We take great pride in producing traditional Maori tattoo art

In the past, Ta Moko tattoos traditionally represented particular Maori tribes but for those of different heritage/ancestry – this is not the case. However, the tattoo can have a range of other legitimate meanings, such as your family (physical lives), prosperity, travel, strength, your career path etc.

How you tell your story in KIRITUHI TATTOO otherwise known as TA MOKO

Kiri means Skin and Tuhi means Art, we generally tattoo the body and arm areas on our customers so it will be defined as Kiri Tuhi rather than Ta Moko was reserved for the face only.

All Maori design is made up of a number of essential design elements.

Main Manawa Lines are the skin looking lines in your maori tattoo, MANAWA is the Maori word for Heart and represents Your Life, your Life Journey and your time spent on Earth.

Main Korus coming off the Manawa Lines are used represent people and people groups .
Korus are based off the tiny new growth shoots on the New Zealand Fern plant and represent New Life and New Beginnings.

When you add every koru off your Manawa line you can be adding the important people in your life journey , Mothers , Fathers, Grandparents, Children , siblings , Loved ones friends family and so on.

Different Infill Patterns ( Black Areas ) in your tattoo and their meanings

	Pakati: Dog skin cloak, representative of warriors/battles/courage and strength.
	Hikuaua: Representative of Taranaki (a region of New Zealand) as well as prosperity, mackerel tail.
	Unaunahi: Fish scales that represent abundance and health.
	Ahu ahu mataroa: Shows talent and achievement in athleticism or sport and can also be representative of a new challenge.
	Taratarekae: From whale teeth.
	Manaia: The manaia is known as a spiritual guardian, and carrier of supernatural powers. 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. 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.
	Hei tiki: Commonly known as a good luck charm the tiki is also considered a symbol of fertility. Assumed to be clear thinking, perceptive, loyal and knowledgeable, the wearers strength is their character. The tiki is a talisman to the Maori people, and has been regarded as a good luck charm from the ancient times. The Maori believe the tiki represents the unborn human embryo. The most valuable tiki’s were carved from greenstone and were handed down through generations and treasured possessions.

Kiri means Skin and Tuhi means Art , we generally tattoo the body and arm areas on our customers so it will be defined as Kiri Tuhi rather than Ta Moko was reserved for the face only.

The Process of Designing your Hand Crafted Maori Tattoo ( Ta Moko ) at Zealand Tattoo

We have a design process we go through with all our Clients. This begins with a Consultation with the Studio either in person or via email. This is where you can bring your ideas to the Artist and talk about a final concept for the piece.

Typically, the process for your tattoo is that you come in on the date/time of your appointment for a consultation with our artist to discuss the meanings you wish to incorporate in your design. The artist will then sketch a rough design which will show you the overall look of your design as well as highlighting your various meanings.

Artists Draft image after brainstorming with customer

The Freehand aspect at Zealand Tattoo that sets your Maori Tattoo design apart from the crowd

The Artist will then freehand the design onto your skin with Tattoo Marker Pens and ensure that all of your representations are built within the piece, in Traditional Maori Symbolism. This is done to complement the contours of your body. When you are totally happy with the overall look of your Design, then we will Tattoo it for you.

Artists handcrafting the freehand image directly onto the skin, and completing the Tattoo

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.