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Story: Samoans

Woman's tattoo

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Woman's tattoo

Samoan women are tattooed from the knee to the top of the thigh. As can be seen in Greg Semu’s 1994 photograph, a woman’s pe‘a tattoo (sometimes called a malu) is less elaborate than the male pe‘a.

Using this item

Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tāmaki

by Greg Semu

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

Lupematasila Melani Anae, Samoans – Culture and identity, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/1572/womans-tattoo (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Lupematasila Melani Anae, published 4 March 2009, reviewed and revised 7 September 2022 with assistance from Lupematasila Melani Anae.