10TH NEW ZEALAND’S TATTOO & ART FESTIVAL
Really excited to be back at the TSB Stadium in New Plymouth on the 26 & 27 of November of this year for the 10th anniversary of the NZ Tattoo & Art Festival, Australasia’s biggest tattoo event.
This will be my fourth time at the show, one of my favorites and well worth the trip to the other side of the world!
For me, one of the most captivating things about this show is the chance to witness the Powhiri, the welcoming ceremony that the Maori, the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand, perform for the array of worldwide artists that arrive in the small town of New Plymouth to work at the show. Involving speeches, cultural performance, singing it is used to both welcome guests and offer peace.
The ceremony begins with an aggressive challenge to the visitor. Three Māori warriors advance towards the guests with ceremonial weapons and perform threatening gestures and grimaces, calling out battle screams and generally giving an impression of being ready to explode into violence against the visitors at any moment. The first warrior represents the realm of Tūmatauenga, the Atua (God) of War. The third Warrior represents Rongo the Atua of Peace (Rangimarie). It is the final warrior who offers the rautapu, a signal that the manuhiri (guests) may enter the Marae-atea. Historically, it has roots in both showing off the martial skills of the iwi's warriors, as well as testing the steadfastness of the visitors.
Like most of the indigenous people of Oceania, the Maori people consider tattoos to be an important part of their cultural identity and practice. The complex patterns and meanings behind Maori tattoos have been a source of inspiration for tattoo artists the world over. To have their blessing at the beginning of an international tattoo show taking place in their land is a humbling privilege.
If you are planning to attend the show I look forward to seeing you there, and if you’d like to get tattooed please do get in touch by filling out my contact form.
Kia ora!
Inma