A Māori photographer has set out to show the positive side of moko kauae to a community that seems to fear it.
Putaanga Waitoa was outraged by an incident in Havelock North earlier in the year where a mama was told to leave a playground because her moko kauae was scaring children.
She’s heard of other racists incidents against wearers of the traditional tattoos.
In response she’s written a feature for the next issue of Living Hawke’s Bay magazine, which she expects will generate strong reactions.
“I honestly feel and I said to (the Living Hawke’s Bay editor) in our hui the other day, ‘this is a big risk for you guys because you’ve never done anything like this before. Someone like me who is very strongly opinionated and very kaupapa-driven, my words may really annoy some people but at the same time this is really needed,’” Waitoa says.
To illustrate the article, Putaanga Waitoa has issued a call through her Puutanga Photographer ffor a photoshoot this Sunday of wahine with moko kauae.
