 
This upper piece is for my little brother who passed away that even though he isn't here he is still watching my back. This piece took about 2 hrs to do ...

Maori Tribal Tattoo 
Tribal with good spacing...

Popular Tattoo Designs
angel tattoos , black and gray tattoos , butterfly tattoos , celtic tattoos , dragon ...

Maori Style Tattoo 
4 hrs to complete by 'Inkspiration' in the West Midlands England, artist was Pudge.

Popular Tattoo Designs
angel tattoos , black and gray ...

Maori Style Tattoo 
My tattoo is from my Albue to my wrist in 'maori style'. The upper part took 7 hour straight with 2 breaks of 30 minutes. The lower part took 1 ½ hour....

Maori Tattoo 
Respect to all graffiti guys in the world.

Popular Tattoo Designs
angel tattoos , black and gray tattoos , butterfly tattoos , celtic tattoos ...

Aztec Art Tattoo 
wel d artist iz Gaurav Harsh from Bombai, India.
hez reali good
it took bout 45 minz 2 do the entire thing
dint pain az i thought it wood
i'm reali ...

Maori Tattoo 
10 hours in total, 3 sessions.
Done by Gray Silva, Rampant Ink, Netherfield, Nottingham, UK, Great guy.

Popular Tattoo Designs
angel tattoos ...

Maori Style Tattoo 
I got this tattoo fall 2007 in New Zealand @ Tattoo City, Cuba St. Ben was a great....He was honest, it did hurt like *%##. I was the longest hour and ...

Black and Gray Back Tattoo 
A tattoo artist in Sopot Poland. Mr Maori accomplished the initial 8.5 hours inking the cat and downed tree. The lady was added in Northern California ...

Tribal Tattoo 
Done free hand.

Popular Tattoo Designs
angel tattoos , black and gray tattoos , butterfly tattoos , celtic tattoos , dragon tattoos , erotic ...

Ta Moko / Maori Inspired Tattoo 
First off, my mum's part Maori from New Zealand (Belfast, South Island) so I'm not an ass for having this done. I fully agree with your site about those ...

Maori Feather Tattoo 
This is of a feather with a touch of Maori through it. Just an idea that came in my head. The tattoo was done by my husband and took around 50 minutes ...

Maori Tattoo 
My second tattoo, but the first Maori.
Art by Isaac Tocinho from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

Popular Tattoo Designs
angel tattoos , black and ...

Maori Style Tattoo 
This is my first tattoo, it took about 4 and a half hours and was done free hand by 'Sailor Bills' Coleraine, Northern Ireland. I love it.

Cali Tattoo 
Modesto

Popular Tattoo Designs
angel tattoos , black and gray tattoos , butterfly tattoos , celtic tattoos , dragon tattoos , erotic ...

Maori Tattoo  Not rated yet
It was done by Jeroen Franken from the Netherlands, Tilburg!

Popular Tattoo Designs
angel tattoos , black and gray tattoos , butterfly tattoos ...

Ta Moko Tattoo Work  Not rated yet
I love tattoo work. But for me personally I prefer ta moko. The rose you see is something I did when I was 18 and at the time was just young and in a hurry ...

Full On Maori Style Tattoo on Girl  Not rated yet
Four sittings...a total of 14 hours...the tattoo spans from the nape of my neck to tops of my thighs. Done by Jay Fish owner of 'Acme Ink' in Louisville,...

Traditional Ta Moko Tattoo  Not rated yet
This tattoo is my first tattoo. I am only 15 and i was 12 when i got it. I am getting a few more in about 2 weeks. Took around 6 - 8 hours. Didn't really ...

Ta Moko - Maori Tattoo  Not rated yet
My tattoo is a ta moko. It took about 3 hours to be done.

Popular Tattoo Designs
angel tattoos , black and gray tattoos , butterfly tattoos ...

Maori Tattoo  Not rated yet
Respect to all graffiti guys in the world.

Popular Tattoo Designs
angel tattoos , black and gray tattoos , butterfly tattoos , celtic tattoos ...

Moko Kanohi  Not rated yet
Still in progress, so far about 6 or so hours work has gone into it. i just have my lips to fill

a word of warning.....

do not copy my moko kanohi,...

Maori Inspired Ink  Not rated yet
I designed this tattoo after watching a documentary about the Maori. It took 3 1/2 hour sittings, tattoo artist was Mark Smith in Telford, UK .. highly ...

Primtive Tattoo Art Work  Not rated yet
Hello, this is my first primitive art tattoo but not my last. The tattoo is made by 'Le Pappilon' tattoo in Klazienaveen, Holland.

The name of my daughter ...