Maori Tattoo Designs

Maori originates from the indigenous people that are from New Zealand.

The Maori tattoo designs are a small set out of the collection of Polynesian tattoos. The Maori differ in their use of tattooing than many other cultures throughout the world.  While the majority of tattoo designs use needles to puncture the skin and inject ink, the Maori use a technique called Ta Moko.  In past times, a kind of chisel-like instrument made of bones is placed on the person’s skin with ink on the tip of the chisel.  It is then struck with a hammer and this creates colored grooves in the person’s skin. In the 19th century and onward, needles are used instead of the chisel, which is faster and resulted in fewer injuries and health risks.

The Maori tattoos were made in order for the Maori people to show their cultural identity to the world.  Most of the Maori people would receive these tattoos, however the lower-classes could not usually pay for these tattoos. The Maori received these tattoos when they were teenagers and it marked the evolution from childhood to adulthood.

The location of these tattoos varies from person to person, but most of the Maori tattoo designs are found on the back, stomach, chest, arms, and legs. Recently however, the designs can be located on a person’s face, though this was uncommon in past times.  The overall design is mostly made up of large and bold lines that repeat throughout the area of the tattoo.  Spiral designs are also common.  The artists of the Maori tattoo designs were highly looked upon among tribes because of their unique artistic flair. Facial tattoos are usually designed based on any individual features a person has.  They often follow the shape and contours of a person’s face and improve the natural contours and expressions they have.

Since there were many tribes in New Zealand, they would create Maori tattoo designs for a number reasons.  They would often choose certain designs based on what part of the body it would be located on.  Tribes would also select them if they reflected either the personality or physical features of the person receiving the tattoo. In modern times thought, the tattoo is typically chosen as a result of the person thinking that it looks fashionable and does not put enough thought into the symbolism and significance behind the tattoo.

Someone who is thinking about getting a Maori tattoo should put great time and thought into making this decision.  Firstly, getting a tattoo that is as complex and delicate as a Maori tattoo design is very expensive.  Someone considering getting such a complex tattoo needs to seriously consider the fiscal aspects of such an addition to their body. Also if they are getting it done traditionally, it is a long and sometimes painful procedure due to its complex design.  And don’t forget that a tattoo is permanent and it may be something that you may not want for the remainder of your life.