Should non-Maori receive a moko kauwae or mataora?
That's the question
that's garnering a tidal wave of comments on social media.
The issue has emerged from a newspaper article
about a Pakeha businesswoman, Sally Anderson.
The accompanying photo clearly shows she has a moko kauwae.
Rapaera Tawhai sought a range of comments on this topic
and filed this report.
It's a unique Maori tradition that's spreading.
Roger Te Tai is the husband of Sally Anderson,
a Pakeha woman who has a traditional
moko kauwae (chin moko).
The issue is being hotly debated as to whether it's right
for a non-Maori to receive the chin moko or full facial moko.
It's awesome, that's their whakaaro, that's fine.
This traditional Maori tattooist doesn't agree,
saying there's a clear process one should follow to obtain such moko.
Your whanau, hapu and/or iwi consent as to whether or not
you can receive this moko.
But he says the issue is by no means a new one.
But there are times when individuals who weren't NZ-born Pakeha,
but are tauiwi, have received moko kauwae/mataora.
Those people lived with our tipuna, in our communities, whanau, hapu,
and were vital contributors to reviving Maori cultural practices.
But Te Tai says that this was the exact process
he and his partner followed.
The whanau, Te Tai's father endorsed the moko kauwae.
Inia Taylor did the moko,
he was the same man who tattooed Rihanna.
He says if the whanau support it,
then they should also offer support and guidance to the person
with the moko.
And he says it's an important issue that should be discussed widely.
Rapaera Tawhai, Te Karere.
Let's take a look at some of the feedback
we've received from Facebook about whether non-Maori
should wear moko kauwae or mataora.
From about 300 respondents,
more than three quarters submitted a no,
with the rest of the majority submitting a yes,
followed by either a like or a haha.
Let's scroll down to some of the comments,
Tiara Betham said,
"is it something te ao Maori consider
when promoting/forcing tauiwi to take up the challenge of te reo?"
And Tamoe Matire Ngata said,
"first off I think no,
but then after some thought I think it's a mistake
to discount someone because they are Pakeha,
if they walk with ngakau Maori and wairua Maori."
Other interesting comments like this one from Hank Kitty Zuckerberg
pointed to the first colonial settlers who embraced te ao Maori.
Overall, what an interesting debate, and if you'd like to get involved,
make sure to check out our social media platforms,
especially Facebook.