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Story: Tā moko – Māori tattooing

Tattooing instruments, 1773

This illustration appeared in a 1773 official account of British voyages of discovery, including James Cook's first voyage to New Zealand (1768–71). In the middle are various tattooing chisels, some attached to handles (not to scale). At right is a māhoe (mallet), for striking the chisels as they are placed on the skin. 

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Rare Books and Fine Printing Collection

Reference: ILS 757178-10

by John Hawkesworth

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Rawinia Higgins, Tā moko – Māori tattooing – Tā moko technology, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/41237/tattooing-instruments-1773 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Rawinia Higgins, published 4 April 2013.