Oriini Kaipara’s 6 Tattoos & Their Meanings
Oriini Kaipara is a New Zealand-based journalist and translator who made the headlines in 2019 by becoming the first person with a face tattoo (Moko Kauae) to host the prime-time news. Such types of tattoos are highly sacred and are usually inked to present the culture and heritage. She has got several other similar tattoos on her body, representing her Maori culture. Let’s scroll further to know the details. 
1. ‘Moko Kauae’ Tattoo
Tattoo: ‘Moko Kauae’ tattoo on her chin.
Meaning: Oriini Kaipara grabbed the attention of people from all over the world by becoming the first New Zealand journalist with the ‘Moko Kauae’ tattoo on her chin to host the prime-time news in 2019. Usually, these types of tattoos are worn by New Zealand’s M?ori women to represent their culture and heritage. She got this tattoo inked in January 2019 after a DNA test in 2017 revealing that she is 100% Maori. On January 6, 2019, she uploaded the pictures of the tattooing process on her Instagram handle with the caption,
Taonga Tuku Iho E tuku tonu nei”
In English, it means,
Living Heritage Ongoing”
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A post shared by Oriini Kaipara (@oriinz)
A Moko Kauae tattoo represents the women’s whanau, and the authority, responsibility, status, and commitment towards the traditions, culture, and heritage. In an interview in December 2019, she explained her experience of getting this tattoo. She said,
I drove down to Te Teko, in the Bay of Plenty, where my dad’s side comes from. We went to my marae Kokohinau and met artist Turumakina ‘Tu’ Duley, who is also a distant relative. I love his work and he’s been doing it for quite some time. He did a full facial moko on Mark Kopua, who is well-known in Maoridom for his own work and was Tu’s teacher. There was a big uproar about her getting one as a pakeha woman, and her Maori husband giving her permission. I’m not a judgemental person so I didn’t want to throw stones at something I didn’t know. But it got me thinking. “It sparked the desire in me to get a moko kauae. Before that, I was actually anti-getting one for myself. There was no way in hell. t was more of a shock to my inner circles when they found out – and they didn’t believe I’d go through it. I was wary of what it would mean if I got one. I thought, ‘Why do I deserve it and why should I have it if they don’t? For me, a moko is a mark of huge honour and a mark of prestige, and with that comes huge responsibility. It signals a commitment to my whakapapa, iwi, marae and language. I took my eldest daughter with me. I’d originally asked for the traditional chisel, but Tu said it would hurt way more and take a lot longer, so he did it with the gun. I was so glad he talked me out of that. There were lots of tears and I think I had the most, but they weren’t from pain. It was more the spiritual connection and the honour because in my generation, I’m the first person to get it. There have been a lot of well-wishers and positive vibes. Having a moko doesn’t change who I am and it means much more than a tattoo on my face. It helps anchor me because it reminds me of who I am.”
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