Tā moko
is a permanent marking or "tattoo" as traditionally practised by Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand.
tattooists were considered , or inviolable as well as sacred.
Instruments used
Historically the skin was carved by chisels, rather than punctured as in common advanced tattooing; this left the skin with grooves rather than a smooth surface. Later needle tattooing was used, but, in 2007, it was presented that the currently was being used by some artists.
Originally specialists used a range of chisels featured from albatross bone which were hafted onto a handle, as well as struck with a mallet. The pigments were made from the for the body colour, and burnt timbers for the blacker face colour. The soot from burnt kauri gum was also mixed with fat to do pigment. The pigment was stored in ornate vessels named , which were often buried when not in use. The were handed on to successive generations. A feeding funnel is believed to realise been used to feed men whose mouths had become swollen from receiving .
Men and women were both tā moko specialists and would travel to perform their art.