Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Arriving for the first time in NZ, two crew members of
Tainui
saw the red flowers of the pohutukawa tree,
and they cast away their prized red feather ornaments, thinking that there were plenty to be had on shore.
Religion
Christian churches and denominations are important in the Maori world: televangelists,
mainstream churches for regular and occasional worship, and two major Maori churches
(Ringatu and Ratana) - we've got it all.
But in the (non-Judaeo Christian) beginning there were the
atua Maori,
the Maori
gods, and for many Maori the gods are a vital and relevant force still. It is common to
greet the earth mother and sky father when speaking formally at a
marae
. The gods are
represented in art and carving, sung of in
waiata
(songs), invoked through
karakia
(prayer
and incantation) when a meeting house is opened, when a
waka
is launched, even (more
simply) when a meal is served. They are spoken of on the
marae
and in wider Maori con-
texts. The traditional Maori creation story is well known and widely celebrated.
Maori legends are all around you as you tour NZ: Maui's
waka
became today's Southern Alps; a
taniwha
(su-
pernatural creature)formed Lake Waikaremoana in its death throes; and a rejected Mt Taranaki walked in-
to exile from the central North Island mountain group, carving the Whanganui River.
Ta Moko
Ta moko
is the Maori art of tattoo, traditionally worn by men on their faces, thighs and
buttocks, and by women on their chins and lips.
Moko
were permanent grooves tapped in-
to the skin using pigment (made from burnt caterpillar or kauri gum soot), and bone
chisels: fine, sharp combs for broad work, and straight blades for detailed work. Museums
in the major centres - Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch - all display traditional im-
plements for
ta moko.
The modern tattooist's gun is common now, but bone chisels are coming back into use
for Maori who want to reconnect with tradition. Since the general renaissance in Maori
culture in the 1960s, many artists have taken up
ta moko
and now many Maori wear
moko
with quiet pride and humility.
Can visitors get involved, or even get some work done? The term
kirituhi
(skin inscrip-
tions) has arisen to describe Maori motif-inspired modern tattoos that non-Maori can
wear.
