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Title: Moko: Maori Tattoos by Hans Neleman ISBN: 3-908161-96-7 Publisher: Edition Stemmle Pub. Date: 01 November, 1999 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $65.00

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Average Customer Rating: 4 (4 reviews)

Rating: 4
Summary: Not what I expected, but just as good.
Comment: When I purchased this book I expected more historically traditional photographs, but I was happily surprised to find this book just as interesting with its modern take on traditional Maori tattoo culture. The subjects of the many photos reflect the modernized interpretation of moko as it exists today. I recommend this book to any tattoo enthusiast who has an interest in Polynesian or pacific island tattoo practices.

Rating: 4
Summary: a green place
Comment: a beautiful book fully loaded with ownership.good to hear the voice of maori in the world.

Rating: 3
Summary: Good start........
Comment: Let me first say that this is a impressive photo essay that contains very impressive photographs, but the majority of these photos are of tattoos and not moko in it's truest sense. If someone is looking for a book that documents contmporary moko and not contemporary tattooing by Maori then this may disappoint you. Moko is not just tattoo and not all tattoo are elevated to that of moko. The moko not only consist of the laying of a design in the skin but also of the relationship of the individual to his or her geneology, tribal affiliation, and spirituality. The facilitator of this is the Ta Moko, tattooist for lack of a better word. There is no part of the book in which the tattooist are interviewed and allowed to share this paramount aspect of the culture.

The begining of the book starts off very well with some impressive moko kanohi and moko kauwai. The inclusion of the individuals tribal affiliations is very important and is a credit to the authors and planners of this book, but then the book diverges, in my opinion, and shows many facial tattoos and not moko. These tattoos are worn very proudly by gang members, predominately Black Power and Mongrel Mob, and Rastafarians as an expression of their individual beliefs and commitments and not necessarily reflective of the strict cultural tapu of the moko. This is not to challenge these individuals Maoritanga, but merely to point out the difference between the beginning of the book and the rest of it.

I was also dissapointed with was the fact that the Puhoro and Rapa are not really represented in the photo essays. With the exception of one moko kanohi that is done in the puhoro style the rest of the moko is done in the mataora style.

I would recommend this book only to those that have a basic understanding of the moko and contemporary Maori culture or to those that appreciate well done photos.