Can a non maori person have a maori tattoo?

Answer 1

Yes but talk to the moko artist about incorporations. Remember cultural sensitivity.

Ta moko is reserved for maori only, non maori can get kirituhi with a maori design.

...WHAT IS MOKO...

..... 99.95% OF MOKO IS ABOUT.....

Supporting whānau and hapu and everything they stand for, including… the Marae and its entire people. From the cooks, and cleaners to the Pākeke/kaumatua. From the carvings, weavings and paintings to the lawn, fences and paths. And making sure to involve your children in Marae activities including… learning and using Te Reo everywhere and all the time whether at home, in the street, at the beach or at school. Its about… supporting the schools, the teachers, principal and your children. In the classroom, at the sports, at the fundraisers, and at their kapahaka shows. It's about valuing the kura. Its about loving your children unconditionally and hugging them at least once every day, which is about being…. A good person who lives staunchly as a Maori with Tikanga and values, with culture, traditions and heritage.

With background. With substance.

..... 0.05% OF MOKO IS ABOUT TATTOOING.....

Hopefully seeing such a definition gives a far clearer understanding of what kirituhi is, and it is important that non-Maori do get a clearer understanding of kirituhi via the above because it clarifies kirituhi by defining Moko

So modern day kirituhi is out there and available. Unlike Moko, which is whakapapa…kirituhi would not hold these elements…

What this means is, that kirituhi was put in place for the sake of non-Maori who find Moko designs attractive enough to want them tattooed into themselves. The simple fact is, regardless of what any non-Maori wearer would have you believe, non-Maori could never have Moko simply because of their ethnic and cultural difference from Maori. Hence kirituhi was put in place to help these people satisfy their desires without concern of offending a Maori person.