Contemporary Maori Tattoo

There was a time not so many years ago when, if you saw a kapa haka group performing, most of the traditional tattoos you saw on the performers were drawn on for the occasion. Not so now. There’s been a huge resurgence in traditional Maori tattoo - though few women actually tattoo their lips (kauae) and chins – chin moko are still largely drawn on, as with the performers shown above.

All images Mareikura Kapa Haka performers, Waitangi Day, Christchurch Feb 2009. Ajr

However, increasing numbers of both men and women are getting real tattoos to their body - like the two above. Some of them are very beautiful too. I snapped these photographs at the Waitangi Day kapa haka performance in Christchurch a week or so ago. I came away almost tempted to get a tattoo of my own. It’s just a pity I’m a total coward.