Having spent 3 decades of my working life among hairy legged seafarers I have seen every tatt there is.
Except one!
That's the ink that makes it's wearer look better.
Now young females. The best and most beautiful they'll ever look in their natural life then they go and do that. White, brown or brindle, it's not 'spiritual', it's just plain dumb.
The Moko, is falling in line with society, any value it had is lost, due to the fact that anybody can get one!
The Haka and Uni degrees are cheapened by over use. Even apprenticeships are loosing value, partly due to the reduction in time it takes to complete 5years down to 3years and the components used, moving more and more to plug and play.
Discipline is a dirty word, but, for example, top sports people, tradies, professional's, etc cannot succeed with out it! Children appear not to be taught the benefits of discipline!
When I saw that article about the thirteen year old getting one I was so surprised, because I had read Dr Hinemoa Elder describe getting hers in the book "Aroha" and she too made it clear it was not something to be taken lightly. She worried for a long time about whether she had earned it or not before going ahead. After reading that I was always quite impressed when I saw someone sporting one, but now I know better. Sad though, for those that really deserve it.
"Today, you’ll see moko kauae lining the queues outside WINZ. People who speak of decolonisation while relying on the very systems they claim to oppose. The same people wearing symbols of prestige without the deeds to match. It’s performative. It’s ironic. It’s insulting to those who once bore the mark with genuine honour. They too are slaves, but slaves to the colonial system." Brilliantly put.
Matua is correct. Ta-moko or moko kauae were symbols of rank or status earnt. To treat moko simply as an emblem of race or a political statement belittles both the artist and the wearer.
That said, to me, facial moko is for a time gone by. It signifies a step back into a darker time
When you have a 14 year old girl, who is barely out of nappies getting moko kauae, the respect of its meaning - Gone!
Well written Matua, thank you 🙏🏻
Having spent 3 decades of my working life among hairy legged seafarers I have seen every tatt there is.
Except one!
That's the ink that makes it's wearer look better.
Now young females. The best and most beautiful they'll ever look in their natural life then they go and do that. White, brown or brindle, it's not 'spiritual', it's just plain dumb.
The Moko, is falling in line with society, any value it had is lost, due to the fact that anybody can get one!
The Haka and Uni degrees are cheapened by over use. Even apprenticeships are loosing value, partly due to the reduction in time it takes to complete 5years down to 3years and the components used, moving more and more to plug and play.
Discipline is a dirty word, but, for example, top sports people, tradies, professional's, etc cannot succeed with out it! Children appear not to be taught the benefits of discipline!
Now days it is merely a fashion statement. No earning required, only money to be paid and voila!
Hasn't lost meaning to me.
When I saw that article about the thirteen year old getting one I was so surprised, because I had read Dr Hinemoa Elder describe getting hers in the book "Aroha" and she too made it clear it was not something to be taken lightly. She worried for a long time about whether she had earned it or not before going ahead. After reading that I was always quite impressed when I saw someone sporting one, but now I know better. Sad though, for those that really deserve it.
"Today, you’ll see moko kauae lining the queues outside WINZ. People who speak of decolonisation while relying on the very systems they claim to oppose. The same people wearing symbols of prestige without the deeds to match. It’s performative. It’s ironic. It’s insulting to those who once bore the mark with genuine honour. They too are slaves, but slaves to the colonial system." Brilliantly put.
Matua is correct. Ta-moko or moko kauae were symbols of rank or status earnt. To treat moko simply as an emblem of race or a political statement belittles both the artist and the wearer.
That said, to me, facial moko is for a time gone by. It signifies a step back into a darker time
Sad that its become meaningless