Traditional Maori Tattoos
British pop star Robbie Williams had a Maori tattoo done on his arm in 2000 by New Zealand artist Te Rangitu Netana. This caused some controversy when a Maori cultural authority, Pita Sharples, claimed the tattoo design was particular to his iwi (tribe). Many Maori designs and art are considered to be taonga (treasures) and therefore intellectual property. Ta Moko (traditional Maori tattooing, often on the face) especially, is a taonga to Maori and the purpose and applications are sacred. Every moko contains ancestral/tribal messages specific to the wearer. These messages tell the story of the wearer's family and tribal affiliations and their placing within these social structures. A moko's message would also contain the wearer's 'value' by way of their genealogy, and/or their knowledge and standing in their social level. Kirituhi means skin art and describes more general tattooing.
Film
'Moko', a short (10-minute) film (producer Trevor Haysom; writer/director Jillian White), screened at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2001. 'Moko' is about White's compelling journey with Nga Puhi chief Kingi Taurua as he decides to wear a full-face moko. He is the first to do so since the practice stopped near the turn of the century, in the face of colonisation and assimilation.
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