Maori Tattoo Design

The Maori tattoos are much more than just decorative body art – to the Maori people, it is symbolic of a person’s status within the tribe. If you decide to get a Maori design, you should treat it with great respect – in the Maori culture, it is tconsidered an honor to have Ta Moko (tattoo art). Getting this type of tattoo is not a decision to be taken lightly.

Unless you don’t care who sees your tattoo, you might have a hard time finding Maori tattoos that work for your lifestyle. Many of these designs are made to put on the face, neck, hands, and feet. Your tattoo artist may be able to help you customize a Maori design to fit on your arm, leg, or back, though.

If you’re set on getting a Maori tribal tattoo, plan on spending some serious time in the tattoo artist’s chair. Many of these complex designs have super-thick black lines that take quite some time to fill in. You may even have to have your tattoo done over several sessions if you’re going to get a large piece.

There aren’t really any set patterns to Maori tattoos type of art. In traditional Maori culture, each person’s tattoo art was different, depending on his or her ancestry. To the untrained eye, many of the designs look like what Westerners call “tribal art” – but the meaning behind Maori tattoos is much deeper.