Tā moko and kirituhi
What is the difference between tā moko and kirituhi?
Tā moko is the customary tattoo of Māori, carrying whakapapa, identity and the right to wear particular marks. It is not a style to select from a menu. Kirituhi is the term for Māori-informed design worn by people without that whakapapa — visually related, but explicitly not carrying the same standing.
| Looks like | Curvilinear patterning with established elements. In tā moko, the composition speaks to a specific person's lineage. |
|---|---|
| Ages like | As blackwork does, being predominantly solid black. |
What to ask the artist
- If you are Māori and seeking tā moko: this is a conversation with a tā moko practitioner and with your whānau, not a booking question
- If you are not Māori and drawn to the aesthetic: ask specifically about kirituhi, and expect a practitioner to take that distinction seriously
- Any practitioner who treats the two as interchangeable is telling you something about their practice