Sources on Maori Tattooing

Coca-Cola Advertisement, from Life Magazine, 13 March 1944
Part of a continuing series of Coke ads; an Allied soldier and a Maori warrior in New Zealand share their tattoo stories, while an ANZAC officer looks on, sadly untattooed.

(View image in detail--433k)
(Read the advertising text)

More Maori Tattooing Practices (mostly from postcards):

Tohunga (shaman) tattooing Maori woman, Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand.

Atama, a Rangi (chief) of the Arawa Maori, ca. 1920, showing traditional moko (facial tattooing) and skin carving.

Wanganui man with facial carving, photo by F.J.Denton, 1962.

Maori woman with chin moko in European-style dress, photo by Burton Brothers, Dunedin, New Zealand, n.d..

Maori Rangi (chief) with full face moko, circa 1915.

Cover Image for H. G. Robley, Moko: The Art and History of Maori Tattooing (1998 reprint of 1896 edition).

Selected Online Resources:

Moko from the Way Cool News: "You may be robbed of all your most-prized possessions; but of your moko you cannot be deprived."

Ta Moko/Maori Tattoo Style from www.culture.co.nz.

Ta Moko from Kupenga Maori/The Maori Net.

A Selected Bibliography:

Hans Neleman, Moko: Maori Tattoos (Photographs). Edition Stemmle, 1999.

H. G. Robley, Moko: The Art & History of Maori Tattooing. DIANE Publishing Co, 1999.

Michael King and Marti Friedlander (photographer), Moko: Maori Tattooing in the 20th Century. Alister Taylor, 1972.

Pita Turei and Nicole MacDonald, Moko: Maori Tattoos. Thalwil, 1999.

D.R. Simmons, Ta Moko: The Art of the Maori Tattoo. Reed Methuen, 1986.

H.U. Hall, "Maori Wood Carving and Moko," Museum Journal Philadelphia, December, 1920.

David Simmons and Ko Te Riria, Moko Rangatira.

Harry Sangl, The Blue Privilege: The Last Tattooed Maori Women/Te Kuia Moko. Wellington, 1980.

Last updated: 18 May 2000