Avoid Poor Maori Tattoo Design Mistakes 

Maori Tribal tattoos

If you are looking at getting a 100 percent unique traditional maori tattoo designs and get this traditional maori tattoo art with ease then this maori tattoo design article will be helpful in avoiding the most common maori tattoo design mistakes made today

You will find it helpful when going ahead and eventually deciding on what traditional maori tattoo designs you want to get

There are so many mistakes made by people when selecting maori tattoo designs that i see everyday, you will be able to avoid these common mistakes by following these easy pointers
As more and more people get tattoos in this ever increasing culture of expressiveness, we find that Maori Tattoo Art are being chosen by many
In fact maori tattoo designs are some of the most popular tattoos around and there’s a valid reason why traditional maori tattoo art are so popular in our current multi-cultural societies.

Maori tribal tattoos found here

Many tattoo artists and those looking to get tattoos on them, will often imitate other cultures tattoo designs to try come up with their unique designs. This can lead to artistic flair, but not so when choosing traditional maori tattoo art .

To understand traditional maori tattoo designs you need to understand traditional maori tattoo designs terminology. In all walks of life there are phrases and terms that are unique to that particular endeavour and so it is with  traditional maori tattoo art For the family identification part of the maori culture, those that form part of the ta moko family group are known as whakapapa

The reason it is important for maoris to know their family history is important especially when they were waring amongst each other over the centuries on and before their arrival of the shores of new zealand

There are still Maoris that can trace their history with these maori tattoos Amongst the maori of today live a few maori chiefs or maori leaders that would actually be able to tell you which tribe a certain maori tattoo belongs too, when it was done and the history of that tribe The are designs that date back over a 2,000 year period in maori history, these chiefs have the skill and ability by looking at the design would be able to tell how far this tattoo dates back to or this particular design origins There is a story in each maori tattoo that you see, each one tells a little bit about this maoris tribe and is unique like a finger print to each tribe

Alright we have dealt with the “TA” of the “TAMOKO” but what about the “MOKO” well the moko has got to do with the actual carving or inking of the skin when it comes to the maori tattoo designs

Once upon a time in history when it came to getting a tattoo the maori used the bones of albatrosses to do their inking or they used brutal chiseling tools that would make any modern man cry by cutting deeply into the flesh then painting or coloring which was used to distringuish the family history and the final part was the actual pattern which would then tell you the story of this maori tribe Which will allow like an elder to look at the pattern and tell you some ones family history based on design, the moko and pattern! See there is more than meets the eye with a maori tattoo design I’m sure you have been told that traditional maori tattoo art are only supposed to be done on the face, however this is not true as they were also done on peoples bodies back in the day, what you will find looking back in history is that these people who had these designs done on their faces were important figures among the tribe and this is how they were distinguished from the other people within the tribe

These are the best Maori Tribal Tattoos
There are so many people copying maori tattoo designs these days, many people think there is no harm in doing this, at first sight but is it really ok to steal other cultures identities?One should never just take words, images or symbols from the maoritanga or Maori culture with out knowing what they are doing, as to the Maori this is seen as an insult, can you imagine walking around with some maoris family history? One thing not to do is to go out into the world of maori tattoo designs and just start copying any design, this could lead to a situation of stealing some maoris family tree
How would you like to know what maoris really think about other cultures and especially now the western cultures stealing their identity and culture?
If you were ever to hear the word “pakeha” said to you while in new zealand i am sure that the tone that you would hear it in would indicate to you that this is not how maoris greet in their own language! No this word is associated with westerners in particular that have stolen maori culture and now more than ever are taking some original tattoo designs that have been in their families for over a thousand years and all without asking, this is what the word “pakeha” means those that take without asking!
The Maori see maori tattoo designs that are not done right as weakening their spirituality, their culture, and see the west as thieves for not having their own originality when getting maori tattoo designs.
Ok so i have written this article i hope it hasn’t dampened your spirit about getting a maori tattoo, but now what are you going to do in terms of finding and getting the perfect maori tattoo design? Well i hope that this article hasn’t made you change your mind about maori tattoo designs, no this article was intended to help you get a better maori tattoo design, so now how are you going to go about getting a maori tattoo and how will this help or affect you going foreword with your designs?
The easiest thing to do is to copy a design, however like i have mentioned this should be avoided, never ever go out and just copy a design that you see on a maori in new zealand
The best thing to do in this case when seeing a traditional maori tattoo design that you like would be to contact someone in new zealand that actually deals with maori tattoo designs and ask them what they think, yes i know this doesnt seem logical or easy but it is for the sake and request of this culture it is what makes the maori the maori! They need these designs and they need you to respect their requests or you could be contributing to their doom as a culture that might not be around in the next 300 years! Maoris are really only annoyed when you just take, they might even grant you a special maori tattoo for asking, do you want to know how many people would actually ask for a design? Not many! That’s right if you ask you will more likely be given the go ahead for a special maori tattoo design, this way it will be even more unique and you will have a one of a kind maori tattoo design that you can be proud of

black tribal dragon tattoos found here

Choosing Maori Tattoo Designs

maori tattoo designs click here

So you think that getting a tattoo by today’s standards is painful, well traditionally the maori made deep cuts into the skin using brutal tools and yes also the bones of albatrosses, for the maori to be able to distinguish themselves from the other tribes they used the color of the ink to tell the family history and the patterns on the skin would then allow someone to interpret the family history of these patterns So lets say you were an elder in a maori circle someone who knew a lot about maori history if, if some one brought you a design, you would be able to by looking at the design the moko and the maori tribal tattoo pattern be able to trace their family history, much like someone using computers to find out their ancestry, they would be able to do the same Many people teach that or tell other that maori tattoos in their original roots of tattoo designs were only done on the face and now they have moved to other parts of the body now, however this is utter rubbish they have been done for centuries on maoris bodies, it was only people high up in maori circles who tended to get these tattoos

Maori tattoo designs

These are the best Maori Tribal Tattoos
Many westerners like to imitate Maori tattoo designs and as the saying goes, imitation is a form of flattery, but not in all cases especially when getting a Maori tattoo design. You should never go and copy anything in the form of tattoos from the maoirtanga without having a clue as to what it means, there could be a chance that a certain design belongs to a maori family The only way you might find yourself in such a situation is if you go out into the world and start copying any and every maori tattoo design that you come across
How would you like to know what maoris really think about other cultures and especially now the western cultures stealing their identity and culture?
White people are know as “pakeha” and are know for never asking but just taking (in terms of culture and land) they also see most westerns as close minded never seeing other cultures, what is amazing is that the native Americans also said this about the white man in America.
One thing that is annoying many traditional maoris as mentioned is the stealing of these tattoo designs and the reason that it is annoying them, is the fact that they foresee a day when the maori will have lost everything, they believe they have lost their land, now they are loosing something that makes the maori for who they are today, and that is the maori through their tattoo designs, they feel that this is the last thing to go in terms of spirituality before they have lost all to the west, which is quite sad as all cultures on earth are only bound as a culture through their individual rituals and unique flair such as tattoos in the maoris case.
Ok so i have written this article i hope it hasn’t dampened your spirit about getting a maori tattoo, but now what are you going to do in terms of finding and getting the perfect maori tattoo design? Well i hope that this article hasn’t made you change your mind about maori tattoo designs, no this article was intended to help you get a better maori tattoo design, so now how are you going to go about getting a maori tattoo and how will this help or affect you going foreword with your designs?
The easiest thing to do is to copy a design, however like i have mentioned this should be avoided, never ever go out and just copy a design that you see on a maori in new zealand
The best thing to do in this case when seeing a traditional maori tattoo design that you like would be to contact someone in new zealand that actually deals with maori tattoo designs and ask them what they think, yes i know this doesnt seem logical or easy but it is for the sake and request of this culture it is what makes the maori the maori! They need these designs and they need you to respect their requests or you could be contributing to their doom as a culture that might not be around in the next 300 years!It is only when Maori tattoo designs are copied when someone else has already gotten that Maori tattoo already within a Maori tribe that make them feel that their spirituality is being stolen

One of the primary reasons that the maori tattoo was so important and formed a solid role within their culture was that they would be able to trace their ancestry over generations and this would also allow them while they were on the battlefield to know who they were fighting as their lives literally depended on these  traditional maori tattoo art

These maori tattoos are still used by Some maori chiefs to recall their history and ancestorysome chiefs can look at a Maori tattoo design, read it like a book, they do this by feeling the texture, looking at the design and the precision that went into getting the tattoo and will be able to trace back some of these Maori family trees.Some of these tattoos go back 2000 years, yes that right all through just looking at the design and finishing of the tattoo they will be able to tell certain maoris families origins.You see all Maori tattoos have a story and tell a story.

click here for black tribal dragon tattoos

Dont Make These Mistakes When Choosing A Maori Tattoo Design 

In this maori tattoo design report i am going to let you know a few things about Maori Tattoo Art and what you should try not do.

tattoo maori designs

It is helpful and useful when deciding on getting a great looking and unique traditional maori tattoo art
Maori Tribal Tattoos found here
There are many mistakes people make when getting maori tattoo designs and i hope that by the end of this article you will avoid the most common mistakes made today
As more and more people get tattoos in this ever increasing culture of expressiveness, we find that Maori Tattoo Art are being chosen by many
In fact maori tattoo designs are some of the most popular tattoos around and there’s a valid reason why traditional maori tattoo art are so popular in our current multi-cultural societies.

get tattoo maori designs here

Many tattoo artists and those looking to get tattoos on them, will often imitate other cultures tattoo designs to try come up with their unique designs. This can lead to artistic flair, but not so when choosing traditional maori tattoo art .
If you are serious on getting a traditional maori tattoo designs and this is what you have set your heart on then it would and should be great for you to learn about the lingo that goes with Maori Tattoo Art As you know if you were learning about computers or any field there will be terms associated with that particular study and so it is with  traditional maori tattoo artThe ta moko is the name of the family identification of Maori that form part of the group known as whakapapa.
The reason identification through tattoos was important for the maori was that they were able to distinguish each other on the battle fields by having a look at the tattoos on their body, this also allowed them to know their family history if they moved places over centuries
These maori tattoos are still used by Some maori chiefs to recall their history and ancestory There are some leaders of maoris that are still alive today that would be able to look at certain designs and tell you who or from which tribe these tattoo`s belong too The are designs that date back over a 2,000 year period in maori history, these chiefs have the skill and ability by looking at the design would be able to tell how far this tattoo dates back to or this particular design origins What might not be apparent at first sight to you or i when looking at Maori Tattoo Art is that each one is an actual story, and each story tells a tale of where this tribe goes back to, their beliefs, spirituality and more.

So you have learnt about the “ta” form of the maori language now its time to introduce the “moko” part that is the important part as it involves the chiseling of the tattoo into the skin

black tribal dragon tattoo

Maori Woman and the Maori Man.

If you are looking at getting a one hundred percent unique Maori Tattoo Art and get this traditional maori tattoo art with ease then this maori tattoo design article will be helpful in avoiding the most common maori tattoo design mistakes made today

This is important especially if you are looking at having a unique and great looking maori tattoo design

Important Maori Tattoo Design Concepts  

The Moko is similar to an identity card, or passport. The Moko showed rank, status and ferocity for the men. The wearer’s position of power and authority could be instantly recognized in his Moko. Combined with a particular Moko, outward signs could instantly define the “identity card” of a person. A man wearing a dog cloak could be a person of authority, especially if it is worn with a Moko.

tattoo maori designs.

Definitely these would be the signs of the “identity card”. It would be considered a great insult if the person was not recognized as the chief he was, and this could lead to “utu” – vengeance.

Moko, the male facial tattoo, is generally divided into eight parts:

demon wings tattoos

1. Ngakaipikirau (rank). Right on top of the face at the center of the forehead area.

2. Ngunga (position). Circled Around The Eye brows.
3. Uirere (hapu rank). The eyes and nose area.
4. Uma (first or second marriage). Temple area
5. Raurau (signature). The area under the nose.
6. Taiohou (work). Usually just under the eyes around the cheek bones
7. Wairua (mana). The first part of the jaw line, the chin area.
8. Taitoto (birth status). The jaw.

On the face, you can perceive ancestry in each side. Depending on the tribe, the left side is usually the father’s side and the right hand side is the mother’s. A primary requirement before undertaking a Moko was descent.

If one side of a person’s ancestry was not of rank, that side of the face would have no Moko design. A center forehead area of a person without a Moko design means that the wearer has no rank or inherited rank.

So now you know a little bit more about the Maori and how they used to tattoo each other, with today’s technology you do not need to suffer like the Maori did when they got their tattoos.

Gaining a deeper spiritual meaning to life is one great thing in learning about Maori tattoos, they allow you to mix and match and combine them with different designs.

Now what’s left to do is to select a design, these Maori tattoos are not like any other fashion that will be in and out; these are permanent and sure made its mark in history.

men tattoos with girlfriends name designs

There are still Maoris that can trace their history with these maori tattoos Amongst the maori of today live a few maori chiefs or maori leaders that would actually be able to tell you which tribe a certain maori tattoo belongs too, when it was done and the history of that tribe There are maori walking around right now in new zealand that have maori tribal tattoos that date back 2,000 years, if one of these chiefs looked at these designs, they would be able to tell how far back they go and yes some of these designs go back over 2,000 years What most people don’t realise when looking at a design is that they tell a story, though they look like a swirl or twirl to us, they actually tell a full story when you know how to read these tattoos.

One of the primary reasons that the maori tattoo was so important and formed a solid role within their culture was that they would be able to trace their ancestry over generations and this would also allow them while they were on the battlefield to know who they were fighting as their lives literally depended on these  traditional maori tattoo art

Im going to let you in on something, this is going to let you know what maoris think about the western world when they steal their tattoo designs and especially their maori tattoo designs.

Maori Tribal Tattoos found here

If you were ever to hear the word “pakeha” said to you while in new zealand i am sure that the tone that you would hear it in would indicate to you that this is not how maoris greet in their own language! No this word is associated with westerners in particular that have stolen maori culture and now more than ever are taking some original tattoo designs that have been in their families for over a thousand years and all without asking, this is what the word “pakeha” means those that take without asking!

The simplest thing you can do is not to go out and copy the first maori tattoo design that you see on a maori in new zealand for starters, you would be surprised how many people have done this!

Rather approach a tribe if you can and ask them if you may use their design or if this is not an option when choosing a Maori tattoo design, then try design your own design, it may look like a Maori tattoo but in reality it will not offend anyone.

The only time anyone will run into problems with these tattoos is going to copy them straight from one of the elders, big corporations dont like it when someone makes “knock offs” of their merchandise and so it is with this special maori culture, Dont copy rather ask, its easier.

zodiac signs tattoos found here.

There are many errors people make when getting traditional maori tattoo art and i hope that by the end of this article you will avoid the most common mistakes made today

As millions of people get tattoos in this ever increasing culture of expressiveness, we find that maori tattoo designs are being selected by many

If you are serious on getting a traditional maori tattoo art and this is what you have set your heart on then it would and should be great for you to learn about the lingo that goes with Maori Tattoo Art

Just like in every field on life there are terms associated with the way people do things, so it is with  traditional maori tattoo designs. Whakapapa is the maori family groups that is associated and forms part of the ta moko family identification

The reason identification through tattoos was important for the maori was that they were able to distinguish each other on the battle fields by having a look at the tattoos on their body, this also allowed them to know their family history if they moved places over centuries

Once upon a time in history when it came to getting a tattoo the maori used the bones of albatrosses to do their inking or they used brutal chiseling tools that would make any modern man cry by cutting deeply into the flesh then painting or coloring which was used to distringuish the family history and the final part was the actual pattern which would then tell you the story of this maori tribe

So lets say you were an elder in a maori circle someone who knew a lot about maori history if, if some one brought you a design, you would be able to by looking at the design the moko and the maori tribal tattoo pattern be able to trace their family history, much like someone using computers to find out their ancestry, they would be able to do the same

There is a common misconception around the world thinking that maori tattoos in their original sense were only done on the faces, however this is not true, they were also done on peoples bodies, what this allowed them to do was distinguish their chiefs or leaders by having these marking on their faces

zodiac signs can be seen here.

How To Get The Best Maori Tattoo Design 

Traditionally the Maori used the bones of albatrosses to do this and other cutting tools, these tools cut deep grooved into the skin, the coloring is for the family history and the story telling is the actual patterns on the skin, So lets say you were an elder in a maori circle someone who knew a lot about maori history if, if some one brought you a design, you would be able to by looking at the design the moko and the maori tribal tattoo pattern be able to trace their family history, much like someone using computers to find out their ancestry, they would be able to do the same Many people teach that or tell other that maori tattoos in their original roots of tattoo designs were only done on the face and now they have moved to other parts of the body now, however this is utter rubbish they have been done for centuries on maoris bodies, it was only people high up in maori circles who tended to get these tattoos

Click here for the best Maori Tribal Tattoos

It is now common for westerners to have maori tattoo designs, this can be seen as a way of promoting the maori culture, however do you know that is a form of stealing maori tradition and culture? At first it might not seem apparent when taking symbols and images from the maori culture without having an idea of what they mean, but you should never do this as they might belong to a family who have had this maor tattoo designs in their family tree for years The only way you might find yourself in such a situation is if you go out into the world and start copying any and every maori tattoo design that you come across

The sad fact is that this is what maoris think of people that steal the maori tattoo designs?

White people are know as “pakeha” and are know for never asking but just taking (in terms of culture and land) they also see most westerns as close minded never seeing other cultures, what is amazing is that the native Americans also said this about the white man in America.

From the maoris point of view taking from their culture without asking them or having a design on you that is a replica is a weakening of their identity in terms of their culture, westernising them further through the stealing of their heritage and also they feel that they will eventually have nothing left that is sacred and original for them to hold onto in the future.

wolf tattoo designs click link.

So what does this mean for you when getting a moari tattoo?

The safest thing for anyone like you to do is to perhaps look at a few designs for inspiration but try never ever to copy the design like it is on maoris in newZealand.

The best thing to do in this case when seeing a traditional maori tattoo design that you like would be to contact someone in new zealand that actually deals with maori tattoo designs and ask them what they think, yes i know this doesnt seem logical or easy but it is for the sake and request of this culture it is what makes the maori the maori! They need these designs and they need you to respect their requests or you could be contributing to their doom as a culture that might not be around in the next 300 years! Maoris are really only annoyed when you just take, they might even grant you a special maori tattoo for asking, do you want to know how many people would actually ask for a design? Not many! That’s right if you ask you will more likely be given the go ahead for a special maori tattoo design, this way it will be even more unique and you will have a one of a kind maori tattoo design that you can be proud of

dolphin tattoo designs found here.

In this maori tattoo design report i am going to let you know a few things about traditional maori tattoo designs and what you should try avoid.

You will find it helpful when going ahead and eventually deciding on what maori tattoo designs you want to get

Maori Tribal Tattoos found here

There are so many mistakes made by people when selecting Maori Tattoo Art that i see everyday, you will be able to avoid these common pitfalls by following these simple pointers

It seems as many people are choosing to be tattooed today and you will notice that Maori Tattoo Art are often the choice made by people looking for tribal tattoos

traditional maori tattoo art seems to be at the forefront of tattoos when it comes to choosing a tattoo and no wonder when you see maori tattoo designs, it makes perfect sence

In today’s world with so many tattoo artists and so many people looking to get a tattoos, you will find them going through and looking at other cultures in the hope of borrowing or worse of stealing other peoples designs to come up with their own tattoos This can be seen as originality or artistic flair when looking at other non traditional tattoo designs but should be avoided when looking at traditional maori tattoo designs.

To understand traditional maori tattoo art you need to understand traditional maori tattoo art terminology. As you know if you were learning about computers or any field there will be terms associated with that particular study and so it is with  maori tattoo designsThe ta moko is the name of the family identification of Maori that form part of the group known as whakapapa.

The reason identification through tattoos was important for the maori was that they were able to distinguish each other on the battle fields by having a look at the tattoos on their body, this also allowed them to know their family history if they moved places over centuries

These maori tattoos are still used by certain maori chiefs to recall their history and ancestory There are some leaders of maoris that are still alive today that would be able to look at certain designs and tell you who or from which tribe these tattoo`s belong too There are maori walking around right now in new zealand that have maori tribal tattoos that date back 2,000 years, if one of these chiefs looked at these designs, they would be able to tell how far back they go and yes some of these designs go back over 2,000 years There is a story in each maori tattoo that you see, each one tells a little bit about this maoris tribe and is unique like a finger print to each tribe

So far we have dealt with the ta form but the other part or missing word is moko, and the moko part of any Maori tattoo is the actual carving out of the skin.

End of Maori Tattoo designs article one

Looking for the best maori Tattoos

Once upon a time in history when it came to getting a tattoo the maori used the bones of albatrosses to do their inking or they used brutal chiseling tools that would make any modern man cry by cutting deeply into the flesh then painting or coloring which was used to distringuish the family history and the final part was the actual pattern which would then tell you the story of this maori tribe So lets say you were an elder in a maori circle someone who knew a lot about maori history if, if some one brought you a design, you would be able to by looking at the design the moko and the maori tribal tattoo pattern be able to trace their family history, much like someone using computers to find out their ancestry, they would be able to do the sameMost people think that the maori tattoo designs are limited to the face only though this is not true, it was only done on certain peoples faces within the maori tribes, these people were significant within their maori circles.

These are the best Maori Tribal Tattoos

Many westerners like to imitate Maori tattoo designs and as the saying goes, imitation is a form of flattery, but not in all cases especially when getting a Maori tattoo design.One should never just take words, images or symbols from the maoritanga or Maori culture with out knowing what they are doing, as to the Maori this is seen as an insult, can you imagine walking around with some maoris family history?This is what will happen if you just go out there and start copying maori tattoo designs

Im going to let you in on something, this is going to let you know what maoris think about the western world when they steal their tattoo designs and especially their maori tattoo designs.

White people are know as “pakeha” and are know for never asking but just taking (in terms of culture and land) they also see most westerns as close minded never seeing other cultures, what is amazing is that the native Americans also said this about the white man in America.

From the maoris point of view taking from their culture without asking them or having a design on you that is a replica is a weakening of their identity in terms of their culture, westernising them further through the stealing of their heritage and also they feel that they will eventually have nothing left that is sacred and original for them to hold onto in the future.

So now that you understand some of these ideas and concepts how is this going to help you in finding the right maori tattoo?

The simplest thing you can do is not to go out and copy the first maori tattoo design that you see on a maori in new zealand for starters, you would be surprised how many people have done this!

The quickest way to get a traditional maori tattoo design would be to contact someone in new zealand who is in charge of a tribe or a tribal tattoo artist and ask if the design that you are looking at is not someones design already, though this might seem dumb as mentioned we have to be sensitive to a culture that has shrunk over the last 200 years, with the internet this could be done in a matter of hoursIt is only when Maori tattoo designs are copied when someone else has already gotten that Maori tattoo already within a Maori tribe that make them feel that their spirituality is being stolen

Looking for the best maori Tattoos

The maori people of New Zealand hold tattooing as a sacred art. The maori art of tattooing originated from the islands of East Polynesia. maori tattoo designs are among the most distinctive in the world having their own identity amongst polynesian tattoos. When you see polynesian and maori tattoos side by side you will see a distinct difference. Maori tattoo patterns symbolize a way of personal identification for the people. Common shapes are incorporated into maori tattoo designs. The “Koru” shape which stems from the New Zealand fern is frequently used in designs. The “Koru” shape is the frond of a young unfurling fern leaf. Within the maori culture this symbolizes renewal. The maori people identify this significant symbol withvalues of youth, strength and vitality, life unfolding, the Whanau (family) its care and protection.

Look for designs at maori tattoo designs

Traditional maori tattoo designs will generally include sacred symbols. Tattoo symbols and patterns identify the history and heritage of an individual. Maori see it as stealing part of an identity when traditional tattoo designs are copied for the sake of a trend or fashion.

Maori have traditionally worn the tattoo on their face which was to show everyone who they were i.e. their family, tribe and status within an area grouping. Tattoo designs were traditionally inked on the face and depicted the wearers heritage and standing within a tribal community.

Maori tattoo designs are becoming extremely popular all over the world. Think about the cultural sensitivities when considering a maori tattoo design. These sacred tattoo designs are not simply for ornamental purposes.

Check out the designs at maori tattoo designs

That said, there are ways that you can have your own maori tattoo designed without the symbolic ties. If you are considering maori tattoo designs you should find an experienced artist who knows about maori culture and get them to design you a Maori tattoo that has the look of a moko (tattoo design) without the symbolic ties. There are many designs that can be personalized to incorporate other styles for example combining maori and Celtic designs. Maori designs combined with celtic tattoo designs are becoming increasingly popular from people who want to reflex their mixed heritage.

Kirituhi (writing on skin) is the new term given to skin art or body art in New Zealand. Do not confuse Ta Moko with Kirituhi, Ta Moko is the traditional form of maori tattoo.

Check out some maori tattoo designs at maori tattoo designs

You do not find much more powerful and striking tattoos than Maori tattoo designs, they are tattoo designs that hold strong significance for the wearer which comes from the Maori culture, while also making simply beautiful designs to wear. Some people choose to wear a Maori tattoo design purely for the way these beautiful tattoos look, but it is a mistake to do this becuase Maori tattoos heach have such a strong meaning in Maori culture and you should be sure to understand what statement you are making with the design you choose to wear on your body.

Be sure to look into what these tattoos mean before you choose one to get inked on your body. To know a little about the Maori people is a good idea too – the Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand. It’s believed they arrived in the Polynesian islands first in the 1300s, Where they selltled in and developed their society and way of life into something unique. The arrival of Europeans in Polynesia in the 1700s dramatically disrupted Maori life and led to the gradual decline of the Maori tribes through the 1800s. However, this century, specifically since the 1960s Maori culture has been undergoing a popular revival.

Maori tattoo designs especially have become popular around the world. This is inpart because Maori tattoos are unique visually and in meaning.

You can read my reivew of the most popular website online to buy Maori tattoo designs here: Tattoo Site Review

The origins of tattoos in Maori mythology are said to have come from the lord of the underworld, in a story about a love affair. This love affair was between a young man named Mataori and a prnicess of the underworld named Niwareka. According to the legend, one day the lovers argued and Mataora beat Niwareka, causing Niwareka to flee back to her father’s kingdom in the underworld, called ‘Uetonga’.

Mataori followed Niwareka to Uetonga, feeling terrible from regret and shame for what he had done. He sought her forgiveness but had first to overcome many challenges. Finally, after a long battle, he made it to Uetonga. When he arrived he was mocked by Niwareka’s family for his bedraggled appearance. He no longer had his face paint and most of his clothes were destroyed. Mataora begged for along time the forgiveness of his lover, and after a while Niwareka forgave him. Before they returned to the surface world Nwareka’s father, lord of the underworld, decided to teach Mataora the art ot tattooing.

You can find out more about Maori tattoo designs here: Maori Tattoo Designs

If you’d rather read about Tribal tattoos in general, go here: The Meaning of Tribal Tattoos