Can Anyone Get a Moko?
Moko kauae is the right of Māori women. It is not a right for anyone else. Moko kauae is the reassertion of an indigenous right that has been marginalised, demeaned and denied by Pākehā

Pākehā

The Oxford general English language dictionary defines pākehā as 'a white New Zealander', The Oxford Dictionary of New Zealandisms (2010) defines pākehā as a noun 'a light-skinned non-Polynesian New Zealander, especially one of British birth or ancestry as distinct from a Māori; a European or white person'; and as an ...

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colonial dominance. It is not a right for Pākehā women.

Who can have a moko?

In less than one generation that thinking has been largely discarded, as part of a deliberate “decolonising” of those perceived barriers – and as a result the practice of moko kauae is widespread, with a general consensus that the only eligibility criterion is whakapapa – if you are a Māori woman, you have the right to ...

Can anyone get a moko tattoo?

"You can only have it if you have a genealogy that is Maori. "It reflects who we are and it represents your family, your sub-tribes and tribes." Associate Professor Te Kahautu Maxwell at the University of Waikato - who is also tattooed - says the moko has become an important symbol of post-colonialism.
Chloe Bennett

Chloe Bennett

Culture, Media & Entertainment Columnist

Chloe Bennett explores the intersection of pop culture, streaming entertainment, digital trends, and contemporary lifestyle. Her weekly commentary reaches thousands of culture enthusiasts.

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