Maori Culture Today
Maori visual artistry is extremely well known around the globe and popular in today's western cultures. Tattooing, taken from the Polynesian word "tatau" (to mark) is a major part of the Maori culture. Many different tribes throughout history have practiced the art of tattooing. In fact, Egyptians gave tattoos as far back as 2000 B.C. The Maori are known for developing the art of color tattooing. To the Maori, tattooing is considered a living art form that illustrates a variety of things about the wearer, including genealogy, occupation, tribal rank and the tribe to which he or she belongs. The art form was nearly extinguished with the arrival of Christian missionaries in the 18th century, who viewed it as savage and unholy. The tradition was revitalized among the Maori in the 1980s and has since spread around the world.
The Maori are known for elaborate facial tattoos, known as moko. In order to have an authentic moko, the wearer must often obtain consent from his or her family for permission to display the whakapapa this way. Maori men most commonly display moko on the face, buttocks and thighs. Women are typically tattooed on such areas as the arms, crotch, thighs and abdomen. Although most Maori tattoo artists today use tattoo machines, they originally used a tattoo chisel to cut the skin and then rubbed in a particular type of caterpillar ink to stain the area.
Though Maori-style tattoos are becoming popular worldwide, many Maori consider it disrespectful for a pakeha to wear moko tattoos [source: New Zealand Art Monthly]. Another, similar style of tattooing, called kirituhi, does not have the same spiritual tie for the Maori, and would be more acceptable for non-Maori.
Despite tribal infighting, diseases and European meddling, the Maori have managed to resurrect a culture rich in history, art and symbolism. Currently, New Zealand boasts a population of more than four million people, 14 percent of which are Maori. This is a vast improvement on the once dismal population of only 45,000 in the 1890s. As the Maori population continues to grow, so will their reputation around the world. A recent illustration involves the critically acclaimed movie "Whale Rider." The film, which details a 1,000-year-old Maori legend, was filmed entirely in Whangara, on New Zealand's North Island. The film featured an all-Maori cast, and garnered numerous awards, including a Best Actress in a Lead Role nomination for Keisha Castle-Hughes at the 2004 Academy Awards. Since its release, the interest in native and indigenous films has been heightened. In fact, the National Geographic Society has since launched the All Roads Film Project, which awards seed grants to indigenous filmmakers around the globe.
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