Moko Tinana
The body has numerous types of areas to mark each with a particular level of pain, accessibility and appeal for the wearer and audience. There is a clear distinction of which body parts are highly regarded by Māori when acquiring moko that are informed by tradition and influenced by contemporary culture.
During my years of Uhi practice, more tāne have attained body marks on their shoulders and backs, as opposed to wāhine who tend to gain their kauwae.
Here are some of my body of work over my 20 year journey.
The first time I used my tools in Rotorua when returning home from a Kakau wānanga in Hawaii, I started a full male puhoro. Vic, Ngahuia Te Awekotuku, Linda Waimarie Nikora and I started a very meaningful and profound journey. Through the lengthy process of application my learning was deeply broadened and I was excited for the future of Uhi and where it could lead in its revival. An amazing experience.
Daryl turned up one day, had heard about what I did and wanted a back, shoulders and top arms tapped. My BFF Mereana was the tauawhi through the sessions where Daryl and his mum patiently waited for the final tap. His excitement was amazing; we tapped the outline in two sessions and filled in within a couple of hours. I was getting quicker and more use to the tools.
An email from a German man with a fascination with the book Mau Moko and my uhi story, lead me to design and mark his chest. It was an interesting session as he didn’t even flinch and appreciated the whole day. I found out he free climbed mountains hence the slight muscle body and ability to keep calm and go with the process.
I met Laura while working on my first puhoro. The daughter of Vic, it was a special moment when she was the tauawhi on his last puhoro session. It was then that she remarked she wanted to start her journey with moko. Vic was her tauawhi and we completed the first shoulder tap with an extension over her back.
Please respect these wearers of tā moko and do not copy the images and use them without my permission, Ngā Mihi – Thank you.
Kōrero Mai