The Maori are one of the oldest cultures that practices tattooing. This video shows a Moko tattoo shop in New Zealand. These are traditional tribal tattoos, that have very specific meanings in Maori culture. Of course, now people of all backgrounds get Maori and other tribal tattoos.
Aug 2003 Renewed interest in Maori culture has encouraged a resurgence in traditional Maori tattoos. The tattoos or ‘mokos’ originate back to pre-colonial times when they detailed ancestry lines and tribal affiliations. “It’s the art of kings,” states moko artist Inya Taylor. To take the pain of the moko is a defining moment in a young warrior’s life. As one Maori explains: “If it doesn’t look really painful every moron’s going to want one.”