Maori culture concert and Ta Moko

I should have been an Anthropologist-- I would have loved an excuse to study people and cultures.

Recently, visiting one of my sweet, newly postpartum couples we had a conversation about prejudice and such--and the young dad mentioned that he is looked upon differently when he is out and about (my MN term) since he is obviously "MAORI," especially on the South Island.  He explained it as sometimes the NZ Pakeha (European descent) farmers are not as nice to him... as if expecting trouble or think he might not show up to work. This young man is a shearer and a good one--if all the certificates in his house indicate!

There is only about 11% Maori on the S. Island.  Interestingly, his partner who is also Maori, but looks "white," as she described herself, said on the North Island--she would be resented by Maori "girls" for being with a Maori guy.

The sculptures were taken at the entrance to the main park in Rotorua.

The food for the meal was cooked in an Hangi--which is underground. Obviously now above ground to cool off.

Sorry the photos were not so great--evening, flash photography, being far away.  I never did get any really nice shots of the women.

  

The "warriors" arrive in their waka (canoe) and the facial tatoos are just painted on--but the body ones are real.  The "chief" has the full thigh and buttocks tatoo which he said took 55 hours to complete with modern technique--apparently the traditional tools of a chisel would have taken longer and involved more pain.

Here is some more information for the curious:
http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/Education/OnlineResources/Moko/Pages/overview.aspx

Again--to give another point of view--especially the section on Moko Today about non-Maori peoples wearing ta moko...{sorry the link won't work for some reason], but it is interesting to consider the concerns that Pakeha are using Maori culture without credit or appropriately. 

If I were Maori I would have a beautiful tatoo on my chin to cover up my dog bite scar!! Traditionally women only had their chin and sometimes, lips cheeks, neck done.

Photo taken from this great website:
mp.natlib.govt.nz/detail/?id=5455


I have several had several interesting conversations with New Zealanders about a movie: Once We Were Warriors~ it still bothers me, and I did have my ears and eyes covered for parts of it... and yet I think it was important for me to watch, particularly to understand some of the background culture of the women I am serving.   Not necessarily to the extreme depicted in this movie, but role of women, substance use/abuse and all that it entails.
I recommend that it be watched...if you who can deal with the violence and have an interest in learning more about gangs, poverty, alcoholism, Maori culture (one facet) it will make you think reallllllly hard:
http://www.filmarchive.org.nz/feature-project/pages/Once-Were.php