Mokorua
Nga korero mo toku moko kauae - My story of moko kauae
Published on 10. November 2022
Book
Hardback
164 pages
978-1-86940-970-8 (ISBN)
Description
I ka ra o mua, I would know my place
in my tipuna's time, I would know my face.
Mokorua is a revealing and emotional account of one woman receiving her moko kauae.
Ariana Tikao grew up in suburban Christchurch in the 1970s and '80s surrounded by te ao Pakeha. This book tells the story of Ariana exploring her whakapapa, her whanau history and her language. This is one woman's story, but it is interwoven with the revival of language, tikanga and identity among Kai Tahu whanau over the last thirty years.
Ariana's journey culminates in her decision to take on Mokorua - her moko kauae - from ta moko artist Christine Harvey. After an emotionally charged ceremony that brought together whanau, young and old, for songs and tautoko, hugs and tears, Ariana writes: 'Our whanau had reached another milestone in the decolonisation process - or, rather, in our journey of reindigenising ourselves, becoming who we always were.'
Through Ariana's words, te reo Maori text by her hoa tane Ross Calman, and an intimate, moving photo essay by Matt Calman, Mokorua reveals the journey of one woman reclaiming her Maori identity.
My moko has now surfaced from beneath my skin, and she, Mokorua, has revealed
herself in her green-lined goodness.
in my tipuna's time, I would know my face.
Mokorua is a revealing and emotional account of one woman receiving her moko kauae.
Ariana Tikao grew up in suburban Christchurch in the 1970s and '80s surrounded by te ao Pakeha. This book tells the story of Ariana exploring her whakapapa, her whanau history and her language. This is one woman's story, but it is interwoven with the revival of language, tikanga and identity among Kai Tahu whanau over the last thirty years.
Ariana's journey culminates in her decision to take on Mokorua - her moko kauae - from ta moko artist Christine Harvey. After an emotionally charged ceremony that brought together whanau, young and old, for songs and tautoko, hugs and tears, Ariana writes: 'Our whanau had reached another milestone in the decolonisation process - or, rather, in our journey of reindigenising ourselves, becoming who we always were.'
Through Ariana's words, te reo Maori text by her hoa tane Ross Calman, and an intimate, moving photo essay by Matt Calman, Mokorua reveals the journey of one woman reclaiming her Maori identity.
My moko has now surfaced from beneath my skin, and she, Mokorua, has revealed
herself in her green-lined goodness.
More details
Language
English
Other
Place of publication
Auckland
New Zealand
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 216 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
748 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-86940-970-8 (9781869409708)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Ariana Tikao is a singer, taonga puoro musician and writer of Kai Tahu descent, and recipient of a 2020 Arts Foundation Laureate award. She writes waiata, poetry and creative non-fiction exploring themes relating to her Kai Tahu identity and mana wahine, often drawing on historical korero from her ancestors. She is among the current generation of artists and leaders rejuvenating taonga puoro, following in the footsteps of Hirini Melbourne and of her mentors Richard Nunns and Brian Flintoff.
Matt Calman is of Ngati Toa, Raukawa-ki-te-tonga, and Kai Tahu descent. He is a trained artist, with a Diploma of Arts (with Hons) from the Design and Arts College of New Zealand, majoring in photography, and went on to study journalism, graduating with a Diploma in Journalism from Massey University. Matt worked at the Dominion Post from 2007 to 2010, and is the author of The Longest Day (Allen and Unwin, 2020). Matt received his own ta moko from Porirua artist Wiremu Barriball in 2016. He lives in Otautahi with his wife, Ranui Calman, and their daughters.
Ross Calman (Ngati Toa, Ngati Raukawa-ki-te-tonga, Kai Tahu) is a freelance writer, editor and licensed translator. He is the author of a number of works on aspects of Maori history and culture, including most recently He Atua, He Tangata: The World of Maori Mythology (with A.W. Reed; Oratia, 2022), He Pukapuka Tataku i Nga Mahi a Te Rauparaha Nui/A Record of the Life of the Great Te Rauparaha (AUP, 2020), and Te Tiriti o Waitangi (with Toby Morris, Mark Derby and Piripi Walker; Lift, 2019). He is Ariana's husband and Matt's cousin.
Matt Calman is of Ngati Toa, Raukawa-ki-te-tonga, and Kai Tahu descent. He is a trained artist, with a Diploma of Arts (with Hons) from the Design and Arts College of New Zealand, majoring in photography, and went on to study journalism, graduating with a Diploma in Journalism from Massey University. Matt worked at the Dominion Post from 2007 to 2010, and is the author of The Longest Day (Allen and Unwin, 2020). Matt received his own ta moko from Porirua artist Wiremu Barriball in 2016. He lives in Otautahi with his wife, Ranui Calman, and their daughters.
Ross Calman (Ngati Toa, Ngati Raukawa-ki-te-tonga, Kai Tahu) is a freelance writer, editor and licensed translator. He is the author of a number of works on aspects of Maori history and culture, including most recently He Atua, He Tangata: The World of Maori Mythology (with A.W. Reed; Oratia, 2022), He Pukapuka Tataku i Nga Mahi a Te Rauparaha Nui/A Record of the Life of the Great Te Rauparaha (AUP, 2020), and Te Tiriti o Waitangi (with Toby Morris, Mark Derby and Piripi Walker; Lift, 2019). He is Ariana's husband and Matt's cousin.