maori tattoo
Traditional New Zealand ink
A Maori tattoo is a traditional form of body art from the indigenous Māori people of New Zealand, characterized by bold curvilinear designs carved or chiseled into the skin rather than punctured.
The facial version, called tā moko, carries deep cultural significance—patterns encode genealogy, social status, and personal history.
The term now also covers Māori-inspired designs done with modern tattoo methods, though some consider non-Māori wearing these designs cultural appropriation.
- tribalOf a clan
- inkWriting fluid
- sacredWorthy of reverence
- warriorOne skilled in combat
- spiralCurve winding around center
Polynesian · ancestry · whakapapa · identity · cultural identity · needle · skin · body art · chisel · carving · fern · indigenous · New Zealand · ritual · adornment · lineage · family history · storytelling
maori tattootemporary tattoo
Impermanent skin decoration
henna · body paint · tramp stamp · mehndi · face paint