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 slapping it on kids who haven’t even sat their NCEA exams.
Despite it being the school holidays, the kura opened its doors so whānau could gather and cry, sing waiata, and celebrate this so-called milestone. The girls mother, Ngā Roimata, said her daughter’s decision brought joy to both her and the girl’s father. What exactly are they celebrating? A child making an irreversible choice they can barely comprehend? This is a 13-year-old child - too young to drive, too young to buy alcohol, too young to consent to sex, and yet somehow deemed ready to permanently mark her face for life.
This is nothing to be proud about. This isn’t cultural affirmation. It’s parental negligence dressed up as tradition. To let a child carry such a heavy burden on her face for the rest of her life is nothing short of reckless. Parents should be protectors, guides, and gatekeepers. Instead, they’re enabling a political fad. The adults responsible have failed this child spectacularly. They have handed her a permanent mark without ensuring she understands the social stigma and lifelong consequences attached.
I refuse to stay silent while this kind of madness passes as cultural pride. This reminds me of the debate about puberty blockers and most sane adults agree children are not equipped to make life-altering, irreversible decisions based on fleeting feelings. Why then are we letting our kids tattoo their faces permanently? Because “the cuzzie Hine got one”? Because parents want to show off their ‘woke’ credentials or appear culturally engaged? It’s an abdication of responsibility. A real slap in the face to the true meaning of moko kauae.
The moko kauae has been cheapened beyond recognition. It no longer carries the sacredness it once did. Nowadays, any individual can slap one on and concoct a story about spiritual calling. The deep cultural roots are being trampled underfoot for the sake of Instagram likes and social media clout. A lot of society as a whole still views facial tattoos with suspicion - associating them with gangs, violence, and trauma. This stigma will be thrust on this child every day of her life. Are her parents ready to shield her from the prejudice she will face, or are they too busy celebrating their ‘progressive’ parenting?
I spoke with
, founder of , and she provided me with the following statement:When I watch the video of the 13-year-old getting her moko kauae, my intuition tells me that I am observing a ritual sacrifice. If you are not Maori, take your ‘culturally shamed’ blinkers off and watch it for yourself. What do you see? No matter your racial or religious affiliation - what do you see? Ancient traditions herald in the coming of age for young women and men - this is not new. However, is making a permanent mark that cannot be redacted or hidden away, (and is in today’s climate certainly politically motivated), acceptable to our society as a whole? And IF we care and are disturbed, what then? The cultural landscape in New Zealand is now such that one cannot question anything that goes on in Maoridom. Particularly when it comes to the children.
While the adults gathered around this girl cried and sang, I would have been crying too - not out of pride, but out of anger and despair. Anger at the parents who have failed to protect their child. Despair at the adults who allowed this to happen. This isn’t building up the next generation. It’s a slow destruction, one tattoo at a time.
This is not cultural pride. It is cultural vandalism inflicted on a vulnerable child. The blame lies squarely at the feet of the adults who let it happen.
The deep cultural and political agenda being played out on our youngest, and on this girls face, should send a shudder down all our spines. Look at 'gender affirmation' which says gender is fluid and can change and yet funnels children down a route of making permanent and horrific genital mutilation. And this is not much different. Children cannot consent, children should not be able to do this until they are at least 18. And using cultural excuses is not good enough. Children should not be allowed to make permanent bodily changes for ANY reason.
I’m pretty sure that’s illegal? Or should be!