Tattooing a 13-year-old’s face isn’t culture
It’s child abuse
A 13-year-old girl from Invercargill, a student at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Arowhenua, has just received a moko kauae. For those who don’t know, that’s a traditional facial tattoo worn on the chin of Māori women. It once held deep cultural meaning. It was something earned. Reserved for wāhine of mana: elders, leaders, knowledge holders. Now we’re slappin…