| Avoiding The Most Common Mistakes | | | | design of the Moko and of course the patterning |
| If you are looking for your special Maori tattoos | | | | of the skin. Traditionally, Maori tattoos designs |
| designs, it is most recommended to be aware of | | | | were done on the face, however, in ancient |
| the following facts related to the Maori heritage | | | | times, they were also etched on peoples' bodies. |
| and culture, in order to avoid the most critical | | | | One thing to note is that people who had these |
| mistakes people tend to make when approaching | | | | designs done on their faces were highly-regarded |
| these unique and full-of-meaning designs. | | | | figures within their tribe. That is how they were |
| A lot of people are getting tattoos these days. It | | | | distinguished from the rest within the tribe. |
| is quite noticeable that Maori tattoos designs are | | | | One Culture, Many Fans & One Huge Mistake |
| often the choice made by people looking for tribal | | | | To Avoid |
| tattoos. Maori tattoos designs seem to be at the | | | | It is very common for westerners to have these |
| forefront of tattoos, when it comes to choosing | | | | designs; this may be regarded as a tribute the |
| a tattoo, and it certainly makes since, once you | | | | Maori culture; when in fact, the Maoris regard it is |
| closely look at these remarkable and rich designs. | | | | a form of stealing Maori tradition and heritage. |
| A lot of tattoo customers and tattoo artists tend | | | | One should never just grab words, images or |
| to imitate different cultures and tattoo designs to | | | | symbols from Mauritania or the Maori culture |
| try come up with their own special design. | | | | completely oblivious of the fact of what they |
| Although the result may seem very artistic, it is | | | | represent. In the eyes of the Maoris, doing so is |
| definitely not the case when approaching | | | | nothing but a plain insult. Can you imagine walking |
| traditional Maori tattoos designs. | | | | around with some Maoris family history on your |
| Getting To Understand The Maori Heritage and | | | | arm or back? The only way you might find |
| Culture | | | | yourself in such a situation is if you go and start |
| First thing, in approaching this unique culture, would | | | | copying any Maori tattoos designs that comes |
| be to understand their terminology. All walks of | | | | across your way. |
| life use their own terms, which are unique to a | | | | Here is what the Maoris think of white people and |
| particular culture or tribe, and so it is with the | | | | other cultures that steal their Maori tattoos |
| people from New Zealand, from which the Maoris | | | | designs? |
| originate. For example: The 'Ta Moko' is the name | | | | Between the Maoris, white people are called |
| of the family identification of Maoris that form | | | | 'Pakeha' and are known for never asking but just |
| part of the group known as 'Whakapapa'. | | | | taking (in terms of land and culture) they also see |
| One of the main reasons these designs formed a | | | | most westerns as narrow minded, capable of |
| solid and important role within the Maori culture | | | | seeing only themselves, let alone other cultures. |
| was the ability of the Maoris to trace their | | | | Strange as it may seem, the Native Americans as |
| ancestry over the centuries. Their tattoos also | | | | well, claimed the same about the whites in |
| served them while fighting on the battlefield; by | | | | America. |
| identifying who they were fighting against, as their | | | | The Maoris claim that Maori tattoos designs that |
| lives literally depended on these particular works | | | | are not done properly weaken their culture and |
| of art inked on their bodies. | | | | spirituality. They also see the westerners as |
| Some Maoris can still trace their families using | | | | thieves for not having their own uniqueness when |
| these tattoos. There are chiefs that can observe | | | | getting their Maori tattoos designs. |
| a Maori tattoos designs and fully interpret it easily. | | | | So, how is this going to affect your decision when |
| They are able to do so by feeling the texture, | | | | getting this ancient form of Polynesian art? |
| looking at the design and the precision that went | | | | To start, you can avoid the common mistake |
| into inking that tattoo and by that, will be able to | | | | just by simply not copying the first Maori tattoos |
| trace back some of these Maori family trees. | | | | designs that you see on a Maori in New Zealand. |
| Today, as well, there are some Maoris living in | | | | You would be shocked to know how many |
| New Zealand that have Maori tribal tattoos that | | | | people have done that! |
| date back 2,000 years! One more interesting fact, | | | | The fastest way to get a unique and traditional |
| that most tattoo enthusiast are unaware of when | | | | Maori tattoos designs would be to contact |
| they look at Maori tattoos designs is, that each | | | | someone in New Zealand who is in charge of a |
| tattoo entails a unique story, and each story tells | | | | tribe, or a tribal tattoo artist. |
| the tale of a certain tribe origins, their beliefs, their | | | | Email them the design you would like to get and |
| spiritual world and a lot more. | | | | ask what are the chances of that design has |
| By now, we have addressed the 'Ta' form, but | | | | already been applied. Though this may seem a bit |
| the other part or missing word is 'Moko', and the | | | | odd to you, as mentioned before, the least we |
| 'Moko' part of any Maori tattoo is the actual | | | | can contribute is to show some sensitivity to a |
| carving out of the skin. | | | | culture that has been slowly disappearing during |
| By tradition, the Maori made use of the bones of | | | | the last 200 years. Using the advantages of the |
| albatrosses and various cutting tools to etch their | | | | internet, this could be accomplished in a matter of |
| tattoos. These tools cut deep grooves into the | | | | days. |
| skin. The coloring is used to represent the family | | | | It is only when Maori tattoos designs are copied |
| history and the story is told by the actual | | | | from someone else within a Maori tribe, that |
| patterns on the skin. That way, a tribe elder | | | | makes them feel that their spirituality is being |
| would be able to tell the history by looking at the | | | | stolen. |