Moko: Maori Tattooing In The 20th Century

by By Michael King

Moko is written by Michael King, one of New Zealand's most celebrated historians, and photographed by Marti Friedlander, one of the country's most eminent photographers.

One of New Zealand's iconic books, originally published in 1972, it was a milestone in New Zealand publishing. Maori subject matter was not thought to be of interest to the New Zealand public at that time, and the author and photographer were relative unknowns - Moko was their first book. To research this book, King and Friedlander travelled thousands of kilometres through the hinterland of New Zealand to find and speak with those who were tattooed, or with people who had first-hand knowledge of the custom.

It is also the story of the last generation of Maori women who wore the traditional moko. Marti Friedlander's photographs illustrate with skill and compassion the moko itself, the women who wore it and the environments in which they lived.

124 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Bruce Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

The text is like a 'Very Short Introduction to Maori Tattooing'. This, King's first work, was written as a threnody to a disappearing art. The older ladies with their moku, or chin tattoos, were the last generation who had this facial decoration and this work was an attempt to record their images. Ironically, although neither King, nor the photographer Marti Friedlander, are alive to see it, the art has dramatically revived.
The author makes the point that because blood is shed in the tattooing process, it is tapu (taboo) so that

in most places special sheds or tents were erected for the purpose in much the same way as they were for the dead during tangihanga (mourning).

Also, King relates that he

was told stories of women dying about the turn of the century within weeks of receiving the moko, possibly from blood poisoning.

Because of King's research, the book is granular in detail. We learn, for instance, that some tattooists, as a substitute for charcoal for dye

also burned dog excrement or āwheto, a type of fungus also known as the vegetable caterpillar.

The text was great, but a bit short.

[Octavia Cade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Close to 50 years ago now, the New Zealand historian Michael King went on a trip with a photographer to document the last few Māori women - all of whom were elderly - who had the moko, a traditional tattoo on the chin and lips. That part of Māori culture was sinking fast (I'm happy to say that it seems to be making a resurgence) and so this book, which has been in print in New Zealand ever since, was a sort of last gasp attempt to document what was then a dying art. There are a few short chapters on the history, design, and application of moko, and honestly I would have liked there to have been more of this. For the most part, however, the book consists of photographs, mostly close-ups of these women's faces. The photographs themselves are striking. They're not studio portraits or anything like that. Marti Friedlander, the photographer, took the photos in the women's homes, and with only the available light at that home, so there's nothing staged about any of them. Kids, cats, whoever was there at the time, they're all included.

It's a sensitive, fascinating artistic and cultural record.

[Samantha Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful read. His care and respect for these wahine and their story is evident and the photos honest and beautiful! Great read, inspiring piece of work.

[Tasman District Libraries]

A beautiful pictorial book that can be found in our Māori Non-Fic collection. This is a
revised edition and was originally published in 1972. Michael King is one of New Zealand’s most renowned historians and has a large and creditable collection behind him. Michael’s wish was to document the last of the “old” Moko Kauae that was gifted to wāhine and the end of the 19th century by Tohunga Māori and when facial moko still carried with it all of the original conventions and values. The
photographer of this book is Marti Friedlander who captures these kuia in a respectful and beautiful light.
Over 70 wāhine were found and photographed for this compilation and a majority are affiliated to North
Island iwi. Moko Kauae is on the increase again and many women are receiving their genealogy on their faces to bring honour their whakapapa and ancestral heritage but to also revive the “old ways” whislt expressing cultural identity. This book is beautiful and unique, and like H. Robley's book “Moko”, it has sadly but thankfully captured the end of particular eras in regards to māori moko.
SN