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Story: Tā moko – Māori tattooing

Te Rangitopeora

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Te Rangitopeora

Te Rangitopeora, a woman of mana of Ngāti Toa and Ngāti Raukawa, was one of five female signatories to the Treaty of Waitangi. This portrait by Gottfried Lindauer highlights her moko kauae (chin and mouth tattoo), a sign of her mana.

Using this item

Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tāmaki

Reference: 1915/2/53

by Gottfried Lindauer

Permission of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki 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 – Moko and status, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/41246/te-rangitopeora (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Rawinia Higgins, published 4 April 2013.