Maori Tribe

The Maori people are the indigenous tribe from New Zealand they have a very distinct culture with their own language, recognisable art, tattoos and mythology due to the separation from the rest of the world.
Around 1280 AD they came to New Zealand from eastern Polynesia.

Maori Warrior

Maori Warriors are acclaimed for the brutal and barbaric nature, they go down as one of ferocious warriors that have lived. 

Warriors would be subjected into wars over land and pride, throughout Maori history war was a defying part of Maori culture, much conflict was also caused when Europeans started to inhabit New Zealand taking land away from the tribe.
Tribes would always want to regain and defend the pride causing and endless cycle of violence for the Maori people.

Jewellery

Art and Jewellery are also a very traditional and distinct attribute to the Maori tribe.Bone jewellery would be carved into spectacular shapes and figures which represented different qualities from fertility and strength to a mythical creature being the messenger between the earth world of mortal and the domain of the spirits.

Koru Bone Carving

                                                    Fertility necklace

                                       

Tattoos

The Maori tribe have a form of body art known as moko or more commonly known as Maori tattooing. The tattooing was brought by the Maori from Polynesia. This art is considered highly sacred, and continues to be copied in modern cultures today.

The Maori tattoo is one of a kind, and no two tattoos are alike. It is highly complex and detailed, which displays the skill and artistry of the Maori culture.The most popular kind of Maori tattoo was the facial tattoo as the Maori consider the head to be the most sacred part of the body. The tattoos would be composed of curved and spiral patterns. It often covered the whole of the face, and was a symbol of rank, social status power, and respect.Tattooing was a rite of passage for the Maori it was ritualized.

 Maori tattooing would usually begin at a young age and would be continually performed to celebrate important events throughout a tribesman’s life.