Friday, February 18, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
TA MOKO, New Zealand's Traditional Tattoo
Tā moko
(New Zealand's Traditional Tattoo)
Ta moko is the permanent body and face marking by Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand.
Traditionally it is distinct from tattoo and tatau in that the skin was carved by uhi (chisels) rather than punctured. This left the skin with grooves, rather than a smooth surface.
Captain Cook wrote in 1769:
The marks in general are spirals drawn with great nicety and even elegance. One side corresponds with the other. The marks on the body resemble foliage in old chased ornaments, convolutions of filigree work, but in these they have such a luxury of forms that of a hundred which at first appeared exactly the same no two were formed alike on close examination.
The tattooists were considered tapu, or exceptionally inviolable and sacred
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Haka, the traditional War Dance
HAKA, the traditional War Dance
Although the use of haka by the All Blacks rugby union team and the Kiwis rugby league team has made one type of haka familiar, it has led to misconceptions. Haka are not exclusively war dances or performed only by men. Some are performed by women, others by mixed groups, and some simple haka are performed by children. Haka are performed for various reasons: for amusement, as a hearty welcome to distinguished guests, or to acknowledge great achievements or occasions.
War haka
Read MoreWar haka
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