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Hero image for Tā Moko

Tā Moko

Television (Excerpts) – 2007

This excerpt of documentary Tā Moko includes rare footage of internationally acclaimed Māori artist George Nuku getting a full-face moko via traditional tattooing techniques. The documentary follows the journey of Tā Moko from its use and status in traditional Māori culture, to its appropriation as gang insignia, and its revival as an expression of Māori identity and pride in the modern world. Directed by Kim Webby, Tā Moko screened on TVNZ, and was a finalist at the 2007 NZ Media Peace Awards. 

The distinction between moko and Kirituhi is pretty much a lack of process. So, where moko has a process of researching your genealogy and going through the whanau and asking about permissions and all that type of stuff, Kirituhi generally won’t have that process.
– George Nuku on pākehā Kirituhi (skin art)

Key Cast & Crew

See all 12 credits

Produced by

Logo for Front of the Box Productions

Front of the Box Productions

Source

Claudette Hauiti

Acknowledgements

Made with funding from NZ On Air

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