title: Contemporary attitudes to traditional facial ta moko: A working paper

authors: Rua, Mohi

subjects: Maori

abstract: Until it came under serious attack from nineteenth century missionaries, ta moko was an
integral part of traditional Maori society. Facial moko conveyed important information about
identity, whakapapa and status. The process of receiving a moko was tapu and highly regulated.
Recent years have seen an increase in the number of Maori receiving ta moko. Moko have been
seen as a symbol of Maori pride and identity and have often been associated with political
activism. This study set out to investigate the contemporary meaning of ta moko, the reactions
wearers encounter from others and the ways wearers cope with those reactions.
Three case studies are presented. These show that the issues of personal identity and
whakapapa were central to the meaning wearers attached to their moko. Receiving a moko was
often associated with significant personal changes and an increased political commitment to
Maori self determination. On the whole, positive reactions were more common than negative
reactions but wearers did find themselves subjected to racist and antagonistic responses.
Wearing moko was also reported to mean that others, particularly other Maori, placed certain
expectations on the wearer, notably to be fluent in te reo and to be able to exercise leadership.
Participants considered that there was a need for education about the significance of ta moko
and recommended that those contemplating receiving a moko ensure that they are reasonably
fluent in te reo.

text: Contemporary attitudes to traditional facial ta moko: A working paper Until it came under serious attack from nineteenth century missionaries, ta moko was an
integral part of traditional Maori society. Facial moko conveyed important information about
identity, whakapapa and status. The process of receiving a moko was tapu and highly regulated.
Recent years have seen an increase in the number of Maori receiving ta moko. Moko have been
seen as a symbol of Maori pride and identity and have often been associated with political
activism. This study set out to investigate the contemporary meaning of ta moko, the reactions
wearers encounter from others and the ways wearers cope with those reactions.
Three case studies are presented. These show that the issues of personal identity and
whakapapa were central to the meaning wearers attached to their moko. Receiving a moko was
often associated with significant personal changes and an increased political commitment to
Maori self determination. On the whole, positive reactions were more common than negative
reactions but wearers did find themselves subjected to racist and antagonistic responses.
Wearing moko was also reported to mean that others, particularly other Maori, placed certain
expectations on the wearer, notably to be fluent in te reo and to be able to exercise leadership.
Participants considered that there was a need for education about the significance of ta moko
and recommended that those contemplating receiving a moko ensure that they are reasonably
fluent in te reo.

year: 1999

title: Wearing moko: Maori facial marking in today’s world

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

subjects: moko

abstract: The early voyagers, missionaries, settlers all reacted to the pukanohi, to the marked faces of the Maori people, during the period of first contact, and the century following it. Their accounts are vivid, judgemental, revealing, telling us as much about them as they do about the people they described.
Curiosity and horror are mixed with a genuine
fascination; where sternly evangelizing words
failed, armed confrontation occurred; and we
now live with the results, te ao hou, a new world. In this world, today, wahine mau kauae, tangata mau moko, pukanohi – wearers – are speaking for themselves, about themselves, and commenting on how others view them. Unanimously, they insist that the decision to take the marking is about continuity, affirmation, identity and commitment. It is also about wearing those ancestors, carrying them into the future; as their moko become a companion, a salient being with its own life force, its own integrity and power, beyond the face.

text: Wearing moko: Maori facial marking in today’s world The early voyagers, missionaries, settlers all reacted to the pukanohi, to the marked faces of the Maori people, during the period of first contact, and the century following it. Their accounts are vivid, judgemental, revealing, telling us as much about them as they do about the people they described.
Curiosity and horror are mixed with a genuine
fascination; where sternly evangelizing words
failed, armed confrontation occurred; and we
now live with the results, te ao hou, a new world. In this world, today, wahine mau kauae, tangata mau moko, pukanohi – wearers – are speaking for themselves, about themselves, and commenting on how others view them. Unanimously, they insist that the decision to take the marking is about continuity, affirmation, identity and commitment. It is also about wearing those ancestors, carrying them into the future; as their moko become a companion, a salient being with its own life force, its own integrity and power, beyond the face.

year: 2004-04-04

title: The movement of sediment in a channel in relation to magnitude and frequency concepts- a New Zealand example

authors: Pain, C.F.

abstract: In areas where surface wash contributes most of the debris to a channel network, the effect of events of moderate magnitude and frequency appear to be more important than catastrophic events for land form development. In previous studies this idea has been emphasised, largely as a result of the fact that the contribution of bedload to sediment yield has rarely been considered.
Examination of these ideas under certain New Zealand conditions would seem to present a somewhat different picture. Where rapid mass movement is the main contributor of sediment to the channel, both the development of hill-slope form and the movement of sediment in channels must be related to the frequency of occurrence of mass movements. The evidence seems to suggest that most major mass movements are triggered during high-intensity, low-frequency storms.
The Orere River catchment in the Hunua greywacke block of South Auckland, New Zealand, is examined to test these ideas. Although historical data are limited, the character of the sediments in the lower catchment would suggest a succession of major periods of deposition. High-intensity storms of 1966 and 1967 resulted in the deposition of large amounts of material in the channels throughout the catchment, with a gradual removal of material mainly from the upper catchment since that time. From the limited evidence that is available, a simple model of sediment movement through the catchment is presented.

text: The movement of sediment in a channel in relation to magnitude and frequency concepts- a New Zealand example In areas where surface wash contributes most of the debris to a channel network, the effect of events of moderate magnitude and frequency appear to be more important than catastrophic events for land form development. In previous studies this idea has been emphasised, largely as a result of the fact that the contribution of bedload to sediment yield has rarely been considered.
Examination of these ideas under certain New Zealand conditions would seem to present a somewhat different picture. Where rapid mass movement is the main contributor of sediment to the channel, both the development of hill-slope form and the movement of sediment in channels must be related to the frequency of occurrence of mass movements. The evidence seems to suggest that most major mass movements are triggered during high-intensity, low-frequency storms.
The Orere River catchment in the Hunua greywacke block of South Auckland, New Zealand, is examined to test these ideas. Although historical data are limited, the character of the sediments in the lower catchment would suggest a succession of major periods of deposition. High-intensity storms of 1966 and 1967 resulted in the deposition of large amounts of material in the channels throughout the catchment, with a gradual removal of material mainly from the upper catchment since that time. From the limited evidence that is available, a simple model of sediment movement through the catchment is presented.

year: 1970