Maori: Tattoos and Language

Language is a key way of knowing in the Maori tribe. The role it plays in is that it is used for storytelling, the Maori are really are very attached to their family traditions, history, and ancestral connection. The culture is a collectivist culture, where everybody is always looking after family and extended families. To the Maori it is extremely special for them to pass on their traditions, religious views and ancient stories of the Polynesian culture which are later shared to the younger Maori. ‘The three essential ingredients of the old forms of Maori Storytelling are the waiata - the song, whakapapa - the genealogy of the story, and the karakia - the prayer,’ according to Ngamaru Raerino. It is essential for the language of the Maori to be expressed in many forms, such as storytelling, but language plays a larger role. Language is used to distinguish this tribe from any other, the Maori is the Polynesian version of the Maori, which is said to be similar to the language used by in the Cook Islands, Tahitian and Tuamotuan. Not only is language the official language of New Zealand, but it’s so important for this tribe to pass on their knowledge that the government's takes huge efforts to teach the Maori language to the young and implement it into the modern day New Zealand society.

• Examples of the Maoiri language are: Welcome - “haerei mai”, hello to everyone “kia ora tatou” or tribe “iwi”. Language is a means of transmitting knowledge about the culture or society through the use of symbols to convey ideas and thoughts within themselves.

• Tattoos are another means of communication and language that are very meaningful to the Maori. Tattoos or “Ta Moko” are defined as the traditional Maoiri tattooing, which is drawn on the face most commonly. This tribe creates their own meaningful, purposeful and sacred tattoos to describe their ancestry, the story of the “wearer” and the social structure in which they are in. Tattoos are a powerful message, the use of language through other means, in this case as symbols drawn on the skin. According to 100% Pure New Zealand, “ a moko’s message portrays the wearer’s genealogy, knowledge and social standing”. Unlike common tattoos, the Maori tattoos are not created through ink, instead they are done through scarring of the skin to reflect their cultural values.

• This connects to why is this indigenous culture important? The Maori are a very strong tribe whose values have remained for centuries due to the permanence of the cultural traditions and affiliations. Unlike other tribes or indigenous people in the world, the Maori are one of the strongest tribes there is especially because of how well organized and advanced they are culture wise, language wise and knowledge wise.